KARIM BENZEMA: REAL MADRID STRIKER EXTENDS CONTRACT TO 2021

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has signed a four-year contract extension that ties him to the club until 2021. The 29-year-old has scored 181 goals in 371 appearances since joining from French side Lyon in 2009. He becomes the fourth Real player, after right-back Dani Carvajal, left-back Marcelo and midfielder Isco, to agree a new deal this week.

Manager Zinedine Zidane has also signed a new contract with last season's Champions League and La Liga winners. Benzema has won 14 trophies at Real, including three Champions League titles and La Liga twice.

The France forward has won 81 caps but has not played for his country since he was placed under formal investigation in 2015 over an alleged bid to blackmail one-time international team-mate Mathieu Valbuena.

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EDEN HAZARD: CHELSEA WINGER BACK IN SQUAD TO FACE LEICESTER CITY

Winger Eden Hazard has been included in the Chelsea squad to face Leicester City on Saturday. Hazard, 26, missed the start of the Blues' season after breaking his anklewhile training with Belgium in June. But he scored in Belgium's World Cup qualifying win over Gibraltar, before a substitute appearance against Greece as his side made the World Cup finals.

Blues manager Antonio Conte said: "I can count on him but I have to decide the right moment and minutes for him." "I think he's improving a lot," added the Italian. "He worked very strong to be ready and he is an important player for us." Hazard was instrumental as Chelsea won the Premier League last season, scoring 16 goals in 36 games but also said in June he would "listen" if Real Madrid offered him a deal.

Conte's side have begun the defence of their title with victories over Tottenham and Everton.

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EAGLES SEND CAMEROON OUT OF WORLD CUP AFTER DRAW

The Super Eagles on Monday ended the Indomitable Lions’ hopes of qualifying for the Russia 2018 World Cup despite being held 1-1 by the Cameroonians in the reverse fixture of their Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying double-header in Yaounde. With the draw, the Eagles thus amassed four points from the double fixtures having walloped the Cameroonians 4-0 in Uyo on Friday, to extend their lead in Group B to 10 points while Zambia are second with four points. Cameroon are third with three points and Algeria hold the rear with one point.

It was sweet revenge for the Nigerians, who lost the ticket to the 1990 World Cup to the Lions after losing 1-0 in Yaounde in 1989. A goal from Gent forward, Moses Simon, and a converted penalty from Vincent Aboubakar ensured the two sides shared the points at the StadeOmnisports AhmadouAhidjo.

Eagles coach Gernot Rohr maintained the Uyo starting line-up, with Elderson Echiejile, Shehu Abdullahi, Leon Balogun and William Troost-Ekong in defence. Wilfred Ndidi and OgenyiOnazi were in defensive midfield while Moses, Mikel and Moses Simon supported Ighalo in attack. Ifeanyi Ubah’s Ikechukwu Ezenwa remained in goal.

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BREAKING NEWS: Eagles kill Lions in Uyo •Take step towards 2018 World Cup with 4-0 whitewash

Nigeria on Friday evening took a step towards the Russia 2018 World Cup after the Suoer Eagles unexpectedly whitewashed reigning Africa champions Indomitable Lions of Cameroon 4-0 in a Group B match at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Two goals in each half sealed victory for the hosts by Odion Ighalo, Skipper Mikel Obi, Victor Moses and substitute Kelechi Iheanacho, with goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa’s brave performance denying the visitors any goal.

The goal harvest started in the 29th when striker Ighalo outmuscled Ngadeu-Ngadjui in a battle for a long ball, cut inside the defender and put a low, left-footed shot past the left hand of goalkeeper Ondoa.

Old warhorse Mikel extended the lead two minutes to the break tapping in A Victor Moses corner from the right flank.

Victor Moses, who had been anxious to score from the blast of the whistle and had an early goal controversially ruled offside, finally put his name on the scorers’ sheet 10 minutes into the second half, firing home a low shot after exchange of passes with Moses Simon.

Supersub Iheanacho iced the cake in the 76th minute, easily heading home into an empty net after superb work out wide from Victor Moses and Ogenyi Onazi.

Nigeria now sit tight on top of the table with nine points from three games. The return fixture of the double header comes up on Monday in Cameroon.

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PHILIPPE COUTINHO: LIVERPOOL MIDFIELDER SUBMITS TRANSFER REQUEST

Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho has submitted a transfer request, hours after the Premier League club released a statement saying he is not for sale. On Wednesday, the Reds rejected a 100 million euros bid (£90m) from Barcelona for the 25-year-old, who is out of Saturday's trip to Watford with injury.

In a statement on Friday, the club's owners said its "definitive stance" was that "no offers will be considered". BBC Sport understands he sent an email stating his desire to leave Anfield. Speaking at an earlier news conference previewing the league match at Vicarage Road (12:30 BST kick-off), Klopp said Coutinho would miss the season opener because of a back problem.

Klopp said he was also a doubt for Tuesday's Champions League play-off first leg at Hoffenheim as he had "not been in training since last Friday".

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