Looking for Soccer News?

Asante Kotoko's 2020-21 Ghana Premier League (GPL) matchday three and four fixtures have been postponed indefinitely, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) have announced.

Hearts of Oak's matchday one clash with Aduana Stars, which was set for December 9 after a first postponement from the opening weekend of the championship due to coronavirus-related concerns, has also been rescheduled again.

The three matches are part of five games which have had to be moved to new dates due to Ghana's upcoming presidential election, as well as the involvement of Kotoko and Ashanti Gold in Caf inter-club competitions.

"The Ghana Football Association would like to hereby inform Premier League clubs and stakeholders that five fixtures have been postponed indefinitely,” the GFA announced on its official website on Monday.

"This is because of the 2020 [Ghana] General Elections scheduled for December 07, 2020 as well as Asante Kotoko SC and Ashanti Gold’s involvement in the 2020-21 Caf Inter club competitions.

"The games are as follows: Aduana Stars FC vs Accra Hearts of Oak – Week 1, Asante Kotoko SC vs Accra Great Olympics FC– Week 3, Ashanti Gold SC vs King Faisal FC – Week 3, Medeama SC vs Asante Kotoko SC – Week 4, Bechem United FC vs AshantiGold SC – Week 4, A new date would be communicated in due course.

"All stakeholders are to take note and act accordingly."

Kotoko have played two games in the Premier League so far this season, both ending in 1-1 draws - with Eleven Wonders on matchday one and Berekum Chelsea in game-week two.

Last Sunday, however, the Porcupine Warriors were missing from domestic action as they took on Mauritanian side Nouadhibou in a Caf Champions League preliminary round first leg away fixture, the game ending 1-1.

The two sides are set for a showdown in the return fixture in Accra on December 6, with the winners set to face Al Hilal Club of Sudan or Ugandan outfit Vipers in the next round.

Like Kotoko, Ashanti Gold were caught up in continental action on Sunday as they came face to face with Burkinabe side Salitas for a 0-0 home draw in Obuasi.

Steve McManaman says he would not back Real Madrid to win the Champions League, and feels an overhaul of the squad is needed if they are to compete with the top English sides and Bayern Munich.

Real lifted the Liga title last term, which went some way to offsetting the disappointment of a last-16 exit in the Champions League for a second season in a row.

In the current campaign, Real are fourth in La Liga and look set to advance to the knockout stages of the Champions League.

However, they have won just one of their last four games in all competitions - and suffered a shock home loss to Alaves in La Liga at the weekend.

McManaman feels it is fortunate for the players that there are no fans allowed in grounds at the moment, as he is convinced they would be expressing their disgust with Real’s current form.

“They are struggling,” he said. “They’ve struggled in the Champions League and La Liga. The performance against Shakhtar [Donetsk, in the Champions League] was appalling. 

“They lost to Alaves at home and it is good the fans aren’t there. If they were there then they would be getting all kinds of abuse and the white handkerchiefs would be out.”

Former Real man McManaman feels the club need to invest in a squad overhaul, but is concerned that the money may not be in place to make the kind of changes manager Zinedine Zidane requires.

“The pandemic affected them badly like all Spanish teams without the same broadcast deal we have in England so the finances are not as good as they would like to be to bring players in,” McManaman said. “They have an ageing squad, [Eden] Hazard can’t get fit and when he does he gets injured. They are in a predicament with these old players and they are struggling. 

“I wouldn’t back Real Madrid to win it (Champions League) when I look at them. Anything can happen in January but in their current form, against Gladbach and Shakhtar, they are nowhere near the English teams and Bayern Munich. 

“If they want to be successful, where they once were, they need to do something in the transfer market. [Luka] Modric is 35, Sergio Ramos is 34 nearly 35, [Karim] Benzema and Toni Kroos are getting to the age where they will not improve and if anything will get worse. 

“They are all incredible footballers who made history at Real Madrid but your body tells you when you can’t get to the same heights. If they want to get to the same heights they were at they need new players. 

“Rodrigo, Vinicius and Reiner, who is on loan in Germany, are too young to drive them forward. They need experience to do it. It is difficult because the English teams have got better and strengthened while Bayern Munich have Leroy Sane and Douglas Costa and are moving forward. 

“The Spanish teams haven’t been able to do the same.”

BT Sport Monthly Pass lets customers watch all UEFA Champions League fixtures for the next 30 days for a simple fee of £25 with no contract. For more info visit bt.com/monthlypass

Former Nigeria captain Jay-Jay Okocha believes the Super Eagles need natural offensive midfielders to succeed.

The West African side have not found an attacking midfielder since the retirement of the 47-year-old from the national team in 2006.

The Super Eagles have made do with John Obi Mikel, Joel Obi, Alex Iwobi and recently Joe Aribo in the position but they struggled to live up to expectations.

Nigeria recently managed to play two consecutive draws against lowly-rated Sierra Leone in the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Okocha, who had 73 caps for the Super Eagles, has advised on how Nigeria can enjoy better performances in their subsequent games.

“What the Eagles need now are natural midfielders who can create chances and change the course of a game,” Okocha told Brila FM.

“We need midfielders who can run at defenders and a pick their teammates with good passes,” Okocha said during a radio programme.

“We have good midfielders but not in at that level at the moment. Some of them are just scared and the fact that they are being compared to the 1994 Eagles brings a bit of pressure on them.”

Okocha also expressed his satisfaction with the Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr since he took over in 2016.

The German tactician guided Nigeria to the 2018 World Cup in Russia and led the side to finish third at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

“For now, I will score him seven out of 10 because when he came in, things were not steady, and he has steadied the ship now,” he continued.

“He inherited an abandoned team, and so for now, he is following his own direction. He has created his own team.

“But we all know football is about results, of course, if the results don’t go his way, our people will criticise him, you know everybody in Nigeria is a coach.

“But if results go his way, of course, we will praise him. Even if you are the best coach, if you don’t get results, you will be under pressure.”

The former Bolton Wanderers captain also threw his weight behind the recent contract extension handed to Rohr by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and believes it will help the Super Eagles' stability.

 “I’m in support of the contract extension because for every country to be successful, you need continuity, and you need direction,” he added.

Steve McManaman is convinced that Roberto Firmino is still ahead of Diogo Jota in Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool pecking order.

Klopp’s Liverpool won the Premier League last term with an attacking trio of Firmino, Mo Salah and Sadio Mane.

The trio’s attacking displays were top drawer last term, but Klopp did not rest on his laurels as he raided Wolves for the signature of Jota.

Portugal forward Jota has hit the ground running at Anfield, and was on target on his most recent outing - the 1-1 draw with Brighton at the weekend.

Firmino’s goal return is inferior to Jota’s, but the Brazilian‘s skillset is wide-ranging and he does so much work off the ball that McManaman feels he is still Klopp’s preferred option in attack.

“I still think Jurgen Klopp likes the fact he can rely on Firmino, Mane and Salah at the moment,” McManaman said, "as much as Jota has been absolutely fantastic.

"I think he (Jota) would still be the one to drop out at the moment. If his form carries on, that might change but he won the league with the other three so he knows they can trust them fully.”

McManaman feels the only area of concern for Liverpool is at centre-back, following the injuries to Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez.

The former Liverpool man does not believe the club should have any regrets over selling Dejan Lovren, as the injuries could not have been planned for, but would like to see the Reds look at strengthening in January.

“I think the only area is in the central defensive area,” McManaman said. “I don’t think so in any other area of the pitch.

“People keep saying that they let Lovren go and they never replaced him which is true but you don’t expect two or three injuries in the same positions. 

“If I had the money would I bring someone in? Yes. I don’t know what the financial situation is. Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk are out for a significant amount of time. You can move Fabinho back into the centre-half area where he has been fantastic. 

“If they have the finances, it is a no-brainer to go and sign a centre-half, then if you have too many central defenders then you sort it out at the end of the season.

"It would be a no-brainer and I would look at getting a top centre-defender and deal with the numbers further down the line.”

BT Sport Monthly Pass lets customers watch all UEFA Champions League fixtures for the next 30 days for a simple fee of £25 with no contract. For more info visit bt.com/monthlypass

Nairobi City Stars CEO Patrick Korir has explained why their Football Kenya Federation Premier League opening win against Nzoia Sugar is historical.

The National Super League champions registered a 2-0 home victory against the Sugar Millers and grabbed three vital points at home.

Anthony Kimani and Oliver Maloba scored the two goals as striker Davis Agesa contributed both assists that won the game.

“This was the kind of start we had been hoping for,” Korir told the club’s website.

“It was an important one against a solid Nzoia Sugar side, a team we had never faced before in a venue we had never played at. It was a historic game, one that sets the tone for the season.”

On his part, head coach Sanjin Alagic said the win will prepare his players for the next league games.

“There’s a great psychological importance in winning the starting game,” Alagic noted.

“It prepares you for the rest of the season and I am excited that we achieved it against an experienced team.”

Steve Njunge, who denied Cliff Kasuti a goal from the penalty spot, Herit Mungai Atariza, Kennedy Onyango, Salim Abdalla, Wycliffe Otieno, Peter Opiyo and Agesa are the players who earned full debuts in Simba wa Nairobi colours.

New signing Sven Yidah, with over 97 appearances for his former side Kariobangi Sharks, made his City Stars debut in the second half.

Goalscorers Kimani and Maloba are the only players who featured against Nzoia Sugar in Narok who have played in the Premier League for the Kawangware-based side previously.

Elvis Noor Ojiambo, who was signed from Kibera Black Stars, was the only player among the starters who made his top-flight debut.

In 12 seasons from 2004 and 2016, Nairobi City Stars had just recorded two wins in their opening matches before the Nzoia Sugar outcome.

The first win, of a 3-1 score, was registered against KCB at City Stadium in the 2005-06 season while the second one, a 2-0 victory, was in the 2009 season against AFC Leopards.

In the 2004-05, 2008, 2010 and 2016 seasons Nairobi City Stars drew in their openers and lost in the 2006-07, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 seasons.

NorthEast United remained unbeaten in their third consecutive match of the season, as they managed to hold FC Goa to a 1-1 draw and climb to the second position on the Indian Super League (ISL) table.

Coach Gerard Nus praised his team for its spirited fight against a strong Gaurs side but he suggested that winning was the team's sole intention ahead of the match.

"I am satisfied with the work rate and the things which we did. I am so happy. We wanted to win, of course, we came here with that desire, mentality and the hope that we will do everything that it takes to win but at the same time we knew we were facing a team that won the regular championship last season. So it was a big test. Also, we are playing the league in Goa this year which is hard. Credit to my players," said Nus.

The Spanish coach made five changes in NorthEast starting lineup which included full-back Provat Lakra coming in place of star defender Ashutosh Mehta. Lakra did not have the best of outings and in fact, was partially at fault for conceding the goal.

Brandon Fernandes beat Provat Lakra on the left flank before sending in the cross from which Angulo scored. Lakra was replaced in the second half and Mehta eventually took the field.

The NorthEast United, though, backed the Bengali defender and suggested that it wasn't a gamble on his part to field Lakra in place of Mehta in the starting lineup.

"It was not a risk at all because (Provat) Lakra is a player with a huge experience and I am happy with what he did in the training sessions and obviously, he is another player I am lucky to have in the squad and that is why he played. It could be him or Ashutosh (Mehta). I am lucky to have so many good players in the squad," Nus opined.

The former Liverpool youth coach explained that he decided to nominate young midfielder Lalengmawia as the team's captain as he wanted to convey his faith in the midfielder.

"I have already spoken about him so many times because it is amazing to have one of the most talented Indian players with us. He has been a part of U19 national team and I am sure he will soon be a part of the senior team. Giving him the captaincy for the game means he has my full trust and the team needs him."

Nus was involved in a verbal spat with opposition's manager Juan Ferrando and later was pushed by FC Goa midfielder Alberto Noguera. The Highlanders boss was not very happy with Noguera's behaviour and wants the league to take appropriate action against the offender.

"When the team fights, the coach has to help and fight as well if needed. This is a family and I don't see a coach who will not do the same. About the incident, I have never seen that before in my career that a player comes and pushes the opposition coach.

"I know there is a serious process that happens here when this kind of incidents happen because it is not nice to see it at all. I am sure the officials will do whatever it is required. About the coach he came to our bench, I don't know why maybe he wants to be a part of NorthEast United's coaching staff, you should ask him," said the 35-year-old coach.

Jurgen Klopp says Virgil Van Dijk's recovery from serious injury is going "really well" despite the Liverpool boss revealing the defender's knee "does not look like a knee should".

Van Dijk suffered knee ligament damage in last month's Merseyside derby, sustaining the injury as a result of a forceful challenge from Jordan Pickford.

The Dutchman could ultimately miss the rest of the club season and even next year's delayed Euro 2020.

His absence will be felt by the Reds given how influential he has been since making a big-money move from Southampton - he was colossal last season as Liverpool ended a 30-year wait for a top-flight crown.

Van Dijk attempted more passes (3,255) than any other defender in the Premier League, while only two other defenders with more than 1,500 had a better completion rate than him (89.2 per cent).

On top of that, Trent Alexander-Arnold (3,664) was the sole defender to have more touches of the ball than Van Dijk (3,624), his 239 duels won were the joint-fifth-best among rearguard players and his 191 aerial wins was bettered by only James Tarkowski (199).

The 29-year-old underwent a successful operation at the end of October, with Klopp confirming he is progressing well. 

Asked if he was in touch with Van Dijk, Klopp told a media conference: "Yes, of course we are in contact. Considering the circumstances, he's doing really well.

"His knee doesn't look good, to be honest. It doesn't look like a knee should look, but it looks good for a knee with that surgery and the time he had since the surgery.

"So, yes, of course we are in contact and he's doing well, that's true."

Klopp also revealed Alexander-Arnold and Xherdan Shaqiri are making progress in their recoveries from injury, but confirmed Tuesday's Champions League clash with Ajax will come too soon for them. 

They will be joined on the sidelines by James Milner, who sustained a hamstring injury in the 1-1 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion at the weekend. 

While Alexander-Arnold and Shaqiri are not ready for the game at Anfield, Klopp said there is an outside chance Naby Keita could return.

"They are all getting closer to being back, but not close enough for tomorrow, I think," he said. "With Naby we have to check there still, but with the other two, they will not be ready.

"Trent looks quite good, but nobody gave me the green light for tonight so he will not be in it [training]. He hasn't trained with the team and stuff like this.

"I saw him today on the pitch doing his rehab stuff outside, so that looks already good, but I cannot decide when this rehab stuff is finished. I take the players only in the moment when I get the green light and that didn't happen yet.

"But from my rather experienced eye from what I saw today, it will not be that long anymore with Trent."

Liverpool can secure their place in the last 16 if they avoid defeat against Ajax and they will be confirmed as Group D winners if they beat the Eredivisie side and Atalanta fail to overcome Midtjylland.

Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood can improve their game by studying the movement of new team-mate Edinson Cavani, says former Manchester United defender Wes Brown.

The former PSG forward made a stunning impact for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side on Sunday, coming on at half-time with United 2-0 down to Southampton and turning the game on its head.

Cavani assisted Bruno Fernandes to halve the deficit before levelling the game himself and scoring a stoppage-time winner.

Brown says the 33-year-old Cavani has been brought in to provide a short-term impact rather than to replace Martial long-term, but that the younger forwards should take the opportunity to learn from one of the world’s most consistent goalscorers over the last decade.

“Martial is still a top young lad. Cavani has come in to help, if anything, he is not the long-term solution for Man Utd,” Brown told BT Sport.

“He has come into the squad and not started many games. He came on as a sub here and there. At the weekend, he produced the goods in coming back from 2-0 and getting the goals. It shows the character he is.

“Martial didn’t start that game but that’s why you have squads. If something isn’t happening right then he will try and make it right. His qualities will help Martial, Rashford and Greenwood. He possesses the positioning of a striker that those three lads haven’t got to yet where he is always making the right runs in the box.”

Brown also believes that United will need to sign another striker in the near future but, as long as Cavani continues to perform, there is no need to write him off as past his best.

“Eventually yes, but we have three young strikers alongside Cavani who is showing his experience already. If you score goals, it doesn’t matter how old you are.

“I am sure he will start more games as well but every season you need new players in your squad, to improve and to have more competition.

“He has not started so many games, you can see he is still getting back to 100 per cent fitness. But there’s the experience he can give to the younger lads up there in the positions he takes up.

“It is definitely a bonus that he is there because at times United have struggled. He takes up positions in the box that you need from a No.9. He has been doing that all his career and he will help get Ole’s team where he needs it to be.”

BT Sport Monthly Pass lets customers watch all UEFA Champions League fixtures for the next 30 days for a simple fee of £25 with no contract. For more info visit bt.com/monthlypass

Juan Ferrando’s FC Goa are winless in the first three matches in the ongoing Indian Super League (ISL) after a 1-1 draw with NorthEast United on Monday.

The Gaurs came back from behind to register a point against the Highlanders but the Spanish coach is not too worried about his team's poor start. 

“The team is working and I am so satisfied. We have some problems but the team is working hard. We are finding the best playing elevens and we are helping the players. They gave grown in some aspects but it is necessary to change some details,” said Ferrando.

Ferrando made three changes to the starting lineup from their last match as he decided to drop Australian defender James Donachie and fielded an extra foreign player in the attack.

When asked if the coach had finally zeroed down on the best possible starting lineup for his team, the Spaniard said, “I selected the best players for today's match. It is necessary to change systems and we have changed the system three times. In this case, today we decided not to use James (Donachie).”

The Barcelona-born manager suggested the Highlanders had a defensive approach in today’s game and also alleged that they wasted too much time.

“NorthEast United are a very compact team. They concentrated more on defending and they wasted time, committed too many fouls. But that is okay, everybody has their own style,” said the 39-year-old coach

Ferrando was involved in a verbal spat with opposition manager Gerard Nus during the game but he did not want to reveal the details. “I spoke to him face to face and I prefer not to talk about these things,” the Spaniard signed off.

Zinedine Zidane has acknowledged Eden Hazard is experiencing a "hard time" but insists Real Madrid will do everything they can to help their record signing. 

The Belgium international has been blighted by ankle and leg problems since joining the Spanish giants from Chelsea nearly 18 months ago.

Last season he started just 14 games in La Liga, playing a minor role as Madrid won the title in his first campaign at the club.

He has continued to struggle this term and suffered an injury to the rectus femoris muscle in his right thigh in just his third league start of the campaign against Alaves on Saturday.

No timescale has been put on his return but he has not been named in Madrid's squad for Tuesday's Champions League trip to Shakhtar Donetsk.

Zidane said it is Madrid's responsibility to look after the 29-year-old and the Frenchman hopes the forward can return stronger than before. 

Asked at a media conference if Hazard might experience some psychological impact after yet another injury, Zidane responded: "No. Sometimes injuries happen and we have to endure. He is strong, I have no doubt. 

"He is having a hard time lately. We are going to help him to get better soon.

"It is a complicated situation for Eden. He has never been injured in his career and now has more misfortunes. He will surely come back stronger. We look forward to seeing him with us again."

Despite a largely indifferent Champions League campaign so far, which has seen them win just two of their four Group B games, Madrid can seal a last-16 spot for a record 24th time with victory against Shakhtar.

Luis Castro's side have failed to win any of their three games since beating Madrid on matchday one, but Zidane is preparing his players for what he describes as the most important game in the group. 

"It is up to us to get through," he said. "Tomorrow is another final, there are two left. It is surely the most important game because it can take us to another phase."

Since scoring the third goal in their 3-2 win over Madrid, Shakhtar have failed to score with each of their last 23 shots in the competition.

However, Los Blancos defender Nacho Fernandez still anticipates a challenging fixture in Kiev.

"We need to try to be much more attentive," he said. "They are a very fast team, very dynamic. We will try to get ahead on the scoreboard and be attentive defensively."

Paris Saint-Germain will be without four first-team players for their game with Manchester United in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The Ligue 1 champions travel to Old Trafford looking for revenge for United’s 2-1 win in Paris in October, and likely needing a result to keep hold of second place in Group H.

With four games played, United top the group with nine points. PSG and RB Leipzig have six points each, with PSG currently ahead with more away goals in the two games between the sides. Istanbul Basaksehir are bottom of the group with three points.

PSG have been boosted by the return to action of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar in recent weeks, but Thomas Tuchel has found himself under pressure with form stuttering in recent weeks. His side have taken just one point from their last two games in Ligue 1, throwing away a two-goal lead to lose to Monaco before drawing 2-2 with Toulouse.

Now, it has been confirmed that Mauro Icardi and Pablo Sarabia will miss the trip to Manchester, as well as Julian Draxler and Juan Bernat.

Forward Icardi came off the bench against Toulouse but felt pain in his right thigh during training, so on-loan Everton forward Moise Kean will likely keep his recent starting place.

Sarabia also came on as a substitute in that game but he, too, has been feeling muscle pain in training since.

Draxler and Bernat are both longer-term absentees, and PSG provided brief updates on their return to fitness.

Draxler has been out for just over a month with a hamstring injury but is progressing well in his recovery and has resumed training with the rest of the squad.

Bernat suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament in September and isn't expected to return until well into the new year. PSG's statement says he is continuing his rehabilitation.

Neymar has called on PSG to play as a team when they travel to Manchester following their disappointing defeat in the reverse fixture.

"We know the importance of the Champions League game on Wednesday," he told Canal+. "This is decisive. We didn't play well against Leipzig (in a 1-0 victory), but we managed to win.

"On Wednesday we are going to try to have our best game, play well, but we need to improve certain details, play more as a team, be more organised, otherwise it is going to be difficult."

Mukarama Abdulai bagged a brace as the Ghana U20 women's side claimed 4-0 victory over Morocco in Monday's friendly match.

Prior to the match, the Black Princesses had suffered a 1-0 defeat to the Atlas Lionesses thanks to Safa Banouk's solitary effort for the visitors at the Accra Sports Stadium last Thursday.

To avoid a third defeat in a row in 2020 since March's 3-2 loss in Morocco, the 2018 U17 Women's World Cup top scorer put up a fine display to lead the revenge mission for Yusif Basigi's side.

The hosts got the contest off to a flying start when Abdulai, who could not rescue her side from last week's defeat to Morocco, opened the scoring after just 16 minutes of action at the same venue. 

The Black Princesses continued to attack and doubled their lead through Abdulai 10 minutes later.

The ruthless hosts continued their search for more goals and Doris Boaduwaa scored a third of the tie nine minutes from half-time.

After the break, the hopes of a fightback were dashed when Suzy Dede Teye netted a fourth 15 minutes from full-time.

With the win, the Princesses have managed to redeem themselves against the Morccoans after earlier back-to-back defeats this year.

Basigi will be glad as his side wrapped up their 2020 campaign on a fine note despite the cancellation of the U20 Women's World Cup.

Legon Cities star Asamoah Gyan is positive about soon finding his scoring boots in the Ghana Premier League (GPL) after making his debut for the club on Friday.

After 17 years away from the domestic championship, the veteran striker, who is Ghana's all-time top scorer with 51 goals, made a comeback as a second-half substitute in a 0-0 draw with Medeama.

By the result, Legon remain in search of their first win of the season, having lost one and drawn two of the three games played thus far.

“I’m just enjoying my football, I just want to enjoy myself, I want to help Legon Cities. This is my new club so I just want to be playing football,” Gyan said, as reported by Footballghana.

“As a striker, of course, people might be expecting goals from me but the goals will come.

"We are still working, if you watch Legon Cities I think 85 per cent of our players are new, we are still getting to know each other.

"Tactically we are working but I think now we are understanding what we want to do. The technical team have done a great job.

"It’s been a short while but now they are beginning to understand what is at stake. So, we just hope the next game goes well.”

In 2003, Gyan netted 10 goals for Liberty Professionals in the GPL before moving to join Italian Serie A side Udinese.

He has since gone on to grace the pitch for Stade Rennais in France, English side Sunderland, United Arab Emirates sides Al Ain and Al Ahli Dubai, Chinese Super League team Shanghai SIPG and Kayserispor in Turkey.

Most recently, he featured for Indian club NorthEast United, with whom he parted ways in January after a short spell.

“I am very much excited to be back home. This is where the name, Asamoah Gyan started and it feels great to play in the league again after 17-years, ” Gyan said after Friday's landmark appearance.

“I am very much satisfied with the game tonight. It’s a positive one. We need to approach the next game with this same mentality and I believe soon the wins will come.”

Gyan could make his first start for Legon in their match week four encounter with Dreams FC. 

Barcelona have officially announced the club has ratified an agreement over a reduction in salary for players and staff, as well as confirming the schedule for the upcoming presidential election.

Goal understands the salary reduction will come in the form of a deferred payment of €122 million (£110m/$146m) . Barca were hoping to save as much as €190m (£170m/$227m) following significant losses to revenue in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. 

"The managing commission would like to publicly thank the footballers, coaches and employees for their understanding, their commitment and their help to the organisation to make possible this fundamental agreement to guarantee the club's immediate sustainability," a club statement said.

"The managing commission considers this to be a great step on the road to dealing with the extraordinary circumstances in which the organisation finds itself due to the global pandemic which has affected everyone since March of this year."

Meanwhile, Barcelona's presidential election will take place on January 24.

The date means the new president will only have one week to act before the end of the January transfer window. Lionel Messi, however, is free to negotiate with clubs from January 1, with his contract set to expire in the summer.

Incumbent Josep Maria Bartomeu and the board of directors resigned in October just days before a scheduled vote of no confidence .

Former president Joan Laporta announced earlier on Monday he will stand as a candidate, describing his attempted return to office as "the great challenge of my life".

The other candidates expected to stand are Jordi Farre, Toni Freixa, Lluis Fernandez Ala, Agusti Benedito, Pere Riera and Victor Font, who is considered the favourite.

Former vice president Emili Rousaud, ex-director Xavi Vilajoana and former Girona president Jordi Roche are also said to be considering running.

Barca confirmed on Monday the electoral campaign will be held from January 15 to 22 before the election day takes place two days later.

As per an agreement with the regional Catalonian government, polling stations will be located in Tarragona, Tortosa, Lleida, Girona, Andorra, Madrid, Seville and Palma, for those who cannot vote at the Camp Nou offices.

Usually, the election takes place only at Camp Nou, but changes have been made to help comply with coronavirus protocols.

Tottenham will take on non-league Marine in the third round of the FA Cup as the draw was completed on Monday.

Jose Mourinho's Premier League leaders will face the eighth-tier club after their second-round victory over Havant & Waterlooville.

A total of twenty Premier League teams and 24 Championship teams will enter the competition during this round, joining the 20 winners from the second round. to play 32 fixtures.

One of the more interesting fixtures of those 32 involves Liverpool, who will travel to Aston Villa, where they lost 7-2 in the Premier League this season.

Holders Arsenal also face Premier League opposition, meanwhile, as Mikel Arteta's side will host Newcastle.

Manchester United and Manchester City have home games against Championship clubs, with the Red Devils hosting Watford and Pep Guardiola's team playing Birmingham City.

Chelsea are at home to League Two side Morecambe, Leeds United head to Crawley Town and fifth-tier side Stockport County will host West Ham.

The matches are scheduled to be played over the weekend of January 9 and 10. Due to the impact on the schedule of the coronavirus pandemic, extra time and penalties will be used to settle any ties that are level after 90 minutes, with the traditional replays scrapped.

The final is due to take place on May 15.

FA Cup third-round draw:

Huddersfield Town v Plymouth Argyle
Southampton v Shrewsbury Town
Chorley v Derby County
Marine v Tottenham
Wolves v Crystal Palace
Stockport County v West Ham
Oldham Athletic v Bournemouth
Manchester United v Watford
Stevenage v Swansea City
Everton v Rotherham United
Nottingham Forest v Cardiff City
Arsenal v Newcastle United
Barnsley v Tranmere Rovers
Bristol Rovers v Sheffield United
Canvey Island or Boreham Wood v Millwall
Blackburn Rovers v Doncaster Rovers
Stoke City v Leicester City
Wycombe Wanderers v Preston North End
Crawley Town v Leeds United
Burnley v MK Dons
Bristol City v Portsmouth
QPR v Fulham
Aston Villa v Liverpool
Brentford v Middlesbrough
Manchester City v Birmingham City
Luton Town v Reading
Chelsea v Morecambe
Exeter City v Sheffield Wednesday
Norwich City v Coventry City
Blackpool v West Brom
Newport County v Brighton and Hove Albion
Cheltenham Town v Mansfield Town

Ademola Lookman found the back of the net and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa provided an assist in Fulham’s 2-1 victory over Kelechi Iheanacho’s Leicester City in Monday’s Premier League game.

Lookman continued his fine start to life with the Cottagers at the King Power Stadium, netting his second league goal of the season.

The Nigerian forward was afforded his seventh Premier League appearance since his summer arrival at Craven Cottage from RB Leipzig.

Cameroon international Zambo-Anguissa also impressed in the encounter while Iheanacho’s effort was not enough to help Leicester avoid defeat at home.

Lookman opened the scoring for Scott Parker’s men at the half-hour mark after a fine combination with Zambo-Anguissa.

Ivan Cavaleiro doubled Fulham’s lead eight minutes later, converting from the penalty spot after Christian Fuchs was brought down in the area by Bobby Reid.

Leicester made a frantic effort to level proceedings and brought on Nigeria international Iheanacho in the 70th minute.

All they could get, however, was a consolatory goal four minutes before full time through Harvey Barnes, who fired past goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel after receiving an assist from Jamie Vardy.

Lookman featured for 90 minutes before he was replaced by Joe Bryan while Zambo Anguissa was on parade for the entirety of the game.

Nigeria’s Ola Aina and Tosin Adarabioyo also lasted for the duration of the match for Fulham while Gabon international Mario Lemina played for 77 minutes.

The victory moved the Craven Cottage outfit off the bottom three after gathering seven points from 10 games.

Leicester, meanwhile, dropped to the fourth spot on the Premier League table after failing to add to their 18 points.

The African stars will be expected to continue to make significant contributions to their respective clubs in their subsequent games.

Thomas Partey's bid to return to full fitness is taking time, with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta saying the midfielder is likely to miss “the next few games” with a "significant injury."

The Ghana midfielder has not featured for the Gunners since picking up an injury during the 3-0 loss to Aston Villa in the Premier League on November 8.

Arsenal issued a fitness bulletin at the end of last week, saying Partey was “progressing with his rehabilitation,” but it appears progress is slow as he is not close to a first-team return.

"He had an injury very early in the game [against Aston Villa], he wanted to continue the second half,” Arteta said.

"We knew it was a significant injury. He's done very well and he's working very hard, he wants to be available.

"Hopefully we can get him back soon but it's an area we need to be careful and we need to be protective with the player.

“I don't think he will be with us in the next few games.”

The news will come as a blow to Arsenal, whose form has been poor since Partey went off injured against Villa, but Arteta will not use the player’s absence as an excuse.

“We have many different issues but I don't like to use that excuse,” he said . “At the end of the day, we are always really close to winning football matches and we have ended up losing them in the last few games and this is only in our hands with the players that we have. It's what we have to do, we cannot change that. It is in our hands.”

Following the loss to Villa, they drew 0-0 with Leeds, looking toothless in the process, and were beaten at home by Wolves on Sunday.

As a controlling presence in midfield, Partey is not responsible for Arsenal’s struggles in front of goal. But his dynamic style allows others to express themselves knowing they have cover, and he will be sorely missed in the upcoming north London derby.

Tottenham sit atop the Premier League, while Arsenal are down in 14th - and facing a tough slog over the next month.

The Gunners face Rapid Vienna and Tottenham this week, followed by matches against Dundalk, Burnley, Southampton, Everton and Manchester City before Christmas.

Paula Dapena has no regrets over failing to stand to honour Diego Maradona, but admitted she and her Viajes InterRias FF team-mates have been subjected to threats of violence.

Argentina great Maradona died of a heart attack last week, and football matches around the world have paid tribute with minute’s silence and minute’s applause.

There was a minute’s silence ahead of the game between Viajes and Deportivo La Coruna, for which Dapena sat down and turned away from the tribute.

Dapena claims she took her stance on account of Maradona being accused of domestic abuse, following the emergence of a video in 2014 which appeared to how him striking his then girlfriend Rocio Oliva.

Maradona died on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and Dapena said: "For the victims, there was not a minute of silence, so obviously I am not willing to keep a minute of silence for an abuser.”

Dapena’s actions drew plenty of attention, and not all of it was positive.

“Not only have I received harassment through social networks, but also my team-mates,” Dapena said in an interview with As. “Not only have we suffered harassment, there have been death threats and threats such as 'I'm going to find your address and I'm going to go to your house and break your legs.'”

Expanding on her views on Maradona, Dapena added: “Maradona, in football terms, it seems to me that he had spectacular skills and qualities. But, as a person, he left a lot to be desired. 

“So, keeping a minute of silence and paying homage to him goes against myself. I could not do it.

“To be a good athlete you have to have values ​​and be a good person. A footballer is a person before a footballer, much more so if he is an idol of many people as he is. 

“You cannot unlink one thing from the other. There are things that can be unlinked, but others cannot.”

Dapena is hopeful the threats of violence and death are not serious, but is considering taking action to have the abusers’ accounts shut down.

“Maybe I will expose those people on social networks to have their accounts deleted,” she said. “If you can, I will report it, but I doubt that will come to anything. I'll give it a spin to see what can be done.”

Stephanie Frappart has been appointed as the referee for Juventus' clash with Dynamo Kiev, making the French official the first woman to oversee a Champions League match.

Frappart refereed the 2019 Women's World Cup final between the United States and the Netherlands, before going on to take charge of Liverpool's meeting with Chelsea in the UEFA Super Cup.

Speaking ahead of the Super Cup, Frappart was asked about the difference between taking charge of men’s and women’s matches.

"I think there is not a lot of difference because football is the same,” she said. "For me it is the same because refereeing is the same. Football is the same, there are the same rules so I will referee the same as in women leagues.”

In taking charge of the Super Cup match, It made her the first woman to officiate a game in a major UEFA men's competition, and now the 36-year-old – a regular Ligue 1 referee – is set to make history once again.

Juve face Kiev in Turin on Wednesday, with progress to the last 16 already secured for Andrea Pirlo's side.

The Turin giants are second in Group G with nine points from four games, eight clear of Dynamo Kiev and three behind Barcelona, who face Ferencvaros - also on Wednesday.

Frappart refereed her first Europa League fixture in October, when Leicester City took on Zorya Luhansk at the King Power Stadium, and last week ran the rule over Granada against Omonoia Nicosia.

Following the Super Cup clash in Istanbul last year, which Liverpool won 5-4 on penalties following a 2-2 draw after extra time, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp hailed the performance of Frappart and her all-female team of officials.

"I spoke to the refereeing team after the game [and said] that if we would have played like they whistled, then we would have won 6-0," Klopp told reporters.

"They played a brilliant game. They were good, they were really good. There was pressure on them like hell. It was an historic moment and they stayed themselves, stayed calm and did what they had to do in a very difficult and intense game.

"I couldn't have more respect, it was a really brilliant performance."