Football

A major study assessing whether footballers are at greater risk of degenerative brain disease is ready to be launched as concerns grow about dementia in former players.

After an eight-month evaluation period, Press Association Sport understands a research group will be appointed in the next few weeks to take on the most comprehensive study of its kind, jointly commissioned by the Football Association and Professional Footballers' Association.

The fanfare the greeted the return of N'golo Kante and Drink Water from injury may be short-lived as the club have been afflicted with three new cases that could see Gary Cahill, Alvaro Morata and Batshuayi sidelined after the international break. Chelsea striker, Michy Batshuayi has already been ruled out of Belgium's squad billed to prosecute the upcoming friendlies with Mexico and Japan.

Tickets for the Super Eagles’ World Cup qualifier against Fennecs of Algeria scheduled for the Mohamed-Hamlaoui Stadium in Constantine will go for 300 Algerian Dinar (about N925).

The management of the Mohamed-Hamlaoui Stadium will begin the sale of 23,000 tickets for the match on Thursday from 1.30 pm till match day, which is Friday, according to Algeria football’s magazine site lagazettedufennec.com.

Defender Patrice Evra has left Marseille by mutual consent and been banned from Uefa competition for the rest of the season for kicking one of his own supporters before a match.

The ex-Manchester United full-back is banned until June 2018 and would have missed Marseille's two group games and the knockout stage if they progressed.

Super Eagles pair Victor Moses and Leon Balogun have been included in the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) overall best eleven of the FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

CAF made the announcement on their verified Twitter handle on Thursday.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons striker and Dalian Quanjian forward, Asisat Oshoala has won the best striker award in the Chinese women’s league for 2017. Oshoala, who ended the season on a high, not only won the league’s golden boot but also the Super Cup and league titles with Dalian Quanjian.