Football

Rome: Attacking duo Evan Ferguson and Artem Dovbyk scored asRomaoutclassed Lecce 2-0 to reclaim fourth spot in Serie A on Tuesday from Como who had earlier swept aside struggling Pisa. Romasecured their first away win since November 23 thanks to on-loan Irish forward Ferguson who scored his third Serie A goal after 14 minutes with Ukrainian Dovbyk adding a second after 71 minutes against 16th-placed Lecce in the heel of Italy. Romanow have 36 points and are just one point off third spot, but have played two more matches than the top three -- Inter Milan, leaders with 39 points, AC Milan second on 38 points and champions Napoli third on 37 points. WhileRomawill likely struggle to remain in contention for the Scudetto until the very end they can aim for fourth place, the final Champions League qualifying spot. However, in addition to Juventus, sixth with 33 points, who face Sassuolo later on Tuesday, they will also have to be wary of the Cesc Farbregas led Como, whonotched up a third consecutive victory in the league thanks to three second half goals in Tuscany to boost their hopes of elite European football.

Football

Rabat: A thunderous strike by substitute Adil Boulbina deep in extra time settled a tense encounter as Algeria beat the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations last-16 tie on Tuesday. The game at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat was edging towards a penalty shoot-out when Boulbina, a forward who plays club football in Qatar, was released on the left in the 119th minute and advanced into the area before unleashing a vicious strike into the net. Algeria's forward #27 Adil Boulbina scores his team's first goal during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) round of 16 football match between Algeria and Democratic Republic of Congo at the Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat on January 6, 2026. (Photo by Gabriel BOUYS / AFP) The moment of magic sparked wild celebrations within the ground, with the majority of the 18,837 fans in attendance backing Algeria. The 2019 champions, who won all their group games, are looking like serious contenders to claim a third continental title but now face a fascinating quarter-final showdown with Victor Osimhen's Nigeria in Marrakesh on Saturday. Boulbina was an unlikely hero, making just his second cameo appearance off the bench at the tournament having been included in the squad after featuring for the Algerian team at the recent Arab Cup in Qatar. "I have always dreamed of playing for the national team. It is the ambition of every Algerian to play for their country and do well," said Boulbina, who was in tears at the end. "I had my chance and scored and the most important thing is that we won and qualified for the next round." The outcome is a painful one for the Congolese, who came into the AFCON with big ambitions and had been hoping to set up another clash with Nigeria having defeated the Super Eagles on penalties in a World Cup qualifying play-off in November. The Leopards will now at least be able to console themselves with the fact they have an intercontinental play-off to come in March, where a win against either New Caledonia or Jamaica will see them qualify for a first World Cup since 1974. "We are obviously disappointed with the outcome. I thought it was a top-level game between two really good sides," said DR Congo coach Sebastien Desabre. "The players gave everything. We fought to the end but unfortunately it was not enough."

Tennis

Brisbane, Australia: Nick Kyrgios conceded he would never be the player that he once was after losing his comeback match in the first round of the Brisbane International on Tuesday. The 2022 Wimbledon finalist, who has tumbled to 670 in the rankings after a high of 13 following an injury-ravaged three years, lost to American Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-3, 6-4. The 30-year-old Australian was previously considered one of the brightest talents on the tour but a run of serious injuries combined with some questionable antics on and off court meant he never really lived up to his potential. The defeat to Kovacevic was his first singles ATP Tour match since March last year. Read Also Chelsea announce appointment of Liam Rosenior as new head coach Nigeria books AFCON quarter-final ticket after beating Mozambique 4-0 Venus Williams ousted in first round of Australian Open warm-up "There was a point in my life in 2022 or when I was, you know, winning like multiple titles in a year, I generally thought I was the best player in the world," Kyrgios, who has won seven tour titles, said. "I genuinely thought I was unbeatable. I'd go out on court and I thought no one can genuinely beat me. "You actually have that confidence and delusion that you are that person. "I just don't think that after you have these surgeries, I guess they kind of pull you down and it's like you don't have that belief anymore. "It's sad, in a way, but that's just the reality." Kyrgios is one of the few players to have recorded tour-level wins over the "Big Four" of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. But the success on court came with huge problems off it, including severe injuries to his right elbow, left wrist, hip, knees, shoulders and collarbone. He has had numerous surgeries, the most serious a complete reconstruction of his right wrist in 2024. Kyrgios said people who expected him to be able to play like he did before his injuries would be disappointed. "I guess the people out there, they think that you just go under the knife and come back and throw him back out there and he's the same player. "That's just not how it is. It's not reality." Kyrgios, who has hinted previously at retirement, said he had accepted that he was no longer the player he used to be. "It's hard to go out there -- there was a time when I won this tournament, and now even just going out there, there is no shame in losing," he said following the loss to 58th-ranked Kovacevic. "Even me going out there and taking another loss on the chin, to someone that, to most tennis fans and people, is someone I shouldn't lose to, but I'm not afraid to lose."