Sporting Briefs...

Saviola: Argentina striker Javier Saviola has made the Barcelona squad for the first time this season for the Primera Liga clash with Valencia in the Nou Camp today. The European and Spanish champions made it clear that Saviola was surplus to requirements after he returned from a loan spell at Sevilla last season. The 24-year-old has one year left on his contract but turned down offers from other clubs to stay and fight for his place.

Wome: Cameroon coach Arie Haan has recalled Werder Bremen defender Pierre Wome Nlend to a 20-strong squad to prepare for the side's next African Nations Cup qualifier against Equatorial Guinea. Wome has not played for Cameroon since missing a penalty in an October 2005 World Cup qualifier against Egypt, dashing Cameroon's hopes of making the World Cup finals in Germany.

Kenya: Kenya's government halted the country's two rival soccer leagues yesterday after being ordered by FIFA to sort out chaos in the sport. Kenya's top football clubs have split into two factions with nine of them taking part in a league started last week by the Kenya Premier League (KPL) Limited and 11 remaining with the premier league sanctioned by the country's football federation (KFF), which had been due to start yesterday.

AHN: South Korean striker Ahn Jung-hwan's chances of playing for his national side are "absolutely zero" as long as he remains without a club, coach Pim Verbeek said. The comments should encourage Ahn, who is eager to represent his country in next year's Asian Cup, to sign up soon.

Ligue 1: Played yesterday - Lyon vs Lille 4-1; Auxerre vs Sedan 2-2; Bordeaux vs Troyes 2-1; Le Mans vs Sochaux 2-2; Nice vs Valenciennes 2-0; Paris SG vs Nancy 0-0; Stade Rennes vs St Etienne 0-0; Toulouse vs Lorient 0-0. Today - Racing Lens vs Monaco; Nantes vs O. Marseille.