Looking for Soccer News?

Jwaneng Galaxy coach Sikalame Keatlholetswe has stoked the flames ahead of Tuesday's Caf Champions League first round, first leg clash against Mamelodi Sundowns, saying his side will be a match for the Premier Soccer League champions.

The fixture takes place at Lobatse Stadium, in what is Sundowns’ first game of the current campaign as they relaunch their quest for another continental title.

Despite an apparent gulf between the two sides, Keatlholetswe is refusing to let his team wear the underdog tag going into the match against the 2016 African champions.

“I see no difference between the two teams, we are both Caf and Fifa members, we are champions here and they are champions that side,” Keatlholetswe told the Botswana Press Association as per Daily News. “This is the moment we have been waiting for.”

Botswana Premier League champions Galaxy are making a debut appearance in the Caf Champions League.

Their only participation in Africa was a preliminary round exit from the 2018 Caf Confederation Cup, and they now face Sundowns, who are perennial campaigners on the continent.

Keatlholetswe's confidence may come from the emphatic manner in which they reached the first round.

Galaxy beat Zilimadjou from Comoros 4-1 in the first leg of the preliminary round, before a 1-1 draw away in Moroni to set up a date with Masandawana.

After six seasons of Champions League football under Pitso Mosimane, who guided them to the 2016 crown, Sundowns start business in the elite continental club football competition without the new Al-Ahly tactician.

It is yet to be seen if co-coaches Manqoba Mngqithi and Rhulani Mokwena, as well as senior coach Steve Komphela can steer the Brazilians back to Champions League glory.

Mokwena, for one, is treating Galaxy with some respect.

“Of course Galaxy are a good team. We will get footage from our analysts and advance team that went to Botswana," Mokwena told Sundowns’ media. “You can see with the [Botswana] national team that there is a resurgence in football.

"We have to make sure that we are well-prepared.”

The return leg will be played on January 6 in Pretoria.

Tammy Abraham struck twice as patient Chelsea ground out a 3-0 win at home to West Ham to stop the rot in their final Premier League match before Christmas.

Talk of a title challenge from Frank Lampard's side had been stifled by consecutive defeats to Everton and Wolves, slipping out of the top four while champions Liverpool pulled clear.

But victory on Monday moved the Blues back up to fifth after Abraham settled nerves at Stamford Bridge with a clinching pair in the 78th and 80th minutes.

Chelsea had endured a long night after Thiago Silva nodded them into a 10th-minute lead, with West Ham - after a double against their London rivals last term - on the front foot but unable to forge a legal opening.

An offside flag denied Declan Rice a seventh-minute opener after he ran onto Aaron Cresswell's quick free-kick, rounded Edouard Mendy and slid in a superb finish from a tight angle.

Ben Chilwell went down just prior to that chance and soon hobbled off, but Silva swiftly lifted home spirits with a thumping header from Mason Mount's right-wing corner.

Both sides had further goals struck off in an even first half, with Cesar Azpilicueta unable to keep play alive before Abraham netted and Jared Bowen later fouling Silva, yet there should have been no stopping Timo Werner. He aimed a tame finish straight at Lukasz Fabianski following a rapid break.

West Ham controlled the second period but failed to break Chelsea down and were caught out in an untidy fashion befitting a game short on quality.

Werner's scuffed shot fell at the feet of Abraham, onside for a simple finish, and his second followed only 101 seconds later when the ball again dropped kindly as Fabianski leapt to block Christian Pulisic's close-range header.

The scoreline was already harsh on West Ham and might have been weighted further in Chelsea's favour had Werner's woes in front of goal not continued with a blast against the crossbar from a presentable position.

What does it mean? Abraham glee adds gloss

Ultimately, Chelsea's ability to put the ball in the net proved the difference as West Ham's second-half pressure failed to pay dividends.

The Blues struggled for long periods but had Abraham on hand to net his first brace since scoring a hat-trick against Wolves in September 2019.

Indeed, despite seeing more of the game played in their own third (28.3 per cent) than West Ham's (23.6 per cent), Chelsea could have run up a handsome tally had Werner also had his shooting boots, instead failing with four attempts.

Silva steel sets the stage

Silva's early header - Chelsea's eighth set-piece goal this season - looked to have set up a comfortable outing for the centre-back, yet the hosts could not initially build on that lead and he was instead kept busy at the other end.

The veteran made six clearances, three interceptions, a tackle and a block and crucially bought a foul from Bowen before he finished smartly in the first half.

Hammers packing no punch

Although West Ham recovered from a testing spell after the Chelsea opener, they lacked fluency in the final third and did not work Mendy once.

Said Benrahma came out of the side after flattering deceive on his first two starts - hitting the target with one of six shots at Leeds United before failing to muster an effort against Crystal Palace - but the Hammers did not have the same balance with Mark Noble their fourth attacking option.

Meanwhile, Sebastian Haller's spectacular volley at home to Palace was followed by a muddling display, completing just seven passes, running offside on three occasions, conceding three fouls and failing to make the most of a first half N'Golo Kante slip.

Key Opta Facts: 

- Chelsea have lost just one of their last 13 home Premier League games, winning 10 and drawing two.
- David Moyes is without a win in any of his 16 Premier League visits to Stamford Bridge (D7 L9), the joint-highest tally of any manager never to win at a stadium in the competition, equalling his own record (16 games at Anfield).
- Timo Werner has failed to score in each of his last seven starts for Chelsea in all competitions, his longest run of starts without a goal in club competition since September 2016, between spells at Stuttgart and RB Leipzig (9).
- Mason Mount made his 50th Premier League appearance for Chelsea tonight, becoming the youngest English player (21y 346d) to reach this milestone for the club since John Terry in January 2002 (21y 36d).

What's next?

Neither side have made the EFL Cup quarter-finals, meaning their next action is after Christmas, with Chelsea visiting struggling Arsenal on Saturday before West Ham welcome Brighton and Hove Albion the following day.

Ghana coach CK Akonnor is on course to lead the national team to glory despite a topsy-turvy start to his time at the helm of affairs, according to former Netherlands international of Ghanaian descent George Boateng.

After replacing James Kwasi Appiah in January, Akonnor's first test ended in disappointment as the Black Stars succumbed to a 3-0 loss to Mali in an international friendly fixture in October. Three days later though, the four-time champions made amends with a big 5-1 triumph over 2022 World Cup hosts and Asian champions Qatar in a second friendly.

Last month, Akonnor supervised his first competitive game as Ghana defeated Sudan 2-0 in a 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header. Five days later, the Black Stars saw themselves on the losing side once again as they fell 1-0 away to Sudan in the reverse fixture of the Afcon qualifier.

“I think as a nation, we need to give C.K the time to explore, to learn," Boateng, who was born in Ghana but travelled to the Netherlands as a boy, told Citi Sports. “We have to give him a chance and support him and the team to qualify.

“In the first fixture against Sudan when Dede [Andre Ayew] scored twice, I thought it was really enjoyable football. They played really well.

“That gives us a lot of hope that C.K eventually might get what we need and put a team together that is willing to fight for the country.”

Akonnor has been tasked to qualify Ghana for the 2022 Afcon and win the tournament and as well guide the Black Stars to reach the 2022 World Cup. 

“It’s not about me. It’s about us," Akonnor told TV3 in May "Over 30 years we’ve not won Afcon. I don’t want to be just another coach who comes in to manage Ghana and goes and then it’s the same story.

"I want us to work and make an impact, be relevant.”

Ghana won the last of her four Afcon titles in Libya in 1982.

The Black Stars return to action with a pair of Afcon qualifying fixtures against South Africa and Sao Tome e Principe in March next year. 

Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski has revealed he held talks with Sir Alex Ferguson over a move to Manchester United in 2012.

The Poland international was regularly linked with a switch to Old Trafford while at Borussia Dortmund, where he spent four trophy-laden seasons.

However, a move failed to materialise and he instead joined Dortmund's domestic rivals Bayern on a free transfer in 2014.

He has scored an incredible 266 goals in 307 appearances for Bayern and was the leading scorer in each of the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Champions League last term as the Bavarian giants won a stunning treble.

Lewandowski was last week recognised for his form over the past year as The Best FIFA Men's Player for 2020, but his career could have gone down a different route had BVB not blocked a Premier League switch, he says.

"After my second year in Dortmund, I had a conversation with Sir Alex Ferguson," Lewandowski told France Football. "He wanted me to come to Manchester. 

"I was very interested. I can even say I was ready. But Dortmund didn't want to let me go. It didn't upset me more than that because things were going well with Borussia."

Ferguson instead signed Robin van Persie from Arsenal ahead of the 2012-13 campaign and he helped fire United to the Premier League title in the legendary manager's final season.

Lewandowski, who has talked about comparisons with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, arguably made the correct decision, as United regressed after winning the Premier League crown in the 2021-13 season - Ferguson’s final campaign in charge of the Old Trafford giants.

At Bayern the 32-year-old has won six Bundesliga titles and got his hands on European football’s top prize last season when the club got the better of Paris Saint-Germain to win the Champions League.

Lewandowski has revealed that Arsenal great Thierry Henry was one of his idols when he was a youngster.

“The ones I admired were Alessandro Del Piero and Thierry Henry, even Roberto Baggio, whom I saw playing when I was very young,” he said. "But, as much as the big names, what made me dream were the big stadiums and their atmospheres.”

Owen Otasowie was handed his full debut in Wolverhampton Wanderers’ 2-1 defeat to Burnley in Monday’s Premier League encounter.

The United States of America international of Nigerian descent had previously made his bow in the English top flight – coming in as a 46th minute replacement for Leander Dendoncker as Wolves secured a comeback victory against Frank Lampard’s Chelsea at the Molineux Stadium.

Against the Clarets, however, he was given the nod by manager Nuno Espirito Santo to start in the team’s midfield alongside Nelson Semedo, Joao Moutinho and Rayan Ait-Nouri.

In the process, the 19-year-old becomes the third different teen player to start for Wolves in the English elite division this term (Fabio Silva, Ait-Nouri) - the joint-most of any team in the competition, along with Liverpool.

In the tough encounter, Sean Dyche’s team claimed maximum points thanks to goals from Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood, while Silva got the visitors’ only goal from the penalty spot in the 89th minute.

Before he was substituted for Adama Traore on the hour mark, Otasowie had been cautioned by referee Lee Mason in the 45th minute.

Born in the United States to Nigerian parents, the youngster began his youth career at Mass Elite Academy, before teaming up with West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers to continue his progression.

At the Molineux, he grew through the club's ranks - featuring in Wolves' U18 and U23 sides. He was promoted to the first team in the 2019-20 campaign, but had to wait till this season to make his league debut.

On December 12, 2019, he made his senior debut as a substitute in Wolves’ final Europa League group match against Turkish giants Besiktas.

Otasowie received his first call up to the US senior team for games against Wales and Panama in November 2020, but he made his international bow in the 0-0 draw with Ryan Giggs’ team – coming in as an 87th minute replacement for Sebastian Lletget.

Following Fifa’s latest ruling, the midfielder can switch international allegiance to Nigeria. The rule allows a player to change nationality as long as they have only featured in three international fixtures, including qualifiers - but not tournaments like the World Cup.

Also, such player must have been less than 21 years of age at the time of playing and can only switch after three years of no international activity.

Ben Chilwell was forced out of Chelsea’s 3-0 win over  West Ham within 10 minutes with an apparent ankle injury.

The full-back had a coming together with Hammers midfielder Jarrod Bowen and turned his ankle, prompting the injury.

Chilwell was treated on the pitch and after a lengthy discussion with the medical staff, he attempted to play on.

However, it did not last long as he went down again clutching his right ankle and was immediately replaced by Emerson.

"I expect he'll be doubtful for Arsenal," Lampard said of Chilwell. "He turned his ankle and tried to carry on but it was too painful. We'll have a scan tomorrow to try and see how bad the injury is. We'll update after."

The whole season has been busy so far due to the late start on account of the coronavirus pandemic, but games come fast in England over Christmas and New Year.

Following the Premier League game with West Ham, Chelsea face Arsenal on Boxing Day and Aston Villa on December 28.

They then welcome in 2021 with a home game against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

The full-back positions are an area of concern for Chelsea, as right-back Reece James was ruled out of the game with West Ham on account of a knee injury.

Cesar Azpilicueta  was drafted in as replacement for James, while Emerson is an experienced figure on the other side of the back line.

"A slight difference in attributes can change things to a degree but I don't expect too much because they are accomplished players," Lampard said. "The captain of the club, Azpi did brilliantly today in all senses of his game, particularly the defensive side which was so important in the way they play.

"Emerson did well as well. When we train we work inclusively as a whole squad and know the movements we want to make. We'll prepare for Arsenal and onwards with our attacking plan.

"We want to attack with our full-backs. They know that. Reece and Chilly have been doing really well, we hope their injuries are not that bad and will be in and around the games over Christmas. So we'll see. But I was pleased with the two lads today. They were comfortable."

Lionel Messi was presented with a record seventh Pichichi trophy on Monday, but insisted that he would trade in an eighth for the chance to win La Liga again. 

The Pichichi, named for legendary Athletic sharpshooter Rafael Moreno Aranzadi, is handed out annually to the top scorer in Spain's top flight. 

Barcelona star Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo regularly battled for the prize during the latter's time at Real Madrid, but since he departed for Juventus in 2018 the Argentine has won it on both occasions, most recently for his 33 goals across the 2019-20 season. 

That seventh success took him clear of Telmo Zarra as the most frequent Pichichi recipient in history, but proved insufficient to avoid Madrid beating Barca to the title. 

And with the Catalans some way off the pace in 2020-21, Messi, who has managed just six Liga goals to date, is in no doubt that the team must come first over his individual accolades .

"An eighth Pichichi? I don't know, nor am I thinking about it, it is not something I am worried or obsessed about," Messi told Marca upon receiving his latest prize. 

"I would prefer to win La Liga before getting the Pichichi, we are fighting towards that. 

"We are slowly growing. We struggled to get going in the league, nor did we deserve to drop all those points, we could have won several of those games, like at Alaves, Getafe, Real Madrid... 

"We created a lot of chances, that would have changed the situation, but we have to put together a run of good games to get ourselves back at the top." 

One of Messi's most memorable goals this Liga season came against Osasuna, when after netting the fourth in a 4-0 win he took off his shirt to reveal a vintage Newell's Old Boys top in tribute to the late Diego Maradona. 

"It was a very special day, I was able to dedicate to him that little tribute I had prepared," Messi said of his celebration. 

"Scoring that day is a nice memory and it was a very special day because of all the significance of Diego no longer being with us." 

Barca, who currently trail joint-Liga leaders Madrid and Atletico by eight points, return to action on Tuesday away to Valladolid.

Timo Werner has said fatigue has played a part in Chelsea’s recent dip in form.

Frank Lampard’s Blues were being talked about as title contenders on the back of an unbeaten run that dated back to September 20.

However, Chelsea suffered back-to-back defeats to Everton and Wolves to drop off the pace set by champions Liverpool.

Lampard actually played down the title talk, saying following the loss to Everton: “If it makes people who are talking about us, saying we are going to win the league, we have got the best squad in the league. It is ridiculous stuff. 

"When you talk about best squads, you have to look at the teams who have won it in the last two, three, four years. Their squads are full of strikers and wingers who score 30 or 40 goals a season and midfield players who have won multiple league titles all over the place.”

The Blues can get back on track with a home match against West Ham on Monday, but it is a game Germany international Werner will head into concerned about fatigue.

“We’ve played a lot of games every three days and when you’re playing against teams who are not in Europe, they are not playing so much and have one-week breaks,” Werner told the club’s official website. 

“It’s always hard because they are fit now in the moment and maybe that’s why we’ve been struggling because we are a little bit tired.

"We have a few injuries as well and we are playing with the same starting 11 in the last few games but we cannot have excuses.”

Werner, a summer signing from RB Leipzig, feels Chelsea need to learn from the recent setbacks against Everton and Wolves.

“Every team has ups and downs," Werner, who recently played down concerns about his price tag, said. “We are struggling a little but in the last two games we were not so bad to win the games. 

“We have to learn from these things and do better in these games to get a draw, like Liverpool did against Fulham recently. It’s more in your favour than losing two points and that’s the style of how you become champions.”

Erling Haaland may be only 20 and in the middle of his first full season at Borussia Dortmund, but Lothar Matthaus believes the time has already come for the striking sensation to move on. 

Haaland moved to Signal Iduna Park in January 2019 after shining with RB Salzburg as a teenager. 

And he made an immediate impact at his new club, scoring a 23-minute hat-trick on his debut and finishing the half-term with an impressive 16 goals in 18 games in all competitions. 

The Norwegian has started 2020-21 in even more explosive fashion with 17 goals in 14 games so far, although injury has recently interrupted that brilliant run of form. 

Such potency in front of goal has attracted attention from the likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid; and according to Matthaus, his stay at Dortmund is fated to be a short one. 

“Erling Haaland is a win not just for Dortmund but for the entire Bundesliga," Matthaus explained to the Bundesliga's official website.

"At the age of 20, he is a machine. He is a flying striker. He brings a positive energy in the team while also scoring goals. He is irreplaceable.

"Erling Haaland is regarded at Dortmund like Robert Lewandowski is at Bayern: the player up front who is not only responsible for the goals but in charge of dragging the team with him. He is a leader at the age of 20.

"That says a lot and on top of that, he knows what he needs to do. He works defensively as well, something I really enjoy seeing Robert Lewandowski do as well. He is not one to just stay forward. His mannerisms as well, for a 20-year-old, to not only think of himself but of his team.

"This positivity that he radiates, radiates on the team which is why I think that someday, Haaland will not be playing at Dortmund anymore and will make the next step. He is already ready and we are proud to have him in the Bundesliga.

"Dortmund need to be pleased to have gotten him because he is a striker that fits to a club with such emotions.”

Matthaus, who was a World Cup winner with West Germany in 1990 and also starred for Bayern Munich, also had high praise for Gio Reyna, who has broken into an exciting young Dortmund first team alongside the likes of Haaland and Jadon Sancho.

“Gio Reyna, an 18-year-old player. I got to play against his father. An American. He played for Wolfsburg and the American Men’s National Team. He has his father’s talent," he added.

"The father probably trained him a bit better than he trained himself! That is why, at the age of 18, he is clearly in the starting eleven. He has high pace. He can dribble well. Good passes and is even goal-threatening.

"To be able to show himself against a certain Marco Reus and a Julian Brandt, against a Hazard. Reyna likes it on the left hand side. That is quite astonishing.

"On the other hand, it is brave from [ex-BVB boss Lucien] Favre to back a player like that and to bring him into the team when he has players like those mentioned on the bench. This shows that he impresses the coach in training enough to consider him a starter. Favre likes this player and the player hasn’t let him down yet.”

The 2020-21 Carabao Cup final has been moved from February to April in order to have "as many supporters in attendance as possible," the EFL has announced.

The first major domestic showpiece of the English season was previously scheduled for February 28, 2021.

However, restrictions relating to the coronavirus pandemic in the United Kingdom have limited the attendance of fans this term.

Some stadiums are still allowed to house spectators, but their return in London was brief as the capital was placed under lockdown.

The EFL hopes a new Wembley Stadium date of April 25, 2021 will enable supporters to make the trip.

"The number of fans permitted will be dependent on government guidance in place at the time and it is hoped that moving the date to later in the year will give clubs and their fans the best opportunity to attend in person." a statement read.

The competition is at the quarter-final stage, with last-eight ties to be played this week.

Holders Manchester City face struggling Arsenal on Tuesday after Brentford host Newcastle United, with Tottenham at Stoke City and Manchester United travelling to Everton on Wednesday.

Magpies boss Steve Bruce has had a tough time of things in recent weeks, following an outbreak of coronavirus at the club, and he is hoping the game with Brentford will provide some cheer.

“Once you get to a quarter-final, there’s a semi-final at stake. We haven’t been there for years,” Bruce said on the club's official website . “I hope we’re looking forward to it – certainly I am.

“The games are coming thick and fast, but what an opportunity we’ve got. We’ve got a wonderful opportunity to get to the semi-final of a cup, so let’s look forward to it, enjoy the challenge of it and see where we can go.”

Newcastle head into the game on the back of a 5-2 mauling by Leeds and 1-1 draw with Fulham.

Bruce feels the game with Brentford is the chance to get back into form.

“I’m disappointed – after the platform we gave ourselves against Crystal Palace and West Brom we’ve certainly had a difficult week, so let’s get on with it and see what we can do,” he said.

Gor Mahia are still in the country with no sign of leaving for Algeria where they are scheduled to play hosts Chabab Riadhi de Belouizdad in the second preliminary round of the Caf Champions League. 

Despite chairman Ambrose Rachier stating the team have authorisation to travel to North Africa, they have not yet managed to settle the players' arrears and convince them to prepare for the game.

As of Monday evening, the players were in their homes after refusing to go for training until their monies are paid.

"There is no point for us to go to train when nobody cares about our well being," a senior player told Goal on Monday. "Everybody is at home waiting to be paid and from there we can leave for Algeria.

"Unfortunately, we have not received any communication from the management. 

"We are in the dark on what is going on since nobody has engaged us."

K'Ogalo's leaders, led by captain Kenneth Muguna, were to meet the chairman Rachier in his office, but it did not happen.

"Good evening guys, we [the captains] were supposed to meet the chairman as we agreed from the meeting we had in the morning," Muguna communicated to fellow players through their Whatsapp forum. "I am just coming from the chairman's office after waiting for him the whole day.

"I only managed to talk with him through the phone of which I told him all the players decided that they will not [honour] the match before they receive their salaries, but he said he does not have the money, so if you do not want to honour the match then you can do as you wish. Thanks."

On Monday, the Confederation of African Football turned down a request by Gor Mahia to have their Caf Champions League match against CR Belouizdad rescheduled and played on neutral ground.

The team then went further to write to Football Kenya Federation to prevail upon the African body to have the match rescheduled and played on neutral ground, albeit in North Africa.

Caf has now responded through the FKF by stating Gor Mahia will have to honour the match as planned on Wednesday because even the match officials for the fixture have already landed in Algeria in readiness to officiate in the battle.

Paulo Dybala has returned to training with Juventus and manager Andrea Pirlo is confident the Argentina international will be involved in the Serie A game with Fiorentina.

Dybala did not feature in Juventus’ 4-0 win at Parma on Saturday on account of a muscle problem, but he is back in contention for the club’s final game before the Christmas and New Year break.

“He (Dybala) trained a little bit with the squad and a little bit apart today, he should be able to join us for the game,” Pirlo told Juventus TV.

Juve hit form in style at Parma, but it will be a boost to Pirlo to have a player who has been linked with Manchester United back in contention.

Pirlo played down reports of a move to Old Trafford for the forward, and will now be hopeful that Dybala’s football will do the talking as we head towards the January transfer window.

The Juve coach confirmed that Arthur will miss the visit of Fiorentina, but Merih Demiral could be in contention.

Juventus trail Serie A leaders AC Milan by four points, but they have won three of their last four games in the league and Pirlo is pleased with the mentality of his side.

“The secret against Parma was the mentality of the team,” Pirlo said. “We were unhappy because we hadn’t won against Atalanta in the previous game. 

“We played a great game, with the right attitude and the desire to dominate from the beginning until the end; this must be the type of attitude we show in every game.”

Fiorentina sit in 16th in the table and are in danger of being dragged into a relegation scrap in 2021, but Pirlo feels they are a quality side who will pose a real threat on Tuesday.

"Fiorentina are going through some tough times, but they are a very good team,” Pirlo said. “They have a physical player like [Dusan] Vlahovic and one with great class in [Franck] Ribery. They will defend deep and try to hit with us on the counterattack; we need to be careful."

Juventus have the best part of a fortnight off following the game with Fiorentina, with their next outing a home clash with Udinese on January 3.

Kaizer Chiefs defender Ramahlwe Mphahlele has warned his teammates that things are 'dirty in Africa' as the Amakhosi prepare to square off with Primeiro de Agosto in the Caf Champions League.

Chiefs host the Angolan giants on Wednesday in a first round, first leg match at FNB Stadium as they bid to book a group stage berth for the first time.

Amid a troubled season, the Soweto giants snuck into the first round following an unconvincing preliminary round display, as per coach Gavin Hunt’s admission, against Cameroonian champions PWD Bamenda.

Now they face what could be a tougher task and Mphahlele says they know what they are coming up against Agosto, who reached the 2018 Champions League semi-finals.

“The Champions League is a different ball game," Mphahlele told Chiefs' media. "You are meeting people that you have never seen.

“Some of the players at Primeiro play for the [Angola] national team and we know them," he added. "Obviously PSL we know each other and we tend to get a little bit soft but with these guys its a dog eat dog out there.

“We have to fight because it’s a once-off game and it’s dirty in Africa. Playing there is hard, the conditions are hard. It’s not the best, so it’s a different ball game to play in the Champions League. I just hope that we are prepared for it and we will give it everything we have.

“We are preparing well, we know they are a good team," he continued. "We are aware of the danger that they are going to cause, so we are preparing our team.

The defender has also urged his teamamtes not to underestimate their opponents and make the most of home advantage.

“Obviously we are playing at home and we want to get good results so that when we go to Angola we have a chance of reaching the group stage," he added. "I think it is also important that we take this game seriously because we are just two games away from the group stage of the Caf Champions League.

“From there you are playing the big boys and the chances of going to the quarter-finals are very high. So we are taking it very seriously and we want to give it everything that we have since we are struggling a little bit locally. But we want to do well in this competition.”

Going into this match on the backdrop of a six-match winless run in the Premier Soccer League, Chiefs are keen to successfully confront Agosto and ease their domestic woes heading into the festive break.

“Honestly at this time of the year I would rather be playing football rather than doing anything else,” Mphahlele concluded. “I’m happy that we are playing football. We need to play as much football as we can in the state that we find ourselves in. I think this is a blessing in disguise. We are playing games and trying to improve every game.”

Mohamed Magdy’s spectacular strike in Al Ahly’s 2-1 victory over Zamalek has been named the Caf Champions League Goal of the Tournament at the expense of Mahmoud Shikabala’s effort.

The 24-year-old Egypt international helped the Red Devils to win a record-extending ninth Caf Champions League title earlier this year.

The fixture, dubbed the 'Final of the Century' between the Cairo giants, was heading for extra-time before Shikabala’s wondergoal for the Royal cancelled out Amr Al Sulaya's early opener at the Cairo International Stadium.

Captain Shikabala jinked past several players from wide on the right before lashing into the top left corner from the opposite side of Mohamed El Shenawy’s box to bring the scores level just after the half hour.

Following a clearance from one of Zamalek’s defenders, Magdy stole the ball, raised the ball with his knee before directing a 20-yard volley into the right-hand side of the goal with an outrageous piece of skill.

1.2 million voters decided where the pendulum would swing, and it was the attacking midfielder who reigned supreme, claiming 52.5 percent of the votes.

Shikabala settled for second position with a close 47.5 percent.

Magdy, who was also named as the Man of the Match in the 2020 Caf Champions League final, joined the 42-time Egyptian Premier League kings on a five-year deal from Pyramids.

After prolonged negotiations to acquire his services, they got him to pen a deal with them despite attempts from rivals Zamalek to snare his signature.

He opted for the Red Devils due to his fondness of the club, departing Pyramids after only a season.

In the previous campaign, the midfielder featured 24 times in the Egyptian top flight, scoring six goals and providing seven assists as the Cairo-based club finished in the continental slots.

Coach Pitso Mosimane will be banking on him to help Al Ahly defend their Caf Champions League, Egyptian Cup and Egyptian league titles this season.

The club will also represent Africa at the Club World Cup where they will challenge Bayern Munich, Ulsan Hyundai, Auckland City and Al-Duhail for the top prize in Qatar.

Before then, they will slug it out with Morocco’s RS Berkane for the Super Cup title in January.

The second preliminary round of the Caf Champions League match between Gor Mahia and CR Belouizdad has been brought forward to December 26.

Initially, the game had been set for Wednesday, December 23 but K'Ogalo wrote to the Confederation of African Football (Caf) requesting the match to be brought forward since the Algerian airspace was locked owing to Covid-19.

However, according to Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier, Caf has finally heard their cry.

"Our game against Belouizdad will now be played on Saturday, December 26," Rachier confirmed to Goal on Monday night.

"We have managed to reschedule the game; it was tough for us to get a way of reaching Algeria because their airspace was locked owing to Covid-19 pandemic, but it has been sorted now.

"We will arrive in Algeria between December 23 and 24 for the game and leave when they tell us to."

K'Ogalo players have been on a go-slow, protesting their unpaid dues and have threatened to boycott the game if the club does not pay them soonest.

The veteran administrator has commented on the issue as well, stating they will work with willing players.

"Currently we do not have money and we are doing our best to pay the players," Rachier continued.

"We will leave for Algeria with willing players, we are not going to force anyone to travel with us. This is a match we want to win and we have to work with players willing to play for us."

However, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) have said they are yet to see any confirmation letter from Caf indicating the first leg has been rescheduled to a new date.
 
 "We have not seen nor received a letter from Caf to the effect they have pushed the match forward, the letter we have in our possession is the one [Caf] insisted Gor Mahia must honour the match in Algeria," a source in FKF, who did not want to be named, told Goal.

The Kenyan champions qualified for the next phase of the competition after they managed to secure a 4-3 aggregate win against APR of Rwanda in a two-legged affair.

The Rwandan champions came into the return leg with a 2-1 advantage from their first leg meeting in Kigali, but could not sustain the pressure as Gor Mahia scored two quick goals in added time to win 3-1 and advance.

On the other hand, CR Belouizdad of Algeria reached the next round after a 4-0 aggregate win against Al Nasr of Libya. The Algerian champions won the first leg away in Tripoli 2-0 and returned home to complete the job with another 2-0 win and will now face K’Ogalo.