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Harambee Stars goalkeeper Arnold Origi has revealed he is happy to open a new chapter with the national team after he was handed a call for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Comoros.

Origi, who is the cousin of Liverpool striker Divock, last played for Kenya in a 1-0 defeat at home to Guinea-Bissau on March 27, 2016, and five years later he was recalled by coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee ahead of the double-header against the island nation.

Origi has now told Goal he is happy to return to the national team fold and further promised to open a new chapter and leave a mark by achieving big things with the team.

“It feels great to be back in the national team,” Origi told Goal on Tuesday. “I knew one day I will return, the chapter was not closed and it is my time now to write a new chapter, a new history with the national team.

“I am here for something big, I want to achieve big things with this team and I know there is always pressure which comes with it but I am ready to achieve my targets.”

Origi is likely to start for Kenya against Comoros and talking of the match he said: “It will be a difficult game, [Comoros] are a good team, they have many players in Europe and they have actively been playing football despite Covid-19.

“We want to return to Afcon and it is the reason we must work hard to beat them, we need the points, it will be good to win our home matches and strive hard to get something in away matches.”

Origi, who lives in Norway but was turning out for HIFK Fotboll in Finland until recently, was Kenya’s goalkeeper for close to four years after he took over the mantle from Francis Onyiso and made his debut against Ghana in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in 2005.

The last time Kenya played against the island nation in Nairobi was in the 2015 Afcon qualifier on May 8, 2014, when they emerged 1-0 winners with the return leg ending 2-2 after goals from Victor Wanyama and Clifford Miheso.

Kenya are currently second in Group G after managing two draws from their first two matches, 1-1 against Egypt and the same scoreline against Togo.

Jude Bellingham has been drafted into the senior England squad for the first time, with the Borussia Dortmund midfielder emulating Wayne Rooney and Theo Walcott in earning a call-up at 17 years of age.

The talented teenager has been promoted into Gareth Southgate’s ranks after initially being called upon at U21 level.

He has already taken in four appearances for the Young Lions, registering one goal in the process, but could now be in line for a full debut for his country.

Bellingham has enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence over the last 15 months, with a competitive debut for Birmingham City only made in August 2019.

He was just 16 at the time and did enough across his debut campaign as a first-team star to earn a big-money move to Bundesliga giants Dortmund.

Impressive progress in Germany has now been rewarded with England recognition, with Bellingham in contention for minutes during a friendly date with the Republic of Ireland and UEFA Nations League clashes with Belgium and Iceland.

A statement from the Football Association read, with updates offered on those who have picked up untimely knocks: “Jude Bellingham has been added to the England men’s senior squad following the withdrawal of James Ward-Prowse and Trent Alexander-Arnold through injury.

“The Borussia Dortmund midfielder was originally included in the MU21 squad but will now link up with the seniors for the first time.

“Marcus Rashford is scheduled to report for duty on Thursday to allow for further assessment on an injury sustained playing for Manchester United last Saturday.

“The majority of the squad arrived at St George’s Park on Monday with Ben Chilwell, Eric Dier, Harry Kane, Kyle Walker, Joe Gomez, Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling due to report on Tuesday.

“Elsewhere, Aidy Boothroyd has now added Everton duo Ben Godfrey and Tom Davies to his MU21 squad but will be without Norwich City defender Max Aarons.”

If Bellingham were to figure for England at some stage over the course of the latest international break, he would become the third-youngest player to represent the Three Lions.

Former Arsenal and Everton winger Walcott, who is now back at Southampton, tops that chart having made his bow against Hungary in 2006 aged just 17 years and 74 days.

Manchester United legend Rooney is second on the list, with England’s all-time leading goalscorer earning his first cap against Australia in February 2003.

James Prinsep and Tot Rostron, stars of the 19th century, also made their respective bows at the age of the 17, with Manchester City forward Sterling the only other player to slip into that category having started out young in a meeting with Sweden in 2012.

South Africa coach Molefi Ntseki says he appreciates the huge responsibility he has to satisfy the hard-to-please national team fans as he faces another test against Sao Tome e Principe in back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Bafana Bafana first host the Atlantic Ocean islanders on November 13 at Moses Mabhida Stadium, before switching battleground to Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium where they would be considered as the away side three days later.

After concerns about his pedigree to handle the national team, especially following last month's 1-1 draw against Namibia and the 2-1 defeat by Zambia in international friendlies, Ntseki knows that he could be living on borrowed time.

The results added to his record of last year’s 2-1 friendly match victory over Mali, the 2-0 Afcon qualifier loss to Ghana and a 1-0 win over Sudan which left Bafana placed second in Group C.

“It is a responsibility that we are fully aware of that South Africans are very impatient when it comes to Bafana Bafana because it is the pride of the nation,” said Ntseki as per Sowetan Live.

“It is what unites the nation. When we win games‚ the whole nation will celebrate‚ when we lose games‚ the whole nation will be up in arms to say they are not happy with Bafana‚ they are not happy with the coach‚ they are not happy with so and so... it is a team.”

Bafana are three points behind Group C leaders Ghana and tied on three points with third-placed Sudan whom they have an edge over in their head-to-head record.

Despite his team’s inconsistency, Ntseki is unmoved and believes that they are on the right track as he expresses confidence in his team, the majority of who's team members have rose through the ranks of youth national teams to the senior side.

“So now we need to do well for Bafana Bafana because I think that everything has been working very well for us,” Ntseki said.

“We have three generations of players in the Bafana team. We have the team of [captain] Thulani Hlatshwayo that played in the Afcon 2015‚ we have the team of [Motjeka] Madisha that played in the Olympics in 2016‚ and we have the team of Teboho Mokoena that is going to the Olympic Games in Tokyo [next year].

"So this is the generation that will very important to take us to the next level.”

Collecting six points from Sao Tome would set Ntseki’s side in good standing to finish top of their group.

Liverpool will find it hard to replace Georginio Wijnaldum and should look to keep the Barcelona target, according to former Reds full-back Glen Johnson.

Wijnaldum is out of contract at the end of the season and an extension for the Netherlands international has yet to be agreed.

Barcelona were keen to sign the 29-year-old during the summer transfer window and Ronald Koeman could make a renewed attempt to bring his compatriot to Camp Nou in January.

However, Johnson believes that Liverpool need to retain Wijnaldum’s services due to the qualities he adds to Jurgen Klopp’s squad.

“I think they need to keep him,” Johnson told compare.bet. “I think he’s a fantastic footballer, he’s one of those all-round midfielders, great on the ball, not an out-and-out goalscorer, and not an out-and-out defender, so he’s one of those utility men in midfield who can play in any one of the three positions.

“And I think he’s a fantastic squad player and, obviously, the experience he’s gained in the last few years is hard to replace.”

One player yet to make a sustained impact in Klopp’s team is Naby Keita, who moved to Anfield from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2018.

Johnson added: “He’s probably not hit the ground running as people would have liked and obviously it’s a hard team to break into. Everyone thought he’d do better early on, but I still think he’s a fantastic player.

“I guess for him, when he next gets his opportunity, he needs to take it. No player really likes being a squad player, everyone likes to play.”

Another player yet to make an impact for the Premier League champions is Thiago Alcantara, who has been hampered by injury since his arrival from Bayern Munich.

However, Johnson is confident that the Spain midfielder will be able to increase the goal productivity within the Liverpool ranks once he is back on the pitch.

“Last season their three front men were carrying the side in terms of goals, but you can’t rely on that consistently all throughout the year,” said Johnson.

“For a player like Thiago, or even someone in the past like Coutinho, a player who can score and create from midfield gives another threat for the other team to neutralise.

“I certainly think they need to get more goals from midfield, and whether Thiago actually scores them or not, I certainly think he’ll play a role in a lot of goals.”

Harambee Stars coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee has maintained he is not troubled by the absence of lead striker Michael Olunga as they face Comoros in an Africa Cup of Nations match on Wednesday.

The Japan-based striker is among the professional players who were summoned for the double-header against the island nation but will not be able to come because of the Covid-19 situation in his country.

Olunga, who is currently topping the goal scorers chart in J1-League for Kashiwa Resyol, has been ordered to go for self-isolation after three players and their coach tested positive for Covid-19.

Mulee, who will be handling the Kenya national team for the first time since his appointment to replace Francis Kimanzi, has now told Goal he knew Olunga’s absence for the past two weeks hence the reason he is not worried about his absence.

“We knew almost two weeks ago that Olunga will not come for the qualifier against Comoros, it was very obvious because of the Covid-19 situation in the country [where he plays football] and what happened to his club three days ago,” Mulee told Goal on Tuesday.

“As Kenyans, we have a way of doing things and I think we have other strikers [in the squad] who can take the mantle and do the job well, we cannot cry over spilled milk, we have to work with the players we have and I know they will step in a do the job.”

On captain Victor Wanyama arriving in camp a day to the crucial match, Mulee said: “It is worrying because he will only train with the team for only one session, but we are happy because he understands the situation of playing on such a big stage and I know he will step up if given the chance.”

Mulee has further revealed the reason he will use more foreign-based players in his squad to face Comoros.

“I will use more professionals because they have been involved in matches unlike our local players who have missed matches since last six months since the league was ended prematurely owing to the Covid-19,” Mulee continued.

On what he wants to achieve from the fixture, Mulee said: “It is a very good fixture at home, we plan to win all our remaining home matches, and it is a very important game for Kenya.

“We want to get something positive from the game. We want to fight all 90 minutes and don't give up. We don't have any injuries apart from Olunga, all the players are in camp are fit and ready to do the job.”

The last time Kenya played against the island nation in Nairobi was in the 2015 Afcon qualifier on May 8, 2014, when they emerged 1-0 winners with the return leg ending 2-2 after goals from Victor Wanyama and Clifford Miheso.

Kenya are currently second in Group G after managing two draws from their first two matches, 1-1 against Egypt and the same scoreline against Togo.

The 2020 IFA Shield will take place this year before the start of the I-League season.

The competition is set to kick off in early December with 12 teams, comprising of four I-League teams and eight CFL (Calcutta Football League) Premier Division teams. 

"We wanted to organise the tournament with eight teams. But the response has been overwhelming from all quarters. So we are now looking to host it with 12 teams. Really grateful to all CFL teams who have come forward and have agreed to play this tournament. This shows that football in West Bengal is on the right track. Today (Tuesday) is the last day to send in entries, but I don't think we can accommodate more than 12 sides," stated IFA Secretary Joydeep Mukherjee to Goal.

Meanwhile, after a three-year hiatus, the tournament will once again be a senior-category competition. In the last three editions, only developmental teams were allowed to participate. 

2020 IFA Shield starting date 

The IFA Shield will kick-off in the first week of December, though an official date has not been announced by the governing body of football in West Bengal. 

IFA Shield Participating teams

Reigning CFL champions Peerless SC and Mohammedan Sporting have already confirmed their participation but the two other Kolkata giants in East Bengal and Mohun Bagan are unlikely to take part. The four I-League teams that will participate are Sudeva FC, Gokulam Kerala FC, Indian Arrows and Mohammedan Sporting. 

IFA Shield Venues

The tournament is expected to be played across four venues in a league cum knockout format but a final decision will be taken after IFA's sub-committee meeting. 

Foreign teams in IFA Shield 2020?

The participation of glamorous overseas sides had been one of the main attractions of the IFA Shield. Uruguayan powerhouse Penarol FC, European heavyweights Shakhtar Donetsk and even Bayern Munich Reserves had graced the tournament in the past. But this time no foreign teams have been invited to participate because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Bio-bubble for IFA Shield?

Although there will be no bio-bubble for the tournament, the organisers will conduct Covid tests of all concerned.

IFA Shield 2020 broadcast and LIVE stream

All matches will be broadcasted live on Kolkata TV. 

IFA Shield: Previous winners

Mohun Bagan was the first Indian team to win IFA Shield in 1911 when they defeated East Yorkshire regiment 2-1. But their rivals East Bengal are the most successful team in the history of the century-old tournament as they won it 27 times while the maroon and greens have clinched it on 21 occasions. 

Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo has confirmed the club have started negotiations to extend the contracts of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

The star attacking duo, who are currently sidelined due to injury, have regularly been linked with moves away, but plans are afoot to reward them with new deals.

Neymar and Mbappe, who joined PSG from Barcelona and Monaco respectively in 2017, are currently under contract until the summer of 2022.

Brazil international Neymar has regularly been linked with a return to Barcelona, while France forward Mbappe is routinely touted as a target for Real Madrid.

However, Leonardo has outlined plans to retain their services, along with those of Angel Di Maria, who is out of contract at the end of the season.

The likes of Juan Bernat and Julian Draxler could also be in line for contract extensions as PSG look to retain key members of their squad amid the ongoing financial impact of the coronavirus on football clubs.

“We’ve started negotiations with Neymar, Mbappe and Di Maria to extend their contracts,” Leonardo told a Q&A session on PSG’s official website. “Bernat, too, and Draxler is at the end of his contract. Some young people too. We will intensify this.

“Remember that PSG suffered financial losses this year, we’re in a complicated moment and it’s not easy, but we’re talking directly with Mbappe and Neymar.

“There is a question of timing. The idea of an extension exists. We have arrived at the moment when we must have clearer situations.”

Regarding the Mbappe links to Madrid, Leonardo is not concerned by the noise in Spain.

"There is a lot of talk," he said. "And in the Spanish teams, there are a lot of politics. We speak directly with Kylian, that's the truth of the negotiation.

"The truth is that PSG are in a complicated moment, but it will be the team of the next five years that will have a shot.

"There are teams that have gone through a very long, successful cycle and are starting to struggle. We have young but very experienced players.

"We have Neymar, Mbappe, who are in the top three [in the world] because [Cristiano] Ronaldo and [Lionel] Messi will come out with age. That's the idea. I see this future and that's what we're working on.

"We know this season is weird. We knew it would be difficult, that we will play all our games behind closed doors and that we would not have the same income."

Recent weeks have seen Moise Kean come to the fore, with the on-loan Everton forward scoring both goals in a Champions League victory away to Istanbul Basaksehir and the opener in the weekend win over Rennes.

However, Leonardo confirmed that PSG do not have an option to sign Kean on a permanent basis when his loan deal finishes at the end of the season.

Leonardo added: “We don’t have an option to buy Moise Kean, unfortunately.

“He’s here on loan from Everton. Kean is a great striker for the future, but loan deals in the UK are a bit different, an option to buy is not included in our deal with Everton.”

Robert Lewandowski and Pernille Harder have been crowned winners of the Goal 50 for 2020.

Bayern Munich striker Lewandowski beat off competition from Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and four-time winner Lionel Messi to claim the men's prize for the first time, after a memorable 2019-20 campaign.

The Poland international scored an incredible 55 goals in 47 games across all competitions as Hansi Flick's side won a treble consisting of the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Champions League.

He becomes the sixth different winner of the men's award, which has been running since 2008, following in the footsteps of Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wesley Sneijder, Luka Modric and last year's victor, Virgil van Dijk.

"It feels very good - if you win an individual title, that's another nice extra," Lewandowski told Goal, in an exclusive video interview to be published on Wednesday November 11.

"Football is a team sport, but these additional awards mean a lot to me too. It shows that the hard work you put in every day will one day pay off.

"As long as you play football, you have to stay hungry. After your career you can think about what you have won. Getting to the top is difficult, but staying at the top is even more difficult."

Lewandowski is one of seven players from last season's Bayern squad to rank among the top 25 men, with the likes of Thomas Muller, Joshua Kimmich, Serge Gnabry and Alphonso Davies all included alongside Thiago Alcantara, who left the club to join Liverpool over the summer.

It is De Bruyne, though, who finishes as runner-up after a superb season at City which saw him equal Thierry Henry's record for the most assists in a Premier League season, with 20.

Messi makes the podium, meanwhile, after he became the first player in La Liga history to record over 20 goals and 20 assists in a single campaign – despite a season of off-field turmoil at Barcelona that almost led to the Argentine's departure.

The rest of the top five is made up of Neymar, who helped lead Paris Saint-Germain to the Champions League final as well a domestic treble, and Ronaldo, with the Juventus forward having enjoyed another stellar season in front of goal.

Neymar's club-mate Kylian Mbappe places sixth, while defending champion Van Dijk finishes seventh after he played a key role in Liverpool winning their first English league title in 30 years.

The Dutch defender is one of five members of Jurgen Klopp's squad from last season to make the list, with Sadio Mane, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Jordan Henderson also recognised for their efforts.

Other clubs to boast more than one representative include Spanish champions Real Madrid (Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos), Serie A winners Juventus (Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala) and Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund (Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho).

On the women's side, Harder's outstanding performances for Wolfsburg over the course of the 2019-20 season see her become the second female winner following Megan Rapinoe's success last year.

Denmark international Harder, now of Chelsea, scored 38 goals in all competitions last season as Wolfsburg completed a domestic double and reached the final of the Women's Champions League.

"It is always nice to get these individual awards," she told Goal, in an exclusive video interview to be published on Thursday November 12. "It tells me that what I am doing is the right thing and I am going in the right way.

"Of course, to win these awards is all about the team and team-mates. I had some amazing team-mates in Wolfsburg and I had an amazing time there."

Harder withstood strong competition from Arsenal striker Vivianne Miedema to claim the prize, with the Dutch striker finishing as runner-up after ending the season as top scorer in both the Women's Super League and Champions League, as well as being the top assist provider in the former.

England full-back Lucy Bronze finishes third, meanwhile, after helping Lyon to claim four trophies – including the Champions League – before departing for Manchester City during the summer.

Bronze is one of eight players from last season's all-conquering Lyon squad to make the list, with Dzsenifer Marozsan, Wendie Renard, Saki Kumagai and Amandine Henry all finishing inside the top 10.

WSL champions Chelsea, meanwhile, have four players from their title-winning squad of last season on the list, with Sam Kerr, Guro Reiten, Beth England and Ji So-yun all joining new team-mate Harder among the top 25.

After coronavirus wreaked havoc on the U.S. sporting calendar, and in particular the National Women's Soccer League, there are just three members of last year's World Cup-winning USWNT squad on the list, led by Crystal Dunn in 10th.

She is joined by Julie Ertz and Abby Dahlkemper, but there is no place for defending champion Rapinoe or star forward Alex Morgan, who missed much of the year as she celebrated the birth of her first child.

You can see the full list of players who featured in Goal 50 here!

The Goal 50 is an annual award that brings together the world's 50 best male and female players.

The players are divided into two 25-strong groups and ranked on their achievements over the previous year.

Chief editors and correspondents from Goal's 44 editions around the world cast their votes based on each candidate's consistency, big-game performances, footballing legacy and success at club and international level.

Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho, Maduka Okoye, Oghenekaro Etebo and Paul Onuachu are the early arrivals for Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying game against Sierra Leone.

The three-time African champions will square off against the Leone Stars in a double-header with the first outing expected to take place on Friday at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr is expecting 24 players in camp for the games and the team captain Musa, along with four other players, have already arrived for the match.

The former Leicester City forward explained he was supposed to be in camp along with his other teammates on Sunday but couldn’t get a flight early enough.

"We are supposed to be in camp today but we didn't get a flight, the flight is fully booked, and then we have a schedule for a flight tomorrow so everybody is expected to be in Benin tomorrow," Musa told the media. 

Rohr is expected to have a full house on Wednesday, as more players are expected to arrive on Tuesday for the encounter.

The Super Eagles will be without Nantes winger Moses Simon and Midtylland’s Frank Onyeka due to injuries and they have been replaced by Paul Onuachu and Shehu Abdullahi.

The game at Ogbemudia Stadium will be played behind closed doors in adherence to directives from the Confederation of African Football (Caf).

Nigeria are leading Group L with six points from two games after victories over the Republic of Benin and Lesotho.

The return fixture will be played in Freetown on November 17 and victories in the games for the Super Eagles could see them book a place in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Nigeria finished third at the last edition of the continental tournament in Egypt, with Algeria and Senegal beating them to the gold and silver medals.

Simba SC communications officer Haji Manara is optimistic his charges will impress in the Caf Champions League.

The Wekundu wa Msimbazi struggled to perform in the competition in the 2019/20 season and stumbled in the preliminary round which contributed to the exit of coach Patrick Aussems, with Sven Vandenbroeck taking his position.

The official has further requested the fans to support the team and help them realize their objectives.

"Our main focus is on the international assignments, especially the Caf Champions League where we want to do well," Manara told the media.

"I believe the players we have and the technical bench we have has what it takes to help us perform well in the Champions League. Their dedication and zeal will help us achieve our objectives.

"All we want is support from the fans because as a team, we cannot achieve this by ourselves. We have to act together, work together in harmony and our supporters can help us achieve our goals in the international assignments."

Tanzania’s Simba have landed Nigerian opponents Plateau United and will host them before travelling west for the second tie.  

This will be the third time in a row the Tanzania Mainland League giants will be representing the country in Africa's club elite competition.

Kenyan Premier League side Gor Mahia will have to fight and win against Rwandan champions APR if they are to progress to the next stage, first at home, before going to Kigali for the second round.  

Just like APR, Gor Mahia have been conducting training sessions for the past month in readiness for the competition even though they have not been in competitive action since March when the leagues were cancelled by their respective federations.  

The winner between Gor Mahia and APR will face either Algeria’s CR Belouizdad or Al Nasr of Libya in the second round.

Uganda's Vipers will be welcomed back in the continental competition by Sudan’s El Hilal and the winner between them will face either Nouadhibou of Mauritania or Ghana’s Asante Kotoko in the next round.

The Venoms will welcome the Sudanese side at St Mary’s Stadium before the return leg away.  

Quique Setien should not have dragged Lionel Messi’s name into his list of excuses for failing at Barcelona, says Bojan Krkic, with an ousted coach considered to have shot himself in the foot.

A man relieved of his duties at Camp Nou on the back of a disappointing end to the 2019-20 campaign – which culminated in a humiliating 8-2 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich – has broken his silence on a forgettable spell in Catalunya.

Setien has accused Barca talisman Messi of being “difficult to manage”, with the six-time Ballon d’Or winner considered to hold too much power at the Liga outfit.

Bojan, though, believes that the 62-year-old is merely looking to cover up his own deficiencies, with anyone taking the reins at one of the biggest clubs in world football fully aware of the pressure and challenges they will face.

The former Blaugrana star, who graduated out of the famed La Masia academy system alongside Messi, told Sport: “Being part of Barca comes with a lot of hard work but it's also a privilege.

"Quique Setien landed the top job and, despite everything, is now part of the club's history. No one can take that away from him, regardless of the fact Barca could clearly have done better with him in charge. 

“Not everything that went wrong would have been to do with him but when things don't go as you hoped, what you shouldn't do is look for excuses elsewhere - especially in a public forum.

“For that reason, Setien's recent comments seemed unfortunate to me. To resort to excuses and to focus on the best player, I think is to shoot yourself in your foot if you want to coach a club of a certain size again in the future, where there are always strong characters in the dressing room. 

“Because what was Setien's real problem? That Lionel Messi is difficult or that he and his staff were not capable of managing the level of demand that comes with these types of players? I think that's the key question.

“Setien was wrong to look for excuses outside and not look at himself, but what really concerns me is that this is a problem that's found too frequently at Barca. 

“That's why I like Ronald Koeman's attitude so much. Beyond what's happening, he's showing that he's a coach with charisma and character. He's making decisions with the club in mind (which may later prove incorrect) but at least he's making it obvious that he's not looking for excuses despite the difficulty of the situation.

“He could use many things as justification for results, but what he's done is make big choices without shaking. You feel something's being built and that is something right now. 

“No one is looking for guilt at the moment and that invites me to think that a positive evolution is afoot. That motivates me. Time will tell.”

Barcelona have been inconsistent at times through the early months of their 2020-21 campaign, but entered the November international break on the back of a 5-2 win over Real Betis that has them up to eighth in La Liga with games in hand and with positive progress made in the Champions League.

Cristiano Ronaldo moving to Paris Saint-Germain has not been ruled out by the Ligue 1 club’s sporting director, with Leonardo admitting that anything is possible in an unpredictable market.

Rumours have started to surface regarding the long-term future of the Portugal international at Juventus, with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner tied to a contract in Turin through to the summer of 2022.

There have, however, been suggestions that the Bianconeri could open themselves up to offers next summer, allowing them to get the best possible price for a player who will turn 36 in February.

Few clubs could afford to finance a deal for Ronaldo, even at this late stage of his career, but PSG do slip into an elite bracket.

Leonardo admits as much, with the Brazilian refusing to close the door on a potential switch to France for a modern-day icon.

Quizzed on PSGTV as to whether a move for Ronaldo could be made, Leonardo said: “Today in football we do not know what will happen. Maybe tomorrow Cristiano Ronaldo wakes up and says I want to go play elsewhere.

“Who can buy him? It's a closed circle. PSG enters this circle. Usually it is about opportunities, situations.

“The transfer window, we have to prepare for it and that's what we do. We have our priorities, our lists, but something unforeseen can happen.”

Before thoughts turn to the summer of 2021, there is a winter transfer window to take in, which will open in January, giving PSG an opportunity to further bolster their ranks.

Leonardo admits that options will be assessed before the turn of the year, but he is not expecting much movement in what remain testing times for even the richest of clubs as the financial implications of a global coronavirus pandemic continue to hit hard.

“We have not thought about playing the entire season behind closed doors,” Leonardo added.

“We can't talk about the amount of money, but it's easy to calculate. Last year we lost between 15 and 20 per cent and this year it will be more.

“But honestly, at PSG, there is the capacity and the means to overcome the crisis. The other clubs will perhaps have more difficulty to overcome the crisis. But the ambition here is always enormous.”

PSG, who suffered defeat in the 2019-20 Champions League final, are determined to compete on multiple fronts once again this season and are working on putting new contracts in place with star forwards Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

Kaizer Chiefs have confirmed that forward Samir Nurkovic is edging closer to returning from injury and will start training in two weeks’ time.

After finishing last season as Chiefs’ top goal-scorer with 13 league goals, Nurkovic was injured during pre-season and his absence has been heavily felt this season.

His progress in rehabilitation comes as good news for coach Gavin Hunt who has been helplessly watching his strikers struggle to score goals this season.

“Samir Nurkovic is reported progressing well and the medical team are anticipating his return to the training fields in two weeks’ time. The striker is recovering from a surgery that has seen him miss the start of this season,” said Chiefs in a statement.

The return of Nurkovic is expected to ease Chiefs’ goal-scoring woes which is the major talking point of their performances so far this season.

No Amakhosi striker has scored a single goal this term across all competitions and the three strikes the club has managed in six games have come from a brace by defender Yagan Sasman, as well as an own goal by Chippa United’s Gregory Damons.

Not only have Chiefs faced challenges in their strike force, but the club has also had a shaky defence that has conceded nine goals in six matches.

With right-back Reeve Frosler now injured again, Hunt will be worrying about his backline again as he started the season without centre-back Eric Mathoho and Kgotso Moleko, who have since recovered.

On his return from a two-match injury lay-off, Frosler lasted just 29 minutes during last weekend’s 2-0 MTN8 defeat to Orlando Pirates and will be out for eight weeks.

“Reeve Frosler was seen hobbling off the field and substituted in the 29th minute of the MTN8 Cup semi-final match against arch-rivals Orlando Pirates on Sunday, 8th November,” said the club.

“Frosler was subsequently withdrawn from the Bafana Bafana squad due to play in the Cameroon Afcon qualifiers this weekend. Following the medical examination, the fullback cum midfielder underwent MRI which confirmed he will be sidelined for eight weeks.”

There is, however, some encouraging news for Hunt who welcomes back 17-year-old midfielder Keletso Sifama, who missed the last two matches with an ankle injury.

“The young striker has recovered, and the medical team have given him all clear to resume full training,” the club statement added.

Chiefs visit Golden Arrows in their next match, a league match on 21 November and they arrive in Durban on the backdrop of a three-match winless run.

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has given the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) the green light to allow fans to attend the second leg game between Taifa Stars and the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia.

Most countries have been playing their matches behind closed doors owing to the Covid-19 outbreak, but it has not been the case in the East Africa nation where fans have been allowed in the stadiums since football resumed on June 13, 2020.

However, to avoid sanctions, the TFF had to confirm with Caf whether to allow fans to attend the African Cup of Nations qualifier against the North Africa giants or not.

"The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has allowed the fans to attend the Afcon qualifier game between Tanzania and Tunisia to be played on November 17 at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam," TFF said in a statement obtained by Goal.

"Caf has however ordered that the number of the fans should be 50% of the full capacity. 

"TFF will now engage the government to ensure the measures and guidelines by Caf are adhered to."

Among the foreign-based players leading the Tanzania team are captain Mbwana Samatta – who made a move to Fenerbahçe after a half-a-season stay with Aston Villa - Simon Msuva who turns out for Difaa El Jadida of Morocco, and Thomas Ulimwengu of TP Mazembe in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Metacha Mnata, who has been superb for Yanga SC in the nine matches played in the Mainland Premier League, is leading the goalkeeping department alongside Aishi Manula, who has had a rather challenging time with Simba SC, while David Mapigano is also in the squad after he made a move to join Azam FC from Gor Mahia.

Yanga defender Bakari Mwamnyeto was also summoned after he has superbly settled at Timu ya Wananchi since he moved from Coastal Union in August. Farid Musa is another new Yanga player who has earned the faith of the coach for the third Afcon qualifier.

Goalkeepers: Juma Kaseja (Kinondoni Municipal Council FC), Metacha Mnata (Young Africans SC), Aishi Manula (Simba SC), David Mapigano (Azam FC).

Defenders: Shomari Kapombe (Simba SC), Deus Kaseke (Young Africans SC), Mohamed Hussein (Simba SC), Brayson David (Kinondoni Municipal Council FC), Bakari Mwamnyeto (Young Africans SC), Abdallah Kheri (Azam FC), Himid Mao (ENPPI SC), Erasto Nyoni (Simba SC).

Midfielders: Ditram Nchimbi (Young Africans SC), Ally Msengi (Stellenbosch FC), Feisal Salum (Young Africans SC), Farid Mussa (Young Africans SC), Mzamiru Yassin (Simba SC), Iddy Suleiman (Azam FC), Thomas Ulimwengu ( TP Mazembe), Saidi Hamisi (Simba SC).

Strikers: Mbwana Samatta (Fenerbahçe), Simon Msuva (Difaa El Jadida), John Bocco (Simba SC), Adam Adam (JKT Tanzania), Salum Abubakar (Azam FC).

Four-time Champions League winner Clarence Seedorf believes that some people may be underestimating Robert Lewandowski after the Bayern Munich striker was named as the winner of this year's Goal 50.

Lewandowski was named as the best men's player in the world after helping Bayern Munich win the treble in 2019-20, but Seedorf feels that many critics see the 32-year-old as simply a goalscorer.

The Poland international finished ahead of Kevin De Bruyne and Lionel Messi to be named the world's best, but despite competition from other players, Seedorf says Lewandowski was clearly the world's best in the past year.

"There has always been competition. But we have to acknowledge that he has been performing at a high level, not only scoring goals, but his game is complete," Seedorf told Goal . 

"He knows how to hold the ball, how to give assists, he obviously knows how to score goals.

"He's a hard worker and a team player and the way that he knows how to move in the spaces.

"He's very complete. Sometimes, even his dribbling is efficient. He may be a bit underestimated in some of these aspects of the game.

"Anyone who knows the game can see these things in him. I consider him absolutely the top."

Lewandowski finished as top scorer in all three club competitions he entered in 2019-20, helping Bayern Munich win the Champions League, Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal.

Seedorf won the European Cup with three different clubs (Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan), and thinks that the continental triumph cemented Lewandowski's position as the world's best over the past year.

"When you win in the way Bayern has won the Champions League, it's very difficult to go with anyone else," Seedorf continued. 

"From day one to the last match, he has been a key player. He had an amazing season. He's been on fire for the last three years non-stop, maybe longer. "

Seedorf was impressed with the method in which Bayern - who had more male players on the Goal 50 list than any other team - sealed their sixth European title, especially given how they dominated opponents by pressing on demand and getting plenty of bodies into the area to cause headaches for opposition defenders.

"Bayern was pretty unstoppable. I thought Man City had a chance, but then they went out to Lyon," Seedorf admitted. 

"They made a very courageous choice in Germany to start the league earlier so the fitness of Bayern was different.

"The thing that Bayern had is that they showed that they could dominate in the moments they wanted. When they wanted to press, they would start pressing.

"The combination of the younger players and the older more experienced ones is fantastic. [Manuel] Neuer is a huge extra when you start from the back.

"The capacity to get players in the box and around the box when there is a cross coming in keeps pressure on the opponent, and that's where Barcelona found it difficult.

"When you have so many players running into the box with their physique and their timing, it was amazing to see.

"The goal of [Kingsley] Coman [in the final against PSG] is an example of this. There were players coming into the box but already there were players in the box.

"There is a lot of dynamic movement. They were also a bit lucky, but with your goalkeeper it's not luck cause he's been doing this for years.

"But you need a bit of luck and they deserved a bit of luck because they dominated the Champions League in a way we have not seen in a long time."

Harry Kane is “the best striker in world football bar none”, says Andros Townsend, with the Tottenham frontman considered to be posting numbers in the Premier League that Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema would struggle to emulate.

Many have placed a star turn on Spurs’ books among the global elite for several years now.

Kane has been a model of consistency in north London, with his remarkable return allowing his current club to remain competitive across multiple fronts.

He has recently passed the 200-goal mark for the club and 150 in the English top flight, while also being captain of his country.

Townsend believes no other forward gets close to the 27-year-old, with leading marksmen on the books at Bayern Munich and Real Madrid told they would be unable to match Kane’s efforts in one of the most demanding divisions around.

The former Spurs winger, who graduated through the same academy system as Kane, told talkSPORT: “For me, he’s the best striker in world football bar none. I think he is very underappreciated.

“People love to speak about the Lewandowskis and Benzemas, but if those guys came to the Premier League they would not hit the numbers that Harry Kane has been hitting on a consistent basis.

“I saw the other day that on average he is scoring 26 goals a season, which is incredible.”

With time still on his side, it has been suggested that Kane could one day chase down Newcastle icon Alan Shearer at the top of the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer chart.

He is well short of that mark at present, with the bar set at 260 efforts, but Townsend believes an ambitious performer will have a slice of history in his sights.

The current Crystal Palace midfielder added: “Knowing Harry Kane, he thinks about that target every single day.

“Every time he goes into training, he is thinking about breaking that all-time goal scoring record.

“That’s what Harry Kane is like, he is very determined, very focused, and if he sets his mind to something, eventually he will get it.”

Kane has hit 13 goals through 14 appearances for Tottenham this season, with those efforts helping Jose Mourinho’s side to make positive progress in Premier League, Carabao Cup and Europa League competition.

Diogo Jota admits to having been left feeling “bitter” at Liverpool despite enjoying a positive start to his time with the Reds.

The reigning Premier League champions snapped the Portugal international up from domestic rivals Wolves during the summer transfer window.

He was considered to be an addition that delivered greater depth to the attacking ranks on Merseyside, with Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane very much the main men for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Jota has, however, made an immediate impact in his new surroundings, registering seven goals to force his way into contention for a regular starting berth.

The 23-year-old has every reason to feel pretty good about things, with his performances earning widespread praise, but his efforts are being played out in front of empty stadiums and he is yet to take in the full Anfield experience.

Jota told TVI of life at Liverpool: “When I first signed at Anfield, I was asked what my feeling was and I said, for it to be perfect, I had to play in a full stadium to have that even more special feeling.

“It feels bitter not being able to feel the atmosphere of Anfield.”

Jota’s bright opening with the Reds suggests that he could be a key man for Liverpool over several years, however, he is eager to remain focused on the present and will not be setting any long-term goals.

Jota added: “I try not to think about a long future.

“I came here to do my best, I didn't aim for anything in particular and when that is the case, there are no disappointments or surprises.

“I'm at one of the best teams in the world, if not the best, so I have to take advantage of that. And looking ahead, if I am focused, I know that I will have many opportunities.

“Liverpool have great players and I came here to be one more and help to win titles - especially because I don't have as many as they do!”

Klopp’s side have made a positive start to the defence of their Premier League crown, while also picking up points in the Champions League and preparing to open an FA Cup quest, with there plenty of silverware for Jota to be setting his sights on.

Harambee Stars coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee has been forced to make another change to his squad after recalling striker John Makwatta.

The former AFC Leopards man, who currently features for Zesco United in the Zambian Premier League, has been given the chance to replace Michael Olunga, whom Goal exclusively reported will miss the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Comoros.

“The coach has moved to fill Olunga void by recalling Makwatta to the team,” a source in the team told Goal on Tuesday. “It is unfortunate that Olunga, who is our key striker will not make it for the double-header.”

Olunga could not make it for the match set for Wednesday because his Japanese team Kashiwa Reysol currently had at least three players and their coach test positive for Covid-19.

As such the club has asked the playing unit to self-quarantine for 14 days and thus Olunga has missed the chance to travel to Kenya for the double-header.

On Monday, the FKF issued a statement stating Olunga had requested the technical bench to exempt him from the two matches against Comoros.

“Michael Olunga has requested to be exempted from the team due to the prevailing Covid-19 situation in the country from which he plies his trade,” read the statement from the federation obtained by Goal.

Other strikers in the Kenya squad are John Avire and Masoud Juma.

Comoros are expected in Kenya on Tuesday, November 10, and will thereafter have a feel of Kasarani Stadium at 19:00.

It will be Kenya’s first match under new coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee, who was appointed a month ago to take over the mantle after the FKF parted ways with former coach Francis Kimanzi on mutual agreement.

The last time Kenya played against the island nation in Nairobi was in the 2015 Afcon qualifier on May 8, 2014, when they emerged 1-0 winners with the return leg ending 2-2 after goals from Victor Wanyama and Clifford Miheso.

Kenya are currently second in Group G after managing two draws from their first two matches, 1-1 against Egypt and the same scoreline against Togo.