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Manchester City's plan to build a statue for departing David Silva outside the Etihad Stadium has raised questions over why Yaya Toure did not get one after his exit.

Silva will be ending his 10-year stay in Manchester this summer and the club also disclosed that a training pitch with bespoke mosaic will be dedicated to the 34-year-old at the City Football Academy.

During his stint with the Citizens, the Spain international won four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and five League Cups while Toure, who left in 2018, won three Premier League trophies, one FA Cup and two League Cups.

Following City's announcement on Monday, some fans believe the Ivory Coast midfielder deserves a similar treatment as a reward for his sacrifices for the Etihad Stadium outfit.

Meanwhile, Silva and Vincent Kompany's statues will be unveiled in 2021.

Lautaro Martinez and Romelu Lukaku have equalled an Inter Milan record held by Obafemi Martins and Adriano, after they both found the net twice in Monday’s 5-0 Europa League semi-final win over Shakhtar Donetsk.

The 22-year-old Argentine put Antonio Conte’s men ahead in the 19th minute after heading past goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov from a cross from Nicolo Barella.

The goal ensured that Martinez and his Belgium international strike partner Lukaku have now scored at least 20 goals each for the Black and Blues, and are the first persons since the 2004-05 season to manage the feat.

Obafemi Martins and Adriano are the last Inter players to achieve the feat as Roberto Mancini's men won the Coppa Italia, finished third in Serie A and were quarter-finalists in the Champions League.

Brazil’s Adriano scored 28 times across all competitions while his Nigerian teammate accounted for 22 goals.

On Monday, Danilo D'Ambrosio got Inter's second goal of the night in the 64th minute after profiting from an assist from Marcelo Brozovic.

Martinez completed his brace in the 74th minute after firing home from outside the box, as Taras Stepanenko lost out in midfield to Marcelo Brozovic, before Lukaku scored the fourth and fifth goals for Conte’s men.

The Belgium international has been directly involved in 17 goals in his last 10 Europa League matches (14 goals & 3 assists) and also scored in a record 10 successive games in the competition. 

With this, the Italians are through to the final of the championship and they will face Sevilla on Friday, August 21 inside Cologne's RheinEnergieStadion.

Real Sociedad have confirmed the shock signing of former Manchester City midfielder David Silva on a free transfer.

The 34-year-old has signed a two-year deal through to the summer of 2022.

Such was the surprise at the move, Real Sociedad's website crashed shortly after the transfer was confirmed as fans scrambled to find out details of the deal.

Serie A side Lazio were believed to be frontrunners for his signature, but the former Spain international has instead decided to return to La Liga a decade after he left Valencia for Manchester City.

"Real Sociedad has reached an agreement with David Silva for the Canarian footballer to play for the Txuri Urdin team for the next two seasons, until June 30, 2022," read a statement on the club's website.

"The player, who arrives on a free transfer after leaving Manchester City, will in the near future be incorporated into pre-season with the first team."

Silva will wear the number 21 shirt at the Anoeta Stadium, which was worn by Norway international Martin Odegaard during his loan spell from Real Madrid last season.

Widely considered one of their greatest ever players, Silva made 436 appearances for Manchester City over 10 seasons, playing an integral role in transforming the club from Premier League also-rans to a footballing powerhouse.

He won four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five League Cups and three Community Shields during his time in a sky blue.

His final appearance for the club was Saturday's Champions League quarter-final defeat to Lyon in Lisbon.

Earlier on Monday, City announced their intention to honour the midfielder with a statue outside Etihad Stadium. They will also dedicate a training pitch with a bespoke mosaic to Silva at their City Football Academy.

Upon the announcement, City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak described Silva as "a transformational player; a quiet leader who has acted quietly and deliberately and inspired everyone around him, from the youngest academy player to his senior team-mates over the past 10 years."

Silva then posted an emotional tribute to City and their fans on Twitter, saying the club "would always be in his heart".

Inter will face Sevilla in the Europa League final as doubles from Lautaro Martinez and Romelu Lukaku helped dispatch Shakhtar Donetsk 5-0 in Dusseldorf.

Five-time winners Sevilla came from behind to beat Manchester United on Sunday, and Antonio Conte's side joined them in the final with a rampant victory – Martinez and Lukaku the stars.

Martinez's first Europa League goal of the season got Inter off the mark, and he had his second with 16 minutes left after Danilo D'Ambrosio had doubled the Nerazzurri's lead.

Inter were not done there, though, with Martinez brilliantly teeing up Lukaku, who subsequently helped himself to a second with a terrific turn, run and finish late on as the Serie A runners up made it into their first European final since 2010.

Martinez's opener came after 19 minutes – Andriy Pyatov slicing a clearance straight to Nicolo Barella, who delivered a pinpoint cross from which Inter's forward headed home.

It should have been 2-0 before the half-hour, but neither Lukaku or Barella were able to tuck in from point-blank range.

Barella would have made up for the miss soon after, had Pyatov not kept out the midfielder's dipping effort.

Martinez nearly caught Pyatov off his line early in the second half, with the goalkeeper just managing to recover, before Lukaku sent a low effort wide.

Junior Moraes should have done better with a header he directed straight at Samir Handanovic just after the hour and Inter swiftly made their fortune count.

Afforded a free run from Marcelo Brozovic's corner, D'Ambrosio leapt highest to plant a firm header beyond Pyatov, who was beaten again when Martinez slotted in his second 10 minutes later.

Martinez then turned provider to cap off a supreme display – Lukaku coolly curling home from inside the area.

Lukaku had his 16th Europa League goal in 10 appearances soon after, adding further gloss to a win that takes Inter to the verge of winning their first trophy since 2011.

What does it mean? Inter back where they belong

It has been far too long since a club of Inter's stature made a European final – indeed, they won the last one they were involved in a decade ago.

Now, Conte and his side have the chance to put that right, though they have Europa League specialists Sevilla in their path.

Martinez steps out of Lukaku's shadow

It has been a fantastic season for Martinez, but since the resumption of the season it has been his strike partner Lukaku who has taken the limelight.

But, coming into form just in time for the final, Martinez went from supporting act to main man with two fantastic goals and a superb assist for Lukaku, who of course still got himself on the scoresheet.

Pyatov error gifts Inter

Inter had not really managed a meaningful attack prior to Pyatov's mistake, but Barella and Martinez made sure to make Shakhtar's goalkeeper pay as his dreadful pass ultimately cost the Ukrainian side, and it got no better as he went on to pick the ball out of his net on a further four occasions.

Key Opta Facts

Inter's 5-0 win was the biggest margin of victory ever in a single UEFA Cup/Europa League semi-final game.

Inter have won five consecutive matches in major European competition (excluding qualifiers) for the first time since April 2010 (a run of six starting in December 2009 on their way to the UEFA Champions League final).

D'Ambrosio has scored three goals in his last five games for Inter Milan in all competitions, as many as he had netted in his previous 58 appearances.

Lukaku is the first player in UEFA Cup/Europa League history to score in 10 consecutive matches via a run stretching back to November 2014 with Everton.

What's next?

Sevilla await Inter on Friday in Cologne in what promises to be a closely fought final, though with Martinez and Lukaku in such form, the Serie A club should be considered favourites. 

Former Indian national team coach Sukhwinder Singh has been nominated for the prestigious Dhyan Chand Award 2020.

If Singh manages to receive the award, he will only be the third person to receive this award from the football category. Only two footballers Shabbir Ali (2011) and Syed Shahid Hakeem (2017) has won it.

Dhyan Chand award, named after the legendary Indian Hockey player Dhyan Chand, is an award presented by the Government of India as a lifetime achievement sporting honour. It is presented every year on August 29.

Sukhwinder Singh started his coaching journey at the top tier of Indian football in 1995 with JCT FC and had guided the team to National Football League (CFL) in the very first year of the league.

He had also served both the Indian senior national team and the U23 team and had won the SAFF Championship with the senior team in 1998 and with the youth side in 2009.

Other than JCT, the veteran Indian coach also worked as the coach of Pailan Arrows during the 2011-12 season and served as technical director of Churchill Brothers for a very brief period of time during the 2013-14 season.

A coach par excellence, Sigh has been adored a by a host of Indian footballers over the last three decades and It will indeed be a great honour for Indian football if the 71-year-old coach bags the award.

Barcelona have confirmed goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will undergo surgery on a knee problem this week.

The 28-year-old, who has made more than 200 appearances for the club since joining from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2014, is to go under the knife as a preventative measure after he complained of irritation on his right patellar tendon earlier this season.

Ter Stegen played through the discomfort in order to finish the extended 2019-20 season, but will use the short break before the new campaign to clear up the issue once and for all.

“Based upon the exchange with the medical team, the first-team player Marc ter Stegen will do a voluntary medical intervention tomorrow [Tuesday] on his right patellar tendon conducted by the expert Dr. Ramon Cugat,” read a statement on the club’s website.

“It is a proactive measure which is now done in order to prevent and prepare for the future, since the player had some irritations on the tendon earlier in the season."

Ter Stegen also confirmed news of his operation on Twitter, saying: “I will undergo an intervention for my knee tendon. The medical experts and I discussed to do this ‘clean-up’ as there were some irritations earlier this season. It’s a proactive intervention in order to prevent and prepare for the future.

“I will need some weeks to recover and to return to 100%. I’m calm and positive about the situation, I will come back soon.

“Once again, thanks for all the support I’ve been receiving. I appreciate it a lot!”

The German goalkeeper made 46 appearances for Barca last season, though the campaign ended on a disastrous note with their 8-2 thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-finals last week.

It means the Blaugrana ended the season without a trophy for the first time in 12 years, with head coach Quique Setien dismissed earlier on Monday.

Former Barcelona midfielder Ronald Koeman has been heavily linked with the job, with the Dutchman expected to quit his role as Netherlands head coach in the coming days in order to take over at the Camp Nou.

Spanish Primera Iberdrola side Real Betis have completed the signing of Equatorial Guinea defender Dorine Chuigoue on a two-year contract.

The Seville-based outfit secured the services of the Nzalang Nacional as a free agent after she parted ways with rivals Logrono following her two-year stint with Gerardo Leon's team.

Chuigoue joined Spanish side Logrono from Serbian women's champions Spartak Subotica in summer of 2018, made 42 appearances and scored three goals during her two-year sojourn.

At international level, the 31-year-old played for Equatorial Guinea at the 2006 and 2018 Africa Women's Cup of Nations and was part of the country's campaign at the 2011 Women's World Cup.

The signing of the centre-back will further swell the defensive options of Pier Luigi Cherubino's team for the new season, having finished 12th with 20 points from 21 matches in their last campaign.

On completing her move, Chuigoue is happy about her switch and eager to excel at Betis on her third consecutive season in the Spanish women's top-flight.

"I am here to work hard and give what I have", she told the club website.

"I am very strong and have a lot of power, I will do everything possible to help my teammates. The team is betting on a strong block and I am sure that together we can achieve what we want."

The Equatoguinean defender becomes the second African at the club after Cameroon international Michaela Abam. 

Since moving to the city,  she has continued in team's pre-season training as they gear up for the season billed to kick off on September 5.

Ghana coach CK Akonnor has revealed admiration for Nigeria's national team player pool enhancement model of actively pursuing footballers of Nigerian roots in the diaspora.

In recent years, the Super Eagles have boosted their squad with the likes of Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina, Semi Ajayi, Maduka Okoye, William Troost-Ekong and Leon Balogun, who all qualified to play for various European nations either through birth place or parentage.

Kingsley Ehizibue, Joe Aribo and Cyriel Dessers are among their latest acquisitions while the likes of Queens Park Rangers playmaker Eberechi Eze, Liverpool attacker Ovie Ejaria and Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka are reportedly being courted.

"The most important thing is those who were born in Europe. Some of them are eager to play for the Black Stars," Akonnor told Starr FM.

“That is what we want to do. Look at Nigeria, I think they have done that in a very nice way.

“They have brought a lot of guys who were born in Europe and the Nigerian team is now transformed so we are trying to do the same with the national team.”

In March, Akonnor, after a European tour, revealed a roster of seven Ghanaian disaporans who have either agreed to switch international allegiance to Ghana or are considering a possible career with the Black Stars.

France-born Strasbourg centre-back Alexander Djiku, Anderlecht's former Netherlands youth defender Derrick Luckassen, France-born Gent midfielder Elisha Owusu and Enock Kwateng of French side Bordeaux, according to Akonnor, have decided to turn up for the Black Stars.

The coach also revealed he was in discussion with Belgium and Anderlecht duo Francis Amuzu and Geremy Doku, and Ajax and Netherlands youth striker Brian Brobbey over a switch of international allegiance.

“With regards to European-born players, it’s necessary for me to let you know the names [of the players we are working on],” Akonnor said at a press conference.

“Those I spoke to want to play [for Ghana] but they are also not familiar with our lifestyle here. They don’t know what is going on, some probably just come here [briefly] and go back.

“They don’t know anything about us and I think it is important for us to encourage them to come here and see what is going on here. They are willing to come but they don’t know what it is [like here].”

“Talking of quality players, I think I made mention of six or five players which I believe are quality [players]. They’ll enhance the way we play, the way we go forward. These names are with the FA and the FA has already started working on it.

“We cannot get them now but once we get them, they’ll improve our team. Once we have quality, they will improve our chance of winning Afcon.

“Djiku and Owusu are currently eligible to play. Management is working hard to get them on board.”

“Hopefully we’ll be able to get them [seven players] on board.”

Most recently, Ghana have been linked to Brighton and Hove Albion fullback Tariq Lamptey and Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah, both England-born. Earlier, Akonnor revealed he is currently in talks with the latter's parents in a bid to woo the forward over to the Black Stars.

It will not be Ghana's first time securing players in the diaspora as the likes of Kevin-Prince Boateng, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, Emmanuel Frimpong and Adam Larsen Kwarasey have all played for the Black Stars in recent times. 

It felt like a bit of justice had been done when the Premier League announced on Sunday that Kevin De Bruyne had been named Player of the Season. After the uproar that ensued following Jordan Henderson claiming the Football Writers award, the Belgian’s success seemed like common sense finally prevailing.

Not only did eye test prove the Manchester City midfield playmaker was exemplary, but the stats were also undoubtedly in his favour. He set up 20 goals, matching Thierry Henry’s 17-year record, which had hitherto been impossible to equal by esteemed creators like Cesc Fabregas, Mesut Ozil, David Silva and Juan Mata in his best years at Chelsea.

De Bruyne created a staggering 33 clear-cut chances, 15 clear of Riyad Mahrez in second place, and also led the way for key passes per game (3.9) in 2019/20. The closest quartet to the world class Man City man – James Maddison, Jack Grealish, Emiliano Buendia and Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold – played 2.5, 2.5, 2.3 and 2.3 key passes respectively.

He posted a staggering 33 goal contributions, beating his 24-goal-and-assists returns in 16/17 and 17/18 under Pep Guardiola to cement his undoubted status as the division’s leading star.

Even a pair of his 13 goals were nominated for the competition’s Goal of the Season, eventually won by Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-min, demonstrating that he not only picked out incredible passes but scored worldies as well.

Unfortunately, KDB’s near-perfect season was marred by City’s disastrous title challenge which saw Pep’s troops end second, a staggering 18 points behind champions Liverpool.

This was a sticking point by a small portion of critics, consequently leading to other names springing up, including Englishmen Jamie Vardy and Danny Ings.

From an African persuasion, three names immediately spring up: Liverpool pair Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, as well as Arsenal’s captain and talisman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

A case can be made for all three but which of the trio could challenge the impeccable Belgium star?

Salah & Mane

Another successful year on Merseyside saw Egypt’s best export thrive in the Premier League, in a campaign that culminated in league success – the Reds’ first in three decades.

The odd case against Salah certainly seems to be that he is a victim of his outstanding 17/18 season, where he shattered a plethora of scoring records at the club and in the division.

Since that 32-goal campaign (a staggering 42 goal contributions), the ex-Chelsea wideman hasn’t hit those heights, statistically at least, making critics unconsciously water down his achievements in the final third.

In 19/20, the North African scored 19 and assisted 10, thus having a hand in 29 of Liverpool’s 85 goals, 34 percent of the world champions’ total. The setup of Klopp’s team is such that not one player is a standout, meaning a drop-off by one man wouldn’t lead to the collapse of the team.

It’s why Mane, the current African Footballer of the Year, and his colleague in attack have both thrived especially in the just-concluded season, with the Senegal talisman hitting 18 goals – his personal best since moving to England.

A further seven assists took his overall contributions to 25 (29 percent of the team’s strikes), interestingly four behind his African teammate.

Nevertheless, the ex-Southampton attacker remains viewed as the more dynamic of the pair owing to his overall play and superior aesthetic style.

Both are, however, top wide forwards in their primes who make each other better and have been essential figures in Liverpool’s rise to the pinnacle of football domestically and abroad.

Aubameyang

Trophies are often used to judge players in modern football but, with Auba, it’s the consistency to keep churning out remarkable numbers regardless of the talent pool surrounding him that underlines his greatness.

While Arsenal, on paper, should be doing better with the personnel in their ranks, the Gunners have tended to underwhelm in recent years since the Gabon forward joined in January 2018. Having equalled his 22-goal haul from 18/19, the feeling was 19/20 was an even better year for the former Borussia Dortmund marksman.

Despite an encouraging summer window that saw Nicolas Pepe – the third-best player in Ligue 1 in 2019 – join, along with Kieran Tierney, David Luiz and Dani Ceballos on loan, the Gunners struggled for form and results in the autumn, leading to Unai Emery’s sacking in November.

Still, Auba’s return barely suffered. He did have a brief lean spell just before the Spaniard was jettisoned but found his feet quickly to deliver arguably the best-ever campaign of his career, given the circumstances at the Emirates Stadium.

While Pepe took time to settle, Alexander Lacazette struggled for consistency early on largely due to injury and Mesut Ozil was mostly absent for varying reasons, it was Aubameyang who carried the can for the majority of the North London side’s season.

This probably puts the Arsenal man as the main challenger to KDB, because his success came in an unpredictable side without the ability or cohesion of the Citizens and Liverpool.

An honourable mention goes to Riyad Mahrez, who was at his most consistent since that incredible 2015/16 year at Leicester City. The African champion’s raw numbers – 10 goals and nine assists – fourth-highest at City pale in comparison to the aforementioned quartet, yet, his underlying statistics emphasise his importance.

The Algerian was involved in 6.34 shot-creating actions per 90, only De Bruyne with 7.09 did better, and he topped the goal-creating actions metric ahead of the midfield playmaker. His City teammate was the only player in the Prem to play more in-play passes leading to goals (25 to 17) while Mahrez led the way for successful dribbles leading to goals.

For a greater understanding of the Algeria star’s influence, Salah, Mane and Auba were involved in 3.69, 3.51 and 1.51 shot-creating actions per 90 and 0.50, 0.49 and 0.26 goal-creating actions per 90 respectively.

Salah, though, outdoes the African contingent for Expected Goals per 90, while Mahrez, second to only KDB in the league, unsurprisingly leads the continent’s attackers for Expected Assists per 90.

Indeed, while latent statistics may not favour Aubameyang, Gooners will argue he had a more influential season than Salah, Mane and Mahrez. This claim will prompt debates among supporters of the forwards throwing their weight behind who they think did more than enough to challenge the imperious Belgian star.

Still, it’d be tough making a solid case for anyone over the breathtaking De Bruyne whose 19/20 campaign was simply out of this world in a slightly volatile City side.

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane says they accept the defeat to Cape Town City and will move on but he expressed unhappiness about the errors they committed at the back.

The Brazilians are yet to register a win in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) since the restart, drawing twice and losing 3-2 to the Citizens on Monday night, but Mosimane said they will keep fighting for the lucrative title until the end.

On the other hand, his counterpart Jan Olde Riekerink heaped praise on his troops for executing their game-plan as he explained how they exploited the Brazilians.

“It was a difficult game for us, yeah we made mistakes and the third goal was a goal that really made it difficult for us because the game was still on and we could come back, that’s why we scored another one,” Mosimane told SuperSport TV.

“Difficult for us, but it’s okay, we move on. Yeah, well [we struggled with pace]. Kermit [Erasmus] is smart player, you gotta give him credit, he knows how to play between the lines, how to drop in and come in – credit to him."

Speaking about the title race as they now trail log leaders Kaizer Chiefs by six points and both have six games left, the former Bafana Bafana boss expressed concern in how they have fared so far. 

“Yeah, well it worries [the title race] but look we will fight for it and if we don’t get it, we’re not getting it. We are trying to win it for the third time – it’s not easy," he added.

“So, you can’t have what you want, what you wish for. The game goes the way it goes and if it’s not going to be for us, it’s not going to be for us, and yeah we move on.

“If we don’t find it, we’re fine. We’ll fight for the Nedbank Cup. This is football, these things do happen. You can’t win everything but we will fight for everything.”

On his assessment of the full 90 minutes, the Dutch manager lamented their failure to utilize the spaces left by the reigning league champions.

“First of all I’m very proud of the team and very happy for the spectators in Cape Town and that we could bring it today,” Riekerink told SuperSport TV.

“I think the first six minutes, we didn’t start very well and especially in the first half, there were lots of spaces and we have players who can deal with spaces.

"We could use the spaces that Sundowns left open and then that brings us to our strength. That happens in the game and I think we played our biggest part as a better team.

“We played on the left because it was a little bit different from the right because Fagrie [Lakay] who plays to go more behind the defence and Surprise [Ralani] will be more in spaces, hold the ball a little longer and then we could have a lot of attacks on the left side.”

English Championship outfit Wycombe Wanderers have completed the signing of Uganda forward Uche Ikpeazu Mubiru from Hearts.

The Chairboys beat Oxford 2-1 in the League One play-off final at Wembley to get promoted to the second tier of English football for the first time. In their bid to strengthen and be ready for the stiff competition in the division, the team has added the East African in their squad.

"[Coach] Gareth Ainsworth has secured Wanderers’ first new signing as a Championship club, bringing Uche Ikpeazu to Adams Park on a three-year deal," the Blues confirmed on their official  website.

"The Chairboys’ new number 9 arrives from Scottish side Hearts, having earned a move to the Edinburgh club thanks to a blistering spell at Cambridge United, catching the eye in a number of appearances against the Blues."

The tactician has welcomed the new signing, revealing he is a player he has been following and desired to have in his team.

"Uche is a player I’ve always admired, going right back to the start of his career with Reading and Watford’s under-23 sides, and I’m delighted that the time has come for us to bring him to Wycombe Wanderers," Ainsworth said after the signing.

"We feel he’s perfectly suited for the way we play and being part of this squad will get the best out of him. He’s quick, strong, holds the ball up well and will score goals for us too. 

"He gives us another option up front and no doubt will learn a lot from Adebayo Akinfenwa who has done a phenomenal job for us in a similar role over the past four years."

The 47-year-old also hinted at how he intends to build the team for the 2020/21 campaign and suggested he will sign more players.

"We are working so hard to get this squad as strong as it can be for the new season. We’ve been knocked back on some of our targets but Uche is one I really wanted to bring here and it’s great to get the deal over the line, with hopefully more to come soon," he concluded.

Ikpeazu was called up to the Cranes squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches in March but he did not manage to play after the games were postponed owing to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Former Barcelona and Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o has joked that the Catalans will have to change their name should Lionel Messi depart the club.

The 33-year-old La Masia graduate, who is the most prolific player in the Blaugrana’s history, played for a full 90 minutes as they lost 8-2 to Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League last Friday.

It was Barca’s biggest European defeat in history and their heaviest loss since 1946. It was also the first time since the 2005-06 season that neither Messi nor Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo made it to the semi-finals.

This has fuelled speculation on Messi’s future at the club, with a year left to run on his contract, and he has been linked with a possible move to Manchester City to be with his former coach in Pep Guardiola or his Argentine hometown club Newell’s Old Boys, where he featured as a youth player.

"I love Messi like he was my own son, I want the best for him. Barcelona is Messi and I think if Messi decides to leave, we'll have to change the name of the club,” Eto’o told Argentine TV channel TyCSports.

“We are lucky in that at Barcelona, we have the best player in the world and of all-time, we have to do everything possible to ensure he finishes his career at Barcelona."

Eto’o asserts that Barcelona are having a tough time because some of the new recruits are struggling to adapt. He also insists pressure needs to be put on the club hierarchy so the right decisions to put the club forward can be made.

“The players who arrived had difficulty adapting,” he continued.

"I want Barcelona to get up and dream for next season. And finally, he put some pressure on the leadership. I hope that those who make decisions, make decisions for the good of Barcelona."

Eto’o played for Barcelona between 2004 and 2009, winning eight titles including three La Liga and two Champions League crowns.

Meanwhile, the 39-year-old Cameroonian revealed he would have loved to play for Argentine giants Boca Juniors during his career like his countryman Alphonse Tchami did between 1994 and 1997.

“I would have liked to play for Boca, like Tchami, who I followed as a child,” Eto’o said.

“Boca has made us all dream, it is one of the best clubs in the history of soccer. I would have liked to experience the atmosphere of the Bombonera. It is unique."

David Silva has paid an emotional tribute to Manchester City and the club’s fans, thanking them for their support throughout his decade of service to the club.

The 34-year-old, widely considered one of City’s greatest ever players, is out of contract this summer and has decided to call time on his career at Etihad Stadium.

The former Spain international has won four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five League Cups and three Community Shields since joining from Valencia in 2010.

His final appearance for the club was in Saturday’s shock Champions League quarter-final defeat to Lyon in Lisbon.

City have already revealed their intention to honour Silva with a statue outside the Etihad. They will also dedicate a training pitch with a bespoke mosaic to Silva at their City Football Academy.

Silva has now posted a message on Twitter, thanking the club and fans for their support through good times and bad, including when his son Mateo was fighting for his life after being born prematurely in 2018.

He also joked that he had grown used to Manchester’s notoriously wet weather and says he will continue to support the club from afar, with Serie A side Lazio rumoured to be frontrunners for his signature.

“The time has arrived. Ten years and 13 titles later, it’s time for me to say goodbye to the club that has left an indelible mark on my life and career,” he said.

“I look back and it’s clear I could not have made a better decision than to accept City’s proposal to join their project back in 2010.

“Manchester City and I have grown together. In 10 years, I have developed personally and professionally. I have celebrated many victories and titles and lived through epic moments.

“I have seen my lovely child, Mateo, born and I have even started to feel comfortable under heavy rain!

"City are a fantastic family. I won’t ever forget the way they threw themselves into helping me when I suffered the hardest moments of my life, offering me support and empathy.

“Precisely because of that I want to tell you it has been a real pleasure wearing the sky blue shirt and the captain’s armband of our club, sharing the dressing room with the best players and coaches in the world, and working closely with the finest club representatives and board members the game has to offer.

"And on top of that, all the time I had the backing of the amazing fans who have supported me always, through good and bad moments. You are really amazing.

"I hope that City will achieve even bigger triumphs in the future. I am going to support the team from a distance. I am so happy I have shared these unforgettable moments with the City family - you will always be in my heart.

"I want to send every Cityzen a huge hug."

Young Africans (Yanga SC) have announced another signing after unveiling Mukoko Tonombe ahead of the new season.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) midfielder was also a transfer target for Yanga's rivals Simba SC, but he has finally been confirmed by the Jangwani giants in a post on their social media pages.

“Record league champions can confirm the arrival of Mukoko {Tonombe] from AS Vita Club,” the club wrote without giving the duration of the contract signed by the player, who also features for the DRC national team.

He becomes the eighth signing for the club who have also brought on board defender Bakari Mwamnyeto from Coastal Union, Yassin Mustapha from Polisi Tanzania, Zawadi Mauya from Kagera Sugar, Abdallah Shaibu from LA Galaxy II, Waziri Junior from Mbao FC, Kibwana Shomari from Mtibwa Sugar and Farid Mussa from CD Tenerife in Spain.

The Jangwani giants shocked many including their fans after they moved to send home 14 players, among them captain Papy Tshishimbi, after they finished the 2019-20 Mainland Premier League campaign without silverware.

Other players axed included Congolese striker David Molinga, ex-Gor Mahia striker Gnamien Yikpe, Mrisho Ngassa, Jafary Mohamed, Mohamed Issa Banka, Tariq Seif, Andrew Vincent Dante, Patrick Sibomana, Muharami Issa, Ali Ali, Rafael Daud, Ali Mtoni Sonso and Eric Kabamba.

The Timu ya Wananchi, who are yet to appoint a new coach following the sacking of Belgian Luc Eymael, will start the new 2020-21 season with a league match against Tanzania Prisons at the newly-named Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Yanga fought hard and edged Azam FC for second place in the 2019/20 season but the next campaign will see them face their rivals without several notable players.

September 6 fixtures; Namungo vs Coastal - Majaliwa, Lindi, Biashara vs Gwambina - Karume, Mara, Ihefu Vs Simba - Sokoine, Mbeya, Mtibwa vs Ruvu Shooting - Gairo, Morogoro, Yanga Vs Prisons - Mkapa, Dar, KMC vs Mbeya City - Uhuru, Dar and Azam Vs Polisi Tanzania - Azam Complex.

Tanzanian Football Federation (TFF) has demanded an explanation from Young Africans (Yanga SC) chairman Mshindo Msolla over his recent remarks in the Bernard Morrison case.

Msolla has been constantly questioning the decision TFF made concerning the state of Morrison's contract with Yanga. The federation ruled the Ghanaian was free to join any other club after his six-month contract with Yanga ended.

The winger ended up joining Simba SC, a move that did not go down well with Yanga, who have vowed to challenge it at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).

“Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) has received with great concern the allegations made by Young Africans Chairman [Mshindo] Msolla that the Disciplinary and Legal Committee did not listen to the club's petition against Simba SC,” TFF said in a document received by Goal.

“Young Africans came forward to the Disciplinary and Legal Committee and claimed Simba were trying to convince their player Bernard Morrison to join them whereas he was serving a running contract.

“When the committee sat on July 2 and started hearing the case, the petitioner (Young Africans) through the interim Secretary-General and lawyer Patrick Simon stated that they wanted to withdraw the petition and argued whatever case had been brought forward to TFF was just a contract update to TFF and not a legal matter.

“From the explanation of the petitioner (Young Africans), the TFF Disciplinary and Legal Committee decided to withdraw the case.

“And the allegations by Young Africans chairman Msolla that the Disciplinary and Legal Committee did not hear their petition is not true and its aim is to tarnish the image of TFF.

“TFF has already written to Msolla and demanded an explanation on the same allegations that he made during a press meeting that was done on August 14.”

Meanwhile, Peter Mauya has spoken about his Yanga move, the expectations and the inspiration he got from former Mwananchi midfielder Haruna ‘Boban’ Moshi.

“There will be two main challenges; one dealing with pressure from fans and secondly working hard to showcase what I am capable of as a midfielder,” Mauya told Mwanaspoti.

“Truth be told the only midfielder I have ever recognised is Boban. He is a player I can sit down and watch because he possesses the ability and techniques that few players have.

“He is good in ball possession and he fights, in short, he has everything that he must possess. Personally, I would like to see him play in the Premier League again.

“He has been simply an inspiration to a lot of players.”

Mauya is among the new players who have been signed by Yanga in the August window.

On this day in 2018, Michael Olunga made history by becoming the first Kenyan to score a La Liga hat-trick for Girona.

Although his Girona stay was not a successful one, in the end, Olunga wrote his name in the club’s history books when his three goals ensured the Catalan club dismantled Las Palmas 6-0.

His La Liga hat-trick was recorded in a span of 22 minutes.

The former Thika United and Tusker striker, to date, is the only Kenyan to have scored in the Spanish top flight.

After playing in 14 matches and scored three goals, Olunga joined Japanese side Kashiwa Reysol in August 2018, where he has emerged as one of the fan favourites due to his superb goal-scoring form.

In the 2019/20 season in J2 League, the Kenyan became the club’s top scorer as he managed to bag 27 goals and was the runner-up in the Golden Boot race.

His most memorable moment with Kashiwa Reysol in the second-tier is perhaps when he found the back of the net seven times during a 13-1 win against Kyoto Sanga on November 2019.

In the ongoing top-tier campaign, the Harambee Star is leading the J1 League scorers’ chart with 11 goals after 10 matches. He became the first Kenyan to score in the league and registered a hat-trick against Vegalta Sendai on July 26 in a match they won 5-1.

It would have been four goals for him had he not missed from the penalty spot.

The Liberty Sports Academy product has been a dependable goal scorer for the clubs he has served up to now in his career.

When he was at Tusker on loan, Olunga played in 15 matches and scored three goals and it is at this time that his career was picking up.

In 2013, he joined Thika United and scored nine goals in 26 matches whereas it is at Gor Mahia where he scored the second-highest number of goals as a footballer. He netted 19 goals in 27 matches.

He left for Sweden’s Djurgardens IF in 2016 and scored 12 goals in 27 matches - the second time he hit double-digits.

From 2017 to 2018, Olunga scored two goals from nine matches while serving Guizhou Zhicheng of China.

In 40 matches, he has scored 18 goals for the Kenyan national team.

Ghana star Bernard Mensah has completed a move to Turkish outfit Besiktas from fellow Super Liga side Kayserispor.

The 25-year-old put pen to paper on a season-long loan deal with an option of a permanent transfer following a successful medical on Monday.

He made 25 league appearances for Kayserispor last season, starting in all the games, scoring five times and assisting eight other goals. 

“Bernard Mensah in Beşiktaş. Our club signed a contract with Bernard Mensah, the Ghanaian midfield player, which he transferred from Kayserispor, within the scope of the transfer activities for the new season,” Besiktas announced on their official website.

“We welcome Bernard Mensah, who we believe will provide important services to our club, and wish him success.”

Besiktas are Mensah’s third club in Turkey, having first played for Kasimpasa on his arrival in 2018.

"Dear Kayserispor family ... I spent two wonderful years here with you. Now a very important adventure is starting for me. We had many good moments as well as our very good days. My president Berna [Gozbasi], who never refused to support me before leaving, I would like to thank you Gozbaşı, the great supporters of Kayserispor and all the club staff who did not hold back help from me. My heart will always be with you,” Mensah posted on social media on Monday morning.

After impressing for Vitoria Guimaraes in the Portuguese league, Mensah was snapped up by Atletico Madrid in 2015 but promptly farmed out to Getafe on loan for the 2015-16 season.

The following term, he headed back for Guimaraes on loan, before joining Kasimpasa on another loan spell for the 2017-18 year.

A fourth straight loan was soon on the cards as he moved to Kayserisporin 2017, the transfer being made permanent after the first season.

At international level, Mensah made his debut for Ghana in 2015, scoring in the game against Togo in a friendly.

He will be hoping to make the most of his stay with Besiktas to get the attention of Black Stars coach CK Akonnor for a recall in the wake of a long absence from national duty.

The Council of Southern African Football Associations (Cosafa) has confirmed the 2020 Women's Cup will go ahead and also approved the launch of the regional Women's Champions League.

The decisions were announced on Monday following a Cosafa Executive Committee meeting to review its 2020 calendar in the wake of the global health crisis due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The development means the annual regional women's showpiece, which had been staged back-to-back in South Africa, will take place for the third time in a row in the country from October 19-31 in Nelson Mandela Bay.

Cosafa also planned to stage the U17 Women's Cup along with the senior tournament between October 15-25 in South Africa, but both events are subject to Covid-19 and travel restrictions.

However, Cosafa has cancelled this year's U20 tournament earlier scheduled for December, while announcing the creation of the Women’s Champions League, which is expected to kick off in 2021.

The Cosafa statement read: "The organisation is also exploring the potential of hosting its flagship men’s Cosafa Cup during the October Fifa International window, while the senior Cosafa Women’s Championship has also been pencilled in for October 19-31 in Nelson Mandela Bay.

"Both are highly dependent on prevailing Covid-19 and travel conditions in South Africa at the time. There is also a plan to overlap the Cosafa Women’s Under-17 Championship (October 15-25) with the senior tournament in South Africa.

"The Under-20 Women’s Championship, which was scheduled for the Region 5 Games in Maseru in December, has been cancelled for this year after the Games were postponed to December 2021.

"Cosafa has also created a task team to devise plans for the Regional Women’s Champions League which the organisation hopes to stage for the first time next year, subject to funding being sourced to support this competition."

With the cancellation of the 2020 Africa Women's Cup of Nations, Zambia, who are Africa's representative at next year's Olympic Games, will seize the chance to prepare for Tokyo 2021.

South Africa are defending champions of the regional tournament, having secured their sixth crown following a 1-0 final victory over Zambia in August last year.

Edinson Cavani says Benfica are a “great team” after confirming talks with the Portuguese giants, but stresses that a deal has yet to be agreed.

The Uruguayan forward is a free agent after leaving Paris Saint-Germain at the end of last season and has been linked with a host of clubs across Europe and the Americas.

Leeds United were believed to be Benfica’s main rivals in the chase for the 33-year-old, with owner Andrea Radrizzani revealing earlier this summer that he was keen to sign the veteran forward as he planned for the Whites’ return to the Premier League.

Spanish side Atletico Madrid, as well as teams in Argentina, Brazil and the United States, are also believed to be interested in the former Napoli frontman.

Reports last month suggested a two-year deal with Benfica had already been agreed, though the Portuguese giants took the unusual step of publicly denying those reports on its official website.

Fresh reports over the weekend suggested further talks had taken place between the two parties, something Cavani has now confirmed to reporters when asked about his future.

"There were meetings with Benfica and other clubs. But nothing is yet defined, so I cannot say that there is a closed agreement. When everything is confirmed with a team, they will know it,” he said.

When pressed on what attracted him to Benfica, Cavani replied they were "a great team” that regularly competes in European competitions and that "many Uruguayans” have represented the club in the past.

"How can it not be a team that attracts me? And if there is the possibility for me to play there I will be delighted with life," he added.

Since leaving PSG at the end of June, Cavani has spent most of his time back in his home town of Salto in Uruguay.

He has been working alongside personal trainer Christian Gonzalez to keep himself fit during the summer, with Gonzalez posting a good luck message on Instagram ahead of Cavani’s return to Europe.

“Many successes, good trip, thanks for the opportunity and trust. A unique experience, to continue to shine ‘Matador’,” he said.

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Electoral Board has clarified the requirements to qualify as a candidate for a position in the upcoming polls.

The exercise is slowly taking shape, and several individuals have been in the dark on what is expected for one to be eligible to vie. It is for this reason the Board has made public all the requirements for those who are eyeing the top seat and all the way to the county ones.

"The Electoral Board has received several inquiries regarding the requirement that candidates for all elections seek nominations from 5 members of FKF, as provided in the guidelines released on 11 August 2020," the Board said in a statement signed by Chairperson Kentice Tikolo and obtained by Goal.

The clarification has been made on the members of the Federation which include the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) clubs, the National Super League clubs, all the National Division One League clubs, and their counterparts from Division Two.

Others who are recognised as the FKF members are the 48 counties, recognized Association for Football Referees, Association for Football Coaches, Association for Football players, and Association for Women’s Football.

The Women Premier League and the Women's Division One League have been included as well.

"To ensure an auditable trail of the endorsements, attach proof of FKF membership to the endorsement letters," the statement further stated.

The Board had set September 19 as the date for the county elections, while October 17 was reserved for the national ones.

However, the presidential aspirants led by experienced administrator Sam Nyamweya, Omondi Aduda, Nicholas Musonye, Alex Magelo among others, have filed a petition with the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) to bar the Federation and the Electoral Board from engaging in organizing the elections.

"The petitioners pray... the court to issue prohibitive orders against the [Electoral Board] and the [FKF} from proceeding with the illegal election process as indicated in their road map ... until they comply with the court orders issued on the 17th March 2020," read part of the Petition to the SDT and obtained by Goal.

"A declaration that FKF cannot hold its elections until it fully complies with the ruling."

The candidates have further asked for a roundtable meeting to come up with a fair procedure to be used in the elections and without it, the current regime cannot hold the elections.