Looking for Soccer News?

Leicester City midfielder Ayoze Perez is raving about his partnership with Nigeria striker Kelechi Iheanacho and Jamie Vardy following their 5-0 humiliation of Sheffield United in Sunday’s Premier League outing.

The Spanish playmaker played a pivot role as Vardy and Iheanacho led the Foxes' attack at the King Power Stadium.

Vardy provided the assist for Iheanacho's opener in the first-half and later in the second half, Perez doubled the lead before the Nigerian forward grabbed his second goal in the 69th minute, thanks to Vardy’s second assist.

Nine minutes later, the 24-year-old bagged his first Premier League hat-trick after benefitting from Wilfred Ndidi's assist.

Perez, in his reaction, described the combination between the trio as a problem for defenders and he thinks the Foxes could have scored more goals.

"We played really well, trying to find each other," Perez told the club website. "It's hard for the defenders because we're in a position where I can receive between the lines. They are pinning the centre-backs and then, as soon as any of us can turn, everyone is running in behind.

"It's not easy for the defenders. We've got players with quality, so it's about the understanding with each other and I think we did really well.

"We created a lot of chances. It could have been more goals, but it's a positive performance for us.

"Being central as a no.10, you get chances to either assist or score goals. You are closer to the box. You're in a position where you are important in that link-up with the strikers. It's a position I have played many times and a position where I feel very comfortable."

Iheanacho is Leicester City’s second-highest scoring player this campaign with 10 goals across all competition and Perez has joined Rodgers in congratulating the Nigerian star after his memorable heroics.

He said: "Every game is tough. Obviously, in your head, the main thing is to win, but then when you get into a position where you score a couple of goals and you realise you can score more goals, you just have that hunger to keep going and keep getting the goals.

"It's a great result and, obviously, also congratulations to Kelly (Kelechi Iheanacho) for the hat-trick!"

Madrid CFF coach Oscar Fernandez has explained why he opted to sign Nigeria international defender Osinachi Ohale this January.

Ohale joined the Spanish outfit for the rest of the season on January 22, and her move came after she parted ways with Serie A women's side AS Roma.

The switch also marked her return to the Spanish capital since previously enjoying a one-season spell with Real Madrid, where she scored twice in 15 games in 2020.

Although the 29-year-old scored one of her Real Madrid goals in a 4-3 win at Madrid in February 2020, the manager insists he intended to add a 'top player' to the team's defence.

"She's a player we have been following for a long time," Fernandez told Goal.

"Whenever we sign a player, we analyze in detail her performance and how she can help us. 

"Osinachi [Ohale] from the first day, we knew that she was going to help us a lot and so it is, she has increased the level of the team, she is a top player in the world."

On Sunday, Madrid extended their unbeaten consecutive games to nine, defeating Eibar 3-1 to move to fourth position on the Spanish Primera Iberdrola table, with 42 points, and a game in hand.

Taking positives from his side's incredible run so far, Fernandez has admitted he wants his team to keep the winning momentum to finish in the top three.

"During the break, we took time to rest and reflected on the things we have done well but also those that need to be improved," he continued.

"The month of March will be very important for us because it will mark us because we are going to fight the last matches. We are ambitious and we always want more.

"As I said before, the month of March will mark where we can be at the end of the season. We must face every game as a final. 

"We know it will be difficult but we are prepared to compete against the best and our players have no limits and have shown it since the beginning of the season."

With Madrid's sights set on clinching a Women's Champions League ticket this season, Fernandez will rely on Ohale's fantastic form.

In their next fixture, Madrid will see to maintain their highflying form when they visit top-flight newcomers Santa Teresa on Sunday.

Busoga United midfielder Isma Mugulusi has stated Wakiso Giants underrated them in their Ugandan Premier League meeting. 

The Jinja-based charges claimed a vital 1-0 win over the Purple Sharks on Sunday courtesy of Sharif Kimbowa's strike in the second half. Despite conceding it was a tough game, the midfielder believes their hosts did not expect their opponents to play as they did.

"It was not an easy win; the game was not easy as [Wakiso] expected but our performance was not that good either," Mugulusi said as quoted by the Sports Nation.

"They undermined us but they were surprised when we showed the impact and I am glad for the win."

This was the second win for the club this season in 14 attempts, with five other games ending in draws and the remaining seven ending in losses. The other win came against Malaba Youth Development Association (Myda) FC.

"After our second successive win, our target now is to win more games and finish the first round above the relegation zone so we can come back in the second [round] with a performance that will keep us up on the log as we did last season.

"In the coming fixtures, I wanted to be valued as one of the best creative midfielders and help the team win as many games as possible."

Meanwhile, Uganda Revenue Authority FC head coach Sam Ssimbwa has revealed they were only planning on finishing second, but after beating champions Vipers SC 2-1 they could maintain top position.

Uganda internationals Shafiq Kagimu and forward Steven Mukwala scored for the Tax Collectors while Ceasar Manzoki, who is turning out to be an influential figure for the Venoms, scored for the champions.

Ssimbwa has revealed they had targeted to be second on the Premier League table at the half-way mark but the win over Fred Kajoba's Vipers saw them go top. The final game of the first round will see them face Onduparaka FC and they know another win will ensure they maintain their place at the summit.

"This is our last game [vs Onduparaka] and it is going to be a final on our side," said the former Sofapaka head coach as per the same portal. 

"Our target was to be number two but now God has made it easier for us as we are at the top.

"We have to keep that and by doing that, it means we have to beat Onduparaka, our next opponent."

Bayern Munich director Oliver Khan thinks David Alaba's agent is "disconnected from reality".

Alaba has confirmed that he will bring the curtain down on his 13-year career at Allianz Arena this summer, having turned down the club's offer of a contract extension.

Khan thinks negotiations over a new deal were hampered by Pini Zahavi, who represents Alaba, and the Bayern legend admits that the whole saga has left him disillusioned.

What's been said?

"In a certain way, I am actually disaffected because I notice a disconnection from reality, which is breathtaking," Khan said of his dealings with Zahavi during an interview with Kicker.

The Bayern chief added: "We appreciate David Alaba very much, he is an extraordinary person, always friendly and open. Although we tried everything to keep him, no agreement was reached."

Khan also insisted the club will try to avoid any further high profile departures, with experienced performers Manuel Neuer, Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller all still performing at an elite level for Hansi Flick's side despite advancing into their thirties.

"Why shouldn't we remember to extend with one or the other again if they play like they are at the moment?" he said.

Where will Alaba end up?

There has been no shortage of potential suitors up for Alaba in recent months, with the opportunity to sign a Champions League-winning defender in his prime on a free transfer a rare occurrence.

A whole host of Premier League clubs have been credited with interest in the 28-year-old, including Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool, while French champions Paris Saint-Germain and Italian giants Juventus are also being linked with his services.

However, Spain has been mooted as the most likely next destination for Alaba, with both Real Madrid and Barcelona reportedly chasing his signature.

It is not yet clear which club the Austrian will choose, as his father has insisted that no agreement is yet in place with Madrid and Zahavi has taken the same stance with regards to a potential move to Barca.

Alaba's record at Bayern

Alaba's place in Bayern's history has long been secure given the crucial role he has played in their success on both domestic and European fronts over the past decade.

He has won a grand total of 26 trophies during his time at Allianz Arena, including nine Bundesliga titles and two Champions League crowns, with it highly likely he will add to that haul before he departs at the end of the 2020-21 campaign.

Alaba has racked up over 400 appearances for Bayern in all competitions, scoring 33 goals while also laying on a further 50 for his team-mates.

Further reading

Simba SC striker Meddie Kagere has urged the team to make sure they finish top of Group A in their Caf Champions League group stage campaign.

The Msimbazi giants are currently topping the group on seven points having won their first two games 1-0, against AS Vita Club of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Al Ahly of Egypt, before securing a 0-0 draw against Al Merrikh in Sudan.

Ahead of their rematch against the Sudanese side at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Tuesday, Kagere has told his teammates to make sure they get top position because it will come with several advantages.

“Our thirst is to make sure we finish at the top of the group and this will definitely give us a challenge against a not-so-tough team in the quarter-finals, which we will play after the group stage matches,” Kagere said as quoted by Sokalabongo.

“If we finish top in the first round, another advantage means we will be playing the first match of the quarter-finals away from home and after that, we will come to finish our second match at home.

“Basically we first need to get to the quarter-finals and then we will look at other targets after having something in our hand.

“In the way, I see our team as it is this season, despite the difficulties in various areas we ask fans and all Tanzanians to pray for us as we are able to qualify for the next stage.”

Kagere, who signed for Simba from Kenya’s Gor Mahia in the 2018 season, has also stressed the importance of winning all their home matches in the campaign.

“If you look at the situation in our group, you can say we have already qualified for the quarter-finals, but we have a lot of work to do,” Kagere continued.

“In the minds of many football fans in the country, they believe so [that we have already qualified] because we have two matches at home and the kind of results we have been getting at home gives them hope we will win our matches.

“So we need to realise if we are able to win our home matches and draw away from home then we stand a chance to progress, it gives us hope to win our matches and that is our target.

“We need to play with great care in those two matches, but make adequate preparations as a team and individual players so that whoever gets a chance to play can serve the team with dedication.

"But we have to protect the record of doing well in home matches not just by talking, but by going to work on the field and winning the matches.”

After playing Al Merrikh, Simba will have two matches remaining – against AS Vita at home and Al Ahly away.

Safa president Danny Jordaan has compared Mamelodi Sundowns owner Patrice Motsepe's election as the Caf president as being on par with South Africa's hosting of the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

At the Caf general assembly in Rabat, Morocco last Friday, Motsepe was confirmed as the eighth president of Caf, and the first person from the southern region of the continent to hold the crucial position.

Motsepe, who takes over from Madagascar's Ahmad Ahmad, ran uncontested for the presidency after Fifa chief Gianni Infantino convinced Senegal’s Augustin Senghor and Mauritania’s Ahmad Yahya to step down in return for other positions.

What sets Motsepe aside is that he has not previously worked as an official for a football federation - his focus has been on his business empire, and in overseeing Sundowns but not necessarily running the club on a daily basis.

“Up to now all seven of the previous Caf presidents had headed up their country's national federations,” Jordaan told IOL.

“Motsepe did not go that route, and he broke the mould of presidents presiding over the national controlling body.

“It will always be remembered as a special day in the annals of Safa because never before has a Caf president been chosen from its ranks,” the Safa boss continued. “This event is right up there with our Fifa World Cup hosting because we did the country proud.

“Now Safa has given African football a leader, a trailblazer in every sense of the word. His election is unique, and Safa can be proud that their nomination became the winner.”

It was Jordaan who had initially put Motsepe forward for the Caf top job, according to the same IOL report.

“The idea took people by surprise because Motsepe had never occupied positions in the structure of national football. This was usually the prerequisite when looking to nominate persons for the President of Caf,” Jordaan further elaborated.

“Once all my fellow countrymen agreed, we assembled a team to campaign in several countries in Africa,” he explained.

“At first, there were officials from several countries who have never heard of Patrice Motsepe. He was immediately written off.

“It was said he was not a President of a federation and he was not known in Caf. After some convincing and once his credentials became known, there was general approval.”

Vipers SC head coach Fred Kajoba and Police FC striker Brian Mululi have been named the Ugandan Premier League's best coach and player for the month of February respectively.

Kajoba's side was unbeaten in February as they registered four wins and two draws when they fought and consolidated their positions among the top three Premier League sides.

The Uganda coach was awarded after seeing off his rival Express FC's Wasswa Bbosa. Kajoba said his job as the man in charge of Vipers demands that he should be the best coach in the top-tier more frequently.

“I am very happy about being named the coach of the month. I think if you are in Vipers you are supposed to be named the coach of the month frequently," the goalkeeper's coach at the national side said according to Sports Nation .

“I thank my players and technical team for the job done because, without their efforts, I wouldn’t have won it.

“I advise the young players to act in a professional manner so as to ensure their career progress.”

On his part, Mululi was awarded the best player after beating Vipers' Paul Mucureezi and George Ssenkaba of Police.

Mululi scored five goals and made two assists during the period as the Cops won three games, drew in another and lost on just one occasion.

"I thank God for everything that he has enabled me to achieve in the past month," said the former Kitara FC star after picking the award that is always given out at the beginning of every month.

“I also thank everyone including the fans, family and everyone who has enabled me to achieve this today."

The January winners were coach Kefa Kisala of Uganda People's Defence Forces, whose side has posted quite good results despite being debutants and Brian Aheebwa, who has recently faced stiff competition in the starting line-up at KCCA FC.

As Kajoba and Mululi were awarded, their sides are behind URA FC at the top of the Premier League table with just one game before the first round ends.

Vipers were defeated by the Tax Collectors by a 2-1 margin and surrendered top position on Saturday. After initially looking a strong side to be one of the title contenders, the Cops have fallen down the table and are currently sixth with 25 points from 14 games.

As the traditional top-tier sides jostle for the top five places, Premier League debutants Kitara and Malaba Youth Development Association are engaged in a survival fight at the bottom.

Although they are above the relegation zone, Busoga United, Kyetume FC, and Mbarara City have had their fair share of struggles as they have failed to keep pace with the mid-table sides.

Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior has admitted that he finds dribbling past opponents easier than scoring goals.

Vinicius has established himself as a mainstay in Madrid's starting XI since joining the club from Flamengo in 2018, helping them win three trophies along the way including one La Liga title.

However, the Brazilian's output in the final third has often been called into question, with the winger now conceding that he is better at taking on defenders than finding the back of the net.

What's been said?

“I like to dribble, and I think it’s easier to do than scoring goals," Vinicius told El Pais. "I’m more under control and I know I’m quite effective in one-on-one situations because defenders tend to guess and think a lot when they're up against me."

Vinicius' record for Madrid

Vinicius has already racked up 102 appearances across all competitions for the Blancos, with his latest coming in the 2-1 Liga win over Elche on Saturday.

The 20-year-old has only scored 12 goals to date, but has managed to lay on a further 20 for his team-mates and is expected to play a big role for the club in the future after being handed a contract until 2025.

Vinicius' relationship with Benzema

Karim Benzema has benefitted most from Vinicius' impressive dribbling skills at Santiago Bernabeu over the past couple of years, with the youngster providing high-quality service.

Vinicius says the Frenchman, who is currently fifth in Madrid's all-time scorers' list, is always on hand to give him advice on how to develop his game and hopes he can start to deliver goals on a more consistent basis.

“Karim is unbelievable, I’ve been a big fan since I was playing in Brazil and watching his games," he added on Benzema's influence. "Playing with him is easy, he’s the best striker right now, playing with him is good for me because it means having an idol by my side.

"He always tells me what to do and he likes playing with me as well. I always listen to him because I’m sure he does it so that I can improve and deliver more assists to him and also so that I can score off his assists."

Further reading

Xherdan Shaqiri has offered a humble response to claims that he boasts the best left foot at Liverpool, with the Swiss forward reluctant to place himself above Mohamed Salah.

There is healthy competition at Anfield for who has the best left foot, with Andy Robertson another proven performer.

The Scottish full-back has suggested Shaqiri takes the honours, with the 29-year-old showcasing his ability over several seasons.

What has been said?

Shaqiri is not about to crown himself though, telling Sky Sports when quizzed on whether he boasts a more magical left boot than Salah: “My left foot is not bad, to be honest.

“I showed that in training a bit with my free-kicks or when I put one in the corner. Maybe that is why they say that I am the best, but we have a lot of good left-footed players so I do not like to say that I am the best.”

How has Shaqiri fared at Liverpool?

The Reds moved to snap up the former Bayern Munich and Inter star after seeing him suffer relegation from the Premier League with Stoke in 2018.

He was always going to be a squad option at Anfield, with Sadio Mane, Salah and Roberto Firmino nailing down attacking posts.

In midfield, Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Georginio Wijnaldum have continued to star, while Thiago Alcantara has now been added.

Shaqiri has been unable to nail down a regular role as a result, with 59 appearances in the best part of three seasons. Across those outings, eight goals and nine assists have been contributed.

The bigger picture

Shaqiri will be hoping for more minutes on Monday when reigning champions Liverpool meet Wolves at Molineux.

Looking further ahead, the Switzerland international is tied to a contract through to 2023 and has some big decisions to make on his future.

A move away from Merseyside was mooted last summer, only to see another deadline pass with no deal done, and it may be that further interest surfaces in the next window.

Further reading

Alexandre Lacazette had admitted he was "lucky" to win Arsenal's decisive penalty against Tottenham at Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal recorded a 2-1 win over their arch-rivals in Sunday's derby thanks to goals from Martin Odegaard and Lacazette, with Eric Lamela grabbing what ultimately amounted to nothing more than a consolation for the visitors.

There was more than a touch of controversy about Lacazette's winner, however, with the Frenchman having already fluffed his lines when through on goal before Davinson Sanchez was penalised for a late tackle.

What's been said?

"We are lucky to get the penalty, I think, but of course, I am happy," Lacazette told reporters after the game. "Back in the days I have taken a lot of penalties against him [Hugo Lloris] but I was confident."

Arsenal paint north London red

Tottenham came into their latest clash with the Gunners on the back of five successive wins in all competitions, with Harry Kane, Gareth Bale and Son Heung-min firing on all cylinders as an all-star attacking trio.

However, Arsenal took the game to Spurs right from the very first whistle and Jose Mourinho's side were dealt a major blow when Son was forced to withdraw early due to a hamstring issue.

It seemed like only a matter of time before the home side would score, but Tottenham landed a sucker punch in the 33rd minute when Eric Lamela produced an outrageous rabona finish to open the scoring.

The momentum did not swing in the visitors' favour though, with Real Madrid loanee Odegaard hitting a deflected equaliser for the Gunners just before the interval.

Arsenal continued to dominate proceedings in the second half and Lacazette won a penalty shortly after the hour mark, with Sanchez punished for sliding in on the striker after he miscued his initial effort when one-on-one with Lloris.

Lamela was then sent off for violent conduct before Spurs finally began to push forward, but Arsenal rode a late storm which saw a Harry Kane free-kick cannon off the post to secure all three points.

“It is stressful. This is our problem," Lacazette said of the nervy finish to proceedings. "When we are winning we struggle to manage the game at the end. We need to improve but we won. It is important to win this type of game.

What's next?

Both teams will now turn their attention to the second leg of their respective Europa League round of 16 ties on Thursday night. Arsenal will be defending a 3-1 lead when they welcome Olympiacos to Emirates Stadium, while Tottenham take a trip to Dinamo Zagreb with a 2-0 advantage.

Further reading

Scott McTominay has saluted Manchester United’s ability to win ugly, with the Red Devils midfielder seeing “no shame” in battling successes.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side edged out West Ham 1-0 in their most recent Premier League game, with a Craig Dawson own goal getting them over the line at Old Trafford.

United were far from their best against the Hammers, but they found a way to get the job done and McTominay considers that to be a notable strength.

What has been said?

On the Red Devils taking maximum points, having allowed plenty to slip from winning positions this season, McTominay told Sky Sports: “We've had too many of them this season – Everton, midweek.

“That’s something we do have to [improve on]. There’s no shame in playing against West Ham at home and obviously it being a tough game and doing all the professional things to win a football match, sometimes that’s the way you have to win football games.

“I know it’s not the glamorous way of doing it and not what people want to see, but can’t always win 4-0 or 5-0 at home, that’s not the case. We’re trying to get towards that, but at this moment in time, it’s games like that and midweek you just have to win.”

The bigger picture

Victory over West Ham has cemented United’s second place in the Premier League table.

They are also through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and last-16 of the Europa League, meaning they still have plenty to play for.

Getting through games by any means possible is a top priority for now, with the Red Devils seeing their patience tested by a Hammers side that set up to sit deep and play on the counter.

McTominay added: “It’s tough, it’s not getting frustrated and I thought a lot of the boys were frustrated and that’s why I’m coming off the pitch and it’s not moaning, it’s not shaking your head, it’s not arms up in the air.

“When you’re playing against teams like that, who sit in and do it well, you can’t react like that. You have to play to your tempo, you know, that we play at and really be positive in everything you do and, as I say, we’re trying our best to keep pushing.”

United will be back in action on Thursday when they head to San Siro for the second leg of their Europa League clash with AC Milan, currently locked at 1-1.

Further reading

Uganda Revenue Authority FC head coach Sam Ssimbwa has revealed they were only planning on finishing second, but after beating Premier League champions Vipers SC 2-1 they could maintain top position.

Uganda internationals Shafiq Kagimu and forward Steven Mukwala scored for the Tax Collectors while Ceasar Manzoki, who is turning out to be an influential figure for the Venoms, scored for the champions.

Ssimbwa has revealed they had targeted to be second on the Premier League table at the half-way mark but the win over Fred Kajoba's Vipers saw them go top. The final game of the first round will see them face Onduparaka FC and they know another win will ensure they maintain their place at the summit.

"This is our last game [vs Onduparaka] and it is going to be a final on our side," said the former Sofapaka head coach as per Sports Nation. "Our target was to be number two but now God has made it easier for us as we are at the top.

"We have to keep that and by doing that, it means we have to beat Onduparaka, our next opponent."

The Ugandan tactician has maintained an unchanged line up in the previous two games against Police FC and Vipers who were arguably the toughest games for them. Ssimbwa has explained how and why he made the decision to keep faith in an unchanged line-up.

“We usually pick our team according to training," the coach added. "We played well, we won and the players still played well and they all came so there was no need of changing.”

Ssimbwa also explained how his players managed to get the win against their direct Premier League title rivals.

"The match was very tough, very competitive because you could see how we started and how we ended," he concluded.

"It was tight, everyone and each of the two teams wanted to win but my players played according to the instructions and the outcome was what it was supposed to be."

URA have now won the last six games and that represents the best run in the Premier League so far. The Tax Collectors, who are now direct title contenders, have also been impressive while playing away from their turf Arena of Visions given that they have won five of the six games.

The win saw the Tax Collectors open a three-point gap against the Venoms as Express FC, KCCA FC and Police FC lie third, fourth and fifth respectively in a season that promises to go down to the wire in as far as the title contest is concerned.

Leandro Paredes says Paris Saint-Germain have asked him not to talk about Lionel Messi again amid the ongoing speculation surrounding the Barcelona's superstar's future.

Messi is being heavily linked with a switch to Parc des Princes ahead of the summer transfer window, with the 33-year-old set to become a free agent at the end of June if he decides against signing a contract extension at Camp Nou.

The likes of Neymar, Angel Di Maria and Paredes have all publicly welcomed the prospect of Messi's arrival at PSG, who have since taken steps to prevent their players from speaking out on a possible move for the six-time Ballon d'Or winner.

What's been said?

Paredes told ESPN in December : "Messi at PSG? I hope so, we all want him to come. I hope Leo will make the best decision for him, but we will welcome him with open arms.”

The Argentine midfielder has now revealed that PSG officials gave him a slap on the wrists for his comments, telling Le Journal Du Dimanche : "They have asked me not to talk about it anymore.

"People didn't like my position on what I was saying. Some people saw it as disrespectful. This was not the case for me.

"It's up to Messi to decide calmly at the end of the season what he wants to do with his future."

When will Messi decide his next move?

Messi shocked the football world after handing in a formal transfer request at Camp Nou back in August, only to perform a U-turn on his decision the following month amid pressure from Barca and La Liga officials.

The Blaugrana captain pledged to stay put for at least one more season, but has left the door open to a potential departure this year while admitting that MLS holds great appeal to him as a possible next destination.

"I always said that I have the impression that I would like to enjoy the experience of living in the United States, but if it happens or not I don't know," Messi told La Sexta during the winter break .

"I have nothing clear until the end of the year, I will wait for the end of the season."

Messi's record for Barca in 2020-21

Messi has managed to block out the intensifying transfer rumours to play a key role in Barca's set-up once again this term, scoring 25 goals in 35 appearances across all competitions.

The Argentina international has also laid on 11 assists while helping Ronald Koeman's side fight for the Liga title and reach the Copa del Rey final, but was powerless to prevent the team from suffering a last-16 Champions League exit at the hands of PSG last week.

Further reading

Simba SC coach Didier Gomez Da Rosa has told his players to make good use of dead balls so as to get positive results when they face Al Merrikh in the Caf Champions League on Tuesday.

The Msimbazi giants will host the Red Devils from Sudan in their fourth match of the group at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam knowing a win will guarantee them a place in the quarter-finals for the first time in the club’s history.

Simba are currently leading the group on seven points having won their first two 1-0, against AS Vita Club of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Al Ahly of Egypt, before the 0-0 stalemate against Al Merrikh in Sudan.

During their first match against AS Vita, Simba won courtesy of a penalty from Chris Mugalu while against Al Ahly, they secured the win after Luis Miquissone notched the all-important goal.

Simba coach Gomez has now told his players the importance of using dead ball situations saying they can boost their chances of reaching the quarter-finals.

“I have been telling them [my players] a lot of the time they have a job to make good use of these isolation balls so they can get results early so it’s important to do well and kill off matches,” Gomez said as quoted by Sokalabongo.

“In practice, we have been working on it regularly so I am confident that with our upcoming matches there will be more change especially our game against Al Merrikh, I want to see more of the use of the balls, we can do better and I know the players know.”

Gomez has also explained why they will have to change their style of play when they face Al Merrikh in the rematch.

“It’s a very important game for us because it will make our job easier to play in the next stage and Al Merrikh everyone saw the way they play faster and stronger, my team needs to realise that,” Gomez continued.

“Fortunately, everyone knows the importance of getting three points in the game, we will increase the strength to play from the back to the front, and of course, we will succeed.”

Simba have played in the group stage of the competition twice in the past but have never progressed, and they now have a chance to make history but they will have to achieve the feat without home support after Caf banned fans from attending the match owing to Covid-19 restrictions.

Apart from missing fans, Simba will also be without the services of defender Pascal Wawa and midfielder Taddeo Lwanga due to suspension having accumulated two yellow cards each.

Tanzania coach Kim Poulsen has maintained his players are now ready to take on Kenya’s Harambee Stars in a friendly at Nyayo Stadium on Monday.

The Danish tactician will be taking charge of his first major assignment for Taifa Stars after he returned to handle the team following the exit of Burundian Etienne Ndayiragije, who was shown the exit door after the team’s poor display at the African Nations Championships held in Cameroon.

Despite missing foreign players in his squad, coach Poulsen has claimed his squad has prepared well for the friendly after five to six days of intensive training sessions and they are now looking forward to getting a positive result away from home.

“Today [Sunday] here in Nairobi we held our final training before we play our first international friendly against Kenya tomorrow [Monday],” Poulsen told Goal after their training session at Nyayo Stadium, the venue for the build-up.

“It was a good last training where we had focused on some good passing and receiving the ball and of course also checked our standard situations and I have the feeling everyone is looking forward to the game after five to six days of intensive training sessions everybody is ready to what we call the big day tomorrow [Monday].

“For a football player it is all about playing games, you prepare and prepare well, get ready and then you plan to play the game and it is now showtime, it is time for the players to show me and the country what they have been getting in training and we are ready to get a win.”

On his part, Taifa Stars player Himid Mao, who turns out for Egyptian side ENNPI, told Goal they know they are playing a rival from East Africa and will do their best to carry the bragging rights.

“So far we are okay, we have done our last training session and the coaches have done their part especially on the technical style of play, and I know all the players know and understand what they were told,” Mao told Goal.

“We all know what we are coming up against Kenya, we know they are our rivals and always when we meet we must fight to win, it is a derby and we know the expectations and we will try our best to give the best game ever, we are ready to take them on.”

It will be the first time Kenya and Tanzania are meeting in Nairobi after Taifa Stars eliminated Harambee Stars in Chan qualification in 2019.

Angel Di Maria was withdrawn during Paris Saint-Germain's loss to Nantes on Sunday after he received news that his home had been robbed with members of his family present, Goal can confirm.

The Argentine was replaced just after the hour mark by Leandro Paredes at Parc des Princes, after Randal Kolo had cancelled out Julian Draxler's opener.

Mauricio Pochettino's side slipped to a 2-1 defeat against Antoine Kombouare's relegation-threatened side thanks to Moses Simon's winner, but their attention afterward was focused more on Di Maria's well-being than the final result.

What happened during the game?

Di Maria had turned in a solid performance and was helping PSG push to take the lead back when sporting director Leonardo signalled communication to Pochettino on the sidelines.

The former Tottenham boss promptly withdrew Di Maria and vanished into the dressing room with the forward before returning minutes later to oversee the rest of his side's match.

The hosts seemed shaken by the news and struggled for the remainder of the game, with their concern compounded at the close of proceedings by the disclosure that team-mate Marquinhos' parents had also been victimised by home intruders.

The incident is not the first time that Di Maria has had a property attacked; his family were left traumatized by an incident during his time at Manchester United that contributed to his exit from Old Trafford.

What did Pochettino say?

"It's not an excuse but there was a drop in energy," the Argentine stated when discussing his side's performance. "We talked about things other than football after the game in the locker room."

"The truth is that the first period we controlled the match, but after the equalizer, we had trouble and we were not strong enough to hang onto this match."

Further reading

Youssef En-Nesyri scored the solitary goal in Sevilla’s 1-0 victory over Real Betis in Sunday’s La Liga game.

The 23-year-old has been in fine form for Julen Lopetegui’s men this season and continued his eye-catching displays at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Sevilla started the game impressively, dominating proceedings at the start of the game and in the 17th minute, En-Nesyri came close to opening the scoring when he directed a fine shot at goal but his effort missed the target.

The Morocco international put the Palanganas in front in the 27th minute after receiving a timely assist from Jesus Navas.

The 23-year-old forward continued to lead his side’s attack against the Betis and came close to double his side’s lead in the 71st minute but his effort narrowly missed the target.

Sevilla continued their domination but could not add to their goal and managed to put Real Betis attack at bay to secure all three points.

 The victory thus ended the Palanganas’ four-game winless run, having last tasted victory against Osasuna in February.

The result saw Lopetegui’s men move to the fourth spot on the league table after accruing 51 points from 26 games.

En-Nesyri featured for 86 minutes before he was replaced by Luuk de Jong while his compatriot Yassine Bounou was on parade for the entirety of the game.

The Morocco forward struck three shots, completed one dribble, made 10 passes and had 21 touches on the ballbefore he was replaced.

The 23-year-old winger has now scored 20 goals in 40 appearances across all competitions this season, amid other dazzling displays.

 En-Nesyri has been with Sevilla since January 2020 when he teamed up with the Spanish side from Leganes.

The forward will hope to help the Palanganas continue in the winning way when they take on Elche in their next league game n March 17.

En-Nesyri has made 35 appearances for the Morocco national team since he made his debut in 2016.