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Kaizer Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt has voiced his frustration over a perceived gamesmanship in African club competitions.

Hunt was referencing his side's latest match in the Caf Champions League, a 1-0 win over Wydad Casablanca at the FNB Stadium on Saturday evening.

The only goal of a tight game against the 2017 Champions League winners came from Bernard Parker, four minutes after the interval.

With no television commentary of the match, one could clearly hear a lot of the chirping and needle which seemingly came from the Moroccan side, in the coverage which was shown online.

Chiefs were also to have two players sent off - goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi was red-carded by Egyptian referee Ibrahim Nour El Din for a handball outside his area five minutes before half time, while Samir Nurkovic received a second yellow card in the 89th minute and was also dismissed.

Replays suggested though that his second booking was harsh and it looked as if Wydad defender Amine Farhane made the most of the situation.

“I don’t want to say how the red card came about, but it’s very disappointing,” Hunt was quoted saying by the Sowetan, regarding Nurkovic's dismissal.

“But, you know, when you play in Caf you’ve got to be strong, and when you go away you’re going to get more of that.

“It was very disappointing how he got a red card because I think you’ve got to be honest in a game, and there was a lot of dishonesty there. And that’s disappointing," the Amakhosi mentor continued.

"I don’t want to go there. It’s crazy. It’s just part and parcel. I’ve always said even Barcelona would struggle in Africa, because it’s tough.”

Hunt also has vast experience in African competition from previous coaching spells with Bidvest Wits and SuperSport United.

For now, Chiefs will turn their attention back to their domestic duties - they host Stellenbosch FC at the FNB Stadium on Tuesday evening in a league encounter.

Neymar "needs to have more respect" on the pitch, according to Lille's Tiago Djalo, who has claimed that the Paris Saint-Germain star "threw tape" in his face.

Lille moved three points clear at the top of Ligue 1 by beating PSG 1-0 at Parc des Princes on Saturday, with Jonathan David grabbing the decisive goal for the visitors.

Neymar and Djalo were both shown second yellow cards after coming together late on , and the defender has now opened up on the heated exchange between the pair that followed as they made their way down the tunnel.

What's been said?

Djalo told  A Bola : “In the dressing room tunnel, he said things to me that I ignored. He even threw tape [that is wrapped around players' ankles] in my face. 

"What did he say? I don't know, but they weren't good things. It is part of the game, but it is what Neymar lacks, a little more respect. Neymar needs to have more respect.

"The media? They have a share of responsibility. They always end up favouring the most media-friendly players, who end up by being more protected."

Neymar & Djalo both see red

As PSG frantically chased an equaliser against Lille, Neymar and Djalo both raced to pick up a loose ball on the far left touchline before it ultimately ran out of play.

Neymar appeared to push his opponent to the ground as they went shoulder to shoulder, leaving the referee with no choice but to send him off for a second bookable offence.

Djalo was also dismissed for aiming a foul-mouth rant at the Brazilian, and both men will now face at least a one-match ban for their ill-discipline.

Tunnel altercation

Neymar and Djalo continued to remonstrate with each other as they made their way off the pitch and officials from both clubs followed, which only served to raise the hostility levels between the duo.

Cameras picked up Neymar trying to shove the Lille centre-back en route to the dressing room, which prompted him to try and square up to the 29-year-old, only for a number of staff members to intervene and prevent a potential brawl from breaking out.

Neymar lets PSG down

Neymar's angry outburst capped a forgettable afternoon for the PSG talisman, who was unable to affect the game in any meaningful way after being deployed in a number 10 role.

Mauricio Pochettino's side now only have seven games left to rein in Lille, starting with a trip to Strasbourg at the weekend, which Neymar will not be eligible to play.

The Brazil international has already missed a number of important games due to injury, and must now wait to see if any further punishment awaits for his clash with Djalo in the coming days.

Further reading

Express FC coach Wasswa Bbosa has stated they have rectified mistakes in the final third as they take on Kyetume FC in the first leg of their Round of 16 clash in the Uganda Cup on Tuesday.

The Red Eagles will travel away to face their fellow Ugandan Premier League side at Fufa Technical Training Centre in Njeru, seeking to draw first blood in the fixture.

Express opened their campaign in the second round of the league with a resounding 3-1 win over table-toppers URA FC at Wankulukulu Stadium last Saturday, but they will have to put up a fight against a side that held them to a 0-0 draw in their first-round meeting in the top-tier to earn the advantage heading into the second leg.

Coach Bbosa has admitted during their first meeting in the league, his charges struggled to use chances they had created but said they had worked on the problem and were ready for the match, as their target this season is to win both the league and the domestic cup.

“We’ve prepared well coming into this next game, the league win over URA gave us a boost but now next up is a knock-out competition [Uganda Cup,” Bbosa told the club’s official website.

“We face Kyetume whom we faced in the first round of the league but we shared a point in a 0-0 draw, we created chances which we didn’t convert so concentration has been on the final third, the players know we have to compete in both competitions [domestic cup and league] to help the club win silverware.”

On his part, midfielder John Byamukama explained they are ready to step up their game against the side which denied them maximum points when they faced off in the first round.

“First of all, we’re happy we picked our first win at home in our last league game but now our focus is on tomorrow’s [Tuesday’s] game against Kyetume,” Byamukama told the same portal.

“We faced them in the first round so we know how to handle them, the players are ready to step up from the start and our main target is to win the Uganda Cup and we hope to achieve it.”

Bbosa will welcome back centre-back Murushid Juuko, who is available for selection since his suspension only affects league games while midfielder Abel Etrude remains in the sickbay along with Arthur Kiggundu and forward George Senkaaba.

Express and Kyetume will be meeting for the first time in the history of the domestic Cup with the Red Eagles last winning the competition in 2007 while the hosts have never won it nor reached the final in their history.

Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, the domestic cup will be played on a home and away basis save for the final, meaning Express host Kyetume in the return leg on April 10.

Kenya winger Ayub Timbe has explained how striker Michael Olunga played a hand in his transfer to Vissel Kobe in Japan.

The speedy winger was without a club since mid-October 2020 after he parted ways with Beijing Renhe, but he was officially unveiled by the Japanese top-flight side that is captained by Andres Iniesta on March 1, 2021, though the two parties did not give details of the contract signed.

Speaking during a one-on-one interview, Timbe, who also played for EFL Championship side Reading on loan from Renhe, has revealed he spoke to Olunga about his potential move to Japan, and the towering striker gave him the go-ahead to sign the deal.

“When I was in China I remember watching some of the Vissel Kobe games, there is one game I was so impressed about the team and since then I said to myself Kobe is really a good team and then you guys had Iniesta, you also had Lukas [Podolski], and I was always having this feeling it is a good club,” Timbe said during the one-on-one interview recorded by Kobe Online TV.

“I also remember talking to my colleague Michael [Olunga] while on national team duty and he was like if you really want to go to Japan and you want a good team, it is Vissel Kobe, it is one of the best teams, like in everything, in the players, in the facilities just everything, so I just had a good feeling with the club before I even I joined.”

Timbe continued: “Almost everywhere, like when I was in Belgium and also England and when I was in Kenya, if you ask anyone do you know any club in Japan, they will say Vissel [Kobe], everyone and for me, it was easy to pick the team when they came for my services.”

On what to expect from the new challenge, Timbe said: “It is a new league for me, and it is very a good league with a lot of quality players and I think it is one of the leagues in Asia which is very appreciated, with good quality players and pitches so it is a good which is going to even more up and, and up.”

Olunga left a mark in Japan while playing for Kashiwa Reysol after he won the Golden Boot in the 2020 J1 League season after netting 28 goals in 32 games, and went ahead to lift the Most Valuable Player award, becoming the first African to do so in Japan.

The former Gor Mahia, Thika United, and Tusker forward has since left for Al Duhail SC of Qatar and his performances in the Far East are expected to place considerable pressure on Timbe.

On whether he is among the fastest players in the world, Timbe explained: “How fast I can run? Do you know actually I get this question almost everywhere I go, the national team when I was at Reading when I was at Beijing when I was at Genk but I don’t really know?

“But I really want to do a test to really know how quick I am, but I think I am really fast when I am good on my condition, I am pretty fast but I don’t know how fast I am, I really want to do a test.

“I really hope one day I will break the record of the fastest football player in the world.”

Timbe will also play alongside former Barcelona defender Thomas Vermaelen.

Ali Elmusrati was on target as SC Braga secured a 2-1 away victory over Farense in Monday’s Primeira Liga encounter.

Following their 2-0 home defeat to Benfica before the international break, the Archbishops went to the Estadio de Sao Luis, saw, and left with all points at stake.

Both teams adopted a cautious approach from the blast of Rui Costa’s whistle while trying to rely on counter-attacks. Although the visitors had few chances which they could not bury past the goalkeeper.

However, their moment of breakthrough came in the 29th minute as Elmusrati was in the right position to head Joao Novais’ cross past goalkeeper Beto.

That goal was an eye-opener for the hosts who fought like a wounded animal to level matter in the 34th minute through Pedro Henrique – with Ryan Gauld providing the assist.

With no goals in the remaining 11 minutes, both teams went into the half time break all squared.

In the second 45 minutes, Jorge Costa’s Farense came out blazing, albeit, they were unable to match the visitors who dominated ball possession.

While it was looking like the encounter would end in a draw, super-sub Andraz Sporar condemned the Lions of Faro to defeat with his last-gasp effort.

Libya’s Elmusrati was in action from start to finish against Farense, whereas, the hosts did not feature their Angolan duo of Djalma and Hugo Marques as well as Guinea Bissau star, Bura.

In his post-match assessment, manager Carlos Carvalhal opened up that his team profited from a ‘dose of luck’.

"We won but with a dose of luck that earned us the victory,” Carvalhal told the club website.

“Luck is sought, and we believed until the last second we could score. In the final phase of the second half, we had a hard time.

“We ended up having happiness and it was a hard blow for Farense, who did a lot to win the game.

“We also had a high-level first half and we deserved to be ahead. Our fight is to earn the points and look at the games and not the destination. We've been second and now we're fourth.”

As a result of this win, Braga climbed to fourth in the Primeira Liga log having accrued 53 points from 25 outings, while Farense languish in the relegation zone with just 22 points from the same number of outings.

Gary Neville has claimed losing Harry Maguire would be a bigger handicap to England’s Euro 2020 hopes than if Harry Kane were to miss out.

England boss Gareth Southgate has had his final chance to look at players in international action before narrowing his squad down for this summer’s tournament.

Neville was offering up his thoughts on the squad, and suggested England could not do without Manchester United defender Maguire.

What has been said?

Neville conceded Tottenham star Kane is the best player in the squad, but not the most important to England’s hopes of glory.

“I always imagine losing a player,” Neville said on Sky Sports. “So you lose Harry Maguire. That is a big problem for Gareth Southgate. I think it is his biggest problem.” 

Elaborating on his thinking, Neville added: “If you've then got John Stones as your other centre-back... Think if you’ve got Stones and [Tyrone] Mings, Stones and [Conor] Coady, Stones and [Eric] Dier. I am not having it.”

Asked specifically if he believed Maguire was a bigger loss than Kane, Neville replied: “Yes I do.

“For this squad, yes. Harry Kane is the best player in the squad, but if Gareth wants to have a back four and go 4-3-3, the only chance of that is keeping Harry Maguire fit.

“We’ve seen Coady in a back four tonight. Mings in a back four, I like him but I don’t think he can play in a back four at the level we are talking about in terms of winning the tournament.”

The Kane conundrum

Kane has had ankle problems for spells of his career, and had an issue earlier this term.

Neville feels England would have options to tinker with formations and personnel were Kane to succumb to injury.

“I do think there is a problem if Harry Kane gets injured,” he said. “But you could go with [Marcus] Rashford, [Dominic] Calvert-Lewin, [Raheem] Sterling as a false forward, [Phil] Foden. There are options that England could [use and] still win games.

"But with Harry Maguire injured, I think the ability to go to a back four is lost.”

England’s Euro 2020 aims

England have been placed in Group D alongside Croatia, Scotland and Czech Republic.

Given the top two and the best four third-placed teams advance to the round of 16, failing to qualify for the knockout stages would be unthinkable.

Reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2018 raised hope that England could end their long wait for a major trophy, but all four teams who advanced to the last four in Russia were European so the task won’t be easy.

With a crop of young stars emerging, the likelihood is that Southgate’s minimum aim is a place in the semi-finals.

Further reading

Jurgen Klopp insists he would have no regrets if he never got the chance to manage Real Madrid one day.

But the Liverpool boss does his have his eye on one Spanish club - Real Mallorca!

The Liverpool boss was asked by local reporters about the possibility of coaching in Spain ahead of the first leg of the Reds' Champions League quarter-final with Real Madrid on Tuesday night.

What's been said?

The 53-year-old took the question in good spirits. Later, he was asked which La Liga club would suit his coaching style best, again answering with a smile and a laugh.

Asked specifically about coaching Real Madrid, Klopp grinned: “Wow! If at the end of my career I had only three clubs, Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool, then that’s not too bad, eh? I would not regret it.

“You asked if I would regret not managing Real Madrid, that is the question? I don’t think so. But when I came off the plane today, I regret already that we don’t live here, because the weather is so much better here! We were freezing, I have a gilet with me! You are blessed living here. We do it the hard way [in England]!”

So where do Real Mallorca come into it?

Klopp was then asked which of Spanish football's 'big three' - Real, Barcelona or Atletico Madrid - he would be best suited to.

He said: “Oh! I have to think! They are three good football clubs, hey? I would like to say I would fit to all of them! The only problem is I have no time and my Spanish is really bad. You would not enjoy having me in Spain speaking broken Spanish and always making this joke about ordering a beer. You cannot work with that!

“All the clubs here have great managers. Who is the manager of Real Mallorca? That would be nice….to live at least!”

Further reading

Marcos Alonso has insisted the training ground bust-up between Antonio Rudiger and Kepa Arrizabalaga is good for Chelsea.

One day after the loss to West Brom on Saturday, Chelsea’s first defeat under Thomas Tuchel, Rudiger and Kepa had to be pulled apart by team-mates .

Rudiger was sent from the training pitch to cool off by Tuchel, while the defender later apologised for his part in the spat.

What has been said?

Alonso confirmed the altercation took place, but feels it demonstrates hunger in the squad and believes it will be a positive for the Blues.

“These are things that happen,” Alonso told beIN SPORTS . “It shows the level of competition that is in the team, the hunger we show even on the training ground and it is good for the team.”

Issue now in the past

Alonso confirmed the pair put the spat behind them before leaving the training ground, and says it is almost certain that team-mates will clash again in the future.

"Even before training finished it was all good,” he said. “Nothing new, it has always happened. 

“It will happen again. We have to take the positive and move on and get ready for the next game.”

Up next for Chelsea

Defeat to West Brom dented Chelsea’s bid to secure a place in the top four in the Premier League, but their focus now shifts to the Champions League.

The Blues face Porto - conquerors of Juventus - in the first leg of their quarter-final on Wednesday.

Further reading

Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick reveals the club will consider a move for Ghana international Joseph Aidoo should he meet their quality requirement.

The Bavarians coach was speaking in reaction to recent remarks by the Celta Vigo defender who expressed a desire to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Samuel Osei Kuffour to play for the German giants.

Flick responded to the Ghanaian at a press conference.

"There are many players who would like to play for FC Bayern. If he has the appropriate aptitudes and qualities, then I do think that he would be considered," the Bavarian boss said, as reported by Sports 1.

Aidoo, who saw full-time action for Celta in a 3-1 Spanish La Liga triumph over Deportivo Alaves on Sunday, recently expressed a desire to wear the Bavarians jersey.

“I chose Sammy Kuffour as my mentor because for me, I think I will be playing for Bayern Munich in future and he has been there," the centre-back told Joy Sports.

"And that is why I am always looking up to him and he has made a good impact on the football world. When I was a kid, Bayern was the club that touched my heart and that is why I admire them.

“I do watch their [Bayern Munich] games and even sometimes I go to their website to watch some clips and stuff."

Aidoo, who played for Inter Allies during his time in Ghana, joined his current Spanish outfit from Belgian side Genk in a five-year deal in 2018.

In his first season, the 2019-20 term, he made 32 league appearances involving 27 starts as The Sky Blues just avoided relegation.

So far in this current campaign, the 25-year-old has played 20 times in La Liga, half of that number coming as starting appearances.

A full Ghana international, the defender made his first senior appearances in a friendly fixture against Mauritania in 2019, shortly before playing at the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Egypt that year.

Kuffour is one of the most decorated Ghanaian footballers of all time, his achievements include gold medals in the Champions League (2001) and the Fifa Club World Cup (2001).

The former defender also won the German Bundesliga title six times and the German Cup on four occasions.

At international level, the 2006 World Cup star helped Ghana win the 1991 Fifa U17 World Cup before helping the West Africans claim bronze at the Olympic Games the following year. 

Jean-Philippe Gbamin played his first Premier League game for Everton in 597 days against Crystal Palace on Monday evening.

The Cote d’Ivoire international came in for goalscorer James Rodriguez in the 79th minute as Carlos Ancelotti’s men played out a 1-1 draw with the visiting Eagles at Goodison Park.

With that, the 25-year-old has now played his first English top-flight game for the Toffees in over two years. That was his third league game since joining from the German Bundesliga in 2019.

He signed from Mainz on a five-year contract worth £25 million in the close season as Idrissa Gueye left for Paris Saint-Germain, and made just two appearances for the Toffees in August before sustaining a quadriceps injury in training.

A complication with the African’s recovery meant surgery was required, with Gbamin having been nearing a return to full training when the Premier League was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"I was really pleased to have Jean-Philippe Gbamin coming back to train with us,” Ancelotti told media before facing the Selhurst Park giants.

"The feeling is always good for all the players when one of your teammates can join the sessions after a long time.

"I understand how difficult the process was for JP, so far, physically and in the head, because I had the same thing in my playing career.

"When we talk about difficulties in football it is always being aware of more serious things in the world. All of us in the game are really lucky this is our job.

"But when you are a footballer and you cannot play for a long time it is a hard period in your life.

"JP, I am sure, can return a stronger character and better player – but we will not hurry him.

"The most important thing is he has the best chance to play for many years with no more serious problems."

Rodriguez’s 56th minute had given Everton the lead after a goalless first half, albeit, Palace substitute Michy Batshuayi ensured that the game ended on a no winner no vanquished note.

Everton are eighth in the Premier League log with 47 points from 29 games. They are guests of Brighton & Hove Albion in their next outing on April 12.

Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool are not on "a revenge tour" as they prepare to take on Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals this week.

The Reds touched down in the Spanish capital on Monday afternoon ahead of their tantalising last-eight tie against the Liga champions.

Much of the build-up, pre-match, has centred around the sides' meeting in the 2018 final in Kiev, which Real won 3-1.

Sergio Ramos, the villain-in-chief that night, will not play on Tuesday due to injury, but as many as 14 of the 22 players who started the game could do so again, with opinion split as to who enters the tie as favourites.

What's been said?

Speaking at a press conference in Madrid on Monday evening, Klopp said: "We are not on a revenge tour here. I don’t believe too much in revenge, but it would be nice to get through, because it would mean we are in the next round!

“My motivation is on the highest level because it’s the Champions League, we play Real Madrid and we want to go to the next round. It has nothing to do with 2018.

“When we got the draw, of course I remembered the game because it was the first time we have played each other since.

“I said after that [2018] game that if somebody asked me in a press conference a week later or a month later if I would invite Sergio Ramos to my 60th birthday, then I would say no! Meanwhile, I would think about it again. It's not that he's not a great footballer but I didn’t like what happened that night. It was a strange night for us, but it’s long ago and I cannot get that feeling, that anger, back.

“I can only try to prepare my team to show tomorrow how good we are as a football team. It’s a strange season and a difficult season for us, but we want to show how good we are, and if we are better than Real Madrid and can score more goals, then we go to the next round. And if not then Real Madrid will.”

Do Liverpool have a chance to win?

Klopp believes so.

He said: “Our team is built for these kind of games, when we face a football-playing side. That’s why we have a chance, absolutely.

“I heard outside that everybody says Real Madrid is favourite. Great! No problem at all with that. They are used to the role, and we have no problem with the role of challenger."

Further reading

Jurgen Klopp has floated the prospect of starting Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota in the same Liverpool side against Real Madrid.

The quartet were on the field at the same time during the win over Arsenal on Saturday , and they made a positive impression on Klopp.

Jota scored three minutes after coming on for Andy Robertson, and sealed the win with his second of the match after Salah had doubled the advantage on 68 minutes.

What has been said?

Liverpool face Real in the Champions League quarter finals on Tuesday, and Klopp teased the idea of all four starting the game.

When asked if all four could start, Klopp said : “There will be a moment when we give it a try. Is it tomorrow? We will see.

“You will have to wait! Did Zinedine [Zidane] say anything about lineups? We will see. But it looked good at Arsenal. Looked good at Man City too."

Klopp ready to attack

Salah, Mane, Firmino and Jota are no strangers to playing together, and started the 1-1 draw at Manchester City in November.

Liverpool led that game through a Salah penalty, and Klopp liked what he saw. The German coach has been unable to field them together on account of the injury Jota picked up in December, but is toying with the option again.

Further reading

Mbwana Samatta was Fenerbahce’s hero in Monday’s 1-0 defeat of Denizlispor in a Super Lig encounter.

Prior to this encounter, the Aston Villa loanee had gone on a run of 11 games for the Yellow Canaries without finding the net.

His last goal came in his side's 3-0 defeat of Kayserispor on January 25, 2021. However, the resurgent striker returned to scoring ways against the Roosters.

Having failed to win any of their last three games, Denizlispor travelled to the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, with the ambition of ending their poor run. But they returned home empty-handed despite a brave shift.

After a cagey opening minute, the visitors had the first real chance of the game in the 18th minute. However, it was Hungary international Attila Szalai who made a crucial tackle that pushed their promising attack for a corner kick.

The resultant kick was taken but Hadi Sacko’s right-footed shot from Angelo Sagal’s pass could not threaten Altay Bayindir.

A minute before the half-time break, the hosts almost took the lead but Sinan Gumus' shot sailed over the crossbar.

In the second half, Denizlispor came out strong but a formidable defensive formation from Emre Belozoglu’s men frustrated their effort.

Four minutes from the hour mark, Samatta settled the tough encounter after rising higher than his markers to head Caner Erkin’s corner kick past a stranded Cenk Gonen.

Seven minutes later, the lead was almost doubled but Enner Valencia’s fierce shot went off the goalpost.

In the 83rd minute, Samatta profited from shaky Denizlispor defending and passed the ball to Bright Osayi-Samuel – who was available in the penalty area. Nonetheless, the Nigerian midfielder could not convert that chance into a goal.

At the end of 90 minutes, it was Fenerbahce who claimed all points at stake at the expense of Hakan Kutlu’s side.

After putting up a notable display, Samatta – who now boasts four league goals in 24 outings so far – was subbed off for Mert Hakan Yandas in the 90th minute, while Mame Thiam came in for Enner Valencia two minutes earlier.

With 62 points from 31 outings, Fenerbahce occupy second position in the Turkish elite division - two points below Besiktas who have a game in hand.