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Newly-promoted Premier League club Fulham have announced the signing of Mario Lemina on a season-long loan from Southampton.

The Cottagers are the second team Lemina will be joining temporarily from St Mary's and they hold the option to make the deal permanent after he spent the entire 2019-20 campaign on loan in the Turkish Super Lig with Galatasaray.

The 26-yeaar-old joined the Saints on a five-year deal from Juventus in 2017 but appears to be out of Ralph Hasenhuttl's plans at the club.

Since Hasenhuttl took over at the helm in December 2018, Lemina played just seven matches for Southampton across all competitions compared to the 45 appearances he made under his predecessors Mauricio Pellegrino and Mark Hughes.

After completing Lemina move on Sunday, Fulham sporting director Tony Khan is positive about how the Gabon international’s experience will help Scott Parker’s team this season.

“Mario Lemina has top-flight experience throughout Europe, including in the Premier League, and I’m very excited to announce his arrival at Fulham Football Club on loan,” Khan told the club website.

“I chose to pursue Mario this summer because in our recruitment conferences he’s been highly rated by our scouting team and our Head Coach Scott Parker, and our statistical research team.

“I believe he will thrive for our Club under Scott’s coaching and leadership. Come on Fulham!”

Lemina, on his part, is eager to begin the 2020-21 season when Fulham begin their Premier League campaign with a home against Arsenal at Craven Cottage on September 12.

“Now I’m with Fulham, I’m really happy and I’m glad to be part of the project,” the 26-year-old said.

“I spoke with the manager and he’s got some good ideas about the team, about the project, about everything he wants to do this season, and I’m happy to be a part of it.”

Arturo Vidal has declared he and Claudio Bravo will never be friends again following their public falling out while representing Chile. 

The duo's relationship first began to fracture in 2017 when a 3-0 loss against Brazil meant Chile failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. 

Following the match, Bravo's wife Carla Pardo, took to social media and blamed some players for partying too much, with Vidal seemingly one of those she was singling out. 

Since that point, Bravo and Vidal's relationship in the national team has been subject to continued speculation with the duo generally refusing to admit there was any real issue. 

"I hope that the issue with Claudio has already been cut, they have been talking about this for two years," Vidal said in 2019.

"I think that for once in life we ​​should think about the good of the national team and not look for non-football issues.

"Things are going to be discussed, we have 10 days, but always thinking about the national team. Now they called him [Bravo] and we are going to see what happens. That remains within the dressing room. We must work so that Chile becomes one again."

Though the duo have done their best to silence the speculation surrounding their relationship, question marks have remained over just how well the two players get on with Vidal now conceding they'll never be friends again but stressing they can still represent Chile together without any animosity. 

"I know the codes, I respect my colleagues. When the triumphs are, we are all friends, but when it is lost, loyalty is lost. I do not share that," Vidal told Daniel Habif's YouTube channel.

"Friends we will never be again, but team-mates to defend the national team we will be with great strength. He will do the maximum and so will I. In football not everyone is friends, but other things happen on the pitch." 

It's been a turbulent few weeks for both players at club level, with Vidal strongly linked with a Barcelona departure, while Bravo has recently joined Real Betis following his release from Manchester City. 

Former Nigeria international Patience Avre has announced the birth of her first child.

The former Super Falcons striker has become a mother at age 44 following her announcement of the birth of her first baby on Friday. 

Following her safe delivery, Avre has since joined her husband at their home in Chicago, Illinois, in the USA celebrating the birth of a new baby boy, Oritse Laju.

Days after returning home, she took to social media to share a video message of her dancing with her husband with the baby on Sunday.

"Our bundle of joy is here. We are grateful for the gift of him," Avre posted on her Instagram page. 

"God made all things beautiful in his time. In his time, the perfect time he gave OritseLaju to us. Our beloved son, Laju in whom we are well pleased. You're welcome to our world of wonders. You are a priceless awesome gift to us and your generation.

"Oh, how I love your cute loving face. How I love your chuckling, your sweet smiles light up stars in my bowels. I bless you today and always. You will live to fulfil your purpose. You grow tall, strong, and healthy.

"Yes, you will grow in wisdom and in the fear of the Lord. Your life is beautiful. Your days are blessed. Rejoicing in the order of your day(s). You are kept and preserved by the power of God.
We love you, baby."

Avre featured at the Australia 2000 Olympic Games and also starred at three Women's World Cups, first in Sweden 1995, followed by USA 1999 and last outing in China 2003.

The highlight of her career was when she scored the second goal in 3-3 draw with Canada at the Women’s World Cup and was part of the country's historic quarter-final finish at USA 1999.  

The retired striker, who is now working as a nurse in Chicago, earlier reflected on her previous pregnancy experiences while thanking God for the safe delivery of her first child.

"He has made me glad. I am so glad," Avre said.

"I will rejoice for he has made me glad. Some said it can't be. Others mocked when I had miscarriages in the past, that it was faked. In pains and grief, I find solace in God's promise that he will make me a joy-full mother of children.

"In all and through all, God is God. God is true and every man a liar. God is a good God. His goodness flows to all, even to the undeserving.

"I bless the name of God, who made it possible. Who kept me strong, hale, and healthy throughout my pregnancy. To my ever-loving, caring and supportive husband, friend and father, I say thank you. I love you, darling.

"Special thanks to my Pastor, Abraham Adesayo and the entire CFAN, Chicago. Yes the God of Pastor Abraham, who is my God has done it.

"Thank you Pastor for standing with us in prayers. God bless my family and friends, for their love, prayers and encouragement. God is a good God."

Young Africans (Yanga SC) have left many in shock after they named Bernard Morrison in their squad for the new season.

The Ghanaian midfielder moved from Yanga to rivals Simba SC in a controversial transfer that left his former club lodging a complaint with the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), who later cleared him to play for Simba.

However, unsatisfied Yanga vowed to move to the Court of Arbitration of Sports (CAS) in Zurich to protest the decision by the TFF.

On Sunday during Yanga’s Mwananchi Week celebration at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, the club, through the MC of the day Maulid Kitenge, announced Morrison was still a Yanga player.

“The player listed in number 28 is Bernard [Morrison], who is still our player as we have a case in CAS, so Morrison is still our player,” Kitenge announced to the applause of Yanga fans, who turned up for the celebrations.

While Yanga are claiming to own the player, Morrison was in action for Simba SC as they beat Namungo FC 2-0 to lift the Community Shield Cup at the Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium in Arusha on Sunday.

The FA Cup winners won a penalty after Morrison was brought down when he was tripped by Steven Duah, and their captain John Bocco rose for the occasion to plant the ball into the bottom-right corner after decisively beating Namungo’s goalkeeper Nurdini Balola.

Simba got the second goal on the hour mark when Morrison managed to drive the ball into the top corner after receiving a neat pass from Clatous Chama. It was the second goal for the former Orlando Pirates and Yanga man after scoring against visiting side Vital’O of Burundi seven days ago.

On signing for Simba, Morrison urged Yanga to accept and move by stating it was part of football.

“It is part of the game, and I don’t take any personal offense about whatever that has been happening for a while now,” Morrison told Goal.

“Yanga is a big team and Simba is also a big club and moving from Yanga to Simba it is not really a big deal, though the [Yanga] supporters are disappointed and the management are disappointed, it is part of football.

“It happens so I don’t think they have to see me as a bad person, in moving from Yanga to Simba because it is part of football and they have to accept it and move on and welcome me to Tanzanian football.”

Simba will now open their title defence against promoted side Ihefu FC while Yanga will tackle Tanzania Prisons on Saturday.

Josh Maja scored his first goal of the 2020-21 Ligue 1 season as Bordeaux claimed a 2-0 win over Angers at the Stade Raymond Kopa on Sunday.

Les Girondins kicked off the campaign with a goalless draw against at home to Moses Simon’s Nantes last week.

It was a game with little chances created, but there was none of that in Maine-et-Loire with Maja giving Bordeaux the lead in the 25th minute.

Nicolas De Preville’s corner met the head of former Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny, who headed into the path of Maja to tap in from close range.

Bordeaux’s lead was extended just two minutes later thanks to Toma Basic who latched onto a loose ball from Ui Jo Hwang, skipped past two challenges before burying his effort into the bottom left corner of the net.

Compared to the Nantes encounter where Bordeaux had only one shot on target, they produced seven this time with none off target.

Maja featured for 45 minutes in that encounter also, but lasted 65 minutes on Sunday, producing three of Bordeaux’s seven shots on target, missed one big chance, had 23 touches on the ball and 11 accurate passes at a 91% success rate. He also won half of his eight ground duels.

His competitive tally for the 2009 Ligue 1 champions now stands at 10 strikes in 33 outings since joining from Sunderland in January 2019.

He was taken off for French forward Jimmy Briand.

Another Nigerian to feature for Bordeaux was Samuel Kalu. He started off the bench for the second game in a row and took the place of South Korea international Jo Hwang, this time in the 77th minute.

Kalu had limited impact but was still able to have 17 touches, six accurate passes from eight at 75% and won four of six ground duels.

The Super Eagles winger has been at Matmut Atlantique since arriving from Gent in August 2018 and has played 55 times in all competitions, scoring five goals and providing six assists.

Bordeaux’s next assignment is a home tie with seven-time league champions Olympique Lyon on September 11.

Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal has talked up a potential return to former club Juventus, admitting he would be “happy” if new head coach Andrea Pirlo contacted him over a move.

The 33-year-old made 171 appearances in a four-year spell with the Turin giants between 2011 and 2015, helping them win seven major honours including four successive Serie A titles.

He left for Bayern Munich in the summer of 2015 before joining present club Barcelona two years ago, where he has gone on to make 96 appearances in all competitions

Vidal has been linked with a move away from the Catalan giants as new boss Ronald Koeman attempts a summer rebuild following a trophyless season last time out, culminating in that humiliating 8-2 Champions League defeat by Bayern.

Vidal, who has just one year left on his contract, has been touted as one of the players Koeman will look to move on in order to balance the books at Camp Nou.

A return to Italy has been mooted, though it is Juve’s Serie A rivals Inter who were reported to be considering a move for the Chile international.

Vidal has previously hinted he would consider a move to the Nerazzurri as it would mean a reunion with his former boss at Juventus, Antonio Conte.

However, it is the prospect of another reunion that may spark interest in a move back to Turin instead.

Former Italy international Pirlo who was confirmed as Juve boss earlier this month following the departure of Maurizio Sarri, was Vidal’s midfield partner during his time at the club, joining and leaving them in the same year.

Vidal is excited by the prospect of playing under his former team-mate at the Bianconeri and appeared to confirm he would be ready to make the move should they make contact.

“He was incredible when Pirlo played, [but] imagine him as a coach,” Vidal said in an interview with Daniel Habif on YouTube.

“If he or Juventus call me, I would be happy.

“If it happens, it happens. I have a lot of affection for Juventus and for Andrea.”

Whether Pirlo does decide to approach Vidal remains to be seen given the club have already signed two midfielders this summer in Arthur and Weston McKennie, meaning there may not be space for him in the side.

Emerson Palmieri's agent has confirmed that Inter are interested in signing him this summer but says he is yet to discuss the matter with Chelsea.

The 26-year-old moved to the Blues from Roma in January 2018 for an initial £17.5m ($23m) fee with a further £8m ($10m) due in add-ons, but he has been unable to secure a regular place in the starting XI.

The left-back was limited to just 15 Premier League appearances under Frank Lampard in 2019-20 and has been deemed superfluous by the Stamford Bridge side.

Emerson's representative, Fernando Garcia, has admitted that a move away from the Premier League could be on the cards for the Italy international.

"It is possible he will leave Chelsea," he told FCInter08. "I have not yet spoken to the club. All I can say is that there is interest from Inter in the player. We’ll see."

Emerson has dropped further down the pecking order in west London after the arrival of Ben Chilwell from Leicester in a £50m ($66m) deal.

But Goal has learned the Blues expect to receive around £26m ($34m) for him this summer as they hope to make a small profit from his sale.

Juventus and Napoli have previously been linked with the former Santos full-back, who has two years left on his current contract, but it is Inter who have been most active in pursuing him.

Last month, Goal reported that the Nerazzurri were lining up a bid to reunite Emerson with coach Antonio Conte, who was in charge of Chelsea when the defender arrived in the English capital. But the San Siro outfit's £19m ($25m) valuation falls short of the Premier League team's valuation.

Conte's future at last season's Serie A runners-up had come into question after the 2019-20 campaign, but the club confirmed this week that he will remain at the helm next season after holding talks to clear the air.

"The club and Antonio Conte had a constructive meeting today focused on continuity and strategy, in which the two parties laid the foundations to continue working together on the club's project," read a statement released on Tuesday.

Yanga SC stepped up their preparations for the 2020/21 Tanzania Mainland League season with a 2-0 win over their visitors Aigle Noir, with the goals coming from new signings Tuisila Kisinda and Michael Sarpong.

Timu ya Wananchi have been restructuring to stand a chance of toppling bitter rivals Simba SC, who have been dominating domestic competitions of late, and have won the league title for the past three seasons.

New Serbian coach Zlatko Krmpotic gave debuts to Kibwana Shomari, with Bakari Mwamnyeto, Mukoko Tonombe, Tuisila Kisinda, and Michael Sarpong while Carlinhos and Waziri Junior starting from the bench.

It took the 27-time league champions 38 minutes to open the scoring when Feisal Salum picked out Tuisila Kisinda, commonly referred to as TK Master, and the new signing kept his cool to get the ball past Erick Johola to send the home fans into a frenzy.

That was the only goal in the first 45 minutes, but it did not tell the whole story as the Jangwani Street-based side created numerous chances which were not capitalised on.

After the break, Timu ya Wananchi came back stronger amid cheers from the fans who had flocked to the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam in their thousands.

Ghanaian Michael Sarpong, who joined the team on a free transfer after being released by Rayon Sports, put the result beyond a reasonable doubt with a good finish in the 59th minute to double the advantage for the home team.

Meanwhile, Azam FC and Tanzania Prisons battled to a one-all draw in another pre-season friendly staged at Azam Complex, Chamzai on Sunday.

On-Song Zimbabwe attacker Obrey Chirwa scored for the Ice-cream Makers while Jeremiah Juma managed to get the goal for the administrative side.

The league starts on September 6.

Yanga XI: Metach Mnata, Kibwana Shomari, Yassin Mustafa, Abdallah Shaibu, Bakari Mwamnyeto, Mukoko Tonombe, Tuisila Kisinda, Feisal Salum, Michael Sarpong, Ditram Nchimbi, Deus Kaseke

Subs: Farouk Shikhalo, Ramadhani Kabwili, Said Makapu, Haruna Niyonzima, Waziri Junior, Carlos Carlinhos, Farid Musaa.

Aigle Noir XI: Erick Johola, Ndikumana Merci, Honomou Desire, Hitimana Hamza, Nkurunzinza Yanick, Masoud Marcisse, Koffi Kouassi, Ndikumana Asman, Ngabonziza Blanchare, Christ Attegbe, Nzojibwami Frank.

Subs: Lukumbuzya Manugulilo,Missago Jules, Msanga Henry, Mossi Tresor, Coulibaly Abbe, Edward Mchele, Mugisha Antoine  

Was there any doubt when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang stepped up to take Arsenal’s fifth and final penalty in Saturday’s Community Shield against Liverpool? Probably not. Not in his new playground, at least.

It’s been an interesting few weeks for the North London giants, with three giant scalps at Wembley against teams possessing superior technical quality. There was a hugely impressive 2-0 FA Cup semi-final success over Manchester City, followed by a 2-1 win over capital rivals Chelsea in the decider, which came after they’d fallen behind to an early Christian Pulisic effort.

Saturday’s win over Liverpool didn’t quite come in 90 minutes, still, Jurgen Klopp’s team, lined-up with all the heavy-hitters in the squad except Trent Alexander-Arnold, were favoured to wipe the floor with Mikel Arteta’s side.

As it turned out, Arsenal weren’t disgraced. In truth, they limited the Premier League champions to a handful of clear-cut opportunities.

In the first-half at the Home of Football, the world champions were underwhelming and were laboured in possession, despite having a lion’s share of it before the interval. Instead, the Reds failed to test the confident Emiliano Martinez in the opening 45, with the Gunners retaining the greater threat in transition.

The greatest evidence of this came in Aubameyang’s brilliant 12th-minute goal.

Arteta’s team played through their opponent’s press in remarkable fashion and the ball fell to the hugely talented Bukayo Saka wide on the right. The youngster spotted his skipper free on the far side and played a pin-point diagonal to the top class marksman, who chopped into his stronger foot and curled his effort beyond Alisson Becker.

Subsequently, there were half-chances to increase their advantage, with Eddie Nketiah the main culprit in the misses. Liverpool had a better go after the break and took control of the game as the Gunners tired.

They got the equalizer but Arsenal held on and it went to penalties. After Rhian Brewster missed, it was up to the London side’s go-to man to deliver another honour...which he did. It was never in doubt, was it?

For those keeping score, Arsenal have now scored five goals in three important games at Wembley...all scored by their terrific skipper who, it seems, isn’t planning to slow down after arguably his greatest ever individual season.

It wasn’t so long ago that critics criticised his lack of end product in really tight games against either superior opposition or teams on equal footing as the three-time Premier League champions. Ask those observers again, and there’s likely to be egg of their face.

While the Community Shield, amusingly over the years, gets played down by the losing side and hyped up by the winner, the quality of opposition the Gunners have now defeated in the last six weeks shows why Gooners have a right to be excited despite Saturday’s victory in a ‘glorified friendly’.

Games are won by goals, and even though Arsenal have defended well for those 270 minutes against teams that ended 2019/20 above them, it was Auba’s goals that won two of those encounters. He’s now scored five times in three games at Wembley in the space of six weeks.

Surely, that is unprecedented? Without question, such an influence at the New Wembley is probably unrivalled by anyone...well, maybe one: Didier Drogba. The Chelsea legend’s impact at the ground is enormous, with FA Cup final goals in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012, games the Blues ultimately won.

The retired Ivory Coast forward’s love affair with the rebuilt stadium began on the very first game after its complete refurbishment, winning Chelsea their first title in the competition in seven years. 

That extra-time strike was enough to prevent Manchester United claiming the Double in what was a cagey decider.

Drogba then levelled for the Blues in the final vs Everton two years later (they won 2-1), netted a well-taken free-kick to decide a tight final against Portsmouth 1-0 as the West Londoners secured their first Double.

Their icon’s last strike, his fourth successive in FA Cup finals, came in a 2-1 success over Liverpool, which cemented his ‘King of Wembley’ tag.

Observers remember the important strikes in deciders, but there were also important goals in the semis, too, notably the late winner vs Arsenal, opening effort in an eventual 3-0 success over Aston Villa and self-made belter against Tottenham Hotspur in 2009, 2010 and 2012 respectively.

The goal in the 2008 League Cup final defeat by Spurs at Wembley is barely remembered but it was one of the West African’s strikes at the iconic ground.

Indeed, this is what Arsenal’s Aubameyang is up against. However, it is to the Gabon star’s credit that he’s coming up trumps despite playing in teams probably not as strong as Drogba's Chelsea sides.

There’s still a long way to supplant Drogba as the undisputed King of Wembley but, given the recent evidence, Aubameyang is certainly not doing his chances any harm.

Real Salt Lake owner Dell Loy Hansen has put the Major League Soccer franchise up for sale after being criticised for failing to support players calling for racial justice.

Hansen said he felt "disrespected" by team members after they opted not to play against LAFC on Wednesday.

Those players joined in the widespread protests which have followed the shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old black man, by police in Wisconsin.

"All I can say is they supported other issues nationally; they clearly did not support our city or our organisation," Hansen said.

"It's a moment of sadness. It's like somebody stabbed you and you're trying to figure out a way to pull the knife out and move forward. That's what it feels like. The disrespect is profound to me personally."

Hansen warned he would start cutting employees he had brought back from furlough because of the possibility of further strike action from the team, with his stance drawing condemnation.

Salt Lake's former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha told BBC World Service: "I don't want to be here because I'm not here to play for someone who isn't here to support us."

After Hansen's tirade, The Athletic  came out with a report on a history of alleged racist comments Hansen has made over the past several years.

Hansen was subsequently placed on a leave of absence while MLS and the NWSL launched an investigation into the alleged comments.

On Sunday, a statement from MLS commissioner Don Garber confirmed Hansen had put the team's holding company up for sale, suggesting Onuoha and his team-mates might not have to work under their current owner for much longer.

His stewardship of National Women's Soccer League team Utah Royals and Real Monarchs of the USL Championship is also set to come to a close.

Garber's statement read: "Major League Soccer has been informed that Real Salt Lake investor-operator Dell Loy Hansen has decided that he will begin a process to sell Utah Soccer Holdings, the entity that owns Real Salt Lake, Utah Royals FC and Real Monarchs.

"MLS will work with Mr Hansen on supporting the sale efforts for the company and will work closely with the club's executive staff to support the operations of the team during the transition period."

Garber added: "I want to acknowledge Dell Loy Hansen's significant efforts to build the sport of soccer in the state of Utah and his commitment to Major League Soccer."

Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp has lamented their 1-0 loss to Bidvest Wits, calling it a disaster and singled out striker Samir Nurkovic’s miss as unacceptable.

The Soweto giants failed to stretch their lead at the but they breathed a sigh of relief when the second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns lost to Baroka on Sunday evening by the same margin.

On the other hand, his counterpart Gavin Hunt said they had an excellent display in the opening half and that their mission is to finish well.

"I don't agree, it was not a disappointing game, the mentality, it's not the greatest football but what we're talking about is a disaster result," Middendorp told SuperSport TV.

"If you see the 90 minutes, the effort brought in by the players, by the team...

"I don't know actually, of course, that one will be again the coach is in charge but the number of possibilities...Good, if it has to be it's my fault, I take it.

"But I think the mentality of the players was very good, they were really fighting the full 98 minutes.

"The chances were there to make it 1-0, 2-0, 3-0 and of course, that's a bit of...I don't know how, at the end of the day, through the centre [Samir Nurkovic missing a sitter], that's of course something we have to face, not really acceptable.

"But we have to, two games to go of course we have to hope something will come out of the games, starting already to see what is happening at 6 o'clock, what will happen in the next two games.

"I personally hope we can put the players into the right mentality towards the next game, in particular, Chippa [United] on the second we will try again, we will go again all out, try to score, try to win this game, it depends now on Sundowns."

On his assessment of the 90 minutes, the four-time PSL winner expressed delight for his striker Bienvenu Eva Nga, saying their failure to score has been the story of their campaign.

"I thought the first-half we were excellent, I was really disappointed when we came to half-time, we could've turned it in, we had some good opportunities in the first-half and once you start turning the ball over in the second half, that's when they're getting in the game you know," Hunt told SuperSport TV.

"Nurkovic had a big chance in the end there, they should make it 1-0 but it's a story of our season we're not scoring and if you score, then you're making it easy for yourselves, which we didn't do.

"It turned for us a little bit today we got the ball in the end but I mean you know we could've been 1-0 down but we could've been one or two [up] in the first-half, that has been a story of our season. Maybe it is a bit too late but be that as it may, it is what it is I'm happy for the boy [ Eva Nga].

“I said to the guys 'you got to respect the game and play properly', people can say what they want, ah we're playing for nothing but we're playing for our pride, we want to finish well.”

Chidera Ejuke made his debut for CSKA Moscow in their 3-0 victory over Akhmat Grozny in Sunday’s Russian Premier League game.

The 22-year-old winger completed his move to the Red and Blues on Friday on a four-year deal from Dutch club Heerenveen.

The Nigerian forward immediately linked up with the rest of the CSKA team in training and proved his fitness and readiness for action.

Ejuke was subsequently handed his first appearance in the Russian top-flight by manager Viktor Goncharenko as a second-half substitute, and gave a good account of himself as the Red and Blues secured all three points away from home.

Konstantin Kuchaev opened the scoring 11 minutes into the encounter after benefitting from Fedor Chalov’s assist.

Kristijan Bistrovic doubled the lead with two minutes left to play before Nikola Vlasic sealed the victory at the death.

Ejuke featured for 25 minutes, made 15 touches, struck one shot and had had a 100 per cent successful pass rate in the encounter.

The win is CSKA’s third in this campaign and ensured they ended their three-game winless run, having also drawn once and lost twice in their last six Premier League outings.

Ejuke will hope to make his full debut when CSKA Moscow take on rivals Spartak Moscow in their next league game on September 12.

The Nigerian winger, who started his career with Supreme Court FC in Nigeria, has played for Gombe United and Norwegian club Valerenga before he joined Heerenveen last summer.

The 22-year-old has featured for Nigeria's U17 and U20 sides and will hope to impress with CSKA for a chance with the Super Eagles.

Ernestina Abambila scored her first Polish Ekstraliga goal in Medyk Konin's 6-0 victory over Rolnik Biedrzychowice on Sunday.

The 21-year-old joined the Polish top-flight outfit from Spanish Primera Iberdrola side Sporting Huelva in June and moved on to establish herself, featuring in the opening three games for Medyk.

She starred in their 1-1 opening draw with Katowice before playing a key role in the 2-0 win at Alice Ogebe's Sportis KKP Bydgoszcz and the 3-0 home win over Mpeh Bissong's Olimpia Szczecin last week.

After three wins in a row, Medyk aimed to build on their winning run against Rolnik and Abambila handed them an early lead with her fourth-minute effort to mark her first goal in the Polish top-flight.  

Dominic Kopinska scored in the 20th minute to double the lead for the visitors before Nikol Kaletka added the third 12 minutes later.

Rampant Roman Jaszczak's ladies continued from where they left off in the second half when Kopinska netted her second of the match and the visitors' fourth two minutes after the restart.

The ruthless Medyk took advantage of some hapless defending from the hosts to add the fifth through Olga Sirant in the 57th minute before Julia Maskiewicz struck three minutes later to seal the big victory.

Ghana midfielder Abambila was involved from the start to finish and has now scored a goal in four matches this season for Medyk.

Sunday's result moves Medyk to the third position with 10 points from four games  - two behind UKS Łodz and leaders Czarni Sosnowiec, who are yet to drop a point this season.

Abambila and Medyk will face their biggest test so far when they will visit leaders Czarni Sosnowiec in their next game on September 5.

Manchester United are closing in on the signing of Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek after reaching an agreement over a fee with the Dutch giants.

It is understood the deal is worth around £40 million ($53m) and the 23-year-old is close to becoming Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first signing of the summer transfer window once personal terms and a medical are completed.

United have been monitoring the Netherlands international for a while as they look to strengthen their midfield options and firmed up their interest when it became clear that Van de Beek was keen on a move to Old Trafford.

There were reports of some late interest from Tottenham but it is understood United were always leading the race. 

Ajax boss Erik ten Hag fuelled speculation Van de Beek was on his way out of the club when asked for a transfer update ahead of a friendly clash with Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.

“There have been some developments that made us decide us to keep him out of today's squad," Ten Hag told Ziggo Sport.

“We will see what happens. We'll make an announcement as soon as there's some clarity.”

United had hoped to have Jadon Sancho through the door as their first signing of the summer but the tough economic climate, due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, means they have not been able to reach an agreement with Borussia Dortmund for the former Manchester City youngster.

Dortmund are holding out for a fee of €120m (£108m/$142m) for Sancho, but United believe that is not a realistic figure given the state of their finances due to the impact of Covid-19. 

It is understood United have grown frustrated at the pace of discussions with the German side, who have taken the unusual decision to use a third party agent to discuss the deal.

Player wages and agent fees continue to pose a problem in negotiations, and United are wary of making the same mistake they did with Alexis Sanchez, when his huge £560,000-a-week wages ended up ripping up the whole salary structure at the club following his arrival from Arsenal in January 2018.

Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has consistently warned this would be a ‘difficult’ transfer window but the club are still keen to invest in the squad as Solskjaer looks to build on last season’s third-place finish, which secured a return to the Champions League. 

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has described the current Premier Soccer League (PSL) title ras as “unbelievable” following the 1-0 defeat by Baroka FC at Dobsonville Stadium on Sunday.

Namibian midfielder Ananias Gebhardt scored in the 20th minute to separate the two sides and hand Baroka a lifeline in their fight against relegation.

Gebhardt headed in a corner kick taken by Tshediso Patjie to beat Sundowns goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene for the all-important goal.

With Downs blowing an opportunity to go up the PSL standings after leaders Kaizer Chiefs had suffered defeat earlier on, Mosimane placed blame on his tactics for the loss.

“The way it’s going no [I have never seen a league race like this] to be honest. It’s unbelievable,” Mosimane told SuperSport TV.

“Only one thing [went wrong]. We did not pick up [marking Baroka players] on their corner kick [which resulted in the goal] and we got punished. Yeah we did not pick them up.

“Yes probably [we did not create enough chances]. Only tactics change after the game becomes a different kind of a game. The game plan goes out of the way so we are playing, fighting to try and score. So it became totally a different game after they scored and you have to understand they are surviving. They needed the points.

“We thought we needed the points more than them but they fought for the points and you can’t blame them for sitting in all the time. They did what they had to do.”

As frustration and tempers flared during the match, there was a verbal altercation between Sundowns defender Motjeka Madisha and some Baroka substitutes during the match.

“Baroka players disrespected Madisha which was not good,” added Mosimane.

“I mean most especially it was players who were on the bench who were sitting there. You know disrespecting somebody who is playing whilst you are sitting there in the cold, in the stands I don’t think it’s good, it’s bad.

“It’s not a good thing to do but it’s okay, it’s part of football. We don’t have to focus more on that. That’s not what made us not to score. We didn’t score because we got the opportunities to score? We did not. We got the opportunities.”

The result was Baroka’s first win since the season restarted and they are now placed in position 13 after climbing two rungs up from second-from-bottom.

Baroka coach Dylan Kerr commended his side for some solid defending to repulse pressure from Sundowns.

An emotional Kerr also hailed his tactics being superior to Sundowns’ as he boasted of his capabilities.

“We defended like a unit and again a clean sheet is more important but yeah it’s fantastic. I know what they can do week in, week out but you know what they can do against big teams," said Kerr.

“Indeed [change of formation paid off]. I know my job, that’s the problem. I know my job because I have stood in for 30 years as a player and now as a coach. If people leave me alone to do my job I will make this club a success. You know and unfortunately, I should be up with this result but inside I am really angry.

“He [Gebhardt] is an ultimate professional. Every Friday we weigh the players since we have been in this bubble and he tells me before he gets on the scale that he will be 73.3 kilos and every Friday he has been 73.3 kilos. That’s true professionalism.

“He got sent off against Bloemfontein Celtic, massive disappointment and then he scores the winning goal. Fantastic. But everybody, the technical staff, the bench, the players who played today, [were] fantastic I can’t ask for much more.”

Baroka now prepare to face SuperSport United in their next match as they continue their fight for survival while Sundowns take on basement side Polokwane City in their next game.

Paris Saint-Germain made a last-ditch attempt to convince Thiago Silva to sign a contract extension before his move to Chelsea was announced, according to his agent.

The veteran centre-back left the Ligue 1 champions after his contract expired in the wake of their Champions League final defeat to Bayern Munich and subsequently signed a deal with Chelsea.

The 35-year-old Brazil international's representative, Paulo Tonietto, says PSG sporting director Leonardo initially did not want to keep him in the French capital, but ended up turning back on that decision by proposing a new contract after the agreement with the Blues was reached. 

"He had given up hope [on a new contract offer] because Leonardo told him two months ago that he did not want to extend it," Tonietto told L'Equipe. "But last Tuesday, Leonardo called Thiago and raised the possibility that he would stay another year.

"Thiago had already reached an agreement with Chelsea, there was no turning back. When you make such a proposal, you have to be convinced. A sporting director who tells a player he doesn't want him anymore, and two months later wants to extend it, how do you take that?"

Tonietto says that PSG coach Thomas Tuchel had hoped to hold onto the former AC Milan star, but there was no chance of him agreeing to stay after Leonardo said his time in the French capital was up. 

"In a club, the sporting director and the coach have to walk together. This was not the case," he added. "Tuchel always wanted to keep Thiago. Leonardo was the one who didn't want to, and he's the one with the power.

"That's why, even if he hadn't signed with Chelsea, Thiago couldn't see how he could have accepted Leonardo's proposal given what he had told him two months earlier. It would have been humiliating.

"We never talked about money or the length of the contract. Never. Leonardo just said he wasn't counting on him anymore. Nothing more."

The Blues confirmed the arrival of Silva on Friday, with the defender signing a one-year deal with an option for a second season.

Samuel Iling-Junior has confirmed his departure from Chelsea as his transfer to Juventus nears completion.

The 16-year-old had already been training with the Serie A giants since July but his contract is yet to be confirmed. 

Chelsea initially hoped to convince Iling-Junior to remain at Stamford Bridge by offering him his first professional contract, but feared losing him after the Bianconeri  joined the race to land him in May.

French giants Paris Saint-Germain were one of the main contenders to sign the winger, while Bayern Munich, Ajax and Schalke were also reported to have been interested in him. 

The England Under-17 international confirmed he has left the Blues in a post on social media on Sunday and expressed his gratitude to the club for their role in his development.

“Full of vast emotions, being at Chelsea from such a young age has truly built me, not only as a the player I am today but also as a person,” he wrote in an Instagram post.

“It’s been a blessed journey and I’m deeply thankful for all those in the Academy. From the groundsmen, kitchen staff, players, coaches, the list goes on.

“I’m filled with gratitude at the time and effort put into my development, leading me to where I am today.

“I would also like to give thanks to the people around me, my family and friends who have consistently supported me.

"Finally, I’d like to thank God for blessing me with this opportunity and protecting me throughout. This is just the start.

"I wish Chelsea all the best for the seasons ahead."

While the Blues have said goodbye to one highly-rated prospect, they are expected to welcome more players to west London this summer.

Thiago Silva, Malang Sarr and Ben Chilwell are the latest to join Frank Lampard's side in the current transfer window, following the signings of Timo Werner from RB Leipzig and Hakim Ziyech from Ajax.

Meanwhile, the Premier League outfit are expected to complete the signing of Kai Havertz before the new season begins.

The 21-year-old attacking midfielder is reportedly on the verge of sealing a switch to the English top flight from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth £90 million ($120m).

Four Football Kenya Federation (FKF) presidential aspirants have confirmed they will not present their nomination papers ahead of the national elections.

The exercise to present papers for the presidential seat will be conducted on Monday at FKF’s offices and will be led by the Electoral Board chairperson Kentice Tikolo.

However, Goal can exclusively reveal that four aspirants led by veteran administrator Sam Nyamweya, Nicholas Musonye, Twaha Mbarak, and Sammy Sholei will not participate in the exercise which they have already termed as flawed.

“I will not be handing in my papers tomorrow [Monday] simply because the exercise is not free and fair,” Nyamweya told Goal on Sunday.

“We will not accept to go into a contest in an already rigged process, the incumbent has already rigged himself back into the office and it will be a waste of time to participate in the exercise.

“I can assure you that we will not stop at that, we already have a case in court challenging the process and we will continue to press and get justice, only the court will be able to help us.”

Nyamweya added: “I want to assure you that we will not have an election again, the exercise has been stopped twice and I can assure you it will be stopped again because FKF have refused to follow the raid down laws.”

Mbarak has also confirmed he will not present his nomination papers because the Electoral Board have proved they cannot hold a credible exercise.and said they will wait for the court to give the way forward.

"I reiterate the purported voter register verification exercise was not just shambolic but a mockery of what is universally acceptable of such an exercise," Twaha said in a signed statement obtained by Goal.

“I wish to state in no uncertain terms that I will not participate in this flawed exercise disguised as an election and call on all my supporters to boycott the sham process until we have a process that can guarantee a credible electoral exercise for the good of our game,” Twaha continued.

“Our quest for electoral justice and fair end to the polls is on course and we shall pursue it to its logical, just end.

“I have the full confidence in the court which I believe, as they have done on two occasions in the past, it will mete out the same fate of this sham process so as to protect the law and the fundamental rights of every Kenyan as enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya 2010.”

On his part, Musonye said it will be a waste of time to hand in nomination papers when the exercise was not free and fair the same as Sholei, who said they will seek justice in the court of law.

Goal, however, understands other presidential aspirants - Boniface Osano and Omondi Aduda - will present their papers in readiness to face off with incumbent Nick Mwendwa, who will be seeking another four-year term in office.

The Electoral Board has already set October 17 as the date for the national elections which will be preceded by grassroots polls held across the 47 counties on September 19.

It will be the third time in a year that the FKF will be holding elections.

The previous two exercises were nullified by the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) last December and in March this year, with SDT chairman John Ohaga ruling the rules of engagement were flouted on both occasions.