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Jamal Bhuyan expressed his disappointment as Bangladesh football team couldn’t travel to Saudi Arabia in order to play a couple of practice games ahead of their 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup joint qualifiers in Qatar next month.

The Bengal Tigers were due to fly off to Jeddah on May 24th however, since they couldn’t procure an exemption from quarantine from the Saudi government, the plan was shelved.

However, this would certainly hurt Bangladesh’s preparations as they wouldn’t have ideal preparation ahead of the crucial qualifiers.

"Is it the footballers’ fault? It is not our fault. It is the organisers’ responsibility. We are not organising. So, do not ask us about it. It is BFF’s (Bangladesh Football Federation) duty. They are trying, but not getting what they want,” said Jamal, who plied his trade for Mohammedan Sporting in the last edition of the I-League.

Afghanistan are to play two international friendlies in the build-up to the 2022 World Cup qualifiers while India are in Doha and could possibly play Philippines later this week in a practice match.

“Of course, it is (our) loss. Afghanistan (are in UAE) and India have already started their preparations in Qatar and we are still in Bangladesh. We must play practice matches only then we will find out our problems,” stated Jamal.

Bangladesh would now depart for Doha on May 30th and enter the bio-secure bubble. However, they would now play competitive matches without having played a single practice match. Although it must be noted that the Bangladesh League was in action until May 11th which means that their players have had competitive action at their respective clubs.

“We need some practice matches. Two years ago, we played against Bhutan and Qatar before playing against India. We played well in those matches. Now, we have some new players in the team, we have some new tactics, we can practically work on them,” said the 31-year-old skipper.

England boss Gareth Southgate denied claims that he doesn't rate Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was selected to the Three Lions' preliminary squad ahead of the Euros.

The Liverpool defender was dropped by Southgate for World Cup qualifiers in March amid a series of poor performances on the club level.

However, Alexander-Arnold starred for Liverpool in the closing weeks of the Premier League season, helping them to a third-place finish, with Southgate now saying that the defender's exclusion wasn't because the coach doesn't see him as good enough for the Three Lions.

What did Southgate have to say?

“It’s not that straightforward,” Southgate said of England's right-back group of Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier, Reece James and Kyle Walker.

“Everyone sees these as four right-backs but there’s a lot more to all of those players. We need versatility, we need competition for places and we are still unclear on certain injuries. Trent is very much in contention.

“People think I don’t think Trent is a good footballer. That just isn’t the case. He has indirectly come in for some criticism and I felt the need to communicate more with him than anyone else over the past couple of months but I think his performances have been very good.

"I’m a little bit surprised by some of the things that have been written because people just don’t know those communications that have gone on. But that is credit to Trent that he has kept that to himself.”

Alexander-Arnold's place with England

The Liverpool defender is one of four right-backs in the squad as he's joined by Walker, James and Trippier on Southgate's provisional list.

Southgate will make a final decision regarding his full squad on June 1, when he will have to narrow down the 33-player preliminary roster to a team of 26.

Both Walker and James could be set to feature in this weekend's Champions League final, while Trippier heads towards the Euros after helping Atletico Madrid win La Liga.

Alexander-Arnold, meanwhile, made 45 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool this season, coming on strong at the end of the campaign to force himself back into contention.

Further reading

England manager Gareth Southgate admits he must be careful not to overuse Jack Grealish at Euro 2020.

The midfielder has been named in the Three Lions' preliminary squad for the competition and is expected to be part of the final 26-man team, which will be announced on June 1.

But Grealish has played only four games for Aston Villa since mid-February, having spent three months sidelined with injury.

What has been said?

Southgate is aware he risks damaging the 25-year-old if he is expected to play the full 90 minutes of every game.

"I don’t see him as an injury doubt," Southgate said. "I see a realistic view in terms of where can we get to from where he is in the space of two weeks, in terms of 90 minutes, 90 minutes, 90 minutes?

"We risk breaking him. We can’t overload him, so we’ve got to manage that really correctly for his welfare, as well as for performance.”

He added: "Can these guys go for six 90 minutes? Very unlikely I would say. [Grealish] is not able to train on consecutive days for example, and he hasn’t had a high training load going into those matches. There are elements of risks that brings."

When does England's Euro 2020 campaign begin?

The Three Lions will play their first game of the competition on June 13 when they face Croatia at Wembley.

They will then take on Scotland five days later before finishing the group stage with a clash against Czech Republic.

The winner of their group will face the team that finishes second in Group F, which consists of France, Germany, Hungary and Portugal.

The runner-up in Group D will face whoever finishes second between Poland, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden.

Further reading

Manchester City captain Fernandinho says he has been waiting a long time to finally get a crack at a Champions League final ahead of Saturday's clash with Chelsea.

The 36-year-old, who is in his eighth season at the Etihad Stadium after joining from Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, has never been beyond the semi-finals in the competition.

But City will play in their first ever Champions League final in Porto and the veteran Brazilian says they will be ready for the challenge.

What's been said?

"There was still that stigma of the fact that the team had never made it to the final before, that we were an inexperienced team in this competition, the club I mean – historically speaking – but I think this season our team has managed to reach a high standard," the Brazilian said. 

"There’s no doubt that it’s a special feeling, because for me personally, having been playing in Europe for a while now, I’ve had a chance to play in many Champions League seasons and I’d only got as far as the semis with Manchester City, the quarters with Shakhtar, but I’d never made the final, so it’s really satisfying.

"It’s a really happy moment, a huge honour, and there’s no doubt that it makes you even more motivated, and as we say, we’ve always got to give 100 per cent, 100% of the time, and I think in a game like this anything less than 200% won’t be enough to win it.”

The bigger picture

The starting position at the heart of midfield will be a difficult decision for manager Pep Guardiola, who has to choose between Fernandinho and Spanish team-mate Rodri.

Fernandinho started the semi-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain and was crucial in stopping the counterattacking threat from the French side.

He was also instrumental in his team-mates keeping their heads while PSG were losing theirs, with Angel Di Maria getting sent off, and his experience could prove crucial against Chelsea.

“It’s a matter of reading the game and understanding what’s going on in that moment," he said about the PSG game, which was played on his birthday.

"There’s no doubt that as I’m a captain and the most senior of the club’s players, this is the point when you need to step up and try to organise things for the good of the team, because sometimes it’s easy for a person to lose their head when under a lot of stress or pressure.

"I tried to stop players from falling into this trap so to not harm the team’s performance, because playing in a game at this level with a player like this makes a big difference.”

Further reading:

Ola Aina has thanked English Championship Side Fulham after confirming his spell at Craven Cottage has come to a close.

The former Chelsea wing-back joined the Cottagers on a season-long loan from Torino in September 2020, to bolster Scott Parker’s defensive options.

He played 31 Premier League games with two goals to his credit. Nonetheless, things did not go according to plan with the London side getting demoted.

In a post on social media, the 24-year-old spoke positively about the club and wished them well for the future.

“To Fulham FC, thank you for making a big goal of mine achievable by playing week in, week out,” Aina wrote on Instagram.

“To all my brothers thank you for making this experience so special I love you man.

“To the manager and his staff thank you too, to the fans it’s a shame we couldn’t stay in the prem, we all put a shift in.

“I’m sure Fulham will be back very soon.”

Aina’s disclosed that his only regret was not getting the opportunity to play in front of the Fulham fans – which he claimed might have played a role in the team’s relegation.

“I think it’s affected most teams,” he told the club website.

“You look at Sheffield United, last year they were flying, and then this season you see what having no fans does.

“I think it’s affected a lot of teams, and we’re one of those. When we needed fans in the stadium for certain games, there are results that might have gone in our favour if they were there maybe.

“It has played a part in our season, I think, it has affected us. But we can’t be making excuses, it is what it is, we didn’t manage to stay up, but it would have been lovely for the fans to have been in the stadium this season.

“I’d just like to say thank you to them for all the support you’ve given me and the team. We wish you’d been with us the whole season, but it was good to have some of you back at the last game.”

UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus because of their part in the Super League project.

The Spanish and Italian clubs were among the 12 founding members of the competition intended to compete with the Champions League.

The majority of teams involved withdrew from the plot days after it was announced in April due to threats from football associations and protests from fans.

What has been said?

Barca, Madrid and Juventus have not said they will pull out, however, and UEFA announced this month that an investigation would be opened.

The case is one step closer to being resolved as UEFA declared on Tuesday its intention to punish the three clubs.

A statement from European football's governing body read: "Following an investigation conducted by UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors in connection with the so-called ‘Super League’ project, disciplinary proceedings have been opened against Real Madrid CF, FC Barcelona and Juventus FC for a potential violation of UEFA’s legal framework."

The bigger picture

The three clubs released a joint statement earlier this month criticising FIFA and UEFA, saying they have faced "unacceptable third-party pressures, threats, and offenses to abandon the project".

The other nine teams involved in the project - Arsenal, AC Milan, Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, Inter, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham - were hit with financial penalties but stated they are still committed to UEFA competitions and renounced the plot to form the breakaway league.

As well as facing further punishment from UEFA, Juventus are in danger of being barred from competing in Serie A because of their role in the Super League plot.

Further reading

Ghana wunderkind Abdul Fatawu Issahaku is on the verge of sealing a transfer to German side Bayer Leverkusen, but Goal can reveal Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund are making a last-ditch push for his services.

The 17-year-old has also been linked to Udinese, Nordsjaelland and Red Bull Salzburg.

While Leverkusen appear to be in the driving seat, Goal can reveal a final agreement is yet to be reached as a host of other top clubs, including Liverpool, Dortmund and Swiss side Basel are all still interested in the £2 million-rated attacker.

The teenager, on the books of Ghanaian second-tier side Steadfast FC, is currently in Germany where he has already sealed a deal with kit manufacturing company Nike.

A big move will add to what has been a remarkable year for the attacker, who began the year playing for Ghana's U17 team, graduated to the U20 outfit in February and then progressed to the senior Black Stars fold in March.

Having earned his first call-up for a 2020 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe in March, he has been named in a 30-man squad for Ghana's upcoming friendly fixtures against Morocco and Cote d'Ivoire next month, where he will look to make his debut for the side.

"We’ve had some offers from some major football clubs internationally. We are looking for some offers from Austria, Geneva, from Italy and from Qatar," Steadfast president Haruna Iddrisu recenty told Joy Sports.

"We are weighing what gives him the best opportunity and the club, the best returns tomorrow.

"More importantly, he has the opportunity to play and contribute to Ghana achieving some soccer laurels in terms of bringing gold to Ghana.

"Issahaku Abdul-Fatawu, our newest jewel, is the idol of Tamale, Steadfast FC and my personal jewel of football that I trust will bring us smiles, honour to himself and the country."

Issahaku was captain of Ghana's U17 side at the Wafu B U17 Cup of Nations held in Togo in January.

On his return, he was promptly drafted into the Black Satellites' set-up for the U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Tanzania where he steered Ghana to clinch gold and as well as winning the Player of the Tournament award.

His two spectacular strikes in the championship both earned nominations for the Goal of the Tournament honour.

Mamelodi Sundowns have a chance to atone for the agony of Caf Champions League elimination by confirming themselves as Premier Soccer League champions when they host SuperSport United at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday.

Victory for Masandawana will see them sealing the league title in what will go into history books as a first for a team to a claim four straight league crowns in the PSL era.

A win will hand the Brazilians an unassailable 10-point league with three matches remaining and that could make up for the pain of being knocked out of the Champions League by Al Ahly last weekend.

But they come up against their sixth-placed Tshwane rivals who are pressed to secure a top-three finish and are five points behind third-placed Golden Arrows. 

SuperSport have vowed to delay Sundowns' crowning moment in what makes this match a potentially thriller. 

TV Channel, Live Score & How To Watch

Squads & Team News

Sundowns have no players who are suspended for this match and no player is reported to be injured.

Themba Zwane is now back after featuring for 65 minutes against Al Ahly last Saturday while Gaston Sirino also played that match following initial injury concerns.

Kaitano Tembo's Matsantsantsa also have no players suspended for the Tshwane derby.

Goalkeeper and captain Ronwen Williams is back to full fitness and featured in their last league game against Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila after missing four matches due to an ACL tear.

But SuperSport had an injury concern in George Chigova, who has also been absent in their recent games and Baofela Pule could deputise for Williams if the Zimbabwean fails to recover in time.

Match Preview

While they found the going tough in Africa, Sundowns have been doing well in the PSL of late.

They go into Wednesday's match on the backdrop of three successive wins including upstaging Orlando Pirates 3-0 to boost their title defence.

Their opponents on the other hand could be talking about contending the title had they gone for long winless spell recently.

In their last match, SuperSport edged Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila 1-0 to end a difficult 10-match winless run, which had ruled them out of the title race.

Now, they would be keen to build up on the momentum created in that home victory against TTM.

But that impetus is under threat by the fact that they arrive at Loftus Versfeld exactly 14 days after their last outing.

Within that period when Matsatsantsa were not involved in competitive action, Sundowns were involved in back-to-back Champions League quarter-final clashes against Al Ahly.

Sundowns carry derby bragging rights this season as they beat SuperSport 1-0 in the Nedbank Cup in February after the two Tshwane foes had cancelled each other 0-0 in the reverse league fixture a month earlier.

Kelechi Iheanacho has expressed his disappointment following Leicester City’s failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

The Foxes’ hopes of playing the prestigious competition faded into thin air on the last day of the 2020-21 campaign as they bowed 4-2 at home to Tottenham Hotspur.

Despite leading 2-1 against Spurs courtesy of Jamie Vardy’s brace, Brendan Rodgers’ men ended up on the losing side with Gareth Bale’s double inspiring the comeback win.

Even at the setback despite giving "it all", the Nigeria international claimed he is proud of the East Midlands side while stating that the King Power Stadium giants would build on their FA Cup triumph next term.

“Disappointed to miss out on UCL qualification, we gave it all until the last moment. I’m proud of my team, winning the FA Cup was a dream for us,” Iheanacho wrote on his Twitter handle.

“We’ll use this as motivation to be back next season! Thanks to the fans for your support this season. Have a great Summer everyone.”

Alongside West Ham United, Rodgers’ team will be representing England in the Europa League instead.

After a sluggish start to the 2020-21 season, the former Manchester City star bounced to life by scoring crucial goals that earned his team crucial points.

He ended the campaign with 19 goals and seven assists across all competitions to beat Vardy to Leicester City’s top scorer accolade.

His beauty against Crystal Palace was also voted as the club’s Goal of the Season. The Super Eagle drilled home a first-time effort after he was set up by Jonny Evans.

“It feels good! It was a great goal and a great ball from Jonny. That goal is really a great goal and I’m happy that the fans chose that as the best goal this season,” he told LCFC TV.

“I’m really, really happy. When the ball got played in from Jonny, I got it down inside and took it back. The only thing on my mind was to shoot, and that’s what I did. It went in the back of the net, so it was really a great pass from Jonny.

“As you can see, everybody was so happy, the staff as well. It meant a lot for the team because we really worked hard in that game to come from behind.

“Jonny made a great, great tackle as well, and that helped us as well because that was like a half-goal for me. He ran from the halfway line to make that tackle. It was a great moment and of course, making the assist as well for me to score, was fantastic.”

Kaizer Chiefs attacking midfielder Nkosingiphile Ngcobo says it is imperative for Amakhosi to win their remaining PSL matches.

The Soweto giants have turned their attention to the domestic league after they booked their place in the Caf Champions League semi-finals with a 4-3 aggregate win over Tanzania's Simba SC.

Chiefs find themselves in 11th place on the PSL standings - five points above the relegation zone and three points behind eighth-placed Baroka FC, but Amakhosi have a game in hand.

Ngcobo has set his sights on helping Amakhosi win their last three games, starting with their clash with Leopards at Thohoyandou Stadium on Wednesday.

"I think we did well in Tanzania and now we are going to Thohoyandou. We are well prepared and looking forward to the game," Ngcobo told Chiefs' media. 

"Obviously our position on the log is not good for a team like Kaizer Chiefs, so we're just hoping to win our remaining games in order for the team to move up the table."

The left-footed playmaker, who is enjoying a breakout season in the PSL, said Amakhosi will fight for a victory when they lock horns with a relegation-threatened Leopards side.

"It is far and there is also the weather [hot conditions]. We have to be prepared mentally and go there to fight," he continued. 

"I think they [Leopards]  will come strong because they are fighting against relegation, and we also need the points, so it's going to be a tough game."

A victory over Leopards will see Chiefs go level on points with Baroka and it would also secure safety from relegation. 

Ngcobo was an unused substitute as Chiefs succumbed to a 3-0 loss to Simba, who were backed by 10,000 vociferous fans at Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium last weekend. 

The Pietermaritzburg-born youngster hopes to play in front of fans in South Africa once the Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. 

"It was very nice in Tanzania playing in front of the fans. It was very nice. We wish that we can get the fans back in South Africa soon," he concluded. 

Ngcobo has netted four goals in 30 matches across all competitions this term.

The CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores is up and running once more, with the group stage now underway for 2021.

Thirty two teams from across the South American continent have won passage into the first round proper of the competition, either through automatic qualification or by fighting through Libertadores' preliminary rounds.

Both the Argentine and Brazilian clubs have tasted glory in this tournament and will be desperate to make a claim for one of those spots with a strong performance. 

The CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores group stage can be watched through Fanatiz with a 7-day free trial followed by $7.99 a month . 

The streaming platform offers the option to watch each game.

Copa Libertadores Group Stage: Round Five Fixtures

Group positions as of May 24 in (brackets). 

(Q) Already qualified for last 16

(C) Already eliminated (but can still make Copa Sudamericana)

(E) Already eliminated 

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Group E

Group F

Group G

Group H

What has happened so far in the 2021 Copa Libertadores?

The 2021 Copa Libertadores began less than a month after the 2020 edition came to an end with Palmeiras' narrow victory over Santos in the final, due to delays in its playing caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

On February 23 Uruguay's Liverpool met Catolica of Ecuador in the opening match of the first preliminary phase, officially kicking off the new tournament. 

Watch now with Fanatiz English

With five rounds of the group stage already completed in this accelerated Libertadores, nine teams can rest easy in the knowledge that their place in the last 16 is already assured: Palmeiras, Defensa y Justicia, Barcelona, Racing Club, Sao Paulo, Argentinos Juniors, Flamengo, Velez Sarsfield and Atletico Mineiro.

Only Palmeiras, Argentinos and Mineiro, though, have secured that all-important top spot which will determine knockout seedings, leaving plenty to play for even for those qualified.

And in several groups, notably Group C with giants Boca and Santos battling for the one remaining last-16 place (which The Strongest could also grab if results go their way) and B, where all four sides still have a chance to go through, the action is guaranteed to be thrilling down to the very last minute. 

One of the teams which can seal passage with a draw, meanwhile, is River Plate, who pulled off one of the most remarkable wins in Libertadores history against Santa Fe despite having to play injured midfielder Enzo Perez in goal for the entire 90 minutes due to a severe outbreak of Covid-19.

It is important to remember as well that there is still incentive left even for those teams who look set to miss out on the knockout stage, as third place guarantees a spot in the Copa Sudamericana last 16.

Watch the Copa Libertadores live on Fanatiz. Sign up for a free trial now followed by $7.99 a month

Tim Ream says that he remains committed to Fulham even after their relegation to the Championship as the U.S. men's national team defender looks forward to trying to lead the club back to the Premier League once again.

Ream, who is with the USMNT ahead of a friendly against Switzerland and the continuation of the CONCACAF Nations League, had a difficult season with Fulham. The 33-year-old defender was limited to just eight appearances in all competitions.

But, after captaining the team against Manchester United and Newcastle to close the season, Ream says he's highly motivated to prove himself once again on the club level as he looks to lead Fulham's charge next season.

What did Ream say?

"When given an opportunity I want to perform at my best and I think the last couple of weeks was a proving ground for myself to show that I can still play at a very high level and continue to warrant being given opportunities," Ream said.

"Being able to play in front of our fans against Newcastle was fantastic. It was great to see people out in the stadium and chanting and even booing a bit. The passion is slowly coming back and, as players, that pushes us on.

"In terms of my future, it wasn't reported but I signed a contract last summer, so I'm contracted and I'm happy to stay with Fulham and play my part.

"I've had conversations with Scott [Parker, Fulham manager] and with the backroom staff and they want me there and I want to be there. I want to play a part and push the team and play as many games as possible to try to earn promotion again."

The grind of the Championship

Next season won't be Ream's first in England's second division, as the American defender has now been relegated from the Premier League three times.

He's played a total of seven career seasons in the Championship, having surpassed the 40-appearance mark in five of those seasons.

"I joke with friends and family that the Championship takes years off your career," he says. "I've said for the past couple years that I feel like I could go until I'm 37-38, so imagine if I wasn't playing in the Championship as long as I have.

"It's difficult. It's one game after another. You're playing on a Saturday, you're playing on Tuesday or it's Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday. So it's all about taking care of yourself, doing the right things off the field, and making sure you recover properly. And if you do that, and you have a little bit of luck on the way injury-wise you put yourself in a good place to be a big part of a promotion-winning team.

"In terms of our squad, it'll be interesting. We have a lot of guys coming back from loans who were in that promotion-winning squad. who may not want to stick around and some may want to give it another try, so we'll see. 

"A lot of it's up in the air right now, there are still meetings going on with the backroom staff and the owners. We're going to push for promotion and I think we're very well set up to give it another go."

A St. Louis homecoming?

Ream's career began with the New York Red Bulls, where he starred for two years before signing with Bolton, but the defender's true start came in St. Louis.

Born in the Missouri city, Ream also went on to play collegiately at St. Louis University, starring for the Billikens before being selected in the second round of the 2010 MLS Draft.

St. Louis SC, one of the league's newest expansion teams, is set to join MLS in 2023 and, as a local star, Ream has been earmarked by many as a potential signing ahead of the club's inaugural season.

Ream himself didn't rule it out, although the defender says his goal is to stay in Europe for at least a little while longer.

"It's on the radar," Ream said. "I think it's always on the radar, MLS in general, but for me personally, I still have that drive to stay in England. I love the daily grind and constant pressure of promotion and relegation, of trying to be the best that you can possibly be with consequences where, if you don't perform, you're dropped very quickly and someone surpasses you.

"I'm still in the mindset of trying to beat out 25, 26, 27-year-olds, guys who are six, seven, eight years younger than me, trying to beat them out for a spot in the team at Fulham. Right now that's my focus.

"If something comes up down the line, if they contact us in St Louis or any MLS team contacts us, I always take that into consideration and weigh up with the options. We have the pros and cons and I go from there."

Further reading

Samuel Chukwueze is in line to make his Villarreal return in Wednesday’s Europa League final against Manchester United.

The Nigeria international was among the Yellow Submarine squad that landed in Gdansk, Poland – where the winner will be decided.

The 22-year-old was stretchered off in pain during the second leg last-four clash against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium as his team held their hosts to a goalless draw.

A 2-1 win from the first-leg helped them advance to the final and they will battle the Red Devils for the European crown inside the Miejski Stadium.

In the wake of the problem, he missed matches against Celta Vigo, Real Valladolid, Sevilla and Real Madrid.

“Medical tests carried out on Samuel Chukwueze have confirmed muscular damage to the quadriceps in his left leg, which he picked up during the second leg of the Uefa Europa League semi-final against Arsenal FC," a club statement read.

"The recovery time depends on the player's progress.”

With the latest development, Chukwueze is in contention for Unai Emery’s side after recovering from the injury setback.

The youngster has been a key part of Emery's selection this season and he recently rediscovered his goalscoring boots with three goals in his last four Spanish elite division outings.

Overall, the winger has contributed five goals and six assists in 39 matches across all competitions in the 2020-21 campaign.

In the Spanish top flight, Villarreal finished a disappointing seventh after accruing 58 points from 38 matches played.

Against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team, Chukwueze would be hoping to win his first major title with Villarreal since joining them from Diamond Football Academy after helping Nigeria win the 2017 Fifa U17 World Cup in Chile.

There, he was named the third-best player behind Johannes Eggestein and compatriot Victor Osimhen.

Having impressed for Villarreal’s reserves in the third tier, he was promoted to the senior team – making his debut in a Europa League game against Rangers – as manager Javi Calleja brought him on as a 79th-minute replacement for Nicola Sansone.

His eye-catching performances saw him names in 2019’s Golden Boy 40-man shortlist.

SuperSport United head coach Kaitano Tembo has claimed the players do not need the motivation to prolong Mamelodi Sundowns' Premier Soccer League title wait on Wednesday.

Sundowns could wrap up the title race should they beat SuperSport United in the Tshwane derby at Loftus Versfeld Stadium but Tembo is adamant his players will not let that happen as they understand the importance of a victory on their part.

“It is a game where players do not really need motivation because it is a derby,” Kaitano told Daily Sun.

“We are in a situation where we really need to finish our season very strong. They are in a position where they can win the league if they beat us and there is a lot to play for from both teams that is why it is going to be a very interesting game.”

The Zimbabwean-born tactician revealed uncertainty on how the two-week break could affect them as they seek a win that could make them join the top-five.

“We have had enough time to rest. We gave time to the guys who have not played and those who are coming from injuries. These 14 days really helped out but again coming off a good win against TTM and we needed to continue with that momentum,” he added.

“But after the break, you really do not know how you will fare on that day.

“Our preparations have been good and players are looking forward to the game. This is a very important game for us because we want to finish as high as we can. Look, you cannot really predict derbies in terms of results but in terms of performance. Both teams are looking forward to the game. 

“We want to try and get good results. The boys are also motivated.”

Tembo’s side fell out of the title race after they failed to pick up a win in 10 games. They ended the bad run with a 1-0 win over TTM with a goal from Bradley Grobler assuring them victory.

Mamelodi Sundowns, who were eliminated from the Caf Champions League by Al Ahly at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday, need a win in the Tshwane derby to lift a fourth PSL title in a row.

Aduana Stars coach Joseph Asare Bediako is optimistic about their chances ahead of their Ghana Premier League fixture against Asante Kotoko on Saturday.

The two teams are set for a showdown in Dormaa in matchweek 27 of the elite domestic championship.

Currently eighth on the league table, the Fire Boys could move up one place with a victory, just below the Porcupine Warriors.

"Strategising [for] Kotoko, Hearts and those big teams is simple than playing those low-profile teams because they have got the quality playmakers and if you stop them, it is finished," Bediako said, as reported by Footballghana.

"If you look at Legon Cities, you won’t get any, let's say, exceptional player to play him out to destabilise them.

“So if you strategise well against the big teams with top talents, you can win easily. This is not the first time I am playing Kotoko, I played them with a second Division team in the FA Cup and they just beat us [on] penalties.

“I know Kotoko well and know what they can do, they are a good side, great club. I played them with Chelsea, we beat them in Kumasi so this is not the first time. I’m just praying to God for favour."

In 26 league matches played so far this season, Aduana have won 11 matches, drawing six and losing the other nine games.

Their victories include a stunning 1-0 away triumph over Kotoko in the reverse fixture in matchweek 10.

The Dormaa-based side are determined to pick up three points to return to winning ways following a 2-0 away loss to Legon Cities.

Kotoko, on the other hand, are looking to make it six games without defeat, having won three and drawn two of their last five matches.

In all, they have won 12 of 26 matches played so far, drawing 10 and losing 4, a situation which leaves them tied on points with arch-rivals Hearts of Oak who lead the table due to a better goal difference.

The Porcupine Warriors are targeting their first league title since 2014 and their 24th in history. Their number of league wins makes them the most successful club in the history of the championship. 

The Senegal senior national team has named a strong squad to face Zambia and Cape Verde in friendlies next month, with Edouard Mendy and Sadio Mane making the cut.

The Chelsea and Liverpool stars headline the 26-man squad announced on Tuesday by the Senegalese Football Federation.

Also making the squad are Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly, Rennes’ Alfred Gomis, Sampdoria’s Keita Balde, Crystal Palace’s Cheikhou Kouyate and Leicester City’s Nampalys Mendy – who recently helped the Foxes silence Chelsea to win the English FA Cup.

Others are Joseph Lopy, who represents Ligue 1 outfit Sochaux, Krepin Diatta’s AS Monaco plus Paris Saint-Germain duo of Idrissa Gueye and Abdou Diallo.

First, the West Africans will take Zambia at the Stade Lat-Dior, Thies on June 5 before trying the Blue Sharks for size three days later at the same venue.

These games are expected to help Aliou Cisse’s team prepare for September’s 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers that commence in September.

Senegal would be hoping to appear at the global football showpiece for the third time ever. Nonetheless, they must negotiate their way past Congo, Namibia and Togo in Group H.

For Cape Verde, they are in Group C alongside Gernot Rohr's Nigeria, Central African Republic and Liberia.

Elsewhere, Zambia would be hoping to make their World Cup debut in Qatar. The first step towards achieving that must see them silence Tunisia, Mauritania, and Equatorial Guinea in Group B.

Despite showing promise at the last edition staged in Russia, Cisse’s men crashed out at the group stage. There, they finished in the third position after facing Colombia, Poland and Japan.

FULL LIST

Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy (Chelsea, England), Alfred Gomis (Rennes, France). Seny Dieng (Queens Park Rangers, England), Pape Seydou N'Diaye (ASC Jaaraaf de Dakar, Senegal), Abdoulaye Seck (Royal Antwerp, Belgium)

Defenders: Youssouf Sabaly (Bordeaux, France), Lamine Gassama (Goztepe, Turkey), Abdou Diallo (Paris Saint-Germain, France), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli, Italy) Pape Abou Cisse (Saint-Etienne, France), Cheikhou Kouyate (Crystal Palace, England).

Midfielders: Saliou Ciss (AS Nancy, France), Idrissa Gueye (Paris Saint-Germain, France), Joseph Lopy (Sochaux, France), Moustapha Name (Paris, France), Krepin Diatta (Monaco, France), Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City, England), Pape Sarr (Metz, France), Sada Thioub (Angers, France)

Forwards: Famara Diédhiou (Bristol City, England), Sadio Mane (Liverpool, England), Keita Balde (Sampdoria, Italy), Habib Diallo (Strasbourg, France)