AFRICA CUP: Defending champions Zambia tumbled out of the Africa Cup yesterday after failing to beat Burkina Faso, who finished surprise winners of Group C after a goalless draw in Nelspruit. Zambia are the first holders to be eliminated at the first stage since Algeria in 1992. Burkina Faso finished ahead of Nigeria on goal difference. Both nations advanced to the quarter-finals.

ROSICKY: Skipper Tomas Rosicky has returned to the Czech Republic squad for the friendly against Turkey next Wednesday. The 32-year old playmaker has been troubled by a calf injury this season and returned for club side Arsenal at the weekend.

LAKIC: Eintracht Frankfurt have brought in Croatian forward Srdjan Lakic on loan from Wolfsburg until 2014 as the promoted club seek to boost their frontline. The 29-year-old Croatian failed to hold down a starting spot at Wolfsburg since his 2011 move from Kaiserslautern and also had a loan spell in 2012 at Hoffenheim.

SCHOLES: Thieves stole a top-of-the-range 4x4 owned by Man-chester United midfielder Paul Scholes as he defrosted the windscreen. The footballer left the engine running to melt ice on his grey Chevrolet Captiva Estate while it was parked on his driveway and nipped back inside his home in Oldham, Greater Manchester. When he returned, the car had been stolen.

ISCO: Malaga have agreed an im-proved contract with their sought-after midfielder Isco by raising his buy-out clause from 21 to 35 million euros. The 20-year-old playmaker, who is on the fringes of the Spanish national team, has agreed an improved salary and will continue to be tied at Malaga until 2016.

BASTOS: Schalke signed mid-fielder Michel Bastos on loan from Lyon in a deal until 2014 as they hope to turn their fading season around. The 29-year-old, who has won five caps for his country, is a numerical replace-ment for Lewis Holtby who has joined Tottenham Hotspur.