The return of African Nations Cup heroes John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses will add an extra dimension to Chelsea's squad for the last three months of the season, interim manager Rafael Benitez said.
Nuggets of news coming from the English Premier League
Nigeria became the first African country to qualify for next year's World Cup finals after a 2-0 home win over Ethiopia in their playoff in Calabar on Saturday.
Victor Moses has become the third player to join Liverpool on Monday, with the forward signing on a season-long loan from Chelsea, the Premier League club confirmed.
IMAGES from the UEFA Champions League matches played on Wednesday
Nigeria's top players needed persuasion to change positions in a tactical shake-up but coach Gernot Rohr's plans paid dividends as they beat Iceland 2-0 on Friday to get back in contention to progress to the World Cup's last 16.
Burkina Faso sprung a major surprise at the African Nations Cup when they drew 0-0 with holders Zambia on Tuesday to reach the quarter-finals along with Nigeria who beat Ethiopia 2-0.
Chelsea's rollercoaster of a season could yet end with another night of European glory after they knocked FC Basel out of the semi-finals on Thursday to set up a Europa League final against Benfica.
Second-half goals from Ramires and Victor Moses secured FA Cup holders Chelsea a 2-0 fifth round win at second tier Middlesbrough on Wednesday and set up a mouthwatering quarter-final away at Manchester United.
Robin van Persie helped fire Manchester United to the top of the Premier League table with a 2-1 win over Arsenal on Saturday as the Dutchman scored against his former club at Old Trafford.
David Luiz, lucky to be on the pitch after a shocking challenge, scored with the last kick of the game to give Chelsea a 2-1 win at FC Basel in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final after the Swiss side had levelled with an 87th minute penalty on Thursday.
A late goal by Marcos Rojo gave Argentina a dramatic 2-1 victory over Nigeria in Group D on Tuesday and sent the twice champions through to the knockout stages of the World Cup.
West Ham United eased into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a 5-1 romp at second-tier Blackburn Rovers on Sunday.
Swansea City manager Garry Monk has escaped sanction from the FA after accusing referee Michael Oliver and Stoke City winger Victor Moses of cheating in his team's 2-1 Premier League defeat at the Britannia Stadium.
A summary of Thursday's matches in the English Premier League.
Two goals from Eden Hazard helped Chelsea cruise to a 4-0 victory at Brighton & Hove Albion in the English Premier League on Saturday for their first league win of 2018.
IMAGES from the EPL match played between Chelsea and West Brom at Stamford Bridge in London on Monday
Romelu Lukaku's 50th league goal for Everton put them on the way to a deserved 2-0 victory over West Ham United on Sunday, ending a run of four league games without a win. It kept the Merseysiders sixth in the Premier League and West Ham in the bottom five.
Doctor Eva Carneiro has left Premier League champions Chelsea in the wake of last month's public spat with manager Jose Mourinho, according to several media reports on Tuesday.
Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney did not have the faintest idea who Anthony Martial was when the Monaco forward was linked with a move to Old Trafford earlier this week, according to team mate Morgan Schneiderlin.
The head of FIFA's medical committee Michel D'Hooghe has stated his support for Chelsea's former club doctor Eva Carneiro, who has brought a legal case against the club for constructive dismissal, the BBC reported on Tuesday.
"After receiving the report from the expert, The FA is satisfied that the words used do not constitute discriminatory language under FA Rules," the FA said in a statement.
Ahmed Musa returned to the line-up with devastating effect as he scored both goals for Nigeria to help them resuscitate their World Cup hopes in a 2-0 win over Iceland at the Volgograd Arena on Friday.
Swansea City manager Garry Monk risks punishment from the FA after accusing referee Michael Oliver and Stoke City winger Victor Moses of cheating in his team's 2-1 Premier League defeat at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday.
Premier League clubs West Bromwich Albion and Watford were knocked out in the League Cup second round by lower-league opponents on Tuesday as a strong Liverpool side crushed championship Burton Albion 5-0.
Liverpool scored a stunning 3-2 win over bottom side Queens Park Rangers with four goals coming in a frenzied seven-minute finale at Loftus Road as the drama continued in the Premier League on Sunday.
Olivier Giroud scored the decisive spot kick as Arsenal beat Chelsea 4-1 in a penalty shootout to win the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday.
Chelsea demolished the team that succeeded them as Premier League winners when champions Leicester City succumbed tamely 3-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Premier League leaders Chelsea moved 10 points clear at the top on Sunday despite being held by Burnley in an entertaining game played amid flurries of sleet and snow.
Chelsea offered a chink of light to Manchester City in the Premier League title race after a stormy 1-1 home draw with Burnley on Saturday that gave more ammunition to their outspoken manager Jose Mourinho.
Cesc Fabregas kept alive Chelsea's hopes of finishing in the top four with a quickfire goal in a 1-0 win at Swansea City which leaves the Welsh side facing a major fight to retain their Premier League status.
France ended Nigeria's hopes of a first World Cup quarter-final appearance when they scored two late goals to beat the Super Eagles 2-0 in a rough second-round match on Monday.
Italy and Nigeria played out a thrilling 2-2 draw which included a goal-of-the-season contender from Shola Ameobi in an entertaining friendly at Fulham's Craven Cottage on Monday.
Eva Carneiro set to lose place on bench after Mourinho criticism
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday
Arsenal denied Chelsea the double with a 2-1 victory in an enthralling FA Cup final.
Swansea City midfielder Jonjo Shelvey took centre stage against his former club as Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League with a 2-2 draw at the Welsh club on Monday.
An early Peter Crouch goal gave Stoke City a 1-0 home win against Newcastle United in the Premier League on Monday to pile more pressure onto beleaguered Toon boss Alan Pardew.
Arsenal snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory over Burnley to keep their title hopes on track after the referee Jon Moss awarded penalties to both sides and sent off home manager Arsene Wenger in injury time.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
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