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England’s passage to the semi-finals of Euro 2020 was virtually secure by the time they had played 50 minutes of their encounter with Ukraine.

Following Harry Kane’s early goal, the Three Lions tightened their grip on the match shortly after the break.

First, Harry Maguire headed home a Luke Shaw free kick, then shortly afterwards Kane was again on the scoresheet with a downward header from close range.

Naturally, it sparked a euphoric reaction on Twitter.

What was said?

Further Reading

English Premier League outfit Watford have handed scholarships to two English youngsters of Nigerian descent, Darrin Enahoro-Marcus and Toby Adeyemo.

The duo is among the 13 academy players who were picked to train with the Hornets – which could help them get their first professional contract.

“Watford FC is delighted to announce the 13 Academy players who have been handed scholarships,” a statement from the club read.

“The promising teenagers will spend the next two seasons with the club on a development programme that sees them gain nationally-recognised qualifications through an extensive football and education programme."

Under the coaching of Head of Technical Development Jimmy Gilligan and Academy Director Richard Johnson, the selected players will be part of the U18 and U23 programmes, and work towards gaining a professional contract at Vicarage Road in 2023.

Enahoro-Marcus joined the team from Stoke City and he has revealed his ambition of getting to the ‘next level’.

“It's been tough during lockdown so this is really good news and I'm so happy,” he was quoted by the club website.

“I've been at Stoke and a change is what I needed, and I think I can really improve here with these facilities and the coaches, and I can get to the next level.”

In the same vein, Adeyemo who is a striker expressed his delight – while hoping to repay his parents for their sacrifices.

“I'm over the moon, it's a dream come true to get a scholarship at such a lovely club like Watford,” he said.

“It's the club for me and the place means a lot to me. I've enjoyed my football here and I just want to kick on now and pay back my parents for all the sacrifices they have made.”

Should the duo excel come 2023, they would be handed their maiden contract – which would see them swell the number of African stars featuring for the English elite division side.

As it stands, 10 African players are part of the Hertfordshire-based outfit’s first-team squad.

They are Jeremy Ngakia [Congo], William Troost-Ekong [Nigeria], and Adam Masina [Morocco].

Others include Isaac Success [Nigeria], Emmanuel Dennis [Nigeria], Kwadwo Baah [Ghana], Joseph Hungbo [Nigeria], Imran Louza [Nigeria], Tom Dele-Bashiru [Nigeria], and Ismaila Sarr [Nigeria].

Joshua Oluwayemi has set a target of becoming a regular face in the Nigeria senior national team, albeit, he must first put up an impressive showing against Mexico.

The Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper was a late call-up to the Super Eagles squad for the international friendly against El Tri following an injury to Ikechukwu Ezenwa.

The former Enyimba and Sunshine Stars goalie suffered an ankle injury during one of the training sessions in Abuja, but did not recover in time to make the trip to the United States of America.

With just Enyimba's John Noble and Lobi Stars' Nwabali Stanley left for the game, the Nigeria Football Federation beckoned to select the 20-year-old to provide competition in the goalkeeping department.

In a chat with the Super Eagles media, Oluwayemi – who had represented England at U15, U16 and U18 levels described his call-up to the three-time African champions fold as a ‘proud moment’.

However, he has vowed to impress against the North Americans in a bid to get more call-ups that would cement his place in Gernot Rohr’s team.

“It was a long trip but I’m happy to be here and I’m looking forward to the game against Mexico,” he said on the Super Eagles Instagram handle.

“Back in London, it was a proud moment for my family seeing me represent my nation with such a strong Nigerian background I have in London.

“My whole community around me was so proud. First, [my immediate target] is to make sure I am at my best against Mexico and give my best performance.

“[The] long term goal is to make sure that I keep coming back and cement my place in this team.”

The encounter billed for Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is expected to reinforce Mexico who take part in the Concacaf Gold Cup later in July.

The last meeting between the two countries was in a friendly match en route to the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil – which ended 0-0 at the Georgia Dome.

Born in Waltham Forest and raised in Harold Hill, Oluwayemi has risen through our Spurs ranks. Nonetheless, he joined National League side Maidenhead United on loan for his first taste of senior football, where he remained until January 2021.

Grammy Award winner and Nigerian music artist Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, celebrated his 30th birthday in good company.

The African Giant was hosted to a surprise party in Miami and Manchester United midfield star Paul Pogba was among the guests in attendance.

The midfield maestro turned up at the party with a signed France shirt that has his no. 6 and he handed it over to the Nigerian star after they both posed for pictures.

Aside from his impressive outings at Manchester United, Nigeria fans will remember Pogba for halting their ambitions at the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil.

He inspired France to a 2-0 victory in the round of 16 fixture between both countries with his 79th-minute opener followed by an own goal from former Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo.

After France’s run in Euro 2020 came to an end after a penalty shoot-out loss to Switzerland in the round of 16, Pogba moved to the United States to cool off ahead of pre-season training.

The 28-year-old has been playing a key role in Didier Deschamps' team with appearances in all their four games in the European championship, and he scored a stunning goal in Les Bleus' 3-3 score against Switzerland before the shoot-out defeat.

Kylian Mbappe missed the last spot-kick which gave the Swiss a 5-4 win, however, Pogba has backed the Paris Saint-Germain star to learn and bounce back from the disappointment.

"Everyone expects him to score five goals and to be Euro Golden Boot winner but in my opinion, he created chances, worked hard, gave his soul and left everything on the pitch which is the most important thing,” he said.

"He's a great player who will learn from it, he will grow and he'll come back like never before. He's not to blame, it's down to all of us because we're all in the same boat."

Harry Kane’s fourth-minute goal for England in their Euro 2020 quarter-final against Ukraine gave Gareth Southgate’s side a dream start to the match.

Following on from the momentum he had built thanks to his late strike against Germany in the 2-0 last-16 success, the Tottenham striker moved onto a Raheem Sterling pass to give his side the early initiative.

Kane had gone into the match hoping to further silence his doubters, and among those to praise the striker for his persistence was England’s Euro 96 hero Alan Shearer.

What was said?

Further reading

Asante Kotoko lost even more steam in their chase for the Ghana Premier League title following a 1-1 home draw with King Faisal on Saturday.

It could have been worse than it ended as Francis Andy Kumi scored late to cancel out Ibrahim Zubairu’s early opener for the away side in the matchday 32 fixture at the Len Clay Stadium in Obuasi.

Three points adrift of league leaders Hearts of Oak heading into Saturday’s game, Kotoko, who lost to their archrivals in a derby clash last week, have now reduced the gap between themselves and the Phobians to two points.

However, their inability to clinch the maximum three points on offer on the day means the Phobians may well open a five-point lead at the top of the table should they beat Ebusua Dwarfs in their matchday 32 encounter away at Obuasi on Sunday.

That would put the Phobians requiring a win out of their final two games to seal their first GPL title since 2009.

Kotoko would then have to wait for one more year for a possible first league victory since 2009.

Faisal broke the deadlock against Kotoko in the 15th minute, Ibrahim beating goalkeeper Kwame Baah with an effort from close range.

The ‘Insha-Allah’ Boys held their own until the 84th minute when they caved in as Kumi found space to plant a header into the Faisal net.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Wafa handed Inter Allies a 1-0 defeat at Sogakope to boost their top-four quest. Abdul Seidu Abu’s fifth-minute effort emerged as the separating factor, pushing the Academy Boys to third on the table. Wafa now sit just a point above fourth-placed Great Olympics and two marks above Dreams and Medeama who sit tied on 48 points.

Allies, meanwhile, were already confirmed relegated before the game following their 2-0 home loss to Liberty Professionals on matchday 32.

In a late kick-off on Saturday, Legon Cities will welcome Bechem United for a showdown at the Accra Sports Stadium. The Royals and The Hunters sit tied on 38 points but the former hold a superior position due to a better goal difference.  

Ghana would have defeated the Netherlands in the semi-finals of the 2010 Fifa World Cup if they never lost to Uruguay, according to the majority of Goal readers.

Heading into the fixture against La Celeste staged inside Johannesburg’s Soccer City, Milovan Rajevac’s men were Africa’s only hope of reaching the semi-finals.

Sulley Muntari had given the West Africans a 1-0 lead at half-time, however, Diego Forlan levelled matters for Uruguay in the 55th minute after beating goalkeeper Richard Kingson.

Ghana were awarded a penalty towards the end of the game when Luis Suarez blocked a goal-bound Dominic Adiyiah header with his hand. Asamoah Gyan stepped up to take the ensuing kick which kissed the woodwork.

Ultimately, the Black Stars’ ambitions of reaching the last four vanished into thin air after losing 4-2 in a riveting penalty shoot-out.

On the 11th anniversary of the famed game, we asked our readers if Rajevac’s side would have defeated the Oranje in the last four if they had overcome the challenge posed by coach Oscar Tabarez and his team.

In a poll conducted on the Goal Africa Twitter handle, 57.9 percent of total votes are of the opinion that Ghana would have upstaged the Netherlands in the semi-finals if Uruguay had not stopped them.

Should that have happened, the four-time Africa Cup of Nations winners would have reached the final of the championship where they would have battled Spain for the top prize.

42.1 percent feel the West Africans would not have beaten Bert van Marwijk’s team even if they had negotiated their way past the 15-time Copa America champions.

Despite Uruguay’s victory, they finished in fourth position after losing 3-2 to Germany in the third-place play-off at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth.

They had lost 3-2 to the Netherlands in a tension-soaked semi-final. Ultimately, Spain were crowned world champions thanks to a 1-0 triumph over the Oranje at Soccer City Stadium.

With the game looking destined to be settled by a penalty shootout, Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta had the final say thanks to his 116th minute strike.

Kevin-Prince Boateng has confirmed Hertha Berlin will be the last club he will play for in his professional career.

The 34-year-old joined the Old Lady on a one-year deal last month after his contract with Italian Serie B club Monza expired at the end of the 2020-21 season.

Having started his professional career in the German capital in 2005, Boateng described his return to the Olympiastadion as the final stop in his nomadic career which has seen him play in England, Italy, Spain and Turkey.

The former Black Stars forward highlighted his conversation with Hertha’s new director of sport Fredi Bobic who made the deal possible.

“This will definitely be my last stop. I don't know how long it will take, but it will be enough,” Boateng told Bild.

“A year and a half ago, we started talking intensively with Hertha. Michael Preetz wasn't that convinced what was okay. He could only have called me back once. Then came Fredi (Bobic), then it was easier.

“I said, 'I only have one dream. I want to put on my jersey again in the Olympic Stadium'. Fredi said: 'Then we will do everything we can to make this dream come true’."

Ahead of his second spell with the Old Lady, the former La Liga, Serie A and German Cup winner admitted that he needs to fight for his place in Pal Dardai’s team.

He continued: "I know I have to knuckle down. The Bundesliga's a more athletic league than it was, the lads are younger - they don't stop running. Luckily, my positional play is good.

"There are some talented players here, but it's a young team that needs leadership. I know all too well that talent alone isn't enough. I learnt that, especially in Milan. The dressing room was full of superstars. That's when I knew that if you don't work hard, you won't play.

"I certainly haven't come here and said: 'I'm Prince Boateng, I have to play every game’."

Meanwhile, the former Barcelona and Portsmouth star disclosed that he is still in talks with his former Fiorentina teammate Franck Ribery.

The 38-year-old’s stay at the Stadio Artemio Franchi expired at the end of June, and Boateng has hinted the former Marseille hero could continue playing.

“I spoke to him on the phone on Thursday,” he said. “He said I should dress warmly, there was another surprise coming. He is in top shape for his age and has shown in Italy that he is still one of the best. If Hertha wants him, I can only talk about him well.”

England’s side to face Ukraine at Euro 2020 contained two changes from the team that overcame Germany in the last 16.

One of the new faces in the starting XI, however, was not Aston Villa man Jack Grealish, despite fans clamouring for his inclusion.

Instead, Jadon Sancho, who is nearing a move to Manchester United from Borussia Dortmund, has been drafted into the starting XI, while there is also the inclusion of Chelsea star Mason Mount.

The Three Lions will switch to a back four, with Kieran Trippier and Bukayo Saka the players to drop out of the squad.

Fans, though, were most surprised by the lack of Grealish.

What's been said?

Meanwhile, the reception for Sancho was largely a positive one.

And some were just keen to point out that Sancho isn’t a Man Utd player just yet…

Further reading

Mexico slug it out with three-time African kings Nigeria in Saturday’s international friendly billed for the United States of America.

The last meeting between the two countries was in a friendly match en route to the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil – which ended 0-0 at the Georgia Dome.

This fixture is expected to toughen El Tri who take part in the Concacaf Gold Cup later this month.

For the Super Eagles, handled by Gernot Rohr, the aim is to expose players from the Nigeria Professional Football League.

They would be hoping to put up an impressive showing against a full-strength Gerardo Martino squad.

TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch

For Nigerian readers, get your fix on the latest football on TV here! For those across the globe, that is also the place to be.

Also, the game can be watched live on TV through SuperSport and it can be streamed online using NFF TV.

Squads & Team News

Potential Mexico XI: Cota, Alvarez, Moreno, Rodriguez, Romo, C, Rodriguez, Sanchez, Arteaga, Corona, Pineda, Pulido

Potential Nigeria XI:   Noble, Olusesi, Ndah, Adeleke, Obot, Shimaga, Olawoyin, Iwuala, Jude, Sanusi, Adetunji
 

Match Preview

Mexico coach Martino would be expecting his men to put up another commanding showing when his team square up against Nigeria at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

El Tri silenced Panama 3-0 in their last outing at the Nissan Stadium on July 1 - with Mauro Lainez, Cesar Castro and Henry Martin finding the net.

Against the Africans who will be parading majorly local-based professionals, they would be hoping to perfect their strategies ahead of their Concacaf Gold Cup opener against a yet to be decided opponent on July 11.

Even at that, coach Martino has expressed injury concerns in his team against the three-time African kings.

"In reality, the group, in general, has not been affected, obviously the players who are suffering the injuries or discomfort are taken into account, they are cared for, they are treated, they are studied, but at a general level everything goes in the same way,” he told Federacion Mexicana de Futbol website.

“On the other hand, I think it's quite common around the world, taking into account that more than a year has been playing and training irregularly, and this is happening in all the competitions that at this time we have to see, such as the Copa America and the European Championship.”

For the Super Eagles, they will be missing the services of veteran goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa who was injured in training.

In his absence, Enyimba’s John Noble is expected to man the goalpost – which would see him earn his maiden Nigeria cap.

Simba SC have conceded defeat after going down 1-0 to rivals Yanga SC in the Mainland Premier League derby on Saturday.

Watched by over 50, 000 fans including Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan, it was the Jangwani giants who took the bragging rights after a first-half goal from Zawadi Mauya enabled them to beat their Msimbazi rivals at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

The defeat means Simba will now have to wait and win their next league assignment against KMC FC to be declared champions and according to the club’s Media Officer Haji Manara, they had lost to a very tactical side.

What has been said?

“We have lost to a team that was tactically better than us, they were better than us in all departments and they were lucky in the first half, Simba was not the Simba we know, but that is football,” Manara posted on his Facebook page after the game.

What did Simba's Manara say before the game?

Before the game, Manara had bragged that Simba will beat their rivals by at least four goals.

“If the referees do their job well on Saturday, Simba will beat Yanga by more than three goals, that is a fact,” Manara told Goal.

“Forget about those saying derbies can go either way, those things have been overtaken by events, do you expect Simba with their current form to lose against Yanga? Just forget about that and wake up, Simba will never lose to Yanga.

“If the referees follow the 17 rules of officiating, Yanga will ship in more than three goals, and nothing will change, we are the best team in East Africa and people should stop judging things by fluke, those things have been overtaken by events.

“We have Luis [Miquissone], we have Clatous [Chama], we have Bernard [Morrison], we have John [Bocco], we have Larry [Bwalya], Joash [Onyango], Pascal [Wawa] and Shomari [Kapombe], and you want to compare those experienced players with those of Yanga, people who were picked from the streets to come and play?”

This was the first league defeat for Simba coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa since he took over the club from Sven Vandenbroeck.

Namibia assistant coach Robert Nauseb has explained why Peter Shalulile and Deon Hotto were omitted from the squad which will compete at the 2021 Cosafa Cup. 

The Brave Warriors will take on Mozambique, Zimbabwe and guests Senegal in Group C of the Southern African tournament that will run from July 6-18 in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape.

Shalulile played 39 matches across all competitions for Mamelodi Sundowns during the recent 2020/21 season which saw him inspire the Tshwane giants to the PSL title. 

However, the hard-working forward still wanted to feature in the Cosafa Cup according to Nauseb, who is a former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder. 

“We know he played a lot of football and he had a niggling ankle injury, so we decided to give him some time off," Nauseb said on Sowetan. 

"He wanted to be part of the group but we begged him to stay behind so that he’ll recuperate." 

The 27-year-old netted 22 goals across all competitions for Masandawana in what was his debut season with the Chloorkop-based side having joined the club from Highlands Park in September 2020.

Nauseb, who also played for Bloemfontein Celtic and Ajax Cape Town in the PSL, believes Shalulile's best is yet to come having been impressed by his compatriot's passion and dedication. 

“The boy has just started. He’s going places, especially given his dedication to the game," the 47-year-old tactician added. 

"Peter is passionate about football and he always gives his all and that’s why he’s reached this level, which I think is just a start."

Nauseb went on to confirm that Hotto has also been given a break having endured a long season with his club, Orlando Pirates.

“Hotto is another player we’re resting... he played a lot of games for Pirates as well. We’re positive we’ll do well but we respect our opponents,’’ Nauseb concluded.

Namibia, who are under the guidance of head coach Bobby Samaria, will start their Group C campaign against West African giants Senegal on July 8.

The Brave Warriors will be hoping to go all the way and win the Cosafa Cup for the second time, having lifted their maiden trophy in 2015.

Yanga SC slowed Simba SC's speed towards lifting the Mainland Premier League title after they registered a 1-0 win over their archrivals on Saturday at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

Zawadi Mauya scored the only goal of the encounter early in the first half to ensure Timu wa Wananchi had the last laugh and won the bragging rights of the Kariakoo Derby.

Yanga started the meeting looking more dominant and in the opening 10 minutes, they had created four corners, but they were unable to find the back of the net with the chances they created.

The record champions, however, took the lead in the 11th minute when Mauya - who has been a regular starter in midfield alongside Mukoko Tonombe - saw his effort deflected into the net past Aishi Manula who had pulled off a great save to deny them an opener a moment before. Mauya's goal took Yanga's tally of goals scored against Simba in the first half in Kariakoo derbies to 21 in 32 games.

Yanga exploited Simba's right-back on most occasions and Tuisila Kisinda's speed and clever movements exposed how penetrable Simba were on that flank. Mohamed Hussein was exposed and was yellow-carded in the 21st minute as the opponents took advantage of his isolation.

Simba's calls for a penalty in the latter stages of the first half were dismissed by the referee after Dickson Job looked to have handled the ball as he attempted to make a clearance. 

Bernard Morrison came close to scoring an equaliser, but he ended up shooting off target from a promising close-range position in the 51st minute. Another chance for the hosts was wasted by Taddeo Lwanga, whose shot flew way above the crossbar after a nice buildup in a second-half that witnessed more urgency by the Msimbazi side.

Wekundu wa Msimbazi came close to scoring in the 86th minute, but a quick intervention to clear by Job saved Yanga from conceding. Timu ya Wananchi dropped and defended deep in the last 10 minutes of the second half and gave Simba time to launch attacks more regularly.

In the previous three games, Simba were unable to pick up a win against Yanga in league encounters as they lost two of them and one ended in a draw. However, in the last 10 meetings across all competitions, Wekundu wa Msimbazi have won four times, drawn four times, and Yanga have won twice.

President Samia Suluhu was the guest of honour and in the four previous games a president had attended the Simba-Yanga match, the former team had lost all such games. The late president John Magufuli attended two and Wekundu wa Msimbazi were beaten by Kagera Sugar and Yanga while Ali Mwinyi attended one game which Stella FC defeated the champions 2-0.

Simba SC XI: Aishi Manula, Shomari Kapombe, Mohamed Hussein, Joash Onyango, Pascal Wawa, Taddeo Lwanga, Bernard Morrison, Erasto Nyoni, John Bocco, Clatous Chama, Luis Miquissone.

Subs: Beno Kakolanya, Juma Kennedy, Mzamiru Mutyaba, Hassan Dilunga, Larry Bwalya, Meddie Kagere, Chris Mugalu.

Yanga SC XI: Farouk Shikhalo, Shomari Kibwana, Adeyum Saleh, Dickson Job, Bakari Mwamnyeto, Mukoko Tonombe, Zawadi Mauya, Tuisila Kisinda, Deus Kaseke, Feisal Salum, Yacouba Songne.

Subs: Ramadhan Kabwili, Paul Godfrey, Said Juma, Farid Mussa, Saidi Ntibanzonkiza, Ditram Nchimbi, Fiston Abdoulrazak.

David Trezeguet has been impressed by Cristiano Ronaldo's impact at Juventus, even though he feels the attacker has had problems with his team-mates.

Ronaldo, 36, joined the Bianconeri from Real Madrid in 2018 and helped guide them to two Serie A titles, though they could only muster a fourth-place finish last season.

The Portugual star has netted an incredible 101 goals in 133 apperances for the Turin giants and Trezeguet says bringing him in is the best piece of business the club have made during president Andrea Agnelli's time in charge.

What has been said?

"The biggest signing was getting Cristiano Ronaldo, because no one was expecting CR7 at a club that has always had great attention to the budget in its DNA," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Of course, there was some problems with his team-mates, he showed that, but he scored 100 goals."

He added: "No one has been able to manage him like [ex-Real Madrid coach] Zidane did. Maybe Juve lacked a certain dialogue.

"A coach can take a player, show him a game and say: 'Look, you walked for 90 minutes. Give me a hand to win'.

"There are players that make you win and you can't have them against you. Ronaldo makes you win, and so does [Paulo] Dybala. Others, with all due respect, less."

Ronaldo at Juventus

As well as winning two Serie A titles, Ronaldo lifted the Supercoppa Italiana twice and won one Coppa Italia.

He was also named Serie A Footballer of the Year on two occasions and finished the 2020-21 campaign as the league's top scorer with 29 goals despite his side's disappointing finish.

Further reading