South Africa head coach Des Ellis says they were not going to risk missing out on a place at the FIFA Women's World Cup in France next year by facing Mali unprepared.

Banyana Banyana completed a dominant 2-0 victory over Mali on Tuesday to secure a place in the Africa Women Cup of Nations final against Nigeria on Saturday, but more importantly secured their first-ever qualification for the World Cup.

Banyana cruised into the AWCON final with greater dominance than the scoreline suggests, giving...

Ghana have been made to wait until their final group game to book their spot in the Africa Women Cup of Nations semi-final after being defeated 2-1 by Mali in Accra on Tuesday.

Bassira Toure scored both goals for Mali either side of a Ghana penalty by Elizabeth Addo. Defeat leaves Ghana third in Group A on three points after two matches, level with Mali.

Group-leaders Cameroon, also on three points, face Algeria at the Accra Sports Stadium later on Tuesday.

A win would have all but secured Ghana's...

Mali international Cheick Diabate has completed a move from Osmanlispor to Emirates Club FC, according to reports in France.

L'Equipe have revealed that the 30-year-old was unveiled by the Emirati side on Tuesday, with BeinSports adding that the forward had moved on a loan deal.

The powerful frontman spent the second half of last season on loan at Serie A side Benevento, where he netted eight goals in 11 games but was unable to save the club from the drop.

In April, he equalled a 17-year Serie A...

Despite Benevento's struggles at the wrong end of the Serie A table, Cheick Diabate equalled an Italian goalscoring record this weekend when he netted twice in the 2-2 draw at Sassuolo.

The Mali international's double took his tally up to six goals in his last three games, having scored two in each of Benevento's last three top-flight clashes.

His outstanding return equals a 17-year Serie A record that's stood since 2001, when Dario Hubner of Piacenza enjoyed a similar purple patch according to...