Looking for Soccer News?

Former Manchester United manager Casey Stoney will be the first head coach in San Diego NWSL history, the club announced on Wednesday.

Stoney left United at the end of the 2020-21 season, having helped the club secure promotion from the second tier and subsequently establish themselves as a power in the Women's Super League.

San Diego NWSL, which features former U.S. national team head coach Jill Ellis as its president, will begin play in NWSL next season and will announce an official name and colors in the near future.

What was said?

“Casey is one of the most decorated, distinguished and talented English players of all time and has transitioned seamlessly in her role as a manager,” Ellis said in a club release.

“She immediately turned Manchester United Women Football Club into respected contenders and established herself as one of the top managers in the league.

"Casey has all of the qualities we want in our manager and she is fully committed to making San Diego NWSL a globally successful club and brand led by powerful and talented women."

Stoney added: “I am extremely excited and motivated to lead San Diego NWSL on the field next season and beyond.

"Jill and this ownership group are deeply committed to building a world-class club both on and off the field and I look forward to being a part of creating our culture and style of play as a team."

Ellis looks to build around female leaders

Ellis has stated her desire to hire women in leadership positions in her role as president of the new NWSL club.

Though she could have landed another head coaching role, the ex-USWNT boss has said she wanted to be higher up in the organizational structure to ensure she could hire women in leadership roles.

“This opportunity presented itself and I thought: ‘What a great way to continue to champion women, provide opportunities for women but also stay connected to the game I love,’” Ellis said after being hired last month.

Earlier this week, San Diego NWSL hired former USWNT administrator Molly Downtain as its first general manager.

Further reading

Kenya international Cliff Nyakeya has parted ways with Egyptian side FC Masr.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Nyakeya confirmed they had reached a mutual agreement with the Egyptian Divison Two side to end their association. The former Mathare United winger joined Masr two years ago when they were still in the top division before they were relegated in 2020.

"[I] have had to go through a lot in the past year and now I have decided to end my contract with FC Masr after two years by mutual consent," Nyakeya posted. "Thank you for the trust and the opportunity you gave me to play in the Egyptian League and for the first time outside my country. Good luck!"
 
Nyakeya is among the players that were trusted by head coach Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Egypt, Togo and Comoros. While most foreign-based players were overlooked by Mulee, the winger featured prominently and impressed especially against Comoros even though Harambee Stars did not get the results that would have catapulted them to back-to-back Afcons.
 
Before he joined Masr in 2019, Nyakeya was plying his trade with Mathare United and had been tipped as one of the most promising talents - in the attacking department - for club and country. At Masr, the 26-year-old made six appearances before the club was relegated to the second-tier.

Avire had controversially joined Tanta SC from Sofapaka before he switched allegiance to Coca-Cola.
 

Everton manager Rafael Benitez has defended dismissing the club as "small" during his time as Liverpool coach.

Benitez made the comments after a draw in the Merseyside derby in 2007.

The Spaniard's insult has circulated again since he was confirmed as the Toffees' new boss and he insists they will have no impact on how he tackles his new job. 

What has been said?

Asked about the "small club" comments during a press conference on Wednesday, Benitez said: "I’ve said before, it depends on the context. It’s a long time ago and you are fighting for your club. That is what I will do now.

“If you are the manager you have to defend your club in any context. In this case I will fight for Everton, I will try to do my best every single game and I will try to compete against anyone.

“I’m really pleased that this club is getting bigger and bigger and I am happy with the idea we can challenge and we can compete and I will fight for that.”

Benitez addresses threatening banners

Many Everton fans protested against Benitez's appointment as head coach.

A banner was left near the 61-year-old's house warning him not to take the job, a matter which is being investigated by police.

But the Spaniard says there has been a lot of support since he accepted the role and is not worried about the anger of some fans. 

“The Evertonians around my place, they are quite happy and they were very supportive," he said.

“Even the Liverpudlians, they were accepting it’s a chance and an opportunity for me to come back to the Premier League and to compete for something so it was quite good.

“Talking about the banners, we can talk about one, two people - you never know. I think it’s better to think about positives and how a lot of people were encouraging me to do well. I’m happy with that.

"I was convinced when I decided to say yes, or even decided to start talking. It's not something I'm scared of, it's the opposite. I want to win, I want to do well. That is to be competitive for me, to be ambitious."

He added: "I am professional and very competitive. I have confidence that we've done it before, and we can do it now. We are creating an atmosphere that will allow us to compete at the maximum level.

"When I was in Chelsea, in Cobham, I was going to the supermarkets and the fans were really good. The majority of the fans every day were fine. Liverpool is my city, now obviously a lot of people on the Blues side will be pleased if I'm successful."

Further reading

Manchester City finished the season as both Premier League and FA Cup winners, and not to mention Champions League finalists, for the first time under Pep Guardiola's reign.

The Citizens will be intent on defending their titles next season, and their new  Puma  kits will be sporting their status as Premier League champions with patches on the brand-new jerseys.  

As the new campaign looms ahead,  Goal  takes a look at what Manchester City will be wearing and release dates, as well as leaks and rumours about potential shirt styles.

Manchester City's 2021-22 home kit & release date

The 2021-22 Man City home kit is the traditional sky blue colour, with the logos in white instead of the darker blue of the previous season.

The kits continue to be sponsored by Etihad Airways, with a white trim accentuating the sides of the shirt alongside the additional sponsors.

The inside collar will sport '93:20', a reference to the historic Sergio Aguero goal against Queens Park Rangers that clinched Manchester City's first league title in 44 years back in 2012.

The home getup is completed by the matching sky blue shorts and socks.

Manchester City's 2021-22 away kit & release date

Manchester City's away kit has not been launched, but rumoured photos circulating online about the latest strip show that the Etihad side will be going for a mostly white colourway for the base, with light blue accents.

Manchester City's 2021-22 third kit & release date

Manchester City's third kit is only expected to be launched towards the end of the summer and closer to when the new club season begins, though leaked photos suggest that it is set to be predominantly a base of a navy colour with a white trim.

How much will they cost & where to buy?

Fans will be able to buy the new Manchester City kits from the club megastore at the Etihad, as well as the usual high street sports retail outlets.

They will also be available to purchase online using the official club webstore.

Last season's Manchester City shirts cost £60 for adults and kids jerseys could be bought for £33.

Note: prices may vary.

Tanzania youngster Kelvin John has revealed Mbwana Samatta's encouraging message after he sealed his KRC Genk move in June.
 
The 18-year-old forward joined the Belgian side on a three-year contract and became the second Tanzanian to be associated with the club. John revealed the Taifa Stars captain Samatta wished him a successful time in Europe but stressed the need to work hard.
 
"We believe in your ability and put hard work into everything you will be doing and you are assured of success," Samatta's message stated, according to John in an interview with Mwanaspoti. 
 
"I was received well at the club and I have not been called Kelvin but I have always been referred to as Samatta Junior. They have confidence that I am going to do a good job, probably better than Samatta.
 
"My life revolves around football and that is why I am fighting hard to be successful in this field and what I can only ask from God is to help me avoid struggles that come with the game." 
 
The forward added that Genk is only a pathway towards more success in his career: "Genk is just by a path which I am looking to explore as I set bigger football dreams and I am happy my age allows me to dream big and hope success is on my way if only I can avoid challenges that come from outside the pitch. I am happy that I have achieved the dream of being a footballer and hopefully, many doors will open up," he added.
 
"There is no player who would only want to play in Tanzania, everyone is always looking forward to getting an opening and playing professional football that pays well. That is why I am fighting, hoping not to succumb to challenges as I believe my dream of playing at the highest level possible is achievable.
 
"A striker is an important player on the pitch, but any other player can score. My aim in every game is always to score or provide an assist and if I fail to do either, I always feel I have not done justice to my team with the 90 minutes given to me."
 
John rose to prominence after his impressive outing with Serengeti Boys in the 2017 U17 Africa Cup of Nations before he was promoted to the senior team by Nigerian coach Emmanuel Amunike.

Ghana attacker Christian Atsu stands by his decision to join Chelsea in 2013 despite ultimately leaving the club four years later without a competitive appearance.

After bursting onto the scene with Portuguese giants Porto, the winger made a switch to Stamford Bridge, joining The Blues on a five-year deal.

Tight competition for places in London forced him out on successive loans before permanently leaving the club for Newcastle United in 2017.

“That [joining Chelsea] was the right decision that I made, if someone tells me this road is wrong, they must know what would have happened if I’d stayed at Porto," Atsu told The Athletic.

"Would I be at a big European club now? Maybe, but nobody can tell me that for certain. If Chelsea want to sign you, how can you say no?

"I believed I could make it at Chelsea so I went there. It didn’t happen but that does not make it a bad move.”

After loan spells at Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem, English sides Everton, Bournemouth and Spanish outfit Malaga, Atsu joined Newcastle initially on loan in 2016.

He helped The Magpies secure promotion to the Premier League that season, a contribution that earned him a permanent contract ahead of the following term.

At the end of the 2020-21 campaign, his stint with Newcastle came to an end, leaving him as a free agent.

“I am weighing up my options,” Atsu says.

“I would prefer it to be warm weather, but we’ll see. I’ve loved being in England and I have offers from here but I think I need to move away. I might stay in Europe. I have to decide."

It was certainly not the kind of final season the 29-year-old had hoped for at Newcastle as he was completely frozen out of the club's first team and failed to make any appearance.

His club woes have meant he has had to take time away from international duty with Ghana, having last represented his country in 2019.

"The [Ghana] coach [CK Akonnor] understands and he told me to let him know when I’m ready. I need to be playing first,” Atsu explained.

Ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations in January next year, Atsu is hoping to rejoin the Black Stars who have set their sights on a first title since 1982.

“If you look at the players Ghana have produced since we last won the Afcon, it’s very sad," he said.

“We must target the January 2022 tournament. If I am part of it, as I hope, I will give everything. I do not want to retire without winning a trophy for Ghana. If I do, I’ll be a failure."

The winger's last appearance for Ghana came at the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Egypt in 2019.

South Africa ended a successful Cosafa Cup Group A campaign with a 0-0 draw against the defending champions Zambia at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

Bafana Bafana had already secured their place in the semi-finals after thumping Lesotho 4-0 at the same venue on Tuesday with Victor Letsoalo becoming the first player to score a hat-trick for South Africa on debut.

However, Letsoalo was unable to replicate the same form as Bafana were frustrated by a solid Zambia defence which was marshalled by TP Mazembe defender Kabaso Chongo.

Bafana midfielder Yusuf Maart, who is on the books of Sekhukhune United, walked away with the Man of the Match award having had a good game in midfield.

The result saw South Africa finish at the top of Group A and they will now take on Namibia in a semi-final match on Friday, while Zambia bowed out of the Southern African tournament. 

Namibia booked their place in the semi-finals as Group B runners-up despite suffering a 1-0 loss to Mozambique in a match that took place at Wolfson Stadium.

The only goal of the encounter was netted by Melque Melito, but it was not enough to send Mozambique to the knockout phase as the Black Mambas finished third in Group B.

Meanwhile, Eswatini progressed to the semi-finals following their 1-1 draw with Botswana in a Group A encounter that was played at Wolfson Stadium after the game between Namibia and Mozambique. 

Sabelo Ndzinisa broke the deadlock to hand Eswatini the lead in the 19th minute, but Thatayaone Kgamanyane levelled matters for Botswana in first-half stoppage time. 

Therefore, Eswatini advanced to the last four as Group A runners-up and they are set to face Senegal on Friday, while Botswana crashed out of the regional competition after finishing third in the group.

Lastly, Senegal booked their place in the knockout phase after edging out Malawi 2-1 in a Group B match which was played at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium prior to the clash between Bafana and Zambia.

Abu Bakry Diop was the hero for the Lions of Teranga as he scored twice to inspire his side to a victory over Malawi with the tournament guests making it two wins in a row having also defeated Zimbabwe on Tuesday.

Khuda Muyaba scored what proved to be Malawi's consolation goal in the 35th minute as the Flames finished fourth in the group.

After Kaizer Chiefs surprisingly reached the final of the Caf Champions League, midfielder Njabulo Blom has warned his teammates against getting carried away against their much-fancied opponents Al Ahly.

The Soweto giants face defending champions Al Ahly in Saturday’s final at Stade Mohamed V Stadium in Morocco.

With Chiefs coming up against a club that has won the Champions League a record nine times, Blom is wary of his side getting ahead of themselves after stunning the likes of Wydad Casablanca and Simba SC on their way to the final.

“It wasn’t easy, we didn’t start very well. We won some games and also lost some but as a team we decided we will keep on going, grinding, working hard and believing,” Blom told Chiefs media.

“Us being here in the final is because of hard work as a team. We have prepared well as a team and we will go there and give our best and try to win the trophy. But we will not underestimate Al Ahly because we know they are a very experienced and good team.

“We have been working hard as a team and I feel the coaches and the whole technical team did very well in planning the session and how we should go about it in the game.”

Personally, Blom hopes his international experience with South Africa’s junior national teams has shaped his career.

“It added a lot of experience because going out to play in some other countries you get to see how others do things and how dedicated they are,” said Blom.

“You take that and bring it into the team. It helped me as a young player and also helped me to grow as an individual.”

It is yet to be seen if Blom will be selected to start against Al Ahly.

Since the sacking of former coach Gavin Hunt, the more experienced Willard Katsande has been preferred ahead of Blom.

Further Caf Champions League final reading 

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has defended Priti Patel following Tyrone Mings' criticism of the Home Secretary's comments regarding the racial abuse suffered by England's Euro 2020 squad.

Mings was quick to call out Patel's calls for tolerance on Monday after the latter's failure to condemn supporters for booing Gareth Southgate's side throughout the tournament when taking the knee in protest against racism.

However, Johnson has hit back at the Aston Villa centre-back's comments aimed at one of his key cabinet allies.

Who is Priti Patel & what has she said?

Priti Patel is the current Home Secretary, having held the position since 2019 after succeeding Sajid Javid in the role.

A former Secretary of State for International Development under previous Prime Minister Theresa May, she came to prominence among football fans after describing England's decision to take the knee as "gesture politics", refusing to condemn those who booed the move in the process.

After England trio Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were subjected to racist abuse on social media following their missed penalties in the shootout defeat by Italy, Patel took to Twitter to express dismay with the racially-charged fallout from Wembley, writing: "I am disgusted that England players who have given so much for our country this summer have been subject to vile racist abuse on social media. 

"It has no place in our country and I back the police to hold those responsible accountable."

What did Mings say?

Having initially issued a statement at the time of Patel's original comments last month, Mings questioned the authenticity of Patel's comments as contradictory to her previous actions.

"You don’t get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labelling our anti-racism message as ‘gesture politics’ & then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we’re campaigning against, happens," he wrote on Twitter.

What was Boris Johnson's reaction in Parliament?

Examined at Prime Minister's Questions by Leader of the Opposition Sir Keir Starmer, Johnson stressed that the Three Lions had his support, but defended Patel.

"I want to reiterate my [...] total support of our fantastic England team, and I support them in the way that they show solidarity with their friends when they face racism," said Johnson.

"But when he talks about the Home Secretary, let me just remind him that my right honourable friend has faced racism and prejudice all her career, of the kind he can never imagine."

England stars subjected to racist abuse

The scenes across social media are far from the first time that Three Lions players have been targeted after performances for both club and country, with Rashford and Manchester City's Raheem Sterling both frequently on the receiving end of racial abuse.

Earlier this year, clubs took part in a three-day boycott of social media to help raise awareness, the latest effort intended to combat the slew of hate spewed on and off social media towards players.

This week, a mural featuring Rashford was defaced following his penalty miss, alongside those of Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka, that contributed to England's shootout heartbreak in the Euro 2020 final against Italy, though it has been subsequently repaired amid a growing outpouring of support for the players.

Further reading

Barcelona kits are often iconic and they'll be eager to make the 2021-22 offerings as memorable, even if only through what they do in them on the pitch.

Ever since the departure from the vertical blaugrana and brief adoption of horizontal stripes in 2015-16, Barca's home kit has been a canvas for experimentation.

Their away and third kits have also seen some variance, though the colours of the Catalan Senyera - yellow and red - tend to feature strongly.

Barca fans will be eager to rekindle the glory days under the new tenure of past president Joan Laporta, but how will they look?

Barcelona 2021-22 home kit and release date

Nike continues as the Barcelona kit manufacturer and the brand officially revealed the Spanish side's new home kit in June.

The design appears to be a rendering of the club crest, with a section on the top right of the torso mimicking the St George's flag - Sant Jordi to Catalonians - while the left features thin vertical stripes.

Unusually, the kit features half-and-half shorts and socks, with one leg being blue and the other being garnet.

Such a daring design is actually consistent with the apparent alternation of styles, with experimentation followed by a more traditional vertical striped look.

Barca reverted to basic vertical stripes in 2020-21 after playing in a chequered kit in 2019-20.

Barcelona 2021-22 away kit and release date

The Barcelona away kit for 2021-22 has not been released yet, but it is expected to be launched during the summer months.

A number of rumoured colours have been reported online, with a light indigo among the possibilities.

Interestingly, it has been suggested that one of the change kits could be orange, inspired by the kit worn by the 1992 European Cup-winning team. That final was won thanks to a Ronald Koeman free kick.

How much will they cost and where can they be bought?

The 2021-22 Barcelona kits will be available to buy from most high-street sports retail stores and online through the official Barca club shop.

Barcelona's web store sells replica jerseys (home and away) for €89.99 and that remains the same for the 2021-22 jerseys.

What about other new kits for 2021-22?

Arsenal's kit collaboration with adidas continues into the 2021-22 season, where the Gunners will be eager to mount a fresh challenge for silverware and a spot in the Champions League after missing out on European action altogether this campaign.

The North Londoners are known for their classic home strip consisting of a red body and white-capped sleeves, along with sponsors Emirates, and fans worldwide will be waiting in anticipation for the next kit drops.

As we prepare for the new season, Goal takes a look at what Arsenal will be wearing and release dates, as well as leaks and rumours about potential shirt styles.

Arsenal's 2021-22 home kit & release date

Arsenal have not yet launched their home kit, but rumours online about a potential leaked jersey show that the shirt will be based partially on the Condivo 21 template with the signature red and white colours.

The classic adidas three stripes will be navy, with the main red itself a darker shade of scarlet.

Arsenal's 2021-22 away kit & release date

The Gunners released their away kit as the first of their latest strips on May 18, with the banana-yellow number available for purchase beginning May 21.

The shirt is a nod to the club's 50th anniversary of winning the double in 1971 and sports a throwback, retro nod to yesteryear.

The most significant change is that, as a nod to Arsenal's past, the cannon will replace the club crest at the front of the shirt.

Adidas said of the kit: "Inspired by the past, but grounded in the present, the new away jersey celebrates the 50th anniversary of the club’s historic double in 1971.

"The jersey puts Arsenal’s unique identity – in the form of the iconic cannon – front and center. This is club DNA you can wear with pride."

Arsenal's 2021-22 third kit & release date

Arsenal's third kit is not expected to be released until the end of summer and ahead of the fresh campaign, but leaks circulating on social media suggest that the strip will sport a heavily patterned style, in shades of dark blue and green with red accents.

How much will they cost & where to buy?

Fans will be able to buy the new Arsenal kits from the club megastore at the Emirates, as well as the usual high street sports retail outlets.

They will also be available to purchase online using the official club webstore.

Last season's Arsenal shirts cost £60 for adults and kids jerseys could be bought for £33.

The 'authentic' 2020-21 home kits cost £100.

Note: prices may vary.

Erling Haaland has dropped the strongest hint yet that he is to remain at Borussia Dortmund for the 2021-22 campaign after taking to social media to reveal he has begun pre-season with the club.

The Norway star enjoyed a superb sophomore season with the Bundesliga outfit last term, and amid a summer absence from Euro 2020, speculation has grown rife about his future.

A host of Premier League destinations, headed by Chelsea, have been mooted for the attacker, while Dortmund have been adamant that they will not sell him on - and now, Haaland looks to have indicated that he will be staying put for at least one more year.

What has been said?

The striker took to Twitter to confirm that he had started preparations for next season with Marco Rose's side, after he was absent for the initial start of club fitness tests on Monday.

"Day one," the 20-year-old confirmed on social media, before adding: "Ready for the journey."

Haaland was pictured in his training gear alongside the post, sporting a double thumbs-up gesture at the club's training ground in Brackel.

Haaland's future explained

Having reached an agreement to sell Jadon Sancho to Manchester United - bringing to an end a long-running transfer saga that stretches back well over a year - Dortmund have repeatedly insisted that they will not part ways with Haaland this summer.

The Leeds-born star is currently contracted with the club through 2024, having initially joined from Red Bull Salzburg in January 2020 on a four-and-a-half-year deal.

Yet it is believed that a €75 million (£64m/$89m) release clause in his contract becomes active at the end of next season, allowing rival clubs to potentially snap him up at a cut-price total compared to what his sale could command.

As such, several suitors could be content to wait - but others, led by Chelsea, are thought to be keen to get the jump on their rivals for Haaland's services, even if it means paying a higher fee this transfer window.

The bigger picture

If Dortmund indeed keep to their word and refuse to budge on any offers for Haaland, then the attacker will begin the new campaign with the Bundesliga giants as they look to build on last season's DFB-Pokal success.

With new boss Rose - who replaced interim manager Edin Terzic in May - now ushering in a new era, hopes are high that BVB will be able to challenge on multiple fronts in the upcoming season.

Dortmund will particularly look to seize upon the Bundesliga as they aim to take advantage of Bayern Munich's own managerial transition and press to break the latter's chokehold on the title.

Further reading

Lionel Messi will sign a new five-year contract at Barcelona and take an incredible 50 per cent wage cut, Goal can confirm.

Messi has spent his entire career to date on Barca's books, having initially made his debut for the club as a teenager in 2004, but dropped into the free agency pool at the start of July after reaching the end of his contract.

The Argentine won't be embarking on a new challenge away from Camp Nou anytime soon, though, with the Blaugrana set to announce that they have tied the six-time Ballon d'Or winner down to a fresh long-term deal.

How have Barca managed to re-sign Messi?

Messi earned a staggering €550 million (£468m/$650m) over the course of his last five-year contract at Camp Nou, which equates to around €75m (£64m/$89m) per season.

However, Barca were unable to hand the 34-year-old similarly lucrative renewal terms after exceeding La Liga's wage limit at the end of the 2020-21 campaign .

League president Javier Tebas warned that the Blaugrana could not legally register Messi without significantly reducing their salary costs, with the likes of Junior Firpo, Jean-Clair Todibo, Carles Alena and Juan Miranda all subsequently sold to raise extra funds.

Messi has also agreed to halve his yearly earnings in order to re-sign for Barca, and Goal has learned that they will formally announce his new contract in the coming weeks after a few minor details are finalised.

Did Messi have any other offers on the table?

Messi became available on a free transfer upon the expiration of his last deal, and it has been reported that the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and Inter have all shown an interest in signing the Argentina international.

A possible return to boyhood club Newell's Old Boys was also mooted, along with a potential foray into MLS with David Beckham-owned franchise Inter Miami.

Goal understands that Messi received several formal offers, including an attractive proposal from PSG, but he ultimately decided to remain a one-club man and continue playing for Barca until 2026 - at which point he will be 39 years of age.

Further reading 

Guest Feature | Lotfi Wada

Esperance, African champions in both 2018 and 2019, are one of only three sides to retain the African title during the Champions League era, and were shoo-ins to make the cut in our top five African sides of all time.

After a strong group stage campaign, Esperance were matched up against local foe Etoile du Sahel in the first knockout round of the 2018 Caf Champions League.

Their 2017 Champions League failure, although offset by winning the Arab Champions League, was fresh in the memories of Esperance fans and players alike heading into this one.

With the Champions League crown eluding them since 2011, tensions rose for their match-up against Etoile, although a 3-1 win on aggregate settled the matter and qualified them for the semis.

A rematch of the mythic 1998 African Cup Winners Cup final against Primeiro de Agosto was to be played in the semis after the Tunisians were drawn against the Angolans.

Having lost the first leg in Luanda courtesy of a fabulous bullet from Bua, then losing their captain Khalil Chemmam due to a sacrificial red card, Esperance found themselves up against it.

There were also concerns about the quality of their goalkeepers, while Esperance also turned to a new man on the bench, with ex-defender Moine Chaabani replacing the legendary Khaled Ben Yahia, who had been sacked a fortnight before the return leg.

Although dominating the possession and the exchanges, more misery was put on Esperance’s shoulders when the in-form Geraldo made it 2-0 on aggregate.

With a porous defence, Esperance needed three unanswered goals to qualify for the final.

As you can guess from their position in our ranking of Africa’s greatest club teams, Esperance completed the unthinkable.

Youcef Belaili was the first to score, before a Mohamed Ali Yaakoubi diving header put Esperance one goal away from salvation.

The Blood & Gold’s chances continuously missed chances while the Angolan army side were threatening on set pieces and counters. Then, a few moments after an hour of play, Lompala Bokamba’s bouncing freekick beat a hapless Rami Jeridi to make things even more difficult for the North Africans.

With two unanswered goals required and a defence with more holes than Swiss cheese, Esperance’s task had been made even trickier.

Haythem Jouini's tap-in at the far post re-established hopes in the heart of the Mkachkha fans amidst a volcanic atmosphere.

Esperance were again one goal away from the final.

The breakthrough finally came through star attacker Anice Badri a few minutes before full time.

A long ball deflected by Jouini landed in his feet, and the Lyon-born forward smashed it past Tony Cabaca to send Esperance to the final and to send their fans into joyous celebrations.

Chaabani's gamble paid off, and the Bab Souika club were 180 mins from a third Champions League title.

To realise this dream, Esperance had to face rivals Al-Ahly in the clasico of African club football…and yet another showdown in their classic rivalry.

In a raucous atmosphere on the shores of Alexandria, Esperance crumbled under the diabolical pressure of the Red Devils and returned to Rades with an away goal scored but a two-goal deficit following a 3-1 defeat.

Most importantly, perhaps, they were to be without suspended key duo Chamseddine Dhaouadi and Franck Kom.

Come the second leg, Esperance were nowhere to be seen in the first half. Toothless with the ball, Taraji had to wait until injury time to create their first significant chance.

A long spell of possession ended when the ball found Saad Bguir in the danger area; the pint-sized midfielder didn't think twice before firing past Mohamed El Shenawy.

It was the best scenario possible for Taraji, although they were nowhere to be seen with the ball.

Pumped by the goal and the possibility of keeping the dream alive, Esperance’s confidence and level of performance began to grow.

In the 54th minute, after a crisp passing spell, Sameh Derbali's pinpoint cross found the head of the smallest man on the field and the unexpected hero of the night Bguir, who sent Esperance fans into ecstasy.

As Ahly sought a winner, the final stages of the match were shaping up to be the longest of Esperance’s season.

In the 86th minute, Badri interrupted a misplaced pass from Hossam Ashour to carry the ball all the way before unleashing a missile beyond El Shenawy.

The Champions League was returning to Bab Souika and demons 0f 2012 had been exorcised. Esperance had done the unthinkable against the greatest club of the continent, and pulled off what is surely the biggest remontada in the recent history of Caf club competitions.

Entering the 2019 as favourites, and having finally broken their Ahly jinx, Esperance sailed to the semis where they would meet Tout Puissant Mazembe.

It was a clash of giants, which saw Esperance triumphing courtesy of a gigantic performance from Moez Ben Cherifia. The Mkachkhas had qualified for their fifth Champions League final of the decade.

This time they came up against Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca, old enemies following the duo’s tussles in the Arab Champions League final in 2009 and the Caf Champions League final two years later. Both were tightly contested, and both won by the Bab Souika.

The first leg in a boiling Mohammed V Stadium and on Ramadan night saw Esperance going back with a 1-1 draw which could've been different in both senses.

The return leg saw Esperance dominating the contest, and their monopoly of possession bore fruit in the 40th minute when the dazzling Belaili beat Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti to take the Tunisian giants to within 45 minutes of achieving their aim.

The second half wouldn’t go to plan as Wydad refused to come back on the pitch, citing grave injustice, after referees refused to use VAR to check a goal that had been ruled out which the Moroccans felt was legitimate.

They may have had a point, but the absence of the available technology on the day tied the hands of the officials, and Wydad refused to play on despite appeals from Caf President Ahmad Ahmad.

The match was suspended, and then cancelled, with Esperance ultimately lifting the title.

After Caf initially decided to replay the fixture, they then performed another U turn and granted the Red and Gold the title.

They got over the line in particularly contentious final, but Esperance had finally joined other excellent generations like Enyimba 2003/2004, Ahly 2005/2006, Mazembe 2009/2010 and 1967/1968, as teams who retained their continental crown.

They also became only the third team to win the Caf CL without losing a game following Esperance’s side of 1994 and Ahly 11 years later.

The Yanga SC management has indicated all three players who had disciplinary cases against them have been pardoned and allowed to resume training.

According to the Jangwani giants' chairman Mshindo Msolla, the trio – captain and defender Lamine Moro, striker Michael Sarpong and goalkeeper Metacha Mnata – have been reinstated after admitting misconduct and will now be available for the remaining two matches in the Mainland Premier League and also the FA Cup final.

What has been said?

“Lamine [Moro] and Michael [Sarpong] have been pardoned after pleading guilty to their mistakes same as keeper Mnata, and they will all be available for the remaining matches including the domestic cup final,” Msolla told Goal.

Moro and Sarpong were handed bans after head coach Nasreddine Nabi recommended it, while Mnata was also banned following his abusive gesture to Yanga fans after their match against Ruvu Shooting at Mkapa Stadium.

The return of the trio is a timely boost for Yanga, who will take on rivals Simba in the final of the domestic cup.

Yanga are yet to win a trophy for the past three seasons and will be pegging their hopes on winning the cup after Simba ended their dream of clinching the league title on Sunday, when they beat Coastal Union 2-0 to be crowned as champions for the fourth season in a row.

Meanwhile, Yanga have confirmed midfielder Haruna Niyonzima will be given a befitting farewell during their league match against Ihefu FC on Thursday.

Yanga to honour Niyonzima

The match against Ihefu at Mkapa Stadium will be the last home for the side as they will remain with one away encounter against Dodoma Jiji on July 18.

Yanga have confirmed through their media officer Hassan Bumbuli that they will use the occasion to honour the Rwandan star, who also played for the rivals Simba, in his Tanzania career.

“Before our league game against Ihefu we will honour our player Haruna [Niyonzima], who will be leaving us at the end of the season for his hard work and dedication towards the team,” Bumbuli told Goal on Wednesday.

“Niyonzima deserves a historic send-off and it is the reason we will do it during our last home game of the season, I only want to urge the fans to come out in large numbers and witness the occasions, it will be colourful and it has never happened in the country before.”

Further Mainland Premier League reading 

Former Bafana Bafana coach Jomo Sono is torn between Kaizer Chiefs and Al Ahly, who clash in Saturday’s Caf Champions League final at Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca, Morocco.

The match will see Jomo Cosmos legends Pitso Mosimane and Arthur Zwane plotting against each other while sitting on the benches of Al Ahly and Chiefs, respectively.

Since Mosimane is South African and his backroom staff is composed of three other compatriots, Sono is undecided on who to support on the night.

“As a South African, when it comes to football I would like Kaizer Chiefs to win,” said Sono as per Sowetan Live. 

“But when it comes to those two coaches I want both of them to win. There’s no comparison. Club coaches, he [Mosimane] one of the best in Africa now.

“It doesn’t get bigger than that, especially in Africa. And it makes us as the Cosmos family proud and humble to see two of our products as coaches qualifying to the highest final in Africa.” 

Both Mosimane and Zwane started their professional careers at Jomo Cosmos, the club Sono owns and coaches.

Mosimane even had three stints as an Ezenkosi player while Zwane had two spells at the club, which is now struggling for promotion from the National First Division. 

“We don’t want to take the glory, but in life it’s where you started. It started at Cosmos,” Sono added.

“Arthur Zwane we sent to Santos in Brazil. So he learned a trade, playing for Cosmos and watching how we do things, and then also overseas at Santos. Pitso also went overseas to Greece.  

“They learned a lot. They came back as strong human beings with different cultures in their football knowledge.  And we feel very proud. We are saying we might be in the second division [National First Division] but Cosmos is a seed. 

“It’s a seed that you throw in the desert – it takes time to grow but in the end when it does grow from a small tree it will end up in the final of the Africa Cup.”

Former Mamelodi Sundowns coach Mosimane will be bidding for his third Champions League crown as a coach and a second successive while in charge of Al Ahly.

As for Chiefs, their players Khama Billiat and Leonardo Castro have won it before while they were at Sundowns under Mosimane in 2016. 

Further Caf Champions League final reading 

Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma is not concerned with which custodian will be preferred in goal against Al Ahly in the Caf Champions League final on Saturday.

The South African champions will line up against the Egyptian giants in their first-ever final of the African competition at Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca, Morocco.

Apart from the 26-year-old Bvuma, Chiefs also have Itumeleng Khune and Daniel Akpeyi in their goalkeeping department and both of them have played a part in Champions League matches this campaign.

Ahead of the game, Bvuma has said he is not losing sleep on who will be picked to start, insisting the most important thing is to support the team to clinch the trophy.

What has been said?

“I have been in this position before [referring to not knowing if he’ll play or not], so I will see how things turn out for me,” Bvuma said as quoted by Sowetan.

“All I have to do is work hard and hope that I get a starting nod. However, I am not losing sleep because I know we are all ready and whoever plays will do well.

“If I don’t play, I will support whoever plays because, at the end of the day, the most important thing is the team. It’s the team, not Bruce who’s in the final of the Champions League, so the goals of the team are more important.’’

Bvuma, who started earning a starting role in the Chiefs squad after both Khune and Akpeyi were sidelined by injuries, believes he had performed well in the matches he stepped in for them, and his focus now is to build his CV by winning the Champions League.

“I started the season as a third-choice and I had to work very hard to get game time. Even though I started to play late, it was worth the wait because the games I played were very important and I was happy that I managed to perform,’’ Bvuma continued.

“Winning the Champions League would mean a lot for me as Bruce. It would help me in my career in terms of my CV, people would respect me in football. We want to put a star on our jersey and we want to win the cup for our chairman.”

Further Caf Champions League final reading 

Safa president Danny Jordaan believes “South Africa seriously needs some positive lift” and Kaizer Chiefs could hand the country that by winning the Caf Champions League.

Chiefs face Al Ahly in Saturday’s Champions League final at the neutral Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca, Morocco on Saturday night.

With violent protests and looting currently rocking parts of South Africa, Jordaan believes Chiefs have the power to help ease the tension.

“This match is historical for Kaizer Chiefs and it would be tremendous for Amakhosi to win this edition,” Jordaan told the Safa website.

“There has been so much happening in the country, depressing developments and winning the Champions League would give South Africans some really much-needed good news.

“To the technical team [of Kaizer Chiefs], support staff and players, I want to wish you all the best in Morocco. You have come this far, so go there and enjoy yourself.

"Make the country proud. South Africa seriously needs some positive lift.

‘’Believe in yourself and play for the club’s badge, your country, family and for your careers. In Kaizer Chiefs we believe.”

If Chiefs win the Champions League, they will join Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns as the only South African clubs to win Africa's premier club competitions.

Jordaan also took time to salute Chiefs chairman Kaizer Motaung for the “tremendous work” he has done in South African football.

‘“Kaizer has done tremendous work for South African football and winning the Caf Champions League title will be a befitting reward for the hard work he has dedicated to the game. He is an icon of South African football and I am wishing him all the best,’’ added Jordaan.

Amakhosi’s bid to be crowned African champions face a huge stumbling block in the shape of nine-time winners Al Ahly, who are the current titleholders.

Further Caf Champions League final reading 

Global sports brand, Mizuno Korea has released new football boots of featuring Scuba Blue color., which will provide a cool feeling to the customers.

The new product by Mizuno Korea, Scuba Blue colored Blue Lagoon football boots were initially revealed on the 9th of July, via online and offline stores. The new product line-up of blue lagoon concept was including the premium model of 'Morelia Neo 3 Beta' and as well as for 'Morelia Neo 3 Pro' and 'Morelia Neo 3 Pro AS'.

'Morelia Neo 3 Beta' kept Mizuno's brand philosophy on football boots, which is to maintain the sense of a barefoot, lightweight and flexibility. On top of that, a knit material was applied to provide an optimal fit. Additionally, the Inner sole plate was designed to prevent a twist, by extending the support stand of midfoot up to heel, to provide an ultimate stability and to prevent any injury.

This summer, the Blue Lagoon concepted new Morelia is ready to makes football fans chilled and refreshed with its signature blue colour. Also, a bit of red was applied as a point colour.

Mr. Soon-Ho Lee, Sport Division / Marketing Team Manager of Mizuno Korea, has mentioned, "I hope this new product developed in Korea, could become another opportunity to introduce Mizuno's high level of technology and design."

These new football boots will be worn by Kyoga and Madhu who play for Tampines Rover, and Doi, Hougang FC Striker.