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Uganda have been drawn to face Cameroon in the 2020 Pre-African Nations Championship mini-tournament set to kick-off on Friday.

The Cranes, who have already arrived in Yaounde, will open the tournament against the host nation on January 1 at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde.

They will then return to action on January 4 against Mulitin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic’s Zambia before concluding with a game against Niger on January 7.

Uganda are among the teams invited for the mini-tournament, which will be used by most of the participating teams to gauge their preparedness ahead of the Chan tournament that will also be held in Cameroon.

Cameroon have been pooled in Group A of the Chan tournament with Mali, Burkina Faso, and Zimbabwe while Group B comprises Libya, DR Congo, Congo, and Niger.

Group C has Morocco, Rwanda, Uganda, and Togo while Group D has Zambia, Guinea, Namibia, and Tanzania. Two top teams will make it to the knockout phase.

The Cranes, who will be taking part in their fifth consecutive Chan tournament after featuring in 2011, 2014, 2016, and 2018 editions, will face Rwanda on January 18 at the Stade de Unification in Douala, before tackling Togo on January 22 at the same venue.

The final group game will be on January 26 against Morocco.

Tanzania will open their campaign against Zambia on January 18, then face Namibia on January 23 and finish their matches against Guinea on January 27, while Cameroon will face Zimbabwe in the tournament opener on January 16, take on Mali on January 20, and wind up their preliminary matches against Burkina Faso on January 24.

The Cranes have never progressed past the group stage of the competition and it is their goal this time round. 

The tournament, which exclusively features players from each nation's respective national championships, was supposed to be hosted by Ethiopia but was moved to Cameroon after the Ethiopian football authorities admitted the country was not ready to hold the event.

The event will be hosted by the cities of Yaounde, Douala, and Limbe and will also serve as a warm-up for Cameroon ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Uganda squad in Cameroon; Goalkeepers: Joel Mutakubwa (Kyetume), Nafian Alionzi (URA), and Tom Ikara (Police).

Defenders: Eric Ssenjobe (Police), Aziz Kayondo (Vipers), Derrick Ndahiro (SC Villa), Paul Willa (Vipers), Ashraf Mandela (URA), Halid Lwaliwa (Vipers), Mustafa Mujjuzi (Kyetume), Patrick Mbowa (URA), Murushid Juuko (Express), Muhamood Hassan (Police).

Midfielders: Shafiq Kagimu (URA), Tonny Mawejje (Police), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Vipers), Karim Watambala (Vipers), Saidi Kyeyune (URA), Hassan Ssenyonjo (Wakiso Giants).

Forwards: Ben Ocen (Police), Ibrahim Orit (Vipers), Vianne Ssekajjugo (Wakiso Giants), Joseph Ssemujju (BUL), Joakim Ojera (URA), Milton Karisa (Vipers), Stephen Mukwala (URA), Mohamed Shaban (Vipers), and Ivan Bogere (Proline).

Manchester City have confirmed that the club's first team are set to resume training amid a Covid-19 outbreak at the club. 

City's Premier League match against Everton on Monday was postponed due to the outbreak, but the club have now been cleared to resume training. 

"Manchester City can confirm that first team training will resume at City Football Academy this afternoon," a club statement read. "The full Covid-19 bubble underwent testing yesterday, and results have so far revealed no new positive cases.

"Safety remains our No 1 priority, and the club will continue to proceed with great caution.

"The first team training buildings have undergone a deep clean over the past 48 hours, and the majority of these facilities will remain closed, with only essential operations around training resuming. The bubble will undergo further testing in the coming days, the results of which will inform and dictate the next steps.

"Everyone at Manchester City continues to wish speedy recoveries to all of our colleagues who remain in self isolation following their positive tests."

City revealed on Christmas Day that Gabriel Jesus, Kyle Walker and another two members of staff had tested positive for coronavirus.

Following the cancellation of the club's match against Everton, City said in a statement that "the club returned a number of positive cases, in addition to the four already reported on Christmas Day."

On Wednesday, Fulham's Premier League match with Tottenham was also postponed due to an outbreak of cases among Fulham's players and staff.

Despite the increase in cases and postponements, the Premier League was adamant that a league-wide pause in fixtures would not occur, saying it has "full confidence" that the season can go on.

"With low numbers of positive tests across the overwhelming majority of clubs, the Premier League continues to have full confidence in its Covid-19 protocols and being able to continue to play our fixtures as scheduled," a league statement said.

Manchester City are set to face Chelsea in a Premier League match on Sunday, although it is currently unclear if that game will be able to go ahead as scheduled.

Juventus are closing in on the signing of Genoa midfielder Nicolo Rovella, Goal can confirm.

Rovella is currently enjoying a breakthrough season with Genoa, having been handed his first professional contract at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium in 2019.

The 19-year-old has already racked up seven Serie A appearances for Davide Ballardini's side this term, with his latest outing coming from the bench in a 2-1 win away at Spezia on December 23.

However, the teenager's current contract is due to expire next summer, and Juventus have already made a move to bring him onto their books ahead of the January transfer window.

The Bianconeri have reached an agreement to sign Rovella on a permanent deal worth around €9 million, with Genoa ready to cash in on a prized asset before he drops into the free agency pool.

Goal has learned that Juve will send the Italian starlet back to the Luigi Ferraris Stadium on loan until the end of the current campaign, while leaving the door open for that agreement to be extended by an extra year.

Genoa are hopeful that once Rovella's transfer to the Allianz Stadium is finalised, the Bianconeri will be open to discussing the sale of Manolo Portanova, who is currently on the fringes of Andrea Pirlo's senior squad.

An official announcement from both clubs is expected before the winter market opens, with the Serie A season set to resume on January 3 following a slightly shorter winter break than usual.

Rovella will likely be included in Ballardini's squad once again when Genoa play host to Lazio, before their focus shifts to a meeting with Sassuolo three days later.

The Liguria-based club are currently embroiled in a relegation battle, have only won two of their opening 14 fixtures, with Spezia currently one point above them in 17th.

Juve, meanwhile, have stuttered in their latest defence of the Serie A crown, with Pirlo's side 10 points adrift of leaders Milan having played a game less.

The Bianconeri are chasing an unprecedented tenth successive Scudetto, but cannot afford any more slip-ups when they resume their season with a home fixture against Udinese.

Simba SC’s goalscoring spree continued after they picked up a 4-0 win against Ihefu FC in a Mainland Premier League Wednesday tie.

Mohamed Hussein, Meddie Kagere and Chris Mugalu scored the goals that ensured Simba will continue to enjoy the biggest goal difference margin in the league as they lie second.

Hussein, who was surprisingly left out of Tanzania's African Nations Championship squad by coach Etienne Ndayiragije, opened the score in the ninth minute for the league champions.

Kagere added the second in the 15th minute as Wekundu wa Msimbazi exerted their authority in the only game of the day. The Rwandan received the ball and his quick turn to the right side seemed to have outfoxed Ihefu’s goalkeeper Deogratius Munishi as he conceded the goal.

The two-time Golden Boot winner added the third in the 40th minute as Simba headed back to the tunnel with their heads high given a dominant first-half performance.

Mugalu came in to replace Kagere in the 66th minute after the former Gor Mahia striker had already bagged a brace against the league new boys. The performance by the star presents another selection headache for coach Sven Vandenbroeck, who also has John Bocco for the centre-forward duties.

Another change for Simba was made in the 72nd minute when injured Ibrahim Ame, who is understood to have requested a loan move due to a lack of enough playing time, was replaced by David Kameta.

Mugalu added the fourth goal in the 84th minute to give Wekundu wa Msimbazi a win after they were defeated in the Caf Champions League by Platinum FC.

Simba will host the Zimbabwean champions on January 6 in Dar es Salaam for the decisive return leg.

Simba XI: Aishi Manula, Shomari Kapombe, Hussein Mohamed, Joash Onyango, Ibrahim Ame, Kennedy Juma, Larry Bwalya, Said Ndemla, Meddie Kagere, Clatous Chama, Luis Miquissone.

Subs: Beno Kakolanya, David Kameta, Gadiel Michael, Hassan Dilunga, Francis Kahata, Chris Mugalu, Athuman Miraji.

Ihefu FC XI: Deogratius Munishi, Mando Mkumbwa, Wema Sadoki, Michael Msinda, Samuel Jackson, Juma Mahadhi, Willy Mgaya, Andrea Simchimba, Omary Hamisi, Joseph Mahundi.

Subs: Isihaka Joseph, Oscar Masai, Jeremy Katula, Tepsi Evance, Geofrey Kitenga, Joseph Kinyozi, Issah Ngoah.

Liverpool need to sign a centre-back or else they can kiss goodbye to their Premier League crown, according to John Aldridge.

The Reds stormed to their first league title in three decades in 2019-20, becoming the first team in history to secure the trophy with seven games to spare.

Jurgen Klopp's are leading the pack once again heading into the new year, but their rise to the top of the table has not been nearly as smooth this time around.

Liverpool are two points clear of second-placed Manchester United after 15 fixtures, with a trip to Newcastle up next on Wednesday night, where they will be aiming to bounce back from a disappointing 1-1 draw with West Brom.

Valuable points have also been dropped against Fulham and Brighton this season, while their 7-2 defeat away at Aston Villa on October 10 sent shockwaves through the entire division.

Klopp's cause has not been helped by a defensive injury crisis which has seen Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez both miss two months of action, with neither man expected to return until after January.

Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold also spent time on the sidelines with respective knocks, while Joel Matip's fitness struggles continued as he limped off during the clash with West Brom at the weekend.

It has been suggested that Liverpool will soldier on with their current squad rather than dip into the winter transfer window for reinforcements, but Aldridge says his old club cannot afford to rest on their laurels.

"Word has been coming out of Anfield suggesting Liverpool are not looking to sign anyone next month, but it has to be a smokescreen because they simply have to sign a centre-half if they are serious about retaining the Premier League title," The Reds legend told Sunday World.

"Joel Matip's injury in Sunday's 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion confirmed what we have all appreciated for some time now - Liverpool have to spend money on a good quality defender.

"I like Matip, and if he could be relied upon to play the majority of games in the second-half of the season, manager Jurgen Klopp might be able to get through to next summer with the current squad.

"Yet, the reality facing Liverpool heading into Wednesday's game at Newcastle is pretty stark - they have one senior centre-back to call upon and he is a midfielder, Fabinho.

"The injuries to Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez have ripped a hole in Liverpool's defensive line and with Matip clearly struggling with his fitness, Liverpool are horribly short at the centre of their defence.

Aldridge added on Klopp putting faith in the club's academy stars to see them through a testing period being a risky tactic: "Fabinho has been brilliant filling in at centre-back, but the suggestion that captain Jordan Henderson or Gini Wijnaldum can play in there is nonsense.

"Liverpool need three of their best midfielders to play in the position they are meant to be in, and while Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips have done well at centre-back, playing youngsters in such a vital position is a recipe for disaster.

"Against the top sides in the Champions League, youngsters are liable to found out - and that could also be the case in the Premier League."

Asked how much Liverpool should invest in reinforcements when the market reopens, the former Reds striker responded: "Liverpool's transfer committee, and especially recruiter-in-chief Michael Edwards, has done a magnificent job of identifying the right players in recent years and now they need to pull another rabbit out of the hat.

"It's not easy to sign top players in January, but Liverpool pulled off major coups when they got Luis Suarez and Virgil van Dijk mid-way through previous seasons and it shows what is possible.

"I don't know what players may be available in this transfer window, but the Premier League title is on the line here and Liverpool have to do all they can to back Klopp and give him the best chance to clinch it."

Jose Mourinho took to Instagram to mock the Premier League as Tottenham remained uncertain over the potential postponement of their upcoming clash with Fulham.

Spurs were set to play host to Fulham on Wednesday, having earned a 1-1 draw with Wolves on Sunday as they continue on through the festive period.

However, the match's status was up in the air after Fulham was hit with a number of positive coronavirus tests before the league ultimately postponed it just hours before kickoff.

The game is the second one in a matter of days to be postponed due to coronavirus, with Manchester City's meeting with Everton called off on Monday after the former confirmed a series of positive tests.

The news comes after Fulham manager Scott Parker missed the team's goalless draw with Southampton on Boxing Day after a member of his household tested positive for Covid-19.

Fulham were set to travel across London for the match on Wednesday but that journey was ultimately cancelled.

With the match still up in the air just a few hours before kick-off, Mourinho took to social media to voice his frustration with all of the uncertainty surrounding the game and the decision whether or not to play.

"Match at 6pm... We still don’t know if we play," he posted on Instagram alongside a video of his staff glued to their phones and the television. "Best league in the world."

In recent days, there have been calls for the Premier League to go on hiatus as the league deals with a surge in coronavirus numbers.

The Premier League announced on Tuesday the highest number of Covid-19 cases since weekly testing began, with 18 people testing positive.

In response to that uptick in positive cases, Sam Allardyce and Nuno Espirito Santo said that they believe the league should take a break until testing numbers dip back down.

The league has been mowing through the festive period, with teams playing three matches in a week during the typical holiday fixture crunch.

Following Wednesday's postponed match against Fulham, Tottenham are set to face Leeds on Saturday before taking on Brentford in the Carabao Cup three days later.

Fulham, meanwhile, are scheduled to visit Burnley on Sunday before a six-day break ahead of an FA Cup visit to Queens Park Rangers.

The Premier League encounter between Tottenham and Fulham has been postponed, it has been confirmed.

The game was put in doubt after a number of players and staff at Fulham turned out to be positive for Covid-19 in the latest round of tests. 

In a statement on Wednesday, the Premier League confirmed the decision will adding that the league has "full confidence" that the season can go on.

"The match between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham, due to be played at 18:00 GMT this evening, has been postponed following a Premier League Board meeting this afternoon," the league said in a statement.

"Fulham lodged a request with the Premier League Board to rearrange the fixture following a significant rise in positive Covid-19 cases, as well as a number of players showing symptoms today.

"The Premier League Board has consulted its medical advisors and the decision to postpone the game has been taken as a precaution and with the health of players and staff as the priority. The group will now be retested immediately.

"With low numbers of positive tests across the overwhelming majority of clubs, the Premier League continues to have full confidence in its Covid-19 protocols and being able to continue to play our fixtures as scheduled.

"The League wishes those with Covid-19 a safe and speedy recovery and will rearrange the postponed fixture between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham in due course."

The decision to call off the clash in London was made just hours before the match was scheduled to kick-off, with Spurs manager Jose Mourinho mocking the Premier League for the lack of clarity regarding whether or not it would go ahead.

Spurs had already arrived at the stadium to prepare for kick-off and Mourinho posted a video on Instagram with the caption: "Match at 6 pm. We still don’t know if we play. Best league in the world."

Fulham coach Scott Parker was absent for his side's match at home against Southampton on Saturday because he had to isolate for 10 days after a member of his household tested positive for Covid-19, despite the former midfielder returning a negative test. Parker was set to return to the dugout for Wednesday's game.

The encounter at is the third to be postponed this month because of an increase in Covid-19 cases.

The clash between Aston Villa and Newcastle at the start of December was the first to be called off, while this week saw Everton's match against Manchester City postponed just hours before the game was set to start.

The cancellation of Monday's match at Goodison Park upset Everton, who announced later that they had requested full disclosure from the Premier League regarding how the decision was made.

Spurs sit seventh in the English top-flight heading into the match and six points behind leaders Liverpool, who are playing Newcastle on Wednesday night. After a strong start to the season, Mourinho's team have won just one of their last seven matches.

Fulham, meanwhile, are 18th in the league with 11 points from 15 matches. While the Craven Cottage side have won once in their last eight matches, they are on a run of four draws in a row, having taken a point each from Liverpool, Brighton, Newcastle and Southampton.

David de Gea said he is feeling confident with his form amid increased competition from Dean Henderson.

Henderson’s arrival back at Old Trafford, after a successful loan spell at Sheffield United, has led to questions over who should be the club’s number one, with De Gea having held the spot for the last nine years.

But the competition appears to have pushed the Spaniard on and he has been in good form for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side of late.

The 30-year-old pulled off a couple of good saves to deny Romain Saiss in United’s 1-0 win against Wolves at Old Trafford on Tuesday and is happy with his displays.

"I feel very confident to be honest. I feel well," De Gea said. "I am happy every time I can help the team like today, make some big saves to keep the clean sheets.

"The whole team, I think we played a good game so, yeah, I'm really happy."

The win pushed United up to second in the table, just two points off Liverpool in top spot, and the team are showing a belief and mentality that they can compete at the top.

"I think we have now a winning mentality and this is very important for the team. All of us want to win, we keep trying until the end," the goalkeeper explained.

"The manager wants us to try until the end. It was great to see the team trying to score until the last minute and then we scored a goal, so it's perfect for us.

"We won a massive three points and now we'll try to recover as soon as possible and be ready for the next game."

Next up for Solskjaer’s side is the visit of Aston Villa on New Year’s Day and De Gea expects to be fit for that clash despite colliding with Adama Traore in the second half of Tuesday night’s win.

"Woof! I was lying on the pitch," De Gea laughed. "He's one of the strongest players in the Premier League, so it was very painful in my arm, in my stomach, but it was fine. We won the game, so everything's fine."

Held virtually for the first time because of the current situation in the country, the shortened 2020 National Football Awards (ABK) was held on Wednesday night with Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) becoming the major winners on the night.

The 7-time Super League champions were the only trophy winner in a truncated 2020 season blighted by the Covid-19 pandemic that engulfed the country, with the league suspended for a long six months, as well as seeing the FA Cup and Malaysia Cup competitions cancelled.

JDT all but one of the major awards decided by a voting system. Farizal Marlias, Aidil Zafuan, Safawi Rasid, Benjamin Mora and the team itself picked up the honours in their respective categories. The Southern Tigers romped to another impressive title win in 2020, finishing the shortened season unbeaten for the second time in their short history.

Unlike the other years, the Most Valuable Player award this time was awarded to the fans of the M-League, not to any specific player. The '12th player' as they are normally referred to, Malaysia Football League (MFL) decided to hand the award to the fans in honour of their continuous support to the professional game. 

Local Premier League Top Scorer: Danial Asri (Selangor 2) - 7 goals

Best Goalkeeper: Farizal Marlias (JDT)

Premier League Top Scorer: Casagrande (Pulau Pinang) - 9 goals

Best Defender: Aidil Zafuan (JDT)

Local Super League Top Scorer: Shahrel Fikir (Perak) - 10 goals

Best Midfielder: Safawi Rasid (JDT)

Super League Top Scorer: Ifedayo Olusegun (Selangor) - 12 goals

Best Striker: Shahrel Fikri (Perak)

Best Coach: Benjamin Mora (JDT)

Golden Boot: Ifedayo Olusegun (Selangor) - 12 goals

Best Team: Johor Darul Ta'zim

Most Valuable Player: M-League fans

Chelsea have stopped discussions on loan moves for academy players until mid-January to allow Frank Lampard to select as many Under-23s stars as possible for the FA Cup third-round clash with Morecambe.

Tino Anjorin, Henry Lawrence and Lewis Bate are among the youngsters who will likely start against the League Two side at Stamford Bridge on January 10.

However, the match remains in doubt after several Morecambe players tested positive for Covid-19, leading to the cancellation of league clashes with Bolton and Bradford.

The Blues' next opponents, Manchester City, also called off their recent match with Everton for the same reason, but Chelsea are operating on a business-as-usual approach until told otherwise by the Premier League.

"I think it is a key time and a tough time," Lampard said after his side's 1-1 draw with Aston Villa on Monday. "I think we felt that coming as tier-4 came in with the surge [in Covid-19 cases]. We have to get safety as paramount.

"I believe that’s why the game has been called off, because of the spread in the squad for Man City. From our point of view, I will find out in the next day or two because it has to be safe for the two teams. If not, the game won’t go ahead.

"I think the Premier League will direct us on that, but yes, it is a tough time. I am not surprised because how Covid is in the UK is difficult for everybody. Football isn’t different all the time, so we will have to see what the Premier League come up with. But safety is paramount."

There are now discussions ongoing about a possible two-week stoppage of English football to overcome the large spike in Covid-19 cases that has hit the United Kingdom.

Behind the scenes, Chelsea are working in the transfer market.

Fikayo Tomori is seeking a loan exit having not played for Chelsea since September and has interest from Newcastle as well as clubs from overseas.

However, Tomori's future is linked to that of Antonio Rudiger, who is also considering leaving the club to ensure that he is selected for Euro 2020.

Emerson Palmieri and Marcos Alonso are both attracting interest after struggling for game time since Ben Chilwell's arrival.

Atletico Madrid are reportedly interested in Alonso after Inter attempted a loan swoop in the summer. Emerson is happy to stay at Chelsea, having had assurances over his status with the Italy national team, but he would also consider offers to return to Serie A.

Kepa Arrizabalaga could also leave in January but it is highly unlikely that any club will pay a transfer fee or the full wage of the £72 million ($95m) club-record signing. Olivier Giroud had been open to leaving Chelsea in January but he has softened his stance after getting a run of games.

Danny Drinkwater and Baba Rahman are seeking loan moves, having been stuck with the Under-23s after failing to earn moves over the summer.

For Rahman, there are clubs lining up to take him on a six-month loan. Two unnamed clubs in Spain and France are at the front of the queue with his future set to be decided in the next fortnight. The Ghana international has had an injury-hit two years but he is back to full fitness and playing with Chelsea's development squad.

Chelsea also recently rejected a £3m offer from Rostov for in-form Ike Ugbo, who has scored 10 goals in 16 games on loan at Cercle Brugge. The 22-year-old striker will be allowed to leave if an offer of £5m arrives.

Charly Musonda is back in training after a 15-month injury nightmare, but he will have to prove his fitness at Cobham before considering a loan deal.

West Ham's Declan Rice remains Chelsea's primary transfer target, but the Hammers will resist his sale and competition is expected to emerge from the rest of the top six for the England international.

Bruno Fernandes would fit in at Real Madrid, Barcelona or Juventus, according to his former mentor Cristiano Giaretta, who says the Manchester United star's statistics for goals and assists make him a potential contender for the Ballon d'Or.

Fernandes began his professional career in Italy with Novara in 2012, where he spent one year before joining Sampdoria.

The Portugal international also took in a spell at Udinese before returning to his homeland, with Sporting CP snapping him up in the summer of 2017.

He quickly became a talismanic figure at Jose Alvalade Stadium due to his all-action style of play, while learning to supply the kind of end product that matches his mercurial talent on a consistent basis.

Fernandes soon began attracting attention from top clubs across Europe, and United eventually won the race for his signature in January.

The Red Devils forked out €55 million (£50m/$68m) to bring the 26-year-old to Old Trafford, which he has already repaid ten-fold, scoring 26 goals in his first 45 appearances across all competitions.

The former Sporting playmaker has also provided 17 assists, with his outstanding performances in the middle of the park helping to transform Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side from also-rans into Premier League title contenders.

Watford sporting director Giaretta, who handed Fernandes his first professional contract at Novara, has heaped praise upon the Portuguese for rising to the very highest level of the game, while claiming he now has unlimited options when it comes to his future.

Asked where he feels Fernandes could end up, Giaretta told Calcio Mercato: “Good question. It almost goes without saying that he would be fine with Real Madrid, Barcelona or Juventus.

“The truth is he could go anywhere, but in my opinion, he’s already at the top.

“Personally, I believe that Manchester United and the Premier League are the pinnacle of a career, a point of arrival, not of passage: I thought that as a player and I am still convinced of it, as a sporting director who aims to bring Watford back to the top as soon as possible.

“Then he will make his choices, he is an intelligent boy and will know what is best for him."

The ex-Novara chief added on his relationship with Fernandes and the United midfielder being destined to become a frontrunner in the race for football's top individual prize: "I hear from him often, even a couple of times a week.

"I can say that he is the same guy I met at Boavista, with a great personality, with the same desire to work to become the best: he is one who is never satisfied, who aspires to a lot, even in his humility.

“He will never say it, but someone with his stats can dream of important goals such as the Ballon d’Or.

“Since joining Manchester United, he has made 44 appearances and scored 26 goals, without mentioning the assists and he plays for his team-mates. He has always been decisive."

Giaretta also expressed his belief that Fernandes is now the main leader in the Red Devils starting line-up, with current club captain Harry Maguire among those considered to be playing a less vital role in the team's recent success.

"It is undeniable that Bruno Fernandes is the real captain of the team,” he said. “If others are important, he is essential. If I have to tell the truth it didn’t even surprise me too much from this point of view: at 18 he was already an adult in his head. The hard work did the rest.”

Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho will undergo arthroscopic surgery to determine the severity of an injury to his left knee.

The Brazil international was introduced as a 66th-minute substitute during Tuesday's disappointing 1-1 draw with Eibar at Camp Nou but was unable to see the game out after sustaining the injury in second half stoppage time.

Initial reports suggested Coutinho could be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines and the club confirmed on Wednesday he had damaged a lateral meniscus and will now have an exploratory operation.

A Barcelona statement read: "The tests carried out on the first team player Philippe Coutinho have shown that the midfielder has an injury to the lateral meniscus in his left knee. Treatment will necessitate arthroscopic surgery which will take place in the coming days."

A lengthy absence for Coutinho would be another blow for Barca boss Ronald Koeman, who is already without Ansu Fati, Sergi Roberto and Gerard Pique through injury.

Coutinho has made 14 appearances for Barcelona this season in all competitions, with three goals and two assists.

The draw with Eibar saw the Catalans slip to sixth in the table, seven points adrift of joint leaders Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.

The Camp Nou outfit’s start to the current campaign is their worst since 2003. With seven wins from their first 15 matches, it is the first time they have failed to win more than half of their games at this stage in the season since Frank Rijkaard was at the helm. Barca finished second in the league that season, five points behind champions Valencia.

After the latest slip up, coach Koeman admitted his side will struggle to get back into the race for the league title.

He said in a press conference: "I am realistic, it will be very difficult to be champions. Nothing is impossible, but you have to acknowledge the gap. Atletico look very good to me, very strong, they don't concede many goals." 

The Catalan side begin 2021 with an away match against Huesca on Sunday, with a trip to Athletic Club to follow three days later.

Queens Park Rangers winger Bright Osayi-Samuel has revealed he suffered racial abuse on social media after their 1-1 draw against Norwich City in Tuesday’s Championship game.

The 22-year-old forward played a significant role in ensuring the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium outfit avoided defeat in the encounter.

Osayi-Samuel scored the equalising goal for QPR, converting from the penalty spot, after Teemu Pukki’s opener.

After the match, the Nigerian winger revealed on Instagram, as per, Sky Sports, how he was racially abused on social media, describing it as “disgusting and painful to receive messages like this".

A number of African footballers have suffered racial abuse during their career, including former Barcelona and Cameroon legend Samuel Eto’o.

Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was also subjected to abuse in 2018 after scoring against Tottenham Hotspur in a Premier League game.

A banana skin was thrown towards the Gabon international’s direction at the Emirates Stadium, while celebrating his goal.

The FA, Uefa and other football governing bodies have tried to stamp out the ignoble act through various measures but with little success.

Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) have urged players to take a knee as part of their effort to stop racial abuse, which has been greatly adhered to.

Osayi-Samuel will hope the incident against him will be investigated by the police and the culprit gets punished to serve as a deterrent to others in the future.

The forward has been with QPR since the summer of 2017 and has been playing a key role for the club, featuring in more than 100 league games.

Last season, the winger helped his side to finish in mid-table, forming a productive partnership with his compatriot Eberechi Eze, who left to team up with Premier League club Crystal Palace in the summer.

In the current campaign, Osayi-Samuel has made 21 appearances across all competitions for QPR, scoring three goals and providing three assists.

The forward will hope to put the incident behind him and help Mark Warburton’s men end their winless run against Luton Town on January 2.

Former Mamelodi Sundowns defender Phelelani Mpangase believes the quality in the Brazilians’ squad will not be enough and they will be outplayed by Orlando Pirates in Saturday’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) confrontation at Loftus Versfeld.

It would be the 2021 opener and a battle of teams that have both been mentioned as title contenders who are yet to taste defeat in this season’s campaign.

With Pirates six points behind Sundowns, although they have played a game less than the log leaders, Mpangase still gives the contest to Josef Zinnbauer and his men.

“Regardless of the fact that I played for Sundowns, let us be honest, Pirates are on top of their game at the moment,” Mpangase told Soccerladuma.

“They are doing very, very well. The intensity at which they play is very high and it’s very rare for teams to match their intensity.

“As much as Sundowns have quality players I don’t see them matching Pirates in terms of the intensity and mobility. Yes, Sundowns have a strong squad on the field and on the bench but I think Pirates will take this one because of their form and how they have been playing.”

Pirates are unbeaten with three victories but their campaign has, however, been somewhat undone by four draws.

The Soweto giants are placed fifth on the table and have managed nine goals in seven games with a striking rate that might not be too impressive against Sundowns’ 16 goals in eight matches.

Masandawana also appear better in terms of defence, having conceded five times as compared to Pirates, who have shipped in six goals despite playing fewer games.

What has dominated talk about Sundowns this season is their fiery attacking combination comprising of Themba Zwane, Peter Shalulile and Kermit Erasmus, who have combined to contribute 13 of Downs’ 16 league goals.

Zwane has seven PSL goals in as many matches while Pirates’ top-scorers are Vincent Pule and Tshegofatso Mabasa, who have two goals each.

Zwane and Erasmus were rested in Sundowns' last league and Caf Champions League outings and could return fresher to pick up from where they left off.

Simba information officer Haji Manara has stated he will remain at the club to continue with his duties despite reports he has been suspended by his bosses.

It was recently reported Manara had been suspended from Simba which prompted him not to discuss the team's issues.

However, Manara has now come out to clarify he took a break from discussing the club’s issues because he had been handed a break by the leadership after his recent wedding.

Through his Instagram page, Manara has said: “The size of my name makes me feel better, my fame hurts others.

“I never wanted to be here, but I believe my work has attracted many and God decided to promote me.

“Please Simba fans, I will continue to be your spokesperson until my provision is exhausted, [it will not happen for any of us to remain forever whether by death or otherwise].

“Tell those who wrote the rumours of my departure, that I am very knowledgeable with matters of public communication and I have a lot of experience in this area and have become resistant to the challenges of work.

“I am not ready to leave Simba, who am I to leave anyway?”

His statement comes a day after the club suspended dependable midfielder Jonas Mkude due to disciplinary reasons.

Wekundu wa Msimbazi did not specifically point out the allegations labelled against the Tanzania international but promised to deliver a fair ruling on the issue soon.

“We regret to inform our members and fans, that always was the best for us, of Simba Sports Club that Jonas Mkude has been temporarily suspended,” Simba announced in a statement obtained by Goal.

“Mkude has been made to step aside given a number of reasons that include a number of disciplinary issues that he has been implicated with.

“Simba SC have been forced to make this decision because as a club we do not tolerate matters indiscipline in any way. We believe discipline is the backbone for any development in the world of soccer.”

Simba are preparing to face promoted Ihefu FC on Wednesday.

Football Kenya Premier League side AFC Leopards and captain Robinson Kamura are in close talks for a possible contract extension.

Kamura’s contract is set to come to an end on December 31 but according to a source privy to the development, the two parties have agreed on most issues and the defender is set to remain at the club.

“AFC Leopards are keen to keep most of their players who are deemed good enough to push our title ambitions further,” the source told Goal.

“It would not be fair on the part of the club to let key players like the captain leave on free transfer especially when the old and the new players seem to have gelled better.”

Early in December, speculation had grown around Kamura’s future at the Den with some reports then indicating the defender was set to join a Zambian club.

But it has now emerged that he has opted out of looking for another club either in the region or within the country as he wishes to remain with AFC Leopards.

“Since he joined from Mathare United almost five years ago, he has been a trusted player and his association with Ingwe will surely be extended,” the source added.

In an earlier interview, AFC Leopards’ chairman Dan Shikanda stated he was not aware whether the defender had indicated he was leaving the club.

Kamura, through a Facebook post, had sent shivers down the spines of Ingwe supporters when he said ‘No one likes goodbyes’ but Shikanda said his post was misunderstood.

“Robinson [Kamura] is contracted to AFC Leopards, he is our player and will not go anywhere,” Shikanda told Goal at the time. “I have not heard from him either if he wants to leave, he knows the protocol of a player when he wants to leave and I don’t know why people misunderstood his statement.”

Defender Yusuf Mainge and forward Jaffary Owiti, Goal understands, are also on the verge of signing contract renewals.

AFC Leopards started the current campaign with three straight wins against Tusker, Bidco United and Sofapaka before Western Stima picked up a late 2-0 win at Kasarani to end the unbeaten run.

After the Premier League took a break on December 24 for Christmas and New Year holidays, the top-flight will resume on January 2, with six matches lined up across the country.

In many ways, Chennaiyin FC handed ATK Mohun Bagan an easy escape route after almost pulling off a win over the Indian Super League (ISL) league leaders. 

Chennaiyin head coach Csaba Laszlo would be in a very curious situation. His team played very well against one of the toughest outfits in the ISL to play against. And it is not about just possession, which ATKMB are happy to let you have. It was all about enjoying the lion’s share of the ball and troubling Habas’ side. 

Their front four of Rafael Crivellaro, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Jakub Sylvestr and Rahim Ali, ably supported by the hardworking Memo and Anirudh Thapa, did really well to disrupt the ATKMB backline and give Arindam Bhattacharya plenty of exercise throughout the game. 

Even after the influential Crivellaro was forced off after a crude tackle from Pronay Halder, Chennaiyin continued to threaten, which is a testament to the system that Laszlo has implemented. 

However, despite all that, Chennaiyin’s perplexing woes in front of goal continued. Sylvestr, so good and impressive in the build-up, continued to forget his shooting boots once he got into the area. 

Chhangte, enterprisingly brilliant down the left flank, was denied by Arindam on a few occasions while even Enes Sipovic and Eli Sabia had opportunities to score from set-piece situations. But it was just not to be. 

ATK Mohun Bagan would consider themselves unlucky as the referee failed to spot the kick by Reagan Singh on David Williams in the first half which should have been a penalty.
The trouble for the Kolkata outfit is that they have scored eight goals in as many matches but only three players, namely Roy Krishna (five), Manvir Singh (two) and David Williams (one) have contributed so far.

If you compare this with what transpired in the last season, the likes of Javier Hernandez, who is currently injured, Edu Garcia, Michael Soosairaj, who too is on the treatment table, and a few more players contributed to their cause in the attack. Antonio Habas would certainly have this in the back of his mind when his team takes to the field in their next match against NorthEast United.

In only two games this season, ATK Mohun Bagan’s defence was under pressure – against FC Goa and Chennaiyin FC. Both teams are known for their attacking brand of play however, in Chennaiyin’s case, the chances created were more clear-cut.

It was thanks to Arindam Bhattacharya’s alacrity that they were denied on at least four occasions. The experienced custodian has rolled back the years and has been amongst the top performers for the Kolkata outfit.

The Marina Machans have lost just two games so far but have, worryingly, drawn four and that is solely due to their poor goalscoring form. They will need to turn it around in the next couple of games, against Hyderabad FC and Odisha FC, and start to climb up that table.

And the key to that might be the return of Isma Goncalves who was excellent in the first game of the season where they defeated Jamshedpur FC. There's a lot of questions that Laszlo needs to address.