Kobe- Japan (PANA) -- Group H favourites, Russia had to wait till the 59th minute to score their first goal against lowly-rated Tunisians in their 2002 World Cup first match played Wednesday in Kobe, Japan. Full text...

Kobe- Japan (PANA) -- If Russia walked into Kobe Stadium Wednesday expecting to walk over Tunisia, the first half of the Group H World Cup game between them being played Wednesday in Kobe, Japan, has proved them wrong. Full text...

Brussels- Belgium (PANA) -- Belgian soccer fans sighed with relief after their national team was held to a two-all draw by Japan in Tuesday's Group H World Cup match. Full text...

Lusaka- Zambia (PANA) -- Though the World Cup actions in Japan and South Korea have overshadowed local football activities, bank- sponsored ZANACO Football Club has clung to the top spot on the Zambia premier league standings with 25 points. Full text...

Daegu- South Korea (PANA) -- The Confederation of Asian Football (AFC) says there is need for "a revolution" of Asian football, embracing China and World Cup finals co-hosts South Korea and Japan, who exhibited brilliant performances in their first games Tuesday. Full text...

Daegu- South Korea (PANA) -- Though he has many other alternatives to make up for the absence of Skipper Aliou Cissé over calf injury, Senegal's coach Bruno Metsu, still hesitate to declare whether or not his key player will be part of the team during the Denmark-Senegal match scheduled next Thursday. Full text...

Kobe- Japan (PANA) -- Tunisia's national football team coach Ammar Souayeh reaffirmed Tuesday that his side needs to fight hard during Wednesday's first World Cup match against Russia. Full text...

Kampala- Uganda (PANA) -- Fan support in the ongoing World Cup encounters has dramatically shifted in Kampala in favour of the previously unknown Asian teams whose performance Tuesday impressed many people. Full text...

Daegu- South Korea (PANA) -- The Lions of Senegal spent Tuesday morning having sauna and massage, contrary to the initial planning which included a warm-up session at Daegu City Stadium. Full text...

Yaounde- Cameroon (PANA) -- Football fans in Yaounde and other African capitals applauded Senegal's 1-0 victory last Friday over France during last Friday's World Cup opening match in Seoul. Full text...

Busan- South Korea (PANA) -- South Korea achieved a stunning 2-0 victory over Poland, shocking the Europeans in their Group D World Cup match played Tuesday in Busan, South Korea. Full text...

Saitama- Japan (PANA) -- In a match characterised by rough play that produced 30 fouls in the first half alone, World Cup co-host Japan drew 2-2 with Belgium in their Group H match at the Japanese Saitama Stadium Tuesday. Full text...

Busan- South Korea (PANA) -- South Korea has put unexpected resistance against Poland, resulting in a 26th minute goal to jolt the Europeans into reality in their Group D World Cup match being played in Busan, South Korea. Full text...

Nairobi- Kenya (PANA) -- The Kenya women's team to the world championship slated for August in Germany suffered a setback Tuesday after veteran Roselida Obunaka bailed out. Full text...

Abidjan- Cote d'Ivoire (PANA) -- Cyclists from seven West African countries are on roll for the 16th Ivoirian tour, which begins on 5 June, official sources indicated Tuesday in Abidjan. Full text...

Saitama- Japan (PANA) -- In a match characterised by rough play, hosts Japan have managed to hold Belgium to a goal-less draw in their World Cup Group H game being played Tuesday in Saitama, Japan. Full text...

Nairobi- Kenya (PANA) -- Kenya's Sports and Heritage minister Francis Nyenze has said there is no turning back on a decision to dissolve the Kenya Football Federation (KFF), despite a High Court order against the move. Full text...

Nairobi- Kenya (PANA) -- Nothing dramatic happened in the Kenyan Premier League at the weekend, as the country focused on the ongoing World Cup in Korea and Japan. Full text...

Gwangju- South Korea (PANA) -- Costa Rica beat China 2-0 at the end of their World Cup match played Tuesday in Gwangju, South Korea. Full text...

Lome- Togo (PANA) -- Dyto de Lome, Semassi de Sokode, Sara FC de Bafilo and Doumbe de Mango qualified at the weekend for the semi- finals of the Togolese Challenge Cup competition. Full text...

Busan- South Korea (PANA) -- Bennet Mnguni, the South African midfielder who plays club football for Lokomotiv Moscow in Russia, has taken a break from the ongoing World Cup finals in Korea and Japan to rush home for the funeral of his brother. Full text...

Kampala- Uganda -- Police and an ambulance had to be called in when scores of rival soccer fans started fighting in the main streets of Kampala, the Ugandan capital shortly after Turkey stunned Brazil with powerful first goal in Monday's World Cup encounter. ) Full text...

Ouagadougou- Burkina Faso (PANA) -- Burkina Faso's defending champion, Etoile filante de Ouagadougou (EFO) painfully beat Olympique de Po, 1-0, in a match played Sunday in the 2nd round of the premier league. Full text...

Mbabane- Swaziland (PANA) -- Bafana Bafana's 2-2 draw with Paraguay on Sunday thrust hundreds of Swazi fans into jubilation. Full text...

Lagos- Nigeria (PANA) -- After several weeks of delay, members of the Nigerian football supporters club have finally secured visas to travel to Japan to cheer the Super Eagles in their remaining matches at the 2002 World Cup. Full text...

Kashirara- Japan (PANA) -- Following their poor performance at the African Cup of Nations 2002, the retirement of first choice goalkeeper Chokri El Ouaer, and the instability in their coaching staff, the Tunisian national football team face a difficult task for their opening World Cup match against Russia on Wednesday. Full text...

Sapporo- Japan (PANA) -- Ecuador, making their first appearance in the World Cup contest Monday had a 2-0 baptism of fire from former champions Italy in their Group G match at Sapporo, Japan. Full text...

Daegu- South Korea (PANA) -- Captain Aliou Cisse may miss Senegal's second World Cup match against Denmark Thursday because of an injury, sources at the team's camp said Monday in Daegu, South Korea. Full text...

Cape Town- South Africa (PANA) -- South African football officials and supporters, including President Thabo Mbeki have praised the national team, Bafana Bafana for drawing 2-2 with Paraguay in their World Cup opening match Sunday. Full text...

Sapporo- Japan (PANA) -- Italian striker Christian Vieri put his team ahead of Ecuador as early as the 7th minute when he blasted home the first goal in the two sides' World Cup match being Monday played in Sapporo, Japan. Full text...

Lagos- Nigeria (PANA) -- Senegal's upset of France in 2002 World Cup opener Friday, which sparked a huge celebration in Africa and around the world, also brought pains to some fans in Nigeria. Full text...

Accra- Ghana (PANA) -- Accra Great Olympics broke a chain of defeats in the Ghana Premier League when they fought back from a goal down to beat Power FC 3-1 in their match played at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday. Full text...

Nairobi- Kenya (PANA) -- African athletes excelled in Sunday's Fanny Blankers-Koen IAAF Grand Prix 11 event in Hengelo, Holland, sweeping the boards in the men's 800m, 3000m flat and 3000m steeplechase. Full text...

Ulsan- South Korea (PANA) -- Former World Champions Brazil momentarily stunned by Turkey's first half goal two minutes after regular time, regrouped in the second half to reclaim their honour with a 2-1 win over the red shirts in a World Cup match played Monday in Ulsan, South Korea. Full text...

Ulsan- South Korea (PANA) -- Taking advantage of additional time after the regulation period in the first half, Turkey's Hasan Sas unleashed a thunderbolt into the net to lead 1-0 in their first World Cup match being played Monday in Ulsan, South Korea. Full text...

Daegu- South Korea (PANA) -- Senegalese skipper Aliou Cissé hurt himself Monday at the calf during a training session in Daegu, South Korea. Full text...

Kashirara- Japan (PANA) -- Tunisian midfielder Zoubeir Beya, who also plays for the Turkish D1 side Besiktas, has lost esteem he once enjoyed among fans and coach Ammar Souayah alike. Full text...

Niigata- Japan (PANA) -- A 60th-minute penalty was enough to give Mexico victory over stubborn Croatia when the two sides met Monday in their first World Cup outing in Niigata, Japan. Full text...

Rabat- Morocco (PANA) -- The Moroccan rugby team qualified at the weekend for the semi-finals of the African Cup of Nations after beating its Ivorian counterpart on Saturday 23-12. Full text...

Niigata- Japan (PANA) -- World Cup matches resumed Monday with Mexico and Croatia playing to a goal-less draw in the first half of their encounter in Niigata, Japan. Full text...

Daegu- South Korea (PANA) -- The Denmark-Senegal match on 6 June will be the first World Cup match to be played in Daegu, the third largest city of South Korea, located south-east of the country and hosting 2. Full text...

Lome- Togo (PANA) -- "The victory of Argentina over Nigeria is no surprise", declared Gerson Kodjo Dobou, Vice-president of Agaza Omnisports de Lomé, a first division club. Full text...

Harare- Zimbabwe (PANA) -- The Zimbabwe national rugby team thrashed Madagascar 52-3 in its own backyard Sunday in a World Cup qualifying match, brightening hopes for a first ever qualification for the competition. Full text...

Paris- France (PANA) -- Barbès and Château-Rouge, two popular communities in the 8th district of Paris where thousands of Senegalese and migrant workers live and congregate, celebrated for nearly 24 hours after the Lions of Teranga gave the tri- colour cocks "a slap in the face". Full text...

Ouagadougou- Burkina Faso (PANA) -- Fans in Ouagadougou Saturday were fuming over Cameroon's draw with Ireland 1-1 as the Indomitable Lions were hailed favourites. Full text...

Cotonou- Benin (PANA) -- Though their country is not among those at the football World Cup, Benin's fans have actively mobilised to support Africa's teams. Full text...

Bujumbura- Burundi (PANA) -- The unexpected defeat of defending World champions France to newcomers Senegal (0-1), and the draw between Cameroon and Ireland (1-1), are the first lessons of World Cup 2002 that began Friday in Asia, sports enthusiasts in Bujumbura said. Full text...

Kashima City- Japan (PANA) -- In spite of the setback of an early defeat, the Super Eagles are still very optimistic of advancing in the World Cup. Full text...

Kashima City- Japan (PANA) -- It is very rare for a team to walk tall and gain admiration in defeat. Full text...

Dakar- Senegal (PANA) -- Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade Saturday inaugurated a square in Dakar named "La Promenade des Lions" (The Lions' Promenade), depicting a panoramic screen and a statue, "Le Lion qui Gagne" (the winning lion). Full text...