Sporting briefs...

Missing Boots: Zimbabwe defender Herbert Dick was in such a hurry to get to the African Nations Cup that he forgot to pack his boots, Harare's state-run Herald newspaper said yesterday. Dick, who was drafted into the 23-man Zimbabwe squad after Dumisani Mpofu was injured, told the newspaper he had been home in Kadoma when a friend called to tell him he was to be called up for the tournament in Egypt. When he returned to the capital he was quickly put on a flight for Cairo, and he left his boots behind. The defender, who plays for AmaZulu in Bulawayo, had to shop in Cairo for a replacement pair. He has since joined up with his compatriots in Port Said.

Cudicini: Carlo Cudicini, Chelsea's number two goalkeeper, has signed a one-year extension to his contract that will keep him at the English champions until 2009. The Italian joined Chelsea in 1999 on loan from Castel Di Sangro and the move became permanent a year later for a fee of £160,000 ($281,300). Cudicini, 32, has warmed the bench for much of the past two seasons because of the superlative form of Czech keeper Petr Cech. Cudicini has played five matches this season and only 11 games in 2004/5.

Drogba: Striker Didier Drogba is an injury doubt for Ivory Coast's next African Nations Cup game against Libya after their match-winner was substituted in yesterday's 1-0 win over Morocco. "He's been carrying this knee injury for a while now," coach Henri Michel told reporters after the Chelsea player was surprisingly taken off after 65 minutes of the Group A tie. "He's got three days to recover before the next game and we'll have to see what we're going to do."

Messina: Italy's Messina have made a formal offer to buy Japan midfielder Mitsuo Ogasawara from Kashima Antlers, Japanese media reported yesterday. Ogasawara's international team mate Atsushi Yanagisawa could be involved in an exchange deal after asking the Serie A team to allow him to return to Kashima. Messina officials will visit Japan on Wednesday to negotiate with the J-League club, according to Japan's Nikkan Sports daily.

In France: Ligue 1 - Ajaccio vs Marseille 3-1; Troyes vs Le Mans 1-3; Metz vs Nantes 1-4; Sochaux vs St Etienne 4-0; Bordeaux vs Strasbourg 2-1; Nice vs PSG 1-0; Rennes vs Nancy 0-2; Toulouse vs Lille 0-0.

In Spain: Primera Liga - Real Zaragoza vs Atletico Madrid 0-2.