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The Indian national team will fly to Qatar next week to take part in the three remaining fixtures of the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers. The players will not have to undergo a hard quarantine of 10 days on arrival in Qatar and can start training immediately, Goal can confirm. 

However, the team will remain in a bio-secure bubble and have to strictly follow the protocols as mandated by the organisers. 

The following measures are implemented for travellers coming from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines, whether they are travelling through direct flight or via other countries (transit), which include:​

However, the second rule has been relaxed after deliberations between the AIFF (All India Football Federation) and Qatar Football Association (QFA) in consultation with the Health Ministry of Qatar. The national team players will have to produce a COVID-19 negative test result before they convene at Delhi and thereafter, another test will be conducted as a negative test result 48 hours prior to the journey to Doha is mandatory. 

It is believed that not just India but Bangladesh too has seen their hard quarantine in Doha being waived off. 

The Blues Tigers are set to play against hosts Qatar on June 3, Afghanistan on June 7 and Bangladesh on June 11. India are currently fourth on the points table and from the remaining fixtures, they will hope to collect as many points as possible and finish third so that they can seal automatic qualification for the 2023 Asian Cup qualifying third round.

Cristiano Ronaldo has no plans to make a return to Sporting CP this summer, according to his agent Jorge Mendes.

The 36-year-old’s future at Juventus is increasingly uncertain with speculation a summer move is in the offing as he prepares to enter the final 12 months of his contract in Turin.

Some of that speculation suggested the forward could make a dramatic return to his boyhood club Sporting, though Mendes has moved quickly to quash those claims.

What was said?

It was Ronaldo’s mother, Dolores Aveiro, who helped to fuel rumours about a return to Sporting earlier this week.

Speaking to supporters about her son's future from her balcony as they celebrated Sporting's first Primeira Liga title success since 2002, she said: “I’ll talk to him to bring him back. Next year he will play in Alvalade [Sporting’s stadium].”

However, it appears even Ronaldo’s mother cannot persuade the forward to return to his homeland just yet, even if he has previously indicated he would like to end his career there.

Responding to the rumours, Mendes told Record: "Cristiano is proud of the title won by Sporting, in fact, as he has publicly demonstrated. But at the moment his career plans do not go through Portugal".

The bigger picture

Though a return to Sporting looks unlikely for now, Ronaldo’s future at Juventus remains unclear.

His time in Turn can hardly be considered a failure. He was won back-to-back Serie A titles and last week he became the fastest player in the club’s history to reach 100 goals.

However, the Bianconeri have relinquished their title to Inter this term, were eliminated early from the Champions League once more and face a real battle to even qualify for the competition next season as they currently sit in fifth place with two games left.

Such uncertainty means a summer of change could be in the offing with Ronaldo, as one of the club’s top earners, among those who could be moved on.

Even at 36 there would be still plenty of clubs keen on signing the Portugal forward, with returns to Manchester United and Real Madrid often mooted.

Ronaldo has hinted in the past that a spell in MLS may appeal to him, while wealthy sides in the Middle East would also likely enter the bidding if Ronaldo chose to move on.

Further reading

Football fans have taken to social media to shower encomium on Ferran Torres after his eye-catching display for Manchester City in their 4-3 victory over Newcastle United on Friday night.

The youngster bagged a hat-trick in the encounter to help his side extend their impressive away form this season, having now won their last 12 matches outside Etihad Stadium.

The 21-year-old thus became the youngest player to score three goals in a match for a team managed by Pep Guardiola.

The forward has been rewarded for the eye-catching performances with the man-of-the-match award and some African football supporters are quick to compare him with one of the most prolific City’s goalscorers in history, Sergio Aguero, who has been linked away from the club.

Manchester City set yet more records after beating Newcastle United 4-3 at St James' Park to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to 13 points.

The win was the 12th straight away league victory for Pep Guardiola's side - the longest ever winning run away from home by a team in the top four tiers of English football.

Spain international Ferran Torres scored a hat-trick as City twice came from behind as they extended their unbeaten run away to 23 matches in all competitions - also a new record for an English side.

What's been said?

"It's good for the fact that we won 12 times and no side could do it before so we're happy for that," Guardiola told Sky Sports.

"The spirit from the first minute until the end was absolutely there.

"We made a comeback after 1-0, made a comeback after 3-2, so it was really good, we're please and hopefully we can learn a little bit about set-pieces and corners and especially the two penalties - we have to improve on that."

The bigger picture

City were already confirmed as the new Premier League champions earlier in the week when nearest rivals Manchester United were beaten at home by Leicester.

Guardiola made a number of changes with the Champions League final in a fortnight's time, bringing in Scott Carson for his debut  after two years at the club as well as recalling defender Eric Garcia for his first Premier League start since October.

The manager admitted his side were a little distracted after claiming the title but expects them to step up their focus as they count down to their clash with Chelsea.

"We made mistakes because we are champions and the players were distracted a little bit the last few days but this is normal and we knew it," the City boss added.

"Now they're going to celebrate and we're going to prepare for the game against Brighton and I'm pretty sure we will be more focused and better prepared of course for the final of the Champions League."

Further reading:

Ferran Torres broke a record previously held by Lionel Messi when he struck a memorable hat-trick for Manchester City against Newcastle on Friday.

The 21-year-old’s treble helped the newly crowned Premier League champions to a thrilling 4-3 victory against Newcastle at St James’ Park.

In doing so he became the youngest player to score a league hat-trick for a Pep Guardiola side, the previous record being set by Messi 11 years ago.

Torres continues hot streak

Argentine superstar Messi was 22 years, 200 days old when he scored a hat-trick in a 5-0 La Liga win for Guardiola’s Barcelona against Tenerife in 2010.

Fast forward 11 years and Torres is 125 days younger than Messi was, with all three of his goals coming in a remarkable 24-minute spell either side of half-time.

A spectacular flicked finish from the former Valencia man put City 2-1 in front shortly before the break. Then, after goals from Joelinton and Joe Willock put Newcastle ahead, the winger converted Gabriel Jesus’ cross to level the match at 3-3.

Two minutes later Torres was again in the right place to slam home the rebound and restore City's lead after Joao Cancelo’s shot struck the crossbar.

The Spain international has now scored 12 goals for City this season, with five of those coming in his last five matches. He also has two hat-tricks to his name this campaign having scored a treble for Spain in a 6-0 Nations League win against Germany last November.

What was said?

"It has been an incredible week, we qualified for the Champions League, won the Premier League and I scored a hat-trick. Very happy," Torres told Sky Sports.

"I try to improve day by day and also try to learn from my team-mates and my manager. I try to keep improving and getting ready for the Champions League final.

"I always try to go to the first post for set pieces, I flicked the ball and I think it was a very beautiful goal."

Reflecting on Torres' performance, Guardiola told BBC Sport: "Incredible numbers and goals in his first season in the Premier League.

"He is so young and clinical. He is a guy brought as a winger but maybe we have to think as a striker. He is a good player."

What's next for City?

The result means City set a new English record of 12 successive away league victories and extends their lead at the top of the table to 13 points.

They have two more Premier League games against Brighton and Everton to come before the Champions League final against Chelsea in Lisbon on May 29.

Further reading

Tosin Adarabioyo has stated Fulham will play for pride when they take on Southampton in Saturday’s Premier League game.  

The Cottagers have been relegated to the Championship following a spate of unimpressive performances, having been without a win in their last seven games.

Scott Parker’s men are left with three games before the end of the 2020-21 season and Adarabioyo has revealed his side will give their best in the encounters, starting with their game against the Saints.

“They’re a good team, especially offensively, they create some chances, so we’ll have to be switched on, particularly with their attackers,” Tosin told the club website.

“It was a tough game [0-0 at Craven Cottage on Boxing Day], one in which we had to concentrate quite a lot defensively.

“Obviously nobody managed to get a goal but hopefully we can do so this time around. Everyone wants to leave their stamp on this league, and we’ve got three games to do so.

“As a team, individually and collectively, we want to perform to the best of our abilities to leave that stamp.”

Adarabioyo has made 30 Premier League appearances for Fulham this season but his effort was not enough to rescue his side from relegation much to the displeasure of the defender.

“Unsuccessful, obviously. We’ve not accomplished what we set out to do, so it’s been an unsuccessful campaign,” he continued.

“Everyone’s quite down about the fact that we’ve been relegated, but we’ve got to push on. There’s nothing we can do about that now, we just have to keep looking forwards.

“I hope the fans know that we did give 100 percent. We did fall short, but we’re going to try our best to push again next season.

“They’ve been a huge miss, especially in the home games, we’ve missed those fans that are able to give you that extra push in home games.

“Next season we’ll build again and try and get ourselves back in this league where we all want to be.

“Some games we’ve conceded goals which we shouldn’t have, which resulted in us not getting the points that we needed, and other games it was not being able to score goals.

“It’s been a mix of both ends of the pitch throughout the season really.”

Fulham will also be expected to parade Adarabioyo's compatriots Ola Aina, Ademola Lookman and Josh Maja as well as Cameroon's Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa against Southampton. 

There was nothing but criticism as Ghanaians woke up to see an updated list of players called up for the West African nation’s upcoming international U23 friendly fixture against Japan.

On Thursday night, the Ghana Football Association unveiled a roster of provisional players for back-to-back matches against the Asians on June 4 and 8.

Featuring a blend of foreign and home-based players, Paa Kwasi Fabin’s squad raised several questions.

Poland-based attacker Yaw Yeboah was included in the squad despite being 24 years of age, one year younger than Asante Kotoko defender Yussif Mubarik, according to Transfermarkt, who also made the list.

New-kid on the block Abdul Issahaku Fatawu was also included in the squad despite being earlier listed among Ghana’s 30-man senior team for upcoming friendlies against Morocco and Cote d’Ivoire.

One of the major talking points was the exclusion of in-form Hearts of Oak midfielder Salifu Ibrahim, who has won successive Man of the Match awards in his last two Premier League appearances for the Phobians.

On Friday, however, the list of players on the GFA’s website was different as Ibrahim was included, as were Asante Kotoko left-back Moro Ibrahim and a few other new names.

Issahaku was also no longer on the list, while Frank Amoabeng, who was earlier wrongfully listed as a player of Serie C outfit Novara, saw his club changed to fourth tier side Cerignola.

Many took to social media to express their thoughts on the development:

New South Africa head coach Hugo Broos has confirmed Molefi Ntseki is set to join his technical team as a second assistant coach.

The Belgian tactician was officially unveiled as the new Bafana Bafana coach last week after he signed a five-year deal with the South African Football Association. 

Broos replaced Ntseki, who was dismissed by Safa after the Botshabelo-born tactician failed to guide the national team to the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon.

"My local assistant coach is the former Bafana coach, Molefi Ntseki. I have met with him twice already and the man is an encyclopedia," Broos told SAFM .

"He knows all the players here and he's happy to be assistant again. That's good to me because I asked him."

This comes after Broos disclosed that his first assistant will be Macedonian tactician Cedomir Janevski earlier this week. 

"I asked Safa about a second assistant coach and they asked me what do you think about him [Ntseki] and I said if he's fine with being second again then I have no problems, and I met with him and he's a good football person," Broos continued. 

"I can tell you that he's a football person and a good coach. He knows everything about the players and their backgrounds. I was impressed when I met him because he is a football person."

Ntseki also served as Bafana assistant coach under Ephraim 'Shakes' Mashaba and Stuart Baxter, who guided the national team to the 2015 and 2019 Afcon finals, respectively. 

Broos is back on the African continent having enjoyed some success as the Cameroon head coach having led the Indomitable Lions to the 2017 Afcon title before being fired later in the same year.

The 69-year-old mentor explained why he agreed to become the new Bafana coach with the team set to start its 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifying campaign in September 2021.

"The project convinced me to come here. Before I went to Cameroon, I didn't know much about African football," the former Club Brugge head coach continued.

"But after that, I fell in love with the continent. I always asked how is it possible that South Africa is not at the top."

The last time Bafana participated in the World Cup finals was in 2010 as the hosts and prior to that, they had taken part in the 2002 tournament in Korea and Japan. 

Dosu Joseph believes having Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi in the final of the FA Cup is a blessing for Nigeria.

The Super Eagles stars will be expected to feature for Leicester City when they take on Chelsea in the final of the FA Cup on Saturday.

Iheanacho has been in blistering form for the Foxes this season, scoring 18 goals in 36 appearances across all competitions, including his match-winning goal in the semi-finals of the FA Cup against Southampton.

The 47-year-old is delighted with the eye-catching performances of the Super Eagles attacker and also expressed his joy with the Foxes’ qualification to the final of the tournament, which could see Iheanacho and Ndidi play a part.

“I am happy, Nigerians are happy with Iheanacho performances and blessed to see two of their players in the FA Cup final - [Iheanacho and Ndidi],” the former Nigeria goalkeeper told Goal.

“Iheanacho has been fantastic this season.  He is been doing what he is expected to do as a striker for Leicester City. He’s been scoring goals.

“He is happy now and he is improving every day. I am really impressed with his performances. I just hope his coach will keep playing him week-in-week-out. He is done so well for himself."

Ndidi has been a consistent performer for Leicester City since teaming up with the side from Genk in 2017.

The Nigeria legend is pleased with the development of the midfielder and backed him to move to a bigger club when the opportunity arises.

“We are all praying to grow. We are all hoping to play for the bigger clubs in the world. He is been doing well for Leicester City,” he continued.

“If Real Madrid, Manchester United, Manchester City and other big clubs come, I think he can leave Leicester.

“All he has to do is to keep on playing well so that other big clubs can come for him.”

While Iheanacho has 31 appearances for the Nigeria national team, Ndidi has played 38 times for the three-time African champions.

The players recently helped the Super Eagles qualify for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Scott Carson made Premier League history on Friday when he was named in the Manchester City side to take on Newcastle a decade after his last appearance in the competition.

The 35-year-old had not started a Premier League game since May 2011 but was the shock name on Pep Guardiola’s team sheet for City’s first game since they secured the Premier League title.

Carson has been on loan at Etihad Stadium from Championship side Derby for the last two seasons but had not made a senior appearance before now.

What did Carson say?

Carson’s last Premier League match was also against Newcastle at St James’ Park on May 22, 2011, with the 3645 day gap the longest between appearances for a goalkeeper in Premier League history.

Speaking about his surprise recall, he told Sky Sports: "I’m over the moon to get a chance to play. There was a chance I could have played last season, but Ederson was going for the Golden Glove.

“The goalkeeping coach told me yesterday so I’m obviously delighted. I thought my Premier League days were over but thankfully I’ve never given up and I’ve got a chance tonight.

“I was surprised but since I’ve been here I’ve just tried to work as hard as I can and be there if needed and thankfully the manager has seen that and given me a game tonight.”

The bigger picture

With the Premier League sewn up and a Champions League final to prepare for, it is little surprise that Guardiola opted to give some squad players a chance.

That said, it was still a surprise to see Carson selected ahead of usual understudy Zack Steffen, but it is a reward for two years of patiently waiting in the wings.

The former England goalkeeper’s last competitive appearance came more than two years ago for Derby against Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship and he will have arrived at the Etihad knowing he would not see much playing time.

With both his City and Derby contracts expiring at the end of the season, Carson's future beyond 2020-21 is unknown.

Further reading

EFL Championship side Bristol City have announced the release of Hakeeb Adelakun and Famara Diedhiou on Friday.

Adelakun teamed up with the Ashton Gate outfit in the summer of 2018 from Scunthorpe United, signing a three-year deal but only made seven league appearances for the side.

The winger has, however, spent most of his time with the Robins on loan at Rotherham United and Hull City, and after coming to the end of his contract, the forward has not been handed an extension.

Diedhiou will also reach the end of his contract in June, having been with at Ashton Gate since 2017, when he joined the club from Ligue 1 side Angers.

The Senegal international has featured in more than 150 league games for the Robins since his arrival at the club.

In the 2020-21 season, the centre-forward bagged 10 goals in 45 appearances across all competitions to help Nigel Pearson’s men maintain their Championship status.

Notwithstanding his fine performances, Bristol have chosen not to renew the attacker’s contract as they prepare for next season.

“I have spoken with each departing player and wish them all well in the next stage of their careers,” Pearson told the club website.

“We are entering into a significant transition period for the club and central to that is deciding which players can take this club forward.

"The first element of that is largely done and now it’s about looking forward to who we can bring in as we build towards next season.”

Adelakun and Diedhiou will be expected to sort out their future before the start of the 2021-22 campaign.

Adelakun is eligible to feature for Nigeria and England but he is yet to represent any of the countries in any age-grade competitions.

The 24-year-old forward will have to deliver impressive club performances to earn a call-up to the Super Eagles.

Diedhiou, on his part, has made 10 appearances for the Senegal national team since his debut in 2014 and will hope to be part of the Teranga Lions squad to the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Chelsea go into Saturday's FA Cup final as clear favourites, seeking to scupper Leicester's fairytale run and claim the first trophy of a potential May double.

If the Foxes are expected to muster any real resistance, it will come in the form and understanding of their front line.

Kelechi Iheanacho and Jamie Vardy have, over the last four months, synthesized a potent mix of guile and dynamism to not only fire Leicester to the cusp of cup success, but also to sustain their push for a finish within the Champions League places.

Chelsea, on the other hand, may actually find their Wembley ambitions hindered by a lack of proper certainty in attack.

Timo Werner offers willing running in behind, and Kai Havertz's contributions to the Blues' cause have steadily increased since Frank Lampard’s defenestration, but there remains a need for a proper presence upfront to turn Thomas Tuchel's ball-dominant game style into goals.

It makes for an interesting change in dynamic for Chelsea, who over the last decade and half have typically been able to call upon a bomber upfront. In fact, Chelsea's recent history at Wembley has come to be defined almost exclusively by the decisive contributions of the barreling Didier Drogba.

How Chelsea could do with a striker of his profile on Saturday!

As the only player in history to score in four FA Cup finals, the Ivorian became virtually synonymous with the Wembley showpiece, and forged a reputation as a player for the big occasion, the closest thing to a guarantee in a final setting.

Of course, nothing is ever that black and white. While Drogba's eminence and legacy is, for many, cast in stone, even the perception of him as utterly dependable in finals did not always hold.

In fact, if one considers international football to be the pinnacle of pressure, underpinned as it is by the expectation of an entire nation, then the former Chelsea man's crown and status begins to sit a little less easily on his now-shaven head.

While he so often proved the difference maker in finals at club level, his adventures in the colours of Ivory Coast were a little less glorious.

It would be reductive – and also unfair – to lay the underachievement of the Elephants’ Golden Generation at his feet alone. However, by the same token, it is impossible to absolve him completely, especially when, on a personal level, he underwhelmed when it came crunch time in the 2006 and 2012 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Against Egypt, he missed an open goal on 77 minutes after being set up by strike partner Arouna Kone, volleyed a back-post cross over the top while unmarked in stoppage time, and saw his penalty saved in the shoot-out that Ivory Coast went on to lose.

Against Zambia, he fluffed the chance to win the match in normal time, firing a 70th-minute penalty over the bar as Chipolopolo made history in Gabon.

If one excuses him on the grounds that Egypt went on to retain the Afcon title twice over, affirming their greatness, then how can one parse the failure six years on, when every index pointed to the Elephants as unmistakable favourites?

He just seemed to completely lose his composure in those key moments, playing the occasion rather than the match itself.

It may seem nit-picky, but it is all the more relevant both because that generation would ultimately fail to touch the sky, and for the very specific nature of Drogba’s failure.

Were it more diffuse, it could be chalked up to little more than variance.

As it is, it just serves to highlight the peculiarity of international football, especially as there do not appear to be any technical or tactical reasons for the dichotomy of output.

Even the man himself, asked to explain his miss in 2012, told the BBC he could not remember the moment specifically. “The only thing that I remember is that we lost the final,” he offered unconvincingly.

This is not to re-litigate Drogba’s legacy in terms of impact in finals. After all, 10 goals in 12 finals is impressive in its own right, only marginally less so than the oft-parroted “10 in 10”. What it does, though, is frame the great man within a more nuanced context: the king of the FA Cup final never quite hacked the Afcon in the same way.

Arsenal’s Premier League campaign may not yet be over, but the Gunners are already close to finalising all of their pre-season plans.

The main feature of the summer for Mikel Arteta’s side will be a three-team London tournament which will see them go head to head with Chelsea and Tottenham in early August.

The Gunners will also spend time in Scotland during the summer and are looking into the possibility of having a week away at a training camp in the United States.

London tournament plans

Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham will all compete in a tournament during the summer, with the majority of proceeds raised going to London charities.

Final details of the competition are still being worked out, with talks continuing over the size of crowd that could be allowed to watch the three games.

But Goal has been told that Arsenal will host Chelsea at Emirates Stadium and will play north London rivals Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The other match will see Chelsea take on Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.

The tournament will run during the first week of August.

What else are Arsenal planning at Emirates Stadium?

As well as the Chelsea game, Arsenal are looking to play one other pre-season fixture at Emirates Stadium.

Although the Emirates Cup will not return in its usual two-day tournament guise this summer, talks are taking place with the club's sponsors over a match which will see high-profile opposition visit north London.

The game is expected to follow the London tournament and be Arsenal's final friendly ahead of the new season.

Will Arsenal go abroad this summer?

Arsenal are hoping to have one warm weather training camp overseas, although they have yet to finalise a destination.

The club are exploring the possibility of a week-long stay in the United States which would include some games, but it could be that they decide that a trip to Europe will be easier due to the current difficulties surrounding travel during the pandemic.

Arteta will take his players to Scotland in mid-July, however, for a training camp that will be centred around two pre-season games.

They will take on Rangers on Saturday, July 17 and will also play a second match while north of the border, which Goal has been told will be against Hibernian.

Further reading 

Kariobangi Sharks claimed a 1-0 win over Kakamega Homeboyz in a Football Kenya Federation Premier League encounter at Utalii Grounds on Friday.

Patilah Omoto scored the only goal that separated the two sides in the first half and the visitors were unable to find an equaliser even with numerous attempts later on.

The league's top scorer Erick Kapaito would have scored an opener in the ninth minute but he was denied by Geoffrey Oputi from close range. However, the hosts managed to break the deadlock in the 18th minute when Omoto capitalised on a defensive mistake to punish Kakamega Homeboyz.

Brian Bwire's save in the 21st minute helped Sharks from conceding from David Odhiambo's shot. Omoto would have added the second but his ambitious long-range strike hit the crossbar in the 25th minute. 

Kapaito was not successful with his trick to lobe the ball over Oputi in the 41st minute as the hosts were more dominant. A combination between him and James Mazembe failed to extend the lead in the 45th minute as the latter failed to beat the visiting goalkeeper while in huge space.

Homeboyz coach Nicholas Muyoti made a change in the 53rd minute when he brought on Robert Arrot for Stephen Etyang while Willaim Muluya made his first change for Sharks a minute after the hour mark throwing Peter Lwasa into action in place of Eric Juma.

Mazembe wasted another chance for Sharks when he found himself on a one-on-one situation with Oputi but he blasted wide in the 63rd minute. 

Homeboyz defender Benjamin Oketch was yellow-carded in the 80th minute for a foul on Robert Onyango. Another yellow card for the visitors came out in the 84th minute and Okoth was the recipient this time around.

The Friday game has opened doors for more matches to be played on Saturday and Sunday as the Premier League resumed from the March suspension.

Kariobangi Sharks XI: Brian Bwire, Geoffrey Shiveka, Boniface Onyango, John Kuol, Patilah Omoto, Douglas Mokaya, James Mazembe, Fredrick Alushula, Eric Juma, Julius Masaba, Erick Kapaito.

Subs: Brandon Nathan, Alphonce Omija, Peter Oudu, Shaphan Oyugi, Ronald Odede, Robert Onyango, John Omondi, Peter Lwasa, Ibrahim Ochieng.

Kakamega Homeboyz XI: Geofrey Oputi, Benjamin Oketch, Thomas Wainaina, Sylvester Owino, George Oduor, Francis Omondi, Ali Bhai, Christopher Masinza, Stephen Opoku, David Odhiambo.

Subs: David Juma, Arrot Robert, Kovelo Mophat, Stephen Mukongolo, Derrick Onyango, Bonaventure Atse, Collins Odhiambo.