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Jordan Henderson celebrated 10 years as a Liverpool player last month, but if reports this week are to be believed, the Reds captain may not be around for very much longer.

There was widespread shock when stories emerged on Monday that Henderson’s future at Anfield is looking increasingly uncertain. Let’s face it; nobody outside of Liverpool saw that coming.

The situation is this: Henderson has two years remaining on his current contract, signed in 2018, but talks over an extension have gone quiet.

There were initial discussions towards the end of last season, but those could be described, at best, as ‘unsatisfactory’, and as yet there has been no indication as to when, or indeed if, negotiations will resume.

So we get to this point, where one report even suggested there is a very real possibility that Henderson could leave Liverpool this summer. Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid, it is understood, would be very interested in a deal for the 31-year-old, and they won't be the only ones.

The idea of a summer sale has been played down by sources within Liverpool, but the fact that this story has even come to light is telling. Henderson is not somebody who courts headlines, especially ones such as this, and it is understood that he and his camp have no problem with anything that has been written.

Nor, it should be stressed, do Liverpool. The story is out there because it is true.

Liverpool, then, find themselves in a bizarre situation, where their club captain, the leader of their dressing room and the man who lifted four major trophies in the space of 13 months is now contemplating the prospect of leaving, less than four weeks before the start of the new campaign.

They've already lost one key midfield player in Gini Wijnaldum; they can ill-afford to lose another.

It promises to be a busy few months in terms of contract negotiations at Anfield. As well as Henderson, Virgil van Dijk, Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Fabinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita all see their contracts expire in 2023 and will be looking to renew, while Alisson Becker, whose runs until 2024, is also in line for an extension.

That’s a lot of work for Michael Edwards, the sporting director, and his team to get through. Liverpool are keen to retain the bulk of their current squad, including Henderson, but perhaps they have underestimated their skipper’s desire to sort out his future swiftly, and to be suitably rewarded for his efforts.

He will feel he is entitled to that, given his service and the success the club has enjoyed under his captaincy, winning the Champions League, the Premier League, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.

Henderson was the Football Writers’ Player of the Year last season, and remains the most influential player within Jurgen Klopp’s first-team dressing room. His team’s record when he doesn’t play tells you just how important he is on the field, too.

However, he will be 33 by the time his contract expires and Liverpool showed with Wijnaldum, who left on a free for PSG earlier this summer, that they are not afraid to make ruthless decisions when it comes to renewals.

Klopp wanted desperately to keep the Dutchman, who was one of his vice-captains, but Liverpool were not willing to give Wijnaldum the terms, and crucially the length of contract, he wanted.

It should also not be forgotten that Steven Gerrard, one of the club's most iconic players, was also allowed to leave on a free under owners Fenway Sports Park's stewardship. Gerrard left for LA Galaxy in 2015, after being left frustrated by what he felt was a token effort from the club to retain him. He was 34 at the time.

There is a suspicion, however, that Liverpool will be keen to avoid a repeat of that situation Henderson, who has grown into a talismanic, Gerrard-esque figure since joining from Sunderland as a callow 20-year-old in 2011.

He is now eight games away from 400 for the club in all competitions, and is still considered an integral part of Klopp’s first XI. Indeed, one of the great frustrations of last season is that Klopp’s ‘ideal’ midfield, of Henderson, Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara, was only seen together in one game, away to Everton all the way back in October.

Liverpool fans will certainly hope to see a little more of it this season. No player is bigger than the football club, but the idea of losing their skipper is not one most Reds would like to contemplate right now.

Further Reading

United States women's national team star Alex Morgan is raring to compete at the Olympics after giving birth to her first child, claiming that she feels "stronger and fitter" than she did before falling pregnant.

Morgan has been included in Vlatko Andonovski's 18-player roster for the Tokyo Games, which were originally postponed in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Orlando Pride striker benefitted from the delay as she welcomed her new daughter Charlie into the world a month later, and is now in peak condition ahead of the rearranged women's football tournament, which is due to kick off on July 21.

What's been said?

Morgan told FIFA.com of her excitement while expressing a desire to help her country repeat their gold medal heroics from the 2012 Olympics in London.

"I feel physically stronger and fitter than before I was pregnant," she said. "It’s a strange thing and it’s hard to explain because I don’t necessarily feel I’ve put in more work in the gym or in training. But I do feel a change in my body, and it’s a change for the better.

"I feel very good right now. There are little things that I want to work on, but there are also things I’ve done well to improve on even from before getting pregnant.

"I’m in a very good place, both personally and with the team, and I’m looking forward to getting back to a major tournament after that huge success we had in 2019.

"It’s also been nine years since we made it to the top of the [Olympic] podium in 2012, so most of this team haven’t experienced success at this tournament. That’s an extra motivation."

Who will the USWNT play in the group stage?

The USWNT have been drawn in Group G alongside Sweden, New Zealand and Australia.

Morgan and Co will open their campaign with a meeting against Sweden at the Tokyo Stadium on Wednesday night.

Andonovski's side will play New Zealand three days later before wrapping up their pool schedule against Australia on July 27.

Morgan looking forward to Sweden test

Morgan hasn't forgotten the heartbreak of the quarter-final penalty shootout loss to Sweden in Rio five years ago, and says the reigning world champions are relishing the prospect of another heavyweight clash against Peter Gerhardsson's team. 

"It was devastating, especially knowing that it was the worst finish this team has ever had," she said. "I probably didn’t fully take it in until weeks later because it was such a shock.

"Having said that, we seem to have played Sweden at pretty much every tournament I’ve been involved in and they always play well against us.

"They beat us in the group stage in 2011 and in the quarter-finals in 2016, and I always see them as one of the toughest teams we face on the world stage.

"We’re all really looking forward to playing against them again."

Further reading

Former Juventus striker Fabrizio Ravenelli admits that the Serie A giants will "regret" allowing Gianluigi Donnrumma to slip through their net on two occasions.

A highly-rated goalkeeper that has just helped Italy to Euro 2020 glory has been on the move this summer after running down his contract at AC Milan, with Paris Saint-Germain winning the race for his signature.

Juve had been keen on acquiring the talented 22-year-old, having previously passed on the chance to do a deal with him back in 2011-12 after inviting him to a trial in Turin.

What has been said?

Ravenelli was part of Juve's youth team coaching staff at that time and has told Tuttosport on some frustrating recruitment calls: "The biggest regret is that 10 years ago, with a small investment we could have beaten Milan to him. 

"Too bad, Donnarumma would have been [Gianluigi] Buffon's perfect heir. Now there is [Wojciech] Szczesny, who is another great goalkeeper and therefore I understand the choice of the club and [Massimiliano] Allegri."

Why didn't Juventus sign Donnarumma?

A future superstar was representing local side Club Napoli when Juve spotted his potential.

It would be 2013 before Milan eventually did likewise and took on a player that would make his competitive debut for them at just 16 years of age.

He would go on to take in 251 appearances for the Rossoneri, while earning 33 caps for his country, and Ravanelli claims to have never been in any doubt that he would reach the top.

That opinion was not shared by everybody in Turin, though, despite Donnarumma catching the eye with his performances during a trial.

"I have the memory of a powerful, explosive, impressive little boy," Ravanelli added.

"He blocked everything. So much so that none of our boys managed to score past Donnarumma from the edge of the area.

"We subjected him to a volley of shots around the penalty spot. But it was still almost impossible to score against him. It left everyone speechless. He was a different boy from the others.

"Now it's easy to say, but at the time I communicated to the goalkeeper coach that this guy should be taken immediately because he would become an absolute top player."

Further reading

Kaizer Chiefs are stranded in Morocco after they lost 3-0 to Al Ahly in the Caf Champions League final on Saturday night.

The Soweto-based giants failed to win the trophy in their first-ever final, which took place at the Mohamed V Stadium.

Second-half goals from Mohamed Sherif, Mohamed Magdi Afsha, and Amr El Solia were enough to hand the Red Devils a second straight title and the goals came after Chiefs’ Happy Mashiane had been sent off for a reckless tackle on Akram Tawfik at the stroke of half-time.

Amakhosi have confirmed on their social media pages that the problem is due to mechanical concerns with their plane. 

What has been said?

“The team was due to arrive home this morning but due to flight mechanical concerns, we are still in Morocco. We will issue out a travel update in due course,” read part of the statement.

Another statement stated: “Good morning Amakhosi a travel update. We are still in Morocco we were not able to take off due to flight technical issues. We are all good and will update you ASAP.”

While the team is held up in Morocco, two of their players have been allowed to link up with South Africa’s U23 squad that will take part at the Olympic Games to be staged in Tokyo.

The club confirmed in another statement that the two players - Kaizer Chiefs defender Reeve Frosler and midfielder Nkosingiphile Ngcobo – had already been allowed to travel to Japan.

“Kaizer Chiefs defender Reeve Frosler and midfielder Nkosingiphile Ngcobo left their Amakhosi teammates in Casablanca, Morocco at midday on Sunday, as they headed off to make their way to Tokyo,” the statement said.

“To join up with the South Africa U23 team, who are already in Japan for the Olympic Games, the duo will be flying via Istanbul Turkey, and should be with coach David Notoane and the rest of the squad at 19h20 on Monday evening Tokyo time.”

Further Caf Champions League final reading 

Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho is optimistic Leicester City will achieve their Premier League objectives in the new campaign. 

The towering attacker was in a good form in the 2020/21 season and went on to score 19 goals for the Brendan Rodgers-led team. 

"Obviously, I scored goals last season," Iheanacho told the club's official portal on Monday.

"I think, this season, we really need to do more and focus on our games. I have a good feeling that this season, it might fall for us and we will get what we want. As I said before, we need to concentrate and focus on the games, one after the other and hopefully, we will get there in the end.

"I pray for more goals, but most importantly, more wins and more points." 

The 24-year-old also expressed his feelings after re-joining the former league champions for the pre-season.

"It feels good, it is sunny! I am happy to be back. Pre-season is on, so you know what it means: running, running, running!" Iheanacho continued.

"Of course, it’s good to be back. Now, we need to concentrate on the work that we have ahead. We just need to focus and get through the pre-season and focus on the new season. 

"It is good to be back with this special group of lads. We are like a family. We are all friends, so it is always good to be back with everybody. We are hoping we will be back fit and strong so we can work together again. 

"I am happy, coming back here, and hopefully we will enjoy it and even enjoy the running as well!"

Leicester had narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Champions League after finishing fifth with 66 points, a point less than Chelsea who finished fourth.

They won 20 out of the 38 matches they played, drawing six and losing 12. They scored 68 goals in the process and conceded 50. City will be starting their 2021/22 campaign with a home match against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Lothar Matthaus has criticised Toni Kroos as the fallout from Germany's Euro 2020 campaign rumbles on, admitting "I don't agree with the way he plays".

Germany suffered an early exit at the hands of arch-rivals England at this summer's European Championship, losing 2-0 at Wembley in the last 16.

Real Madrid star Kroos was among those to fall short of expectations during the tournament, and has since announced his retirement from international football, which came as a welcome surprise to Matthaus.

What's been said?

The former Bayern Munich and Germany defender felt Kroos was far too slow in his build-up play at the Euros, which ultimately prevented Joachim Low's side from reaching their full potential in the final third of the pitch.

"Kroos is no longer international class," Matthaus told Kicker. "Personally, I have nothing against Toni Kroos, but I don't agree with the way he plays.

"At the Euros, you saw that it's not just about the speed of the player, but also that of the ball.

"He actually does that quite well with one or two touches, but when he passes the ball, he loses speed again because there is hardly any gain in space and the pace is taken off."

Who else has criticised Kroos?

Matthaus' comments come in the wake of a stinging assessment of his international performances from Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness, who blamed the 31-year-old for Germany's defeat to England.

“I like Kroos, he showed world-class performances in the past, but his way of playing is completely done. He no longer fits with today's football," Hoeness said earlier this month.

“We are 1-0 down against England in the last quarter of an hour, Kroos no longer crossed the halfway line. He played sideways, then sideways again, until the opposing defence had organised themselves."

Kroos' Germany legacy 

Despite the disparaging comments from two of his fellow countrymen, Kroos' place in Germany's hall of fame remains secure after bringing the curtain down on his international career.

The midfielder made his debut in 2010 and went on to earn 106 caps, scoring 17 goals while also playing a key role in their run to glory at the 2014 World Cup.

Kroos also picked up a third-place World Cup medal and played in the semi-finals of the 2012 European Championship, but has retired from Germany duty to focus on trying to win more silverware with Real Madrid in the coming years.

Further reading 

Jurgen Klopp says Harvey Elliott is well placed to break into Liverpool first team after reporting for pre-season "in proper shape".

Liverpool snapped up Elliot from Fulham as a 16-year-old in 2019, and he has since appeared in nine senior matches while becoming the youngest player to ever start a game for the Reds.

The midfielder, who spent the 2020-21 campaign on loan at Blackburn Rovers, was handed a new long-term contract after turning 18 earlier this year and Klopp is confident he is now ready to establish himself as a key member of his squad.

What's been said?

"Harvey made a step, I have to say. He looks in a proper shape, really, really fit," the Liverpool boss told the club's official website. "He came back in a good shape and is here now in full training obviously.

"You can see last year really worked well for him. Now let’s make the next steps together."

How did Elliott perform at Blackburn?

Elliott adapted to life at Ewood Park following his loan move to Blackburn last summer, nailing down a spot in Tony Mowbray's starting XI.

The teenager scored seven goals and set up another 11 in 41 Championship appearances for the Rovers, and stood out in a team that ultimately finished 15th.

The bigger picture 

Elliott's impressive stint at Blackburn will hold him in good stead to break through at Liverpool, but regular minutes may still be at a premium due to strong competition for places.

However, Georginio Wijnaldum's departure to Paris Saint-Germain has potentially freed up some room for Elliott, who is more naturally suited to a No 10 role but can also operate on either flank.

Elliot could get the chance to stake his claim for a place in Klopp's line-up when the Reds take in two friendlies against Wacker Innsbruck and VfB Stuttgart in Austria on Tuesday.

Further reading 

Victor Moses has confirmed his readiness to kick off the new campaign with Spartak Moscow after concluding their pre-season.

The 30-year-old has enjoyed a good run of form in pre-season as he managed to score four goals in the Parimatch Premier Cup at the Otkritie Bank Arena.

The former Chelsea player has taken to his social media pages to confirm his readiness to start in the Russian Premier League.

“Great pre-season done!” Moses wrote. “Feeling fit and strong, time to focus on the first league game this weekend now. Can’t wait”

The People’s Team will open their league campaign against Rubin Kazan on July 24.

Spartak coach Rui Vitoria is already happy with how the new players have adapted to his style of play ahead of the season.

"Today I liked how organised our game was. Of course, there were flaws in the defence but overall everything was good. Despite the physical stress, the players showed good rhythm and dedication,” Vitoria told the club’s official website.

“I was pleased with the Austrian training camp.

“At this stage of preparation, it is not entirely correct to look at the results of the matches too closely. More importantly, here are the ideas that we are trying to instill in the team; it is through these that we strive to improve our game. How the players react to our demands is a key aspect of this.”

Vitoria continued: “Work will continue in Moscow. In the coming days, we will start integrating our national team players into the process. They have been in the team for a long time, but the speed at which they can adapt to new requirements is important.

“Those that worked with us at the first two training camps did this very well.”

Sergio Ramos boasts strong ties to Real Madrid, but they have now been severed after 16 years and the Paris Saint-Germain new boy is able to admit that Barcelona superstar "Lionel Messi will always have a role in my team".

A veteran Spain international defender spent many seasons locking horns with an Argentine forward in La Liga, with his role as Blancos captain preventing him from lauding the efforts of a Clasico rival.

Ramos is, however, taking on a new challenge in France and, after seeing Messi linked with PSG amid the uncertainty surrounding his expired contract, the 35-year-old admits to being a big fan of a six-time Ballon d'Or winner.

What has been said?

"I like to play with the best players and Messi has been one of the best in the world," Ramos has told TNT Sports.

"I have always said that Messi will always have a role in my team."

Who else is Ramos a fan of?

Another of those that Ramos once faced in the heat of La Liga battle is Brazilian forward Neymar, who spent four years on Barca's books between 2013 and 2017.

He is now a club colleague at Parc des Princes, having commited to a long-term contract with Ligue 1 heavyweights, and a former foe claims to already boast a strong relationship with a talented South American forward.

Ramos added: "Despite the fact that he was at Barca and I was at Real Madrid, I have a very good relationship with him. 

"In those years of rivalry we formed a relationship and he has been sending me messages encouraging me to come to PSG. 

"It is always appreciated that the stars encourage you to come."

Further reading

Al Ahly’s board member Khaled El-Darandaly has claimed South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs wanted to take revenge on coach Pitso Mosimane.
 
On his way to lifting the club's 10th Champions League trophy, Mosimane saw his side overcome Mamelodi Sundowns in the quarter-finals and Kaizer Chiefs in the final.

"Kaizer Chiefs and Sundowns are from South Africa, and both want to take revenge on Mosimane," El-Darandaly is quoted by KingFut as saying.

"I remember when we were in Sudan, Sundowns had a match the next day, so Al Ahly’s training was pushed earlier so that we could train on the main pitch. However, before we finished our training session, Sundowns arrived and there was a big argument."

Praising Mosimane's achievements at Al Ahly, the official said Chiefs were not a weak opponent in the final even though the Egyptian giants emerged as 3-0 winners on July 17.

"Saying that Kaizer Chiefs are weak is nonsense," he added. "The final could go anywhere, a team that is weak could never reach the final.
 
"A lot were surprised by El-Khatib’s choice of Pitso Mosimane, and there were those who criticised the choice, but now everyone knows that this choice was correct.
 
"A great coach is the one who has the ability to win titles. Mosimane spoke to me earlier and expressed his happiness with the confidence he obtained from Al Ahly’s board."
 
As Mosimane lifted his third Champions League trophy, he revealed Simba SC of Tanzania were the toughest opponents they came across.

"When we played against Bayern Munich, the best team in the world, people thought we were invincible, our loss against Simba returned us to reality, it was the shock we needed to wake up," the South African said.

"The Simba game was very difficult, playing against them is exhausting. The Al-Merrikh and Sundowns matches were very difficult too.

"The hardest thing to face as a coach is a random team, which happens a lot with us."

Al Ahly lost 1-0 to Simba in Dar es Salaam before winning the return leg with a 1-0 margin in Cairo in the group stage.

Ronald Koeman admits Ousmane Dembele's situation at Barcelona is "complicated", with transfer talk continuing to rage around a winger that has entered the final year of his contract.

The World Cup-winning forward has seen fresh terms at Camp Nou mooted for some time, with the Liga giants understandably reluctant to part with a player they have invested considerable faith and funds in.

No fresh terms have been agreed, though, and the 24-year-old France international is now nursing a knee injury picked up at Euro 2020 that is set to delay his start to the 2021-22 campaign.

What has been said?

Barca boss Koeman concedes that things are far from ideal when it comes to Dembele's future, telling the club's official website: "I am very disappointed with his injury. 

"Also, the situation with his contract is complicated. 

"It is a pity for himself and for us. He brought us a lot last year, different from what we have. I hope he can come back soon."

Who has Dembele been linked with?

Many of the Frenchman's suitors appear to be in the Premier League, with plenty of English sides seeing big-money moves mooted.

Manchester United have seen an approach speculated on for some time, but they now have a £73 million ($100m) deal in place for Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho.

Liverpool are also said to be keen, with Jurgen Klopp forever in the market for talent that can freshen up an attacking unit at Anfield that is so vital to the Reds' cause.

Dembele has also been linked with Manchester City, although Pep Guardiola appears to be exploring alternative options such as Harry Kane and Jack Grealish.

Chelsea also boast the financial muscle to push a transfer through, but the Champions League holders are already well stocked for forward-thinking talent and look to be prioritising a move for another central striker.

That could play into Barcelona's hands as, if no obvious landing spot materialises, Dembele may yet be convinced to stay put.

Further reading

Fulham are leading the race for Liverpool winger Harry Wilson as the Reds look to continue their summer squad clear-out.

The Wales international joined up with Jurgen Klopp’s squad at the club’s pre-season training camp in Austria on Monday, but is almost certain to leave Anfield before the end of the transfer window as he seeks regular first-team football.

Wilson, 24, spent last season on loan with Championship side Cardif, after similar spells with Hull, Derby and Bournemouth, but is understood to have accepted that he now needs to move permanently for the sake of his career.

Where is Wilson likely to move to?

As things stand, Goal understands that Fulham look the likeliest option. The Londoners, relegated from the Premier League last season, have a long-standing interest in the player although as yet that has not been followed up with an official offer.

Personal terms would not be an issue, but it remains to be seen whether Liverpool’s valuation of around £15 million ($20.5m) will hinder any potential deal.

The Reds are aware Fulham have paid similar fees for similar players before - notably Ivan Cavaleiro and Anthony Knockaert - and they will be desperate to return to the top-flight this season under new manager Marco Silva.

Liverpool rejected a deal worth £12m ($16m) from Burnley last summer, but believe Wilson has developed further since then. He made 38 appearances for Cardiff, scoring seven times, and featured for Wales at Euro 2020 - although his tournament ended with a red card in their last-16 defeat to Denmark.

Premier League new-boys Brentford are also understood to be monitoring the situation, while Portuguese giants Benfica have enquired about a potential loan move. Liverpool, however, are extremely reluctant to sanction such a deal, believing the time is right for a permanent transfer.

That should scupper any interest from Swansea, whose manager Steve Cooper is a big fan of Wilson’s, and West Brom, who have previously been keen.

What has Wilson said?

Speaking in April, Wilson admitted to Sgorio that he would need to look elsewhere in order to further his career.

"I feel my senior career has been elsewhere so far,” he said. “I'm 150, 200 appearances deep now and only a couple have been at Liverpool. The club will always be close to my heart, but if it means moving away to further my career then so be it."

He still has two years left on his current Reds contract, but has made only two senior appearances for the club despite making his debut back in January 2016.

Further reading

FIFA 22 is due to hit shelves and online stores soon, with football fans getting exciting for its official release on October 1, 2021.

Previous editions of the game had three different game versions but FIFA 22 will be released as two separate editions: Standard and Ultimate Editon. There is no longer a Champions Edition of the game.

Here's what you need to know about each version to help you decide which edition to pre-order.

Contents

FIFA 22 standard edition price & add-ons

The standard edition of FIFA 22 is the one that is available on release day as a physical copy in shops. It costs £59.99 in the UK and $59.99 in the US.

FIFA 22 standard edition contains some extra items, but not as many add-ons as the Ultimate edition.

One of the benefits for FIFA Ultimate Team is a five-game loan of a FUT Ambassador. This year, you can choose between David Alaba, Phil Foden or Heung-min Son.

FIFA 22 Ultimate edition price & add-ons

The Ultimate edition of FIFA 22 costs £89.99 in the UK and $99.99 in the US.

It contains additional items for FIFA Ultimate Team and also allows people to get their hands on the game early.

FIFA 22 Ultimate edition is available for download from September 27 rather than October 1.

This edition also allows PlayStation 4 owners to freely upgrade to the PlayStation 5 version or Xbox One owners to upgrade to the Xbox Series X/S version through the Dual Entitlement offer.

Those who pre-order Ultimate Edition by August 14, 2021 will receive:

How do the FIFA 22 editions compare?

You can see a detailed breakdown of what each edition offers in the table above.

Gor Mahia coach Sammy Omollo believes Simba SC would have given Al Ahly a run for their money and not Kaizer Chiefs.

The Red Devils defeated Amakhosi 3-0 in the Caf Champions League final staged at Stade Mohammed V in Morocco on Saturday night.

The Egyptian giants were forced to wait until the second half to run away with the game, with goals from Mohamed Sherif, Mohamed Magdi Afsha, and Amr El Solia inspiring them to a well-deserved win over their South African opponents. Chiefs were reduced to 10 men after Happy Mashiane was sent off in the 45th minute.

Wekundu wa Msimbazi played the newly crowned champions in Group A, winning at home by a solitary goal before losing by the same margin away. They also played Chiefs in the quarters losing 4-0 away before claiming a 3-0 win at home.

Why would Simba give a better fight than Chiefs?

"Looking at Simba, their quality is a notch higher than Kaizer Chiefs and you could clearly tell that from the way they were playing," Omollo told Goal on Monday.

"Chiefs were really lucky to make it to the final but, to be honest, I did not expect them to win. Getting it against a quality team like Al Ahly was not going to be easy. They were generally weak in all departments but Simba would have given [Al Ahly] a run for their money.

"Not that Simba would have won the final, I doubt, but we would have seen an interesting game than Saturday which was a one-sided affair."

What went wrong for Chiefs?

The tactician went on to explain why Amakhosi struggled in the final which was their first in history.

"You cannot go into the final with a weak defence and an inconsistent one for that matter and expect to win," Omollo added.

"They conceded in all their away matches except the semi-finals and their forward line was also inconsistent. Yes, some have argued that the [Mashiane] red card contributed to the loss, but to be honest, even if they would have played 11 against 11, they stood no chance."

Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford wants to be an Olympian, with the 27-year-old striker hoping that an agreement can be reached that allows Team GB to compete in future men's football tournaments.

Great Britain will have a women's team going for gold at this summer's Games in Tokyo, but there has been male representation at just one event since 1960 - when London hosted in 2012.

Bamford wants to see that situation change, as home nations pull together, with a man still chasing down senior international recognition with England calling for a deal to be done ahead of a Paris showpiece in 2024.

What has been said?

Bamford, who hit 17 Premier League goals for Leeds last season, told the 2020 Olympics official website: "You know, it's still in the future and obviously there's still discussions to be had between all the home nations.

"It's the only chance I would get to go to an Olympics and there are not many people who can say they've represented Great Britain at the Olympics.

"So 100 per cent, that would be something I'd love to do, and hopefully it gets worked out."

Bamford at the Olympics

Stuart Pearce took charge of Team GB at London 2012, with Daniel Sturridge, Craig Bellamy and Ryan Giggs among those that formed part of a star-studded squad.

Bamford can remember watching that team in action, and was also in attendance when Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt collected the second of his three Olympic 100m gold medals.

He added on his experiences to date: "I did actually go to the Olympics – I watched when Usain Bolt won his 100 metre final, I was in the stadium for that. So that was quite a spectacle.

"I actually love watching the Olympics, just random sports that normally on a day-to-day basis, I would never find myself watching, but somehow become really, really involved in - like the gymnastics, for instance."

Bamford will be watching Tokyo 2020 when the Games open on Friday, while he is also counting down the days to a new Premier League season with Leeds that is set to start with a testing trip to Manchester United on August 14.

Further reading

Confederation of African Football has confirmed they are in full support of Fifa's idea to have the World Cup staged every two years.

The African body has confirmed in a statement that the Executive Committee chaired by President Patrice Motsepe is in full support of the proposal during their meeting held on Friday in Morocco.

“The Executive Committee [EXCO] of the Confederation of African Football, chaired by Patrice Motsepe, met on Friday, July 16, 2021, in Rabat, Morocco,” read part of the statement from Caf.

“The EXCO gave its support to the idea of organising the Fifa World Cup every two years and called for the implementation of the recommendations of the final audit of Caf conducted by PwC.

“The Executive Committee gave its support to the project of a men's and women's World Cup every two years, which was formulated during the last Fifa Congress and the committee asked that Fifa be informed of this favorable reception.”

It was Saudi Arabia who proposed to Fifa to consider having the competition staged after every two years and Fifa responded by stating they will consider the request.

The meeting also discussed the proposal to start the African Super League where they asked the Interclub Competitions Committee to accelerate the feasibility study of the project.

On the next inter-club competitions, the EXCO announced a first calendar for the 2021-22 season confirming they will kick off on September 10, 2021.

“The kick-off will be September 10, 2021,” the statement continued. “The draw for the preliminary rounds will be made on August 15 2021 at the latest while bids to host the interclub finals will be opened in November 2021.”

The committee also confirmed they were impressed with work being done by Cameroon ahead of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations finals.

“The Exco took note of the reports of the inspection missions organized by Caf for the Africa Cup of Nations 2021 in Cameroon,” the statement continued.

“It was also informed of the good progression of the work regarding the completion of stadiums under construction and other facilities.

“A final inspection visit in mid-August will assess the progress of the Olembe Stadium and the possibility of organizing the next home match of the Cameroon national team in the September 2021 window.”