Sunderland midfielder Stephane Sessegnon has failed in his bid to have a season-ending three-match ban overturned.

Sessegnon was sent off for his challenge on Yacouba Sylla by referee Lee Probert in Sunderland's 6-1 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa on Monday night.

The Wearside club launched an appeal for wrongful dismissal with the Football Association but that was rejected on Wednesday at an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing.

The ban means the Benin international will not be available for Sunderland's final three games of the season as they look to secure their Premier League future.

Sunderland have appealed against the red card shown to Stephane Sessegnon in the Black Cats' defeat by Aston Villa.

The 28-year-old was sent off for a challenge on Yacouba Sylla in Monday's 6-1 hammering at Villa Park.

A three-game suspension would rule him out of the remainder of Sunderland's relegation battle - at home to Stoke and Southampton and away to Tottenham.

The Benin international's case will be heard by an independent regulatory commission on Wednesday.

Record four-time African Footballer of the Year Samuel Eto'o scored for Russian big spenders Anzhi Makhachkala at the weekend on his return from a knee injury.

However, the Cameroonian star could not prevent Dynamo Moscow fighting back to force a 3-3 draw and leave Anzhi third in the table, 10 points behind leaders CSKA Moscow with five rounds left.

Benin midfielder Stephane Sessegnon was on target for the second consecutive week, with his late first-half goal giving lowly Sunderland a 1-0 home victory over Everton.

ENGLAND

Nigeria star Obafemi Martins was the hero for the Seattle Sounders as they won their first game of the US Major League Soccer season, beating Colorado Rapids 1:0 on the road on Saturday.

The veteran striker had been expected to start on the bench after only recovering from injury, but was handed a starting place after team-mate Eddie Johnson picked up a problem in training on Friday.

Profiting from a rebound of team-mate Shalrie Joseph's shot, the former Inter Milan poacher made room for himself with a touch before beating Rapids goalkeeper Clint Irwin, and celebrating his what was also his first goal for the club with his trademark backflip.

African stars had mixed luck in the FA Cup semi-finals at the weekend with Ivorian Arouna Kone helping Wigan triumph while a superb goal from Senegalese Demba Ba could not prevent Chelsea going out.

Kone burst clear of several defenders to create the first goal as Wigan took time off from an English Premier League relegation struggle to defeat second-tier Millwall 2-0 and earn a first FA Cup final appearance.

Ba scored with an acrobatic half-volley for Chelsea to halve a two-goal deficit against fellow giants Manchester City, but an equaliser eluded the title-holders at a packed Wembley stadium.

About 10,000 fans are set to watch Bob Bradley's Egypt play Zimbabwe in a 2014 World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

Egypt's Ministry of Interior have allowed a limited number of fans in to support the Pharaohs for the first time on home soil since the Port Said stadium disaster in February 2012 that left over 70 people dead.

There have also been violent clashes following the death sentences handed down to those fans found guilty of causing the fatalities at the game between Al Masry and Al Ahly.

The Egyptians also think the fans' presence can boost their chances of qualifying for the 2014 tournament in Brazil to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1990.

Benin midfielder Stephane Sessegnon has withdrawn from the squad for Tuesday's World Cup qualifier in Algeria due to injury, his English Premier League club Sunderland said on Saturday.

"Sessegnon has remained on Wearside for treatment on an injury during the international break."

"He will remain with the club's medical staff ahead of next weekend's (league) game against Manchester United," said the club website (www.safc.com).

Sunderland did not give any details of the injury although local media reported that it is likely to be a groin problem he first aggravated at Queens Park Rangers two weeks ago.

Egypt U-20 side completed a clean sweep of their group games with a comfortable 1-0 win over Benin during Group A match of the 2013 Orange CAF Championship played at Ahmed Zabana Stadium in Oran.

Egypt will now be joined from Group A in the semi-finals by Ghana who beat hosts, Algeria 2-0 in the other match played simultaneously at Ain Temouchent.

Striker Kahraba benefitted from some unconvincing defending ghosting in behind defender Koffi Kassa to shot home from 5 meters out for the opening goal.

Egypt looked comfortable and hardly troubled by Benin for the greater part of the game. Benin worked hard and never gave up and made up lack of quality with sheer determination and commitment.

Ghana revived their campaign at the 2013 African Youth Championship by beating Benin 1-0 in Ain Temouchent on Tuesday. 

The Black Satellites missed a hatful of scoring chances in the first half but bagged the points at the Stade Omar Ouccief.

On two minutes, striker Ebenezer Assifuah failed to direct Richmond Nketiah's cross from the right from the 18-yard box.

His right foot connection went over the bar after he broke away from his marker.

Another right-wing delivery from Nketiah was headed over the goal post by Assafuah.

The Orange CAF U-20  African Championship 2013  kicked off on Saturday, with the home team Algeria being held to a goalless draw by Benin at Omar Oucef Stadium, Ain Timouchent.

Both teams gave good account of themselves with Benin creating the more clear-cut chances, but they were unable to convert any with Algeria goalkeeper Nassim Torche at his best to deny the Young Squirrels a crucial win.

Gbenga Daniel Lanigna got the first shot at goal when his 10th minute strike was saved by the impressive Torche.
  
Big striker Ouali had a chance to put Algeria in front when he beat Allagbe in goal for Benin to an aerial ball in the 19th minute only to head wide.