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Antoine Griezmann is expecting Barcelona to make it all the way to the Champions League final on August 23 and quipped he has even packed his PlayStation for his stay in Lisbon.

Barca saw off Napoli 3-1 in Saturday's last-16 second leg to advance 4-2 on aggregate and set up a meeting with much-fancied Bayern Munich at the Estadio da Luz on Friday.

Bayern have won 26 and drawn one of their last 27 competitive matches and are the favourites of many to win Europe's premier club competition but Griezmann says Barca are ready to knock the Bavarian giants out.

"I have the suitcase ready to be in Lisbon until August 23 - I have even brought the PlayStation," he told the club's official website.

"We have three games left to win the Champions League but we have the tools to achieve it.  Every team has the potential to win a single match.

"We are looking forward to it, we have worked well tactically and we are ready to play the game. 

"We know it will be difficult, but we know what we have to do to qualify for the semi-finals. It will be a very good match.

"We hope to take advantage of the quality we have. We are in a good moment and we can play a good game.

"We have to be together, up front and at the back, and try to have the ball as much as possible."

Prolific Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski either scored or assisted all seven of his side's goals in their 7-1 aggregate victory over Chelsea in the first knockout round.

Griezmann acknowledged it will be tough to stop the Poland international and is well aware of the other attacking talents in the German champions' ranks.

"Bayern are playing very well, they have a great striker, but we also have the tools to play a great game. We have to look at our strengths and try to qualify," he said.

"They're a very physical team that's used to having the ball. We have to make life difficult for them and play our game.

"Bayern are not just Lewandowski. The wingers get forward a lot, [Thomas] Muller, [Serge] Gnabry are also very good. 

"Lewandowski scores a lot of goals but the danger comes from anywhere."

Barca have disappointed domestically this season, finishing second to bitter rivals Real Madrid in LaLiga after being knocked out of the Copa del Rey at the quarter-final stage.

However, the fit-again Griezmann - who lasted 84 minutes against Napoli - is adamant his side have showed signs of progress ahead of their showdown with Bayern.

"On a personal level it was good for me to have a few days to be able to recover and play against Napoli," he said.

"In the first minutes of the Napoli game I had no rhythm but little by little I felt better. The team really wanted to play a great game, and we are on the right track."

Ritah Kivumbi and Sarah Micheal scored a goal each as Mallbackens defeated Hanna Boubezari's Lidkopings 3-0 in a Swedish Elitettan game on Wednesday.

Uganda's Kivumbi continued from where she left off in the first leg against Lidkopings, where she bagged a brace in their 5-3 win two weeks ago and was on her eighth appearance this term.

While Nigeria's Micheal was on her fifth appearance and played her part in the encounter, finding the target to ensure an away win.

Returning from a two-week break, Mallbackens aimed to extend their winning run to three games and they made a bright start to the contest when Kivumbi netted the opener after just 12 minutes.

Four minutes later, Micheal came close to extend the lead for the visitors but could not find the back of the net before she eventually managed to double the advantage four minutes after the restart.

The hosts almost pulled one back through Boubezari but the Algeria international's attempt was denied by Conny Johansson's team in the 52nd minute.

Mallbackens did not rest on their oars as they pushed for more and they secured the third through Emmie Johansson in the 65th minute.

Kivumbi, who featured for 62 minutes for the visitors, has now scored five goals in eight outings, while Micheal, who lasted for 72 minutes has now two goals in five games.

Algeria's Boubezari, played from the start to finish on her 10th appearance this season but her presence could not save Kidkopings from defeat in front of their home fans.

The result saw Mallbackens move to seventh on the log with 17 points after 10 matches, while Lidkopings remain in 12th with five points from the same number of games after the fourth defeat in a row.

Mallbackens will pay a visit to fourth-placed Jibex on August 15, while Lidkopings will face off with ninth-placed Alingsas a day later.

Neymar was tipped to shine against Atalanta in Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final but for much of the game, he had a nightmare. 

However, the Brazilian played his part in a dramatic late comeback and it was an unlikely hero, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who sealed a 2-1 win and a place in the semi-final for PSG.

Neymar's tough evening started in the third minute when the Brazilian found himself clean through on goal, only to badly scuff his shot well wide of the target.

Neymar would squander two more golden opportunities in a first half to forget, as Mario Pasalic gave Atalanta a 1-0 lead at half-time.

There was some sympathy for Neymar's performance, with many pointing out his dribbling and running were causing problems for Atalanta — though his end product did not deliver.

PSG looked set to be crashing out but it was two second-half subs, Kylian Mbappe and Choupo-Moting, who combined with Neymar to help turn the tide.

Choupo-Moting's ball in the 90th minute found Neymar behind the Atalanta defence, and the Brazilian's cross found Marquinhos who tapped home the equaliser.

Just three minutes later, Neymar's through ball found Mbappe, who squared to Choupo-Moting to finish for the winner.

It was a dramatic turn of events and there were plenty of reactions on social media to Neymar's up-and-down night and the former Stoke forward's unlikely winner.

Chile women's national team began training this week for their Women's Olympic Games qualifying play-off game against Cameroon.

La Roja regrouped for the first time since they won the 2020 Turkish Women's Cup in March before the world went into lockdown after the global health crisis arising from the coronavirus outbreak.

The pandemic forced the indefinite postponement of the doubleheader play-off between the South Americans and Africans, which was initially fixed to be played on 9 and 15 April 2020.

After the rescheduling of the Olympic Games for next June, Fifa has confirmed new play-off dates of the matches between Chile and Cameroon to be played on February 18 and 24 respectively. 

With the set new dates, the players and officials are excited to return to the pitch for the first time in five months.

Karen Araya, one of the returning players, told the La Roja; "We are happy to return. To step on the grass again. We missed being on the field, outdoors. It is what we athletes missed the most. 

"This team is convinced of what it wants to achieve; the important thing is to run again, to feel the field and, as time goes by, we will take the level again."

Jose Letelier, the team's head coach also said: "This is a double responsibility because on the one hand there is everything that has to do with the preparation for the play-offs, which is something that of course motivates, but on the other, it is related to the circumstances that we are experiencing worldwide. 

"Therefore, we must handle both situations in a good way, respect the protocols as much as possible and hope that both the preparation and the health of the players and the coaching staff are on the right track. We hope to prepare ourselves in the best way and achieve a historic achievement for our football."

The winner will join hosts Japan, Brazil, New Zealand, Great Britain, Netherlands, Sweden, Canada, United States, Zambia and Australia for the 2020 Women's Olympic football tournament in Tokyo.

Caf Medical Committee member Dr Prince Pambo has called on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to fast-track coronavirus testing for its three national teams who are set to regroup for upcoming international assignments.

On special permission from Ghana president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the national U17 male and women teams, as well as the women's U20 outfit, are expected to resume camp.

The three outfits ought to have begun their training programme on August 1, per their original plans.

“I will plead with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ghana Football Association on the Covid-19 testing for the national team players," Pambo told Happy FM.

"If they go for the normal one which is for free, the handicap with that one is that the results take long to come out.

"So the Ministry and the Covid-19 team should cooperate so they do a test which will see the results come out early.

“The test should be out by 43 hours, which will help the players to begin camping. If the test results are not out the players cannot be in camp."

All contact sports, including football, are currently suspended in Ghana since the nation recorded its first cases of coronavirus in March.

The ban led to the premature termination of the 2019-20 domestic football season in June, after three months of waiting for a possible return.

Meanwhile, the GFA has organised a training workshop for technical team members of the national sides ahead of their imminent training resumption.

“As all and sundry are clamouring for the return of football, there will be the need to be in a good position to protect ourselves and that of our brothers and sisters," FA boss Kurt Edwin Simeon Okraku said at Wednesday's programme.

“Hopefully it will start with the girls and the boys will join and hopefully we will have the fully domestic league coming back to us."

Ghana are set to face off with archrivals Nigeria in a 2021 Fifa U17 Women's World Cup qualifier in October and November. The U20 women's team have a World Cup qualifying date with Guinea-Bissau in September while the male U17 fold is looking forward to the upcoming Wafu Cup.

Mohammed Salisu has joined Premier League outfit Southampton from Real Valladolid for a fee worth £10.9million (€12m).

Despite being linked with a move to Real Madrid, Manchester United and Atletico Madrid, the 21-year-old centre back joined Ralph Hasenguttl’s men on a four-year deal at St Mary’s Stadium.

In the just concluded La Liga season, Salisu featured in 32 games as the White and Violets finished 13th in the log having accrued 42 points from 38 games.

With this move, he becomes Southampton’s second signing of the season following the arrival of Kyle Walker-Peter from Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday.

He is also the fourth African in Hasenguttl’s squad after Mali's Moussa Djenepo, Gabon's Mario Lemina and Morocco's Sofiane Boufal.

“For me, it has been a dream since I was a child to play in the Premier League and I am very, very happy to be here,” an elated Salisu told club website.

“We all know it is a very tough league, but I am ready for everything to put all I can into helping the team.

“It is a very good feeling to be a Southampton player. I am very happy to be part of the club and I am looking forward to starting here.

“It’s a very good club for me to develop my skills and to learn a lot as a young player and I’m very happy to join. Southampton has a fantastic history in developing young players and I hope I do my best to add to that group.”

The Ghanaian felt moved by the response of the Premier League club’s fans to rumours of his potential move to the Saints.

“I saw it and I am very happy they are welcoming me so warmly and that they are happy with me. I am going to try my best to put happiness on their faces," he continued.

“I must thank my family for supporting me and believing in me, as well as my team from Ghana where I started, I want to thank them because they really helped me.

“The African Talent Football Academy too, because without them I would not have reached where I am today. They helped me and they brought me to Europe.”

M’baye Niang found the back of the net as Rennes registered a 3-0 win over Saint-Etienne in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday.

The Red and Blacks have been having a good run in the warm-up games, the previous ending in a 2-1 win over Brest.

This time it was Niang that got things off by opening proceedings in the 29th minute for a 1-0 first-half lead.

The scoreline remained that way until French forwards Martin Terrier and Romain del Castillo came off the bench to complete the scoring in the 83rd and 85th minutes.

The result was Rennes' fourth win in five pre-season games, the only blemish being a 1-1 draw with Lorient. Wednesday’s result was also the third time they have kept clean sheets having done so in victories over Angers and Chateauroux.

Niang was Rennes top scorer during the 2019-20 season, scoring 15 goals in all competitions which were crucial in giving the Brittany side a place in the Champions League for the first time ever.

In all games he found the back of the net in Ligue 1 ended in victory bar one that finished in a 1-1 draw with Olympique Marseille. His best scoring form came in 2-1 wins against Amiens and Nimes Olympique.

The Senegalese forward has been reportedly linked with a transfer to Marseille, however, Rennes have debunked such claims even though Niang has admitted a move to the Stade Velodrome was something he won’t turn down.

Marseille boss Andre Villas-Boas has also come out to debunk the claims that the 25-year-old is not on their radar at all.

Niang was born in the French city of Meulan-en-Yvelines and began his career at Caen before moving to AC Milan. He played 79 times for the Rossoneri between 2012 and 2018, scoring 12 goals.

He was not a regular during his time at the San Siro and spent time on loan at four clubs (Montpellier, Genoa, Watford and Torino). Niang joined Torino permanently ahead of the 2018-19 season but was shipped to Rennes on loan who made his deal permanent after he scored 11 goals in 29 Ligue 1 appearances.

Diego Simeone says Atletico Madrid's famous victory over Liverpool will count for nothing when they face RB Leipzig for a place in the Champions League semi-finals.

The Spanish side knocked out the holders with a 4-2 aggregate victory after extra-time in the last round and have been handed a favourable tie against last-eight debutants Leipzig.

However, five months have passed since the second-leg triumph at Anfield and Simeone insists that match will have little relevance on what happens in Lisbon on Thursday.

"That win is not a reference. Many months have gone and the enthusiasm died down during our time in quarantine," he said at a news conference on Wednesday.

"The Liverpool game will remain a part of our history and was very important for Atletico de Madrid, but it was very long ago and another path begins tomorrow."

Leipzig, led by impressive young coach Julian Nagelsmann, finished third in the Bundesliga this term and saw off Tottenham 4-0 in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Nagelsmann said on Tuesday he is eager to avoid a touchline confrontation with fiery Simeone but the Atleti boss chose not to directly reply to those comments.

"I do not respond to opinions of colleagues. I have nothing to comment," he said. "Tomorrow we play a very important game, against a young coach who is doing a fantastic job.

"They play very well and try to get the ball forward. They're a great team and the numbers show it. They finished third in Germany and have won the same number of games as us.

"I have a lot of respect for them and know that it winning is not just important but the only thing that there is."

Influential attacker Angel Correa and Sime Vrsaljko are not part of Atleti's squad for the one-legged tie with Leipzig after returning positive coronavirus tests.

But while Simeone is ruing the loss of those players, he has his eyes firmly set on a third final appearance in six years with Atletico.

"Angel is important to us and being without Sime, who has fought hard to be back, also hurts," he said.

"We have lost two very important men from the heart of the squad, but we hope to have them later and we have to move on. We have to adapt to the circumstances."

Rennes president Nicolas Holveck has admitted he wishes the French club can be paired with Real Madrid during the 2020-21 season which will give teenage sensation Eduardo Camavinga the opportunity to play against them.

The 17-year-old has been one of the most-talked-about transfer subjects all summer with reported interest from Los Blancos, but Holveck has insisted no offer has been tabled for the player and believes Camavinga is committed to staying with the Red and Blacks.

The Brittany outfit is going to be among Europe’s elite for the first time in their history having finished in third place during the 2019-20 Ligue 1 campaign.

“The pursuit of Eduardo Camavinga started for a very long time. We already knew where we wanted to go,” Holveck said.

“I think that for him it is a huge satisfaction to play in this competition [Champions League], but what is certain is that he will spend the season with us.

“Which opponent I want in the group stage? Why not Real Madrid, whom I have never met?”

As much was Rennes want to keep their key players, Holveck has also acknowledged some recruitments need to be made if they are going to have a strong outing in the Champions League. Franco-Guinean and Amiens striker Serhou Guirassy, as well as Anglo-Nigerian and Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori, are some of the reported targets.

"The transfer window is not going to be oriented differently. We already had well-defined targets,” Holveck continued.

“We still have three positions [two central defenders and a striker] to fill. I said that 'in the event of qualification in the Champions League we could further expand the workforce. We could possibly recruit some additional staff and expand the workforce for the Champions League.

"Guirassy and Tomori? In any case, these are positions that must be filled. These are positions that we are looking to fill with Florian Maurice. We are looking to compose a well-balanced team.

“If Rennes is there, it is because there is a well-built and balanced team, with strong points everywhere, and we are going looking to improve that, and that will not be done with a big name for sure, but rather with very good players."

Arda Turan has said his former team-mate Lionel Messi is superior to Cristiano Ronado, hailing the Argentine's all-round game. 

The Barcelona and Juventus stars have defined their era of football, establishing themselves as the two best players in the world over the last decade-plus. 

Messi has taken home six Ballons d'Or while Ronaldo has five, with Luka Modric in 2018 the only player to have won the award other than Messi or Ronaldo since 2008.

Turan got an up-close look at Messi during his three seasons at Barcelona, whom he joined in 2015 after four seasons with Atletico Madrid. 

During his time in Catalonia, Turan teamed up with Messi to win La Liga once and the Copa del Rey twice. Having had the chance to play alongside the Argentine superstar, Turan has voiced his opinion that Messi's all-around game make him a better player than Ronaldo.

"Messi is present in every moment of football. He can dictate the game in every aspect," Turan told beIN Sports Turkey.

"There's nothing bad to say about Ronaldo but he's a goalscorer, albeit a very special one. Messi does everything in this game. He does things you can't even imagine to do. His intelligence, his vision, his passing are all much different. And every person I have talked to about this agrees with me.

"Except the people who are close to Ronaldo, his team-mates, who say it's Ronaldo as they answer politically. Ronaldo is my friend and it's not my place to question his quality. But I think Messi is better."

Turan recently returned to his childhood club Galatasaray after a spell with Istanbul Basaksehir. The 33-year-old admitted it was emotional for him to come back to a club he initially departed in 2011.

"Emotions are very deep," Turan said. "Now is not the time to comment and talk too much. It's time for me to get on the field and fight. I would like to thank Mr. Mustafa Cengiz and members of the board of directors.

"I hope everything will be good: the most beautiful days, successful days again both in Turkey and in Europe. I miss the fans very much. I am waiting for the day I will meet with them. I hope to see you as soon as possible."

Idrissa Gueye will start for Paris Saint-Germain in Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Ebrima Colley’s Atalanta.

The French side must beat the Italians to reach the competition’s last four, and manager Thomas Tuchel will be relying on the combo of Gueye, Ander Herrera and Marquinhos to hold sway in the Parisians’ midfield.

Meanwhile, Cameroon international Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting will be starting the encounter billed for Estadio da Luz as a substitute.

Gambia international midfielder Colley did not make Gian Piero Gasperini’s starting XI and he is expected to make a substitute appearance as the Goddess eye a place in the Champions League semis.

Gasperini made two changes from the Atalanta side which was beaten by Inter Milan in their final Serie A game of the season, with goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, who suffered an injury last time out, and right wing-back Timothy Castagne dropping out.

Winners of this tie will tackle either RB Leipzig or Thomas Partey's Atletico Madrid for a place in the final that will be played on August 23 in Lisbon.

Jadon Sancho has sent a message to Manchester United amid his ongoing transfer saga, insisting that he's happy at Borussia Dortmund and that he loves playing with his youthful team-mates.

Sancho played 45 minutes in Wednesday's friendly against Rheindorf Altach, with Dortmund emerging 6-0 winners over the Austrian side. 

Man Utd are in hot pursuit of the 20-year-old winger, who has emerged as one of Europe's top players since joining Dortmund from Man City in 2017.

Dortmund have continued to stonewall the Red Devils, with the club's sporting director Michael Zorc declaring on Monday that Sancho will stay with the Bundesliga runners-up.

“Jadon Sancho will play with us next season,” Zorc said. “The decision is final. I think that answers all the questions."

United, though, have not given up hope despite Dortmund sticking to their €120 million (£108m/$142m) asking price for the England star.

Sancho did appear to have a message for United on Wednesday, however, as he underlined his happiness at his current club.

"I love playing with this lot," Sancho told BVB-TV. "It is a special bunch. We've got some special young players coming up. I am really happy to share the pitch with them and guide them.

"I was once in their shoes, playing with the seniors. I am happy for them."

Despite being only 20, Sancho has said he is beginning to take on a leadership role in a squad that will utilise a number of teenagers, including 17-year-olds Gio Reyna and Jude Bellingham.

"I joined [Dortmund] when I was 17," Sancho said. "Some of the lads are the same age. I've been there and done that. I can guide them in what’s good and what isn’t. I can hopefully motivate them as well."

Bellingham paid tribute to Sancho on Tuesday in a Q&A on Dortmund's Twitter account, saying his fellow Englishman has helped him settle in after a €25m (£23m/$29m) off-season move from Birmingham.

"Jadon has been very helpful for me, not only is he great to play with but he always makes sure I understand what information the coaches are giving to us," Bellingham said.

Bellingham and Reyna both started in the friendly against Altach, with Reyna scoring the first goal. Erling Haaland netted a brace, with Thorgan Hazard, Emre Can and Julian Brandt also scoring.

Nigeria U15 coach Danladi Nasidi has died at the age of 68, the Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed.

According to the country’s football ruling body, Nasidi passed on Wednesday morning and has been buried according to Islamic rites.

Born on January 1, 1952, Nasidi was among the elite class of coaches in the country to bag a Caf A coaching licence.

After a brief stint as handler of the Gabonese national team in 1986, he helped his former team Stationery Stores escape relegation in 1994 before taking charge of Niger Tornadoes for several years.

On the international scene, he was Ismaila Mabo’s first assistant coach to the 1999 Fifa Women’s World Cup – where the Super Falcons reached the quarter-final in the United States.

As handler of the Future Eagles, he led the team to a silver medal finish at the 2019 African Games in Algiers.

With condolences pouring in, chairman of the NFF Technical and Development Committee who doubled as boss of Niger State Football Association Yusuf Ahmed said the deceased served Nigeria passionately and diligently in every role he found himself.

“It is a very sad day for Nigeria football, because Nasidi has been playing a huge role in grassroots development programmes for our football,” said Ahmed.

“He was very passionate about youth football and has moulded our U15 boys into a solid and formidable unit over the years. We will surely miss him.

“He was someone who evinced passion for youth and development every time and everywhere you met him. I am crestfallen. When I started my journey into football administration, Nasidi was one of the coaches who spurred me into investing in grassroots development. His passion was infective.

“I never regretted our relationship and my foray into grassroots development. Late Danladi Nasidi was a good man inwardly and outwardly and while we loved him, God loved him more.

“On behalf of the Nigeria Football Federation and the Nigeria football family, I pray to God to grant late Nasidi eternal rest and also grant all those he has left behind the fortitude to bear the big loss.”

Yanga SC have revealed they will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) regarding the decision by Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) to clear their former player Bernard Morrison to play for their bitter rivals Simba SC.

The Ghanaian was sued by the 27-time league champions for breach of contract by signing for the newly crowned Tanzania Mainland Champions while, allegedly, still contracted to them.

However, on Thursday, August 12, the Federation ruled the striker is free to play for Wekundu wa Msimbazi but will have to refund the Jangwani Street-based side $25,000 to be fully cleared and be allowed to turn out for his new side.

"Yanga management is not satisfied with the ruling made by TFF regarding Bernard Morrison," Timu ya Wananchi said in a statement obtained by Goal.

"It is for this reason, the management has decided to appeal the same in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) immediately the ruling from TFF is made available to the club.

"The management is urging all the members and supporters to be calm and continue working hand in hand with the team's leadership regarding the development of the club.

"The club will continue working with the sponsors to ensure the club grows."

After getting signed by the Msimbazi-based side, the striker urged his former team to accept and move on after he signed for their rivals on Saturday.

The Ghanaian forward, who has been at loggerheads with the Yanga management, was unveiled as a Simba player on Saturday after he signed a two-year contract with the Mainland Premier League champions.

However, immediately after Simba made the transfer official, Yanga came out with a statement in which they claimed Morrison was still their player as he still has a running contract with them until 2022, and that his case will be discussed by Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) on Monday.

"The leadership of Yanga have seen stories and rumours going round in social media which has unsettled our fans and the followers at large," read the statement from Yanga seen by Goal.

"Yanga is following keenly and closely the transfer revolving around Morrison to Simba and tough disciplinary action will be taken against those who violated the set rules."

Kaizer Chiefs were held to a 1-1 draw by a resilient Bidvest Wits side in a PSL match which was played in Soweto, Johannesburg on Wednesday night.

Coach Ernst Middendorp surprisingly named Nkosingphile Ngcobo in the starting line-up as the 20-year-old sensation is filling the void left by George Maluleka, who recently left Amakhosi for Mamelodi Sundowns.

Ngcobo started alongside Willard Katsande in midfield with the latter making his return from an injury having missed Chiefs' defeat to AmaZulu FC in March, which was the log leaders' last competitive match.

On the other hand, coach Gavin Hunt was forced to make changes with Buhle Mkhwanazi (injury) and Sifiso Hlanti (suspension) missing following the Students' defeat to Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup clash last weekend.

They were replaced by debutant Keenan Phillips and Zitha Macheke in the starting line-up, while Brighton Mhlongo, who was criticized after making goalkeeping errors against Sundowns, was replaced by Ricardo Goss in goal.

Chiefs got off to a promising start with their leading marksman Samir Nurkovic looking lively as he placed his header wide of the target from close range, before forcing Goss into a magnificent finger-tipping save with pressure mounting on the away side's defence. 

Middendorp's men were dominating aerial battles with the Clever Boys missing their towering central defender Mkhwanazi and they were conceding many set-pieces and corner-kicks.

Nurkovic got the goal he had been searching for when he headed home Lebogang Manyama's corner-kick to make it 1-0 to Chiefs in the 36th minute with the latter registering his ninth assist of the season which is the most in the league.

The 28-year-old Nurkovic continued to torment the visitors' defence and he had a chance to double the Glamour Boys' lead after Wits were exposed at the back, but he placed his low shot wide of the target and Hunt's men survived a scare.

The Clever Boys came close to levelling matters just before the half-time break when Cole Alexander's goal-bound shot was blocked on the goal-line by Kgotso Moleko and Chiefs were leading 1-0 at the interval.

A lively second half followed with Hunt having introduced Bienvenu Eva Nga and the Cameroonian centre forward tried to make an immediate impact, but he was brilliantly denied by Daniel Akpeyi in Chiefs' goal.

The hosts were not prepared to sit back and defend their slender lead as they pushed forward in numbers and Castro burst into the box and unleashed a low shot which was well-saved by former South Africa under-23 international Goss.

The Clever Boys upped the tempo after the hour mark as they looked to restore parity and Middendorp decided to introduce defensive-minded Njabulo Blom as the home side then looked to contain Hunt's men.

Wits pushed forward in numbers, but they were left vulnerable at the back and they nearly conceded when Nurkovic's curling effort hit the crossbar with Goss well-beaten in the closing stages of the encounter.

Chiefs were then caught napping at the other end and they were punished by Alexander, who scored a late equalizing goal from close range to ensure that the match ended in a 1-1 draw on the night.

The draw saw Chiefs remain at the top of the league standings - four points above second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns, while Wits moved up to fifth spot on the table.

Timo Werner's departure does not mean RB Leipzig will be "outnumbered" against Atletico Madrid, with Julian Nagelsmann confident his squad still carries a sufficient goal threat.

Chelsea shelled out a reported £45million (€50m) to secure the signature of Werner, who opted to link up with his new team-mates in west London rather than remain with Leipzig for the rest of their Champions League campaign.

The Germany international scored 34 goals and supplied 12 assists in 45 appearances in all competitions for the Bundesliga side in 2019-20.

Leipzig consequently head into their quarter-final against Atletico on Thursday without their most potent attacking weapon, but Nagelsmann believes they can still do damage at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

"We don't have to play outnumbered, we will replace [Werner] with a capable player," Nagelsmann told a pre-match news conference.

"I can reveal that 11 will start the game, but I will not reveal who will play instead of him. We have quality.

"Timo would have started tomorrow, but we can replace him and we have the ability to get in front of their goal.

"We have players who didn't play when Werner was here and will now get their chance to show what they can do and score plenty."

Nagelsmann's attacking options could be further limited by Patrik Schick being on the way back from a knee injury, while Marcel Halstenberg has been dealing with a back problem.

"We'll see how they are doing. On Friday they were good; we'll see if they can start and play 90, or if they'll start on the bench," said Nagelsmann.

"If they can play 90 minutes, if they're at 100 per cent is a question for all my players, though, and we'll see that tomorrow."

Atleti have been regulars in the latter stages of the Champions League under Diego Simeone but Nagelsmann feels the fact remaining matches will be played as one-offs rather than over two legs makes up for Leipzig's inexperience in European competition.

"We'll look to play our game, we're focused on ourselves," said the Leipzig boss.

"We know that they have a lot of experience over two legs - but anything can happen in just one game as opposed to two legs. Atleti don't have experience in one-off games, just as we don't in this new Champions League format.

"They're physical, they have a really strong centre-back in the shape of [Jose] Gimenez and [Stefan] Savic next to him. We obviously want to look get down the sides and move the ball out wide and try and find gaps in their backline; we won't change our style.

"There's pressure and nerves. But we want to relax the players and not increase the pressure ahead. There's always tension. We've spoken through different scenarios - if we score, if they score.

"We're focused on the game, it'll be exciting and we want to make the first step and take the lead. We will be ready."

Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) has cleared Ghanaian Bernard Morrison to play for Simba SC.

His former club Yanga SC had sued the player for breach of contract, at the same time accusing Wekundu wa Msimbazi of player tapping. After a sitting which took the better part of Wednesday, TFF has cleared the attacker of any wrongdoing.

However, the player will have to refund the Jangwani Street-based side $25,000 to be fully cleared and be allowed to turn out for the newly crowned Tanzania Mainland League champions.

The 27-year old has since expressed his delight by joining the 21-time-league champions.

"I am here with you [Simba supporters] because from today [Wednesday] ... I am officially a Simba player," the Ghanaian told the club's media team.

"I hope you guys will welcome me and love me the way you love your players because I am very happy to join your club and I am hoping to make you guys happy."

The player has been accused of indiscipline especially by his former team, Timu ya Wananchi, but he has hinted on turning a new leaf and ensuring he respects everyone at his new home.

"So can you please accept me in your homes? I am going to respect this club and every supporter, respect the management and make you guys happy," Morrison concluded.  

Former Yanga captain Papy Tshishimbi is also reportedly on his way to the 21-time champions.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) player was among the 14 players who left Yanga a week ago.

Goal now understands, Tshishimbi, who was the captain of Yanga, has now agreed on personal terms to cross over to the Mainland Premier League champions.

"Simba have completed talks with [Tshishimbi] and he will be unveiled anytime this week, to become the second player arriving from Yanga this window," the source, who did not want to be named, told Goal on Monday.

The rivalry between the Tanzanian giants hit a dizzy height over the weekend when Simba CEO Senzo Mbatha Mazingiza resigned from his post at the club and moments later was unveiled by Yanga in the same capacity.

Simba, who clinched a treble in the just-concluded 2019-20 campaign, have come out to state the exit of Mazingiza will not affect their plans for the new season, nor deny them the chance of winning three titles again.

Uganda international Fahad Bayo has delivered an emotional message to Vipers SC as he prepares to start a new life with new club FC Ashdod.

The towering Bayo, has left the Venoms after a one-year spell which saw him make 24 appearances, score 15 goals in all competitions and win the Fufa Super 8 and Uganda Premier League (UPL) medals.

The burly forward penned a four-year contract to join the Israel Premier League giants a week ago.

Bayo has now delivered a moving statement to Vipers on his social media pages to express his gratitude to the coaches and players he has worked with, and for the support of the fans, during his time at St Mary’s stadium.

“After one season at Vipers, the time has come to say goodbye,” Bayo wrote. “It’s been an incredible honour to represent one of the biggest clubs in Uganda, and to achieve things that few players ever managed to achieve.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank the fans for their support during the good times and the bad. I also want to thank all the coaches I’ve worked with during my spell here; their knowledge and expertise have been invaluable.

“I’ve shared the pitch with some fantastic players in my season at Vipers, but the squad is the best I’ve ever been a part of. I’ll never forget my debut in the Fufa Super 8 final in Wankulukuku, and I’m glad I got to share it with such a terrific group of lads.”

Bayo continued: “It’s been a great ride. There have been ups, downs and everything in between, but I’ll always look back on my time at St Mary’s Kitende with fondness. I have no regrets – I’ve given my all, and I’ve always done my best to wear the shirt with pride, and to represent the club with dignity and professionalism.

“Once part of the family, always part of the family. Deep inside I’ll always be a Venom. Thanks for the memories Vipers, and good luck for the future.”

Bayo, who has also played for local club Proline FC, joined Vipers last year from Zambian outfit Buildcon FC.

He inspired Vipers to the 2019/2020 league title after scoring 12 goals in their hunt for domestic football's biggest title.

Over the last 12 months, Bayo's impressive run had earned him calls to the national team. He was part of the Cranes side that won the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup and scored a wonder goal against Malawi last year during an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.