YAKUBU KEEPS ALIVE NIGERIA HOPES Nigeria avoided the ignominy of a first-round exit from the Africa Cup of Nations after a penalty by Everton's Yakubu Aiyegbeni three minutes before half-time earned them a 1-0 win over Benin. Yakubu was one of five Premier League stars in action for the Super Eagles, who almost paid for some sloppy finishing as Benin twice struck the woodwork in the second half. Nigeria will qualify for the quarter-finals from Group C if they defeat Mozambique on Wednesday. Holders Egypt reached that stage last night by beating Mozambique 2-0 for a tournament record 15th unbeaten match.
NO MORE SPENDING, SAY CITY Manchester City have resolved to control their transfer spending for the first time since Sheikh Mansour took control in August 2008. Having spent at least £30m in each of the three subsequent transfer windows, City say their only remaining target this January is a central defender, providing he is available on loan or without a transfer fee. A senior club source confirmed City would only spend significantly if 'an extraordinary player [became] available'.
BARCA STRETCH GAP AT THE TOP Barcelona last night extended their lead at the top of the Spanish first division to five points, thanks to a 4-0 win at home to Sevilla, the club who had four days earlier knocked the league and European champions out of the Copa del Rey. A surprise 1-0 defeat for second-placed Real Madrid at Athletic Bilbao made it a doubly satisfying evening for the Catalans. Barcelona dominated possession but it took an own goal from Julian Escude to break the impasse. Substitute Pedro then chipped in his 14th goal of the season. Leo Messi added Barcelona's third and fourth goals in the final six minutes. Madrid's third defeat of the season came despite them enjoying 70% possession at San Mames. They lost to a header from Fernando Llorente. Former Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo was booked for a foul.
RANGERS SCRAPE NARROW WIN Rangers are now nine points clear of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premier League after a scrappy 1-0 win at Hamilton. Spanish forward Nacho Novo squeezed home the winner 12 minutes from time. Celtic drew 1-1 with bottom side Falkirk at Parkhead, former Manchester City striker Georgios Samaras cancelling out Carl Finnigan's opener for Falkirk.
REVENGE FOR NORWICH Norwich erased the memory of a 7-1 home thrashing by Colchester on the season's opening day with a 5-0 win over the same opponents at the Weston Homes Community stadium. Norwich's first-day defeat convinced them to take the Essex team's manager, Paul Lambert, to Carrow Road, and he has lifted them from the bottom three to second place. Chris Martin, inset, scored twice, with Gary Doherty, Oli Johnson and Grant Holt also on target. Colchester substitute Ian Henderson was sent off in stoppage time. Leeds were beaten 2-0 at Exeter, Ryan Harley scoring both goals, while Nicky Bailey's goal took third-placed Charlton's unbeaten run to 10 matches with a 2-1 win at Wycombe.
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TALES FROM THE TABS Feelers were put out by Manchester United's owners during the club's break in Qatar last week for potential investors that could lead to a £1.2 billion takeover of the club, reports the Sunday Express. Steven Gerrard is ready to quit Liverpool, with Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Manchester City all monitoring the situation, says the Mail on Sunday. The paper adds that Tottenham are close to signing Palermo's £11m-rated defender Simon Kjaer. England's players face a £1m security bill for protecting their wives and girlfriends at the World Cup finals next summer, says the News of the World. The paper adds that Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola is being sounded out to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United within two years. Manchester City are set to beat off the challenge of United and Tottenham to sign Chelsea forward Joe Cole as a free agent in the summer, reports the Sunday Mirror. Mark Hughes, sacked by City last month, is on a Liverpool shortlist of possible replacements for Rafa Benitez, says the People.
THIS WEEK'S FOOTBALL ON TV
TODAY: Aston Villa v West Ham (PL) 1pm Sky Sports 1, ko 1.30pm; Bolton v Arsenal (PL) 3.30pm, Sky Sports 1, ko 4pm; La Liga double bill: Atletico Madrid v Sporting Gijon (second half only) and Valencia v Villarreal, Sky Sports 1, from 7pm.
TOMORROW: Newcastle v West Brom (Ch'ship) 7.30 Sky Sports 1, ko 7.45pm.
TUESDAY: Man City v Man Utd (Carling Cup SF, 1st leg) 7pm, Sky Sports 1, ko 8pm; Rangers v Hamilton (Scottish Cup), 7.30pm, Sky Sports 2, ko 7.45pm.
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WEDNESDAY: Liverpool v Tottenham (PL) 7.30pm, Sky Sports 1, ko 8pm; MK Dons v Southampton (Johnstone's Paint Trophy) 6.55pm, Sky Sports 3, ko 7pm.
SATURDAY: Preston v Chelsea (FA Cup) 12.30pm, ITV1, ko 12.45pm; Tottenham v Leeds Utd (FA Cup) 5pm, ITV1, ko 5.15pm; Motherwell v St Mirren (SPL) 12noon, ESPN, ko 12.30pm.