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For a generation of Super Eagles fans, one of the more iconic images of the 21st century is that of Osaze Odemwingie celebrating at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations.

That famous two-goal cameo in the game against South Africa in Monastir made him into a household name almost overnight. However, it was back in 2001 that the forward truly began to catch the eye.

His performances at Benin Club Insurance saw him called up by Nigeria coach Adegboye Onigbinde in preparation for the 2002 World Cup. He would ultimately fail to make the cut, and was instead named as one of two alternate players.

That was a period defined by a great deal of experimentation in the national team set-up, as Nigeria sought to rebuild the national side following its now-infamous disbandment after the 2002 Africa Nations Cup. Odemwingie was very much a part of this new wave, splitting time between the Super Eagles and the U-23s.

Nevertheless, he played a vital role in qualifying for the 2004 edition, scoring in a rousing come-from-behind 2-2 draw against Angola in Benin City. Fielding a heavily-depleted side, Christian Chukwu's side were two goals down inside 55 minutes before staging a fightback for the ages.

Kalu Uche halved the deficit with a header, but it would be the dual-national with the boyish looks who would complete the turnaround. Amid the chaos of a hotly-debated penalty award, Odemwingie held his nerve to convert, his spot-kick effectively confirming Nigeria's place in Tunisia.

It was fitting then that, having scored the goal that sealed qualification, he would seize the opportunity of the tournament itself to announce himself to the world.

A lot needed to happen to lead up to that moment, of course. In the first place, it is unlikely that Chukwu, needing more goals to pull clear of South Africa, would have turned to him had Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Victor Agali not been busted for indiscipline within the camp. Also, perhaps with a better goalkeeper than Emile Baron, the story might have been different.

Then again, one might argue that when the stars are so keen to align, there is little mere mortals can do but stand aside and let the cards fall as they will.

Certainly that feeling is reinforced by the fact that Julius Aghahowa, the only other striker left following the defenestration of the other two, then picked up an injury in the very next game against Benin Republic, further bumping Odemwingie up from substitute to starter.

“Every thing has it's own time and I believe that you don't have to rush things,” he said of his rise to prominence. “They will come easy at the right time and when it gets to that time, you will feel it.”

He certainly felt it, and scored once more in the tournament — in the third-place play-off against Mali. Three goals in his first ever outing with the national team; not a bad return by any stretch. However, the wider significance of his performance in Tunisia (and his entire international career, really) was probably in challenging a Nigerian stereotype.

Ten years prior, the Super Eagles had won a second Afcon in Tunis with the physical prowess of a snarling, grunting Rashidi Yekini leading the line. In the ensuing years, he came to be seen as the walking epitome of what a Nigerian striker should be, and it is arguable that the rise of Odemwingie was the key to widening perceptions.

The son of a Russian mother, his softer features and less aggressive style made it clear there was more than one way to play as a striker for the national team.

Although he rarely ever played centrally after that tournament, his versatility and knack for important goals meant he enjoyed a quite fulfilling international career.

He was also able to stand out even in some of the Super Eagles' lowest moments: he was one of the few bright spots in Amodu Shaibu's dour third spell in charge of the national team and was named in the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations Best XI, and he famously scored the goal (against Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2014) that won Nigeria a World Cup match for the first time in 16 years.

As is often the case when discussing legacy, it is impossible to overlook the unsavoury.

Odemwingie frequently had run-ins with authority, and was outspoken almost to an unhelpful degree. He publicly called into question the decision-making and tactical nous of both Amodu and Lars Lagerback, and famously fell out with Stephen Keshi before being recalled on the eve of the 2014 World Cup.

While these anecdotes are useful for a more rounded view of the player, they do not detract significantly from Odemwingie. For all that mixed parentage can sometimes regrettably bring a player's loyalty into question, he was remarkably dedicated to the cause when he was called up.

While he was hardly a pioneer, his combination of finishing ability, pace, versatility and tactical intelligence also went a long way toward aiding the acceptance of dual nationals in the landscape of the Nigeria national team.

Gor Mahia coach Steven Polack has once again hit out at football bosses in the country for failing to come up with a binding ruling on the fate of the 2019-20 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) season.

While Football Kenya Federation (FKF) moved to end the season owing to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, KPL stood their ground accusing FKF of doing a job that belongs to them.

KPL then went further to state they will give direction on the league and on three occasions, they have found it difficult to do the same because of the extension of curfew on sporting activities and social gatherings.

Though Gor Mahia have been registered by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) as Kenya’s flag bearers in the Champions League for next season, the British coach has insisted a binding decision from the two bodies was all the football fraternity needed to know the final fate of the season.

“You know after the president said there is no social gathering, we are doing nothing, we are still in the dark, will the league continue, was the league ended? In fact, everyone is in the dark,” Polack told Goal .

“Imagine after three months, FKF and KPL have refused to come out and tell us what is happening, we are all in the dark, we don’t know what is happening, it is not good at all for Kenyan football, something needs to be done, and it should be made public.

“We don’t know what is the fate of the league, other leagues have already made their decision firmly known, even in Tanzania they have now played the league to the end, Uganda they made it known, so why can’t the two bodies come together and give us the way forward?

“This confusion is too much, my players are always asking me if the decision by FKF is final, and they already know KPL are against it, it is high time we got the final decision of the league, let them make a ruling once and for all and we will all abide by it.”

By ending the season, FKF also confirmed Kenya will not have a representative in the Confederation Cup since the Shield Cup was yet to be played to the end.

Manchester City "should definitely go for Harry Kane", according to Trevor Sinclair, who says the Tottenham striker would give Pep Guardiola a "plan B" in the final third.

Kane sparked speculation over his future at Spurs at the end of March after suggesting he could walk away from the club in order to fulfil his silverware ambitions.

The 26-year-old has been consistently among the Premier League's top scorers since breaking into the Tottenham first team in 2014, winning the Golden Boot on two occasions.

He has hit 19 goals in 31 outings for the club in 2019-20, but has struggled for form since the resumption of the season last month.

Kane has only scored twice in his last six appearances, and Arsenal legend Paul Merson has been among those to suggest that the England international's output will continue to suffer for as long as he is forced to fit into Jose Mourinho's rigid set-up.

Manchester United and Manchester City have both been tipped to offer the highly-rated centre-forward a way out of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but club chairman Daniel Levy will reportedly demand a fee in excess of £100 million ($126m) for a prized asset.

Sinclair acknowledges the fact Kane is likely to cost a fortune in the current market, but has backed Guardiola to make a move for the Spurs star in order to increase his options up front, while also throwing Wolves frontman Raul Jimenez into the mix as a potential alternative target.

“He’s mobile which Pep [Guardiola] wants his players to be," the ex-City winger told talkSPORT. “His hold-up play is excellent and as good as there is out there when he’s got his back to goal.

“And since Edin Dzeko has left the club they haven’t had that aerial competition in the box, all of their forwards are 5ft 8.

“When a club has a deep block against them – which most clubs do – sometimes if it’s not working, they need to have a plan B.

“A tall striker as a back-up option isn’t a bad option. I mentioned Raul [Jimenez] from Wolves too – but they should definitely go for Harry Kane.

“But because he’s English he’ll probably come at an astronomical fee so they’ll probably go for Raul.”

Sinclair went on to express his belief that Kane is probably already thinking about undertaking a new challenge away from Tottenham, with Mourinho's men now set to finish outside of the top four for the first time in five years.

He added: “A lot of people are starting to talk about Harry Kane and asking where his next move is. He loves the club and he wants to be loyal. But as fans, broadcasters and commentators, we have been speaking about him for a while.

“Don’t even think that Harry Kane and his agent aren’t speaking about it. We look at Tottenham last season, Champions League final and flying – they’re now a shadow of their former selves.

“I’ll be very surprised if Kane hasn’t thought about leaving.”

Ruben Loftus-Cheek has called on Chelsea to "manage the pressure" of securing Champions League qualification.

Chelsea’s 1-0 win over relegated Norwich City on Tuesday evening edged Frank Lampard’s side a step closer to claiming a top-four Premier League finish this season.

The Blues are now four points clear of Leicester and Manchester United, who play each other on the final day of the season, and have two matches remaining.

However, Chelsea’s final league fixtures are away at champions Liverpool and at home to Wolves, who are not yet out of the running for a Champions League spot, and Loftus-Cheek does not want his side to be relying on other teams slipping up.

"We have to manage the pressure," Loftus-Cheek told the club's official website.

"We’re used to it playing for Chelsea, that comes with it. We have to do the job, and we really want to be in the Champions League next year so we’ll give it our all.

"We have two really tough games against Liverpool and Wolves to come, so it’s in our hands. We don’t want to be reliant on other results to put us through to the Champions League. We’re in a good position. We have got to nail it down and give it our all."

Loftus-Cheek’s appearance against Norwich was just his second start since rupturing his Achilles in May 2019, and the midfielder acknowledged he is still building up his match fitness.

The 24-year-old added: "I feel like I’m improving. My game’s coming on. I was really happy to start and get some more minutes.

"This injury is a lot different to previous ones I have had, and the explosiveness is still to come, but I’m getting there."

The England international also praised the qualities of Olivier Giroud after the striker’s goal just before half-time saw off Norwich at Stamford Bridge.

"He’s really important for us. He’s a finisher, a poacher in the box, which is what we need at the moment when teams are sitting back and defending against us.

"You always have a chance to sling it in the box and Oli might be there to put it in. Great team player."

Young Africans (Yanga SC) have called on their fans to dust themselves up and forget the humiliating 4-1 defeat suffered against rivals Simba SC on Sunday.

The Wekundu wa Msimbazi proved too strong for their rivals in the FA Cup semi-final clash as goals from Fraga, Clatous Chama, Luis Miquissone and Muzamiru Yassin were enough to make Simba fans smile wide at a half-packed National Stadium, and kept alive their hopes of sealing a double this season.

On the other hand, the defeat dashed Yanga’s hopes of earning a direct ticket to the Caf Confederation Cup next season.

Yanga official Hassan Bumbuli has now called on the fans to forget the humiliating defeat and focus on helping to finish the season in a respectable position starting with their Mainland Premier League match against Singida United on Wednesday.

“We cannot change the outcome of our match against Simba, we lost and we cannot do anything now, we must accept that we lost the derby and now shift our focus to helping the team to do well in the league,” Bumbuli is quoted by Sokaletu.

“Our focus now is what can we do to have a good end to the season? How do we support the team to win the remaining matches? That is what we should all be asking ourselves, we still have enough time to prepare the team well and push them to do better.

“We still have time to rectify our mistakes from the derby and we want to appeal to the fans to continue their support, they should not be divided because we lost in the derby, they should come in large numbers and support the team, Yanga is a big team and we must show an immediate response in our next match against Singida United.”

Yanga will be keen to return to winning ways against a Singida United, who have already been relegated from the top-tier after playing 34 matches, winning three, drawing six and losing 25 matches.

However, Yanga must be wary of Singida who are coming into the match after losing their last league fixture 2-0 to KMC.

Benin Republic head coach Michel Dussuyer has backed Nigeria to qualify for the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar.

The Super Eagles qualified for the global football showpiece on six occasions with their best performances being Round of 16 finishes at the 1994, 1998 and 2014 editions.

Regarded as a specialist in African football having handled teams from the continent since his first stint with Guinea in 2002, he told Fifa the likely countries that would make it through to Qatar.

“I’d go for countries that have participated before in the World Cup like Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Côte d'Ivoire and Cameroon. Nor should we forget Algeria, who won the Africa Cup of Nations,” Dussuyer told Fifa website.

“Then you have teams that could spring a surprise, such as Mali, who have made huge improvements recently and who I’d consider a dark horse in these qualifiers.”

The Frenchman is managing the Squirrels for the second time after he was replaced by compatriot Jean-Marc Nobilo following an uneventful first spell that lasted between 2008 and 2010.

The 61-year-old opened up on his return and how his style of play paid off.

“My first stint with Benin was good on the whole. I spent two years with them and we qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations,” he continued.

“Since I returned, we’ve tried to adopt a style that suits the team. We worked together until we reached the level that took us to the quarter-finals at Egypt 2019. This didn’t happen by accident, and we played very well as a team.”

To achieve their ambition of qualifying for their maiden World Cup, the West African country must first qualify from Group J that includes Congo DR, Tanzania and Madagascar.

Nevertheless, the former Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire coach who admitted that zone is a hard-hitting one believes his side can build on the last eight finish at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations to build for the future.

“The group is tough, as we’ll be facing three teams who appeared at the most recent African finals. Congo DR are a very strong team who came very close to qualifying for Russia 2018,” he added.

"Madagascar were the dark horses of Egypt 2019 yet reached the quarter-finals on their tournament debut. Tanzania have also made enormous progress of late and took part in the most recent Cup of Nations.”

Boniface Ambani has openly claimed he warned Young Africans (Yanga SC) not to go for the services of striker Gnamien Yikpe from Gor Mahia.

The Ivorian striker left the Kenyan champions for the Jangwani Street-based giants after signing a two-year contract in 2018 but has been criticised by Yanga fans for his poor displays in the Mainland Premier League.

The most recent incident came after Yanga’s 0-0 draw against Azam FC at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, where club fans descended to the team’s dressing room after the match demanding for the release of the player and even went further to question the officials behind the transfer.

Ambani, who played for Yanga for two seasons and scored over 40 goals, has now revealed how he pleaded with the club officials not to sign the striker, who has only managed to score one goal since arriving at the club.

“Yes…I did, I warned them not to sign the striker and now everyone is crying foul,” Ambani told Goal on Wednesday. “They [especially fans] want to know who was behind [the Yikpe] signing and I had warned them about his signing.

“I watched him at Gor Mahia. I am a striker and I know the calibre of strikers Yanga likes. I knew he won't fit the bill. I have watched him on several occasions, his runs are poor, his first touch poor, always running off target and his finishing not clinical.”

After Yanga’s humiliating defeat in the FA Cup against Simba SC, which ended their hopes of winning silverware this season, Ambani has now advised the club to cut down their squad to 25 players and break the bank for serious signings.

“This season is now gone and Yanga should now start focusing for the new season, they should look for quality players, maybe they should sign two central defenders, two strong and powerful defensive midfielders, one serious attacking midfielder and two complete, established strikers,” Ambani continued.

“The management should also move to streamline the squad, they should cut it to 25 players and must spend a huge amount of money to sign serious players, also they should involve former players in transfer signings and must not allow unscrupulous agents to bring players into the club.”

Yanga are currently fighting to finish second on the Mainland Premier League table since Simba have already been crowned the champions for the current campaign.

Manchester United striker Anthony Martial is "on the cusp" of becoming an "elite number nine", according to Darren Fletcher.

Martial is currently enjoying his finest individual season yet at Old Trafford.

The 24-year-old had previously struggled for consistency in the final third in a United shirt, but has managed to take his game up a notch since being shifted into a central role.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer trusted Martial to lead the line after selling Romelu Lukaku to Inter last summer, and the Frenchman has rewarded his manager's faith by scoring 21 goals in 41 appearances across all competitions.

His latest effort came during a 2-2 draw with Southampton on Monday, as he drove into the box at pace before firing an unstoppable shot past Saints goalkeeper Alex McCarthy midway through the first half.

Though the result saw United miss the chance to move up to third in the Premier League standings, Fletcher was very pleased with Martial's overall contribution on the night.

The ex-Red Devils midfielder has been pleasantly surprised by the former Monaco youngster's recent resurgence, and says he is starting to show that he has the desire and hunger to match his natural ability.

"I thought Anthony Martial was fantastic," Fletcher told MUTV after the Southampton clash. "I think his endeavour, his work-rate… the talent has always been there.

"There’s always been questions marks about his work-rate and his desire but he’s definitely putting that right and he’s been the most surprising player for me [since the restart].

"I think he’s been fantastic. I think we’re seeing somebody on the cusp – if he keeps this going – of being a real elite number nine goalscorer.

"His attitude all night was a real positive for me."

Solskjaer also waxed lyrical over his star centre-forward in his post-match interview, telling reporters: "Anthony I thought he was excellent today, absolutely top class.

"Especially the second goal that’s how we want to play football. Fast, quick, through the pitch and a very good finish."

Martial will look to add to his impressive goals haul when United take in a trip to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace on Thursday.

The Red Devils are fifth in the Premier League at the moment, but only trail fourth-placed Leicester due to an inferior goal difference, with Chelsea four points further ahead in third having played a game more.

Ugandan midfielder Khalid Aucho has filed for the termination of his contract with Egyptian Premier League side Misr El-Makkasa over salary issues.

Quoting an Australian based intermediary Stevenson Kakooza, Kawowo Sports reports the midfielder has decided to end his Egyptian stay with side Misr El-Makkasa for a delay in salaries for seven months now.

“[Khalid] Aucho is filing for the termination of the contract because he demands seven unpaid months with the amount coming to USh300M,” Kakooza said as was quoted by Kawowo Sports.

Aucho was among the Ugandan stars that made a move just after featuring in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals in Egypt in 2019.

He moved to Misr El-Makkasa in July last year for free after his contract with Churchill Brothers of India had ended.

The Ugandan had featured for Misr El-Makkasa and did score in his maiden tie.

Geoffrey Solo Kayemba, the midfielder's agent who is in Uganda, has already forwarded Aucho’s complaints to football governing bodies including Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa), Egypt Football Association (EFA), Caf and Fifa for action against the club.

Aucho is an experienced star having played for clubs in Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, India and now in Egypt.

In Uganda, the 26-year old midfielder featured for Jinja Municipal Council (JMC), Hippos, Simba, Water Uganda while in Kenya he played for heavyweights Tusker and Gor Mahia.

Red Star Belgrade and OFK Beograd are the clubs the Ugandan featured for in Europe while in India he played for East Bengal and Churchill Brothers.

Baroka FC was his club while he was in South Africa.

He was also part of the Cranes squad that played in the 2017 Afcon finals in Gabon and has so far amassed 45 caps with the senior national team.

In a recent interview, Aucho made it clear he may consider a move back to Gor Mahia.

“Gor Mahia remain my club and will always be my club,” the midfielder stated.

“If another chance came my way, why not? I wouldn’t mind playing for the club again. I loved the club. The only club l played with passion and the only club l ever enjoyed my football.”

“My stay in South Africa and Asia were all good l can’t complain but the truth is, my football life at Gor Mahia was the best. Gor Mahia fans are some of the best fans.”

Aucho’s situation has cropped up just after Joel Madondo ended his contract with Wydad Casablanca of Morocco over almost similar issues.

Mesut Ozil insists he is "ready" as Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta expressed his uncertainty over whether the playmaker would feature again this season.

Since football resumed in mid-June following the three-month coronavirus-enforced shutdown, Ozil has not played a single minute for the Gunners.

The 31-year-old has been an unused substitute for two Premier League matches and was recently missing due to a back injury.

Arteta did not elaborate on the reasons why the former Germany international was absent from Sunday’s north London derby defeat by Tottenham and it seems likely Ozil will not be involved against Liverpool on Wednesday night.

Ozil posted a picture on social media on Tuesday evening to say he was "ready", and indicated he had been involved in training with the Arsenal squad.

However, when asked at his pre-match press conference about speculation over whether Ozil will play again this season, Arteta was non-committal.

“I don’t know,” said Arteta. “At the moment, the situation remains the same. We will see if that changes.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s visit to the Emirates Stadium will see Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain return to north London almost three years since his departure from Arsenal.

The England international has won the Champions League and the Premier League during his time with Liverpool, having previously played alongside Arteta for the Gunners.

The Spaniard did not want to be drawn on whether Oxlade-Chamberlain’s decision to move has been vindicated by his recent successes, and feels the midfielder was a popular figure during his stay at Arsenal.

He added: "It's easy to say that right now but in the moment you have to understand all of the circumstances.

"I don't know what Alex wanted to do in his career at the time, or the situation with the club or how the negotiations were. I don't have all the information surrounding that.

"We all could see the potential of Alex and where he could develop. He picked an incredible club to move to and he wanted a challenge probably after so many years here.

"We have to accept that and I think we all wish him the best because as well as being a great player, I think he was someone who was really, really liked here amongst the fans, the staff and the players."

FC Lausanne-Sport’s ambition to secure promotion to Switzerland’s top-flight got a massive boost after an emphatic 3-0 triumph at SC Kriens on Tuesday evening, with Anthony Koura bagging a brace.

The Blue and White went into the Challenge League encounter on the back of victories against FC Schaffhausen and Chiasso.

Knowing a win against Bruno Berner’s men at the Stadion Kleinfeld would do them a lot of good, they stepped up their game to hit their hosts for three with Burkina Faso international Koura finding the net twice in the first half.

Giorgio Contini’s men had the first glaring chance after 19 minutes following a pass from Aldin Turkes to Maxime Dominguez. However, the midfielder failed to find the net.

Seven minutes later, Koura gave his team the lead after firing past goalkeeper Pascal Brugger thanks to a brilliant pass from Nicolas Getaz.

A good counter-attacking display saw the Burkina Faso star complete his brace in the 36th minute with Turkes the architect this time around.

In the second half, the visitors continued with their impressive brand of attacking football to seal all points at stake through Turkes in the 64th minute after tapping into the net courtesy of Getaz’s assist.

In the 83rd minute, substitute Joao Oliveira could have registered his name among the scorers but his shot rebounded off the crossbar after a deflection.

Kriens were rarely dangerous and could hardly threaten Lausanne who remained as league leaders having accrued 64 points from 31 outings and are on course to earn a berth to the Swiss Super League.

27-year-old Koura, who now boasts seven goals in 18 league games, was replaced in the 79th minute by Christian Schneuwly. Senegalese goalkeeper Mory Diaw saw every minute of action.

Republic of Congo's Igor Nganga was introduced for Elton Monteiro in the 78th minute, while DR Congo's Josias Lukembila was not listed for the encounter.

For Kriens, Nigerian goalkeeper Sebastian Osigwe was not listed for the game, whereas Ghana's Asumah Abubakar was in action from start to finish.

Contini’s side welcomes second-placed Grasshoppers to Olympique de la Pontaise on Friday, while Kriens visit Schaffhausen on the same day.

Kaizer Chiefs centre back Daniel Cardoso has revealed who converted him into a defender.

The 31-year-old player has established himself as one of the best defenders in the country since last season.

Cardoso was included in the Bafana Bafana squad which participated in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals in Egypt.

The Johannesburg-born player has disclosed he was a striker until he joined Bidvest Wits' academy where he worked with former Orlando Pirates coach Eric Tinkler.

“Look, I wish I could still be playing striker, there’s no doubt about it," said Cardoso during a joint initiative with Toyota South Africa.

"But it’s one of those things. They converted me when I went to Wits [academy]."

Cardoso also played for Jomo Cosmos academy as a youngster and he worked with Roy Matthews and Jomo Sono.

Furthermore, the tough-tackling player had a stint with Pirates' former reserve team, Yebo Yes United where he worked with Augusto Palacios.

However, Cardoso is grateful to current Maritzburg United coach Tinkler, who helped transform him into a centre back.

“Coach Eric Tinkler put me at centre-back and thought I would do well there, and I’ve excelled from there," he added.

“It’s a position I had to adapt to and I’m loving the position now, so I’m thankful and I’m glad that I’m making everybody proud.”

Cardoso was well-travelled as a youngster having also turned out for Robertsham Callies and SuperSport United academy.

The no-nonsense defender got his big break at Free State Stars with coach Steve Komphela giving him his breakthrough as a professional footballer.

Cardoso made his PSL debut during the 2012/13 season when he started for Stars in their 2-0 win over Bidvest Wits in August 2012.

The experienced player spent three seasons with Ea Lla Koto before securing a big move to Chiefs in 2016 where he is now a key player.

Cardoso is also a goalscoring defender having netted five goals across all competitions this season which has been suspended since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He has been an ever-present player for the Soweto giants in the league having started all of their 22 games this term.

Marcus Rashford will receive an honorary degree from The University of Manchester after his summer charity campaign against child poverty.

Rashford hit the headlines in June for writing an emotional letter to the government detailing his experience of using foodbanks in his youth.

The 22-year-old expressed his belief that all children who benefit from free school meals during term time should continue to have access to the service over the summer, as he urged Members of Parliament to update their policy.

The England international succeeded in changing government legislation, before raising over £20 million ($25m) to aid vulnerable people during the coronavirus crisis after joining forces with FareShare, a major poverty and food waste charity.

The University of Manchester have decided to present Rashford with an honorary doctorate for his work in the community, which will see him follow in the footsteps of United legends Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton. 

The Red Devils striker released a statement announcing the award, which reads: “It’s a proud day for myself and my family. When you look at the great names that have been awarded this doctorate in the past, it’s humbling.

“We still have a long way to go in the fight to combat child poverty in this country but receiving recognition from your city means we are heading in the right direction and that means a lot. Thank you to The University of Manchester.”

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, the University of Manchester's president and vice-chancellor, praised Rashford for standing up to affect significant change in the city during a hugely uncertain and challenging time for the public.

“Marcus is an extraordinary young man with an extraordinary talent and drive that stretches well beyond the football field," said Professor Rothwell.

“His work for charity and his high-profile campaign will not only help countless young people across our own city, but across the entire country.

“Our university has social responsibility at its core and this sense of civic pride and duty is something we are proud to share with Marcus. That is why the university is delighted to make Marcus our youngest ever recipient of an honorary degree.”

A United spokesman added on Rashford's unique achievement: “Marcus is an exceptional player and an exceptional person. His work with FareShare and his focus on child poverty make him richly deserving of this tremendous honour and everyone at Manchester United is incredibly proud of him.”

On the pitch, Rashford has hit 21 goals in all competitions for the Red Devils in 2019-20 despite missing a large portion of the campaign through injury, and will be back in contention for a place in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's squad for a midweek trip to Crystal Palace.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) forward Bernard Morrison is in trouble again with the club after he failed to report to training since losing to Simba SC in the FA Cup on Sunday.

The Ghanaian forward, who has been in and out of the team since the top-flight resumed on June 13, played in the derby against the Wekundu wa Msimbazi but walked straight to the tunnel after being substituted in the second half for Patrick Sibomana.

Yanga went on to lose the clash 4-1 and missed out on a direct ticket to the Caf Confederation Cup while the huge win enhanced Simba’s chances of sealing a double this season having won the Mainland Premier League title with six matches to spare.

Morrison’s conduct after being substituted in the derby and skipping training on Monday and Tuesday has now caused panic in the Yanga camp with officials threatening to take action against the player, who has continuously been linked with a transfer move to Simba.

“As Yanga, we have set up a committee to discuss his conduct and we will come up with action any time soon,” Yanga Information Officer Antonio Nugaz told Goal.

On Tuesday, Yanga coach Luc Eymael confirmed to Goal only a few players turned out for training just a day after they suffered the humiliating 4-1 defeat against Simba in the FA Cup.

“A lot of players were not there on [Monday] for training, it is when you see the character when you are facing tough times, some players are there and some are not there but we will do with the players we have at hand,” Eymael told Goal.

“If people are not there perhaps they are thinking beyond the club, maybe their mind is not at the club and what can we do? We have to live with that and work with those players who are ready to play.”

Pressed further to name the players who skipped training and whether the club will take action against them, Eymael said: “I don’t want to comment on that…okay, thank you very much.”

Goal now understands, Morrison is among the players yet to report to training and coach Eymael has now said he will only work with the players who are available.

“The issue with Morrison is now a complicated one, I don’t know is whereabouts same as the players who have shown up for training since the derby, I can only let the management to do their work and give us the way forward,” Eymael concluded.

Yanga are now fighting to finish second with close challengers Azam FC as they lie third on the log.

Olivier Giroud has revealed why his pen and pad celebration in Chelsea's win against Norwich was dedicated to injury absentee N'Golo Kante.

Chelsea welcomed the already relegated Canaries to Stamford Bridge for a crucial Premier League clash on Tuesday night.

Frank Lampard's men needed three points to tighten their grip on third place after a disappointing 3-0 defeat at Sheffield United last time out, and Giroud ended up being the match-winner when he found the net just before half-time.

The French striker headed a beautifully flighted Christian Pulisic cross past sprawling Norwich goalkeeper Tim Krul, before wheeling away to celebrate with his team-mates.

Giroud then turned to face Kante, who was sitting in the stands while he continues to recover from a hamstring issue, and appeared to use an imaginary notepad and pen to write a message to his fellow countryman.

When asked about the gesture during a post-match interview with Sky Sports, the Chelsea frontman responded: "It's just I play Scrabble with N'Golo Kante and I aimed it at him. That's it!"

Giroud added on the Blues' latest performance: "We really wanted to bounce back, we played a good in team in Sheffield United and they played well, so efficient in front of the goal.

"The focus and determination today was high, the cohesion was good.

"The most important thing was three points to be honest with you and we're relieved now."

Lampard singled Giroud out for praise after the final whistle, highlighting the 33-year-old's unique attributes in and around the penalty area.

"He is always going to give you a desire to get in there for the team," the Chelsea boss told reporters.

"He has scored important goals. He has never given me a problem, always trained well. His professionalism is always good."

The Blues will now start preparing for an FA Cup semi-final showdown against Manchester United on Sunday, which comes just three days before a meeting with newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool.

Chelsea will conclude their top-flight campaign with a home fixture against Wolves on July 26, before focus shifts to a Champions League last 16 second-leg tie against Bayern Munich.

Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri insisted he was unworried about criticism as his team continue to chase trophies this season.

Ahead of a trip to Sassuolo on Wednesday, Juve are six points clear at the top of Serie A with six games left to play, and also in the Champions League last 16.

Sarri, who has lost the Coppa Italia final and Supercoppa Italiana this season, has faced some criticism, but the Juventus coach is not bothered.

"Honestly, I don't pay much attention to criticism, I always try to be focused only on what I can do," he told a news conference.

"I don't know what people say on social media because I'm not on them and I will never be in my life.

"If we talk, instead, of people in the streets, I only receive support and affection."

Juventus are winless in their past two games and needed a pair of penalties from Cristiano Ronaldo to draw with Atalanta last time out.

Sarri was asked about his side's lack of goals from midfield, but he has no concerns about their firepower, although Ronaldo (seven) and Paulo Dybala (four) have netted the majority of their goals in the past six games.

"We scored 17 goals in the last six matches and I'm not concerned about our scoring ratio frankly," he said.

"We all know that among our midfielders [Aaron] Ramsey is the one that can potentially score more goals considering his individual characteristics.

"Then we have two players that are growing a lot and in the future, I'm sure they will score more like [Rodrigo] Bentancur and [Adrien] Rabiot."

Sarri also acknowledged that Giorgio Chiellini's absence through injury and fitness issues has been one of the "great regrets" this season.

Chiellini, 35, ruptured a knee ligament in August, ruling him out of action until February, when he made a couple of Serie A appearances before the league was suspended due to coronavirus.

The centre-back still has not featured since the resumption last month because of fitness-related issues, though he was given a new one-year contract to keep him at the club until 2021.

Sarri confirmed Chiellini has been in full training over the past week and is still considered an important player.

"Chiellini's absence is one of the great regrets of this season," said Sarri.

"He is a player who knows how to be enthralling. He has been training with the team for five days. I see him growing, and, in the future, he will give a great contribution for us."

Former Kaizer Chiefs utility player Joseph Malongoane said he only found out that he will not be finishing the current season at Naturena 24 hours before the club made the announcement. 

Malongoane's contract expired on June 30 and while Amakhosi had a chance to offer him a two-month extension they decided against it. 

"I got a call [about my release] the day before it was announced and that was it," Malongoane told SA FM.  

Asked if he had an opportunity to ask Chiefs to at least keep him until the end of the suspended campaign, Malongoane said: "I didn't get the opportunity to say anything but it's okay. It's football and you just have to move on."

The Alexandra-born player said he isn't bitter that Chiefs decided to let him go after four years at the club, saying he carries only good memories with him as he's about to begin a new chapter in his football career. 

Malongoane further revealed he remains grateful for the support Amakhosi showed him on his journey to recovery following that horrific 2018 injury. 

"I only have good memories, especially how they took care of me when I was injured - that was the most special memory because they were there, supportive. My teammates, the management and everyone else, they were supportive and made sure I was always in a good space," he continued. 

The 32-year-old winger also responded to reports that he was at one stage very close to retirement. 

He said not even on a single day did any of the club's doctors tell him to end his football career because of the broken leg despite taking very long to recover from it.  

"The doctors were very supportive towards me and they always made sure that I got back to running and I got back to what I do best. There was no time when I was advised to retire whatsoever," he confirmed. 

Malongoane, who also played for Orlando Pirates, is currently a free agent but he will have to wait for the new season to begin before he can join a club of his choice.