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Porto players were left in tears on the pitch after right-back Nanu was knocked unconscious in a horrific collision in his side’s 0-0 draw at Belenenses on Thursday.

The 26-year-old collided in the air with opposition goalkeeper Stanislav Kritsyuk and landed on his head, with an ambulance immediately called onto the pitch.

Both sets of players were visibly distressed at Nanu’s condition, with some crying and saying prayers as the game was stopped for more than 10 minutes. He was taken to the Sao Francisco Xavier Hospital in Lisbon after receiving treatment on the field.

Former Real Madrid defender Pepe was seen in tears on the pitch but told reporters after full-time that the doctors had reassured him that his team-mate had regained consciousness.

“I wish our team-mate Nanu a speedy recovery,” Pepe said. “The doctors in the ambulance told me that he was doing well, that he was already conscious.”

Porto have since provided an update on his condition: “Nanu had a cerebral concussion and spinal cord injury with loss of memory. At this moment he is stable, conscious and is already oriented in time and space.

“The examinations performed at Hospital S. Francisco Xavier did not reveal any alterations of clinical severity. He will continue to be observed at the hospital.”

Porto manager Sergio Conceicao raged after the match at the state of the Belenenses pitch and the decision not to give Porto a penalty for the collision which left his defender hospitalised.

Conceicao also criticised the decision to appoint Fabio Verissimo as match referee following a controversial recent incident in a Sporting CP match.

“I have no news [on Nanu] yet,” the coach told reporters. “I know he’s in the hospital. I think he had recovered a little bit of consciousness. Now let's see, let's see. The doctor will talk about it later.

“But it’s not just that. Honestly, there are things I don't understand. Playing on this pitch, for those who attack, is more difficult. It is easier to defend than to attack here.

“I don't know how they have matches with this quality of pitch. And then there is the possibility of more injuries. It's incredible.

“A referee who has just been in a controversy and the Arbitration Council puts him here. It is revolting. We are disgusted.

“And this is a penalty everywhere! Is it involuntary? Well, who gives away a penalty voluntarily? We were cheated today, we were robbed.”

Porto are second in the Primeira Liga, three points behind leaders Sporting, who have a game in hand.

Tottenham have no personality without Harry Kane, according to Rio Ferdinand, who says Jose Mourinho is lacking characters in his squad.

Spurs suffered their third Premier League defeat in a row at home to Chelsea on Thursday night, with Jorginho scoring from the penalty spot to seal a deserved 1-0 win for the Blues.

The north London outfit offered little in terms of an attacking threat over the course of 90 minutes as they seemed content to sit back and absorb pressure despite only facing a narrow deficit.

Tottenham's best chance didn't come until late on, with Carlos Vinicius putting a free header wide of the post, leaving Mourinho with his head in his hands on the touchline.

Kane missed the contest through injury, having also sat out Spurs' 1-0 loss at Brighton last weekend, and Ferdinand is concerned that they do not have enough players willing to step up in his absence.

"It was an aimless performance. Nothing to it. No personality," the former England and Manchester United defender told BT Sport post-match.

"If Kane doesn't play, the personality of this team is drained straight out of the team. No confidence, no character, no leader. Nobody driving the team. 

"Whether that's the players or the manager who needs to drive this time, I think it's a combination of both. 

"We saw them against Brighton last week and Brighton looked like the team going for Champions League football. It's worrying. 

"They are not far off the Champions League in terms of points, but the way they are performing of late is a worry."

Ferdinand was joined in the studio by Jermaine Jenas, who played for Tottenham between 2005 and 2013, and he was also scathing in his assessment of Mourinho's team at half-time.

"There's no plan. That's the problem," he said. "I'm looking at players who are scared, they don't want to get on the ball. That's the biggest crime you can make as a footballer. 

"Another big problem of theirs is their body language, it's shocking. 

"Serge Aurier, standing around, doing nothing. Vinicius, do you want to help out and run into channels or come in? No, a lot of standing and watching. The players are not interested."

Jose Mourinho suggested missing players were the reason for Tottenham’s limp performance in their 1-0 defeat at home to Chelsea on Thursday.

Mourinho singled out “a good Dele Alli that we haven’t had yet,” as well as the absent trio of Harry Kane, Giovani Lo Celso and Sergio Reguilon after his side were deservedly beaten by Thomas Tuchel’s Blues.

It was a record-setting defeat for Mourinho on a personal level but, while Jorginho’s penalty was the only goal of the game, Chelsea could have scored more while Spurs never looked like troubling Edouard Mendy.

"Reguilon means something for our attacking football,” Mourinho said in his post-match press conference.

“Harry Kane means something to our attacking football. Giovani Lo Celso means something and a good Dele Alli that we haven't had yet also means something to that. It also is about not having the players to change things. It's also about the confidence.”

Carlos Vinicius started in attack with Son Heung-min and Steven Bergwijn supporting him. Erik Lamela and Lucas Moura came off the bench to some effect but Mourinho opted not to use Gareth Bale despite still having one substitution left at the end of the game.

Asked about Bale, Mourinho said: "I'm doing my best. He's doing his best. Everybody is doing their best."

In general, Mourinho admitted Chelsea were the better team in the first half but he felt his side deserved something from the contest.

"The performance in the first half was inferior to Chelsea. They had the initiative and they had the ball. We were in very low positions. The reality of the first half is that with them being superior a penalty decided the game.

"In the second half they were not superior and they had the low block.

"I saw togetherness and it's not easy to show togetherness with bad results and with injuries. It's easy to see togetherness in good moments but I saw it in that second half."

Tottenham host West Brom on Sunday and will need to improve ahead of a difficult run of fixtures including games against Manchester City and West Ham, plus a return to the Europa League against Austrian side Wolfsberg.

Thomas Tuchel didn't make his post-game comments about himself following Chelsea's 1-0 win over Tottenham when he very well could have done so, instead praising the spirit of his squad as the determining factor in the positive result.

His outlook perhaps gave a hint of how he might try to rebuild the confidence of his players after the end of the Frank Lampard era, rife with finger-pointing, seemed to pick them apart.

Tuchel remains unbeaten as Chelsea's boss and has taken six of eight possible Premier League points. He emphasized it has been his players, many of whom were scapegoats as of a couple of weeks ago, that are responsible for the change in the club's momentum.

"It's not about my methods. I'm happy with the attitude, the squad, the potential," Tuchel said. "They are fine guys, it's a nice group and they are open. It's a pleasure to be around them. We have a lot of support in the whole club. It was a quick start but an easy one because I feel very welcome.

"We defended very actively and brave."

Chelsea took the lead in the 24th minute through a Jorginho penalty and generally bossed the first half, maintaining a bulk of the possession.

They were less dominant late on but prevented serious threats outside of one glaring late miss from Spurs forward Carlos Vinicius in front of net.

"It is not only about tactics, it's about how we play and live it," Tuchel told BT Sport. "They lived it 100 percent with full power and intensity. We never lost the belief, faith or courage to push high and for that you have to be brave and we were."

Chelsea were forced to play the final 54 minutes without defensive leader Thiago Silva, who exited with what Tuchel deemed a muscle injury to his leg.

A narrow away victory under those circumstances was a pleasing result that could help lift the likes of Timo Werner and Mason Mount, who have taken criticism from several fronts this season. Werner won the first-half penalty, and Mount was the primary midfield threat for the Blues.

Intentional or not, Tuchel's player-first reaction Thursday could set the tone for a team that now sits sixth in the Premier League, four points off the top four.

It all came after the man on the opposing touchline, Jose Mourinho, tried some of his patented mind games earlier in the week to try and get Tuchel to boast about his own achievements. Mourinho said “Tuchel was coming from a league that you cannot compare with the Premier League" in a jab at his rival's trophy-filled tenure with Paris Saint-Germain.

Tuchel didn't engage with Mourinho on that point, though, nor did he use Chelsea's subsquent win over Tottenham as a chance to gloat. His next, arguably much more difficult test will be resisting self-absorption and defensiveness in the moments Chelsea's results aren't so satisfying.

Jose Mourinho has criticised Andre Marriner for giving Chelsea their winning penalty against Tottenham, admitting he "didn't like" the referee's performance.

Tottenham slipped to eighth in the Premier League standings after losing 1-0 to Chelsea in a London derby encounter on Thursday night.

Jorginho's 24th minute penalty was enough for the Blues to earn all three points, with Mourinho suffering back-to-back home defeats for the first time in his managerial career.

There were few complaints from Spurs' players when Marriner pointed to the spot after Eric Dier chopped Timo Werner down in the box, as the England international got nowhere near the ball with a needless challenge from the floor.

Mourinho felt the match official was in the wrong, however, and said he was frustrated to lose the match on the basis of such a decision after a spirited display from his side.

"It was a bit of a struggle but how many chances did they have? We didn't have the ball, correct, we didn't create in the first half, correct," the Portuguese told BT Sport.

"But the struggle was the penalty. In the end a penalty decides the game. In the end they score a penalty which is not a penalty that you say is a dangerous situation, one on one, almost scoring. It's a penalty that is difficult to accept and to lose the game like this is a bit painful.

"But in the second half we were different and Lucas [Moura] and [Erik] Lamela helped to change the dynamic. The feeling I have is that we kept together until the end. To finish with a positive spirit helps.

"Vinicius is a player with an incredible spirit but his understanding of how to press is something he's still not comfortable with. Then in the second half it was much more difficult for them, we pressed them much better and higher and in the second half I believe we deserved a little bit more."

Mourinho added on Marriner's officiating: "I didn't like his performance. I have a good relationship with him and that gives me a good position to tell him I don't like his performance."

The Tottenham head coach went on to insist his players can take plenty of positives from their latest performance, before expressing his hope that Harry Kane will return from injury next week.

"We had a great chance by Vinicius, we can analyse the game from the first to the last minute. If you want to be pragmatic, one penalty, one goal, 1-0," Mourinho told BBC Sport.

"When a team is in a difficult game against Chelsea, you concede that penalty and are affected by it. By the end of the first half, I saw a team that was struggling but it was totally the opposite in the second half.

"We miss a lot of important players but the spirit in the second half is untouchable.

"We don't like it (the form) but the way we finished the game gives me positive feelings. It is not that that stops the defensive mistakes but it gives us a difficult smile on the face and to stick together and go tomorrow.

"Hopefully next week Harry Kane will be back but not any of the others. We play Sunday against West Brom and they need points as much as us for different reasons."

Jose Mourinho had a humbling night on Thursday as Thomas Tuchel matched his own benchmark as Chelsea manager while handing out a historic defeat to the Tottenham boss.

Jorginho scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot after Eric Dier needlessly fouled Timo Werner in the area.

The result took Chelsea up to sixth in the Premier League, three points clear of Spurs but having played a game more.

Spurs had also lost their last home game when they were seen off 3-1 by Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.

It was the first time in Mourinho’s entire managerial career that he has suffered back-to-back home league defeats, an incredible run spanning 326 home league games at eight different clubs.

Earlier in his career, Mourinho’s home record at Chelsea was without compare, as he started an 86-game unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge.

New Blues boss Tuchel has gotten his own tenure off to a good start, with two wins and a draw from his first three matches. He has also become the first Chelsea manager since Mourinho in 2004 to keep a clean sheet in each of his first three league games.

It was a clean sheet which never looked like being sullied, with Chelsea much the better side despite the narrow scoreline. Edouard Mendy had little to do and saw Carlos Vinicius head narrowly wide late on from Tottenham’s best chance.

The game added to a miserable run for Mourinho against his former side. He hasn’t won any of his last seven games against Chelsea, drawing three and losing four.

It is his joint-longest winless run against any opponent in his managerial career, matching another spell of seven games without a win against Barcelona between 2011 and 2012 while manager of Real Madrid.

The game also underscored the importance of absent striker Harry Kane, missing after picking up a pair of ankle injuries in the defeat to Liverpool.

Spurs have lost four of their last five league games in which Kane hasn’t played, drawing the other, with two of the four defeats coming against Chelsea.

Tottenham host West Brom on Sunday before an FA Cup trip to Everton and an away fixture against Manchester City.

Mason Mount admitted Chelsea need to be more clinical despite their impressive run of clean sheets under new manager Thomas Tuchel.

Chelsea moved up to sixth in the Premier League with a 1-0 away win at Tottenham on Thursday night.

Jorginho netted the winning goal from the penalty spot after Timo Werner was brought down clumsily in the box by Eric Dier with just 24 minutes on the clock, with Spurs ultimately unable to claw their way back into the game.

The visitors dominated possession throughout the contest and had 18 shots on goal to Spurs' seven, but wasteful finishing prevented them from earning a more comprehensive victory.

Mount was among those guilty of misfiring in the final third, most notably when he raced through on goal in the second half only to see his shot parried past the post by Hugo Lloris in the Tottenham net.

Chelsea have not conceded a goal since Tuchel was drafted in to replace Frank Lampard, with a 0-0 draw against Wolves and a 2-0 victory over Burnley also recorded, but they are still searching for an effective formula at the other end of the pitch.

Mount concedes that he and the rest of his team-mates will have to work on that aspect of their game behind the scenes, as he told BT Sport post-match: "We had a lot of control in the first half, we had chances where we need to be more clinical, myself included.

"It is tough to come here and control throughout but we played very well.

"The manager wants us to play in that style and it is working well, it is new and different for some us including me as a false nine and we are all learning.

"It will be difficult for other teams because different formations and tactics means they won't know what we will come with.

"I told him (Thomas Tuchel) I should have scored today and did not have my scoring boots on today. Something to work on in training."

The Blues' match-winner Jorginho was slightly more upbeat about their latest performance, though, as he added: "We knew it would be a hard game in the derby but we worked hard, created chances and deserved the win.

"We just needed to keep working hard in the second half. The results will come.

"The best thing is that we prepared, we worked and we need to think about the next game."

Eden Hazard's "chronic" injury problems are "disturbing" to Belgium's national team doctor, who says the Real Madrid star is caught in a "vicious circle."

Hazard was diagnosed with a muscle issue earlier this week which looks set to keep him out of action for up to a month, meaning he will miss a crucial run of fixtures for Zinedine Zidane's side.

The winger has been plagued by injuries since his £80 million ($109m) switch to the Santiago Bernabeu from Chelsea in the summer of 2019, with this latest knock marking the ninth time he has been forced to take in a spell on the sidelines at Madrid.

As a result, the 30-year-old has not lived up to his hefty price tag, scoring just four goals in 35 appearances across all competitions.

Hazard seemed to be on the road to rediscovering his best form after recording a goal and an assist in a 4-1 over Alaves on January 23, but that performance proved to be a false dawn, and it is now being suggested that his prime years are behind him.

Kristof Sas, who works with the ex-Chelsea star at international level, has admitted he is concerned at how fragile he has become during his time in Spain, particularly with the European Championships looming later in the year.

"We are awaiting the details and knowing more, but it is clear that it is worrisome," Sas told Nieuwsblad.

"The injuries at this stage of the season are not worrisome for the Euros, it is even a rest period. But with Eden it is different.

"It's another relapse, a chronic situation that always goes wrong in the end. First the ankle, then the muscle injuries. It's all very unpleasant."

The Belgian doctor added: "Eden is in a vicious circle and it's not easy to get out of it. It's disturbing what happens with his musculature.

"A footballer must be able to kick, turn, jump, all at high speed. And, of course, this is more difficult during rehabilitation.

"He needs pace and continuity. The situation is not dramatic for us yet, but must urgently get out of that dead end."

Hazard won't feature in Madrid's upcoming La Liga matches against Huesca, Getafe and Valencia, but he could be in line to return for a meeting with Real Valladolid on February 20 if his recovery runs smoothly.

Bengaluru will be bouyed by their first win in nine games but Chennaiyin will be boosted by the return of Enes Sipovic while Manuel Lanzarote is expected to start in Friday's 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL) encounter at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa.

TV CHANNELS & LIVE STREAM

The Star Sports Network have the exclusive broadcasting rights of the ISL in India.

Commentary will also be available in vernacular languages across India.

 TEAM NEWS

Bengaluru Possible XI:   

Injured - Juanan, Leon Augustine
Doubtful - None
Suspended - Rahul Bheke

Key Players - Sunil Chhetri, Cleiton Silva

Chennaiyin Possible XI: 

Injured - Aman Chetri, Rafael Crivellaro
Doubtful - None
Suspended - None

Key Players - Isma, Manuel Lanzarote

Gerard Pique thinks referees in La Liga favour Real Madrid, however professional they might be.

The Barcelona defender, never afraid to speak his mind, also spoke about Barca’s decision to let Luis Suarez leave for Atletico Madrid and his relationship with Real captain Sergio Ramos.

Accusations of favouritism from officials are nothing new in the Clasico rivalry, and Pique himself has complained about it in the past.

"The other day a former referee said that 85 per cent of the referees are from Madrid,” Pique said in an interview with Post United.

“How are they not going to whistle in favour of Madrid? Even unconsciously, how are they not going to give more for one side than the other??

“I respect the professionalism of the referees and I know they try to do their best job, but when a moment of doubt comes…”

So far this season, Madrid and Barca have near-identical disciplinary records in the league, with both teams receiving 36 yellow cards and Madrid seeing one red. In 2019-20, Madrid received 72 yellows to Barca’s 83, with both teams having three players sent off.

Things are just as turbulent off the pitch as they are on it for Spain’s biggest clubs right now, with the futures of iconic players in question.

Goal exclusively revealed that Lionel Messi has not held talks with any other clubs despite being free to discuss a contract elsewhere, while Madrid captain Ramos is engaged in a contract stand-off with his club.

"I talk to him, but not about his renewal,” Pique said of Ramos. "We get along very well. With Madrid, the relationship is very good.

“I have swapped shirts with them and I have Madrid shirts at home. I have Cristiano [Ronaldo], [Karim] Benzema, Ramos… a few. But putting one on is too far for me.”

Ramos and Messi’s decisions will no doubt dominate headlines for months to come, but Pique does not agree that players hold excessive power in the modern game.

"I don’t think so. They have stature and can give their opinion and, from there, decisions can go one way or another," he said.

“When you have a board of directors or a president who is very strong, who have clear ideas, the player has little to say.

“Sergio is an example, with the contract talks he is having: when there is a strong president who makes a decision and wants to take that path, the players can’t do much.”

Some of Barca’s squad are still reeling at the decision to allow former star striker Suarez to leave the club this summer. Suarez is top goalscorer in La Liga with 14 goals in 16 appearances, and Atletico are 10 points clear of second-placed Barca with a game in hand.

"Ask the one who let him go,” Pique commented. “That's not my fault."

Mehdi Abeid made a memorable debut in the Arabian Gulf League by scoring a late match-winning goal in Al Nasr 2-1 victory over Khorfakkan.

The 28-year-old who recently joined Krunoslav Jurcic's side last Friday, was handed his maiden league start at the Al Maktoum Stadium and he immediately hit the ground running with a stoppage-time strike for the hosts after Toze's 72nd-minute opener was cancelled out.

Abeid joined the Dubai outfit on a one-and-a-half-year deal from Nantes which brought an end to his over four-year stint in the French Ligue 1, which include a three-year spell in Dijon.

Thursday's effort was the Algeria international's first goal since he found the back of the net in Nantes' 2-0 league win over Saint-Etienne back in January 2020.

His contribution helped Al Nasr grab their first league win after enduring three-game winless run. They climbed to fourth in the Arabian Gulf league table with 27 points after 15 matches.

Abeid will be targeting another victory with Al Ameed in their League Cup fixture against Kalba on Tuesday before they welcome eighth-placed Al Wasl to the Al Maktoum Stadium for their next league encounter on February 14.

Thiago Silva limped off the pitch with an apparent leg injury in the first half of Chelsea's clash with Tottenham.

The Brazilian remained on the ground in pain after overstretching to clear a ball just after the half-hour mark at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Silva was unable to continue after receiving treatment from Chelsea's medical staff on the pitch, with Andreas Christensen subsequently brought on as his replacement.

The 36-year-old was making his 17th Premier League appearances for the Blues since joining the club on a free transfer, and his third under new head coach Thomas Tuchel.

Silva has previously worked with Tuchel at Paris Saint-Germain, who allowed him to leave at the end of his contract in August before sacking the German tactician four months later.

The veteran defender was sad to see Frank Lampard lose his job at Stamford Bridge, but has admitted that he is glad to have been reunited with a manager he knows very well.

"I am left with mixed feelings. Sadness for one, happiness for the other. But life has to go on and we have to turn our results around," he said last week.

"The six months I spent working with Frank were fantastic, and I have two unbelievable years with Thomas Tuchel in Paris too, including getting to the final of the Champions League. That was a really great year for everyone at PSG. So it’s a special moment for me with his arrival here."

Chelsea are seeking a third successive clean sheet against Spurs, having drawn 0-0 with Wolves and beaten Burnley 2-0 in their first two games with Tuchel at the helm.

Silva had featured in the centre of a three-man defence in those fixtures, and started in the same position for the London derby, but was unable to see out the full 90 minutes this time around.

The Blues will hope that that the issue doesn't keep him out of action for any length of time, with a trip to Sheffield United looming large on the horizon.

Tuchel's men will take on the Blades at Bramall Lane on Sunday before their focus switches to the FA Cup and a fifth round clash against Barnsley on February 11.

Tigres might have exhaled when they finally claimed the CONCACAF Champions League in December, but that triumph has not dimmed their ambitions in the subsequent Club World Cup, which continues on Sunday when they meet Palmeiras in the competition's semi-finals.

The Liga MX side has been buoyed by the goalscoring exploits of Andre-Pierre Gignac, an unlikely hero in Mexico who has endeared himself to his supporters since arriving from France.

They have reason to believe they can advance past Palmeiras in part because of Gignac's penchant for big-game contributions but also because they've outscored opponents 12-2 across their past five international matches.

Tigres defeated Ulsan Hyundai 2-1 on Thursday to advance to the Club World Cup semi-finals.

“A close match, both teams are looking for victory and I think it was a good match," manager Tuca Ferretti said. "Palmeiras deserves all our respect just like Ulsan, but we don't have to look down at one or overvalue others.

"We aren't afraid of anyone."

Tigres would become the first Mexican club to reach the Club World Cup final if they're victorious over Palmeiras.

"The victory is the most important ... because we know we can make history and we want to make history," Gignac said. "We will rest well because it comes a tough opponent.

"No rival is easy, we are in a world championship."

Palmeiras indeed presents a tough test considering their own difficult route to this point, and the Brazilian squad will be a popular pick to emerge as winners.

Goal looks at the paths of each team and their top scorers entering the Club World Cup semi-finals.

How did Tigres reach the Club World Cup semi-finals?

Tigres won the CONCACAF Champions League to qualify for the Club World Cup with the following results:

Tigres then advanced to the semi-finals of the Club World Cup with a 2-1 win over Ulsan this week.

How did Palmeiras reach the Club World Cup semi-finals?

Palmeiras traversed a tricky Copa Libertadores tournament to qualify for the Club World Cup with the following results:

Palmeiras was not required to play a quarter-final match in the Club World Cup, receiving automatic advancement to the semi-finals.

Who is Tigres top goalscorer Andre-Pierre Gignac?

Gignac has scored 144 goals for Tigres alone even though he didn't come to Liga MX until he was 29 years old. Now an elder statesman at 35, he's still producing at an elite level.

The striker netted the CONCACAF Champions League winner against LAFC and struck twice in the Cup World Cup quarter-finals to send Tigres to the semis.

Who is Palmeiras top goalscorer Raphael Veiga?

Veiga is at a completely different career stage from Gignac, playing a fraction of the minutes Gignac has logged over the years.

The 25-year-old is enjoying by far his best statistical season ever, and it's fair to say he's just now entering his prime. He's scored 13 times in all competitions since mid-August after failing to crack 10 goals at any point before.

Veiga didn't get on the scoresheet in the Libertadores knockout round, however, and will be asked by his team to step forward against Tigres on Sunday.

French D1 Arkema club Soyaux have secured the services of Cameroon international Henriette Akaba, on a one-year deal, Goal can confirm.

Akaba completed her move to the French side following the expiration of her six-month contract with Belarusian side Minsk.

This saw her become the latest African to leave the former Belarusian giants after Cote d'Ivoire's Nagede Cisse, Nigeria duo of Chioma Wogu, Emuidzhi Oghiabekhva and Alvine Njolle.

During her short spell, she made nine appearances in all competitions, including four in the Uefa Women's Champions League, scoring three goals for Minsk.  

Her move to France will see her play in the fifth European division after stints with Russia's Energy Voronezh, Thailand's Bangkokthonburi, Turkey's Atasehir Belediyespor and Besiktas before Belarus.

For country, she has featured at six African Women's Cup of Nations, two senior Women's World Cups and the London 2012 Summer Olympics in her 34 caps.

With her signing, Laurent Mortel will hope for an improved attack as they eye a better second-round campaign this season, having found themselves in 11th place, with seven points from 13 games.

Her arrival also increases the number of Indomitable Lionesses in the French top-flight to five after Guingamp's Jeannette Ngock Yango, Riems duo Easther Kith and Marie Awona.

Akaba will aim to make an impressive maiden debut when Soyaux travel to face Issy in their next fixture on February 6.

Caleb Ekuban provided an assist to help Trabzonspor secure a 1-0 victory over Denizlispor in Thursday’s Turkish Super Lig game.

The 26-year-old was handed his 16th league appearance this season at Senol Gunes Akyazi Stadyumu and made a key impact in the encounter.

The game started with both sides aiming to get an early goal in the game but despite their efforts, the first half ended 0-0.

After the restart, however, Ekuban inspired Unal Karaman's side to victory when he set up Anastasios Bakasetas to break the deadlock, moments before the hour mark.

The goal proved vital, as it decided the outcome of the game, ensuring Trabzonspor secured all three points.

The Ghana international featured for 78 minutes before he was replaced by Flavio while his teammate and the Democratic Republic of the Congo international Benik Afobe played for two minutes after he brought on Djanini Tvaris.

Nigeria international Anthony Nwakaeme was on parade for 90 minutes and made frantic efforts to add to his five goals this season before he was replaced by Majid Hosseini.

The victory moved Trabzonspor to fourth spot on Super Lig table after gathering 39 points from 22 games.

On the other hand, Cherif Ndiaye scored twice in Goztepe’s 2-2 draw against Yeni Malatyaspor at Gursel Aksel Stadium.

The Senegal international opened the scoring in the 13th minute of the encounter after he was set up by Soner Aydogdu.

Stephen Mallan levelled proceedings in the 39th minute for Yeni Malatyaspor before Ndiaye completed his brace in the 73rd minute.

Ahmed Ildiz then scored an 81st-minute strike to deny Goztepe all three points after receiving an assist from Mustafa Eskihellac.

With the draw, Goztepe are 11th on the Super Lig table with 26 points from 22 games and will hope to return to winning ways against Gaziantep FK in their next outing on February 8.

Ndiaye has now scored seven goals and provided two assists in 25 appearances across all competitions this season.

The Senegalese forward teamed up with Goztepe last summer on a season-long loan from Gorica.

Pitso Mosimane's Al Ahly claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Qatari giants Al-Duhail in the Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final on Thursday evening. 

Hussein El Shahat's first-half goal earned the Egyptian champions the victory in an encounter which took place at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar. 

Al Ahly head coach Mosimane surprisingly named DR Congolese striker Walter Bwalya in the starting line-up ahead of the experienced marksman Marwan Mohsen.

While influential playmaker El Shahat, who has a knack of scoring important goals for the Red Devils, was deployed behind Bwalya by Mosimane.

On the other hand, Kenya international Michael Olunga led the attack for Al-Duhail, who had former Morocco captain Medhi Benatia at the heart of their defence.

Both teams were cautious in the opening exchanges and there was nothing to threaten the two goalkeepers, Mohamed El Shenawy and Salah Zakaria Moussa.

However, the Red Devils upped the tempo after the 20th-minute mark and they managed to break the deadlock through El Shahat on the half-hour-mark. 

The 29-year-old, who netted six goals in last season's Caf Champions League, fired past Moussa from the edge of the box to make it 1-0 to Al Ahly with Bwalya providing the assist.

Having proved to be a constant nuisance for the Al Duhail defence, Bwalya then thought he had doubled Al Ahly's lead when he beat Moussa with a brilliant finish, but his goal was disallowed for offside after a VAR review.

Al-Duhail were struggling to create chances for their main striker, Olunga, who was tightly marked by Moroccan centre back Badr Banoun and Al Ahly were leading 1-0 at the interval.

Olunga was replaced by Ghana-born striker Mohammed Muntari prior to the start of the second half as the Red Knights looked to restore parity.

The Red Knights applied some pressure on the Red Devils and El Shenawy made three smart saves to deny Muntari, Mohammed Mousa and Eduardo Dudu. 

Mosimane reacted by introducing Mohsen and Akram Tawfik, who is a defensive midfielder by trade, as the Kagiso-born tactician looked to change the complexion of the match.

The African champions were able to contain Al-Duhail in the closing stages of the game and ultimately, Al Ahly emerged 1-0 winners. They will face German giants Bayern Munich on Monday.

The winner between Al Ahly and Bayern will take on either Brazilian giants SC Palmeiras or Mexican side Tigres UANL in the final on February 11.

The Cameroon women's senior national team's scheduled Olympic intercontinental play-off showdown with Chile this month has been postponed.

The Indomitable Lionesses were scheduled to face the South Americans in April 2020 following a final-round defeat to Zambia but the tie was moved to February 2021 due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Before now, the Central Africans had been in camp, with 34 players called up in the build-up for the first leg meeting on February 18 in Yaounde before a trip to Santiago six days later.

On Thursday, the Chilean Soccer Federation confirmed the latest postponement following the receipt of an official notice from Fifa.

In the statement, the Chilean football body cited the ongoing global health crisis arising from the coronavirus and related logistical problems for Fifa's decision.

In the wake of this, the world's football governing body has now rescheduled the doubleheader to April, with no confirmed dates yet.

Before the rescheduling, La Roja had bowed to an African opponent for the first time in a 2-1 defeat to Zambia last December and has planned to continue their current local camp.

On the part of Cameroon, coach Alain Djeumfa will hope his team continues their preparations with their first international test since March 2020 as they wait for new dates to face Jose Letelier's side.

Having missed an automatic slot at the expense of Zambia, the Lionesses are keen to beat La Roja to a play-off spot in confirming their return to the showpiece for the first time since London 2012.

Liverpool’s Champions League clash with RB Leipzig has been thrown into chaos with the Premier League champions banned from entering Germany due to coronavirus restrictions.

Jurgen Klopp and his side are scheduled to play the first leg of their last-16 tie at Leipzig’s Red Bull Arena on February 16.

Why can Liverpool not enter Germany?

Germany has introduced stringent rules prohibiting international travel from areas deemed high risk due to mutations of the coronavirus, such as the United Kingdom.

Airline travel into Germany from these regions is prohibited until at least February 17, one day after the game is slated to go ahead.

The news has not come as a significant surprise in Germany. At the beginning of the week, the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) announced that the new restrictions would “initially not allow any exceptions for professional athletes”.

On Thursday, the BMI confirmed that a Champions League match would not be grounds for a special permit.

"The Federal Police informed the association that the described constellation does not fall under the exceptional circumstances of the Corona Protection Ordinance," the BMI told the Sport Information Service (SID).

UEFA has given Leipzig until February 8 to organise an alternative plan to allow the match to go ahead.

Where could the game be played instead?

It is possible, but unlikely, that the two teams could agree to switch their home games, so the first leg on February 16 is played at Anfield. The second leg is scheduled for March 10, giving extra time for a solution to be found or restrictions to be eased.

However, it is very unlikely that Liverpool would agree to this as the club would not be keen to lose the advantage of having the decisive second leg on home soil.

The game could be played at a neutral venue in a country with less strict coronavirus restrictions, with Russia and Hungary suggested as possible destinations by German outlet Bild.

Will Liverpool or RB Leipzig be docked points?

Points will not be deducted but if a satisfactory plan is not submitted to UEFA by February 8, Liverpool will be awarded a 3-0 win.

Factoring away goals into the equation, that would put Klopp’s side at a huge advantage going into the second leg at Anfield.

Leipzig made it to the semi-finals of last year’s tournament, with Liverpool knocked out at the quarter-final stage by Atletico Madrid shortly before England went into lockdown.