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Hapoel Ra’anana striker Peter Olawale is determined to show his worth for Nigeria U20 as they prepare for the Wafu B Africa Cup of Nations U20 playoffs.

The Israel based attacking sensation is part of the five foreign based professionals called up by the Nigeria Football Federation to prosecute the tournament billed for Togo.

In a chat with Goal before joining the rest of the squad in Abuja on Monday evening, the 18-year-old is brimming with confidence and is keen to show what he can do in Ladan Bosso’s squad, while assuring he would be at his best always to accentuate his relevance.
 
“First of all, I would say thank you to the [Nigeria Football] Federation for giving me that opportunity of being part of the players they are inviting,” Olawale told Goal.

“I would say it’s a great opportunity for me coming back to the national side to prove myself again. I feel it’s a great privilege.

“I expect nothing but goals. I want to try and give my best, my 100%. That is just it. Nigerians should expect my 100%.”

However, he states that he can thrive under the veteran tactician who he has a lot of respect for should he keep his head cool in camp.

“For me, that is not a problem because I am a player and he is a coach,” he continued.

“My duty as a player is to be humble to him, to respect him, follow his lead and decisions in a game. If I can do that, I believe I won’t have any problems with him.”

The tournament initially scheduled to hold from November 18 – December 2, 2020 has been postponed due to the growing cases of Covid-19 in the West African nation.

Nigeria have been zoned in Group B alongside arch-rivals Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire. The competition’s winners will proceed to the 2021 Afcon U20 championship billed for Mauritania. There, four African representatives will be determined for the 2021 Fifa U20 World Cup scheduled for Indonesia.

Thilo Kehrer is set to miss between two and three months with a chronic groin lesion, further compounding Paris Saint-Germain's injury woes as they look to repeat last season's exploits at home and abroad.

The defender suffered a recurrence of his long-standing problem during Thomas Tuchel's side's victory over Rennes in Ligue 1 on Saturday, to take the club's injury list up to a round dozen key faces.

The French heavyweights are already without stars such as Neymar and Kylian Mbappe heading into November's international break, with the attacking duo's absence only the tip of the iceberg for the Parisian outfit.

Now, sources close to Goal have confirmed that the Germany international will be out until 2021 at the earliest and likely well into the new year, with the 24-year-old expected to have surgery to correct the problem.

"For Thilo, it's the same pubic injury," Tuchel told reporters at the weekend after his side's victory at the Parc des Princes. "That means it's serious."

Outside of Kehrer, Neymar and Mbappe, PSG are also missing key squad members like Juan Bernat, Mauro Icardi and Marco Verratti, while Julian Draxler and Presnel Kimpembe are also out on the sidelines.

Pablo Sarabia and Idrissa Gueye are two more faces out of action, as are Moise Kean and Alessandro Florenzi.

Tuchel is fortunately still able to call upon talents such as Keylor Navas, Angel di Maria and Ander Herrera, but now faces a two-week period sweating on the fitness of several more stars who will be in action for their country, with some set to play three games in the space of nine days, before they return for a trip to Monaco on November 20.

PSG have seen their fortunes turn in Ligue 1 after a shaky start, having won eight games on the trot following a pair of opening defeats against Lens and Marseille.

They have fared less well in Europe however, with two Champions League group stage defeats to Manchester United and RB Leipzig leaving them chasing the pair for a place in the knockout rounds when the competition returns later this month.

Domenec Torrent, a former protege of Pep Guardiola, has been sacked as manager of Brazilian giants Flamengo after less than four months in charge.

The 58-year-old Spaniard was dismissed after Flamengo were thrashed 4-0 by Atletico Mineiro, only a week after they lost 4-1 at home to Sao Paulo.

They currently sit third in the Brazilian Serie A, only a point behind leaders Internacional – though Sunday’s win took Atletico ahead of them on goal difference with a game in hand.

Torrent worked under Guardiola from the beginning of his managerial career with Barcelona B , following him to the Barca first team, Bayern Munich and Manchester City.

After more than a decade under Guardiola, Torrent left his post in Manchester in 2018 to take up his first full-time managerial job at New York City FC, before moving on to Flamengo in July 2020.

Torrent arrived with the unenviable task of replacing Jorge Jesus, the veteran coach who returned to former club Benfica after overseeing a spell of unprecedented success at Flamengo.

They won the Serie A and Copa Libertadores double – the first side to do so since Pele’s Santos 60 years previous – among numerous other honours, but Torrent was unable to match his predecessor’s success or popularity .

In September, a 5-0 defeat to Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle in the Copa Libertadores proved one of Flamengo’s most embarrassing defeats in recent seasons.

Commentators have noted that Torrent had struggled to implement his Guardiola-esque tiki-taka side with a squad more used to Jesus’ more direct, fluid approach.

“Everyone knows I have a philosophy very similar to that of the coach I have worked with the last 10 years,” Torrent told reporters after his appointment.

“I like to attack. I would rather win 4-3 than 1-0 because it is important to the supporters. I know that for teams like Flamengo it is all about winning, winning and winning, but winning is not everything, it is how you do it as well, and it is important to play nice football.”

Torrent’s core coaching staff have also been dismissed, and the team will be led by Mauricio Souza going into their next fixtures – starting with a Copa do Brasil quarter-final first leg with Sao Paulo on Thursday.

Tanzania Mainland League side Namungo FC will play Al-Rabita FC of South Sudan in the Caf Confederation Cup first preliminary round.

The Tanzanian outfit, who are making their debut in the continent, managed to get that chance after reaching the finals of the FA Cup where they fell to league champions Simba SC 2-0. However, Wekundu wa Msimbazi could not play in the Caf Champions League and instead play in the second-tier as well.

As a result, Namungo got that chance and they will have an opportunity to play the South Sudanese outfit who won their domestic competition, the South Sudan National Cup.

Namungo will host the first game with the return leg to be played in a yet to be identified venue.

Uganda will be represented by the 10-time league champions KCCA FC.

The Kasasiro Boys finished second in the Ugandan Premier League (UPL), behind Vipers SC, and the Federation of Uganda Football Associations opted to give them a chance to play in the competition.

The Garbage Collectors have been given a bye from the first round and they will play the winner between Orapa United of Botswana and Rwandan outfit AS Kigali. 

Zanzibar will be represented by Kikosi cha Valantia Zanzibar Sports Club (KVZ SC) who will be playing against Alamal Atbara of Sudan while Ethiopia's Fasil Kenema have been handed a tricky fixture against US Monastir of Tunisia. 

The first leg is scheduled between November 27 and 29 with the second leg to be played between December 4 and 6. 

Kenya did not field any representative in the competition owing to the fact that the FKF Shield Cup, which produces the team to play in the competition, was not played to a conclusion due to Covid-19.

Meanwhile, in the Caf Champions League, Gor Mahia will have to fight and win against Rwandan champions APR if they are to progress to the next stage, first at home, before going to Kigali for the second round.

Just like APR, Gor Mahia have been conducting training sessions for the past month in readiness for the competition even though they have not been in competitive action since March when the leagues were cancelled by their respective federations.

The winner between Gor Mahia and APR will face either Algeria’s CR Belouizdad or Al Nasr of Libya in the second round.

Vipers will be welcomed back in the continental competition by Sudan’s El Hilal and the winner between them will face either Nouadhibou of Mauritania or Ghana’s Asante Kotoko in the next round. The Venoms will welcome the Sudanese side at St Mary’s Stadium before the return leg away.

Tanzania’s Simba have landed Nigerian opponents Plateau United and will host them before travelling west for the second tie.

Sibulele Holweni scored five goals in South Africa's 7-0 thumping of Comoros in a Cosafa Women's Cup encounter on Monday.

Prior to the game, Banyana Banyana had recorded clinical victories in two matches, beating Angola 2-0 before thrashing Eswatini, with the High Performance Centre product scoring the second goal.

The 19-year-old opened the scoring for the hosts after just five minutes and completed her double in the 31st minute.

Four minutes from the half time break, the rampant Desiree Ellis' team added a third of the match through Hildah Magaia's strike.

On return from the recess, Holweni netted her third and the fourth goal of the game for Banyana four minutes into the second half.

Nonhlanhla Mthandi increased the tally to six in the 51st minute before the ruthless former Bantwana captain bagged her fourth and fifth goals inside the final two minutes of the encounter. 

With her five goals, Holweni, who was South Africa's youngest player at the Women's World Cup last year in France, has now scored six goals in three matches in the tournament.

Monday's win saw Ellis' side finish top of Group A with nine points and guaranteed their progress to the semi-final of the competition.

Having advanced to the next stage, South Africa will battle Group B winners Malawi on Thursday for a place in final as they inch closer to a title defence.

Belgium star Thorgan Hazard has expressed his frustrations with the intense 2020-21 season schedule ahead of his country’s upcoming international triple-header.

The 27-year-old winger is in Roberto Martinez’s squad for Nations League games with England and Denmark, plus a friendly against Switzerland this month, with all three games in the next nine days.

Though Hazard has been limited to just 135 minutes in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund this term thanks to a ruptured thigh muscle, he has become the latest figure in the game to weigh in on the fixture crush.

UEFA has received significant flak for its part in the increasingly busy calendar, as it opted to turn the October and November international breaks into three-match periods instead of sticking with the usual two games, a move it says was made to recover the dates postponed in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"It's all too much, not just for me," Hazard told reporters on Monday. "Champions League, Bundesliga, Nations League…I don't want to complain too much because we have to do our job, but it is a lot.

"Well, here at the Red Devils, everyone will get playing time. The national coach has selected many players. Playing them in all three matches for 90 minutes would be difficult.

"The players will not burn themselves out. Our coaches also ask us to be careful, not to risk too much.

"We also play with Dortmund every three days. It is a difficult issue – the national coaches also have to do their job. If we don't feel well, let's just say so."

Belgium have already lost three players to injury on Monday, with Leandro Trossard, Alexis Saelemaekers and Hendrik van Crombrugge pulling out – only the latter has been replaced, with Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski called up.

Hazard's brother Eden was already ruled out having recently tested positive for coronavirus, meaning the Real Madrid winger will have gone more than a year without playing for Belgium by the time of his next cap.

"One year is indeed a long time," Thorgan Hazard said of his older brother's absence. "I hope this will be over soon. Both Belgium and Madrid miss Eden.

"He is one of the best players in the world and it is always better to have him in your squad. Madrid lost last weekend without him and the Red Devils were also defeated in England. We all need an Eden at 100 per cent.

"Nevertheless, he feels good. He is in good health and shows no symptoms [of COVID-19]. He is quarantined at home in Madrid and unfortunately he is not here.

"It was really a surprise for him, an unpleasant one. The injury was gone and then coronavirus was showing up. I really hope that next time there is not something again.

"He's really unlucky. These are another two weeks gone. What can he do about it? Nothing."

South Africa coach Molefi Ntseki has confirmed SuperSport United forward Bradley Grobler has withdrawn from Bafana Bafana’s squad for the back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations Group C qualifiers against Sao Tome e Principe due to injury.

He has since been replaced by AmaZulu midfielder Siyethemba Sithebe.

Bafana will host Sao Tome at Moses Mabhida Stadium on November 13, before facing the same side at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium where they will officially be the away side.

Grobler is the latest blow for Ntseki who has already lost Thibang Phete, Thulani Serero, Andile Jali, Reeve Frosler and Thamsanqa Mkhize while Abubakar Mobara pulled out due to "medical reasons."

“This afternoon [Monday] after training we got some bad news about Bradley Grobler when he had to go for a scan. The scan results came back differently and we have lost Grobler in the team,” Ntseki told Marawa Sport Worldwide on Metro FM.

“The reason that all this is happening is because of Covid-19. Players started playing not at their best in terms of fitness levels. The games are becoming faster and physical and you have players mentally and emotionally getting involved in matches to win. We will see a lot of muscle problems because players did not have a proper pre-season to prepare themselves to go into the new season."

Grobler gets his injury just on his return to the national fold after being overlooked for last month’s international friendly matches against Namibia and Zambia.

Ntseki says it was easy to rope in Sithebe to replace Grobler because the AmaZulu man impressed him after he featured for 66 minutes in the 1-1 draw against Namibia.

Sithebe joins Orlando Pirates midfielder Vincent Pule, Mosa Lebusa, Thapelo Morena, Cape Towns City's Thabo Nodada and Bloemfontein Celtic centre-back Tshepo Rikhotso who have been called up to replace those who have failed to make it for camp.

“The last camp in Rustenburg was handy because after Bradley pulled out we are in Durban and we have Siyethemba Sithebe who was with us in Rustenburg,” said Ntseki.

“Siyethemba did very well. I did say something about Siyethemba and Thabo Nodada when I announced the team to say, look at the Bafana Bafana level, we compete for positions. At times you compete against some of the players who have been in the team before or those currently doing well at their respective clubs.

“That is why the likes of Siyethemba and Nodada were left out but the unfortunate injuries to some of the players have given them an opportunity to be called up and they will be joining us in camp. Siyethemba will be joining us tomorrow afternoon after going through the Covid-19 tests."

After two rounds of matches, South Africa are placed second in Group C led by Ghana who enjoy a three-point lead. Sao Tome anchor the standings, while Sudan are in position three.

Former AFC Leopards midfielder Francis Xavier has claimed Kenya have a 60% chance to qualify for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations.

Harambee Stars will host Comoros on November 12 for the third Afcon qualifier and Xavier said both teams have almost an equal chance of picking a victory in Nairobi given the players from across the sides were affected by the coronavirus pause.

The former Wazito FC team manager also stated, the Zambia friendly which Kenya won 2-1 on October 9, served as the best way to prepare for the qualifier.

“I am sure even Comoros also faced a challenge like our own [the coronavirus related football suspension] but the Zambia friendly gave us a platform to gauge our readiness. We needed to prepare in the shortest time possible to ensure we get the results,” Xavier told Goal.

“The friendly came at a time we needed it most and it helped us a great deal in our preparations because it told us where we are fitness-wise from the last time we played a match.

“We have a 60% chance of qualifying again from what I can see and what we have done before.”

Kenya were majorly tipped to beat Togo in matchday two but ended up drawing 1-1 and Xavier said the draw should not discourage Harambee Stars as they can go on and pick up a win in Lome in the next tie.

“Yes, we drew with Togo at home but that is not a big deal. The last time we faced Togo at their own backyard we had a feeling they were favoured by the match officials,” he added.

“They were simply given ground to enjoy home advantage and we can see a repeat but if we fight harder we can get the results we would want.”

Like many Kenyans, Xavier expected Michael Olunga to be available for the Comoros meeting but since a number of the coronavirus positive tests at Kashiwa Reysol have been confirmed, the striker will not link up with his international teammates.

The former Gor Mahia and Thika centre-forward is in top form having already scored 23 games for the Japanese side and is a clear leader in the Golden Boot race.

Reports have indicated head coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee will summon Zesco United striker John Makwatta in Olunga’s place. Other strikers at the camp are John Avire, Masoud Juma, Oscar Wamalwa and Benson Wamalwa.

Georginio Wijnaldum says Liverpool team-mate Virgil van Dijk is ‘going through hell’ with his current injury lay-off, but he hopes he will return in time to represent the Netherlands at Euro 2020.

Wijnaldum has left Merseyside for international duty as the Netherlands look forward to games with Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Poland, but he has done so without Van Dijk as a travelling companion.

The towering defender could be out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on the knee injury he sustained against Everton in October.

After rediscovering their form under former manager Ronald Koeman, the Dutch were expected to be among the contenders to win the European Championship – but they now face a nervous wait to see whether Van Dijk will be fit in time to contribute.

"Virgil will return with God's will," Wijnaldum told VI.

“It is a difficult time for him; this is the worst thing you can experience as a football player. You go through hell. But I think he is very strong. We FaceTime every now and then and that is very nice.”

Many fans and pundits have questioned whether international fixtures should be going ahead in the coronavirus era, with the extra potential for transmission of the virus and the heavy workload on players.

Many nations are now playing three matches instead of the usual two in each international break, intensifying club managers’ worries about players’ fitness and potential injury issues.

Wijnaldum, however, says he is simply happy to have the opportunity to play for his country once again.

“As a club you never have the guarantee that you will get players back completely fit,” he noted.

“We play three international matches and that takes energy. But as a football player I think it is great to play many matches with the Dutch national team.

“Everyone who is now with the Oranje is happy with these international matches. At the moment I feel very good and very fit.

“But we are only at the beginning of the season. I don't know what it will be like later. Will I get a message from Liverpool? Yes, that I have to come back fit! Nothing more.”

When Mesut Ozil joined Arsenal from Real Madrid in 2013 he was widely considered among the best players in the world and quickly established himself as a key component in the Gunners team.

Under Arsene Wenger, the World Cup winner helped the North London outfit to three FA Cups and was named the club's player of the season in 2015-16 as they finished second in the Premier League.

However, he has endured an alarming downturn in fortunes at the Emirates in recent seasons, with below-par performances and off-field issues contributing to a somewhat toxic experience for the German.

He has publicly butted heads with the club on a number of occasions in the past few years and has been effectively ostracized as a result, with Mikel Arteta removing him from the official squad list for 2020-21.

Ozil's transformation into a pariah at Arsenal has been a gradual process, with a number of notable incidents helping to accelerate the decline in relations between player and club.

Arteta said: "I tried my best, I tried to give him as many opportunities as I could... I've been patient, given him opportunities and been fair."

Here,  Goal looks at some of the possible reasons why the playmaker the club once broke their transfer record to sign  is no longer playing for Arsenal.

Political controversy

Like many footballers, Ozil has not been shy about using his platform to speak out about issues he feels warrant amplification, but unfortunately for him, his causes have generated a lot of controversy.

It is often said that politics and sport don't mix. The reality, however, is that politics is everywhere but if a sportsperson gets involved or associated in some way, they may find themselves walking a tightrope.

Ozil's friendship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was 'best man' at his wedding, has prompted criticism from many quarters, particularly in Germany - something the player made specific reference to when confirming his retirement from the Germany national team in 2018.

His personal relationship with Erdogan may not have had a major effect on his Arsenal career, but his efforts highlight the treatment of Uighur Muslims in China have certainly caused ructions. 

A diplomatic incident occurred in late 2019 when Ozil used his Instagram page to speak out about the plight of the Uighur Muslim population.

The reaction in China was not favourable and the state broadcaster removed Arsenal's subsequent match against Manchester City from their schedule. Arsenal immediately strained to make it clear that Ozil's comments were made in a personal capacity and did not reflect the club's views.

“Regarding the comments made by Mesut Ozil on social media, Arsenal must make a clear statement," a post on the Chinese social media site Weibo read.

“The content published is Ozil's personal opinion. As a football club, Arsenal has always adhered to the principle of not involving itself in politics.”

Ozil's statement after being axed from the Arsenal squad suggests that his outspokenness on political issues is indeed a problem for some within the club, but he remains steadfast in his defiance.

"I can promise you that this hard decision won't change anything in my mindset," he said. "I will continue to train as best as I can and wherever possible use my voice against inhumanity and for justice."

Refusal to take a pay cut

The optics of Ozil refusing to take a voluntary pay cut to his £350,000 a week salary in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic were not flattering but the player is confident that he did the right thing.

Either way, it is likely that standing up to the club on the matter would have ruffled more than a few feathers.

"People who know me know exactly how generous I am and, as far as I’m aware, I was not the only player who rejected the cut in the end, but only my name came out," Ozil said in an interview with The Athletic.

"I guess that’s because it is me and people have been trying for two years to destroy me, to make me unhappy, to push an agenda they hope will turn the supporters against me and paint a picture that is not true.

"Possibly the decision affected my chances on the pitch, I don’t know. But I’m not afraid to stand up for what I feel is right - and when you see what has happened now with the jobs, maybe I was."

The Gunnersaurus incident

In what has become a battle for hearts and minds, Ozil landed a significant blow to Arsenal when he offered to cover the wages of the person who worked as the club's mascot Gunnersaurus.

Jerry Quy, whose job was to don the famous dinosaur suit on matchdays, was made redundant by the club, along with many others, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic but Ozil stepped in on hearing the news.

"I was so sad that Jerry Quy aka our famous & loyal mascot Gunnersaurus and integral part of our club was being made redundant after 27 years," the Arsenal midfielder wrote on Twitter.

"As such, I’m offering to reimburse Arsenal with the full salary of our big green guy as long as I will be an Arsenal player." 

The optics of the scenario are not particularly flattering for Arsenal, particularly when the club, like many others at the highest level are able to find millions for transfer fees and player contracts.

Ozil's public offer will not have gone down well because it will have dipped in to a well of resentment that is felt by some supporters - and ex players.

Former Gunner Paul Merson said that Ozil's move - which was branded a "PR stunt" by another ex-Gunner Ray Parlour - "made Arsenal look absolutely stupid".

"Binning their mascot just shows how selfish and out of touch the people who run the club are these days," Merson told The Daily Star. "You cannot believe how angry I am about this. It is unbelievably shocking at the highest level.

“Arsenal used to ooze class. I don’t think the owners even know what that word means any more. Whoever made the decision to get rid of the mascot needs to take a long hard look at themselves.

“The guy in the suit, Jerry Quy. This bloke loves doing that. He was there when I played for Arsenal. He’s an institution. My kids grew up with him. They would be as interested in the dinosaur as they were in the players. Their faces would light up.

“It absolutely does my head in that they’ve got rid of him just to save money. How many other clubs, ones in the lower leagues who are really struggling, have done that? Even if they bring him back when fans are allowed back in the stadium, it’s a disgrace.”

Merson added: “They’ve just signed Thomas Partey for £45m. If he’s on £150,000-a-week, are you telling me they couldn’t have offered £149,000 and given the rest to the dinosaur?"

Below-par performances

There is an argument to be made that Ozil simply does not merit a place in the team and it is true that his performances have been well below the standards expected of a World Cup winner.

Having regularly chipped in with plenty goals and assists each season - a highlight being the 2015-16 campaign when he contributed 19 assists and six goals in the league - his form dipped in the last two years.

He had a hand in seven goals in the Premier League (five goals, two assists) in 2018-19, which was a sharp drop off and it worsened to just three goals (one goal, two assists) in 2019-20 as game time dried up.

Former Arsenal head coach Unai Emery suggested that Ozil was not particularly suitable for a high-pressing game, telling BBC Sport in 2019: "He has talent that allows other players to be better, but when you want a bit more aggressive pressure he does not have the best qualities for that."

Attitude issues

The issue of attitude has been remarked upon by former Arsenal boss Unai Emery, who claimed that Ozil did not demonstrate the requisite levels of commitment.

Emery took over the reins at the Emirates after Arsene Wenger's departure and, while he was an admirer of the player's ability, he was not so impressed by his application.

“I tried my utmost to help Ozil. Throughout my career, talented players have been my favourites and they have played at their best or close to their best with me," Emery told the Daily Mail.

“I was always positive with him in terms of wanting him to be involved, but then the attitude that he adopted, and the commitment levels, well, they weren't enough."

Despite being dropped from the official squad altogether, Ozil has shown his dedication to training in a number of clips where he is training individually on his strength.

Indeed, there are lots of contradictory testimonies regarding Ozil's supposed attitude problems in training and on the pitch, with his team-mates rejecting the reports.

Laurent Koscielny said that Ozil was professional in training, remarking that he was "always on time" for sessions and "undoubtedly at the level demanded" of a Premier League player.

The playmaker's compatriot Shkodran Mustafi has been similarly effusive, saying: "Every time I see him in training he’s doing the best he can.

"He tries to train well and everything else is not in my hands. I’m not the one who makes the decisions."

Kaizer Chiefs will begin their 2020/21 Caf Champions League campaign at the preliminary round against Cameroonian champions PWD Bamenda.

Premier Soccer League (PSL) champions Mamelodi Sundowns have been given a preliminary stage bye and lie wait in the first round to face the winner between Jwaneng Galaxy from Botswana or US Zilimadjou of Comoros.

Chiefs will first visit PWD Bamenda on the weekend of November 27-29, before hosting their opponents on the weekend of December 4-6.

While Amakhosi have endured a difficult start to the season, they could be fancying rejuvenating themselves against their Cameroonian opponents whose only appearance in Africa was a second-round exit from the 2004 Caf Confederation Cup.

Bamenda qualified for this season’s Champions League after claiming their first-ever Cameroon Elite One league title last season which was, however, prematurely ended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

If Chiefs get past Bamenda, they meet Angolan champions Primeiro Agosto in the first round as they seek to reach the group stage under Gavin Hunt who led Bidvest Wits to the Caf Confederation Cup mini-league phase last season.

It would be a return to Africa for last season’s PSL runners-up Chiefs who have recently participated in the Champions League with little success.

Meanwhile in the Confederation Cup, Orlando Pirates will begin their bid for a first continental title since 1995 in the first round after being given a preliminary stage bye.

The Buccaneers will play the winner between SD Sagrada Esperanca from Angola and Eswatini representatives yet to be confirmed.

Pirates were Confederation Cup finalists in 2015 and return to this competition after finishing third on the PSL table last season.

Another South African participant in this competition Bloemfontein Celtic face AS Maniema from DR Congo in the preliminary round.

The Free State side will start their campaign away on the weekend of November 27-29 and if they pass this stage, they will come up against Nigerian side Rivers United or Futuro Kings from Equatorial Guinea.

France manager Didier Deschamps says he doesn’t think Paul Pogba is happy with his current situation at Manchester United.

The 27-year-old has struggled for consistent first-team minutes in recent months, with injury problems and a lack of fitness after testing positive for coronavirus among the contributory factors.

Pogba has played 90 minutes just twice for United this season – in the Premier League defeats to Tottenham and Arsenal – and his only goal so far was against Brighton in the Carabao Cup.

He nevertheless played well for France during the last international break, but Deschamps admits he isn’t at his best at the moment.

“I have no advice to give him,” Deschamps told a press conference. “He knows the group well. It has been a while since he played with his club.

“He is in a situation at Manchester United where he cannot be satisfied with his playing time and his position. He is not in his best period.

“The injuries came one after another, and Covid hit him pretty hard as well. He needs to find some rhythm.

“Last month his game had been pretty good and consistent despite a lack of pace. He's been playing since, but you can't say he's happy.

“With me, there is no problem, I will make sure to manage him. It is never easy for a player in his situation. I'll talk to him. He will tell me certain things, how he feels, and I will also tell him what I can see and feel.”

Whether in or out of form, Pogba is rarely out of the headlines at United, and that has been the case in recent weeks.

Comments from Juventus director Fabio Paratici sparked rumours he could be set to leave Old Trafford to return to his former club.

However, former United defender Phil Neville has said he doesn’t think Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have a chance of winning the title without Pogba.

“I still think it’s absolutely disgraceful that Pogba can’t get in that team,” Neville told Premier League Productions.

“For United to win a league, for United to be successful, for United to play the style of football that Ole wants them to play, then Pogba has to play.

“You can play one of them [Nemanja] Matic, Fred or [Scott] McTominay and then you play Pogba with Fernandes.”

Teenage sensation Youssoufa Moukoko has got goals in his blood, according to Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke, who says that the 15-year-old has got scoring in his DNA.

The Germany youth star, who has already won caps for the national team's under-20 side despite being five years younger than the majority of his teammates, is poised to pick up his first Bundesliga call-up ahead of Lucien Favre's side trip to Hertha Berling on November 21.

League rules mean that players have to reach the age of 16 before they can play for the senior squad, with Cameroon-born Moukoko set to celebrate his birthday the day before, on November 20.

The striker, who moved from his home nation with his father, a German citizen, in 2014, has been training with Favre's first team since January this year and is widely tipped to pick up top-flight minutes before 2020 is out.

In addition, Moukoko is expected to be included on the club's B-list for their Champions League campaign, raising the possibility of a cameo that could see him break the longstanding record held by Celestine Babayaro for the youngest player in the top European competition, at 16 years, two months and 25 days.

Former Dortmund treasurer Watzke now has opened up on the youngster's performances, having seen him impress across the club's academy setups, with the 61-year-old professing his excitement at seeing the forward make the move up the ranks.

However, he was quick to caution that the club would not look to push him too hard, given his age and relative inexperience, though hopes are harboured that he can follow in the footsteps of former young sensations like Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland.

"He has the goal gene," Watzke told Sky Sports Germany. "Whether he's scoring three or four in games for the under-19s, if you're doing them regularly, you definitely have the goal gene.

"But it will be the decision of the coach as to whether or when he plays. He is going to be the youngest of them all, so we have to be careful not to overload him.

"It's ideal to have him [move into the senior team] though. If Haaland needs a break, then maybe Favre will try out Youssoufa."

Temwa Chawinga scored the only goal for Malawi as they progressed to the semi-final for the first time since 2011 following a 1-0 victory over Zambia at Wolfson Stadium on Monday.

Besides rekindling the rivalry between the teams, the match also set up the region's lethal strikers in Chawinga sisters and Barbra Banda, following their season campaign in China.

While Banda had scored three goals in Zambia's 8-0 win over Lesotho, Temwa played a vital role in the Malawians 9-0 win, scoring a goal and assisted her sister Tabitha to net six.

The 22-year-old, who helped Wuhan to a maiden Chinese Women's Super League title success in October, put up another brilliant display to ensure the Sorcerer outclassed the Copper Queens.

The DD Sunshine product struck the winner in the 31st minute to seal Malawi's passage to the semi-final of the tournament.

The first half solitary strike from the Wuhan star was all the Mcnelbert Kazuwa’s team required to condemn the 2021 Olympic Games campaigner to a first defeat of the competition.

The win means Malawi have avenged their expulsion last year at the expense of Zambia and this sees them finish top of Group B.

They will now have to slug it out against defending champions South Africa in the semi-final to reach their first-ever final on Thursday.

Despite the defeat, Zambia, on the other hand, still advance as the best loser on superior goals and will now battle Botswana in a quest for back-to-back appearances in the final on the same day.

Ghana Premier League (GPL) side Asante Kotoko will travel away to Mauritania to face FC Nouadhibou for their first test of the 2020-21 Caf Champions League campaign.

The draw for the preliminary round of the elite continental inter-club championship was conducted in the Egyptian capital of Cairo on Monday.

Kotoko's first leg trip away is set for the weekend of November 27-29, a week before the return fixture in Ghana.

The winners over two legs will square off against the ultimate victors of the clash between Al Hilal Club of Sudan and Ugandan outfit Vipers in December and January.

Nouadhibou are the 2019-20 Mauritania Ligue 1 champions, their eighth time winning the national league.

Ashanti Gold, Ghana's only other club in Africa in the 2020-21 season, have been pitted against Salitas FC of Burkina Faso in the preliminary round of the Caf Confederation Cup.

The winners over two legs will have a date with El Amal of Sudan or KVZ FC of Zanzibar in the next round of the competition.

Salitas, the runners-up of the 2018-19 Burkinabe Premier League, got the nod to represent their country in the Confederation Cup due to the premature termination of the Burkina Faso Cup whose winners were to have received the ticket for the continental championship.

Owing to the premature termination of the 2019-20 Ghana Premier League (GPL) season due to the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, Ghana were similarly unable to decide their representatives for the 2020-21 Caf competitions on the pitch.

At a Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Council meeting in June, it was decided that Kotoko fly Ghana's flag in the Champions League while Ashanti Gold represent the country in the Caf Confederation Cup.

Kotoko and AshGold were chosen based on their status as Ghana's representatives for the continental competitions last season after they won the 2019 GFA Normalisation Committee Special Competition Tier 1 and Tier 2 titles respectively.

Ghana's performance in Africa last season was, however, disappointing as Kotoko were eliminated from the Champions League in the first round by Tunisian club Etoile Sahel while AshGold were similarly knocked out of the Confederation Cup in the first round by RS Berkane of Morocco. 

East African Premier League champions have learned their Caf Champions League preliminary round opponents after a draw that was conducted on Monday in Egypt.

Gor Mahia will have to fight and win against Rwandan champions APR if they are to progress to the next stage, first at home, before going to Kigali for the second round.

Just like APR, Gor Mahia have been conducting training sessions for the past month in readiness for the competition even though they have not been in competitive action since March when the leagues were cancelled by their respective federations.

The winner between Gor Mahia and APR will face either Algeria’s CR Belouizdad or Al Nasr of Libya in the second round.

Vipers will be welcomed back in the continental competition by Sudan’s El Hilal and the winner between them will face either Nouadhibou of Mauritania or Ghana’s Asante Kotoko in the next round. The Venoms will welcome the Sudanese side at St Mary’s Stadium before the return leg away.

Tanzania’s Simba have landed Nigerian opponents Plateau United and will host them before travelling west for the second tie.

Gor Mahia will be participating for the fourth straight time after winning Premier League titles in their last four seasons.

The Kenyan champions will also be under a new coach given they made a change and brought Brazilian Oliveira ‘Robertinho' Goncalves; a former Rayon Sports tactician.

Steven Polack exited in a similar manner that Dylan Kerr and Hassan Okay did and forced K’Ogalo to look for a new coach that will spearhead their ambition of making it into the group stage.

They have signed 14 players but a few are expected to play key roles when Gor Mahia start their Champions League campaign.

Simba qualified for the third straight campaign after winning the 2019/20 title with seven matches to spare.

Although they looked a strong team, the Wekundu wa Msimbazi went ahead and signed key players like Larry Bwalya, Bernard Morrison, Chris Mugalu and Joash Onyango who will be tasked with pushing Simba further in the continental competition.

They have lost two matches in the league already and the Tanzanian champions will have to fight and see whether they can advance far, than what they afforded last season. Simba were eliminated in the preliminary stage by Mozambican champions UD Songo at their own turf when they went down 1-0 in August 2019.

For Uganda, there will be a different Champions League representative after Vipers were declared winners of the cancelled 2019/20 competition. The Venoms were leading with four more points than KCCA FC – the last editions country’s representatives – and thus the duty of flying Uganda’s flag lies squarely on their shoulders.

Just like Gor Mahia, Vipers have not been in action since the league was suspended in March due to the emergence of the coronavirus.

Head coach Fred Kajoba has already made signings – predominantly from local clubs – who he hopes will help the club as they return to the continental football.

Republic of Ireland boss Stephen Kenny has revealed that Caoimhin Kelleher was supposed to leave Liverpool on loan over the summer, only for an untimely injury picked up by Alisson to scupper those plans.

A highly-rated product of the Reds’ academy system has seen just four first-team outings to date. That is because his path is blocked by Alisson, a man many consider to be the finest goalkeeper on the planet, and experienced back-up Adrian.

With minutes hard to come by, Liverpool had planned to send Kelleher to the Eredivisie in order to pick up valuable experience.

Alisson, though, was laid low in early October with a shoulder complaint, meaning that Jurgen Klopp needed to retain his full complement of custodians.

Kelleher has been forced to stay put as a result, much to the disappointment of the man himself and a national team coach eager for him to get competitive minutes under his belt.

Kenny told reporters ahead of the friendly clash with England at Wembley Stadium on Thursday: “We really need Caoimhin Kelleher to get matches under his belt as we feel he is ready to play for us

“He was supposed to go on loan to Holland, to a couple of clubs in the Eredivisie in the last window but when the first choice got injured at Liverpool, that move was pulled.

“He wants to go on loan, he was ready to play and certainly we feel we would have benefited from that - but it’s not easy to play at Liverpool, they are world champions at club level aren’t they, so it’s not easy to play there.

“He is good enough to play for Ireland, but he’s not playing matches so it’s an issue. He would have benefitted from that [move] we feel, but it’s not easy to play at Liverpool.”

While blocking Kelleher’s path in the last window, those at Anfield are aware of the need to get the youngster opportunities.

The Reds’ goalkeeping coach, John Achterberg, has said: “He would like to play games and obviously that would be easier if he went out on loan, but the problem for us is we need three good goalies and he is one of our three.

“For his development, a loan move would be his next step, but the club have to make sure they have everything covered in case we have a problem with our keepers and we know it would be hard to find a keeper as good as him if we let him go out on loan.”

Moise Kean has earned a comparison to current Manchester United star and former Paris Saint-Germain frontman Edinson Cavani, with Eric Rabesandratana disappointed that the Ligue 1 champions have no purchase option on the Everton loanee.

Having struggled for form and regular game time during a frustrating spell in England, the Italy international was allowed to head for the exits at Goodison Park over the summer.

Despite his difficulties on Merseyside, Kean’s stock remains high and PSG presented him with another prominent stage on which to perform. They have seen the former Juventus youngster reward their faith with five goals in seven appearances.

With Kean eager to prove himself in France, his tireless running and impressive end product has not gone unnoticed.

Those qualities have seen him likened to a proven performer who departed Parc des Princes just prior to his arrival, with Rabesandratana seeing similarities between a new recruit and the Uruguayan frontman who plundered 200 goals in 301 outings for PSG.

“When the ball is lost, he immediately starts to defend,” Rabesandratana told France Bleu Paris of a player who hobbled off injured in the 3-0 win over Rennes on Saturday.

“He reminds me a bit of Edinson Cavani in his mentality and effort. I hope he scores as many goals [as Cavani].

“We’ll be watching the next matches to see if he keeps that consistency, which is the most important thing at the top level.

“Kean will establish natural competition with [Mauro] Icardi, who will have to make an effort. That is good for the team. Unfortunately, we have no option to buy him at the end of the loan.”

Everton only sanctioned a season-long loan for Kean when allowing him to head out of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad. The Toffees do not appear ready to give up on a hot prospect just yet, but it may be that their hand is forced by a player eager to forget his troubles in the Premier League.

Kean told Rai Sport when heading for Paris: “I am not particularly upset to have left English football, even if the banner from the Everton fans really moved me, as I wasn't expecting it.

“It's true, I could've returned to Juve, but I made this decision along with my family to play in Ligue 1. I've been to Paris before and have relatives here. I hope to learn a great deal from this fantastic experience. I am young, I like to work closely with top strikers, so I can learn from their experience and their style of football.”

Matthews Ottamax has been appointed as Wazito FC goalkeeper trainer ahead of the 2020/21 Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League season.

The former Kenya international has confirmed through his official social account that he will be coaching the Nairobi-based side's custodians.

"The hot seat meets heat," Ottamax posted on his official Facebook account on Monday while on a Wazito FC jersey. 

The experienced trainer, who has coached AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia goalkeepers in the past, takes over from Elias Otieno who was fired alongside head coach Fred Ambani and assistant coach Babu Salim.

The shocking news comes barely a week after the aforementioned technical bench oversaw a 2-1 loss away to Zoo FC and 5-1 win against Narok Combined in pre-season friendly matches.

"We were called yesterday [Sunday] and informed that we are no longer needed at the club," Salim told Goal on Monday.

"No reason was given to us; it is shocking because we are in preparation for the forthcoming campaign and did not expect it. However, I have accepted their decision and currently, I am at home contemplating my next move."

Fred Ambani was re-appointed as Wazito FC head coach with Salim coming in as his assistant on August 8.  

The position fell vacant after former head coach Stewart Hall left, leaving his then assistant Ambani in charge of the proceedings.

The former striker had just returned to the club as the Briton's assistant coach after he had initially been sacked alongside Stanley Okumbi, who was the technical director.  

Salim left Kisumu-based side Western Stima and joined the Nairobi-based team hoping to help them change their fortune. 

Kakamega Homeboyz coach Nicholas Muyoti has been linked with the vacant role at Wazito.

Chairman Cleophas Shimanyula has since clarified the coach is still with the team and has not expressed any desire to leave so far.

"Muyoti is now at the pitch conducting training even though I thought he had left for his father’s burial arrangement but I am surprised he is with the team," Shimanyula told Goal.

"Wazito approached him, that I cannot deny but Muyoti turned their offer down saying he has a contract with Kakamega Homeboyz which he is willing to serve in full.

"Those are rumours for now but if he decides to leave he is an adult and we cannot stop him from making the move. He is a decent person that if he is planning to leave he would have told me.

"I am not under pressure at all and if Wazito want him even today they can come for him. I cannot panic because of that.

"I know they are hungry to snap everything from Kakamega Homeboyz especially that we finished third last season and they think by taking Muyoti will see them succeed as we did.

"Muyoti knows Wazito is not a team to rush and join."

Watford captain Troy Deeney believes Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's lack of goals is caused by his position in the Arsenal formation.

For the first time in his Premier League career, Aubameyang failed to register a single shot on target as Mikel Arteta's side suffered a 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa at home.

The 31-year-old has struggled to find the back of the net in this campaign with just two goals to his name after eight matches.

Deeney thinks Arteta needs to tweak his tactics to get the best out of the Gabon international who has been outstanding in his last two Premier League seasons.

“I’m starting to think, do they need to change formation to probably get Aubameyang in better situations?" the 32-year-old told Talk Sport.

"I know it’s very easy as we are pundits who sit here and watch and think we know everything about coaching, but he doesn’t seem to be getting in the same positions he once was and the goal threat he had before as well.”

Deeney is also confident the Arsenal captain will rediscover his goalscoring form despite the slow start.

When asked if Aubameyang can hit the 20-goal mark this term, he said; “I think we’ve all got to remember it’s been a very short pre-season with no real rest.

“Especially for those Arsenal guys who played the last game in the FA Cup and with the Community Shield as well.

"They are probably tired; people don’t like to hear sportsmen get tired but they do. Mentally as well as physically. He’s just having a bit of a slow start.

“Would you still think he’s going to score 20 goals this season? I think he would score that many. When he gets going he’ll be right up there.”