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Gor Mahia team manager Jolawi Obondo is hopeful the team will rise above their internal struggles and make Kenya proud in the Caf Champions League against CR Belouizdad.

The Kenyan ambassadors are en route to Algeria for the rescheduled tie and the official has explained how Gor Mahia have always overcome their own problems and got good results.

“Everybody knows that with this Covid-19 so many things have been difficult, and specifically money issues have been tough in all the institutions,” Obondo told the club’s Online TV.

“And Gor Mahia are not an exception as we have had it rough but at the end of the day we talk to the boys, they understood and came back for training. They are now ready to play football and represent the country and by the end of it, we want to go all the way to the group stage.

“I have been there [Algiers] not once or even twice and so I know the place well and it is a bit challenging especially when it comes to matters [of the] weather. But I know Gor Mahia whenever we have internal challenges that is the time we rise and surprisingly give good results.

“I know we will put a good effort and get good results and come back home so that we can finish the job. We are just playing for a goal even if they win 2-1, 1-1 or whatever the result we know we can get good results in Nairobi.”

Obondo also picked previous encounters with teams from the North African hemisphere as another reason why they are in a better position to tackle Belouizdad.

“It is going to be a challenging match because we know how the Arabs play especially in the first 15 minutes because I have the experience of Esperance and Zamalek. It is always their target that in the first 15 minutes they must get a goal,” he concluded.

“But what we have been doing and what the coaches have been doing as well as the mood from the boys, I can deduct that we are going to put a good effort there and get a good result so that while in Nairobi we can finalise it and make the country proud.”

18 players have been selected for the Saturday match but the Premier League giants will do without Kenneth Muguna, Bernard Ondiek, Nicholas Kipkirui and John Ochieng.

Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Abel Shongwe has criticized the club's head coach Gavin Hunt for the team's poor results. 

The Soweto giants have endured one of their worst starts to a season, this coming after Hunt was appointed prior to the start of the current campaign.

The veteran tactician was brought in to replace Ernst Middendorp with the German coach having guided Amakhosi to a second-place finish in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) last season.

Shongwe, who played for Chiefs in the 1980s, is not pleased with how Hunt sets up the team and he believes that the four-time PSL title-winning coach is struggling to manage Amakhosi. 

"Remember that the players that Hunt is using are the ones, who almost won the league title with Ernst Middendorp last season," Shongwe told Isolezwe. 

"In my opinion, Hunt is finding it difficult to coach Chiefs. Sometimes he just sets up the team in a weird way.

"What has happened to Chiefs is shocking now, something must be done immediately." 

Amakhosi are currently enduring a five-match winless run across all competitions after being held to a 0-0 draw by CD Primeiro de Agosto in the Caf Champions League first-round first-leg game at home on Wednesday.

The Glamour Boys' current woes have seen their captain and trusted goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune make mistakes leading to goals in back-to-back PSL matches against Black Leopards and SuperSport United.

Nicknamed Chaklas, Shongwe feels Amakhosi's players are lacking confidence and they are not playing as a team hence the club's poor results this season. 

"I don't know if they need counselling or not. When you see Chiefs players coming into the stadium that confidence is no longer with them," he added. 

"Lately, it has hit even the goalkeepers. This is the first time I've seen Khune make such terrible mistakes.

"You can see the players are playing for themselves, this is no longer a team, they are not co-operating as a team."

Chiefs will be hoping to return to winning ways when they take on Agosto in the second-leg encounter in Angola on January 5.

Orlando Pirates head coach Josef Zinnbauer says he was impressed by Jean-Marc Makusu and Thabiso Sesane's debut performances.

The duo played their maiden competitive match for the Buccaneers as they secured a 1-0 win over Angola's Sagrada Esperanca in the Caf Confederation Cup first round first-leg match on Tuesday.

It was a game which saw Wayne Sandilands return to the Bucs starting line-up having fallen out of favour since the arrival of fellow goalkeeper Richard Ofori at the Houghton-based giants in October 2020.

Zinnbauer has now explained he was pleased with how veteran shot-stopper Sandilands performed in an encounter which was played at Estadio dos Coqueiros in the capital city of Angola, Luanda. 

“We know what we have in Sandilands. He is a top keeper in this league and I’m happy that I have him. He had a good performance,” Zinnbauer told Pirates’ media department.

“I’m very happy with Pepe [Thabiso Sesane], who is a young player from the youth team, he came to the first-team squad and now he got a few minutes.

"I’m happy about this. He didn’t play for a long time, but he was in and had two good actions."

Sesane, who is a central defender by trade, was named among the substitutes with experienced centre backs Thulani Hlatshwayo and Happy Jele absent.

The 19-year-old was promoted from Pirates' reserve team prior to the start of the season having excelled in the Diski Challenge. 

Forgotten Zambian winger Austin Muwowo also played his first game under Zinnbauer at Pirates when he came on a substitute - replacing Terrance Dzvukamanja. 

“Mumu [Muwowo] came in and had a good game. He had opportunities to score," the German mentor continued. 

“Mundiele [Makusu] is working in the front, he gave us a lot of space for the other players and that’s good because we have a team that is coming closer and closer."

DRC Congo international Makusu grabbed an assist when he set-up Thembankosi Lorch for the winning goal.

"The guys that were not in before had a good performance and we had more than one opportunity to score, we had two or three opportunities," Zinnbauer added.

"But it is what it is, it’s football and we cannot say it was a bad result, we had the possibility for more goals, but we got one and it is a good result for me."

Pirates will travel to Loftus Versfeld Stadium where they are scheduled to take on their Gauteng rivals Mamelodi Sundowns in a titanic PSL match on January 2.

They will then host Esperanca in the second-leg match on January 6. 

Bayelsa Queens extended their winning streak at the Samson Siasia Stadium on Thursday as they defeated FC Robo 1-0.

Charity Reuben's 53rd-minute goal proved decisive for Bayelsa Queens as they overcame a resolute Lagos based outfit who had enjoyed a fine start, winning their two opening matches this season.

The victory means Moses Aduku's side has won three out of three matches, while Emmanuel Osahon's team suffered their first defeat of the season in three opening league outings.

The result saw the Restoration ladies open a two-point lead at the top with nine points, while the Lagos Landladies have slipped to fourth on the log with six points from three matches.

In Uyo, Ibom Angels finally had something to cheer about at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium after they celebrated their first win of the season in a 2-1 victory over Royal Queens.

Before the visit of newcomers Royal Queens, Ibom had played two matches, garnering just one point following a 1-0 win at home to Osun Babes before they forced a 1-1 draw at Pelican Stars last week.

Chika Idika struck in the 39th minute to cancel out Mercy Itimi's 27th-minute opener for the Orange ladies before Blessing Nkor netted the winner in the 78th minute for the hosts.

At Osogbo City Stadium, Osun Babes returned to winning ways on Thursday after they pipped eight-time champions Pelican Stars 3-0.

The Omoluabi Queens went into the match in search of maximum points after they were condemned by Gift Monday's hat-trick to their first defeat in a 3-1 loss to Robo at Legacy Pitch, Lagos.

Yemisi Samuel broke the deadlock in the 69th minute for Osun and bagged her brace five minutes from time before Kafayat Bashiru converted a late penalty to seal their second win this term.

Elsewhere, Confluence Queens recorded their maiden victory of the season in Lokoja, with a 1-0 triumph over Nasarawa Amazons.

The Kogi ladies were smarting from a 2-0 defeat at Sunshine Queens in Akure last week after an opening day 1-1 draw with Rivers Angels.

A first-half strike from the spot by Winifred Eyebhoria ensured Whyte Ogbonda's side ended their winless start to the season and condemned Nasarawa Amazons to a third defeat in a row.

In Umuahia, Abia Angels grabbed their second win of the season following a 2-1 triumph against DreamStar Ladies on Thursday. 

Ann Chiejine's side could not follow up their opening day triumph over Pelican Stars 2-0 at home as they crumbled to a 1-0 defeat to top-flight newcomers Royal Queens in Warri last week.

At Umuahia Township Stadium, the hosts made a rough start to the tie until Maxi Bisong opened the scoring on the brink of half time.

After the break, the visitors rallied for a comeback and were rewarded in the 79th minute through Ayatsea Hembafen.

Abia, however, bounced back to claim maximum points when Nmesoma Ibeh netted the matchwinner six minutes from time.

The result saw Abia return to winning ways, while the Galacticas endured another bad day, with a third defeat in a row this season.

In Agbor, Sunshine Queens suffered their second away defeat in a row as they lost 1-0 to Delta Queens at Agbor Township Stadium.

The Akure Mermaids aimed to build on their 2-0 triumph over Confluence Queens last week but capitulated against the hosts, where they were desperate to recover from a 6-2 bashing at Rivers Angels.

With the first-half ending in a goalless draw, Amarachi Orjinma's 52nd-minute solitary effort was all Delta Queens required to record their second win of the season, at home.

The win saw Delta move to fifth on the log with six points from three matches, while Sunshine are ninth from the same number of games.

While in Benin City,  the top-of-the-table encounter involving Edo Queens and defending champions Rivers Angels ended in a 1-1 draw.

After a goalless first half, Vivian Ikechukwu scored her first goal of the season when she fired the visitors in front in the 79th minute.

The hosts, however, fought back late to earn an equaliser when Elizabeth Zirike levelled matters from a free-kick to force a stalemate at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

The draw saw Edo Queens slip to second on the table with seven points from three games, while Rivers Angels are now seventh with five points from three matches as well this season.

Striker Nicholas Kipkirui will miss Gor Mahia’s Caf Champions League tie against CR Belouizdad as he has been omitted from the travelling squad.

The match was rescheduled for December 26 after Gor Mahia had requested the Confederation of African Football (Caf) to push the game forward owing to the travel technicalities.

Kipkirui, who was on target against APR of Rwanda when K’Ogalo saw off the Rwandan side and qualified for the first round tie, is, however, not going to be involved against the Algerian side.

“Captain Kenneth Muguna misses the trip with a rib injury, midfielder Bernard Ondiek and John Ochieng’ too are out with injuries,” Gor Mahia explained the absence of the injured players without revealing why the former Zoo FC striker was left out.

Ernest Wendo, who has been looking a rejuvenated midfield maestro, is among the travelling stars that also includes Jules Ulimwengu. The Rwandan was consecutively on target against Ulinzi Stars and Tusker in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League and would hope he would find the back of the net on the continental stage.

The team en route to Algeria comprises mostly of local players as Ulimwengu and Tito Okello are the only foreigners available.

With the absence of Muguna, assistant captain Philemon Otieno is expected to lead the team to get good results although they have had tough times whenever they face Northern African sides.

Stand-in coach Sammy Omollo remains confident the team is capable of delivering the desired results.

“If we manage to stick to our game plan, I am optimistic we will get at least a draw away. Yes, we are going for a win but a draw will not be bad. Then when we come home we finish the job by winning,” Omollo told Goal in an earlier interview.

“Yes, Algerian teams have been challenging for us, but nothing is impossible, we can get past them.”

Travelling Squad:

Gad Mathew, Philemon Otieno, Michael Apudo, Charles Momanyi, Juma Andrew, Ernest Wendo, Sydney Ochieng, Samuel Onyango

Tito Okello, Jules Ulimwengu, Geoffery Ochieng, Bonface Oluoch, Kevin Wesonga, Joachim Oluoch, Nicholas Omondi, Benson Omalla, Frank Odhiambo, Clifton Miheso

Technical Staff:   Samuel Omollo, Patrick Odhiambo, Jolawi Obondo, Willis Ochieng, Victor Nyaoro, Frederick Otieno

Officials: Dolfina Odhiambo, Gerphas Okuku.

A decision made by FIFA just one day before Christmas Day has put a stop to Malaysia U-19's dream.

On Thursday, December 24, FIFA announced that it has cancelled the 2021 editions of the men’s U-20 and U-17 World Cup competitions.

In a statement issued through its website, the world football governing body explained that the decision was made due to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"...it became clear that the global situation has failed to normalise to a sufficient level to address the challenges associated with hosting both tournaments, including the feasibility of the relevant qualification pathways."

In 2019, Australian head coach Brad Maloney-led Malaysia U-19 took one step closer towards realising their World Cup dream, when they qualified for the 2020 AFC U-19 Championship finals. Maloney's charges include 2020 Goal NxGn lister Luqman Hakim, who is currently with Belgian top-tier side KV Kortrijk.

Luqman Hakim. Photo by Sports Regime

The Young Tigers would have needed to reach the semi-finals of the AFC finals at the very least, in order to book their World Cup spot. The 2020 AFC U-19 Championship finals had earlier been scheduled to be played in Uzbekistan in October 2020, before it was then postponed to March 2021 due to the pandemic. Maloney's charges have been drawn in Group D alongside Qatar, Tajikistan and Yemen, and the tournament is still set to take place.

For Luqman and his U-19 teammates, who mostly are the first batch of Mokhtar Dahari Academy graduates, they now have no chance of qualifying for a junior World Cup as FIFA does not organise any U-23 or U-22 World Cup tournaments.

Malaysia's neighbour and regional rival Indonesia meanwhile have been assured of their World Cup spot. Originally the planned host of the 2021 U-20 World Cup, with Peru hosting the U-17 tournament, FIFA has decided that the two countries will host the next editions instead, in 2023.

Apart from Malaysia and Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are the other Southeast Asian nations that have also qualified for the 2020 AFC U-19 Championship finals. 

The Federation of International Football Association (Fifa) has appointed a normalisation committee to run the affairs of the Ivorian Football Federation.

Fifa’s decision was taken as a result of the country’s inability to carry out an electoral process for a new Executive Committee in accordance with requirement valid to all Fifa member association.

According a statement made available by the football governing body, the team will consist of members designated jointly by Fifa and the Confederation of African Football (Caf) and they will serve as an electoral committee and none of its members will be eligible for the positions to be filled during the elections.

“The Bureau of the Fifa Council has decided to appoint a normalisation committee for FIF pursuant to art. 8 par. 2 of the Fifa Statutes,” the statement read.

“This decision is the result of the failure of the country’s football governing bodies to carry out an electoral process for a new Executive Committee in accordance with the statutory and regulatory requirements applicable to all Fifa member associations.

“After several months of engaging with FIF, the failure was attributed to inherent weaknesses in the association’s governance structures and processes, including contradictions in the FIF Statutes and Electoral Code that have yet to be resolved, and which significantly impacted the flawed electoral process conducted. It was further taken into account the fact that the mandate of the executive had already ended.”

The mandate of the normalisation will expire on 31 December 2021.

FIF’s election campaign was brought to a stop in August after Didier Drogba’s bid was rejected as he only received the official support of two of a required four Ivorian clubs. The Cote d’Ivoire and Chelsea great was standing against Idriss Diallo and president of the league Sory Diabate.

Drogba, 42, played for the West African nation between 2002 and 2014 before calling time on his international career. He is the country’s all-time top scorer with 65 goals after 105 games, the country’s third-highest tally of international appearances after Didier Zokora (123) and Kolo Toure (120).

Also, he featured at five Africa Cup of Nations tournaments (2006, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2013) and three World Cups (2006, 2010 and 2014).

Christmas has arrived and, just like millions all around the world, several big-name footballers are celebrating the holiday with those closest to them.

This Christmas is unlike any other, as it comes as the coronavirus pandemic continues worldwide, but several of football's biggest names have taken to social media to reveal their family's holiday celebrations.

From Cristiano Ronaldo to Kylian Mbappe, there was plenty of holiday cheer being spread as Christmas Eve turned into Christmas Day.

Goal has compiled several of the most prominent members of the footballing world celebrating Christmas. 

Mauricio Pochettino has the personality and expertise to make an immediate difference in sweeping fashion at Paris Saint-Germain, per former Argentina teammate Juan Pablo Sorin.

The former Tottenham boss is expected to return to management for the first time since he left north London as Thomas Tuchel's successor at the Ligue 1 champions.

The French titans are yet to officially comment on the German's exit following reports he had been sacked, but Pochettino has been rumoured by many to be the man that replaces him.

It will mark a reunion between the coach and a side he graced as a player, having tasted UEFA Intertoto Cup success during a two-year stay between 2001 and 2003.

PSG sit third in Ligue 1 this season after losing four of their 17 matches, but a 4-0 thrashing of Strasbourg on Wednesday has left them only one point behind Lyon and Lille.

Sorin, who like Pochettino had a playing stint with PSG, says the incoming head coach has exactly the right profile for the job.

"Pochettino to PSG? Hopefully!" the 44-year-old wrote on Twitter .

PSG were beaten 1-0 by Bayern Munich in the delayed Champions League final, which took place in August, but they swept to a domestic treble under Tuchel's leadership last term.

They also have reached the last 16 of the Champions League this season and will face Barcelona for a place in the quarter-finals.

That would be a major early test for Pochettino, particularly given he is a former player and coach of Barcelona's city rivals Espanyol.

He led Tottenham to the 2019 Champions League final, where the north London side were beaten 2-0 by Liverpool.

The Parisians have never won the Champions League, and their Qatari owners are keen to secure the trophy that would confirm the club's place at Europe's top table.

Sorin, who joined PSG in 2003, just as Pochettino was leaving to join Bordeaux, played alongside his countryman in the Argentina national team at the 2002 World Cup.

The apparent move to bring in Pochettino saw praise for the coach come from former Tottenham striker Gary Lineker.

The former England striker tweeted : "Mauricio Pochettino is being lined up by PSG. A terrific coach whose only minus is the lack of winning trophies...well that’s about to change."

Steven Gerrard says that Joe Aribo has proven he is back after he starred in Wednesday’s Scottish Premiership game where Rangers defeated St. Johnstone 3-0.

Having silenced Motherwell 3-1 their last time out, the Gers went to the McDiarmid Park to pick all maximum points at the expense of Callum Davidson’s men.

For the Nigerian who featured from start to finish, he assisted Finland international of Sierra Leonean descent Glen Kamara for his side’s second goal, while having a hand in Ianis Hagi’s strike.

The performance represented one of the midfielder's most complete outings since he returned from a string of injuries across the opening weeks of the 2020-21 campaign.

“I thought Aribo really flexed his muscles and showed he’s back. He’s had a real tough start to the season with a big injury – probably the first of his career – and then a bit of an illness which held him back,” Gerrard told club website.

“He’s gone through the gears in the last three or four weeks and he looks close to being back to his best which is really pleasing.

“The through ball, the weight, to see it with the vision. Normally Glen Kamara tries to check back and pass that, but he wiped his nose and finished it away.

“I’m pleased for Glen because he could have felt sorry for himself after the weekend, but I thought he was outstanding all night."

Aribo boasts of four goals and two assists in 18 appearances across all tournaments for the 54-time Scottish first-tier League Championships winners this season.

The 24-year-old will hope to be involved when the Gers welcome Hibernian to the Ibrox Stadium on Boxing Day, and ahead of that fixture, the Liverpool legend said: "We will get the players recovered and we will see our families and enjoy our Christmas dinner.

“I'm pleased the supporters can enjoy their Christmas Day and hopefully stay safe and enjoy it with their families at home.

“Then Christmas night, we get back to work. We'll have a short, sharp session on Christmas night and our full focus will be on Hibs as it is such an important fixture."

Rangers will be looking to maintain their lead at the top of Scotland’s topflight following a blistering start to the new campaign.

Lionel Messi has heaped praise on Atletico Madrid shotstopper Jan Oblak, hailing him as "one of the best goalkeepers in the world" while admitting he relishes the challenge of trying to best him.

The Slovenia international, who joined Diego Simeone's side from Benfica in 2014, has established himself as one of the finest keepers in the game in recent years, and remains a lynchpin performer for  Los Rojiblancos.

Earlier this year, he became the goalkeeper to achieve a century of clean sheets in La Liga with the least number of games, beating out Miguel Reina's previous record of 222 by a whopping 40 matches.

He has picked up where he previously left off this term too, having kept out goals in nine of his 13 top-flight matches this season, to help establish Atletico as genuine title contenders against rivals and current holders Real Madrid.

He has conceded the fewest amount of goals in the league - just five - while only three goalkeepers have made more than his 39 saves.

That gives him a save percentage of 88.1 per cent, comfortably ahead of Yassine Bounou in second place, the Sevilla stopper saving just shy of 80 per cent of the shots he has faced.

Oblak made four saves when Atleti edged past Barca 1-0 last month, with Messi unable to find a way through on that occasion - and the Slovenian's form has earned the plaudits of the Argentine, who offered unequivocal praise for him as an opponent to best.

"It's nice to face one another," the 33-year-old told Bud Football . "He is one of the best goalkeepers in the world at the moment, and it's always good to fight against the best ones.

"It's an extra motivation to be able to, or to try to, score a goal, with what it means and how hard it is, as he proves in every game he plays.

"So, it's nice to see him outside but also face him in the games. It makes them more exciting."

Barca are next in action against Eibar on Tuesday, while Simeone's side take on Getafe a day later.

Kylian Mbappe has paid tribute to outgoing Paris Saint-Germain boss Thomas Tuchel, adding that "nobody will forget" the manager's time at the helm at Parc des Princes.

News broke on Christmas Eve that the German had been dismissed from his position at the club following his side's Ligue 1 triumph over Strasbourg on Wednesday.

Though PSG have yet to officially confirm the 47-year-old's exit, it brings to an end a two-and-a-half-year tenure that saw the former Borussia Dortmund boss complete a clean sweep of domestic honours and come closer to Champions League glory than any of his predecessors.

Striker Mbappe - who further established himself as one of the sport's most pre-eminent talents and continued to flourish under Tuchel's guidance in the 16th arrondissement - was quick to honour his manager, however, stressing his gratitude for the ex-Mainz man's contributions.

“It is sadly the law of football," the 22-year-old posted on his Instagram feed. "Nobody will forget your time here. You wrote a wonderful part of the club’s history and I say to you: thank you, coach.”

Tuchel's first major act after arriving to succeed Unai Emery in May 2018 was to sanction a permanent deal for Mbappe following a highly successful loan spell at the club from Monaco, and amid the latter's eye-catching World Cup-winning heroics in Russia with the France national team.

The German - who initially began his senior coaching career in charge of FC Augsburg II in 2007 - burnished his reputation at Mainz between 2009 and 2014, guiding them to a modern-day best finish of fifth in 2010-11.

His exploits earned him a move to Dortmund to succeed the outgoing Jurgen Klopp, where he continued to flourish as one of the most rated young coaches across Europe, claiming his first piece of silverware in the club's 2016–17 DFB-Pokal triumph over Eintracht Frankfurt.

It has been at PSG where he has enjoyed consistent success, however, notching up half-a-dozen trophies in total and guiding them to the Champions League final last term, where he was ultimately edged out by Hansi Flick's Bayern Munich.

Yet a relatively rocky start to their latest title defence, coupled with a nervy European group campaign that almost saw them crash into the Europa League, has seen Tuchel pay the price as the new year approaches.

Ghana striker Kwasi Okyere Wriedt is ecstatic to have scored for Willem II Tilburb against Ajax Amsterdam in the Dutch Eredivisie on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old came to the rescue of Tricolores in the matchweek 14 home fixture as his 54th-minute effort cancelled out Antony's 4th-minute opener for the visitors to ensure a 1-1 draw.

It was his second goal for Willem since sealing a three-year transfer from German heavyweights Bayern Munich in July.

"I know the qualities of my team and the result was possible," Wriedt told Brabants Dagblad.

"It is a dream for me to play against these kinds of teams. Ajax is the best club in the Netherlands, played in the Champions League. But that is great for our entire team, not just for me.

"I used my body to keep the defender away from me and put the ball in front of my left foot. Then I fired in hard and low. That's like I often do, yes. If I can shoot with the left, there is always something possible."

Wriedt has made four appearances for Willem so far, his career with the Dutch side slowed by an injury picked up shortly after joining the side.

He will be hoping for his fifth appearance and third goal in the Netherlands when league action resumes against VVV on January 10 after the Christmas break.

The forward no doubt has eyes on a recall to national duty when Ghana take on South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe in their first batch of assignments of the New Year in March.

Born to Ghanaian parents in Hamburg, Wriedt earned his first call-up for the country of his parents for friendly matches against Iceland and Japan in 2018.

He has since been unable to add to his tally of international call-ups, having struggled for first team opportunities at Bayern Munich, for whom he made just two league appearances since the 2017-18 German Bundesliga season.

He was eligible to feature for Germany before deciding to pledge his future to the four-time African champions.