MARRAKECH, Morocco – Stephen Ames shot a 9-under 63 on Thursday to take a four-stroke lead over a Hall of Fame quartet in the Morocco Champions, the first PGA Tour Champions event in Africa.

Making his season debut, Ames matched the Samanah Golf Club record set by Daniel Brooks in the 2009 Samanah Masters. The 55-year-old naturalized Canadian citizen from Trinidad played the four par-5 holes in 5 under, making an eagle on No. 5 and birdies on Nos. 9, 12 and 18.

''Today was a great day,'' Ames said. ''I hit the ball very nicely and capitalized with my putting. ... The main thing I worked on all week was putting and I putted extremely well today.''

Ames has one senior victory after winning four times on the PGA Tour.

Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie, Jose Maria Olazabal and Retief Goosen shot 67 in sunny conditions with an afternoon high of 77 degrees.

Kevin Sutherland was at 68 with Tom Pernice Jr., Ken Tanigawa, Scott Parel and Rod Pampling.

Miguel Angel Jimenez, coming off a playoff victory two weeks ago in the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric in Hawaii, shot 70.

Barcelona forward Carles Perez has joined Serie A side Roma in a deal worth an initial €11 million, the two clubs confirmed on Thursday.

A further €4.5m is potentially due in performance-related add-ons. Perez has signed a contract with Roma until 2024.

- Transfer Grades: All the big moves rated
- When does the transfer window close?
- All major completed transfer deals

Barca had hoped to include a buy-back option in the deal but, in the end, have had to settle for a first option should Roma agree to sell in the future. Perez, 21, had not anticipated leaving the Spanish champions this month after breaking into the first team earlier this season.

However, last Friday, ahead of the weekend's defeat to Valencia, he was unexpectedly told that he did not feature in new coach Quique Setien's plans.

Sources have told ESPN that the news came as a shock to Perez, who had hoped to remain at Barcelona, who he has played for since 2012.

Perez, who came through the La Masia academy, made his first-team debut last season against Eibar and injuries elsewhere saw him become a regular under Ernesto Valverde at the start of the campaign.

He made 10 appearances under Valverde in all competitions this season, scoring twice, including one away against Inter Milan in the Champions League.

Setien, who replaced Valverde earlier this month, used him off the bench in his first game in charge against Granada and started him against Ibiza in the Copa del Rey.

Perez was removed after 58 minutes of that game, though, and two days later was suddenly told that he had no future at the club as talks began with Roma.

His departure leaves Barcelona short in attack after negotiations over a move for Valencia striker Rodrigo Moreno stalled.

If they're unable to bring in another forward this month, they will be left with just Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele and Ansu Fati to cover three positions until the summer.

Edinson Cavani is likely to remain with Paris Saint-Germain until the end of this season and the expiration of his contract after Atletico Madrid were unable to meet the €20 million asking price, sources have confirmed to ESPN.

Earlier this week, a deal had looked likely as the Spaniards were confident that PSG sporting director Leonardo would accept €15m with the potential for an additional €3m in incentives -- but that has seemingly collapsed.

According to ESPN sources, the Brazilian transfer guru dug his heels in for the full €20m and Atletico are unable to reach that sum after their failure to raise funds through significant player sales this month -- notably Thomas Lemar.

PSG would have let Cavani, 32, go this window if Atletico could have gone a little further, but Leonardo was unwilling to compromise, and the Uruguay international's brother and agent has since left Madrid with no deal complete and little time remaining.

Cavani has wanted out all month, as revealed by ESPN sources, yet PSG coach Thomas Tuchel hinted on Wednesday after the 2-0 Coupe de France round-of-16 win away at third tier Pau that the capital club's all-time top scorer would be reintegrated for Saturday's visit of Montpellier in Ligue 1 -- if a move had not happened.

That now appears to be the most probable outcome with little time or room left for manoeuvre, leaving Cavani a free agent to join Atletico, or another club, from this summer.

Elsewhere at Parc des Princes, Colin Dagba will miss at least a month of action with a knee injury picked up against Pau, meaning defensive options are thinner, and making Thomas Meunier indispensable at right-back for the time being.

With Layvin Kurzawa's proposed switch with Juventus' Mattia De Sciglio having stalled, PSG are unlikely to do any late business.

Manchester United have completed the signing of Bruno Fernandes from Sporting CP in a deal that could be worth up to €80 million.

On Wednesday, the Old Trafford club announced they had agreed a deal with the Portuguese side, subject to a medical, which has now been completed.

Fernandes, 25, who has signed on a five-and-a-half year deal with the option of a further year, said: "My love of Manchester United really started when I used to watch Cristiano Ronaldo play, and ever since then I have been a big fan of this great club.

"For me to now play for Manchester United feels incredible. I have worked hard to get to this moment and I can promise the fans that I will give everything for the badge to help bring us more success and trophies.

"I want to thank Sporting for everything they have done for me. It is surreal to hear the nice words that have been said about me from players that used to play for this team. A massive thank you to Ole and everyone at Manchester United for the trust they have shown in me, and I can't wait to start to repay that on the pitch."

- Transfer Grades: All the big moves rated
- When does the transfer window close?
- All major completed transfer deals

Said United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: "We have been tracking Bruno for many months, and everyone here has been tremendously impressed with all his attributes and what he will bring to this team.

"Most importantly he is a terrific human being with a great personality and his leadership qualities are clear for all to see.

"Bruno's goals and assists stats speak for themselves, he will be a fantastic addition to our team and he will help us push on in the second part of the season. The winter break is coming at a perfect time for us to integrate Bruno into the squad and for him to get to know his teammates."

? ? ??#MUFC is delighted to announce the signing of Bruno Fernandes!

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 30, 2020

Sporting had posted the figures of the deal included an initial €55m payment with a further €25m in variables. Of those, €5m were related to the player's appearances, another €5m subject to United's achievements and a further €15m based on individual awards.

Sources told ESPN Sporting had offered Fernandes to United at the start of the month in an attempt to ease their financial difficulties, but the two sides encountered difficulties once he had agreed to personal terms.

Sources told ESPN United were prepared to walk away from the deal if Sporting didn't lower their demands. Barcelona then appeared close to signing Fernandes as part of a deal which would have seen Valencia forward Rodrigo also move to Camp Nou.

However, on Tuesday, United made a breakthrough in negotiations for the midfielder.

United monitored Fernandes last summer before deciding against making an offer but injuries to Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay, and Sporting's desire to sell the player, have seen the club strike a deal.

Fernandes, ranked the No. 10 attacking midfielder in ESPN's FC 100, has scored 13 goals and provided 13 assists in all competitions so far this season.

He helped Sporting win the Portuguese Cup and the Portuguese League Cup last season and put pen to paper on a new deal with the club in November, but has decided to continue his career in Manchester.

The midfielder is the fourth signing under Solskjaer, with Daniel James, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire joining United last summer.

Fernandes also signed in time to be eligible for United's next match, at home to Wolves on Saturday.

Canada 300 for 7 (Manohar 101*, Walia 40*, Dobell 2-52) beat Japan 118 (Date 59, Akhil Kumar 6-46) by 182 runs
Scorecard

Opening batsman Neel Date scored Japan's first fifty at the World Cup, but seamer Akhil Kumar picked up 6 for 46, including the wicket of the half-centurion, to help Canada clinch their 13th place play-off semi-final. Kumar's spell triggered a terminal collapse as Japan went from 73 for 1 to 118 all out in pursuit of 301.

Five Japanese batsmen, including debutant Reiji Suto, bagged ducks and barring Date, no other batsman passed 20.

Earlier in the day, after being inserted, Canada rode on their wicketkeeper-opener Nicholas Manohar's 101 off 102 balls to put up 300 for 7. Kento Dobell, Tushar Chaturvedi, and Leon Mehlig took two wickets apiece for Japan, but a series of contributions from the middle order and Manohar's blows at the top meant Canada were always ahead in the contest.

Kumar's figures, the second best in the tournament, then sewed up a 182-run victory for Canada.

UAE 146 for 3 (Sharafu 59, Uboh 2-23) beat Nigeria 145 (Olaleye 31, Mukherjee 4-35, Lakra 3-20) by seven wickets
Scorecard

Offspinner Rishabh Mukherjee and left-arm fingerspinner Aryan Lakra, who took the new ball, took seven wickets between them to skittle Nigeria for 145. Their No. 3 Alishan Sharafu then struck an unbeaten 59 off 60 balls to ensure that UAE chased the target down with seven wickets and more then 20 overs to spare.

After being asked to bat, Nigeria had a fairly decent start with the openers Olayinka Olaleye and Sulaimon Runsewe putting on 33 for the first wicket. It was Ali Nasser who made the breakthrough when he had Runsewe caught by Lakra for 14 off 22 balls. Olaleye and No.3 Miracle Akhigbe then pushed Nigeria's score to 70 by the 17th over. From there, they lost 9 for 75 to be bundled out in 46.4 overs. Mukherjee came away with 4 for 35 while Lakra took 3 for 20.

UAE then suffered a wobble at the top and were reduced to 36 for 2 in the eighth over, but Sharafu and Jonathan Figy, who had hit a century earlier in the tournament, then steadied the innings with a 77-run stand. Figy holed out for 28 off 45 balls, but Sharafu and Ansh Tandon finished the chase off without any further damage.

Sri Lanka 277 for 6 (Dananjaya 66, Wickramasinghe 59, Davidson 2-31) beat Scotland 149 for 8 (Guy 31, Wijesinghe 3-31) by 97 runs (D/L method)
Scorecard

Sri Lanka captain Nipun Dananjaya, Ahan Wickramasinghe, and Navod Paranavithana hit fifties to set up the side's victory against Scotland in a rain-hit clash. After Sri Lanka put up 277 for 6, wet weather interrupted Scotland's innings and consequently their target was adjusted to 247 from 40 overs, according to the D/L method. Scotland never really got going in the chase and mustered 149 for 8. Seamer Chamindu Wijesinghe was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka, returning 3 for 31 in his nine overs.

After opting to bat, Sri Lanka had a sound start, with Paranavithana and Kamil Mishara adding 90 for the opening wicket. Mishara fell 11 short of a fifty, but Paranavithana and later Wickramasinghe and Dananjaya reached the landmark to give their side the impetus in the middle and end overs.

Dilshan Madushanka, who had scooped up a five-wicket haul against Nigeria, extended his form, getting Scotland's openers inside the eighth over. Wijesinghe and Kavindu Nadeeshan made further inroads into the Scotland line-up as the chase spiraled out of control. Captain Angus Guy top-scored with 31, but it came off 72 balls, and the rapidly rising asking rate was too much to overcome for Scotland.

Bangladesh Under-19s 261 for 5 (Tanzid 80, Shahadat 74, Hridoy 51, Moletsane 2-41) beat South Africa Under-19s 157 (Beaufort 60, Rakibul 5-19) by 104 runs

South Africa were caught napping by spin again in the quarter-final, as left-arm spinner Rakibul Hasan took a five-wicket haul to knock the hosts out of the 2020 U-19 World Cup. Bangladesh will now face New Zealand in the semi-final, on February 6 in Potchefstroom.

Before Rakibul took 5 for 19 in 9.3 overs, it was opener Tanzid Hasan's 84-ball 80 and No. 5 batsman Shahadat Hossain's 76-ball 74 that set South Africa a challenging target of 262. Towhid Hridoy chipped in with 51.

South Africa's No. 4 Luke Beaufort, who made 60 and was the ninth wicket to fall, was the only half-centurion for the hosts. He looked to take the game as deep as possible but found little support from the other end. Opener Jonathan Bird's 35 was the second-highest score from South Africa.

It was Bird's dismissal, the second South Africa wicket, that got Rakibul on the wickets column in the 14th over. After that, he bowled the captain Bryce Parsons for 7. In his second spell, Rakibul had Pheko Moletsane stumped in the 35th over, trapped Tiaan van Vuuren lbw four overs later and finally dismissed Beaufort in the 43rd over to end South Africa's hopes. Rakibul's five wickets were claimed at an economy of only 2.00.

After their win, the Bangladesh players walked around the ground thanking their supporters who had come from nearby cities to watch the game. Chants of "Bangladesh, Bangladesh" resonated through certain sections of the ground after the final wicket - a run-out - closed South Africa's innings out for 157.

The day had begun with a measured 60-run opening stand between opener Tanzid and Parvez Hossain Emon. Emon's dismissal for 17 was soon followed by No. 3 Mahmudul Hasan Joy's and they were 73 for 2 after 16.4 overs. However, a 57-run partnership between Tanzid and Hridoy brought Bangladesh back on track. In that partnership, they found the boundaries often, with Tanzid being the aggressor.

Then came the 102-run stand between Hridoy and Shahadat that kept South Africa's bowlers quiet in the middle overs, and a combined late charge from their captain Akbar Ali - who made an 11-ball 16 - and Shahadat helped them finish on 261 for 5.

South Africa's Under-19 program could be in line for an overhaul after the team's failure to progress out of the quarter-finals at the age-group World Cup, which they are hosting. South Africa advanced second from their group, following defeat in the opening match to Afghanistan. The team also came into the tournament on the back of a poor 2019, in which they won just three out of 12 matches. This included a 0-7 whitewash against Pakistan, where they were comprehensively outspun.

"It's disappointing. With the Under-19 program, the results have spoken for themselves. We haven't been good enough," Graeme Smith, CSA's Acting Director of Cricket had said last week during an engagement with the media. "Right now, the program hasn't been successful enough for us and we need to look at why and how we produce better players in that area."

Under particular scrutiny will be the position of the coach, Lawrence Mahatlane, who has been in the job since 2014 when Ray Jennings' contract was not renewed, despite him guiding a team including Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada to the World Cup trophy. Mahatlane has been in charge for three World Cups; South Africa came 11th in 2016, fifth in 2018 and cannot finish higher than seventh in this edition, where he had former South Africa assistant coach Malinbongwe Maketa working alongside him. Maketa, who worked with the senior men's team under Ottis Gibson, is understood to be the favourite to succeed Mahatlane, as South Africa seek to create a structure that will produce both positive results and players for the future.

That is one of Smith's many tasks, which involves overseeing all areas of South African cricket, and ensuring there is a steady flow of players filling up the talent pool. He aims to have a clear plan by the end of the current season when his short deal ends, while he also honours a commentary agreement for the IPL. Smith has confirmed that he intends to return to South Africa and occupy the role permanently, pending other CSA matters such as the future of suspended CEO Thabang Moroe.

"Hopefully by the end of this season, we can really dive in and look at how we can improve them and improve the results," he said, mooting red-ball cricket as a potential solution. "Maybe we need to play longer version games, I don't know. It's been a very white-ball focused approach. Hopefully, in the next month or two, we can have a real plan."

Smith himself is a product of the Under-19 system, having been part of the South African team that won the plate final in 2000. His team-mates included Johan Botha, Albie Morkel, Jonathan Trott, Jacques Rudolph and Thami Tsolekile, who all went to carve international careers, and Rivash Gobind, who is currently the Afghanistan national team's assistant coach. For Smith, age-group cricket ensured he was part of CSA's plans early on and taught him the importance of career-planning, something he is likely to want to see passed on to aspiring cricketers today.

"Coming through in my own time, I relied on the schooling system, Gauteng Cricket and we had some age-group academies in those days and maybe we need to look at that and identifying talent and how we give them some skills that can help kids at a younger age," he said.

"Goal-setting for me came from (the age of) 11, 12 when I went to the academy. It wasn't something I just read in a book. It was something I was exposed to at a young age when I was picked there."

South Africa's current development program system starts identifying talent and holding training camps from the Under-15 age group and holds winter camps from the Under-17 level both provincially and nationally. However, it is still the case that the bulk of the country's cricketers come from a select group of elite schools, something which limits the scope of South Africa's search for talent.

Given the recent slide South Africa's senior men's team has gone through, with a third successive Test series defeat, attention has turned to South Africa's depth and questions over whether they have the resources to rebuild.

The results of the Under-19 team have not been promising in the last 12 months but defenders of the system will point out that recent graduates of the program include Thando Ntini and Sinethemba Qeshile, both of whom are playing franchise cricket this summer. Still, South Africans want to see wins, and this team has not provided many.

Quarterback Dak Prescott said in an interview with ESPN that he's confident he and the Dallas Cowboys will be able to agree to a contract this offseason.

The Cowboys and Prescott have discussed a new contract since the end of the 2018 season, but so far the sides have not been able to agree to a deal. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins on March 18.

"I'm confident a new contract is coming. I'm confident in my agent and my team and I'm confident in the Cowboys that something will get done," he said in the interview with ESPN's Sage Steele, when asked how close he was to agreeing to a new contract.

Asked why he and the Cowboys couldn't agree to a new contract before the start of last season, Prescott said, "There's a lot of variables that go into it."

"There's a lot of things that have to come into play when you're talking about a contract. Never just look at the money, never just look at what people see or the attention-grabber. There's a lot of details to it," he said. "There's people that know that handle that, so I'm leaving that up to my agent and I have all the confidence in both sides."

Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones said last week at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, that signing Prescott to a new deal was the franchise's No. 1 priority this offseason. If Prescott and the Cowboys can't agree to a contract, Dallas has the option to use its franchise tag on the quarterback.

"It's been urgent for us," Jones said, according to USA Today Sports. "We want to certainly get that done. Get his contract, find some resolution to it and get it done."

Prescott told ESPN that the fact that he was unable to get a deal before last season didn't affect his focus.

"I don't play the game for money. Never once in my life have I touched a football and thought about money," he said. "I play the game because of my love and my passion, so once the season began, that's all my focus was on, was my love of the game and my commitment to my teammates to go get something done, to get the job done. We all had a shared responsibility and a promise to go after something and it had nothing to do about individual bank accounts or what was to come, so it never crossed my mind."

Although the Cowboys finished 8-8 last season, missing the playoffs and ultimately costing coach Jason Garrett his job, Prescott had a career year, posting career highs in passing yards (4,902) and touchdowns passes (30).

Prescott said he is grateful for everything Garrett did for his career and that he has exchanged text messages with his former coach. Garrett will remain coaching in the NFC East next season after joining the New York Giants as their offensive coordinator.

"I'm happy that he's still coaching; the league needs him, but [I'm] not happy where he is," Prescott said.

AVENTURA, Fla. -- Patrick Mahomes recalled a trip he took last year with Andy Reid to Atlantic City, New Jersey, for the Maxwell Football Club awards banquet. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback said he was surprised by how much fans in the Philadelphia area loved Reid, the former Eagles coach.

"He's a favorite usually everywhere we go," Mahomes said Thursday as he, Reid and the rest of the Chiefs prepared for Super Bowl LIV. "Everywhere you go, the way he treats people, you can tell people love him and care about him.

"It's his work ethic, the way he treats people. He's a coach that's won a lot of games. He's had an amazing career. Obviously, we want to this game, the big Super Bowl, put that on his résumé. He's someone who's been successful from Day 1 and he's still successful now."

Reid, who coached the Eagles for 14 seasons and the Chiefs for the past seven, is arguably the most accomplished coach of the Super Bowl era never to have won an NFL championship. He is seventh in career wins but has coached in just one Super Bowl, with the Eagles in February 2005. They lost to the New England Patriots.

So what he hasn't achieved seems to be making him the sentimental favorite to win on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.

"I'm humbled by it," Reid said. "Very humbled by it. I have great guys here. Friends likewise around the league. Been doing it a long time. This is about this team, the guys that have worked so hard to get where they are. The players, the coaches, the organization. It's a team effort even getting to this position. It's not about one position. Right now, my complete focus is on making sure we as coaches do a good job, as players do a good job in the Super Bowl."

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has an older brother, Jason, who played for Reid when he coached the Eagles.

"I had that mindset coming down here," Kelce said of Reid being the sentimental favorite. "It's cool that everyone appreciates Big Red as much as I do. It's just been cool how many players that have played for him in years past that I've been able to make a connection with, have hit me up and said they're rooting for me, not only for me but Big Red."

Chiefs tackle Mitch Schwartz said, "It speaks to who he is as a person that everyone is rooting for him. He's been in this for 20, 25 years as a head coach, and everyone he's come in contact with loves him and wants the best for him. Usually, you can't say that about people you work with, especially in a sport like this where there's a lot of passion and there's a lot of times where you can butt heads. But everybody loves the guy."

Jeanie Buss, the controlling owner and president of the Los Angeles Lakers, took to social media Thursday for the first time since the death of Kobe Bryant, with whom she said she was "family."

Bryant, who was 41, his daughter Gianna, who was 13, and seven others died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, on Sunday.

"Kobe, I don't know how to express what you mean to me, my family and the Los Angeles Lakers," Buss wrote in her Instagram post. "My father [Jerry Buss] loved you like a son, which makes us family. When you invited me to lunch shortly after my father passed away, I was struggling to find motivation and purpose. Kobe, you brought Gianna with you to spend some time with me. You explained that you wanted to show her that women can be leaders in the NBA, just like the men.

"At first, it seemed like an action of a devoted father setting an example for his daughter. But in actuality -- and I am positively sure you knew EXACTLY what you were doing -- what you did was give me the inspiration and strength I was searching for. I reflect on that day often and it makes me smile and it makes me strong. I call on that memory whenever I feel down and need a bit of courage.

"For everything you did on the court that filled me with so much joy and love, for all the lives you changed through basketball itself, it was that day with Gigi that reignited my drive and determination."

View this post on Instagram

Kobe, I don't know how to express what you mean to me, my family and the Los Angeles Lakers. My father loved you like a son, which makes us family. When you invited me to lunch shortly after my father passed away, I was struggling to find motivation and purpose. Kobe, you brought Gianna with you to spend some time with me. You explained that you wanted to show her that women can be leaders in the NBA, just like the men. At first, it seemed like an action of a devoted father setting an example for his daughter. But in actuality - and I am positively sure you knew EXACTLY what you were doing - what you did was give me the inspiration and strength I was searching for. I reflect on that day often and it makes me smile and it makes me strong. I call on that memory whenever I feel down and need a bit of courage. For everything you did on the court that filled me with so much joy and love, for all the lives you changed through basketball itself, it was that day with Gigi that reignited my drive and determination. Vanessa, Natalia, Bianka, and Capri - I am so sorry for your loss. We are grateful to have you in our lives and we will always be here for you. To the families that also lost loved ones on Sunday, the entire Laker family mourns with you. Laker Nation - we are one family grieving the loss of people we all loved dearly. We will mourn together, cry together but we will also heal together, love together and win TOGETHER. We love you. Kobe - that's what you made you so unbelievably special. You not only inspired us towards greatness, you showed us the way. : : To learn more about how you can help the families affected by this tragedy go to MambaOnThree.org and to further Kobe and Gianna's legacy in youth sports visit MambaSportsFoundation.org #peace #love #joy #family #Mamba #Mambacita #2 #8 #24 : : Picture taken in February 2016 on the way to #NBAAllStar game in #Toronto

A post shared by Jeanie Buss (@jeaniebuss) on Jan 30, 2020 at 9:05am PST

Bryant played 20 seasons with the Lakers before retiring in 2016, three years after the death of Lakers owner Jerry Buss, who shepherded the NBA team to 10 championships from the Showtime dynasty of the 1980s to the Bryant era.

Jeanie Buss went on to express her sympathies to Bryant's wife Vanessa and his three other daughters -- Natalia, Bianka and Capri.

"I am so sorry for your loss. We are grateful to have you in our lives and we will always be here for you," Buss wrote. "To the families that also lost loved ones on Sunday, the entire Laker family mourns with you. Laker Nation - we are one family grieving the loss of people we all loved dearly.

"We will mourn together, cry together but we will also heal together, love together and win TOGETHER. We love you. Kobe - that's what you made you so unbelievably special. You not only inspired us towards greatness, you showed us the way."

Bryant had many relationships with those in and around the organization, including Lakers vice president of basketball operations/GM Rob Pelinka, his longtime agent who also was Gianna's godfather.

After Tuesday's game against the LA Clippers was indefinitely postponed by the NBA, the Lakers held their first full practice Wednesday. Their next game on the schedule is Friday at Staples Center against the Portland Trail Blazers.