Too inexperienced: Grenoble midfielder Jonathan Tinhan has turned down a call-up from Benin to play at the African Nations Cup finals after just one senior game. The French-born Tinhan's decision delayed the final selection of the 23-man Benin squad by coach Michel Dussuyer for this month's tournament in Angola. The 20-year-old Tinhan had expressed surprise at being named in a preliminary squad and was advised by his parents and club not to play at the tournament given his lack of senior experience.

Valbuena: Mathieu Valbuena has indicated his move from Marseille should be finalised in the next few days. The 25-year-old midfielder is ready to leave Stade Velodrome after struggling for playing time under Didier Deschamps this season. "I have not decided where to go yet," Valbuena told www.france football.fr. We have some concrete offers and we should have news in the coming days."

Edu: Brazilian striker Edu signed for his third German club yesterday as he joined high-flying Schalke 04 from Korean outfit Suwon Blue Wings. The 28-year-old signed a three-and-a-half year contract with Schalke, who are second in the championship, a point behind Bayer Leverkusen. Edu previously played for Bochum and Mainz, scoring five goals in 44 appearances.

Rafinha: Schalke full-back Rafinha is facing disciplinary action for reporting back to the club three days late follow-ing the festive break. The Brazilian extended his holiday without permission and coach Felix Magath has confirmed he will be punished. "It is all about discipline," Magath told the Bild newspaper. "I expect a player to come to work and if he doesn't come, I expect that he informs me personally."

Sevilla: Sevilla may tap this month's transfer market to replace defender Sergio Sanchez who has been sidelined with a heart condition, president Jose Maria del Nido said. The 23-year-old, who usually plays at right back, has been ordered by doctors to stop all physical activity and to undergo further tests.

Primera Liga: Valencia vs Espanyol 1-0; Barcelona vs Villarreal 1-1.

Friendly: Al Hilal vs Inter 0-1.

Ice hockey: USA Hockey mixed youth with experience in its 23-man roster for February's Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Three players with past Olympic experience - Chris Drury of the New York Rangers, Brian Rafalski of Detroit and Jamie Langenbrunner of the New Jersey Devils - will return. Also on the roster are the current top three American point-getters in the National Hockey League, Chicago's Patrick Kane, New Jersey's Zach Parise and Paul Stastny of Colorado. Team USA's first game of the Olympics will be against Switzerland on Febuary, 16.

Rugby: Scotland's injury-ravaged back-row forward Jason White will miss the Six Nations after breaking his leg during a training session with his French club Clermont Auvergne. White, a former captain and known as one of the hardest tacklers in the game, had surgery yesterday and is expected to be out of action for around three months. Scotland begin their Six Nations campaign against France at Murrayfield on Febuary 7.

Basketball: Kobe Bryant's buzzer-beating three-pointer capped a rally that saw the Los Angeles Lakers erase a 20-point deficit to beat Sacramento 109-108 Friday in a NBA thriller. Bryant finished with 39 points, while Lamar Odom added a season-high 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Lakers. Spain's Pau Gasol had 17 points, 16 rebounds and four assists, one of which set up Bryant's game-winner from in front of the Sacramento bench.

Athletics: Ethiopian pair Feyisa Lelisa and Atsede Bayisa claimed res-pective men's and women's titles at the Xiamen Internat-ional Marathon yesterday. Teenager Lelisa, in only his second marathon, lowered his personal best to two hours eight minutes 47 seconds, while reigning Paris champion Bayisa clocked 2hr 28 min 53 sec. Bai Xue, China's pre-race favourite and winner of the world title last August, was a late withdrawal from the first major marathon of the year.

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