Looking for Soccer News?

Every week, it seems as if a new footballer has been seen limping off the pitch, or there is news about another player having been withdrawn from the squad due to an injury picked up in training.

While some players, such as Virgil van Dijk, have needed surgery due to on-pitch collisions, there have been more and more footballers who have been sidelined due to other injuries.

So what's been happening with footballers? Goal takes a look.

The natural answer is that due to the strange nature of this year's fixture schedule due to the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, players have been more overworked than normal, causing their bodies to cramp and strain.

The congested fixture schedule - with its aim to make up for the three months' worth of lost time in spring - has meant that the players have played more games over a short period of time.

What's more is that there was no proper pre-season break for the players in the summer, which meant no chance for them to rest ahead of the new season.

As a result, players have had to push their bodies to the extreme to cope with the demanding fixture schedule. Most top-level footballers play multiple tournaments at a time now in quicker succession - domestic league, Champions League/Europa League as well as their domestic cup games - which were seen as plentiful even during a normal, non-Covid-19 year.

The November international break must have felt like a horror movie to club managers who received update after update that more and more of their players had been injured.

Liverpool in particular were hit pretty hard, with Joe Gomez picking up an injury in training with England and out of action for several months, and Jordan Henderson was taken off the pitch at half-time playing for the Three Lions. There was a brief scare regarding Andy Robertson, who picked up a tight hamstring during the Euro 2021 play-offs with Scotland, but he was cleared to play shortly after.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was sidelined for a few weeks after he picked up a calf injury against Manchester City, while Fabinho and Thiago had already been on the treatment plan for quite some time.

For Real Madrid, Sergio Ramos, Casemiro and Karim Benzema rounded up a string of new injuries.

Former Liverpool player Dejan Lovren explained on Twitter that we are seeing more injuries due to the influx of games and a lack of proper recovery time, as well as the fact that there were no pre-season preparations.

That, as well as the added mental fatigue of coping with Covid-19 has also taken its toll. Obviously, with the virus still rampant, the coronavirus poses an additional threat to players' health. 

Several high-profile European-based players have tested positive for coronavirus, another element to add clubs' injury concerns.

Football figures have criticised the fact that international matches were still being played amid the pandemic, owing not just to the already demanding fixture schedule, but the fact that international competition would only act as a chance to further spread the virus across the world.

Toni Kroos has criticised FIFA and UEFA's rigorous schedule, berating their plans to add even more fixtures to the table as he referenced the forming of the new European Super League.

"With the invention of all these new things we seem to be just the puppets of FIFA and UEFA," he said on his Einfach mal Luppen podcast.

"These competitions are created to suck everything out of every single player physically and to suck out as much money as possible. When certain things work well it is a good idea to leave them that way."

It's a reunion for more than just Jamshedpur FC's Owen Coyle and Nerijus Valskis but also for Memo who switched over to Chennaiyin FC this season, as the two teams face each other at the Tilak Maidan stadium in Vasco, Goa, on Tuesday. 

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

Jamshedpur FC Possible XI:   

Injured - None
Doubtful - None  
Suspended - None  

Key Players - Nerijus Valskis, Peter Hartley    

Chennaiyin FC Possible XI: 

Injured - None  
Doubtful - None  
Suspended - None

Key Players - Memo, Lallianzuala Chhangte   

Nicolas Pepe says he is "deeply sorry" after being shown a red card in Arsenal's 0-0 Premier League draw with Leeds United on Sunday. 

The 25-year-old was shown a straight red after 51 minutes at Elland Road for headbutting Whites defender Ezgjan Alioski.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta described the winger's actions as "unacceptable" and the Ivory Coast international has now taken to social media to apologise for his conduct.

"Yesterday I let my team down at a crucial time of the game and there is no excuse for my behaviour," Pepe wrote on Instagram.

"I am deeply sorry and would like to apologise to the fans, my team-mates, my coach and everyone else at the club.”

Pepe was widely condemned for the incident, though Alioski was also criticised for goading his opponent into reacting before tumbling theatrically to the floor with minimal contact.

Former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra said Alioski "deserves an Oscar" for his reaction in the Sky Sports studio after the game.

However, things took a sour turn when both players received abusive messages of a racist and threatening nature online in the wake of the incident, with the police now set to launch a formal investigation.

Leeds and Arsenal both released statements condemning the “vile” abuse and pledged to work closely with the authorities in order to find the culprits.

Despite having an extra man for the majority of the second half, Leeds failed to take advantage, with both sides having to settle for a point in a goalless draw that keeps them in the bottom half of the Premier League.

The incident caps a difficult start to the season for Pepe, who is in his second season at Emirates Stadium after his £72 million ($95m) move from French club Lille.

Sunday’s clash at Elland Road just his second start in the Premier League. The Ivory Coast international has scored once and created just two chances for his team-mates, although one of those did lead to a goal.

The 25-year-old scored eight goals in 42 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners last season.

Youssoufa Moukoko has insisted he will chase his dream “like a lion,” after becoming the youngest player in Bundesliga history.

Moukoko wrote himself into the history books on Saturday when climbing off the bench to make his Bundesliga debut during Borussia Dortmund’s 5-2 win at Hertha Berlin.

Moukoko was 16 years and one day old when entering the field of play in the 85th minute, breaking the previous record held by Nuri Sahin, who was 16 years and 334 days old when he made his debut for Dortmund against Nurnberg in 2005.

The teenager has been on the radar for a number of years. He played for the Bundesliga’s Under-17 side at the age of 13, and once scored six goals in a game at the age of 14.

"I can't do anything about being good at football," he said in an interview with DAZN. "The one who works harder gets rewarded in the end.

"It was always my dream to become a professional football player. And if you have that dream you have to chase it like a lion."

Giovanni Reyna is another youngster on the rise at BVB, and Moukoko says he has forged an excellent understanding with the American.

Reyna is two years older than Moukoko, and while the pair had trouble communicating off the pitch - it appears there is an on-field chemistry.

"We never talked because he did not speak German and I had my difficulties with English,” Moukoko said of his relationship with Reyna. “But on the pitch, we understood each other. It was unbelievable."

Having made his Bundesliga bow at the weekend, the focus has shifted to whether Moukoko will be handed a Champions League debut.

Dortmund entertain Belgian side Club Brugge on Tuesday and BvB coach Lucien Favre has a decision to make on whether to include Moukoko in his plans.

Should Moukoko get on the pitch, he would become the youngest player in Champions League history. That record is currently held by Celestine Babayaro who was 16 years and 87 days old when he played for Anderlecht in 1994.

The German side occupy top spot in Group F through three games.

AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has slammed EA Sports, claiming they are using his name and face in the FIFA video game series without his permission.

The former Sweden forward took aim at the makers of FIFA 21 in a social media rant on Monday afternoon, saying it is “time to investigate”.

“Who gave FIFA EA Sport permission to use my name and face? @FIFPro?” the 39-year-old wrote on Twitter.

“I’m not aware to be a member of Fifpro and if I am I was put there without any real knowledge through some weird maneuver.

“And for sure I never allowed @FIFAcom or Fifpro to make money using me.

“Somebody is making profit on my name and face without any agreement all these years. Time to investigate”

On-loan Tottenham forward Gareth Bale also weighed in on the debate, saying on Twitter: “@Ibra_official Interesting... what is @FIFPro ? #TimeToInvestigate.”

Though Ibrahimovic claims not to be a member of Fifpro, the global players union, he was included in the FIFpro World XI in 2013 and was present to collect his award at the FIFA Ballon d’Or ceremony in Zurich in January the following year.

Bale has also been named in one of the FIFpro World XI reserve teams on multiple occasions and has his own FIFA Esports team.

Earlier this year EA Sports announced an exclusive multi-year partnership with AC Milan and their city rivals Inter, which commenced with the launch of FIFA 21 this October.

The agreement sees the Italian giants feature exclusively in FIFA 21 – meaning the game boasts all-encompassing access to the Rossoneri and Nerazzurri players, kits, training grounds and stadium. That is almost certain to include Ibrahimovic, who returned for a second spell with the Rossoneri in December 2019.

However, it seems Ibrahimovic still is not happy and believes the organisation is profiting from his image without his permission.

Milan’s Serie A rivals Roma do not feature in FIFA 21 as they have signed an exclusive deal with Konami, makers of rival football video game series Pro Evolution Soccer.

Barcelona, Juventus and Arsenal are also among the clubs to have signed a deal with Konami in recent years.

Kaizer Chiefs will be looking to improve their Premier Soccer League (PSL) fortunes when they face high-flying Swallows at Dobsonville Stadium on Tuesday.

Unbeaten Swallows pose a real threat to Chiefs who have not tasted victory in their last two league games.

When back-to-back MTN8 semi-final defeats to Orlando Pirates are added, coach Gavin Hunt’s Chiefs have gone for four consecutive matches without winning.

It is an unfamiliar run for traditional giants Chiefs whose opponents Swallows are placed second on the PSL table after four rounds of games.

TV Channel, Live Score & How To Watch

The game will be shown live on SuperSport TV and SABC. 

Squads & Team News

Swallows coach Brandon Truter would want his regulars Tlakusani Mthethwa, Kaizer Chiefs loanee Given Thibedi, midfielder Ruzaigh Gamildien, Kagiso Malinga and Njabulo Ngcobo to be available for selection.

Mthethwa has been the most impressive Swallows player so far this season, with the midfielder already named Man of the Match twice after four games.

The experience of Gamildien is also being felt and the former Chippa United man is currently the team’s top goalscorer with two goals in four matches.

Former Bidvest Wits defender Sifiso Hlanti made his debut last weekend against TS Galaxy and will be facing Chiefs, a team he was training with recently.

Veteran midfielder Musa Nyatama is yet to make his Swallows debut and Truter could hand him a run on Tuesday.

Despite drawing 2-2 against Golden Arrows in their last league game, Chiefs go into this match a bit encouraged after Leonardo Castro grabbed a brace in what could have signalled that their strikers are back in the groove.

It was the first time this season for an Amakhosi forward to score a goal and the Colombian combined well with Khama Billiat in a partnership that could haunt Swallows.

Amakhosi are still waiting for the return of striker Samir Nurkovic from injury and he is expected to start playing soon as the club said he will start training after the international break.

If he comes back, it could spark a full resurgence of Chiefs frontrunners.

Chiefs will again be without centre-back Eric Mathoho who was suspended for the Arrows match and it is yet to be seen if Hunt will field three central defenders as he did in Durban where they appeared vulnerable at the back.

Hunt might bring back Nigeria goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi after he was dropped from the starting line-up against Arrows for Itumeleng Khune since he arrived in South Africa from international duty a day before the match.

Right-back Reeve Frosler is still out injured and Kgotso Moleko could continue in his place.

Match Preview

The Chiefs game will arguably be Swallows’ biggest test so far this season.

The Dube Birds’ unbeaten run has come from the 1-1 draw against Stellenbosch, 1-0 win over Bloemfontein Celtic, 2-0 victory over Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila and the 0-0 result against TS Galaxy.

Impressively, Swallows have kept three clean sheets in three of their last four matches and now they face a test from Chiefs’ attackers.

Placed 11th on the log, Chiefs have managed a win, two draws and a defeat in their league campaign so far.

The last time Swallows beat Chiefs in a league match was in October 2009 and beating Amakhosi on Tuesday would be regarded as a massive result for them.

Also, the last time these two teams last met was in March 2015 with Chiefs winning 3-0 away, while the reverse fixture had ended 1-1 in October 2014 as Swallows went on to be relegated from the PSL.

Ghana is hoping to become the first West African nation to launch the use of Video Assistant Referees (VAR).

The revelation was made by the nation's football association (GFA) general secretary Prosper Harrison Addo.

In September, Ghana announced it had begun steps towards the adoption of the technology in domestic football, particularly in the Premier League (GPL).

"Ghana football will soon witness the invention of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to help boost our games,” said Addo, as reported by Kickgh.

"The European countries have started using VAR and it’s helping the football games on the field in on-the-field decisions and other incidents on the field. Some African countries have started such as Morroco, Egypt and in some cases South Africa.

"Ghana will soon become the first West African country to use VAR in our games after consultations, negotiation and preparations are done. Everyone will see the implementation of VAR in Ghana."

VAR reviews decisions made by the centre referee by the use of video footage and communication headsets.

"VAR is coming to Ghana, but there is a lot of work that we need to do to ensure that VAR comes to this country," GFA referees manager Alex Kotey said in an interview with GFA News.

"Fifa is saying that, by the next three years, VAR must go to all member VAR: Ghana initiates steps towards technology adoption in domestic football associations and so member associations must begin to accept this concept and let it become part of our football.

"So, in the project planning, there are so many requirements that Fifa will demand from us which is in line with the club licensing regulations and so there’s nothing to fear. After the project planning, there’s another requirement where you have to engage the various stakeholders, like referees who are the main actors of this program.

"The VAR is in three models, that’s, VAR in a structure, VAR in a container and VAR in a mobile van. For me, I’ll be biased and go for the van, and that is because it is movable so that anywhere StarTimes is covering a match, the VAR will be there to make their work very simple.

"When that is done, Fifa and Caf will give us all the necessary support that we need to actualize the project. Though we are going to bring VAR, we need to work on our referees because VAR is an aid to officiating and so referees should not be dependent on the VAR.

"We want everyone to catch the euphoria that VAR will soon come to Ghana with the support of the Ghana Football Association, Caf and Fifa."

The technology was first written into the Laws of the Game by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in 2018.

U.S. women's national team midfielder Sam Mewis has been impressed by how much she's learned tactically during her stint at Manchester City. 

Mewis left the NC Courage of the NWSL to link up with City in August and has settled into a regular role for Gareth Taylor's side.

The World Cup-winning midfielder has started all seven of City's Women's Super League matches thus far, scoring two goals in the process. 

Mewis has also already won a trophy with City as she started and scored in the FA Cup final against Everton earlier this month, with Taylor's side emerging as 3-1 winners.

On a call with reporters ahead of the USWNT's friendly against the Netherlands on Friday, Mewis said she's impressed by the level she's seen in England.

"I’ve really enjoyed my time in England so far," Mewis said on Monday. "I think that the WSL is a great league and it’s clearly getting more and more competitive.

"I have really enjoyed my teammates, they’ve been so welcoming and I feel like I’m learning a lot from them and really being challenged on a technical and tactical level to get down to these fine details and make sure I’m keeping up.

"All the girls are so technical and can really just ping the ball one-touch at speed so it’s been really fun for me and a big challenge and I’m excited to continue with them."

The 28-year-old said she has been especially impressed by the tactical level at City, saying she's been able to learn plenty of new things under Taylor. 

"I feel like I'm learning so much tactically," Mewis said. "My coach talks a lot about positional play and so I'm really learning how to perfect those fine details of where I should be when this player has the ball, when should I check to my own center backs to get the ball, when should I run in behind.

"I think for the first time in my career I'm really trying to learn how to read the other team. I feel like that’s something in my game that I’ve wanted to improve on and I'm really trying to pay attention to that and take that with me to the national team."

Mewis is taking her first professional steps outside of the NWSL and is particularly grateful to be able to do so at a time when many of her USWNT teammates won't be in a club environment again until NWSL camps open in February.

"I have never played outside the country before in a league so it was always something I wanted to experience in my career," the midfielder said. "To get to do it now is especially exciting because I’m getting a lot of games during what’s been an uncertain and weird time.

"It’s an important time in my career where I still have a lot I want to learn but I want to be performing at a high level all the time, so I think it’s been really great for me and exciting to be able to experience it especially at a club as great as Man City."

The return of Richarlison from suspension against Fulham didn’t bode well for Alex Iwobi.

Given the Nigeria star worked his way into the picture after a tough start to the season to become next in line on the left wing before the former Watford forward saw red against Liverpool, the South American’s availability for the clash at Craven Cottage was worrying for the West African.

In a sense, the former Arsenal attacking midfielder didn’t make the most of the wide attacker’s absence, strikingly being withdrawn at half-time against Southampton and not making the XI since.

It was disappointing for the 24-year-old owing to what seemed like a missed opportunity to play himself nearer to the first-team picture after his impressive showing off the bench against Brighton & Hove Albion in early October.

When the line-ups were released on Sunday, Carlo Ancelotti’s formation seemed to be a 4-3-3 with Iwobi featuring in midfield along with Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure. However, the opening minutes showed that the Italian manager had befuddled observers, with the Nigerian instead moonlighting as a right wing-back.

With Ademola Lookman — the Cottagers’ most dangerous attacker — playing down Fulham’s left flank, it was potentially going to be a long day for the ex-Arsenal man in an unfamiliar position. The ex-Chelsea boss’ switch was seemingly made to make the Toffees more solid defensively as well as mitigate for James Rodriguez’s tendency to be caught upfield in transition.

Goals conceded against Liverpool, Southampton and Manchester United came about after the Colombia superstar failed to track runners down that flank, with moves eventually resulting in goals for those opponents.

At Craven Cottage, however, the South American was afforded more protection with Ben Godfrey and Iwobi playing behind him, while Doucoure moved laterally to that side from time to time.

Be that as it may, while Ancelotti was apparently concerned about the space in behind Rodriguez, Fulham’s two brightest moments came after the home side played through the Toffees.

Fulham’s opening goal through Bobby Decordova-Reid materialised after commendable interplay among Harrison Reed, Tom Cairney and the goalscorer to bring the West London side level, while the penalty won in the 67th minute ensued following a fairly basic give-and-go between Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Aleksandar Mitrovic.

As for Iwobi, he gave a decent account of himself in a strange role, even if it comes with a caveat of coming against a side that started the gameweek with the fourth-worst attack in the Premier League.

Doucoure coming across to the right and Godfrey’s presence behind meant he was mostly protected during the game, although his defensive flaw almost cost the team a goal early in the 13th minute of the first half. Iwobi wasn’t aware that opposing left-back, Antonee Robinson, had darted in behind having had him in his sights as the move developed.

After receiving a pass from Lookman, the wide defender sent a low cross into the box but Decordova-Reid couldn’t divert it home, instead scuffing the effort wide. This was probably the only obvious error from the makeshift wing-back, who fared reasonably well against a generally poor side.

Going forward, though, the Nigeria playmaker’s talent shone through.

Per Fbref, Iwobi completed a game-high four dribbles, while his progressive ball-carrying was the most purposeful in the Everton side.

Two major moments demonstrated the player’s attacking side in a stopgap position: where he dribbled ambitiously into the Fulham final third in the build-up to the visiting side going 2-1 up and in their best period of sustained possession in the closing stages.

The latter was vital due to Ancelotti’s team losing their way after the break, as Scott Parker’s team forced them back. Unfortunately for Fulham, despite having the majority of possession after half-time, the quality in the final third was pitifully lacking.

Still, as the away team struggled to hold onto the ball, Iwobi was one of the few who actually did a good job of retaining it while many teammates laboured.

Also, the wideman’s early crosses into the box posed problems for the Cottagers. While stats show that he completed none of the five attempts, the West African delivered a few threatening balls into the box, with one in the 12th minute leading to a mix-up in the hosts’ area before Alphonse Areola claimed the loose ball.

There was also a beautiful low delivery into the box for Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the 18th minute but the England frontman was flagged offside having coolly slotted the lovely early cross into the bottom left corner.

All in all, Iwobi had a pretty decent outing in a makeshift role where positive play in his passing and ball-carrying hugely helped the team.

Defensively, barring a lapse in the opening 15 minutes, the Nigeria star was helped by his teammates who made sure he was rarely isolated and it was notable that Lookman had a brighter game after half-time following a switch to the right flank.

It was from there that the Anglo-Nigerian beat Lucas Digne fairly easily to assist Loftus-Cheek’s strike with 20 minutes remaining but Everton held on for their fifth win of the season and first three points in five games.

The concession of two goals after allowing a staggering 14 attempts in 90 minutes also suggest the tactical switch didn’t pay off as well as Ancelotti probably wanted, particularly against a struggling side in the West Londoners.

As for Iwobi, Seamus Coleman’s natural ability in that position means the Nigerian star won’t play at right wing-back every week. However, an encouraging showing in an alien role offers a solution for Ancelotti, even if moonlighting as a wide defender in future would provide sterner tests for the ex-Arsenal man.

Hyderabad FC defeated Odisha FC by a slender 1-0 margin in their first Indian Super League (ISL) clash at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim on Sunday.

There were a lot of positives from the display for Hyderabad coach Manuel Marquez as Aridane Santana's first-half penalty was enough for his team to secure the three points. The match also marked the first-ever clean sheet for Hyderabad.

Left-back Akash Mishra and substitute Liston Colaco impressed for the winning team and Marquez was all praise for the duo.

Mishra recorded 74% pass accuracy and completed 27 passes in what was a lively outing for the 18-year-old. Marquez believes that Mishra has a good mentality and that the teenager can become one of the finest left-backs in India. 

"We spoke with him about his first game in ISL. He is very quiet, has a very good mentality. For me, he will be one of the best left-backs in India soon, of course he has to improve," Manuel Marquez said in the post-match interview.

Colaco added life to the game with his long runs and brilliant touches on the ball. Marquez highlighted that the biggest positive with Colaco is that he can play in multiple positions - second striker, winger or midfielder. He also mentioned that the 22-year-old player is powerful and has a great future. 

"Liston Colaco for me is a very good player. He is a powerful guy. He is a player with a lot of quality. He can play in different positions. For example today he played as a second striker between attacking midfielder, second striker, another time he plays as a winger. He is very powerful and for me, he is a young player with a great future," Marquez said. 

Supporters in some areas of England will be allowed to return to football stadiums next month under plans announced by the UK Government.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed the government’s latest set of measures designed to limit the spread of Covid-19 on Monday, offering a look at what the plan will be for football supporters going forward.

He confirmed that the four-week national lockdown in England will end on Wednesday December 2 and will be replaced by a new three-tiered system.

The number of supporters allowed into stadiums, if any, will depend on what tier a club’s stadium is placed in.

Stadiums in areas placed in tier 1 will be permitted to hold 4,000 socially distanced fans or half of their maximum capacity, whichever is fewer.

The venues listed in areas placed in tier 2 will be able to hold 2,000 socially distanced fans orhalf of their maximum capacity, whichever is fewer.

And then stadiums in areas placed in tier 3 will have to continue to hold events behind closed doors.

The government is expected to announce what tiers each area will be placed in on Thursday.

"Fans have been greatly missed at Premier League matches and therefore we welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement today regarding the return of supporters for the first time since March, albeit at small numbers," the Premier League said in a statement.

"Our ambition remains to work with Government to increase attendance to more substantial levels. Until this can be done, many fans will be unable to attend games and our clubs will continue to operate matches at a financial loss. 

"Our priority continues to be the agreement of a roadmap, with DCMS and the Sports Technology and Innovation Group, for pilot events that can help our clubs quickly scale up to larger capacities in line with the Sports Ground Safety Authority’s COVID-secure guidelines and beyond.   

"Premier League clubs have a proven track record of achieving high-biosecurity standards and we believe we can play a significant role in the Government’s rapid turnaround testing initiative. 

"We look forward to working with Government on their next steps."

Supporters have been unable to attend football matches in England since the top levels of the sport were suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic in March.

Professional football was able to return in June, but behind closed doors.

Several test events were able to take place in September with a view of allowing fans back in on a regular basis at the start of October, but those plans were postponed when a sharp rise in infections forced the government to re-impose tighter restrictions.

The news will be of great relief to clubs, particularly those in the lower leagues, who have struggled financially in the absence of match-going supporters.

In a statement, the English Football League (EFL) said it welcomed the announcement.

“Whilst today’s news is subject to regional restrictions, it is an important step in achieving a return to normal, alongside it being crucial to addressing the significant revenue gap left by a lack of spectators and other revenue streams as a result of the pandemic," read the statement.

The first matches with supporters back in stadiums are likely to take place on Wednesday December 2, with 13 matches scheduled to take place across the EFL.

Manchester United are also in Champions League action against Paris Saint-Germain, with Arsenal hosting Rapid Vienna in the Europa League the following day.

Football Association of Zambia (Faz) President Andrew Kamanga remains optimistic they will qualify for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations.

Zambia failed to pick maximum points against Botswana in a November double-header despite the fact they played five friendly matches before the qualifier.

Kamanga, however, draws his optimism from the fact that Zambia, at the bottom of Group J, are separated with just two points from Zimbabwe who are second.

“A lot has been said about the Botswana engagement; therefore, I will only focus on the road ahead, suffice to say the failure to win in Francistown was very disappointing,” Kamanga said as was quoted by Faz's Facebook page.

“We had invested a lot of effort in preparations for these games and government through the Ministry of Sports also gave the team all the support. The Minister of Sports Emmanuel Mulenga travelled with the team and was also available for the home game at National Heroes Stadium to cheer the lads.

“We hope that we can rebound in the remaining fixtures at home to Algeria and away to Zimbabwe in March next year. For the record, Algeria top the group on 10 points while Zimbabwe are second with five points with Botswana third on four points.

“We sit at the bottom on three points. We are comforted by the gap between us and the two teams sitting above us. It is something that we can overcome if we stick to a tight plan.”

The official believes the upcoming African Nations Championship will serve to prepare Chipolopolo for the decisive two qualifiers next year.

“On our part, we believe that we will eventually pull through to be among the two teams that will qualify from our group,” he added.

“We will wait for the technical bench to give us the programme that they believe will help them meet our expectations. In between, Chipolopolo will participate at the 2021 Chan in Cameroon that kicks off in January.

“The Chan will be a good platform for our team to prepare for the final round of Afcon qualifiers. We expect that the players will rise to the occasion and die a little for their country.

“Ultimately everything we do as administrators will only count for something if the work on the pitch reciprocates all these efforts.”

In the recent international week, Zambia won their first game 2-1 before they lost the second tie by a 1-0 margin to their southern neighbours, the Zebras.

Robert Lewandowski is unsure if he will finish his career at Bayern Munich.

The forward is the premier marksman in world football at present, having posted some amazing numbers in the 2019/20 season - 55 goals in 47 games across all competitions.

His efforts in front of goal helped Bayern secure domestic and UEFA Champions League glory last season, and he is in the hunt for individual honours at the end of the year.

The Ballon d’Or has been cancelled due to the  coronavirus pandemic, but the FIFA Best player is up for grabs and Lewandowski is one of the front-runners.

The Poland international has not allowed the stellar previous campaign to distract him, as he has hit the ground running in the new season.

He has 13 goals, including two hat-tricks, from 10 Bundesliga and Champions League matches and appears as hungry as ever.

Lewandowski’s current contract expires in 2023, and it is unlikely to be his last in the professional game - but is unsure if it will be with Bayern.

“I have the contract until ’23 and I never think what’s happening after,” the 32-year-old told The Associated Press. “Two-and-a-half years more on the contract. So it’s a lot of time and I know that I can play longer but I have enough time to think about this.”

As well as Bundesliga and Champions League success, Bayern also won the German Cup and Lewandowski describes their season as 'spectacular'.

“If you see what we did in this run it is amazing, spectacular - because we won everything that we could,” Lewandowski said. “This is something special.”

Lewandowski’s feats in front of goal are likely shaping the careers of the next generation, as he they will look to him as a role model to aspire to.

During his formative years, Lewandowski has revealed that Arsenal legend Thierry Henry was his idol.

“His movement was amazing. His finishing was amazing,” Lewandowski said. “So that’s why I was loving how he played, what kind of skills he had.”

Bayern’s 10-game winning run was halted by Werder Bremen at the weekend, when Lewandowski drew a rare blank, and he will look to get back on the goals trail against RB Salzburg in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Diogo Jota has been in fiery form for Liverpool following his £41 million ($53m) move from Wolves in the summer, becoming the first Reds player since Robbie Fowler in 1993 to score seven goals in his first 10 appearances for the club.

The Portugal international has recently started celebrating his goals by spelling out various letter of the alphabet - but what is he trying to spell out? Goal takes a look.

What is Jota spelling out with his celebrations?

Jota celebrated his goal against West Ham on October 31 by putting his fingers together to form the letter "M".

A few weeks later, when he doubled Liverpool's lead against Leicester in the Premier League on November 22, he once again made a letter with his hands during his celebrations - this time into the shape of the letter "A".

Fans have wondered what word Jota is spelling out with his goal celebrations, which are unique and in the same vein of Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland's trademark goal festivities.

The theory that has proved to be the most solid is that he is spelling out 'Massarelos', his hometown in Portugal, located within the larger metropolis of Porto.

With "M" and "A" having both been spelled out, this theory is on the right track.

It is understood that Jota's letters celebration is different than what the likes of Ben Chilwell, Ross Barkley and Jack Grealish have done. The trio are part of a WhatsApp group consisting of Premier League-based footballers titled "The Avengers" and have also celebrated goals by forming the letter "A" with their fingers.

"We have a little group chat called The Avengers," Maddison told EA Sports.

"[It has] Jack Grealish, Ross Barkley, Dele Alli and John McGinn are the footballers [in the WhatsApp group]."

Mason Greenwood has also celebrated by making the letter "A", dedicating his goal to former team-mate Angel Gomes, who was released by Manchester United.

This celebration involving shaping your fingers into the letter "A" has been around since the early 2000s, with Premier League players initially doing so to raise awareness for the foundation A-Star.

The foundation's name is taken from the idea that every young child has the capacity to be a "star".

Jota has been in prolific form for the Reds, setting a new record for becoming the first player in Liverpool history to score in his first four top-flight home matches after the Leicester game.

With Jota scoring goals aplenty, we'll know what he is spelling out through his celebrations soon enough - with every strike and celebration each a puzzle piece.

What do other people think Jota is spelling out with his celebrations?

While Jota spelling out the name of his hometown in Portugal seems the most likely explanation, fans on Twitter have done their own sleuthing about what he could possibly be spelling.

Some theories range from Jota perhaps spelling out the name of his team-mate - Sadio Mane - or planning to propose to someone!

A lot was expected from Brazilian talisman Marcelinho when Odisha FC took on Hyderabad FC in the Indian Super League clash at the GMC Stadium, Bambolim. Marcelinho failed to make an impact in the game in the first half and as a result, was substituted in the 53rd minute.

Marcelinho completed 16 passes during his passage of play with only 62 per cent pass accuracy in a game that Odisha lost 1-0. He looked unhappy after being withdrawn in the second half of the match as he shook his head in agony while making his way back to the dugout.

Odisha FC head coach Stuart Baxter said that he was forced to make the decision as Marcelinho was not impactful in the first half. He also mentioned that the decision to withdraw the winger was tactical as he wanted to try out different moves with other players on the field. 

"Well we had an idea to play Marcelinho as a No.10, but we didn't see him on the ball and if you don't see Marcelinho on the ball then you're not going to see him making a tackle and running all over the field. So I thought that we should go more direct. We had 10-15 minutes to increase our momentum a little bit. I think the players worked very hard, otherwise, we wouldn't have been in the game till the last minute," Baxter explained the logic behind the substitution. 

Besides Marcelinho, there were other Odisha FC players looked rusty. Baxter believes that the short pre-season was one of the reasons behind his players' sloppy form and said that he would have liked to spend more time with them. 

"I don't think I'm different from any of the coaches, we would like more time with the players. I think the fact that we were chasing the game once we gave away the penalty, the frustration that crept in that resulted in a few time challenges, that's probably the reason," Odisha FC head coach Stuart Baxter said in the post-match interview. 

Odisha, after losing the match against Hyderabad 0-1,  will take on Jamshedpur next on Sunday.  

Wilfried Zaha did not travel with the Crystal Palace squad for the game with Burnley after testing positive for coronavirus. 

The Eagles travelled north for the game at Turf Moor, but star man Zaha was absent from the  squad.

Eagles boss Roy Hodgson confirmed that the forward was self-isolating due to a positive coronavirus test.

“He has tested positive unfortunately for coronavirus so is self-isolating, and is awaiting the results of the next test," Hodgson said . "He is not feeling particularly ill, but unfortunately the test proved [positive], and he is following the procedures."

Zaha will be absent from the rest of the Palace squad until he produces a negative coronavirus test.

Like all Premier League sides, Palace are heading into an extremely busy portion of the season.

The trip to Burnley is the first of an eight-game spell between now and the turn of the year.

Following the clash with the Clarets, Palace will take on Newcastle United, West Brom, Tottenham, West Ham, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Leicester City.

Palace’s league position is fairly healthy. Prior to kick off at Turf Moor, Hodgson’s side were sat in ninth in the table - with four wins from their opening eight games of the season.

Zaha has been key to the Eagles’ fine start to the season, as he has five goals and two assists to his name from eight appearances in the league.

The 28-year-old did not link up with the Ivory Coast national side during the recent international break, as he sat out the home and away games with Madagascar in Africa Cup of Nations qualification. 

The absence of the forward will be keenly felt by Palace, and Hodgson will be looking for the rest of his squad to take up the strain.

Michy Batshuayi is the beneficiary, as he was handed a start against Burnley. 

The Belgian forward is yet to register a goal this term, although he does have one assist to his name.

Batshuayi is playing for his future, as he is currently on loan at Palace from Chelsea and will hope a run in the team will yield some goals and put him in the shop window.