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2020 has not been the greatest of years for multiple reasons, with the COVID-19 pandemic bringing the entire world to a standstill for the majority of the year. 

Various sports, including football, have also suffered the brunt of the pandemic. Tournaments have been cancelled, delayed or cut short, with sporting calendars going for a toss. 

Asian football also suffered. The internationals stood postponed, with the World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers pushed back to 2021 The AFC Cup was scrapped for 2020. The fate of the AFC Champions League, with most of the group stages yet to be played, was unclear. 

However, at a time when the entire continent was seeking a safe return to sport, 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar stepped up. 

Qatar first restarted their domestic competition, Qatar Stars League (QSL), after implementing a bio-secure bubble and social distancing protocols at centralised venues. After proving their capabilities, Qatar extended a helping hand to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and offered to host the AFC Champions League West and East matches, including the final itself.  They also hosted the Amir Cup Final, Qatar’s most prestigious cup competition, on December 18.

What was most striking about the two finals was the fact that Qatar were able to hold the two games in front of a significant number of fans. We’ve seen fans slowly come back into games across the world but in a very small number. Premier League games in England have seen just 2000 fans in a stadium. In such a scenario, the AFC Champions League and the Amir Cup finals saw 12000 and 10000 fans make it to the stadium. 

Also important was the scale at which the AFC Champions League was played. 30 teams featured in a total of 76 matches, held at three 2022 World Cup venues. With more than 900 players taking part, Asia’s premier club competition was easily one of the biggest sporting events to have held inside a bio-secure bubble in 2020. 

And the bubble protocols came in for praise throughout. There were mandatory Covid-19 tests, safe transportation, disinfection, proper medical staff and social distancing protocols were implemented. Significantly, Qatar carried out a total of 48323 Covid-19 tests for these tournaments. 

It has also highlighted Qatar’s venue readiness, tournament operations ability and fan experience offering. And now, it has also shown that the 2022 World Cup hosts can also ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of all stakeholders. 

Kim Do-hoon, coach of South Korean club Ulsan Hyundai who won the AFC Champions League, was also full of praises for Qatar and their measures taken for the safe resumption of sports.

“We were tested for COVID-19 every time we played a game on the previous day – this made us feel safe and I need to thank the Local OrganisingCommittee and the AFC. The bubble system was implemented right through and we could not meet anyone from outside, in addition to a good quarantine infrastructure when necessary.”

Qatar, as it gets ready to host the 2022 World Cup, will further prove its capabilities by hosting multiple events in the next couple of years, starting with the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup which will be held in February 2021. They are also set to host an Arab Cup in December 2021. 

Nasser Al Khater, Chief Executive Officer of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC said after the Amir Cup final on December 18, “Tonight was an immensely proud occasion for Qatar and the people of Al Rayyan. It was a culmination of a rigorous effort taken by multiple stakeholders across several months, beginning with the AFC Champions League, until tonight where we saw thousands of fans safely enjoying the spectacle.”

“We are looking forward to hosting more safe and secure events in the coming months, and we sincerely hope that the world will quickly overcome the pandemic and resume life and sports as we’ve always enjoyed them,” he added.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who attended both the Amir Cup and AFC Champions League final, said, “Over the last three months, Qatar has shown the world how football can continue to be played and fans remain engaged despite the Covid-19 pandemic that we are all facing. Qatar has set a benchmark for the safe resumption of football in the COVID-19 world.”

New Libya coach Zoran Filipovic has vowed to ‘change everything’ towards making the Mediterranean Knights ‘a success’.

The Montenegrin was named as handler of the North African side following the resignation of coach Ali El Margini after losing his first three games in charge.

Filipovic becomes the first European tactician to work with the Libyan Football Federation since Spain’s Javier Clemente who led the country to win the 2014 African Nations Championship in South Africa.

While promising to live in Libya to carry out his responsibilities, the former Boavista, Red Star Belgrade and Golden Arrows handler also pledged to do all it takes to help the fortunes of the 1982 Africa Cup of Nations runners-up.

"I will change everything to make the Libyan national team a success," said Filipovic as quoted by BBC Sport Africa.

The 67-year-old’s primary goal will be to help the Mediterranean Knights secure a place at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations billed for Cameroon.

With just a win and three losses, Libya sit at the base of Group J that parades already qualified Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania. They host the Carthage Eagles in their next fixture on March 22, 2021.

El Margini walked away from his job following the nation’s defeat to Equatorial Guinea in Malabo, while expressing his disenchantment with the barrage of criticism levelled at him, his technical crew and players by the Libyan public despite the country’s unfavourable conditions.

"The conditions for Libyan football have greatly affected the level of players and that's what caused these results," he told BBC. "Their absence had a great impact, as they are important pillars of the national team, and if they were there, we would be able to win over Equatorial Guinea.

"The lack of experience of some players who were playing for the first time in the Libyan national team was why we couldn't hold on for the victory.”

Filipovic will lead Libya to 2021 Chan where they will compete with DR Congo, Congo and Niger Republic in Group B. They take on the Menas in their first game at the Japoma Stadium, Douala.

DR Congo striker Idris Mbombo has revealed advanced talks with Young Africans with an aim of joining the Mainland Premier League giants in the December-January transfer window.

Currently at Zambian giants Nkana FC, Mbombo said the ball is now on Yanga’s court after he tabled his demands before putting pen to paper on a deal with Timu ya Wananchi.

The former Kabwe Warriors and Zesco United striker said the urge of joining the record Tanzanian league champions has been made even urgent by the need to venture outside Zambia.

“It is true that I am in talks with Yanga and there is the big boss [Hersi] Said who I am in direct talks with,” Mbombo told Mwananspoti. “For now, I cannot state what amount of money they have offered me, but I have given them my demands and I am waiting for them to reply.

“If they meet my demands, then I will join Yanga as fast as even early January. You know, Said is a man with an ability to sweet talk players, and one can even find he has signed with speed.

"I know what kind of job I will come to carry out at Yanga and the pressure that will be placed on my shoulders," he added, “but let them debate my offer and if they get back and we get into an agreement. 

"I will be ready to come and work. Personally, I think it is a good opportunity to get out of Zambia.”

Mbombo said he has been urged to join Yanga by his compatriots Mukoko Tonombe and Tuisila Kisinda. The duo was among the players signed in the last transfer window, and their arrival re-energised Yanga as they remain unbeaten in the season.

“I usually talk with Tonombe and Kisinda, but Kisinda is the man I converse with mostly, and all are asking when I will be joining Yanga,” he added. “If I join Yanga, I would be happy to achieve my dream of playing alongside Kisinda because he is a good winger.

“We talk a lot and have been telling me how things are good at Yanga and I have been also watching their matches, and surely I can say they have a good team. If the team has good wingers and midfielders like Kisinda, I can easily score 17 to 20 goals.

“We are going to bring a lethal player who is going to lead Yanga’s striking department,” Yanga’s official Said confirmed amid Mbombo’s imminent signing.

The 24-year-old striker joined the Red Devils in 2019 from Al-Hilal Club of Sudan where he had scored seven goals in 14 games.

Jordan Henderson has revealed that he nearly missed his Premier League debut, which would have earned him the wrath of his then-manager Roy Keane in the process.

At the time, the now-Liverpool captain was an up-and-comer at Sunderland having spent a decade in the club's academy.

In November 2008, Henderson was handed a Premier League debut with Keane selecting the young midfielder to enter in the second half of a 5-0 loss at Chelsea.

The Liverpool star has revealed that he nearly missed that match due to traffic, with team-mate David Meyler proving the hero that spared Henderson from finding himself on Keane's bad side.

"We used to fly from Newcastle airport, so you were allowed to drive to the airport," Henderson explained on the Premier League's YouTube channel.

"This time, David was driving me, we hit traffic and were running late. Now running late is a no-go in football anyway. but with Roy running late means the plane is taking off and you’re not getting on. That’s it, game over.

"Thanks to him [Meyler] we managed to get there and I managed to make my debut. Otherwise, I might not have got on!

"I can remember being 3-0 down at half-time and the gaffer telling us to get warmed up, that I’m going on in the second half. I just couldn’t wait to get on the pitch."

The midfielder's Premier League debut didn't exactly go to plan as Sunderland were battered by Chelsea - and that wasn't the only low point caused by the Blues during Henderson's spell on Wearside.

Henderson and Sunderland were also beaten 7-2 by Chelsea in 2010, with the Liverpool captain revealing that Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack taught him a real lesson on the day.

"Before the game, the gaffer [Steve Bruce] brought us into the showers and gave us a little pep talk," Henderson said. "You [Meyler] had Frank Lampard and I had Michael Ballack. It didn’t go down as well as we planned but we tried our best. It wasn't our finest moment for sure!"

Henderson has since established himself as a trophy-winning captain at Liverpool, having led the club to a Champions League title and a long-awaited Premier League triumph. The Reds currently sit atop the Premier League as they face off with Newcastle on Wednesday. 

Ghana coach CK Akonnor believes Asante Kotoko realistically have only little chance of beating Sudanese side Al-Hilal to the group stage of the Caf Champions League. 

The Porcupine Warriors face a tall order to make it past the first phase after a disappointing 1-0 home loss to the Omdurman giants in the first leg fixture. 

The return tie is scheduled for Omdurman on January 6.

"If I’m being realistic, I can say that because Kotoko lost the home game, we don’t have a chance," Akonnor, who was in attendance at the Accra Sports Stadium for the first leg, told Kessben FM, "but there are miracles in football, and I strongly believe that once they are determined and prepared very well, they can go there and perform a miracle."

During the first leg fixture, Akonnor found his way to the dressing room at half-time to offer the team a talk.

“I went into the dressing room with one motive, and that was motivate the boys to play with their everything to get a good result before the second leg," the 49-year-old explained.

“You know I’m the national team coach so I thought my presence in the team’s dressing room would be a good thing for the boys to do more, because they know the Black Stars coach is around and a good performance would guarantee a call-up into the senior national team."

Asante Kotoko, who accounted for Mauritania club Nouadhibou in the last round, are looking to go all the way to the group stage of the competition for the first time since 2006.

"Asante Kotoko are disappointing. They lack quality and no creativity," former Ghana goalkeeper Abukari Damba told GTV Sports Plus on Kotoko's performance after the game. "I was surprised with the statistics at the end of the game but it is difficult to say but this Kotoko team has a long way to go.

"They are disappointing and if they continue like this, it will be a disaster," he continued. "They can go away and win there also but it's very difficult at the moment. They will have to play with more hunger and commitment in Omdurman.

"It's not an impossible task for Kotoko but they will have to work hard."

Last season, Kotoko were eliminated in the first round of the Champions League at the hands of Tunisian outfit Etoile du Sahel.

The club are looking to add on two previous titles won in 1970 and 1983.

The Ghana Football Association are currently in discussion with the national government over the possible return of fans at various Ghana Premier League match centres.

On orders of the Government of Ghana, all matches of the the 2020-21 top flight are being played behind closed doors since the league's commencement last month.

The directive has been part of safety protocols against the coronavirus disease.

"We have engaged the sector ministry and still we are speaking with the government to allow fans into the various stadia and we hope government will accept our proposal," GFA communications director Henry Asante Twum told Kessben FM.

“I have been to various venues this year and the number of people I see behind the gates is overwhelming, knowing very well there’s a ban by the government.

“What I’m saying is, nobody is happy playing the games behind closed doors, even economically and financially, it’s taking a lot from these clubs.

“Our industry is not so strong to do without gate revenues, our clubs rely heavily on the gate proceeds so playing behind closed doors is hectic for the clubs."

Some club officials recently criticised the Ghana Ministry for Sports on the continuous insistence on matches behind closed doors despite a drop in coronavirus case numbers in the country and recent active political campaigns despite Covid-19 restrictions on public gatherings.

“The Ghana Health Service is saying the rising cases are not only caused by political activities only but other factors are included," Ghana Ministry for Youth and Sports communication consultant Ahmed Osumanu Halid said, responding to the accusations, last month.

“When people go to the stadia to watch football games, they walk in groups, and we don't want that to happen and spread the Covid-19," he continued. "Remember what the President said 'we have what it takes to bring the economy back but we don't have what it takes to bring lives back'.

“The name of the Ministry is the Ministry of Youth and Sports, we are in charge of all football and sporting activities in Ghana. We do not have power over the political parties’ rallies and other activities."

The GPL is currently at the matchday seven stage. 

Mario Balotelli made a flying start to life in Serie B with a debut strike after just four minutes for Monza against Salernitana.

Former AC Milan and Manchester City forward Balotelli signed for Monza - owned by ex-Rossoneri chief Silvio Berlusconi - earlier this month on a contract until the end of the season.

The 30-year-old made his second-tier bow on Wednesday, lining up alongside Kevin-Prince Boateng - another former Milan man - from the start at home to the league leaders.

Balotelli needed just three minutes and 53 seconds to get on the scoresheet, as he turned in Carlos Augusto's cross with the first shot of the match and his first touch for his new team.

Monza would go on to add two more goals as they won the match 3-0 at the Brianteo Stadium.

Balotelli has played in the top-flight in Italy, England and France but only in Ligue 1, with Nice in 2016, had he previously netted on his debut in a new league.

After Balotelli made the move to Monza, his agent Mino Raiola said that the veteran forward could be a major factor as the club aim to reach the top flight for the first time in their history. 

Raiola highlighted the influence of former AC Milan chairman Adriano Galliani, who is now at the helm at Monza. 

"[Balotelli] can be fundamental for Monza," Raiola said, speaking at this year's Golden Boy awards. "His potential is undisputed but he is behind in his preparations and we will do everything we can to get him in top condition.

"Having Balotelli sends out a signal that Monza do not want to play in Serie B for long. Galliani is a person I respect very much. Our friendship goes back to his time with Milan."

Wednesday's win was a major step forward in Monza's quest to secure Serie A football for the 2021-22 season. The club are now up to third in the Serie B table, moving to within two points of league leaders Salernitana.

Balotelli will hope to continue his strong start to life with Monza when his club take on Lecce in another league match on Monday.

Former Al Ahly honourary president Turki Al-Sheikh says he did not interfere in Mamelodi Sundowns playmaker Gaston Sirino’s failed transfer to the Egyptian champions. 

Sundowns issued a statement on Monday stating that they have terminated discussions with Al Ahly over the potential sale of the Uruguayan player, who is known to be keen to join the Red Devils.

There have been reports coming out of the North African country indicating that Al-Sheikh offered to help the Red Devils reach an agreement which would see Sirino join the African champions. 

However, Al-Sheikh, who used to be the owner of Egyptian Premier League outfit Pyramids FC from 2018 to 2019, has dismissed the rumours. 

"I support and love the Egyptian Al Ahly and I did not interfere in the Sirino deal. There are some people, who are fishing for trouble," Turki said on Cairo 24. "I am far from the sports scene in Egypt and refuse to interfere in anything related to football inside Egypt."

Al Ahly revoked Al-Sheikh's honorary president title in June 2020 after he was involved in a spat with the club's board member Mohamed Serag El-Din on social media.

The Saudi Arabian billionaire, who now owns Spanish Segunda Division club UD Almeria, indicated that he remains a fan of the Red Devils.

"If they ask me for something in the interest of Al Ahly, I will contribute to it, and I hope that the team will achieve good results in the Club World Cup," he added, "and if they ask me to intervene in any deal I will do so, but I will not intervene if they don't." 

Al Ahly qualified for the 2020 Fifa Club World Cup finals in Qatar after they clinched the 2019/20 Caf Champions League title under South African coach Pitso Mosimane. 

However, the global tournament was postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and it will be played between 1 and 11 February 2021 in Qatar.

Al Ahly intensified their efforts to land Sirino after his former coach at Sundowns, Mosimane, joined the Cairo-based giants as the new head coach in October 2020.

Sundowns tied down Sirino to a new long-term deal in July 2020 as he signed a five-year contract extension which will expire in 2025.

Erling Haaland will become a Barcelona player if Emili Rousaud wins the club's presidential elections, according to the candidate's advisor.

Borussia Dortmund striker Haaland is among the world's top talents and has been linked with a move to top clubs in Spain, England and Italy.

The 20-year-old joined Dortmund from Salzburg in January 2020 and has three and a half years left on his contract with the Bundesliga club.

Norway international Haaland has scored an impressive 33 times in 32 games in all competitions for Dortmund.

Since his Bundesliga debut on January 18, Robert Lewandowski (32 goals in 26 games) is the only player to have scored more than Haaland's 23 in as many outings. It ranks him fourth across the top five European leagues, with only Ciro Immobile (25 in 29) and Cristiano Ronaldo (29 in 27) netting more in the same time frame.

Rousaud's aide Josep Maria Minguella suggested that an agreement with Haaland's agent Mino Raiola is already in place for a Camp Nou switch in the future.

"We know all the conditions and if we win, the following day I will call Mino Raiola and we will accept those conditions. I have already advised him of that," Minguella is quoted as saying by AS . "We have a world-class sports project that is not showing just now, but Emili Rousaud has a plan that will turn this unfortunate situation [at Barcelona] around."

Minguella also said former Barca vice-president Rousaud would ensure the Blaugrana are at the front of the queue to sign Kylian Mbappe should the Paris Saint-Germain striker become available.

Mbappe has been involved in 16 goals in Ligue 1 this season (12 scored, four assisted), which is more than any other player in the competition.

"It is a little more complicated because his [Mbappe's] contract ends the next year," Minguella added. "We are on top of the issue and movements have already been made. We are there."

The 2021 Barcelona presidential elections will take place on January 24 having been brought forward from June next year.

They are taking place following the resignation of the previous incumbent, Josep Maria Bartomeu.

Evelyn Ijeh's Goteborg have been disbanded, just a few months after they won their first ever Swedish Damallsvenskan title.

Ijeh was part of her side's success story despite being an unused substitute when they defeated Linkopings 7-0 at home to celebrate the league title for the first time in their 50-year history in November.

However, the officials of the Gothenburg-based club announced the closure of the team on Tuesday, weeks after a Round of 32 elimination to Manchester City in the Women's Champions League.

Explaining the stunning development, the club revealed that the move was owed to its lack of resources to cope with 'large investments' to compete against top women's teams in Europe.

“Internationally, women's football has developed enormously in Europe in recent years," the club wrote on its website.

“Large men's clubs, such as Lyon, PSG, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Manchester United, Barcelona and Juventus, among others, have realised the value of women's football, make large investments and have given women's football resources that it is not possible for us to match.

“We have created a great interest in women's football in Gothenburg and shown that it is possible to establish oneself at the top and even win a Swedish Championship gold, as long as one has a clear goal that creates challenges and motivation. 

“The elite clubs in Gothenburg must now spin on this. If you do that, we are convinced that women's football in Gothenburg will quickly take new steps forward.

“Because the tradition-laden and reputable clubs, with their organizations and many supporters, create conditions for women's football in Gothenburg, we believe that our project is complete and therefore Kopparbergs / Göteborg FC will close down its elite team for the Allsvenskan season 2021.”

The 19-year-old had joined Mats Gren's team in January 2018 and featured 10 times for Goteborg in her opening two years, celebrating Swedish Cup title and Damallsvenskan runners-up twice.

In her third season, she made seven appearances for Gren's side, including in the Champions League, coming on from the bench on all occasions as her side claimed the maiden Swedish crown.

The development means Goteborg will not be competing in the Damallsvenskan next season and also currently leaves the Nigerian-born Swedish youth international without a club. 

Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer has hinted at starting forward Frank Mhango for Saturday’s 'special game' against Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld as the Buccaneers seek to close in on the Premier Soccer League leaders.

Last season’s PSL joint top goalscorer Mhango started the first two league games of the current campaign before injury struck, and his comeback has been marked by some cameo appearances.

However, after lasting 90 minutes in Pirates’ last game of 2020 - a Caf Confederation Cup match away at Sagrada Esperanca which was the first time for him to complete a match this season - he appears in line to start against Downs.

“Gaba [Mhango] is close to 100 percent and now needs the time and games. We have seven games in January and we need all the players,” said Zinnbauer as per Sowetan Live. “Gaba is not the only player important to us but all the players are.

"We have so many attacking players. We have [Terrence] Dzvukamanja who can also play as a striker. We have a good squad but the point is we need a good player for each and every position.”

Heightening Mhango’s chances to start are doubts over the availability of Zakhele Lepasa, who was injured in a league match against Chippa United on December 16.

If he returns to full fitness, it would be good news to Zinnbauer, whose Pirates team have not been prolific upfront.

The Buccaneers have managed nine goals in seven league outings, with their top scorers being Vincent Pule and Tshegofatso Mabasa, who have two goals each.

Considering the magnitude of Saturday's game, and Pirates' struggle for goals, Mhango, who ended last season with 16 league strikes, could be the solution as Zinnbauer's men seek to reduce the six-point gap between them and Sundowns.

“We know Sundowns possibly have some of the best players in their squad," Zinnbauer continued. "They have a big‚ big squad and we know it, and we also have a good squad and it’s a special game for us.

“Sundowns are on top and we are behind and‚ ja‚ we have a chance to come closer to Sundowns and come closer to the top of the table. This is important to us, but we must have a good game first and a good performance.

"If we have a good performance we’ll have possibilities of winning the game.”

Pirates and Sundowns last met in the PSL bio-bubble in August and played to a 0-0 draw, but the Soweto giants won the reverse fixture 1-0 in January with Mhango’s goal deciding the contest.

Uganda have been drawn to face Cameroon in the 2020 Pre-African Nations Championship mini-tournament set to kick-off on Friday.

The Cranes, who have already arrived in Yaounde, will open the tournament against the host nation on January 1 at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde.

They will then return to action on January 4 against Mulitin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic’s Zambia before concluding with a game against Niger on January 7.

Uganda are among the teams invited for the mini-tournament, which will be used by most of the participating teams to gauge their preparedness ahead of the Chan tournament that will also be held in Cameroon.

Cameroon have been pooled in Group A of the Chan tournament with Mali, Burkina Faso, and Zimbabwe while Group B comprises Libya, DR Congo, Congo, and Niger.

Group C has Morocco, Rwanda, Uganda, and Togo while Group D has Zambia, Guinea, Namibia, and Tanzania. Two top teams will make it to the knockout phase.

The Cranes, who will be taking part in their fifth consecutive Chan tournament after featuring in 2011, 2014, 2016, and 2018 editions, will face Rwanda on January 18 at the Stade de Unification in Douala, before tackling Togo on January 22 at the same venue.

The final group game will be on January 26 against Morocco.

Tanzania will open their campaign against Zambia on January 18, then face Namibia on January 23 and finish their matches against Guinea on January 27, while Cameroon will face Zimbabwe in the tournament opener on January 16, take on Mali on January 20, and wind up their preliminary matches against Burkina Faso on January 24.

The Cranes have never progressed past the group stage of the competition and it is their goal this time round. 

The tournament, which exclusively features players from each nation's respective national championships, was supposed to be hosted by Ethiopia but was moved to Cameroon after the Ethiopian football authorities admitted the country was not ready to hold the event.

The event will be hosted by the cities of Yaounde, Douala, and Limbe and will also serve as a warm-up for Cameroon ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Uganda squad in Cameroon; Goalkeepers: Joel Mutakubwa (Kyetume), Nafian Alionzi (URA), and Tom Ikara (Police).

Defenders: Eric Ssenjobe (Police), Aziz Kayondo (Vipers), Derrick Ndahiro (SC Villa), Paul Willa (Vipers), Ashraf Mandela (URA), Halid Lwaliwa (Vipers), Mustafa Mujjuzi (Kyetume), Patrick Mbowa (URA), Murushid Juuko (Express), Muhamood Hassan (Police).

Midfielders: Shafiq Kagimu (URA), Tonny Mawejje (Police), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Vipers), Karim Watambala (Vipers), Saidi Kyeyune (URA), Hassan Ssenyonjo (Wakiso Giants).

Forwards: Ben Ocen (Police), Ibrahim Orit (Vipers), Vianne Ssekajjugo (Wakiso Giants), Joseph Ssemujju (BUL), Joakim Ojera (URA), Milton Karisa (Vipers), Stephen Mukwala (URA), Mohamed Shaban (Vipers), and Ivan Bogere (Proline).

Manchester City have confirmed that the club's first team are set to resume training amid a Covid-19 outbreak at the club. 

City's Premier League match against Everton on Monday was postponed due to the outbreak, but the club have now been cleared to resume training. 

"Manchester City can confirm that first team training will resume at City Football Academy this afternoon," a club statement read. "The full Covid-19 bubble underwent testing yesterday, and results have so far revealed no new positive cases.

"Safety remains our No 1 priority, and the club will continue to proceed with great caution.

"The first team training buildings have undergone a deep clean over the past 48 hours, and the majority of these facilities will remain closed, with only essential operations around training resuming. The bubble will undergo further testing in the coming days, the results of which will inform and dictate the next steps.

"Everyone at Manchester City continues to wish speedy recoveries to all of our colleagues who remain in self isolation following their positive tests."

City revealed on Christmas Day that Gabriel Jesus, Kyle Walker and another two members of staff had tested positive for coronavirus.

Following the cancellation of the club's match against Everton, City said in a statement that "the club returned a number of positive cases, in addition to the four already reported on Christmas Day."

On Wednesday, Fulham's Premier League match with Tottenham was also postponed due to an outbreak of cases among Fulham's players and staff.

Despite the increase in cases and postponements, the Premier League was adamant that a league-wide pause in fixtures would not occur, saying it has "full confidence" that the season can go on.

"With low numbers of positive tests across the overwhelming majority of clubs, the Premier League continues to have full confidence in its Covid-19 protocols and being able to continue to play our fixtures as scheduled," a league statement said.

Manchester City are set to face Chelsea in a Premier League match on Sunday, although it is currently unclear if that game will be able to go ahead as scheduled.

Juventus are closing in on the signing of Genoa midfielder Nicolo Rovella, Goal can confirm.

Rovella is currently enjoying a breakthrough season with Genoa, having been handed his first professional contract at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium in 2019.

The 19-year-old has already racked up seven Serie A appearances for Davide Ballardini's side this term, with his latest outing coming from the bench in a 2-1 win away at Spezia on December 23.

However, the teenager's current contract is due to expire next summer, and Juventus have already made a move to bring him onto their books ahead of the January transfer window.

The Bianconeri have reached an agreement to sign Rovella on a permanent deal worth around €9 million, with Genoa ready to cash in on a prized asset before he drops into the free agency pool.

Goal has learned that Juve will send the Italian starlet back to the Luigi Ferraris Stadium on loan until the end of the current campaign, while leaving the door open for that agreement to be extended by an extra year.

Genoa are hopeful that once Rovella's transfer to the Allianz Stadium is finalised, the Bianconeri will be open to discussing the sale of Manolo Portanova, who is currently on the fringes of Andrea Pirlo's senior squad.

An official announcement from both clubs is expected before the winter market opens, with the Serie A season set to resume on January 3 following a slightly shorter winter break than usual.

Rovella will likely be included in Ballardini's squad once again when Genoa play host to Lazio, before their focus shifts to a meeting with Sassuolo three days later.

The Liguria-based club are currently embroiled in a relegation battle, have only won two of their opening 14 fixtures, with Spezia currently one point above them in 17th.

Juve, meanwhile, have stuttered in their latest defence of the Serie A crown, with Pirlo's side 10 points adrift of leaders Milan having played a game less.

The Bianconeri are chasing an unprecedented tenth successive Scudetto, but cannot afford any more slip-ups when they resume their season with a home fixture against Udinese.

Simba SC’s goalscoring spree continued after they picked up a 4-0 win against Ihefu FC in a Mainland Premier League Wednesday tie.

Mohamed Hussein, Meddie Kagere and Chris Mugalu scored the goals that ensured Simba will continue to enjoy the biggest goal difference margin in the league as they lie second.

Hussein, who was surprisingly left out of Tanzania's African Nations Championship squad by coach Etienne Ndayiragije, opened the score in the ninth minute for the league champions.

Kagere added the second in the 15th minute as Wekundu wa Msimbazi exerted their authority in the only game of the day. The Rwandan received the ball and his quick turn to the right side seemed to have outfoxed Ihefu’s goalkeeper Deogratius Munishi as he conceded the goal.

The two-time Golden Boot winner added the third in the 40th minute as Simba headed back to the tunnel with their heads high given a dominant first-half performance.

Mugalu came in to replace Kagere in the 66th minute after the former Gor Mahia striker had already bagged a brace against the league new boys. The performance by the star presents another selection headache for coach Sven Vandenbroeck, who also has John Bocco for the centre-forward duties.

Another change for Simba was made in the 72nd minute when injured Ibrahim Ame, who is understood to have requested a loan move due to a lack of enough playing time, was replaced by David Kameta.

Mugalu added the fourth goal in the 84th minute to give Wekundu wa Msimbazi a win after they were defeated in the Caf Champions League by Platinum FC.

Simba will host the Zimbabwean champions on January 6 in Dar es Salaam for the decisive return leg.

Simba XI: Aishi Manula, Shomari Kapombe, Hussein Mohamed, Joash Onyango, Ibrahim Ame, Kennedy Juma, Larry Bwalya, Said Ndemla, Meddie Kagere, Clatous Chama, Luis Miquissone.

Subs: Beno Kakolanya, David Kameta, Gadiel Michael, Hassan Dilunga, Francis Kahata, Chris Mugalu, Athuman Miraji.

Ihefu FC XI: Deogratius Munishi, Mando Mkumbwa, Wema Sadoki, Michael Msinda, Samuel Jackson, Juma Mahadhi, Willy Mgaya, Andrea Simchimba, Omary Hamisi, Joseph Mahundi.

Subs: Isihaka Joseph, Oscar Masai, Jeremy Katula, Tepsi Evance, Geofrey Kitenga, Joseph Kinyozi, Issah Ngoah.

Liverpool need to sign a centre-back or else they can kiss goodbye to their Premier League crown, according to John Aldridge.

The Reds stormed to their first league title in three decades in 2019-20, becoming the first team in history to secure the trophy with seven games to spare.

Jurgen Klopp's are leading the pack once again heading into the new year, but their rise to the top of the table has not been nearly as smooth this time around.

Liverpool are two points clear of second-placed Manchester United after 15 fixtures, with a trip to Newcastle up next on Wednesday night, where they will be aiming to bounce back from a disappointing 1-1 draw with West Brom.

Valuable points have also been dropped against Fulham and Brighton this season, while their 7-2 defeat away at Aston Villa on October 10 sent shockwaves through the entire division.

Klopp's cause has not been helped by a defensive injury crisis which has seen Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez both miss two months of action, with neither man expected to return until after January.

Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold also spent time on the sidelines with respective knocks, while Joel Matip's fitness struggles continued as he limped off during the clash with West Brom at the weekend.

It has been suggested that Liverpool will soldier on with their current squad rather than dip into the winter transfer window for reinforcements, but Aldridge says his old club cannot afford to rest on their laurels.

"Word has been coming out of Anfield suggesting Liverpool are not looking to sign anyone next month, but it has to be a smokescreen because they simply have to sign a centre-half if they are serious about retaining the Premier League title," The Reds legend told Sunday World.

"Joel Matip's injury in Sunday's 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion confirmed what we have all appreciated for some time now - Liverpool have to spend money on a good quality defender.

"I like Matip, and if he could be relied upon to play the majority of games in the second-half of the season, manager Jurgen Klopp might be able to get through to next summer with the current squad.

"Yet, the reality facing Liverpool heading into Wednesday's game at Newcastle is pretty stark - they have one senior centre-back to call upon and he is a midfielder, Fabinho.

"The injuries to Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez have ripped a hole in Liverpool's defensive line and with Matip clearly struggling with his fitness, Liverpool are horribly short at the centre of their defence.

Aldridge added on Klopp putting faith in the club's academy stars to see them through a testing period being a risky tactic: "Fabinho has been brilliant filling in at centre-back, but the suggestion that captain Jordan Henderson or Gini Wijnaldum can play in there is nonsense.

"Liverpool need three of their best midfielders to play in the position they are meant to be in, and while Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips have done well at centre-back, playing youngsters in such a vital position is a recipe for disaster.

"Against the top sides in the Champions League, youngsters are liable to found out - and that could also be the case in the Premier League."

Asked how much Liverpool should invest in reinforcements when the market reopens, the former Reds striker responded: "Liverpool's transfer committee, and especially recruiter-in-chief Michael Edwards, has done a magnificent job of identifying the right players in recent years and now they need to pull another rabbit out of the hat.

"It's not easy to sign top players in January, but Liverpool pulled off major coups when they got Luis Suarez and Virgil van Dijk mid-way through previous seasons and it shows what is possible.

"I don't know what players may be available in this transfer window, but the Premier League title is on the line here and Liverpool have to do all they can to back Klopp and give him the best chance to clinch it."

Jose Mourinho took to Instagram to mock the Premier League as Tottenham remained uncertain over the potential postponement of their upcoming clash with Fulham.

Spurs were set to play host to Fulham on Wednesday, having earned a 1-1 draw with Wolves on Sunday as they continue on through the festive period.

However, the match's status was up in the air after Fulham was hit with a number of positive coronavirus tests before the league ultimately postponed it just hours before kickoff.

The game is the second one in a matter of days to be postponed due to coronavirus, with Manchester City's meeting with Everton called off on Monday after the former confirmed a series of positive tests.

The news comes after Fulham manager Scott Parker missed the team's goalless draw with Southampton on Boxing Day after a member of his household tested positive for Covid-19.

Fulham were set to travel across London for the match on Wednesday but that journey was ultimately cancelled.

With the match still up in the air just a few hours before kick-off, Mourinho took to social media to voice his frustration with all of the uncertainty surrounding the game and the decision whether or not to play.

"Match at 6pm... We still don’t know if we play," he posted on Instagram alongside a video of his staff glued to their phones and the television. "Best league in the world."

In recent days, there have been calls for the Premier League to go on hiatus as the league deals with a surge in coronavirus numbers.

The Premier League announced on Tuesday the highest number of Covid-19 cases since weekly testing began, with 18 people testing positive.

In response to that uptick in positive cases, Sam Allardyce and Nuno Espirito Santo said that they believe the league should take a break until testing numbers dip back down.

The league has been mowing through the festive period, with teams playing three matches in a week during the typical holiday fixture crunch.

Following Wednesday's postponed match against Fulham, Tottenham are set to face Leeds on Saturday before taking on Brentford in the Carabao Cup three days later.

Fulham, meanwhile, are scheduled to visit Burnley on Sunday before a six-day break ahead of an FA Cup visit to Queens Park Rangers.

The Premier League encounter between Tottenham and Fulham has been postponed, it has been confirmed.

The game was put in doubt after a number of players and staff at Fulham turned out to be positive for Covid-19 in the latest round of tests. 

In a statement on Wednesday, the Premier League confirmed the decision will adding that the league has "full confidence" that the season can go on.

"The match between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham, due to be played at 18:00 GMT this evening, has been postponed following a Premier League Board meeting this afternoon," the league said in a statement.

"Fulham lodged a request with the Premier League Board to rearrange the fixture following a significant rise in positive Covid-19 cases, as well as a number of players showing symptoms today.

"The Premier League Board has consulted its medical advisors and the decision to postpone the game has been taken as a precaution and with the health of players and staff as the priority. The group will now be retested immediately.

"With low numbers of positive tests across the overwhelming majority of clubs, the Premier League continues to have full confidence in its Covid-19 protocols and being able to continue to play our fixtures as scheduled.

"The League wishes those with Covid-19 a safe and speedy recovery and will rearrange the postponed fixture between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham in due course."

The decision to call off the clash in London was made just hours before the match was scheduled to kick-off, with Spurs manager Jose Mourinho mocking the Premier League for the lack of clarity regarding whether or not it would go ahead.

Spurs had already arrived at the stadium to prepare for kick-off and Mourinho posted a video on Instagram with the caption: "Match at 6 pm. We still don’t know if we play. Best league in the world."

Fulham coach Scott Parker was absent for his side's match at home against Southampton on Saturday because he had to isolate for 10 days after a member of his household tested positive for Covid-19, despite the former midfielder returning a negative test. Parker was set to return to the dugout for Wednesday's game.

The encounter at is the third to be postponed this month because of an increase in Covid-19 cases.

The clash between Aston Villa and Newcastle at the start of December was the first to be called off, while this week saw Everton's match against Manchester City postponed just hours before the game was set to start.

The cancellation of Monday's match at Goodison Park upset Everton, who announced later that they had requested full disclosure from the Premier League regarding how the decision was made.

Spurs sit seventh in the English top-flight heading into the match and six points behind leaders Liverpool, who are playing Newcastle on Wednesday night. After a strong start to the season, Mourinho's team have won just one of their last seven matches.

Fulham, meanwhile, are 18th in the league with 11 points from 15 matches. While the Craven Cottage side have won once in their last eight matches, they are on a run of four draws in a row, having taken a point each from Liverpool, Brighton, Newcastle and Southampton.