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Dijon have signed Pape Cheikh Diop on loan from Olympique Lyon for the entirety of the 2020-21 season.

The 22-year-old spent time during the previous season at Celta Vigo where his career began, making 19 appearances in all competitions and providing one assist which came in a 3-1 La Liga opening day defeat by Real Madrid.

The Celestes finished the season in 17th place, just one point clear of relegated Leganes in 18th.

Diop joined Lyon after three years at Celta but has been unable to be a mainstay in the first team, playing just 25 times.

He now heads to the Northeast of France to get more exposure and minutes on the pitch.

Dijon will have the option to purchase Diop for €5 million on a permanent basis at the end of his loan with an additional €1.5 million in add-ons. Lyon are entitled to 15% of any future transfer fee should the Owls decide to sell him.

“He [Diop] puts in a lot of intensity, he is aggressive on the ball, has good technique, as well as a good vision of the game,” Dijon Sporting Director, Peguy Luyindula said on the club website.

Dijon President Olivier Delcourt also praised Diop’s signing, highlighting some of his strong attributes as well.

“His tactical intelligence and versatility allow Pape to adapt to multiple positions in midfield. He has a lot of talent and it is not for nothing that Lyon have him,” he said.

Diop, speaking on the club website as well, stated Dijon is the ideal club for the progress of his career.

“I am very happy to join Dijon whose project I really liked,” he said.

“It is the ideal club for my progress, in a high-level championship which will allow me to learn a lot.

“Dijon gave me their trust and I want to accomplish great things with the club. I hope we have a great season."

Stephane Jobard’s team finished 16th in Ligue 1 after 28 matches last term, seven points clear of the relegation zone.

They start their new season with a home tie against Angers on August 23 before travelling to play Diop’s parent club Lyon five days later.

Diop was born in the Senegalese capital of Dakar and is eligible to play for either the Teranga Lions or La Roja of Spain.

Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Naby Keita, Fiorentina loanee Kevin-Prince Boateng, Everton's Alex Iwobi and Villarreal's Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa are among the African players who are making the most of their summer break.

Following the conclusion of the Premier League a fortnight ago, Iwobi, Keita and Salah are some African players who have jetted out of England.

The Nigeria international is having a nice time in Cannes, a French resort town while Keita and Salah appeared to have left Merseyside after helping Liverpool end their 30-year wait for a top-flight crown, with the former flaunting a picture of him in a private jet.

Salah, however, is rocking a new hairstyle and shared a pose with a statue of an Egyptian pharaoh.

Elsewhere, Kevin-Prince Boateng showed off his skills on the turntables after his impressive loan spell at Besiktas and Everton’s Yannick Bolasie announced that he is expecting a baby with his spouse.

Fulham loanee Anguissa turned on his fashion game alongside his Cameroon Clinton Njie as they showed off their modelling skills. Meanwhile, free-agent Ogenyi Onazi is doing his best to keep fit after returning to his hometown of Jos in Nigeria.

Zambia and Simba FC midfielder Clatous Chama is the 2019/20 Tanzania Mainland League's Most Valuable Player (MVP).

The 29-year-old has been the engine for the Msimbazi-based side and played a great role in helping the team win a treble. He also won the best midfielder award for his consistent displays.

Taifa Stars and Simba SC custodian Aishi Manula won the Goalkeeper of the Season Award, having kept 18 clean sheets.

The best defender award went to Azam FC's Ugandan Nicholas Wadada, with Novatus Dismas of Biashara United winning the Best Young Player Award.

Belgian coach Sven Vandenbroeck was named the best coach having helped the Msimbazi-based side to a double. The 40-year-old led the team to their third league title in as many seasons with six games to spare. He went on to win the FA Cup after a 2-1 win against Namungo FC.

His assistant coach Suleiman Matola was there to receive the award on Belgian's behalf.

The league's top scorer Rwandan Meddie Kagere missed the gala but was represented by Wekundu wa Msimbazi team Manager Patrick Rweyemamu, who took the award on behalf of the striker.

The former Gor Mahia striker scored 22 goals in the completed season, one less than the previous season.

Referees Abdallah Mwinyimkuu, Ferdinand Chacha, Mohamed Mkono, and Athuman Lazi were also feted for good collective officiating in the Tanzania Mainland League match between Simba FC and Mtibwa Sugar.  

Ramadhan Kayoko won the overall best centre referee award with Frank Kikomba taking the award for the best assistant.

In the team of the season, Aishi Manula gets his gloves in between the posts with David Luhende, Nicholas Wadada, Bakari Nondo, and Pascal Wawa completing the back four.

Zawadi Mauya and Lucas Kikoti complete the midfield with Chama playing behind Kagere, John Bocco, and Luis Miquissone.

Simba SC pocketed Tsh 100 million for winning the league. Their bitter rivals Yanga SC pocketed Tsh 45 million for finishing in the second position. 

Azam FC and Namungo FC received Tsh 30 million and Tsh 10 million for finishing in the third and fourth positions, respectively, in the concluded campaign.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (RMFF) unveiled their 2021-2024 development plan on August 6, charting a future path for the growth of women's football in the country.

The development comes just two weeks after the African ruling body, Caf, unveiled a four-year strategy and also comes after hosting a women's football summit in Marrakech two years ago.

RMFF president Fouzi Lekjaa, National Women's Football League (NWFL) president Khadija Ala, National Technical Administration director Roberts Wayne Ocean, and stakeholders were present at the women's strategy launch on Thursday.

With a focus on Women's Leagues and grassroots development, the regional and the national teams' administration are areas targeted for growth by Lekjaa in his inaugural address.

According to Lekjaa, his leadership is aiming to raise the value of women's football by developing a participatory business strategy to actively engage girls at grassroots level from schools.

Before announcing the appointment of Wafa Bakush as NWFL director-general, Lekjaa urged stakeholders to support the success of the plan in a bid to take women's football to the next level.

In the same vein, Ala, the NWFL president, said the plan will ensure the expansion of the practice base and restructuring teams while applauding the Federation's interest to grow the women's game.

The women's football strategy is built on three areas of development, which are comprised of sporting development, financial investment and technical growth.

The sporting aspect will involve the launching of a professional tournament with its first and second divisions, starting in the next football season, and establishment of a national championship for players under 17 years of age, and regional championships for the youngest groups.

The financial area will witness the raising of the annual grant allocated to women's football clubs - 120 million Moroccan Dirham for the first national division clubs and 80 million Moroccan Dirham for second national division clubs - with full compliance to the plan.

Ten million Moroccan Dirham will also be allocated to the regional bodies to advance women's football, with full compliance to the plan.

On the technical area, it will raise the number of girls and women playing football in the country to 90 thousand in 2024, and form 1000 technical frameworks for the women's football clubs.

It will also develop the general level of women's football in the professional national championship with its first and second division, the regional championship and the youth national teams.

With this move, Morocco will be aiming to qualify for the 2022 Africa Women's Cup of Nations for the first time since 2000 following their triumph at the 2020 UNAF Women's Tournament in February. 

Hearts of Oak have parted ways with star striker Joseph Esso as well as the quartet of Benjamin Agyare, Christopher Bonney, Bernard Arthur and Abubakar Troare.

A social media post on the club's official Facebook account indicates the five players left the club after deciding against renewing their expired contracts.

They featured for the Phobians in the Ghana Premier League (GPL) and FA Cup last season.

"Hearts of Oak management has met players Joseph Esso, Benjamin Agyare, Christopher Bonney, Bernard Arthur and Abubakar Troare and thanked them for their services as both sides opted not to extend their contracts," Hearts posted.

"We wish them the very best of luck in their respective careers."

Unarguably the biggest loss, Esso joined Hearts from Ebusua Dwarfs in 2018.

In December, the striker was reported to have attracted interest from Sudanese side Al-Hilal following a fine display for Ghana the 2019 Wafu Cup of Nations in Senegal. He netted two times to help the Black Stars finish second at the tournament.

Last season, he made 14 league appearances and scored three goals for Edward Odoom’s outfit.

"I've seen it [exit announcement post] on their [Hearts] social media and no one owns their media accounts," Esso told Otec FM.

"I have nothing to talk about it."

In June, the 23-year-old, who was voted by Ghana Premier League fans as Hearts' most exciting player in the African Sports Centre for Data, Research and Technology's 2019 Ghana Premier League Report, reportedly turned down a renewal offer worth $1000 (€851) a month from the Phobians.

“There has been no information on the contract expiration and renewal of the certain players," Hearts board member Frank Nelson Nwokolo recently told Sikka FM.

“If a player decides not to play for hearts, it won't be a big deal. No player will be forced to play for hearts. There is freedom of movement. We can only engage them in contract talks.

“We are appealing to our supporters to have trust in the board. The project is progressing very well."

Hearts signed defender Agyare from Heart of Lions in 2018, the same year Bonney joined the Phobians as a free agent.

Former Azam FC forward Arthur transferred to the Accra-based outfit in August 2019, a year after Burkinabe striker Traore completed a switch to the 19-time league champions.

The quartet made a combined 14 Premier League appearances for Hearts last season. 

Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo broke the club record for most goals in a single season on Friday with his double against Lyon in the Champions League. 

The Bianconeri went into the clash needing a positive result to advance to the quarter-finals, having gone down 1-0 in the last-16 opener all the way back in February. 

Though Ronaldo scored a pair of goals to reach 37 on the season, Juventus crashed out of the Champions League after defeating Lyon 2-1 on the night and falling on away goals in a 2-2 aggregate result.

Memphis Depay converted in style from the spot to open the scoring on Friday after Rodrigo Bentancur gave away a contentious spot-kick. 

With Ronaldo in the team, however, there is always the potential for goals, and the Portugal captain proved as much by netting at the end of the first half to keep Juve in the tie. 

Referee Felix Zwayer spotted a handball from Depay and pointed to the spot in a decision every bit as polemic as that which led to the Lyon striker's opener. 

And there was little doubt over the outcome as Cristiano stepped up, the forward this time sending Lopes the wrong way to pull back the scoreline to 1-1. 

It was Ronaldo's 36th goal of the season for Juve in all competitions, with 31 coming in Serie A, three in the Champions League and two in the side's victorious Coppa Italia campaign.

Ronaldo would net again in the 60th minute, scoring his 37th goal of the campaign. The Portugal star picked up the ball on the edge of the box and blasted a shot from distance that Lopes could only get a touch on as it went in.

That strike was enough to write the 35-year-old into the team's history books as their highest all-time scorer over a single season. 

The record had been held for more than 80 years by club legend Felice Borel, who in 1933-34 scored 36 across Serie A and the defunct Mitropa Cup, leading the Bianconeri to the Scudetto in the process. 

To cap that memorable season, Borel went on to represent Italy at the 1934 World Cup, making one appearance as the Azzurri triumphed in France. 

Lyon, like so many other top European clubs, must be sick of the sight of Juve's current sharpshooter. 

Friday's goals mean that Ronaldo has now scored against the French club representing three different sides, a feat previously managed only by Ruud van Nistelrooy and Jorg Butt against Bayern Munich and Juventus respectively.

Raheem Sterling moved on to 100 goals for Manchester City after he put Pep Guardiola's side ahead against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Sterling opened the scoring nine minutes into Friday's last-16 second leg, finishing in composed fashion after Gabriel Jesus pounced on Raphael Varane's mistake.

It put City 3-1 up on aggregate and took Sterling to a century of goals for the club.

The 25-year-old is the 17th player to achieve the feat for City, though he is the first Englishman to reach triple figures since Dennis Tueart in 1981.

It took Sterling 242 matches to reach the milestone, while the England star has also notched 74 assists during those games.

Sterling, who went close to a second moments after his opener before Karim Benzema equalised, is also the sixth English player to score at least 20 Champions League goals – following Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Harry Kane.

Only Rooney – aged 24 years and 157 days – reached the total at a younger age than the City forward.

Sterling has been in strong goalscoring form again in 2019-20, and recently surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo on the Premier League's all-time scoring list when he notched his 85th career goal. 

Overall, Sterling scored 20 times in the Premier League in 2019-20, setting a new career high in the competition after scoring 17 the previous year and 18 the season before that. 

His exploits, however, weren't enough to earn Man City a third straight Premier League title, as Guardiola's men finished in second place, 18 points behind runaway champions Liverpool.

Sterling continued to be a champion for important causes off the pitch as well, which greatly impressed his manager. 

"I think Raheem and many, many of our players, a lot of people are trying to make a better world," Guardiola said.

"It's difficult, in the world we're living, but I'm proud. I'm really proud of what he is doing and he knows, as a club, myself as a person, we support him 100 per cent."

Former Aston Villa striker Jonathan Kodjia netted a brace in Al-Gharafa’s 2-2 draw with Al-Khor in the Qatar Stars League on Friday.

The Cheetahs lost at home to Al-Duhail in their previous game on their turf, a set-back from their 1-0 win over Al-Arabi at the restart in which Kodjia scored the sole goal.

The Ivorian forward opened the scoring in what was Al-Gharafa’s third home game in a row with a low shot in the 36th minute for a 1-0 first-half lead.

Moroccan wideman Ahmed Hamoudan equalised for Al-Khor two minutes after the half-time break and the score became 2-1 for them four minutes later via Brazilian midfielder Lucca, from the penalty spot.

It looked like it was going to be back-to-back defeats for Al-Gharafa but it wasn’t to be as Kodjia popped up with the equaliser in the 90th minute with a delightful volley.

The brace takes the 30-year-old to eight league goals since he arrived in January. He started off with a hat-trick on his debut in a 4-2 win over Al-Rayyan and scored next in a 2-1 home win over Al-Wakrah just before the Stars League was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Kodjia was on the books of Aston Villa between August 2016 and January 2020, and scored 31 goals and providing nine assists in 106 competitive outings.

He played 41 times during the 2018-19 Championship season, scoring nine goals as Villa secured Premier League promotion with a 1-0 win over Derby County in the play-off final.

Kodjia’s status in the Villa squad began to reduce during the 2019-20 campaign, making only six top-flight appearances, his last coming in a 2-1 win at Burnley in which he played for 19 minutes.

He has previously played for Reims, Angers and Bristol City and has spent time on loan at Cherbourg, Amiens and Caen, all in France, where he was born.

Kodjia has also represented Ivory Coast 24 times, scoring 11 goals.

He featured at the 2017 and 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Egypt, respectively, having a hand in three goals (two goals, one assist) in the latter, one of which came in the quarter-finals where they lost 5-4 on penalties to eventual champions Algeria.

Rasheedat Ajibade was involved in Avaldsnes' only goal after assisting Elise Thorsnes in a 1-0 away victory over Roa in a Norwegian Toppserien encounter on Friday evening.

The 20-year-old has been in good form for Thomas Dahle's team so far in this campaign, scoring three goals in five starts - one each against Lyn Football, Arna-Bjornar and Valerenga.

Avaldsnes went into this match with determination to bounce back to winning ways against bottom-placed Roa following recent back-to-back defeats, 2-1 against Valerenga and 3-1 against Sandviken.

While eyeing her side's victory, Ajibade was eager to replicate her form against the hosts, having provided an assist to Ylinn Tennebo to score a 60th-minute lone winner at home, a year ago.

The FC Robo Queens product did not take too long to threaten the backline of the hosts but was denied by the defence in the sixth minute before her second effort hit the crossbar two minutes later.

The Nigerian snatched the ball inside Roa's defence after the hosts failed to deal with her free-kick and calmly teed up Thorsnes, who eventually fired home in the 16th minute to ensure the victory.

The Nigeria international, who was in action for the duration of the match, has now provided her first assist and scored three times in six matches for Avaldsnes this season.

The result means Avaldsnes are fifth with 10 points from six games - sitting only just three points adrift of leaders Lillestrom, who will be visiting them at the Avaldsnes Idrettssenter on August 15.

Yanga SC have parted ways with veteran defender Kelvin Yondani and Juma Abdul ahead of the new season.

The Jangwani-based side confirmed the new development via their social media platform.

"The management of [Yanga SC] has announced the exit of their star players Kelvin Yondani and Juma Abdul after failure to reach an agreement regarding their contracts," the 27-time league champions confirmed.

This latest move brings to an end Yondani's stay at the club he joined in 2012 from bitter rivals Simba SC. he has since helped Timu ya Wananchi to win four Tanzania Mainland League titles.

A couple of days ago, Yanga confirmed the exit of 14 players.

Former Gor Mahia striker Gnamien Yikpe, who took much criticism last season, has been axed alongside captain Papy Tshishimbi, who refused to renew his contract and Congolese striker David Molinga.

Others dropped are veteran striker 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.

Surprisingly, the club have retained controversial Ghanaian forward Bernard Morrison, who has missed training since the team suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat against rivals Simba SC in the FA Cup semi-final clash and was since arrested under suspicion of marijuana possession.

Other played retained include Kenyan keeper Farouk Shikhalo, Metacha Mnata, Ramadhan Kabwili, Haruna Niyonzima, Lamine Moro, Bernard Morrison, Feisal Salum, Juma Mahadhi, Adeyum Saleh, Said Makapu, Balama Mapinduzi, Deus Kaseke, Ditram Nchimbi, Abdulaziz Makame, and Paul Godfrey.

On Monday, the club denied reports they have been forced into panic transfer activities after missing out on winning silverware in the just-concluded season.

The Jangwani Street-based giants have already signed four players – defender Bakari Mwamnyeto from Coastal Union, striker Waziri Junior from Mbao FC, left-back Yassin Mustapha from Polisi Tanzania and midfielder Peter Mauya from Kagera Sugar.

A section of Yanga fans have questioned the criteria the club is using to sign new players since they have not appointed a new coach after they fired Belgian Luc Eymael at the end of the 2019-20 Mainland Premier League season.

The fans believe the club should have first appointed a new coach, who could reveal the players he wants to be signed for the club ahead of the new season.

Frank Lampard thinks Chelsea will survive the loss of Willian even if he joins a rival like Arsenal having already coped with the sale of Eden Hazard to Real Madrid last summer for £88 million ($115m).

Willian is understood to be in advance talks with Arsenal over a three-year deal having only been offered a two-year contract to stay at Stamford Bridge with no room for negotiation.

Chelsea look set to lose the 31-year-old but Lampard was clear that Willian only didn't travel due to a minor Achilles injury ahead of Saturday's away match with Bayern Munich.

Lampard spoke of his great relationship with his former team-mate and the player he now manages but expects his side to cope with him leaving in the near future.

"It does not matter if there's a disappointment from any party, in this situation," Lampard said in Munich on Zoom video conference. "He remains our player at the moment. He was injured for the cup final and injured for tomorrow and he would have given everything to play in those game.

"I know Willian well, I have seen him. He has carried this injury a little bit in the latter part of the restart. In terms of being disappointed, certainly as a club we have done everything we can to explain [the situation] to Willian.

"Mine and his relationship is very close and I would have no feeling of disappointment if he does move on. He is a fantastic man and a fantastic player. I think he will feel like that about Chelsea. I will leave him to say his own words.

"But I don’t want anyone to try to find a negative attitude. The club have acted very well in this as well. If he moves on I personally will wish him well. I think he [would] leave a hole as a player who has been here for I think seven seasons, being part of successful teams.

"When I came in and we had a lot of issues in terms of younger players, players back from loan, transitional elements to the group, Willian as the one you looked at and relied on in terms of his experience and quality. He has shown me that all year. He has his own decisions to make.

"We as a club will always want to move forward, no matter what. Eden Hazard left last year; the club continues to work in a forward direction which I think we have in many ways. That remains the same, whatever player leaves the club.

"When a player is out of contract, they have the freedom and the right to play wherever they want. You have to understand that if they stay in the league and it is a player of Willian’s quality, for instance, then they will go and contribute to that team.

"We have to accept that and move on. I have no problems with that."

The 31-year-old first joined Chelsea in 2013 from Anzhi and has since taken a third-captain role at the club and team-mate Antonio Rudiger, who previously explained that Willian helped him settle in London, admitted that he would be missed.

"He is own man and he makes decisions for himself," Rudiger said after Lampard's press conference. "I don’t know what the situation is yet but if he goes it will be a huge loss for us. Especially after the restart people could see he was very important for us."

The Blues face a difficult task on Saturday night as they try to overturn a 3-0 first leg home defeat against a Bayern Munich side that have won their last 17 domestic games and who were crowned Bundesliga champions in July.

Frank Lampard admitted that Chelsea may have to start the 2020-1 Premier League season without the services of Christian Pulisic, one of several Blues stars stricken with injury. 

Pulisic opened the scoring for Chelsea in Saturday's FA Cup final against Arsenal but was unable to complete the 90 minutes at Wembley, falling victim to a hamstring injury at the start of the second half with the game poised at 1-1. 

In his absence, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted his second of the afternoon to give the Gunners victory, although the Blues were already assured of European football next season after finishing fourth in the league. 

Pulisic had already been confirmed as a casualty for Chelsea's visit to Bayern Munich on Saturday in the second leg of the sides' last-16 clash, and Lampard believes that he faces a race against time to regain fitness before the Londoners begin the new season in mid-September. 

"With Pulisic it’s touch and go for the start of the season. We have to treat it right," the Chelsea manager explained to reporters on Friday.

"He has been fantastic although had a couple of these injuries this season. In the big scheme when Pulisic reflects on the first season, I think his improvement levels coming here, when you think of his goals and assists being the best of his career in the first year in the Premier League.

"From where he was at the start and how he was playing in restart he should be very happy because that is down to his work.

"We will get him fit and ready. If he misses the first part of the season, the first one or two games, then we will have a firing Christian hungry for restart."

As well as the United States international, Chelsea are missing a host of big names as they seek to overturn a formidable 3-0 deficit against the Bundesliga champions. 

Cesar Azpilicueta and Pedro both joined Pulisic in succumbing to injury during the FA Cup final, while Willian was left out of Chelsea's 23-man travelling squad amid speculation that the Brazilian will soon sign a contract with Arsenal. 

The Blues are boosted by the return of N'Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who Lampard affirmed are both ready to start at the Allianz Arena should they be needed.

"They are fit to start, both. With Pulisic we are looking at around a six week injury, Azpi hopefully three weeks," he added.

"Pedro is moving on but his injury is hopefully six weeks - he had an operation earlier in the week. Willian’s injury is improving but not right for this game.

SuperSport United have announced the promotion of South Africa under-20 international Gape Moralo from the club's reserve team.

The 20-year-old sensation caught the eye of Matsatsantsa first-team head coach Kaitano Tembo while playing for the Tshwane giants in the Multichoice Diski Challenge (MDC).

Matsatsantsa released the following statement on Friday with their 2019/20 PSL campaign set to resume next week having been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic in March.

A club statement read: "SuperSport United Football Club technical team has promoted MDC prospect Gape Moralo to train with the first team."

"The youngster joined the SuperSport Development Academy two years ago from the School of Excellence that is based in Elandsfontein, Kempton Park."

Moralo is looking forward to playing in the South African top-flight league after excelling in the reserve league, MDC.

"It's my second season in the MDC this year, the MDC is very competitive. I haven't had a chance with the PSL," Moralo told the club's official website.

"But I'm definitely sure the standard is very much higher compared to the MDC. This I can tell when I train with the first team."

SuperSport lost the services of their captain and central midfielder Dean Furman, who decided not to renew his contract with the club and returned to the United Kingdom (UK) two months ago.

Moralo will fill the void left by the Bafana Bafana international and compete with the likes Teboho Mokoena, Sipho Mbule and Jamie Webber in central midfield. 

"I share the same position with Sipho Mbule and Jamie Webber. The two have been with the first team longer than me and they are obviously experienced," he said.

"I think what motivates me is the fact that being there is not a right but a privilege. 

"It can be taken away at any moment provided I'm not doing well. That is what keeps me working hard and fighting for my position."

Moralo will be hoping to make his professional debut when SuperSport take on Bloemfontein Celtic in a PSL encounter next week Sunday.

The encounter is scheduled to take place at Bidvest Stadium which will be Matsatsantsa's home ground in the Biologically Safe Environment (BSE) which will be hosted by Gauteng.

Napoli will have to "climb Everest" if they are to overcome Barcelona in their Champions League last-16 tie this weekend, says Gennaro Gattuso.

Following a 1-1 draw in Italy back in February, Barca have a narrow advantage due to the away-goals rule ahead of the return game at Camp Nou on Saturday.

The Blaugrana have been disappointing since the restart – they surrendered a two-point lead in La Liga to finish five adrift of eventual champions Real Madrid – leading to speculation over head coach Quique Setien's future.

However, Napoli boss Gattuso still considers overcoming Barca to reach the quarter-finals in Lisbon to be one of the toughest challenges his team could face.

"They are used to winning and I know that when you get used to winning you always want to do it. Tomorrow we have to climb Everest," Gattuso said on Friday.

"In recent months I have heard many jokes, like 'Barcelona are not in shape', but if you go and watch them there are some players who put on a show.

"We know it will be a very difficult match for us. We know what kind of team awaits us and we know we will have to make a great performance, both technically and tactically, and maybe that won't even be enough.

"We know we're facing great champions. You need a great game to come out with a good result."

Gattuso provided a positive update on the fitness of Lorenzo Insigne, who limped off during last weekend's victory over Lazio with a groin injury.

"Yesterday he trained at 50 per cent. Today he was at 100 per cent with the team," said Gattuso.

"I want to know he feels 100 per cent tomorrow. If he is not, he will not be on the pitch from the first minute. If he is at 100 per cent he will play and help us make a great game."

Napoli will be looking to secure a shock in Europe after their domestic season did not live up to expectations. Carlo Ancelotti was sacked as manager in December and replaced by Gattuso, who could only lead his side to a seventh-place finish in Serie A.

Ajax have expressed an interest in a loan move for Ryan Sessegnon but they face a wait to see if the 20-year-old will be made available.

The Dutch champions are targeting attacking reinforcements and have earmarked the out-of-favour England under-21 international, who has found life hard since joining Tottenham last summer.

Initial struggles under Mauricio Pochettino were only made harder when Jose Mourinho took over, leading to only 12 appearances since making the £25 million ($33m) move from Fulham.

Mourinho has yet to express his opinion over Sessegnon's future, which will be pivotal to whether he can consider a move to Eredivisie. The north Londoners face a lean summer, despite talks to sign Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from Southampton for £15m ($20m).

Erik ten Hag faces a gap in his attack having seen Chelsea activate a £37m ($48m) release clause to sign Hakim Ziyech in February and could deploy Sessegnon in a wide attacking role.

Indeed, his versatility could make him a useful option for either club as Sessegnon has experience playing in any role on the left-hand side, including full-back.

Tottenham are currently light at left-back, with Danny Rose tipped to depart and Jan Vertonghen having already confirmed he'll leave the club after his contract expired at season's end.

Barcelona have also previously enquired about taking Sessegnon on loan due to a lack of funds available to strengthen their squad, but Mourinho threw out their request.

Meanwhile, Ajax await a firm start date with a proposal to resume Eredivisie play on September 12 on the table.

Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte has ruled that professional football should be stopped until at least September 1, while Ajax director Edwin van der Sar has been heavily involved in the plans with KNVB director Eric Gudde supporting the proposition put forward by the clubs.

The Dutch giants have previously looked to top English talent in the past as they expressed an interest in Chelsea star Mason Mount before he went on loan to Frank Lampard's Derby County in 2018-19.

Orlando Pirates assistant coach Fadlu Davids says they are looking for nothing but to get their first match under the belt as they prepare to face Mamelodi Sundowns in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) next weekend.

The Buccaneers are looking to fight for PSL honours as the 2019/20 PSL campaign is set to restart next week following a forceful halt in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Davids explains they have been training for a month and his troops are feeling the spirit of football now that they are back to training on the field.

“We’ve been training for close to four weeks now. As the days get closer to the first match of course the excitement builds up,” Davids said in a video posted on Pirates Twitter account.

“The team is excited to get back on the field and getting into match competition time. Of course, from a physical point of view being in lockdown, we had the zoom sessions to keep fit.

“Then the lockdown regulations allowed our players to do individual running on the road but not in a team setting that really affected their physical state and of course their mental state not being able to get out of the house.”

After their clash against Masandawana was called off in March, Pirates were forced to train in isolation and the former Maritzburg United mentor explained their new training methods.

“Now that we have started to train for about four weeks and of course getting that feeling back (training as a team” going into smaller groups it really had a positive impact on the players – being able to get outside again,” he added.

“And of course now that we really getting close to match time and being able to train fully with the team has brought that spirit back.

“The spirit of football, the spirit of togetherness and we really raring to go and get the first match under our belt.”

Coach Josef Zinnbauer’s men sit fourth on the log with 40 points, eight points behind top of log leaders and arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs.

Although they share the same position with SuperSport United but separated on goal difference, the Soweto giants are gunning for a second win over the reigning PSL champions.

Paris Saint-Germain have a major injury crisis on their hands ahead of their Champions League match with Atalanta and now one more name can be added to the list of injuries: Thomas Tuchel. 

The club have announced that their manager suffered a sprained ankle and a broken bone in his foot during PSG's training session on Thursday night.

"Thomas Tuchel was the victim last night of a sprained left ankle with a fracture of the fifth metatarsal during a sporting session," PSG said in a statement on Twitter.

Tuchel will still be present on Wednesday when PSG face Atalanta in a quarter-final showdown in Lisbon, but several of his side's top performers are in doubt for the game. 

Chief among the club's injury doubts is star striker Kylian Mbappe, who suffered an ankle injury during PSG's Coupe de France victory over Saint-Etienne on July 24.

Mbappe was facing a three-week absence after the injury, which would not give him sufficient time to recover for the match against Atalanta.

Earlier this week, Tuchel said he was unclear on Mbappe's status but that he did "not expect too much" in terms of the 21-year-old being ready for the game.

Mbappe, though, is not the only injury doubt for the match after Marco Verratti suffered an injury in training on Tuesday.

"[Verratti was] the victim of a severe shock yesterday in training," the club announced, "with a significant right calf contusion resulting in muscle damage which will be assessed in the next 72 hours."

In addition, left-back Layvin Kurzawa is out for the game with a thigh muscle injury, while Thilo Kehrer will also miss out after suffering a bone fracture near his ear.

PSG reached the last eight of the Champions League after overcoming Borussia Dortmund in the round of 16, with two Neymar goals helping the Ligue 1 champions to a 3-2 aggregate victory. 

Atalanta, meanwhile, blew past La Liga outfit Valencia with a 8-4 win on aggregate in the last 16.

The Serie A outfit, though, are likely to be without star man Josip Ilicic for the PSG match, with the forward having not featured since the 2-2 draw with Juventus on July 11.