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Saido Berahino scored his first goal of the 2020-21 Belgian First Division A season in Zulte Waregem’s 2-1 loss to Beerschot on Sunday.

The 27-year-old striker was afforded his second start in the campaign and made a key contribution, levelling proceedings for his side.

His effort was, however, not enough to see the Regenboogstadion outfit return to winning ways after losing their opening game of the season to Genk.

Zulte Waregem found themselves on the back foot in the 32nd minute when Tarik Tissoudali opened the scoring for Beerschot.

Berahino then levelled matters for Francky Dury’s men moments before the hour mark after he was set up by a timely assist from Jelle Vossen.

In the 68th minute of the encounter, Raphael Holzhauser restored the lead to the Mannekes before sealing the win for his side after benefitting from Marius Noubissi’s assist.

Berahino featured for the duration of the game along with teammate and Senegal international Ibrahima Seck, while Guinea’s Idrissa Sylla played for six minutes after replacing Abdoulaye Sissako.

Berahino joined the Essevee last summer to reignite his career after his contract was terminated by Championship side Stoke City.

The Burundi international has been in fine form since teaming up with the Belgian side and scored eight goals while also providing three assists in 22 appearances across all competitions in his debut campaign.

The forward’s effort helped the Regenboogstadion outfit finish the campaign in the ninth spot on the league table.

Berahino started his career in the West Bromwich Albion youth setup in 2004 before he was promoted to the senior side in 2010.

The striker scored 23 league goals in 105 appearances for the Baggies before leaving the Hawthorns outfit in 2017 to join Stoke City.

Berahino will hope to continue his goalscoring form and help Zulte Waregem return to winning ways when they face Waasland-Beveren in their next league game on August 22.

Manchester United’s remarkable run of penalties continued when Bruno Fernandes converted from the spot in their Europa League semi-final against Sevilla in Cologne on Sunday.

Portugal midfielder Fernandes blasted his spot-kick beyond Sevilla goalkeeper Bono into the top corner to put the Red Devils ahead just nine minutes in after Marcus Rashford had been fouled by defender Diego Carlos.

Rashford had managed to get in a shot on goal before he was brought down, but referee Felix Brych still pointed to the spot.

It was the 22nd penalty United have won in all competitions this season, the most a team has had in Europe’s top five leagues since Barcelona won 24 in 2014-15.

Fourteen of those penalties came in the Premier League, the most in the division, with five in the Europa League, two in the FA Cup and one in the Carabao Cup.

Ultimately, however, the penalty from Fernandes wasn't enough on the night as Sevilla turned around the early deficit to advance past United with a 2-1 win.

Fernandes has certainly benefited from United winning so many penalties. He has scored a remarkable 12 goals for the Red Devils since his €55 million (£47m/$60m) move from Sporting during the January transfer window, with eight of those coming from the penalty spot.

That includes the only goal in extra-time of the Europa League quarter-final against FC Copenhagen on Monday, as well as the opener in their crucial final Premier League match of the season against Leicester, with their eventual 2-0 win securing qualification for next season’s Champions League.

The 25-year-old’s influence extends beyond just penalties, though. Fernandes has eight assists to his name in a United shirt, meaning only Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski and Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi have had a hand in more goals in all competitions since Fernandes made his debut against Wolves at the start of February.

Despite making a flying start in Cologne, United were unable to hold on to the lead given to them by Fernandes.

Sevilla were level on 26 minutes when Sergio Reguilon’s cross from the left found former Liverpool player Suso, who swept the ball beyond David de Gea. Substitute Luuk de Jong then scored the winner with 12 minutes remaining.

Congo’s Guy Mbenza opened his goal account in the Belgian First Division A with a brace in Cercle Brugge’s 2-1 comeback victory against Royal Antwerp on Sunday.

The 20-year-old produced a scintillating second-half performance by scoring two goals within six minutes to save the hosts from another defeat in their second game of the season.

Mbenza, who made his second appearance in the Belgian top-flight on Sunday, cancelled out Pieter Gerkens' 32nd-minute opener in the 80th minute and completed the comeback win at the Jan Breydel Stadium six minutes later.

He was in action for 90 minutes alongside Kenya midfielder Johanna Omolo while Mali's Alem Deuro watched on as an unused substitute.

For Royal Antwerp, DR Congo duo Dieumerci Mbokani and Jonathan Bolingi were in action but the former received a yellow card in the 65th minute as he awaits his first goal in the 2020-21 season after scoring 18 league goals later term.

Nigeria's Junior Pius, Cameroon duo Didier Lamkel Ze and Frank Boya, and Senegal's Abdoulaye Seck were also in action for the visitors.

Mbenza joined Cercle Brugge from Stade Tunisien in January 2020, after stints at Congolese outfits JS Poto-Poto, AC Leopards, La Mancha and AS Otoho.

The Brazzaville-born attacker did not feature for the Belgian outfit until the start of the 2020-21 campaign where he played for 83 minutes in their 1-0 loss to Standard Liege in their league opener last Saturday.

Mbenza has made two appearances for Congo on the international stage, including his debut outing against Senegal in 2017 where he came on as an 87th-minute substitute.

Sunday’s home win moved Cercle Brugge to ninth in the Belgian First Division A standings after gathering three points from two games.

The 20-year-old striker will be hoping to help Paul Clement’s men build on the victory when they visit Mechelen on August 22.

Former Kenya and Mathare United player Kevin Oliech, who is brother to Harambee Stars legend Dennis Oliech, has passed on.

Oliech died on Sunday after a long battle with cancer which had left him bedridden for some time. After battling the affliction for the last four years, the former Tusker FC attacker succumbed in a German hospital on Sunday evening.

The player is remembered for leading the Slum Boys to their maiden Kenyan Premier League (KPL) title in 2008 under coach Francis Kimanzi.

The Nairobi-based side have taken to their official Facebook page to mourn their former player.

"We would like to pass our condolences to the Oliech family following the death of Kevin 'Yeboah' Oliech on Sunday evening," Mathare posted.

"Kevin was part of our 2008 title-winning squad and always gave his best whenever he donned the yellow and green jersey. He continued the legacy of the Oliech family at Mathare United adding to Dennis Oliech's goals and Andrew Oyombe's composure in midfield.

"His death is a big blow to the Mathare United fraternity and we would like to urge all our alumni to support the Oliech family during these tough times."

The former striker also played for defunct Securicor FC, Thika United, Nairobi City Stars, and Ushuru.  

Former teammate while at Mathare United, Innocent Mutiso, has condoled with the family, stating his death is a blow to the football fraternity.

[Kevin Oliech] generally loved football, and it is saddening to lose a man of his calibre to the cruel hands of death," the former Harambee Stars and Gor Mahia winger told Goal.

"I take the earliest opportunity to pass my condolences to the Oliech family for the loss. Kenyans and the football fraternity at large have lost a person who had a real passion for the game."

The former Kenya international has recalled the influence the striker had during the title-winning campaign in 2008.

"He was a leader on the pitch and whenever he had a chance on the pitch, he did not take it for granted," Mutiso recalled. 

"The vital goals from him helped us to win the league title, and it was a privilege to be in the same team with him. He was one disciplined player who knew what he wanted on and off the ball.

"He will forever remain in our hearts, he cannot be forgotten for the contribution he had for the beautiful game."

Borussia Dortmund are in talks with Real Madrid over a deal to sign Brazilian starlet Reinier on loan, confirmed boss Lucien Favre.

The 18-year-old joined Los Blancos from Flamengo in January in a deal understood to be worth €35 million (£30m/$39m). The teenager signed a six-and-a-half year deal before joining up with Real Madrid's Castilla side.

He has yet to make an appearance for the senior Real team, but the Spanish giants are keen for the youngster to gain some first-team experience.

Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen have both been linked with a move for the starlet, dubbed the 'new Kaka', but it is BVB who appear to have won the race.

Speaking after his side’s 11-2 pre-season win against Austrian Wien on Sunday, Dortmund coach Favre said a deal was close.

“We want to loan him,” he told Sport1. “But it’s not done yet. It’s in the pipeline. He’s a nine-and-a-half and can also play as a false striker and on the wing.

“From what I’ve seen, he’s very good offensively and a very, very good finisher.”

Should Reiner complete a move to Dortmund he would become their third major signing of the summer.

Thomas Meunier was the first new face in June, signing a four-year deal after moving from PSG on a free transfer.

Favre’s side then beat Manchester United to the €25m (£23m/$29m) capture of Birmingham teenager Jude Bellingham last month.

The arrival of Reinier may spark fresh speculation about the future of a current Dortmund forward, Jadon Sancho.

The 20-year-old is wanted by Manchester United but talks between the clubs earlier this summer failed to produce a deal, prompting Dortmund to declare that the former Manchester City youngster would be staying at the club for the 2020-21 campaign.

Goal has learned that the Red Devils are still chasing the winger's signature, despite Dortmund’s stance.

Sancho and Bellingham were both on target in Dortmund’s friendly victory over Austria Wien on Sunday, the second win during their pre-season training camp in Switzerland.

Giovanni Reyna, Emre Can and Thorgan Hazard were also among the scorers.

Alice Ogebe made her competitive debut for Sportis KKP Bydgoszcz but they suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Enerstina Abambila's Medyk Konin in a Polish Ekstraliga encounter on Sunday.

The 25-year-old Ogebe joined the Polish top-flight outfit from Spanish Primera Iberdrola side Real Betis in June and moved to integrate herself, featuring in some pre-season games for Sportis.

She was notably outstanding against rivals IKKP Inowrocław, bagging a brace of assists and goals in their 9-0 friendly win after she earlier provided two assists in a 3-2 win over Medyk Konin.

Sportis made a fine start to the campaign with a 1-0 win at APLG Gdansk last week but were without the services of Nigeria's Ogebe for administrative reasons, who tasted her first competitive game against Medyk.

For Abambila, the Ghanaian featured prominently for Medyk even though they were held to a 1-1 draw by Katowice in their opener, and was keen to inspire her Polish side to their first win at Sportis.

Medyk made an impressive start to the encounter against Sportis as they raced into an early lead after Anna Gawronska assisted Klaudia Fabova to fire home just four minutes into the contest.

Sportis' hopes of avoiding a defeat were dashed as they failed to clear a cross from the corner which fell in the path of Medyk's Alicja Piechocha, to latch home from distance two minutes from time.

Ogebe lasted the duration of the match on her debut in Sportis' first defeat, as Abambila played from the start to finish in Medyk's first win of the season on her second appearance this term.

The result saw Sportis drop to eighth on the Polish top-flight log with three points from two matches, while Medyk moved to fourth with four points from the same number of games.

In the next fixtures, Sportis will visit 10th-placed ROW Rybnik on August 21, while Medyk will host rock-bottom Olimpia Szczecin, who boasts of Cameroon striker Mpeh Bissong on the same day.

Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo will slug it out with Shrewsbury Town’s Jason Cummings, Port Vale’s Tom Pope and Norwich City’s Adam Idah for a place in the FA Cup Team of the Season.

The former Nigeria international was in a terrific form in the competition, scoring three goals in three appearances to help the Red Devils reach the semi-final stage of the tournament.

The forward scored twice against Derby County and found the back of the net in their victory over Norwich City.

His eye-catching performances in front of goal have seen him nominated for the best striker role in the competition.

Arsenal won the 2019-20 edition of the tournament, clinching a 2-1 victory over arch-rivals Chelsea in the final at Wembley earlier this month. 

Ighalo joined the Old Trafford outfit in the January transfer window's deadline day on loan from Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua.

The 31-year-old has since found the back of the net five times and provided one assist in 18 appearances across all competitions.

The forward recently earned a loan contract extension until January 2021 with the Old Trafford outfit following his form for the side so far.

Ighalo has previously starred in the  Premier League for Watford before moving to China to team up with Changchun Yatai in 2017.

The striker bagged 33 goals in 82 league games and won December's Premier League Player of the Month award in 2015.

Ighalo started his career with Norwegian club Lyn Oslo in 2007 before joining Italian side Udinese in 2008, where he spent six years.

The forward inspired the Super Eagles to a third-place finish at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt before he retired from international duty.

The striker scored 16 goals in 35 appearances for the three-time African champions since he made his debut against Uganda in 2015.

Cedric Bakambu scored his first goal of the season as Beijing Guoan played out a 3-3 draw with Qingdao Huanghai on Sunday afternoon.

Heading into the encounter, the Imperial Guards were the only team in the Chinese top-flight with a perfect record – having won all four games in the new season.

Nonetheless, they the failed to maintain their 100% record as they surrendered a three-goal lead to leave the Kunshan Stadium with a point.

Bakambu put Bruno Genesio’s men ahead in the 18 minutes after putting the ball beyond goalkeeper Shi Zhao.

Three minutes later, his team doubled their advantage as Alan converted Jonathan Viera’s assist, while John Hou Saether powered home the third to race to a massive lead.

Looking dead and buried, Qingdao Huanghai produced a surprising comeback to halt the visitors’ juggernaut.

First, Romain Alessandrini reduced the deficit in the 41st minute after beating goalkeeper Quanbo Guo from the penalty spot as one of Huanghai’s strikers was fouled inside the goal area.

On the stroke of half-time, Pablo Machin’s team made it two through Jianrong Zhu who made good use of Jagos Vukovic’s pass.

Needing a goal to avoid defeat, the hosts came out with guns blazing. Fortunately, comeback was complete in the 72nd minute as Alessandrini completed his brace.

No goals were scored in the last 18 minutes as the fixture ended on a no winner, no vanquished note.

Former Cameroon U23 star Joseph Minala was in action for 45 minutes for Qingdao Huanghai. The midfielder, who is on loan from Lazio, replaced Dong Wang early in the second half.

For Bakambu, the DR Congo international saw just 27 minutes of action as injury saw him leave the field for Yuning Zhang. The extent of the knock is yet to be disclosed by the Imperial Guards.

Despite the away draw, Beijing Guoan lead Group B of the Chinese Super League with 13 points from five outings. They welcome second-placed Shanghai SIPG to the Workers' Stadium in their next outing on Saturday.

Fifth-placed Huanghai, who have played out four consecutive draws, are guests of Frank Acheampong’s Tianjin Teda on the same day.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has sparked a flurry of speculation about his future at Arsenal after he took to social media with a teasing post on Sunday.

The Gabon striker, whose vital brace in this month's 2-1 victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup final handed the Gunners their first silverware for three years, has entered the final year of his contract at the club.

Arsenal have been keen for him to commit to a longer stay at the Emirates Stadium following an impressive string of performances since his arrival in 2018 from Borussia Dortmund.

Now, Aubameyang has set pulses racing in North London after he posted an image of an hourglass on Twitter, with the forward providing no additional context to his message.

The tweet however has seen further speculation mount that the 31-year-old has indeed put pen to paper on a new deal to keep him at Mikel Arteta's disposal ahead of a crucial 2020-21 campaign.

The Gunners have been in talks with their star over a new deal, with the club expected to offer a raise on the forward's current £200,000 ($262,000) per-week deal he signed in 2018.

With 22 goals in the Premier League last season - matching his Golden Boot-winning haul from the previous campaign and just one shy of the honour again the following term - Aubameyang has emerged as the cornerstone of the Gunners' attack in the post-Arsene Wenger era.

His prolific performances helped drive the club to a Europa League final in 2019, while his contributions at Wembley earlier this month earned him his first trophy at the club and a Man of the Match award to boot.

He won the club's Player of the Season award for his performances last term, during a tumultuous campaign that saw Unai Emery replaced by Arteta midway through the opening half of the campaign and the season subsequently disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Any reaffirmation of his commitment to the club would be seen as a key coup for the Gunners, who continue to shape their squad ahead of the new campaign, which will be Arteta's first full year at the helm.

They brought former Chelsea star Willian on the club on a free transfer on Friday, but a new deal for Aubameyang would likely trump any other incoming arrival in terms of importance to fans and supporters.

Sivasspor have confirmed the signing of former Toulouse and Leeds United winger Max Gradel on a two-year deal.

The 32-year-old was released by Ligue 2 club Toulouse on Friday after both parties mutually agreed to end their three-year working relationship.

Gradel becomes the second Ivorian player in Riza Calimbay's team after compatriot Arouna Kone who recently penned an extension.

“Demir Group Sivasspor, which continues its transfer duties before the new season, signed a two-year contract with Max Gradel, who played for Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 last season. Max Gradel plays on the left wing,” the club statement read.

“We would like to welcome Max Gradel to Sivas and wish him success under the Demir Group Sivasspor jersey.”

He will be expected to play a part when Sivasspor make their maiden appearance in the Uefa Europa League group stage next season.

Gradel contributed three goals and two assists in Ligue 1 last campaign, but his efforts were not enough to save Toulouse from dropping to the second division.

The former Leicester City and Leeds United forward produced fine performances in England but his stint at Bournemouth between 2015 and 2017 was marred by injuries.

He managed just a goal in 25 Premier League appearances for the Cherries before he was loaned Toulouse for the 2017-18 season.

Following his impressive displays for the Violets, the Ivory Coast winger was handed a permanent contract in 2018 and he returned 28 goals in 68 matches across all competitions for the French side.

Internationally, the Abidjan-born star has played 77 games for the Ivory Coast with 12 goals to his name.

Gradel was part of the Elephants team that clinched the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations title in Equatorial Guinea and also made the Team of the Tournament after scoring two goals in five games.

The 32-year-old recently featured for Ivory Coast at the 2019 Afcon in Egypt where he played four games and scored a goal against Namibia in the group stage.

Mamelodi Sundowns assistant coach Manqoba Mngqithi says he is unsure if discussions over Highlands Park striker Peter Shalulile have been re-opened while he confirmed their previous interest in the talisman.

The veteran manager says because of the money that was demanded by the Lions of the North, they could not go ahead and pursue the Namibia international's signature.

On the other hand, the former Golden Arrows boss is confident the 27-year-old can be helpful in their Caf Champions League campaign because of his speed and ability to finish the chances.

“I can’t confirm that talks have been re-opened but what I know is that we wanted to sign him [Shalulile] before, we failed to sign him because of the transfer fee they wanted for him, it was a stumbling block,” Mngqithi told Isolezwe.

“All I can say is that if we get him now, he will be very helpful when we play in Africa, especially when we are facing the North African teams.

“His speed will make our attack quick and penetrate the defence of the North Africans with speed because they are not quick to track back when you attack them – he uses his speed very well.”  

Meanwhile, coach Owen Da Gama recently confirmed that the Brave Warriors international has also attracted interest from an unnamed Egyptian club.

On the other hand, Shalulile has been heavily linked with a move from the Lions of the North with Premier Soccer League (PSL) giants such as Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates reportedly linked with his signature.

While his future remains a subject of speculation, the club’s co-chairman Larry Brookstone was as quoted saying the marksman was at the same level as former Brazilians stars such as Percy Tau and Keagan Dolly in terms of monetary value.

Brookstone suggested they will not accept anything less than R30 million for the services of the striker who is gunning for the PSL top scorer award.

Surprisingly, Shalulile netted for the Tembisa-based club on Friday night against the reigning PSL champions, taking his tally to 13 goals so far.

With the Lions of the North pushing to qualify for the MTN8 next season and banking on Shalulile’s prowess in front of goal, it remains to be seen if they will eventually be able to release the Windhoek-born hitman.

Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Keylor Navas looks almost certain to miss his side's Champions League semi-final against RB Leipzig on Tuesday after he again missed training with a hamstring injury.

The Costa Rica international pulled up injured in the closing stages of PSG’s dramatic 2-1 quarter-final win over Atalanta on Wednesday and had to be replaced by Sergio Rico.

A scan later revealed he had suffered a torn hamstring , meaning the 33-year-old faced a race against time if he was to participate in their last-four clash against Leipzig.

The PSG medical staff monitored Navas over the weekend but he played no part in their training session on Sunday afternoon. And with just 48 hours until kick-off in Lisbon, the former Real Madrid player now has precious little time to prove his fitness.

If Navas is sidelined, then that will mean a rare start for 26-year-old Rico.

The Spaniard has made just six appearances for the club this season after joining on a season-long loan from Sevilla, having spent the previous campaign on loan at Fulham.

Rico signed a short-term contract extension in June to cover the remaining weeks of the extended 2019-20 season, though it remains to be seen whether he will still be at the Parc des Princes next term.

Former Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye also missed Sunday's training session with a minor injury but the 30-year-old is expected to be fit for Tuesday’s game.

Thiago Silva is also expected to play despite picking up a minor hamstring injury during the Atalanta game, while Kylian Mbappe’s lively 30-minute cameo against the Serie A side suggests his recovery from an ankle injury is progressing well.

Thomas Tuchel’s side reached their first Champions League semi-final in 25 years in the most dramatic of circumstances against Atalanta.

Trailing 1-0 going into stoppage-time, the Ligue 1 side equalised through Marquinhos before substitute Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting converted Mbappe’s pass for a 93rd-minute winner.

It will be their first appearance in the last four of the competition since 1995, when they were beaten 3-0 on aggregate by AC Milan.

Premier Soccer League (PSL) action continued on Sunday afternoon in Johannesburg where the relegation-threatened Black Leopards welcomed Maritzburg United at FNB Stadium.

Ahead of this clash, Lidoda Duvha had their own internal problems where they recently parted ways with coach Allan Clark and star player Lesedi Kapinga, who joined Mamelodi Sundowns.

The two notable changes have left the club crippled and the fans are concerned especially looking at the fact they occupy the bottom of the table.

In the second clash of the day, Bloemfontein Celtic faced reigning MTN8 champions SuperSport United at Bidvest Stadium.

The two teams had contrasting ambitions where coach John Maduka was looking to build from their Nedbank Cup win over Baroka last weekend whilst chasing a spot in the top eight.

On the part of coach Kaitano Tembo, Matsatsantsa are aiming for a spot in the top three but facing a team that has already tasted action since the restart posed some challenges for the side.

Black Leopards 3-2 Maritzburg United

The two teams took time to go all out in their attacks as they spent the first 10 minutes measuring each other out at the 2010 Fifa World Cup hosting venue.

However, coach Morgan Shivambu’s troops were the first to threaten the final third when Edwin Gyimah saw his header bouncing off the crossbar, with goalkeeper Richard Ofori beaten.

The Venda-based club could broke the deadlock through Mwape Musonda's finish from close range, after capitalized from Ofori’s poor handling in the 20th minute.

Leopards doubled their lead in the 30th minute when Lifa Hlongwane benefitted from Musonda’s saved effort on the edge of the penalty area to easily pass the ball into an empty net.

However, Keagan Buchanan pulled one back for the Team of Choice four minutes later with a superb finish from a free-kick, beating keeper King Ndlovu on his right corner.

The Telkom Knockout Cup losing finalists managed to level the matters when Mxolisi Kunene unleashed a powerful shot that sailed into the roof of the net, beating the Lidoda Duvha keeper, to make the score 2-2.

Following their return from the interval, MultiChoice Diski product Tiklas Thutlwa saw his brilliant header beating the Ghana international keeper from the near post, making it 3-2 for Leopards.

Despite efforts to get a late goal from the KwaZulu-Natal side, Leopards held on to their slender lead and eventually walked away with the full three points.

Resulting from the win, Lidoda Duvha remain at the bottom with 23 points from 25 matches and the Team of Choice has 39 points and are sixth on the table.

SuperSport United 1-1 Bloemfontein Celtic

The two sides had a scrappy affair at the beginning with tackles flying high in the opening 10 minutes until the 18th minute when Bradley Grobler showed his intentions, but his strike hit the crossbar.

However, against the run of play, Celtic was the first to draw blood through defender Mzwanele Mahashe, who managed to finish his initial header from a corner kick in the 32nd minute, to make it 1-0 to the visitors.

After their return from the dressing room, Tembo introduced striker Thamsanqa Gabuza for Kudakwashe Mahachi and the change immediately yielded the desired results.

Gabuza won a set-piece in a promising area, leading to midfielder Teboho Mokoena’s brilliant free-kick which left goalkeeper Sipho Chaine stranded to make it 1-1.

There were no clear cut chances in the dying stages of the contest and it ended in a 1-1 draw.

In the end, both teams walked away with a point apiece, leaving the hosts with five games remaining and in fourth position with 41 points whilst the Free State-based club has 29 points at and are 11th after 24 games.

South Africa international Percy Tau made a dream start to life at his new club RSC Anderlecht. 

The 26-year-old forward scored for the Belgian football powerhouse as they secured a 3-1 victory over Sint-Truidense in a First Division A clash on Sunday evening.

Tau was on his competitive debut for the Purple and White having recently joined the club on a season-long loan deal from Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion.

The speedy player was introduced in the 64th minute with Anderlecht leading 2-0 against the Canaries inside an empty Lotto Park with First Division A matches being played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, the visitors pulled one back through Belgium-born Congolese striker Nelson Balongo with two minutes left on the clock.

Tau had other ideas as the former Witbank Spurs player sealed the hosts' 3-1 win with a late goal in stoppage time.

DR Congo-born Landry Dimata and Bohdan Mykhaylichenko scored the other two goals for the nine-time Belgian Cup champions.

The victory took the Purple and White to the third spot on the league standings having accumulated four points from their first two matches this season.

Anderlecht decided to sign Tau after the team failed to qualify for this season's Uefa competitions having finished eighth on the 2019/20 First Division A standings.

The campaign had been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic and Tau's former team, Club Brugge were handed the league title.

Tau played 18 matches in the league for Brugge while on loan from Brighton, who signed him from Mamelodi Sundowns at the beginning of the 2018/19 season.

The left-footed player hit the back of the net three times and registered four assists for Brugge and he left the club with a league winners' medal.

Anderlecht, who are coached by Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany, will be hoping that Tau inspires them to their maiden league title since 2017.

The Purple and While are the most successful Belgian team having won a record 34 league trophies. 

Anderlecht are Tau's third Belgian club since he left Sundowns having also spent some time with Royale Union Saint-Gilloise on loan from Brighton during the 2018/19 campaign.

Former AS Roma defender Mehdi Benatia has revealed he tried to influence Hakim Ziyech to join the Giallorossi but the Ajax player ultimately settled for Chelsea.

The 27-year-old Morocco international has been one of the most highly-rated players in the world thanks to his stunning performances for Ajax, part of which sent them to the Champions League semi-finals in 2018-19, seeing off the likes of European giants in Real Madrid and Juventus before bowing out to Tottenham Hotspur.

Ziyech will begin a new chapter in West London with Chelsea paying a reported €40 million for his services.

Before making the move to Stamford Bridge, Benatia had been in talks with Edin Dzeko and former Roma director and club icon Francesco Totti, in order to bring Ziyech to the Sadio Olimpico.

According to Benatia, Totti was willing to get a deal done but Roma chairman James Pallotta did not approve of it.

“I had tried to get him to come to Roma, and he would’ve run to join this club," Benatia told La Gazzetta dello Sport magazine Sportweek as per Football Italia.

“I spoke to Francesco Totti and Edin Dzeko, telling them that this is the man they want. As a director, Francesco did everything he could to get the deal concluded, but Pallotta said it would be ‘an excessive expense’ and nothing ever came of it.”

Benatia also spoke of another high-rated Moroccan in Achraf Hakimi, who joined Inter Milan in a five-year deal worth €40 million from Real Madrid.

He spent the last two seasons at Borussia Dortmund and largely impressed, playing 73 times in all competitions, scoring 12 goals and providing 17 assists.

Benatia believes Hakimi can compete with Liverpool youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is currently regarded as the best right-back in the world.

“Hakimi is probably the jewel in the crown of this generation of Moroccan players. He is already one of the five best wing-backs in Europe, while in a couple of years, he’ll be contending Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool for first place,” Benatia continued.

“Hakimi called me before he signed for Inter. I told him Italy was the best move he could possibly make.

“It was also perfect, as Inter will help him to grow tactically. Everyone wanted him, from PSG to Bayern Munich, but he can refine his talent and become a more complete player in Italy, especially with a coach like Antonio Conte.”

Benatia is presently on the books of Al-Duhail in Qatar and having played for three Italian clubs in Udinese, Roma and Juventus, the 33-year-old ex-Morocco captain has admitted that when his contract with the Doha-based team expires in January 2021, his best destination for a European return would be Italy again.

"In January my contract with Al-Duhail, the club in Qatar where I'm staying, expires. I could stay here, but also return to Europe and in this case, Italy would be my favourite destination,” he stated.

Former Cameroon forward Eugene Ekeke feels that ex-coach Paul Le Guen destabilised his squad by stripping Rigobert Song of the captain's armband and handing it over to Samuel Eto'o.

After taking over as Indomitable Lions coach in July 2009, Le Guen’s first major change in the team was appointing a new captain, ending Song’s long reign as leader of the players.

Song’s last major tournament wearing the Cameroon armband was the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Ghana, his fifth as skipper, before playing under the leadership of Eto’o at the 2010 Afcon and the Fifa World Cup the same year.

Ekeke feels discord between generations of Cameroon national teams has always existed but the crop that won the 2000 Olympics goal medal had more internal strife.

Although Song was not part of the team in Sydney, Ekeke mentions him as belonging to that generation of players whose cracks he says were widened by Le Guen’s captaincy switch.

“Everything can be sorted out and I think Samuel Eto’o has a big role to play in bringing peace. We are a family. If I have the chance to see him, I will tell him,” Ekeke told Radio Sport Info.

“There is this inter-generational conflict to settle but also these clashes between own teammates of the 2000 generation. Sincerely, we must settle all that. The removal of the armband from Rigobert Song [distabilised Cameroon].

“This was the root of all evil. Paul Le Guen deeply destabilised this generation because Samuel Eto’o did not need an armband. In any case, we have to transcend all that and get back together.”

With Song retiring from international football in 2010, Eto’o went on to further captain Cameroon at the 2014 World Cup but just like his predecessor, he could not help the Indomitable Lions match the 1990 team that reached the quarter-finals of the global football tournament.

Ekeke was part of the history-making 1990 World Cup squad and feels that his generation deserves more recognition than the 2000 Olympics gold medallists.

“The 2000 generation brought a lot to Cameroon... This generation put Cameroon back on the African scene after a long crossing of the desert. But this generation must recognise that Italy 1990 was something else,” said Ekeke.

“In 1990, I repeat, the context was particular. It’s a fact, don’t pretend it’s not the truth! The 2000 generation was not in the same mood as us.”

Regional league side Nebbi Central has maintained they have not sold defender Jerry Jakisa to Premier League side Onduparaka FC.

The Caterpillars announced they have acquired the services of Jakisa in a deal that will see him remain at the club until 2022, but Nebbi Central have now protested that announcement.

“Following Onduparaka’s confirmation of Jerry’s [Jakisa] alleged signing on their official social media platforms, we would like to clarify as follow,” Nebbi Central is quoted as saying by Sports Nation.

“As the player’s current club, we don’t know of any such deal and we have only come to learn about it on social media.

“We urge Onduparaka to act in a way that reflects their status as a professional entity.”

Nebbi Central have now demanded an apology from the Arua club before they enter into any talks concerning the future of Jakisa.

“We, therefore, demand an apology from Onduparaka for damaging our name before any round table discussion can be held,” the club’s statement added.

“The player in question will also be subjected to our internal disciplinary processes.”

According to Onduparaka, Jakisa signed a two-year deal and consequently became the second player they have brought on board in the ongoing transfer window.

Bonny Musema is the first player Onduparaka confirmed.

Jakisa previously played for Nyamityobora FC before he left in 2019 for Nebbi Central.

Onduparaka also have appointed head coach Viali Bainomugisha and he will be deputised by Wamboya Mubaraka, with Ibrahim Kongo taking charge of the goalkeeper coaching roles.

Hassan Muhamood has already left Onduparaka and Ezra Bida could join rivals Kyetume FC.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) has released guidelines and a deadline for the registration of youth football academies.

The registration exercise is core to the strategic Fufa plan for the development and professionalising of football in Uganda.

According to a document signed by Fufa’s deputy CEO in charge of football, Decolas Kizza, professional clubs in the UPL and in Big League are expected to submit applications by August 21.

Academies owned by Fufa registered clubs will submit their prayers directly while their private counterparts will first comply with Uganda Youth Football Association guidelines.

Registered Fufa academies will be allowed to conduct training, developing and organising football competitions comprising of young players from a minimum age of six years to 18 years.

The academies will be required to share data of their players in order to be registered in the Fufa master player database and each player issued with an identity unique number.

Bernardo Silva has branded some Liverpool fans “pathetic” after they mocked Manchester City’s Champions League defeat on social media.

The Portugal midfielder could only watch from the substitutes' bench on Saturday as City suffered a shock 3-1 defeat by French side Lyon in the quarter-finals in Lisbon.

It caps a hugely disappointing few months for Pep Guardiola’s side, who finished 18 points behind Liverpool in the Premier League and were beaten by Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final.

It means they end the 2019-20 campaign with just the Carabao Cup to their name, one year after winning the domestic treble.

With the season now over and thoughts already heading towards the new campaign, Silva posted a message to City supporters on Twitter  on Sunday afternoon.

"The 2019/2020 season has ended for us in a very disappointing way,” he wrote. “To all the fans, we’re sorry for this frustrating season. The only thing we can promise is that in 2020/2021 we’ll fight a lot to do much better and get back to winning important things for you guys.”

A number of City fans replied with messages of support, but he was also mocked by supporters of other teams, most notably Liverpool.

The two clubs have developed a rivalry over recent seasons after Liverpool knocked City out of the Champions League in 2018, before City pipped the Merseysiders to the title by just a point on the final day of the 2018-19 season.

Reds fans, though, were quick to remind Bernardo that the Premier League title is now back at Anfield after a 30-year wait, while they also lifted the Champions League for the sixth time in the club’s history last season — something City or Bernardo have never done.

Less than an hour after posting the original message, Bernardo hit back with a second tweet taking aim at Reds supporters: "And to all Liverpool fans that have nothing else to do than to come to a Man City player account, I’m also sorry for you but for the wrong reasons..pathetic.

"Go celebrate your titles, or try to find a partner, drink a beer with a friend, read a book..so many options!”