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Maritzburg United have moved swiftly to find a replacement for Ghana international Richard Ofori.

The Team of Choice sold the towering goalkeeper to Orlando Pirates on Tuesday and he has been replaced by Sebastian Mwange at the KwaZulu-based side.

Mwange has joined Maritzburg on a two-year deal with the option for a further two years on his contract.

"Maritzburg United have announced the signing of Zambia number-one goalkeeper Sebastian Mwange," a club statement read. 

"The 28-year-old has signed a two-year deal at the Harry Gwala Stadium, with the option for a further two years on his contract."

Mwange has joined the Team of Choice from Zambian Super League side Green Eagles. 

The experienced keeper, who has also played for Nchanga Rangers in the Zambian Super League, was part of the Eagles team which eliminated Pirates from the 2019/20 Caf Champions League.

Mwange also stood in goal for Zambia's Chipolopolo when they beat Bafana Bafana 2-1 in an international friendly match just over a week ago in Rustenburg.

The lanky shot-stopper impressed with some excellent saves including two to deny Bafana's key player Percy Tau.

Maritzburg chairman Farook Kadodia explained why the club snapped up the accomplished player, who won the 2019 Cosafa Cup Golden Glove award after helping Chipolopolo win the tournament.

"The Team of Choice are very pleased to have added a goalkeeper of Mwange's calibre to our squad," Kadodia said. 

"Our technical team and scouting network have worked tirelessly to identify Sebastian as a top-quality goalkeeper and a good fit for our club. We are all very pleased to have secured his services.

"We would like to extend a warm welcome for Sebastian to the KwaZulu-Natal capital city and are optimistic that his time here will prove to be fruitful.

"Maritzburg have shown that we have a solid record when it comes to bringing in players from the African continent and we expect Sebastian to continue this tradition and make a strong impact in South African football."

Mwange will compete with Jethro Barr and Bongani Mpandle in the Maritzburg goalkeeping department.

Kakamega Homeboyz Chairman Cleophas Shimanyula has promised to donate new set of uniform and five balls to Shabana FC after they managed to beat AFC Leopards 1-0 in a match used to celebrate Mashujaa Day on Tuesday.

The Kisii-based ‘Glamour Boys’, who are struggling financially and also featuring in the National Super League (NSL) shocked many as they beat the FKF Premier League by a solitary goal at Gusii Stadium.

Fred Nyakundi scored the all-important goal for Shabana in the 40th minute after receiving a cross from Ashif Obwaka, and they held on to win the battle and the Mashujaa Day bragging rights.

Shimanyula has now slammed AFC Leopards for losing to a team that is struggling financially and went further to promise that he will support Shabana with a new uniform and five playing balls.

“Shabana have done wonders, they have ashamed a team with a new bus, new uniform, new sponsors and new players,” Shimanyula told Goal after the match.

“I will give the team a new uniform for the entire playing unit and also five balls, and will also ask that we play a friendly against them at the same venue before the new league kicks-offs, I want to donate my pledge to them during the friendly.

“Kudos to Shabana for making us proud, we now know that AFC Leopards is the same team as from last year and nothing will change this season, it is a shame they lost even after parading their new team bus.

“I think if it was Shabana with all the financial support that AFC have been accorded then they would have won even 7-0.”

Before the match, AFC Leopards unveiled their third signing - Bienvenue Shaka from Tunisian top division side Etoile Sportif du Sahel

The signing of Shaka brings the number of new signings at the Den to three after Harrison Mwendwa and goalkeeper John Oyemba, both signed from Kariobangi Sharks.

According to the fixtures released for the 2020-21 campaign, AFC Leopards will first host Western Stima, who are expected to have a relatively new-look team after Gor Mahia and Wazito FC raided their first team, on November 20.

On November 28, the former champions will be away to league debutants Bidco United. The Thika-based club has moved to strengthen their squad incredibly with players including experienced Piston Mutamba, and Stephen Waruru.

On December 4, AFC Leopards will tackle Zoo FC at home in a game that will be expected to start at 18:30.

After facing Zoo, Leopards will play host to Nzoia Sugar on December 9. The Sugar Millers have always proved a tough opponent for Ingwe and the last time the two meet at Sudi Stadium a 2-2 draw was recorded.

On December 14, AFC Leopards will either face Kisumu All-Stars or Vihiga United in what will be their fifth match of the much-anticipated 2020/21 season.

Inter coach Antonio Conte is in no doubt that Real Madrid will be competing for Champions League honours, brushing off suggestions that the Merengue are not among the tournament's favourites.

Conte's side finished behind Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund in last season's group stage but managed to reach the Europa League final, where they were defeated by Sevilla.

The Nerazzurri secured a return to the Champions League by finishing second to Juventus in Serie A last term and begin their new European campaign at home to Borussia Monchengladbach on Wednesday.

Inter have also been drawn against Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk in Group B and Conte could not help but smile when informed of a view from Spain that put his team as favourites ahead of La Liga's champions.

"I don't know if that's the case. We are talking about the team that won La Liga last season and that have great champions," he said.

"It makes me smile to hear that they are not the favourites. If we question Real Madrid because they didn't make moves in the transfer market and we don't consider them favourites, it means that football is changing and maybe I have lost sight of reality."

Inter have won just two of their past 10 games in Europe's premier club competition, but Conte believes the experience of 2019-20 will hold them in good stead this time around.

"Now we are more experienced for sure, after what we did last term and the Europa League final. This increased the experience level of the whole squad," said Conte.

"Now we can also count on [Arturo] Vidal who has plenty of experience. From this point of view we are a more prepared team.

"We must be the masters of our own destiny. We want to be positive, but at this moment it is difficult to say where we can go.

"Our aim is to be contenders. We aim to play the kind of football that made us runners-up in the league and Europa League finalists last season. Sometimes we do that perfectly, sometimes we have to improve."

Alessandro Bastoni will only be fit enough for the bench against Gladbach after recovering from coronavirus, though Alexis Sanchez is ready to start after coming off the bench in the derby defeat to Milan on Saturday.

Azam FC stretched their unbeaten run in the Mainland Premier League to seven matches after they beat Ihefu 2-0 in a Mainland Premier League match played on Tuesday.

The ‘Ice Cream Makers’ went into the match seeking a seventh straight win in the top-flight and they did not disappoint as two second-half goals courtesy of Ayoub Lyanga and Idd Seleman ensured they maintained their perfect start to the season.

After a close battle in the first half which ended 0-0, Azam came back a more rejuvenated side in the second period and took a deserved lead in the 55th minute when Lyanga latched onto a cross from Prince Dube to make it 1-0.

The Chamazi-based giants under the tutelage of coach Aristica Cioaba then doubled their lead in the 83rd minute when Seleman powered home from close range to ensure they left Sokoine Stadium with maximum points.

Azam are now sitting at the top of the log with 21 points and will next face Mtibwa Sugar.

In another match, Ruvu Shooting recovered to secure a 1-1 draw against KMC FC.

On Monday, Mtibwa Sugar managed a 1-0 win against Namungo FC, which was their first one since they sacked head coach Zuberi Katwila – who was later appointed by the league debutants Ihefu.

The Sugar Millers – now with eight points – got the winning goal in the 76th minute through a Salum Kihimbwa penalty. The loss will perhaps provide Namungo head coach Thierry Hitimana with more questions especially after managing a better campaign last season.

In another match, Coastal Union romped to a huge 3-0 victory against Francis Baraza’s Biashara United. Hamad Rajab scored the opener for the home side in the 32nd minute before the other two goals were added to ensure they picked up all three points.

Raizin Hafidh got a brace as he scored in the 45th minute before finding the back of the net again a minute after the hour mark.

The win saw Coastal Union get their eighth point as they strive to move up away from the congested relegation zone. The loss, on the other hand, is a big blow for Biashara United who were looking to keep pace with the leading pack of Azam FC, Simba SC, and Yanga SC.

Elsewhere, Gwambina FC and Polisi Tanzania shared the points courtesy of a 1-1 draw.

Former Manchester United star Louis Saha believes the Red Devils rely too much on Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes while also losing their "defensive balance".

United have endured an inconsistent start to the 2020-21 campaign, picking up just four points from a possible 12 in the Premier League while shipping a total of 12 goals.

The Reds nevertheless made it through to the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup, and encouraging signs of progress were displayed during a 4-1 win over Newcastle in the top flight on Saturday.

Fernandes scored his 15th goal for the club since his €55 million (£50m/$65m) move from Sporting CP against the Magpies, and also set up Marcus Rashford with a delightful through ball to cap another outstanding performance.

The Portuguese playmaker was the driving force behind United's run to a third-place Premier League finish last term, not only proving himself in one of the most demanding competitions in Europe, but also taking on leadership responsibilities in the middle of the park.

He struck up an effective partnership with Pogba post-lockdown which saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side re-emerge as a major force, with both men now set to step onto the Champions League stage in midweek.

Pogba hasn't quite been able to live up to same high standards at the start of the new season, but the Manchester outfit triggered the one-year extension clause in his contract last week, underling their continued faith in his abilities.

United will open their Group H campaign with a trip to Paris Saint-Germain, where they will be hoping for a repeat of their famous 3-1 win at Parc des Princes in the 2018-19 knockout stages.

Saha is certain that his old club will have enough firepower to cause the French champions plenty of problems, but is concerned by how fragile they have become at the back, and their over-reliance on a prized midfield pairing.

“Manchester United have lost a bit the defensive balance that they had last season. There is also a dependence on Pogba and Fernandes, the best players in the squad," the former Red Devils striker told Ouest France.

"The numerous individual defensive errors since the beginning of the season have hurt them. But going forward, they are no joke.

"The youngsters Martial, Rashford and Greenwood (who is injured) are capable of the highest level and to put PSG’s defence in danger, which is also under reconstruction since the departure of Thiago Silva.

"There are things that you get punished for the Champions’ League. PSG have been warned.”

Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock will take a decision on whether to involve Britt Assombalonga in their Championship game against Bristol City on Tuesday night.

The forward could not complete the Boro’s draw against Reading on Saturday after suffering an injury in the encounter.

Assombalonga has been a key member of Middlesbrough since teaming up with the side in the summer of 2017 from Nottingham Forest.   

The 27-year-old has scored more than 40 goals across all competitions and this season he has featured six times for the Riverside Stadium outfit.

Last season, the Democratic Republic of the Congo international scored the only goal of his side as they lost against the Robins.  

Warnock hopes the forward will pass a late fitness test to feature at Ashton Gate, but also open to improvising should the attacker not ready for the game.  

"I won’t know until after training today. Britt’s having treatment this morning as he’s a bit sore,” Warnock told the club website.

"He’s been taking a battering from the centre-halves and we can’t afford to lose him or Chuba [Akpom]. With only having two strikers we’ll have to look at different options at times like we did in the second half at the weekend.

"I’m just getting with what I’ve got. If we only have one striker we will have to look at what we have and adapt accordingly. We’ll have a session in the morning and see what's what."

Middlesbrough are currently 15th on the Championship table with six points from five games and a win at Ashton Gate could see them move to the seventh spot.

Despite his eligibility to play for England, Assombalonga snubbed the European side to commit his future to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The centre-forward has eight caps for the African country since he made his international debut against Tanzania in 2018.

Former Bidvest Wits goalkeeper Steven Hoffman has secured a move to a European club.

KF Llapi, who are campaigning in the Football Superleague of Kosovo, have confirmed the signing of the 26-year-old player.

Nicknamed the Legends, Llapi released the following statement announcing that Hoffman has signed a one-year deal with the club. 

"Steven Hoffman is part of the white and blue family for the 2020/21 edition," a club statement read. 

"The 26-year-old experienced goalkeeper has chosen to represent KF Llapi in this edition."

"Steven Hoffman joined the club for a month and has convinced club leaders to sign him on a one-year contract."

Hoffman has been a free agent since he parted ways with Platinum Stars at the end of the 2017/18 season after the club was relegated to the National First Division (NFD).

A Cape Town-based group purchased the franchise rights of the now-defunct Stars and the club was renamed Cape Umoya United.

"Hoffman is from South Africa, born in 31.01.1994, 1.96 m tall. He was part of South Africa national team for the age group, U23," another statement read. 

"He also made his career in his country's famous teams: Bidvest Wits FC, Vasco Da Gama and Cape Umoya United FC."

Hoffman played his best football at Vasco Da Gama (now known as Stellenbosch FC) in the NFD between 2014 and 2016.

The shot-stopper was included in the South Africa under-23 squad by then-head coach Owen Da Gama with the team preparing for the 2016 Olympic Games. 

A move to Platinum Stars then followed in July 2016 and he promised some promising displays for the team in the PSL.

The talented keeper's exploits caught the eye of then-Bafana head coach Stuart Baxter. 

Hoffman was then included in the South Africa squads which took on Botswana and Zambia in the 2018 African Nations Championship (Chan) qualifiers.

He was an unused substitute as Llapi drew 2-2 with Besa Peje in a Superleague match on Tuesday afternoon.

Jamie Carragher has reacted angrily to reports of Liverpool and Manchester United reportedly opening talks for a new FIFA-backed European Premier League.

According to Sky News, a £4.6 billion ($6bn) package is being assembled by Wall Street bank JP Morgan to fund the creation of a competition which will see teams from England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain form a new league.

Up to five clubs from the Premier League could be eligible to participate in the tournament, with plans for a provisional start date of 2022 already in the pipeline.

Fixtures will be completed during the regular club season if the formation of the league goes ahead, with a total of 18 teams to be included and hundreds of millions of pounds in prize money up for grabs.

The teams that finish highest in the overall standings would qualify for a knockout format finale to crown the new champions of Europe, with home and away fixtures to be played in a round-robin style which would ultimately replace the current Champions League.

Carragher, who won the European Cup with Liverpool back in 2005, made his feelings on the proposal very clear on social media, writing on Twitter: "Oh f*** off."

United legend Gary Neville also posted a response to the news on Twitter, quoting the original story with the caption: "Independent Regulator Anyone?"

Another former Liverpool star, Stan Collymore, joined the Sky Sports' pundits in voicing his disapproval, insisting any English clubs that take part in the initiative should be removed from the Premier League on a permanent basis.

"If any English club joins a European Super League, then they should never be allowed back, ostracised completely and fam (sic) groups, real fan groups of those clubs stand up to condemn their club," Collymore told his followers on social media.

"F*ck them off and remind them where their bread was buttered for 100+ years."

Liverpool and United were also behind the 'Project Big Picture' proposition which all other 18 Premier League clubs voted against unanimously last week.

English football's two biggest clubs moved to try and reduce the number of teams in the top flight from 20 to 18, while outlining plans to scrap both the EFL Cup and Community Shield.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham have also reportedly been approached over the European Premier League plans, but no legally binding contracts have been signed as of yet.

Pep Guardiola says he feels responsible for Manchester City failing to get beyond the last-eight of the Champions League but believes the club are getting closer.

With less than a year remaining on his contract, the City boss is starting what will be his final challenge for the European competition unless he signs a new extension.

But he has thus far failed to get beyond the quarter-finals, conceding heavily in exits to Monaco and Liverpool in 2017 and 2018, while City were dumped out by Tottenham in 2019 and were surprisingly beaten by French side Lyon last season.

He told a news conference ahead of the first game of this season’s Champions League campaign against Porto: “I have the feeling that we are close. Every season when I analyse the way we went out I felt we are close but at the same time we make mistakes that make you feel we don’t deserve to go through.

“For clubs who are used to being in the latter stages it's easier but having won the domestic titles the next [target for us] is the Champions League and we had a good opportunity.

“Now it’s a new opportunity and I believe. We talk about this and we have to do things differently. When you review the games; Liverpool, Tottenham, Lyon, I always had the feeling we were close, they were not better than us, none of them. There are little gaps but we have to solve them.

“When you don’t go through it’s because you don’t deserve it. And that’s all.”

Last season’s exit was particularly surprising when City were beaten by 3-1 by Lyon, who had finished seventh in Ligue 1.  Guardiola has been accused of over-thinking tactics in the latter stages of Europe and said he took the responsibility for the last-eight defeat in August.

“It was a tough moment, I felt responsible for this,” he said. “How the club and players fought - I was not able to drive them on. I feel responsible watching the game, we were not good enough, we didn’t play bad.

“We had really good moments but made mistakes and in this competition you cannot do it.

“The reality is every team and manager has to dream with high expectations but the reality is we have not performed to the level.

“We have to accept it with humility, accept all the bad situations, improve and go through and accept a new challenge, start from zero again and try again knowing we have to improve, knowing the demands are so high.

“I feel so bad for the players but this is a new opportunity and we start again.”

The Champions League remains an important target for the club and City will start as one of the favourites again but Guardiola says they must first focus on getting out of a group that also includes Marseille and Olympiacos.

“Every season starts the same, you know the answers for many clubs it’s an incredible competition, it’s just the first game, then we play the second and see how far,” he said.

“We are far away from thinking about big targets, considering what's happened [previously] we are not allowed to dream much higher.

“The reality is you try to win the first one and after that we’ll see how we can grow the team. We are still a bit away from where we want to be.”

Liverpool may be tempted to make a “stellar” signing such as Kalidou Koulibaly in January, says Don Hutchison, with the potential there for the Reds to counter the loss of Virgil van Dijk to injury and piece together a “sensational pairing” for the future.

The Reds have seen a talismanic presence at the heart of their back four ruled out for several months.

A reckless challenge from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford during an eventful Merseyside derby has left Van Dijk nursing knee ligament damage and requiring surgery.

His absence promises to hit Jurgen Klopp’s side hard, as he has become an integral part of Champions League and Premier League title-winning plans, with there currently no cover of a similar standard on the books at Anfield.

That could change when the next transfer window opens, with Hutchison among those tipping Liverpool to dip back into the market for another proven centre-half.

The former Reds midfielder has told ESPN FC: “You get a general feeling when you are watching a side, whether it be Tottenham and it’s Harry Kane or Man United and Bruno Fernandes or Man City and Sergio Aguero, you have a feeling as a fan and wonder who’s the one person that you wouldn’t want to lose out of this Liverpool side to a long-term injury?

“If it happened to [Sadio] Mane or [Mohamed] Salah or [Roberto] Firmino, there are people like [Takumi] Minamino and [Diogo] Jota who can fill in, likewise in midfield.

“But you take Virgil van Dijk out of this Liverpool side - arguably one of the best centre-halves in Europe, the best by a country mile in the Premier League – it’s going to dent the optimism of Liverpool fans believing they can hold onto the title.

“If they can try and get through to January, with the window not too far away, it might push Jurgen Klopp, the staff and the guys above him to maybe go for a Koulibaly or one of those stellar signings to try and sure up that problem.

“Then when Virgil van Dijk does come back, you could have a sensational pairing.

“I just think if you take him out of the side, and Alisson is missing for the next couple of weeks or months, that’s a difficult ask to go unbeaten and rack up the wins.”

Liverpool have seen a move for Koulibaly mooted in the past, with the Napoli defender widely considered to sit alongside Van Dijk in the pool of finest centre-halves in European football.

Sergio Ramos will miss Real Madrid's clash with Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League while Eden Hazard's fitness is improving as he nears a comeback from injury.

Los Blancos captain Ramos took a knock to his knee in Saturday's shock 1-0 La Liga loss to Cadiz and was absent from Tuesday's training session ahead of the club's opening European fixture of the 2020-21 campaign at Santiago Bernabeu.

With the first Clasico of the season against Barcelona taking place on Saturday, head coach Zinedine Zidane said he was unlikely to risk exacerbating the issue.

"There's an issue with Sergio Ramos, he hasn't trained with the team," Zidane told a pre-match news conference on Tuesday.

"We won't take any risks with the players; the players have to be fit. He's got a knock, we have to wait and see how he feels, it's true today he didn't train at the same tempo as his team-mates."

While Ramos is a fresh injury concern, forward Eden Hazard – whose time at Madrid has been blighted by fitness woes – remains a longer-term absentee.

The Belgium international, who is yet to feature this campaign, was set to return to action last month but sustained a muscle complaint during his recovery from an ankle injury.

Offering an update on Hazard, Zidane said: "Eden has been back out on the training pitch but that injury was a bit more than we hoped.

"He's in good hands and hopefully shortly he'll be back and he'll stay fit and hopefully he'll be able to play for the full season without further setbacks."

Madrid were well below their best against Cadiz, mustering just two shots on target despite having almost 75 per cent of the possession.

Zidane's side have scored just six goals in five La Liga games, but the coach, while accepting his team deserved the criticism that came their way, said there will be plenty of peaks and troughs in a busy campaign.

"I think we deserved the criticism as published following that defeat, but now it's our opportunity to turn the tide, turn that corner and hopefully you'll see a different Real Madrid," he said.

"I think whenever things have been tough, this team have stepped up and produced the goods. There are moments during the season when there are dips in form.

"The other day we could have done things better and I'm convinced we can do things better.

"I think you have to look at the bigger picture. If you look at not just us, others too, no clubs have started in brilliant fashion, teams have struggled. There will be days when we do things very, very well."

Son Heung-min believes Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho has been misunderstood over the course of his career, and admitted he was 'amazed' when he got the chance to work with one of the game's ultimate winners for the first time last year.

Speaking to Goal at an Amazon Prime event to promote the All Or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspur documentary, South Korea international Son insisted Mourinho's reputation for falling out with players has not been in evidence in his first year as Spurs boss.

The documentary showed the former Porto, Chelsea, Inter, Real Madrid and Manchester United manager being brutally honest with his players at times, yet Son suggests that approach is welcome for a team and a club trying to win their first major trophy since 2008. 

"Some people misunderstand the manager," states Son. "Maybe they have a different opinion compared to what he really is, but we see him every day and it is a great atmosphere at the training ground. 

"We laugh and smile at training every day and you can see that in the Amazon video. He has a winning mentality and we all believe he can bring us success and take us to the next level. 

"He has been amazing with us and I will always remember how I felt when he first came to the club and became my manager. 

"It was on an international break when we got the news that [Mauricio] Pochettino was leaving. I was really sad because everyone had a really good relationship with him. 

"Then we have the arrival of a manager who is one of the most successful in football. It was just incredible. The first time I met him, I didn't believe it because I was watching him when I was a kid winning so many trophies. Now I'm working together with him. 

"Now we are together for one year and it has been fantastic. Last season was difficult at times with all the injuries, but we have started this season so well and I just want to keep this feeling and achieve success with him."

Son's sentiments are echoed by Tottenham's Argentine forward Erik Lamela, who has insisted he is ready for the challenge of forcing his way into Mourinho's side despite a host of high-profile summer signings led by the return of Gareth Bale on loan from Real Madrid.

"Whatever people might say about him, I find Mourinho to be a really nice person and we smile with him every day," says Lamela of his manager. "He is very honest with the players and we have a good relationship with him. Also, he is a winner and we want to win with him.

"The moment when the manager comes in was very strange for us and you will see the reaction of the players when we see him for the first time on the Amazon documentary. We didn't know Pochettino was leaving and suddenly Mourinho was there.  

"We had so long with Pochettino, so it was sad when he was not here anymore, but there is always the next game and that's all you can think about. Now we know Mourinho and everyone is very happy working with him."

All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspur is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video now.

Emmanuel  Dennis hopes to inspire Belgian side Club Brugge to victory over Zenit Saint Petersburg when they meet in Tuesday’s Champions League.  

The Super Eagles forward has shone in the top European competition in the past, scoring spectacular goals in the competition.

His memorable performance in the tournament was against La Liga giants Real Madrid last season when he bagged a brace away at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The forward’s showings generated interests from a number of European clubs but with no concrete offer he continued his stay at Jan Breydel Stadium.  

Dennis has featured in six Begian First Division A game in the current campaign and provided an assist in his side’s last outing against Standard Liege to help them avoid defeat.

The 22-year-old is hoping to deliver another eye-catching displays agaist the Russian club at Gazprom Arena on Tuesday night.

“I always score against the big teams,” Dennis told Belgian magazine Het Nieuwsblad.

Club Bugge will be without their top striker Michael Krmencik against in the encounter and Dennis , who has played prominently as a winger for his side, is willing to feature for the club as a centre-forward in his quest to ensure they secure victory.

 “I can play there if I have to. But I am not a striker. Put that in large letters above your interview. I am a flank player,” he added.

Dennis has been at Jan Breydel Stadium since the summer of 2017 when he joined the club from Ukrainian side Zorya Luhansk.

The forward has scored more than 21 goals across all competitions for the Blue and Black, including his nine strikes last season to help them emerge as the league’s champions.

Dennis will hope to continue his impressive showings for his club to boost hs regular call-up to the Super Eagles.

The forward has two caps for the three-time African champons since he made his international debut against Ukraine in September 2019.

Gonzalo Higuain says he linked up with David Beckham’s MLS franchise Inter Miami because he was no longer enjoying his football in Europe.

The Argentine striker left his homeland to go chasing the dream at Real Madrid back in 2007 and considerable success has been enjoyed across spells in Spain, Italy and England.

The prolific frontman has over 300 club goals to his name and has been a go-to option for the likes of Napoli, Juventus, AC Milan and Chelsea.

Higuain's powers started to wane towards the end of his time in Turin and, while Maurizio Sarri has always been a big admirer of the South American, others started to question his value to the collective cause.

Higuain hit the target just 11 times in the 2019-20 campaign, leading him to weigh up his options as Juve did likewise.

The Serie A champions eventually agreed to free him from his contract, allowing a move to America to be made.

The 32-year-old, who has since been joined by his brother Federico in Florida, believes he has taken the right career call as he was no longer playing with a smile on his face in Europe.

Higuain told the Que Golazo podcast on CBS: “I always followed MLS closely because my brother and other great players were there.

“But I wanted to come here with the intention of once again being happy while playing and I believe Inter Miami have given me everything I need.

“Coming here to this league gives me the sensation like when I was child and I had fun playing, that wasn't the case anymore in Europe for many reasons.

“I believe from a media standpoint, Europe was too much. I had to prove something match after match, which is something I did my entire career. They don't give you the time to enjoy the fact you play football.”

Higuain, who missed a penalty on his debut for Inter Miami, is already up and running for his new club and believes he can deliver the goods in MLS after becoming the first of what Manchester United and Real Madrid legend Beckham hopes will be many marquee additions in Fort Lauderdale.

Thibaut Courtois has insisted Real Madrid are "always the favourites" for the Champions League while expressing his confidence that the Blancos can conquer Europe again in 2020-21.

Madrid have won the competition a record 13 times, six more than any other club, but an underwhelming start to the La Liga season has hardly served to inspire confidence they can claim a 14th title come May.

Madrid are third in the early La Liga standings, one point behind early leaders Real Sociedad having slumped to a 1-0 home loss to newly-promoted Cadiz last time out.

Zinedine Zidane's side failed to reach the quarter-finals last season, losing in a two-legged last-16 tie to Manchester City with a five-month interval between the games due to the suspension of football amid the Covid-19 crisis.

Drawn in Group B with Inter, Borussia Monchengladbach and Shakhtar Donetsk, history is firmly on the side of Madrid progressing to the knockout stages.

Madrid have made it through all 28 of their Champions League group stages and Courtois has every confidence in their ability to go all the way once more.

"I'm sure we can win this Champions League," Courtois said ahead of Wednesday's meeting with Shakhtar. 

"Real Madrid are always favourites in this competition. I'm pretty sure, I'm confident we have enough quality in the team to win this title.

"I mean we're not the number one favourites, there are many teams in the hat but we're definitely a candidate for the title.

"Juve, Bayern, Barca, there are a lot of good clubs, it's the most attractive competition in the world and we're going to do all we can to win the title."

Madrid will be heavy favourites to beat Shakhtar having won each of their meetings with the Ukrainian side in the 2015-16 group stage.

However, Shakhtar are unbeaten in their last three Champions League away games under coach Luis Castro.

Courtois has been in sensational form for Madrid once again, with his shaky start to life at Santiago Bernabeu after joining the club from Chelsea in 2018 now nothing more than a distant memory.

Of the previous 43 shots on target he has faced in La Liga, Courtois has saved 38 and his stats for his season show he has kept out 16 of the 19 efforts on target.

Asked what inspired his return to form, the 28-year-old responded: "I feel very good personally. Nothing has changed, I work like the first day but a change is never easy.

"When you join a new team you need time to adapt."

Edinson Cavani’s contract demands kept the door open for him to join Manchester United, with Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira revealing that he was looking to put a deal in place at one stage.

Experienced frontman Cavani dropped into the free agent pool when severing ties with Paris Saint-Germain.

He departed Parc des Princes in July and was not snapped up by United until the final day of the summer transfer window in October.

Various landing spots had been mooted for him by then, with La Liga giants Atletico Madrid seemingly leading the chase at one stage as interest intensified.

Benfica had also been in the running, with Vieira keen on adding the proven 33-year-old to his books in Portugal.

No agreement was reached there, though, as the personal terms being sought by Cavani scuppered some best-laid plans.

Vieira believes he could have been able to put a deal in place had face-to-face talks been held, but he was unable to arrange such a meeting and United eventually agreed to pay the Uruguayan what he was after.

“Benfica made a proposal, sensible and the one we could make to sign Cavani,” Vieira told Portuguese news outlet RTP.

“Everything led us to believe we’d close the deal, but when things started to take a while I asked them to send a proposal in writing.

"And when I got to see it, it was practically twice what we had said.

“Then I said we were not interested. I confirm that we were interested, but I can guarantee that if I had met with him, he’d have signed.”

Cavani is currently being eased into the fold at Old Trafford, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer opting against handing his new recruit an immediate reunion with PSG in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The Red Devils boss has said of that decision: “He’s naturally fit. He is fit enough but he needs to play football with the rest of the players and be in those kinds of situations.

“Of course, you can’t live on memory, really, because it’s been a while.

“He’s very thorough, professional and he knows what he needs and what he wants. He still hasn’t ticked all the boxes before he’s available to play.”

Orlando Pirates have confirmed the signing of goalkeeper Richard Ofori from Maritzburg United on a three-year deal.

This ends rumours around the player who was linked with the Soweto giants since last season.

"I am very happy to be here. It is a dream for me to be a part of this exciting squad and to work with the technical team," Ofori told the Pirates website.

“I also look forward to meeting my new teammates and being part of this exciting new project.”

MORE TO FOLLOW...

Arsenal cult hero Per Mertesacker admits that he was a “panic buy” when making his way to Emirates Stadium during the summer transfer window of 2011.

The Gunners moved to bring in the towering centre-half from Werder Bremen after seeing serious leaks spring in their back four.

A humiliating 8-2 defeat at old adversaries Manchester United proved to be the final straw for then boss Arsene Wenger.

Mertesacker was considered to boast qualities that the north London outfit were crying out for, with there an alarming lack of leadership down the spine of their side.

A man who would go on to savour World Cup glory with Germany during his time with Arsenal, while also taking the captain’s armband, delivered on expectations across seven years with the Gunners.

Mertesacker, who is now in charge of the club’s academy system, is, however, prepared to concede that he was a “messy” signing that may not have happened in different circumstances.

He told Arsenal’s Lockdown Podcast: “I consider myself to be a panic buy. I've got no problems with that whatsoever because sometimes these times are rushed.

“Football is rushed, especially when the transfer window is about to close. At that time Arsenal had two or three days to make adjustments to the squad. To join an English team, my favourite English team, and to join the Premier League was something I couldn't turn down.

“I was with the German national team during those last three days and I had to ask Joachim Low if I could go to London and have a quick medical. In my medical, I met [Andre] Santos, I became familiar with [Yossi] Benayoun, [Mikel] Arteta and Park [Chu-young] very quickly.

“It had to be messy, it had to be rushed. I didn't care. I was just happy that Arsene Wenger called me and spoke to me in German. I couldn't really believe it.

“It was so unreal those three days, as I said. To turn down an opportunity like Arsenal Football Club? I would always do it again, in the same format, in the same rush, in the same manner.”

Mertesacker took in 221 appearances for Arsenal, becoming a mainstay in their defensive unit, and says he was happy to face the questions that came his way on a regular basis – be that from inside or outside the club.

He added: “There needs to be that mentality in every single training session. I remember Aaron Ramsey was always a sounding board for me because we kept having a go at each other. Whenever we would do something wrong or not do the right thing at a certain time in training, we would feel the accountability.
 
“There were no hiding places really and that's what it's about with winning teams. You have the odd argument and as long as you're authentic and you can back it up with your own behaviour, then there's no problem.
 
“I never had a problem when someone called me out, sometimes it's difficult to do that but once you step out of your bubble and get some perspective, I think that's just healthy. It can be difficult, but the real leaders are the ones who always try to be authentic and honest, no matter what that means at the time.”

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær has reiterated Odion Ighalo’s importance for the Premier League club.

The 31-year-old has been struggling for game time in the 2020-21 campaign despite his eye-catching performances in his debut season with the Red Devils.

The forward scored five goals in 19 appearances across all competitions last season to become the toast of the club fans.

His fine displays earned him a loan extension at the Old Trafford until January 2021 after teaming up with the side from Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua.  

Ighalo has, however, featured in three games in all competitions in the current campaign involving 207 minutes. 

The forward is behind Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood in the pecking order and the Red Devils also recently bolstered their attack with the signing of Edinson Cavani from Paris Saint- Germain.   

Despite the limited game time, the Norwegian tactician has assured the former Nigeria international of his future with the side.

“I think, as a team and club, we always want to get players in,” Solskjær said in a press conference.

“I think Edinson coming in will try and do that to the Premier League, and we’ll give him time to adapt to this team and to get his sharpness and fitness back.

“We’ve had some very good performances from Odion and he is still a very important part of this squad.”

Ighalo will hope to play a part for Manchester United when they take on PSG in Tuesday’s Champions League game.

The forward had previously featured for Watford, Udinese, Lyn and Changchun Yatai before he teamed up with Shanghai Shenhua.

Ighalo had 35 caps and 16 goals for Nigeria before his retirement from international duty after helping the Super Eagles to a third-place finish at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.