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Neymar has declared himself to be “super happy” after testing negative for Covid-19 and returning to training at Paris Saint-Germain.

The Brazil international forward was one of several players at Parc des Princes to contract the disease.

He formed part of a party that took in a post-season trip to Ibiza.

Coronavirus outbreaks were reported on the Balearic Island, with Neymar among those left questioning why such a break was taken in.

PSG found themselves having to make regular announcements of positive tests, with Goal confirming that Angel Di Maria, Leandro Paredes, Mauro Icardi, Keylor Navas and Marquinhos were also laid low.

All of those concerned have had to take in periods of self-isolation.

Neymar has completed his, with the South American sharing the news with his millions of followers on social media.

He posted: “I went back to training, super happy #CORONAOUT”

Neymar is now free to focus on his football once more.

PSG suffered a disappointing end to their campaign in 2019-20, with domestic successes followed by continental heartbreak.

Thomas Tuchel’s side came unstuck in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich, having reached that showpiece event for the first time in the club’s history.

The intention of those in the French capital is to return to that stage as quickly as possible and Neymar will be sticking around to aid that cause in 2020-21.

Despite facing regular rounds of speculation regarding his future, with transfer talk never far away, the 28-year-old told PSG Le Mag on his plans: “I am staying at PSG next season.

“I remain and with the ambition to return to the final of the Champions League, this time to win it. I like this idea of ​​doing everything to leave my name in the history books of my club.”

Neymar is tied to a contract at PSG through to the summer of 2022 and fresh terms have been mooted for the Brazilian superstar, who completed a record-breaking €222 million (£200m/$262m) move to France in 2017.

He appears more open to signing a new deal than he has been in the past, with the appeal of heading back to La Liga at either Barcelona or Real Madrid starting to fade.

Arsenal should have cashed in on Mesut Ozil in the current transfer window as he “isn’t the future”, claims Kevin Campbell, with Matteo Guendouzi and Hector Bellerin also considered to be disposable.

The Gunners are in the process of tinkering with their recruitment plans for the current window, with funds needing to be freed up from somewhere.

Mikel Arteta has been able to bolster his ranks, with Willian and Gabriel Magalhaes brought on board, but funds are in short supply.

That means sales may have to be sanctioned, with there several options that the north London outfit could consider.

Campbell feels Ozil should have been among the first that Arsenal edged towards the exits, with the World Cup winner no longer a key man and little more than an expensive luxury given his lucrative contract and recent lack of game time.

“Mesut Ozil has been a good player for Arsenal over the years but I would have liked him to leave this summer,” former Gunners striker Campbell told Gentingbet.

“I have nothing against him, he is a top player but he isn’t the future of Arsenal.

“Him leaving would free up massive funds which will be like a new kitty for Mikel Arteta to use. He is paid a hefty sum of money which he deserves as it is part of his contract but the opportunity to get that money off your wage bill is very attractive.

“With the money, Arsenal will be able to attract other players. So, no disrespect to Ozil as a player, I just feel Arsenal need to be looking to the future, which Ozil isn’t with only 12 months left on his contract.”

Ozil was frozen out by Arteta towards the end of the 2019-20 campaign along with French midfielder Guendouzi, with the 21-year-old seeing serious questions asked of his attitude.

“The time might be right for Arsenal to cash in on Matteo Guendouzi,” said Campbell.

“I know there was a fall-out between Guendouzi and Arteta, and Guendouzi was reprimanded, and rightly so. As a young manager you need to do as your manager says. Having an opinion is good but you still have to toe the line like everyone else.

“Truth is, though, I don’t see where Guendouzi comes in to the side. You’ve got [Granit] Xhaka, who has been in excellent form, [Dani] Ceballos has come back and Arsenal are looking at recruiting [Thomas] Partey and [Houssem] Aouar. He wouldn’t play amongst those.”

Campbell also feels that Spanish full-back Bellerin should be offloaded if the right offer presents itself, with a former member of the famed La Masia academy in Barcelona seeing a return to his roots mooted.

“Arsenal will need to box clever in the transfer market and could sell Bellerin to free up funds,” added Campbell.

“Arsenal now have Cedric, a Portuguese international who knows the Premier League well and is a very good full-back. They’ve also got [Ainsley] Maitland-Niles who is also very good on both flanks.

“So, Bellerin is the type of player that it wouldn't be the end of the world to cash in on because I don’t think it necessarily weakens Arsenal. But the money has to be right.”

Uganda defender Bevis Mugabi has revealed defeating the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-0 in their 2019 Africa Cup of Nation Group A was his standout game.

The East Africa team was pooled alongside hosts Egypt, DR Congo, and Zimbabwe and they came into the match as underdogs. Goals by Patrick Kaddu and Emmanuel Okwi were enough to help Sebastien Desabre's team get maximum points.

The experienced defender has revealed playing in the tournament is so far the best moment with the team.

"The highlight for me with Uganda was definitely playing in the African Cup of Nations," Mugabi, who plays for Motherwell FC told Motherwell Times.

"The game that stands out was the first game of the tournament when we beat Congo 2-0. People were shocked by the way that we played and how we dominated the game. 

"Congo had players from big leagues in and around Europe and they couldn’t get close to us."

The Cranes went on to finish behind Egypt in the group and qualified for the knockout phase for the first time in their history. The Pharaohs had maximum points while Uganda managed to get four points.

"We were putting our name out there as one of the threats within the tournament. We caught a lot of teams by surprise," the 25-year-old Mugabi continued.

"Getting as far as we did and obviously getting out of the group stages, which we’d never done before. It was nice to be a part of history, getting to the last 16 [where we lost 1-0 to eventual tournament runners-up Senegal].  

"That’s definitely my biggest achievement so far with the Uganda national team for sure."

The defender has now set his sight on the next stage for the national team.

"My next ambition with Uganda is to qualify for the World Cup. Haven’t we all watched the World Cup since we were kids?" he quipped.

"I have a kind of crazy [memories]. The most vivid memory was when [Zinedine] Zidane headbutted Marco Materazzi [in the 2006 World Cup final between France and Italy].  

"It was such a great tournament and something like that can happen to any of us."   
 

Arsenal should be willing to let Alexandre Lacazette leave if it means Thomas Partey can be acquired from Atletico Madrid, says Kevin Campbell.

The Gunners have been monitoring Ghana international midfielder Partey for some time.

Partey has become a top target for Mikel Arteta, but transfer funds remain in short supply at Emirates Stadium.

A cash-plus-player offer could sweeten the deal for Atletico, with the Liga giants in the market for a new frontman.

Campbell believes Arsenal should be doing all they can to get an agreement over the line, telling Gentingbet: “Thomas Partey is the most important signing for Arsenal.

“A player like Thomas Partey stops things getting to the back four – he is that screen that sits there, like [Patrick] Vieira and Gilberto were – someone who protects the back four so they don’t even need to break a sweat.

“They haven’t had that kind of player since Gilberto, who was such an unsung hero. That type of player, Arsenal have missed.

“I believe that getting Thomas Partey is the priority and I think that they will get the business done in the end but I'm sure they have to get a couple of bodies out of the club before they bring him in.”

Campbell believes Lacazette could be the man to make way, with Atletico said to be keen on the France international striker.

The former Gunners frontman added on a player that he would like to see stick around, but one that could be deemed disposable: “I don't like to admit this, but if it is the only way to bring in Thomas Partey, I can see Arsenal parting with Lacazette.

“I don't want him to leave because I think he gives Arsenal something totally different. He’s very good at holding up the ball which gives [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang time to get his runs going inside and score more goals.

“Don’t forget, Aubameyang scored 20 goals with Lacazette in the side. I don’t think Aubameyang is that good with his back to goal, he's a lot better runner running towards the goal so it might lessen the threat of the team. So, ideally, I’d like to keep Lacazette and get Partey as well.”

Lionel Messi will depart Barcelona enshrined as one of the club's all-time greats, says presidential hopeful Lluis Fernandez, with the Argentine worthy of a statue outside Camp Nou alongside that of Johan Cruyff.

The 33-year-old has spent his entire senior career with the Blaugrana, where he has established himself as one of the greatest footballers in the history of the sport across a trophy-laden decade-and-a-half.

During his time at the Catalan outfit, he has won the Ballon d'Or a record six times, and helped the club to almost three-dozen major honours, including 10 titles in La Liga and a further four Champions League crowns.

Yet in the wake of a turbulent campaign that saw the club come up empty-handed, and amid growing discontent in the dressing room and with the presidency of incumbent supremo Josep Maria Bartomeu, the forward tried to secure an exit from the team he has called home since 2001 as a junior.

That attempt ultimately spilled out into a bitter public dispute that has eventually resulted in the player being forced to remain in order to see out the final year of his contract.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Goal, though, Fernandez - who hopes to be on the ballot next March to take command of the club - professed his hopes that with new leadership in charge, Messi may be yet persuaded to remain at Barca, adding that regardless of his decision, the player deserves to be accorded the highest honour.

"We spoke to his circle and we asked him to rethink the situation as he did," the businessman stated on the Argentine's choice. "It is good he stays.

"Messi is like [Roger] Federer and we think he can play many more years. In April there will be a new president able to show him a new project and if he considers his story here is ended, he must leave with a statue in front of [Laszlo] Kubala's and [Johan] Cruyff's."

Asked how he would have handled Messi's request to leave had he been in charge, Fernandez added: "I would have talked to him.

"Maybe Messi was wrong with the burofax but he must remember [that] Barcelona is not Bartomeu. He showed a big respect to all when he talked, I think it is important to speak face to face and it didn't happen."

Barcelona presidential hopeful Lluis Fernandez has vowed to make the Blaugrana great once more if elected and voiced his desire to appoint 'the new Guardiola' as the club's next coach.

Sitting president Bartomeu, who stepped up to the position in 2014 following the resignation of Sandro Rosell and was re-elected the following year, has proven a divisive figure during his time in charge at Camp Nou.

Despite having presided over a multitude of triumphs - including four titles in La Liga and a Champions League crown - the 57-year-old has seen his standing gradually chipped away in the eyes of supporters.

A barren campaign that saw the club fail to lift any silverware last season, coupled with a bitter public fallout with Lionel Messi over his future at the club, has now sparked a potential motion of censure from members to oust him from his position ahead of next year's election.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Goal, Fernandez - who hopes to be on the ballot next March to take command of the club - has now blasted the incumbent president for his approach to the club, while outlining his own ambitious proposals if he is elected in the new year.

"He [Bartomeu] never had a plan," the businessman stated. "He is acting based on improvisation and you can't do that at Barcelona.

"We need a renovation and I am not only thinking of Bartomeu. Barcelona can't be in the establishment's hands. We have clear ideas to make Barcelona great again."

Fernandez revealed that if elected, he would consider reserves coach Garcia Pimienta as a credible candidate to take charge of the first team, pointing to the success of Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick, who stepped up to the senior side last year to great success.

Ronald Koeman was appointed as boss on a two-year contract last month, with the former Netherlands coach returning to the club where he made his name as a player.

"For the bench, we think of Garcia Pimienta," Fernandez added. "We have Bayern as an example. Nobody knew about Flick and he is a great coach. We think Pimienta can become the new Guardiola."

Fernandez also played down forming an alliance with any other prospective candidate, adding: "It is not our intention.

"We want to be the surprise in the new election. We will hear [from] everyone but [I] don't think about a union with other candidates." 

Former Gor Mahia head coach Jose Marcelo Ferreira (Ze Maria) could be on his way back to the Kenyan Premier League (KPL), according to the latest reports.

The Brazilian succeeded Frank Nuttall, who had led K’Ogalo to the 2015 KPL title without losing a single match, but resigned in 2017 abruptly before joining KF Tirana.

He exited the club after it had just won the SportPesa Super Cup and were on top of the KPL table with 27 points.

Ze Maria’s rumours of return come amid reports Gor Mahia are in the market for a new coach to replace the current tactician, Steven Polack.

In a recent interview, Ze Maria stated coaching Gor Mahia – who will fly the Kenyan flag in the Caf Champions League again – was like leading Brazilian sides Flamengo or Corinthians.

“It was the biggest club in Kenya, so every game was like managing Flamengo or Corinthians in Brazil. The stadium was packed,” Ze Maria said then.

“There were difficulties. Sometimes you go to a stadium where the players don’t all fit in the changing room, so you have to change on the bus.

“But the passion is absurd. African players are technically similar to Brazilians, but they lack opportunities to move to bigger leagues.

“Because of the pitches, when you dribble, the ball would bounce a metre up in the air, but the quality with which they controlled and conducted it, not even a Brazilian would do that.”

When Ze Maria resigned as Gor Mahia coach, he later signed Kenneth Muguna and Musa Mohamed for the Albanian side but the two returned after short stints in Europe.

Should the former Inter Milan star join any of the KPL sides, he will be tasked with ending Gor Mahia’s dominance in the last three seasons.

Ze Maria’s former side has won the previous three titles but has failed to progress further on the continental front, where they were last eliminated by Daring Club Motema Pembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Meanwhile, credible reports have indicated Gor Mahia striker Dennis Oalo has joined Posta Rangers.

Oalo joined K’Ogalo last year from the National Super League (NSL) side Nairobi Stima and has also previously featured for KPL outfit Kisumu All-Stars.

Thomas Muller has been described as the "most extraordinary player in German football history" by his former manager at Bayern Munich, Jupp Heynckes.

Attacking midfielder Muller, 30, has spent his entire career at Bayern and has won almost every major trophy available to him with the German giants, as well as helping his national team to glory.

Muller was top scorer at the 2010 World Cup, where a young Germany side finished third, before playing a key role as Joachim Low's men won the 2014 tournament, thrashing hosts Brazil 7-1 in the semi-final before edging out Argentina.

At club level, Muller has won the Champions League twice with Bayern - in 2013, and this summer thanks to a 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the final - and the Bundesliga crown on a remarkable nine occasions, including every season since 2013.

Bayern have also won the DFB-Pokal six times with Muller, along with the UEFA Super Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup and five German Super Cups.

This incredible trophy haul for Germany or Bayern would not have been possible without Muller according to Heynckes, who was his coach when Bayern won the treble in 2013.

Heynckes told DFL Magazine that Muller "has long since shown what has always distinguished him: to be helpful to the team, hard-working and extremely strong," and described him as the "most extraordinary player in German football history."

The 75-year-old, now retired from management, also sang the praises of Muller's team-mates, including the versatile Joshua Kimmich, who starred as Bayern romped to the treble following lockdown.

Kimmich was coming through the Bayern youth system when Heynckes was in charge, and he praised the right-back-cum-midfielder for his attitude and his development, both as a player and a man.

Heynckes said: "He is the epitome of a professional footballer who also stands for what FC Bayern is all about. He lives for football, football is his hobby, his job, his elixir of life. At the same time, he has developed as a person."

The veteran coach, who managed Bayern in four spells and coached Real Madrid in a stellar career, also had plenty of praise for the current incumbent, Hansi Flick.

He said Flick has succeeded with "team and people management, empathy, credibility and communication.

"He doesn't take himself too seriously, even though he's the main sporting person. He's not the boss because of his position, but because of his personality."

Adam Lallana admits that his departure from Liverpool left him in floods of tears, with an emotional farewell at Anfield even breaking “tough Yorkshireman” James Milner.

The England international midfielder bid farewell to the Reds at the end of the 2019-20 campaign.

He had spent six years on Merseyside, taking in 178 appearances while becoming a Champions League and Premier League title winner.

Lallana walked away as a free agent, allowing him to link up with Brighton, but he left behind many happy memories.

He broke down during an exit talk with Liverpool’s official TV station, as the realisation that a major career change was being made sunk in, and has now told the Daily Mail: “I was kind of avoiding doing that interview as I just knew my emotion was building.

“I am an emotional person and I knew this was the end of a chapter for myself, my wife and the kids. The interview was just raw emotion. In life sometimes things are just sad, aren't they? As a family we were saying goodbye to friends and leaving schools and stuff. 

“So I got upset in that interview and then on the Friday at training I said goodbye and the manager gathered everyone round. The lads had done me a framed shirt and a nice quote from Hendo [Jordan Henderson]. I was crying so much that I was just laughing in the end. 

“Then we started the warm-up and Milly [James Milner] said me crying had almost set him off. From a tough Yorkshireman, that's quite something. So it was the perfect send-off really.”

Lallana is preparing to open a new chapter at Brighton, with the former Southampton star back on the south coast, and he is ready to move on from his memorable spell at Liverpool.

The 32-year-old added: “The very next day I was meeting Graham Potter because Brighton were playing up at Burnley.

“Sunday I packed up, Monday was medical and that sadness just went. It just disappeared. Mentally, I was done with Liverpool. Not in a bad way. But the sadness was out, the emotion was out. 

“I have loved Liverpool. It was the best goodbye ever, winning the Premier League. But I don't care now. I am ready for Brighton. In a day it just turned. Suddenly I was down in Brighton having my medical with my dad and my mate, giving them a tour of the training ground, the boot room, seeing where my peg was going to be. It was great. We are all Brighton fans now — buying the kids the kits. 

“So it was amazing that transition happened so quickly. I think because I had let my emotions out in that way it enabled me to get it done with. It always helps to have a good cry, doesn't it?”

Brighton are due to start their 2020-21 Premier League campaign with a home date against Chelsea on Monday.

Kenya and Kashiwa Reysol forward Michael Olunga has been named J1 League Most Valuable Player of the Month for August.

Olunga has had a stellar performance in Japan’s top league and is the current leading scorer in the Golden Boot race having netted 15 goals from 14 matches.

The former Thika United and Tusker striker opened the month of August with a goal against Nagoya Grampus as Kashiwa Reysol won 1-0. On August 5, the striker did not feature even though Kashiwa Reysol emerged victorious against Shonan Bellmare with a slim 1-0 win.

After missing the Shonan Bellmare win, Olunga returned to the fold on August 8 and scored a 62-minute goal which ensured Kashiwa Reysol and Yokohama F. Marinos drew 1-1.

The Kenya international was on target once again in mid-August when he scored an 88th-minute goal even though Kashiwa Reysol fell at home to Cerezo Osaka with a 3-1 scoreline.

The former Gor Mahia forward was at it again as he found the back of the net against Andres Iniesta's Vissel Kobe on August 19. His 76th-minute goal was one of the three that Kashiwa Reysol scored away from home to emerge with a 3-2 win.

On August 23, Olunga did not manage to get his name on the scoresheet as Kashiwa Reysol registered a goalless draw against Oita Trinita.

After failing to find his way past Oita Trinita, the Kenyan recorded a brace in the next match day - on August 29 - against Kashima Antlers. His goals were not enough though to help Kashiwa Reysol avoid a 3-2 home defeat by their J1 League rivals.

After 15 matches and with Olunga's immense contributions, Kashiwa Reysol are fifth on the log with 26 points and a goal difference of plus nine.

His exploits in his maiden top-flight campaign led to praises from the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa. Mwendwa believes Olunga’s form will be key in Kenya’s African Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers.

“We must hold such friendlies because we need to gauge how fit our players are. But I am happy [Michael] Olunga is scoring goals in Japan and I think, he is one of the best in the world now,”  Mwendwa said in a recent interview.

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane admits he could be without a few of his most-trusted players for Saturday's Nedbank Cup final against Bloemfontein Celtic. 

Gaston Sirino, Mosa Lebusa, Denis Onyango, Ricardo Nascimento and Andile Jali are struggling with injuries and Mosimane said he will be advised by the medical team if he can use any of them. 

"We have a few niggling injures, which is normal. When you come from a battle, you come out with wounded soldiers and deep scars," Mosimane told the media.

"So we rested a few guys that are not yet back from injury. Sirino has a niggling injury, we don't know if he'll make it.

"Denis is training well, so hopefully he's okay. Mosa has not started training, probably [soon] you never know. It's just minor knocks when you come from a game, but nothing big.

"Ricardo has a wrist that's also giving him problems, that's why he's been playing with a wrist band. But I don't know, we should be okay by Saturday."

Mosimane is also sweating over the fitness of Jali, whom he said has been struggling with a hamstring injury. 

And while he has been training, the Kagiso-born mentor is aware that the intensity of the game could be too much for Jali. 

"AJ [Jali]], yes, he's been suffering from that hamstring but he has been training but the game and training session intensity isn't the same, but he's getting better, we'll hear from the doctors," added Mosimane. 

According to Mosimane, Hlompho Kekana was given some time off because of the shift he put in since the restart of the season. 

"Hlompho... we rested him because the guy has played all the minutes in the bubble," concluded Mosimane. 

The Brazilians are in with a chance to win the domestic treble having already bagged the Telkom Knockout Cup and the league titles already.

Should they beat Celtic to the Nedbank Cup title, Mosimane will re-write history by becoming the first South African coach to win three domestic trophies in one season in the PSL era. 

Ruud Krol and Muhsin Ertugral are the only coaches to achieve that feat as PSL coaches.

Krol won the treble with Orlando Pirates in the 2010/11 season while Ertugral made history with Kaizer Chiefs in the early 2000s, including lifting the Mandela Cup Winners' Cup.

Olivier Giroud has not received a contract offer from Juventus, and Chelsea have yet to be contacted by the Serie A giants over a transfer for the veteran striker.

Reports in Italy claimed that the 33-year-old had agreed on a two-year contract in Turin ahead of a €4.5 million (£4m/$5m) move, but it is understood that those assertions are wide of the mark.

Even despite increased competition from new signing Timo Werner, the World Cup-winning striker has continued to show his commitment to Frank Lampard's side.

"I haven't spoken to Lampard. One thing is certain: the competition [in the squad] will pull us all to the top. A great club should have different options in each position," he said in an interview with Telefoot .

"We want to be in the race for the title and I'm here. I finished the season well and I proved to the manager that he can count on me.

"Werner does not have the same profile as me, so I hope to get some playing time."

Giroud did previously, however, come close to leaving Chelsea in January when Lampard agreed to let the striker go should they find a replacement, with Inter having offered him favourable contract terms.

In the end, Giroud remained at Chelsea and changed his stance after regaining his place after the club failed to find a suitable replacement.

Furthermore, Giroud's family are understood to be settled in London, providing further reason to stay after the Blues activated a clause in his contract to extend it until June 2021.

N'Golo Kante is similarly attracting interest from Italy, with Antonio Conte's Inter having explored the possibility of signing the midfielder in this transfer window.

Chelsea haven't pushed the 29-year-old to look for a move despite their interest in West Ham's Declan Rice but Inter have looked to see if a swap deal was viable, having offered to include Marcelo Brozovic and Christian Eriksen in part-exchange.

Lampard's side turned down the approach which has since led Inter to look at other options, with Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal soon set to arrive in Milan.

Kante prefers to stay at Chelsea unless told otherwise, having grown settled both in the Premier League and in London.

Chelsea are now focused on their main transfer target, with Rennes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy in talks over a move to compete with Kepa Arrizabalaga for the number one spot in net.

With Mendy possibly coming in, the other focus is on player sales, although Lampard has refuted claims that Fikayo Tomori is nearing a loan to Everton.

"With Fikayo, no, I'm not aware of those conversations getting to any point where I'm going to be talking about that," Lampard said on Thursday ahead of Chelsea's first Premier League match of the new season at Brighton on Monday.

"Fikayo trained with us today and is in contention for the Brighton game, and that's where we're at."

Inter are also interested in Emerson Palmieri but have yet to present an official offer to the Blues, while AC Milan have remained in protracted talks to loan Tiemoue Bakayoko.

Michy Batshuayi was the latest player to go out on a season-long loan this week after re-signing for Crystal Palace.

Nagede Cisse scored and Henriette Akaba made a goalscoring debut for Minsk as they thrashed Bostor 10-0 in a Belarusian Women's Premier League encounter on Thursday.

The Africans made a return to the pitch after more than a week-long holiday since their disappointing 5-4 defeat on penalties to Dinamo-BSUPC in the Belarusian Women's Cup final on August 31.

The Cup final was Akaba's competitive debut for Minsk, coming on as a 57th-minute substitute to replace Anastasia Skorynina since her signing from Turkish side Atasehir Belediyespor in August.

Smarting from the botched attempt to retain the title, the Africans put up a fine display to help Vyachaslaw Hryhara's team banish the disappointing memories of their defeat to city rivals Dinamo. 

At Bostor, Anna Sas opened the scoring for Minsk after 12 minutes of the encounter before Ivorian Cisse bagged her second goal of the season four minutes later against their bottom-ranked hosts.

The rampant visitors continued their series of the onslaughts as Valeryia Belaya increased the tally in the 18th minute and Tamila Khimich added a fourth of the match 11 minutes later.

Anastasiya Kharlanova netted the fifth in the 33rd minute and Anastasiia Skorynina scored the sixth seven minutes from half-time.

After the restart, Akaba scored the seventh to break her duck in her first league appearance for Minsk in the 51st minute and Skorynina grabbed her second and the visitors' eighth on the hour mark.

In the 71st minute, Sas also hit her brace before substitute Viktoriya Tikhon wrapped up the big win 15 minutes from full-time.

Debutant Akaba, who has now scored one goal after her maiden appearance, was in action for the duration along with Cote d'Ivoire's Cisse, who scored her second goal of the season for Minsk.

Besides Akaba and Cisse, Cameroon's Alvine Niyolle was involved in the final 39 minutes for Minsk after replacing Anastasiya Kharlanova.

Despite the win, Minsk are still second on the log with 39 points from 16 matches - nine points adrift of leaders Dinamo-BSUPC.

They will hope to maintain their winning momentum against third-placed Zorka-BDU in their next league encounter on September 26.

John Stones has been told there is “no point” in him sticking around at Manchester City, with Micah Richards urging the England international defender to consider moves to Arsenal or Everton.

The 26-year-old centre-half has seen a switch away from the Etihad Stadium mooted and that is because he finds himself slipping down the pecking order under Pep Guardiola.

Stones found a regular role hard to come by in 2019-20, with Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho and 19-year-old Eric Garcia being selected ahead of him in defensive berths.

City have gone on to invest £40 million ($51m) in Nathan Ake during the current transfer window, with there the promise of more additions to come – amid links to the likes of Napoli star Kalidou Koulibaly.

With that in mind, and with the likes of Arsenal and Everton reportedly being open to doing a deal, Richards feels the time has come for Stones to sever ties with City.

The former Blues defender told The Mirror: “When a manager loses faith in you it’s very hard to get that back.

“I remember pulling my hamstring against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

“I could just see in Manuel Pellegrini’s face that he’d lost faith in me in terms of ‘I can’t count on you to perform as I want you to perform without getting injured anymore’.

“And for me, when Stones is fit and he’s playing Eric Garcia, a 19-year-old boy ahead of you in one of the biggest games of the season, it looks like the writing is on the wall.

“It’s very, very hard to come back from that. When Pep’s made his mind up with Yaya Toure or Joe Hart or Leroy Sane, it doesn’t look like there’s any coming back from that.

“There’s no point in staying at City at the bench - that’s not going to do anything for him.

“I don’t think Everton is a bad move. People will say that’s going backwards but he’s loved by the fans, he’s got a great manager in Carlo Ancelotti to work under.

“Arsenal, he’s worked with Mikel Arteta at City and he likes ball players.

“John Stones will have options no matter what because of his quality and age but if 19 year olds are playing ahead of you, you have to be looking at leaving.”

The Caf Champions League and Confederation Cup are set to recommence in October after an agreement was reached by the Executive Committee of the continental governing body on Thursday.

Both tournaments were suspended in May because of the coronavirus pandemic and there had not been clarity on when it was ok to resume the competition.

The first legs of the Champions League semi-finals were initially set to be played on September 25 and 26, while the return legs were scheduled for October 2 and 3. The two single-leg semi-finals of the Confederation Cup were billed for September 22 and the final on September 27.

Thursday’s ruling has now given room for both tournaments to recommence on new dates. The Champions League semi-final first leg is now slated for October 17 and 18 while the second leg is on October 23 and 24 with the final on November 6.

The Confederation Cup semis are set for October 19 and 20 with the final on October 25.

It’s entirely a North African affair in the Champions League with Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca taking on Egyptian giants Al-Ahly while another Egyptian giant in Zamalek tackle another Moroccan team in Raja Casablanca.

Ahly edged past South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the quarters while Raja triumphed over DR Congo heavyweights TP Mazembe 2-1 on aggregate. Zamalek got the better of Esperance 3-1 on aggregate and Wydad beat Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia 2-1 on aggregate.

In the Confederation Cup, Pyramids FC of Egypt – who dispatched Zambian side Zanaco in the last eight, take on Horoya of Guinea, who ended the run of Nigerian giants Enyimba in the previous round. The other semi is an all Moroccan affair between RS Berkane and Hassania Agadir.

Other decisions reached at the Executive Committee meeting on Thursday was to shift the African Nations Championship, originally billed for April 2020 in Cameroon, to now take place from January 16, 2021, to February 7, 2021, in the same country.

The 2022 tournament billed for Algeria has been rescheduled for January 2023.

The president of the Argentine Football Association Claudio Tapia has confirmed Lionel Messi won't miss any games for his country as the result of a red card handed out in 2019. 

Messi was controversially sent off in a Copa America third-place playoff against Chile in July last year and subsequently handed a one-game ban. 

The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) initially stated Messi would have to sit out a competitive match, with the Argentina captain allowed to play in friendlies against Brazil and Uruguay late last year. 

Ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Bolivia next month, however, Tapia successfully challenged the outstanding ban with CONMEBOL, claiming that the statute of limitations on the ban had expired. 

Messi had been shown a red card following a clash with Gary Medel in the 37th minute, with the Chilean also sent off for the incident. Argentina would go on to win the game 2-1 thanks to goals from Sergio Aguero and Paulo Dybala. 

The decision to send off Messi left the Barcelona star fuming post-match as he claimed the competition had been rigged for Brazil. 

"There is no doubt, the whole thing is set up for Brazil," he said. "I hope the VAR and referees don't play any part in the final and that Peru can compete but it looks tough to me.

"I did not want to be part of this corruption, we shouldn't have to be part of this disrespect we suffered during the Copa America.

"We could have gone further but we weren't allowed into the final. Corruption, referees and all the rest stopped people from enjoying the football.

"I always tell the truth and I'm honest, that is what keeps me calm, if what I say has repercussions that is not my business. 

"I think that what happened is because of what I said [against Brazil]. What I said last time perhaps came back to haunt me." 

It's been a busy few weeks for Messi at club level, with the 33-year-old initially pushing for an exit from Camp Nou, before confirming to Goal his decision to remain after the club blocked an amicable split. 

Malaysian fans mostly know of Selangor forward Ifedayo Olusegun as the main goal-getter for the Red Giants, whose 12 Malaysia Super League goals in 2019 helped them to a third place finish.

But the recent Covid-19 pandemic has allowed him to develop another side of him that is not known to many; the man with literary dreams.

When he returned to Malaysia from his home country Nigeria last month for the resumption of the Malaysian league, he, like many travellers from outside the country, was first required to undergo a 14-day quarantine before he could rejoin the team.

Describing the two-week confinement in a Kuala Lumpur hotel room as something he had never experienced before, he nevertheless was able to keep fit thanks to the efforts of his club in providing him with basic training equipment.

But there is only so much physical training an athlete can do in a day, and he told Goal in a telephone interview that that was when he reacquainted himself with his passion for poetry writing, as a way to pass the time during quarantine.

"Before this, before football, I used to think can do things like write novels and poems, paint. I used to write stories and song lyrics too.

"I wanted to document my experience being under quarantine, let the words out. I decided to put it into words; what I saw outside the window, how I felt, how the food was. I wrote so many poems during the quarantine; about one or two every day I was there.

"After I got out of quarantine, when I went to Sabah (Selangor's league match away to Sabah last weekend), I wrote a poem about my time there. It was on what I've seen in Malaysia. 

"I shared one of my poems to see what people think about it, and many replied that it's not bad, and they've since been pushing me to write more," explained the Nigerian.

One of the poems shared publicly by Ifedayo during quarantine

The 29-year old forward now harbours plans to publish his first poetry book soon.

"So far, I've keeping most of my poetry to myself," he noted. "But I am planning to publish a poetry book. It will be my first book, and I'm speaking to some people about it.

"Playing football is time consuming, it doesn't leave you with a lot of time to do anything else! Writing is something that requires a lot of time, and you have to do it when you're calm. It's not something you can do while tired; I have training in the morning, rest, then another session in the evening. 

"This country is where I'm most known, so I want the book to be published here. I want the readers to connect with what I've been doing and seeing, and for the book to make them think. It will be in English, but I know Malaysians are generally fluent in the language. 

"My writing is just about me. I don't know how good it will be, but it's what I have to say; about the quarantine, I wrote a song about the lockdown, another song on my way back to Malaysia. There will also be parts of it about Nigeria, and my time in Bahrain."

But when asked whether he is considering a career in literature when he retires, the man who calls literature Nobel Prize-winning Nigerian writer Wole Soyinka as his favourite author is doubtful.

"I haven't really thought about it. Maybe if it's worth it. I'll try to get the book published sometime next year, so while I'm still playing, I can gauge what the readers think about my poetry. 

"It's not really something you can turn into a career. I already have plans for life after football, but who knows?" answered Ifedayo coyly.

For now, the Nigerian's attention remains on football, as he hopes to add to his five-goal tally, all the while helping Selangor, currently in fifth place, to move up the standings. 

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is all set to conduct the final round of the I-League Second Division 2019-20 season around October 8 and complete it before the Durga Puja festival begins in Kolkata, Goal can confirm.

It will be a five-team affair and the organisers are looking to wrap up the event within 10-11 days of resumption, before the festive dates kick in.

The Durga Puja celebrations in West Bengal will start on October 21 and will end on October 26. 

Initially, the Indian FA had plans of conducting the league by the third week of September but has now decided to defer it by a month, given the government regulations allow training to start from September 21.

AIFF's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Leagues Sunando Dhar did a recce of the available stadiums in the state. He has already checked the facilities at the Kalyani Stadium and Howrah Stadium.

The AIFF, this season, has decided to host the I-League and the Second Division in West Bengal as the centralised venue due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The Second Division League had come to a halt after the nationwide lockdown was imposed in March due to the pandemic. The group stages of the Second Division League were stopped before completion and the top six teams were selected for the final round from the group tables. Unfortunately, FC Kerala had decided to withdraw from the competition.

This season, two clubs from Kolkata, Mohammedan Sporting and Bhowanipore FC will take part in the final round of the league. Other than these two outfits, the other three participants are ARA FC (Gujarat), Garhwal FC (Delhi) and FC Bengaluru United (Karnataka).

The Indian Football Association (IFA), the governing body of football in West Bengal, had already prepared five to six venues for the two leagues. The stadiums which are likely to be used by the AIFF are the Kalyani Stadium, Howrah Stadium, Rabindra Sarobar Stadium and the Barasat Stadium.

The refurbishment process of the Kishore Bharati Stadium in Kolkata is also in progress and if it is completed in time, then it could also be considered as a possible venue. The iconic Salt Lake Stadium, though, will not be used as it is one of the six venues for the U17 Women’s World Cup.

Seven months ago, a teary-eyed TP Rehenesh apologetically stood in front of the Kerala Blasters supporters who were present at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium after a heavy 6-3 defeat at the hands of Chennaiyin in Kochi. 

The then Blasters head coach Eelco Schattorie had announced the Keralite as his first-choice goalkeeper even before Bilal Khan looked error-prone in goal at the start of the season. But Rehenesh also struggled as a Kerala Blasters player. He had a highly forgettable outing that day and the trend continued throughout a disappointing, injury-hit campaign. 

Rehenesh, who has played for ONGC and Shillong Lajong in the early stages of his career, spent the first five seasons of the Indian Super League at NorthEast United. In six seasons of ISL, he has managed to notch up 62 appearances, a save percentage of 65.49 per cent and 15 clean sheets. 

Other top-rated Indian goalkeepers, such as Gurpreet Singh and Amrinder Singh have recorded much better numbers during their time in the ISL but it could be argued that TP Rehenesh has rarely guarded his goal behind strong defences. 

This must be one of the reasons why Jamshedpur came in with an offer to sign the 27-year-old custodian. After the departure of Subrata Paul, the Men of Steel have acquired Pawan Kumar and Rehenesh to boost their chances in between the sticks. 

And it is no way a low risk move. From the club's point of view, replacing somebody like Paul was always going to be challenging, given the dearth in top goalkeepers in India. And Rehenesh's confidence will not be high after his last stint, so there is some amount of risk involved. 

As for the player, it is a fresh start that he deserves. At Jamshedpur, he will be playing for the tactically astute Owen Coyle who led Chennaiyin to the final last season. Coyle helped several players at his former club to improve their displays after a poor start to the season under John Gregory. He came in and gave players the confidence and motivation they needed during what was a difficult period for the Marina Machans. 

Rehenesh will also want to work on not making unforced errors. He has done it often in the last few years and the 3-6 loss to Chennaiyin in February 2020 was the latest of his nervous displays. And it has exposed what appears to be a weakness in his game. But it's something that can be worked on and definitely something that will be on the back on the goalkeeper's mind as he trains for the 2020-21 season. 

Everybody deserves a fresh start and a new challenge when things don't go their way but in the cruel business that football can be, not everyone gets it. Rehenesh has, and he should make the most of it.