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Guinea finished third in the 2021 African Nations Championship after beating Cameroon 2-0 on Saturday at the Reunification Stadium in Douala.

Morlaye Sylla and Mamadouba Camara scored the two goals that saw off the hosts and helped resilient Syli National to finish as the third-best team in the tournament.

A spirited fight by the Indomitable Lions especially in the second half did not produce any meaningful result that would have denied the West Africans a chance to grab the third place.

Sylla, Guinea’s outstanding player of the tournament, struck in the ninth minute after he found his way past Cameroon’s backline and slotted home past goalkeeper Haschou Kerrido.

Cameroon would have scored goals as three chances went abegging when they exerted pressure on their opponents midway through the first half. Felix Oukine, Bertrand Junior and Salomon Bindjeme saw their chances go to waste as Guinea remained resolute while under pressure.

After Abou Camara had dived low to deny Bindjeme, Ngnowa Yre also wasted a chance in the 37th minute as he fired straight into Moussa Camara’s hands although he had the space to launch a more clinical shot.

After dealing with Cameroon’s pressure, Guinea launched a counter-attack, beat the offside trap and scored the second goal in the first minute of added time of the first half. In a one-on-one situation with Cameroonian goalkeeper Kerrido, Camara did well to slot home and extend their lead just before the break.

As was the case in the first half, Guinea managed to operate under intense pressure from the hosts in the opening minutes of the second half.

Guinea survived from conceding in the 56th minute when goalkeeper Camara punched a ball onto Oukine’s path but defender Kalif Traote made a quick goal-line clearance to deny Oukine and to ensure the status quo remained.

Camara was called to action in the 61st minute when he stopped Martin Ako from finding the back of the net with a clinical effort just outside the penalty box.

Camara again saved Guinea from conceding when, in the 82nd minute, he dived to his left-hand side and pushed Anthony Mfede’s goal-bound free-kick away as a determined Cameroon saw their hopes of a comeback fading each minute.

As Guinea contend with the third place against the hosts, Morocco would be hoping to successfully defend the title when they will clash against Mali in Sunday’s final.

Kenyan referee Peter Waweru will be the referee as defending champions Morocco take on Mali in the final of the African Nations Championship at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde on Sunday.

It is the first major final the Jomo Kenyatta University lecturer will be officiating and his second in the Chan competition after overseeing Mali eliminating Congo in the quarter-final played at the same venue.

The East African will be assisted by another Kenyan in Gilbert Cheruiyot who will serve as the first assistant referee. Just like Waweru, Cheruiyot served in the same capacity as the Eagles of Mali eliminated the Red Devils in the last eight.

"It is a huge milestone and it shows you how far we have come as a country," Football Kenya Federation president Nick Mwendwa told Goal. 

"It is a motivation for Kenyan referees and a joy for all of us. The two guys [Waweru and Cheruiyot] have worked really hard to be where they are and I want to assure all football lovers in the country that the way is only up.

"We will continue to support the referees and make sure we have representation in subsequent tournaments."

"We are on the right track and not only the refereeing issue, as we want to make sure everything is done correctly so that we keep our place at the top." 

Carine Atezambong Fomo will be the second assistant referee while Alioum Alioum will be the fourth official.

The Video Assistant Referees (VAR) will be Bamlak Tessema Weyesa of Ethiopia, Zambian Janny Sikazwe and Elvis Guy Noupue Nguegoue of Cameroon.

Morocco stormed into the final on February 3 after a 4-0 win over hosts Cameroon, to set a date with West African heavyweights.

Soufiane Rahimi scored a brace for the Atlas Lions at Limbe Stadium with other goals coming from Soufiane Bouftini and Mohammed Ali Bemammer.

At Japoma Stadium in Douala, on the same day, the Eagles advanced to the final after a 5-4 win in a penalty shootout following a goalless draw in regulation and extra time. 

In the shootout, Morlaye Sylla failed to get the ball into the back of the net, giving Mamadou Coulibaly a chance to send substitute goalkeeper Sekouba Camara the wrong way and ensure the Eagles reached the final.

Dylan Kerr has explained the team which controls the midfield during the FKF Premier League derby between Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards will carry the bragging rights on Sunday.

The two Kenyan giants will face off at Kasarani Stadium with Ingwe placed ahead of K’Ogalo on the 18-team table, as they are fourth with 18 points while their rivals are seventh on 15 points, with both teams having played eight matches.

The British tactician, who handled Gor Mahia and never lost a derby to AFC Leopards, has now told Goal the team which will want to win the game more and whose midfield function well, will carry the day.

“The team who wants it more will win the derby,” Kerr told Goal from his base in South Africa.

Asked to pick where the derby will be won, Kerr explained: “The midfield, the team which will have a good game in the middle of the pack will carry the day because that is where the ball will be distributed, it is all about controlling your midfield and the day will be yours.”

Kerr has also revealed despite K’Ogalo having a better record against their rivals in recent derbies, that will not count for anything when they face off.

“Gor Mahia have the advantage from previous results but all that will not matter or count, for now, a derby is won with the team which steps up their game on match day, it all about the bragging rights and if you get your acts right, then you win,” Kerr continued.

“AFC Leopards will also want to impress now they have a new coach coming in, the players will play to impress as he will watch from the stands, and this can push them again maybe to upset Gor Mahia.”

On whether we should anticipate a tight derby or a high scoring tie, Kerr, who recently parted ways with Black Leopards in South Africa, said: “In today’s football, it will be a very close contest, and remember we don’t have fans to spur on their teams, so it will be a very close battle.

“At least the sits will remain where they are,” Kerr concluded in reference to violence which has been associated with the derby, where fans uproot seats and cause mayhem whenever they sense defeat or lose.

The match will kick-off at 15:00 local time.

For all that the January transfer window has its foibles, it does serve an important purpose for footballers: it can serve as an emergency exit, even if only temporarily, from inactivity.

At the close of this most recent winter window, two Nigeria internationals made similar journeys in search of greater involvement at club level.

In many ways, the careers of Ramon Azeez and Kelechi Nwakali mirror one another: both captained successful Nigeria national sides at under-17 level (the former to a runner-up spot at the 2009 World Cup, the latter to first-place in 2015), both are midfielders, and both traded the glamour of the Spanish top flight for a relegation battle in the Segunda Division.

However, that is where the similarities end. While Azeez has featured for the senior national team at the World Cup, and is, at 28, accomplished, Nwakali has struggled to make the transition from prodigious youth international to established professional.

When Granada earned promotion to the top flight back in the summer of 2019, it was with Azeez helping to push them over the line in their bid, and he proceeded to exert a great deal of influence (especially deployed as a key pressing instigator in matches against La Liga’s heavyweights) as the Rojiblancos consolidated. Diego Martinez’s side confounded expectations to finish in the Europa League places, and are one of the league’s more entertaining and enterprising sides.

However, the second season has been less kind to Azeez, who suffered a muscle injury in his right leg back in October.

This unfortunate circumstance kept him out of action for eight weeks, and since then he has found returning to first-team contention an uphill task.

Up until the setback, he had featured in two of Granada’s opening four league matches; since that unfortunate diagnosis, he has only made one further appearance: in a Copa Del Rey tie against Cultural Leonesa in early January.

A move, therefore, seemed expedient. Following Granada’s Cup victory over Malaga, manager Martinez announced Azeez had requested a loan, and a fortnight later the Nigeria international reached an agreement to spend the rest of the season at Cartagena.

There, he will certainly find minutes, but will also face a daunting challenge. Cartagena are second from bottom in Segunda, have lost over 50 percent of matches played so far, and have the joint third-worst goal difference in the division. The only worse side, both in terms of points and performance, is bottom side Alcorcon.

They themselves have received their own Nigerian shot in the arm in the form of Nwakali who, like Azeez, arrives in search of the playing time he was unable to accumulate in La Liga. However, unlike Azeez, he takes the step down with much still to prove, and with his reputation at an all-time low.

The tale of his career so far is old ground by this point, but perhaps the biggest disappointment has been his utter inability to seize an opportunity like Huesca presented to him.

Like Azeez, he was signed to augment a promotion charge from Segunda, and despite his minimal impact, Huesca kept the faith, believing his obvious potential would rise to the occasion in the top flight.

Sadly though, they have found their faith misplaced.

He has only earned one start in La Liga, with concerns over his lack of physical robustness and tactical awareness pushing him farther onto the margins of the first team. Struggling teams will often focus on the fundamentals, and usually have little patience for players like Nwakali who colour outside the lines: neither boasting the elusiveness to function as a proper attacking midfielder, nor the defensive aptitude to offer protection to the defence.

How his style translates to a side like Alcorcon remains to be seen, but it is damning that he has traded the (statistically) worst side in one division for the worst side in an even lower one.

It ought to light a fire under him, and perhaps it will be an infectious conflagration: only three points stand between Alcorcon and safety in Segunda, and so it is not outside the realm of possibility that they might pull the iron out of the fire in the nick of time.

Suddenly, the basement of Spain’s second-tier holds some interest for the Nigerian fan, with two midfield technicians passing one another, like great ships in a mist, at vastly different points in their voyages.

Drawing with Everton was a "big blow" for Manchester United, according to Paul Scholes, who says it will be "difficult" for the Red Devils to win the title now.

United missed the chance to draw level with arch-rivals Manchester City at the top of the table again on Saturday night.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side were held to a 3-3 draw by Everton at Old Trafford, despite having gone in at half-time with a healthy two-goal advantage thanks to efforts from Edinson Cavani and Bruno Fernandes.

Unfortunately, a David de Gea mistake gifted Abdoulaye Doucoure a goal in the 49th minute and James Rodriguez fired in an equaliser three minutes later, forcing the hosts to raise their game by a couple of extra notches.

The Red Devils pushed forward at will and were eventually rewarded when Scott McTominay headed in a perfectly flighted Luke Shaw free kick on the 70-minute mark.

United held on to their lead until deep into stoppage time, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin had the final say as he produced a cool finish past the hesitant De Gea after racing onto a flick-on from a Lucas Digne pass to leave Solskjaer and his staff stunned on the touchline.

The Manchester outfit are now two points behind City in the standings having played two games more, and although Scholes has urged his old club to "keep fighting", he is not confident that the trophy will be returning to Old Trafford come May.

"That’s a big blow. If you’re talking about title hopes, it’s a big blow for them. Of course it is," The United legend told Premier League Productions post-match.

"I just feel Paul Pogba going off was a big moment in the game. I thought they had complete control up to that point. Fred coming on, they lost control in the middle of the pitch.

"[Andre] Gomes, Doucoure and [Tom] Davies really started to take control of the game and that was a big blow for United. Conceding a goal that late, it’s not a good look. Are they totally out of it?

"It’s going to be difficult from now on I think. But they’ve got to keep going, they’ve got to keep fighting, they’ve got to keep believing."

Scholes added: "There was a lot of [positive] stuff in the game, of course there was, to get in the position they were in but they’ll be very disappointed.

"And again it’s at home, dropping big games at home. I think they’ll get to the end of the season and think 'what if?' because it’s so many stupid points they’ve dropped at home.

"They’ve lost four games at home, now these stupid points they’ve dropped, Sheffield United last week, Tottenham, Crystal Palace, losing to an Arsenal team who are nowhere near the team they were.

"It’s looking like it’s going to be a 'what if?' season for them."

United will now look ahead to an FA Cup fifth-round tie against West Ham on Tuesday, which comes five days before their next Premier League fixture away at West Brom.

Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Benedict Vilakazi says he is worried coach Josef Zinnbauer is not regularly playing forward Frank Mhango when fit.

Mhango made the difference on Saturday with his goal handing Pirates a 1-0 win over Uthongathi FC in a Nedbank Cup Last 32 match at Orlando Stadium.

It was a rare start for the forward who has managed to be in the Buccaneers line-up on seven occasions in all competitions this season due to injury.

But Vilakazi feels the Malawian, who top-scored in the Premier Soccer League last season, can drive the Soweto giants forward, especially since other strikers Zakhele Lepasa and Tshegofatso Mabasa are injured.

“Let’s not doubt Mhango’s work rate and what he can do. He showed us last season and is still showing us now,” Vilakazi told iDiski TV.

“Mhango is a player who can come up with a plan. If you have absolutely nothing, he is the kind of guy who can take out his wallet and say ‘here is R20, let’s buy bread and eat in the house.’

"Mhango is that player. So now if you sideline such a player, I’m worried about what Zinnbauer was doing.

“But I am happy that Mhango is playing. Lepasa and Mabasa are injured so he is the only striker. Play him. He is playing and he is delivering.”

With Pirates thin in the attacking department due to injuries, the only other outright striker currently available is Jean-Marc Makusu.

Makusu arrived at Pirates in November while already carrying an injury and has also not been prominently featuring, only making cameo appearances as a substitute.

That appears to have limited the Congolese forward the ability to flourish and Vilakazi is pleading for patience on Makusu, who is yet to score in five matches across all competitions.

“Not yet [seen much of Makusu]. Let’s also give him a chance. He needs to be given at least 20 minutes in every game,” said Vilakazi.

“Let’s see more of him in the game because you can’t judge him in just five minutes even though we always tell players that whether you came onto the pitch for just two minutes [show your best]. Andries Sebola used to do that. He would be introduced in the last minute of the game and would score for Pirates to win.

“Makusu is not Andries Sebola but I’m saying that whatever minutes you get on the field of play, make full use of them.”

After the Nedbank Cup triumph, Pirates now switch attention to the PSL campaign as they host Cape Town City on Tuesday.

Kaizer Chiefs host National First Division side Richards Bay at FNB Stadium on Sunday as they begin their quest for a first Nedbank Cup title since 2013.

After beating SuperSport United 2-1 in the final of the 2013 competition with Bernard Parker grabbing the all-important goal, the Nedbank Cup has since eluded Amakhosi.

But they have a chance to finally claim it again, beginning with a date against the second-division KwaZulu-Natal outfit.

The Soweto giants are the most successful side in the Nedbank Cup with 13 titles and would be looking to cement their supremacy in this knockout tournament.

For a third successive season, Chiefs will be starting their Nedbank Cup campaign against a lower division side and they have won on all occasions.

TV Channel, Live Score & How To Watch

Squads & Team News

Hunt will lead his troops into battle without defender Siyabonga Ngezana who is suspended.

Ngezana picked up his fourth yellow card of the season in the 2-1 Soweto derby defeat by Orlando Pirates the previous weekend, which carries an automatic one-game ban.

Hunt has also expressed doubts over the availability of another defender Ramahlwe Mphahlele, who has missed their last three games due to injury.

If Mphahlele fails a late fitness test, Chiefs would still have enough cover at the back in Anthony Akumu and Erick Mathoho, while Daniel Cardoso can also take up the centre-back role.

Richards Bay have not made the situation in their camp known.

But they will be banking on the experience of veteran midfielder Siyabonga Vilane who has played Premier Soccer League before with Baroka FC, Cape Town City and AmaZulu.

South Africa Under-23 goalkeeper Andile Mbanjwa is also in their squad.

Match Preview

After the Soweto derby defeat, Chiefs would be keen to avoid a second straight loss.

Also, the desire to end an eight-year wait for the Nedbank Cup, as well as easing up an already difficult season will push on Amakhosi on Sunday.

They would want to reclaim the form they showed during their five-match unbeaten run they were enjoying prior to the Soweto derby.

But a Richards Bay outfit that are in contending for PSL promotion stand in their way.

The KwaZulu-Natal side are second on the NFD standings with the same number of points as table-toppers Sekhukhune United.

An inferior goal-difference has, however, undone Richards Bay but having not tasted defeat in their last eight league games, they could prove to be a danger to Chiefs.

Sergio Lobera's Mumbai City are set to face FC Goa for the second time this season in the 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL) on Monday. The Islanders are at the top of the league table after 15 matches with 33 points in their pocket. They are up against a team who are remarkably third and in the hunt for the top four despite their head coach and several key players leaving the club last season. 

The pre-season for the 2020-21 campaign was an uncertain period of Goa supporters. They had no idea what to expect from the team.

Sergio Lobera, who had taken the team to new levels and helped them clinch a first-ever AFC Champions League spot by finishing at the top of the league table, was sacked before the season ended. He joined Mumbai City as head coach in the summer and several key players, such as Ahmed Jahouh, Hugo Boumous, Mourtada Fall and the then club captain Mandar Rao Dessai, followed the gaffer to his new club. 

To lose a coach to a fellow ISL club is huge but to lose multiple key players also is even harder to accept for the supporters. Boumous was the club's star of the season with an incredible return of 11 goals and 10 assists in 15 matches as the Gaurs topped the league table. 

But ahead of Goa's tie against Mumbai City, when Lobera takes a look at the Gaurs' last starting lineup, he will only find only one recognisable face, who was a regular during his tenure at the club. 

Full-backs Saviour Gama, Seriton Fernandes and midfielder Edu Bedia are the last remaining pieces of the FC Goa team that Lobera built. Ferrando has come in and revamped the side to suit his methods and has found moderate success, albeit not without issues and injuries, at the club. However, amongst the three, only Fernandes was a regular under Lobera in the starting XI.

Igor Angulo, who replaced Ferran Corominas, already has 10 goals in 14 matches this season. The midfield once bossed by Ahmed Jahouh is currently managed by Alberto Noguera and Edu Bedia whose influence had waned over time under Lobera. 

With Brandon Fernandes injured, the creative mantle has been taken up by the likes of Jorge Ortiz and Noguera. Ortiz has the flair to create something out of nothing and Noguera has registered six assists in ISL so far, which is currently the joint-highest tally alongside that of Boumous. 

Lenny Rodrigues, who also played a key role in midfield under the former gaffer, has left the club to join ATK Mohun Bagan. In his place, the Gaurs have brought in the young Indian talent of Amarjit Singh. And in goal, Mohammad Nawaz is out in the cold ahead of a summer move out of Goa and another youngster Dheeraj Singh has joined as Ferrando's custodian.

Jackichand Singh, who had a key role in two out of three seasons with Lobera, has been replaced by former Chennai City winger Alexander Romario who has slotted in seamlessly and looks very impressive out on the right flank. The Manipuri winger has, in fact, re-connected with Lobera at Mumbai City in the January transfer window.

The youngsters at FC Goa also are beginning to feature a lot more, as part of Ferrando's policy. Princeton Rebello has already started eight games for the club and Gama, who had one start last season, has started every game under Ferrando. 

Lobera has had a major impact at FC Goa without a doubt. However, this FC Goa is Ferrando's team through and through as the entire set of players have changed. 

The system has produced mixed results so far - they are unbeaten in eight games but have registered four draws in a row. But they are very much in the race for the play-offs and that's where the fans want them to be at this stage of the season. The jury is still out but they are in desperate need for results if they are to make it into the play-offs. And the first step to do so would be against league leaders Mumbai City FC. 

Football is not just a sport in northeast India. It's an obsession.

However, in school, Ashalata Devi had never seen a girl's football match being hosted on the annual sports day. The boy's team would play and their role was limited to being mere spectators. It seemed odd to her, but who would bell the cat?

After much thought and mustering all her courage, she walked up to the physical education teacher and feverishly asked if a girl's match could be organised. 

"He agreed. He then asked us to make two teams of 11 so that a match could be organised. It was like my first match," reminisced the India international to Goal. 

It was one of those school matches where there are little tactics and all energy. 22 girls were running after the ball and neither of the teams could score a goal. It went to tie-breakers and Ashalata converted one of the spot-kicks to score the first goal in her life. 

The match stoked the simmering fire in the girls and soon it was a rage. Around 10-15 girls started practicing regularly with the boys. After school, it seemed that nothing in the world could stop Ashalata and her friends from drinking the new elixir that they had found in football. But, her family abhorred the idea of girls playing football. 

" After two-three months, everything stopped. After practice, I was beaten up by my mother (laughs). So I had to leave then." 

However, her spirits remained high. And soon she would sneak out of her house in the afternoon and join the practice sessions. But once the results came, everything was out in the open. 

"I did not do well and they found out where I was going. She always said,' tujhme agar sharam naam ke koi cheez hai toh football chod deti.'  (if you have any shame in you,  you would have left football.') (laughs) But that time it was really difficult." 

In spite of the challenges, she joined KRYPSHA FC (Kangchup Road Young Physical and Sports Association) in 2008. That could well augur as the turning point of her career. 

"Chaoba ma'am was the coach. It was my first training under a professional coach. I started off as a central midfielder. But the club needed a defender. Chaoba ma'am requested me to play as a defender. I refuted her many times. I did not like playing at the back. I wanted to go forward with the ball. But she helped me a lot understanding the role of a defender. She helped me improve my positioning and game reading. Since then I have been a defender," the 27-year-old revealed. 

She started playing for Manipur and during the nationals, she was spotted by the selectors for India U17 squad. It was at this juncture that her family gradually started to accept her as a footballer. 

But to get selected for the India senior team she had to improve in leaps and bounds. She was not one of the sturdiest and her endurance level was rock-bottom. 

"Chaoba ma'am used to take endurance tests and even though I completed, the results were poor. On one occasion I even started vomiting after it. I got a lot of scolding. I felt very bad after that rebuke. So I started climbing the hillocks behind my house to increase my endurance. Even during monsoons, when all players were on a holiday we defenders used to practice sliding and heading. So she has been a wonderful mentor to me." 

Three years she worked on herself and finally in 2011, she made the national team debut. Since then she has not looked back. She has won the AIFF Women's Player of the Year for her performance in 2018-19 and was even nominated by AFC amongst the top-three players in Asia along with China’s Li Ying, who was a part of the team in the Women’s World Cup in France and Japanese midfielder Saki Kumagai, who won the Women’s Champions League for Lyon. 

It was under her leadership that India reached the second round of Olympic qualifiers for the first time in history before getting knocked out by Myanmar on goal-difference. India have also seen a steady rise in the FIFA rankings. They are ranked 53rd in the world and a strong show in the Asian Cup qualifiers later this year could potentially fire them into the top 50. 

"We have played a lot of friendly matches in these past two-three years. That counts a lot. We have won some good matches that helped in rankings. We have changed our approach to football. We are focussing on fitness and diet. These things were not done even a few years back. Maymol (Rocky) ma'am is a good coach. She is very helpful and is a smart coach. That has also helped us," explained the skipper. 

Ashalata marshalled her defence and ensured that the team had the best defensive record in the group during the Olympic qualifiers. In the end, the team could not get over the line. However, she wants to make amends when India hosts the AFC Asian Cup in 2022. A knockout berth would more than suffice for the earlier disappointment. 

Sevilla defeated Getafe 3-0 in Saturday’s Spanish topflight game with Morocco internationals Munir El Haddadi and Youssef En-Nesyri among the goalscorers.

Los Nervionenses came into the came on the back of six consecutive wins in all competitions with their last result a 1-0 triumph over Almeria in a Copa del Rey fixture.

In the keenly contested encounter, the hosts had the first chance just three minutes into the game through Suso who had his trademark shot saved by goalkeeper Ruben Yanez. Few minutes later, they got another chance but Lucas Ocampos’ backheel at the near post from a corner kick narrowly missed the target.

Midway through the first-half, Getafe were presented with their first chance to take the lead but Nemanja Maksimovic’s header off Damien Suarez’s cross went wide.

In the 35th minute, goalkeeper Yanez punched away a Joan Jordan cross but it fell to an unmarked Ocampo, who tapped inside the net. However, VAR cancelled the goal as the Argentine forward was adjudged to have handled the ball.

Both teams came out stronger in the second-half, albeit, Getafe got reduced by a man after Togo international Djene was given the marching orders in the 54th minute for a dreadful challenge on Ocampos.

In the 67th minute, Sevilla took the lead through substitute El Haddadi, who got on the end of a superb ball in from Jordan and volleyed home.

Ocampos replacement Alejandro Gomez doubled the lead for Julen Lopetegui’s side in the 87th minute - scoring his first goal for the club with a 25-yard beauty.

Two minutes later, En-Nesyri sealed the win after he rounded the keeper for his 13th LaLiga goal in 21 games played so far in the ongoing season.

Just like En-Nesyri, his compatriot goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was in action from start to finish as Sevilla extended their winning streak to seven games.

For the visiting side, Cameroonian defender Allan Nyom and Moroccan defender on loan from Villarreal played all 90 minutes.

Sevilla are third in the log having accrued 42 points from 21 games - eight points behind leaders Atletico Madrid, while Getafe are 12th with 24 points from the same number of outings. They take on Barcelona in Wednesday's Copa del Rey semi-final.

Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger revealed that he has received "immense" amounts of racist abuse on social media over claims he had a hand in Frank Lampard's sacking. 

A host of Premier League stars, including Manchester United duo Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, and Rudiger's Chelsea team-mates Reece James and Callum Hudson-Odoi, have gone public recently to denounce the abuse they have received online. 

Rudiger has now affirmed that he is also a victim of hate speech, and that the volume of such messages has taken him aback. 

"What I can say is people should be human beings. I didn't post anything about this but the racial abuse was immense," the defender explained to the Daily Mail.

"This makes me stronger, I know who I am. I can look in the mirror, I can smile. I can put my hand up. I know I didn't do anything. So for me, this is forgotten. If people are still on that [racially abusing people], at the end of the day I cannot control people and their emotions and I don't want to.

"It's sad. But it is what it is. At the end of the day, in life, for me it's very important that I can look in the mirror.

"That's the most important thing. I see myself. I know who I am. As I said before, with other people, their emotions, I cannot control it. I don't want to control it.

"They can say what they want. Of course, it hurts but in this case I just block this out because I know who I am and I didn't do anything.

"To be very honest, I don't know about all these social media things.

"Because at the end of the day, if more people are making accounts, I think they make money off it.   

"So, me personally, I don't think these people care. For, as you know, this money has power. And the rest doesn't matter.

"It's hard to tell if people will make a change on that. I feel sorry for that. But I feel more sorry for people who are not strong enough, it really affects them this type of stuff.

"Of course it affects me in a way too but for me, it's just to think people are not normal. People are, sorry to say, stupid." 

Rudiger went on to reiterate that he had no influence on Chelsea's decision to part ways with Lampard, saying that he is happy to work with any manager given the chance to shine at Stamford Bridge. 

"It's my fourth season in the club and so far I had four coaches. My conscience is clear. I know who I am. I know I didn't do all of that nonsense that came out. In my head I'm very free," he added.

"I am open for every new coach as I was open also to Mr Lampard."

Ronald Koeman has called on the game’s governing bodies to look at the fixture schedule as the Barcelona coach feels the players are being killed by the workload.

The 2020-21 campaign is an exceptional one, as it started late on account of the break in the previous season due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the competitions need to be concluded ahead of this summer’s European Championship.

Since the turn of the year, Barcelona have played 10 games - and have another seven to negotiate before the end of February.

Koeman can understand the issues with the current campaign, but feels the problems are rooted deeper than the knock-on effects from the pandemic, and wants UEFA to work with the national associations to ensure players are not being overburdened.

"It is difficult," Koeman told Marca ahead of Barca’s trip to Real Betis on Sunday. "The number of games that the big teams have, with three competitions, on top of the Covid situation, makes everything more difficult.

"You have to talk with the players to see how they are physically, their feelings. Sometimes you have to give someone a rest to be able to have everyone in the best condition.

"If we count tomorrow's game and Wednesday's game, there are 12 games in a row, of which 11 are away from home. And that's playing at 21:00, coming home at 03:00 in the morning. It is difficult for the players to be able to play all the time. We need help.

"I hope that one day UEFA or La Liga will think about the number of games and what this does to the players. It is not normal. The games we've had to play, the trips, the schedules, playing the Supercopa between four teams, in my opinion, it is a lot.

"Each coach has his opinion about the fixture schedule that the players have to go through. I think this has to stop, it's killing the players. We will have many injuries as a result of this. It is impossible.

"Hopefully one day they will make a decision to help the players with their fitness."

Following the trip to Betis, Barca face Sevilla in the Copa del Rey and Alaves in La Liga before the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash with Paris Saint-Germain.

With Barca trailing Atletico Madrid by 10 points in La Liga and having played a game more, Koeman, who said he hopes Lionel Messi spends many more years at the club, will know the importance of having a full-strength side to call on to face PSG.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has claimed that Manchester United are not title contenders, saying that suggestion has been whipped up by the media.

The Red Devils were seconds away from drawing level with Manchester City at the top of the table - albeit having played two games more - but Dominic Calvert-Lewin netted deep into injury time to secure a 3-3 draw for Everton at Old Trafford on Saturday.

It was a poor goal for United to concede, with Harry Maguire dropping back to play the Everton attackers onside and David de Gea being slow off his line as Calvert-Lewin controlled before slotting home.

Everton’s first goal was a mistake from De Gea, who parried a cross from Calvert-Lewin into the path of Abdoulaye Doucoure, and Solskjaer admitted he was frustrated with how his side defended.

"We played some good football in the second half but conceded three goals from three shots on target,” Solskjaer, who saw Paul Pogba limp off injured towards the end of the first half, told Sky Sports. “When you do that it is disappointing.

"I wouldn't blame anyone on the goals but we know we could have done better as a team on all of them.

“Results create the mood, the last kick of the ball makes us go home really disappointed. We have lost two points on a long thump upfield which we should have defended.”

United are now two points back of City with two more games played, and Solskjaer says the Red Devils are a long way off being contenders.

“We are not talking about winning titles,” Solskjaer said. “We have come a long way, this team.

“We should not even be considered as title chasers. That is more talk that you (the media) are saying.

“We need to be better as a team and see where we end up. Going forward, we need to stop conceding easy goals.”

United can shift their attentions away from the Premier League for the moment, as they face West Ham in the FA Cup on Tuesday.

The following week the Red Devils are in Europa League action with a trip to face Real Sociedad in the round of 32.

Victor Osimhen was on parade for Napoli, albeit, could do little as they lost 2-1 to Genoa in Saturday’s Serie A encounter.

The fit-again Nigeria international made a cameo appearance in Wednesday’s 0-0 Copa Italia draw versus Atalanta – replacing Mexican forward Hirving Lozano in the 82nd minute.

Against the Griffin, manager Gennaro Gattuso introduced him for Andrea Petagna in the 54th minute. Even at that, he was unable to prevent the Parthenopeans from losing their seventh game of the 2020-21 campaign.

Buoyed by their 1-0 victory over Cagliari their last time out, Genoa started the game brightly by creating scoring chances in the opening minute of the game.

Their persistence paid off in the 11th minute as Goran Pandev put them ahead thanks to a Milan Badelj assist. Profiting from a horrendous defending from the visitors, Badelj teed up the Macedonian forward who rifled past goalkeeper David Ospina.

Fourteen minutes later, Pandev completed his brace to give Davide Ballardini’s men a dream start at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Gattuso’s side came out strongly after conceding the second time, nevertheless, they were unable to break down a solid Genoa backline.

In the second-half, they stepped up their chase to avoid defeat with manager Gattuso bringing in Lorenzo Insigne and Osimhen for Piotr Zielinski and Petagna respectively in the 54th minute.

That substitution added spark to Napoli’s attacking setup and in the 79th minute, Matteo Politano reduced the deficit after shooting past goalkeeper Mattia Perin from a goal mouth scramble.

Despite a late attacking surge from the visitors, they were unable to get the needed equaliser as they returned to Rome with heads bowed low.

Algeria star Faouzi Ghoulam was ruled out of the game due to illness, while Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly remains in isolation having contracted Covid-19.

For Ballardini's side, Cameroonian defender who is on loan from RB Salzburg Jerome Onguene was an unused substitute.

Notwithstanding this result, Napoli remain fifth in the Italian Serie A log with 37 points from 20 games, while Genoa occupy the 11th spot with 24 points with a game more.

Since November 2020, Osimhen has seen playing time for the Italian giants reduce owing to a shoulder injury suffered while on international duty with Nigeria against Sierra Leone in a 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualification game.

Nigeria striker Umar Sadiq was shown a red card as Almeria battled for a 1-1 draw against Fuenlabrada in the Spanish second division.

The 24-year-old was making his 21st appearance in the Segunda Division on Saturday but he could not add to his tally of 11 goals as the Rojiblancos failed to win their second successive league match on the road.

Sadiq was first booked in the 30th minute but he was later punished with another yellow card in the 53rd minute which resulted in his sending off.

Despite going down to 10 men, Almeria managed to pick up a point in Fuenlabrada as Fran Villalba's 89th-minute goal cancelled out Randy Nteka's opener in the final 10 minutes.

Saturday's expulsion was the second time Sadiq has been sent off in a league match in his career after he was giving marching orders in a Serie B match between Perugia and Salernitana in the 2018-19 season.

However, thanks to his goalscoring form last month, Sadiq was named the Player of the Month for January in the Spanish second-tier by LaLiga.

The former Rangers and AS Roma striker contributed five goals and an assist in three matches for Almeria who occupy the second spot in the league table.

The Kaduna-born star is having a fine debut campaign in Spain and he is a goal shy from equalling his best scoring record in a league season when he scored 12 goals for Partizan Belgrade in the 2019-20 Serbian Super Liga.

Sadiq will be unavailable for Almeria’s league match against Las Palmas next Saturday as he serves a one-game ban, but the Nigeria striker is expected to return to Jose Gomes’ team for their trip to Mallorca on February 21.

Although they have a game in hand, second-placed Almeria are five points behind Mallorca who sit at the top of the Segunda Division table.

Pep Guardiola says he is not scared of any of his Premier League rivals, but expects Liverpool to be at their very best against his Manchester City side on Sunday.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss has never won at Anfield in his managerial career but may never have a better chance with Liverpool losing their last two home games and struggling for form.

City, on the other hand, have won their last 13 matches in all competitions and a win would put a significant dent in the champions’ hopes of defending their title.

Guardiola was unhappy with Jurgen Klopp’s comments that City had a two-week break after a Covid-19 outbreak at the club, but praised Liverpool and expects them to believe they will claim the three points.

“I’m not scared, I couldn't care less whether the opponents are worried or not,” he said, when asked if any side worried him.

“I’m pretty sure that they're not because every manager and team playing against another team always believes 'I can beat them'. 

“What I am concerned about is to maintain, to improve and to improve our game. And, of course to maintain our results. If we make a bad game and the opponent is better we are going to congratulate them.

“We have to do a good game to beat them, not because we have won nine games. They are the champions, the best version, the best aggression, the best desire to win, Liverpool will be there. I don’t have any doubts. 

“They will be higher than ever. We have to be prepared, be ready and do our game and be aggressive enough, with enough courage to win the game."

With City top of the table and with games in hand on their rivals, a draw would not be a bad result as they aim for their third title in four years.

City have only won once at Anfield in the last 40 years but Guardiola insists his side go to the home of the champions aiming for all three points.

“Never, ever in my career as a manager have I prepared a game to draw a game,” he added. “Never expect a mistake from the opponents to punish them, I try to do the game to create the problems for our opponents.

"Saying that, sometimes it's not possible, the opponent is better, or in the last 15 minutes it's impossible to score and a draw is a good point. In advance of the beginning? No way. 

“Try to win the game, that is what we are going to do. But sometimes it is not possible. Sometimes you have an idea, the opponent surprises you, is better than you, they have incredible top quality players and they beat you. Shake hands. Congratulations. Learn from that. Next one.”

Liverpool’s title defence has been beset by injury problems with defenders Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and now Joel Matip not expected to play again this season. 

City have suffered their own setbacks with Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero both ruled out of Sunday’s game but Guardiola said he cannot use it as an excuse.

“We never used 'we don't have these players',” he added. “Kevin is not there, Sergio is not there, Nathan [Ake] is not there. I wish as soon as possible they come back, this is what I want. 

“But what we have to do is leave them to recover, free and calm, and with the players that we have try to win games. This is the only way I knew from the beginning in my career.”

Ties on points (22) with third placed FC Goa, Hyderabad face NorthEast United 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL) at the Tilak Maidan in Vasco, Goa, in the second fixture of Sunday's double delight. Jamshedpur take on East Bengal in the earlier kick-off of the day.

TV CHANNELS & LIVE STREAM

The Star Sports Network have the exclusive broadcasting rights of the ISL in India.

Commentary will also be available in vernacular languages across India.

TEAM NEWS

Hyderabad Possible XI:

Injured - Joel Chianese
Quarantine - Souvik Chakrabarti
Suspended - None

Key Players - Aridane Santana, Fran Sandaza

NorthEast United Possible XI:

Injured - None
Doubtful - None
Suspended - Ashutosh Mehta, Khassa Camara

Key Players - Federico Gallego, Deshorn Brown

Morten Andersen knows what it takes to star in the NFL, as a member of the American Football Hall of Fame and one of the greatest kickers to ever the grace game, and the Dane is not convinced that the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi could follow in his footsteps.

The greatest show on turf is almost upon us once again, with the sporting world counting down the hours to Super Bowl LV.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be on home soil for that contest, with Patrick Mahomes and the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs rolling into Florida to try and snatch a seventh ring away from the legendary Tom Brady.

Billions of people across the planet will tune in on Sunday to catch a glimpse of elite athletes performing at the peak of their powers, with it possible that kickers will play as big a part in that contest as any iconic quarterback or wide receiver.

Given the basic skill set required to fill such a role, might it be possible that a superstar performer from the soccer ranks looks to cross codes at some stage in the future and try to put the Lombardi Trophy alongside Champions League and Ballon d’Or crowns?

“There is no chance of Lionel Messi or Ronaldo ever considering becoming a kicker in the NFL. I don’t see it happening. They are too busy counting their shekels!” Andersen, speaking in association with BonusCodeBets, told Goal when asked about two all-time greats heading to the States.

If such a switch does not appeal to talismanic figures from Barcelona and Juventus – two of the cleanest strikers of a dead ball in soccer circles – could someone else come through and take the plunge, potentially a leading figure from the women’s game?

“That remains to be seen,” Andersen - who represented the Chiefs, New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings in his playing days – added.

“Is it possible for an NFL kicker to go and become a soccer player in the Premier League? I don’t know.

“There are a couple of variables that we have to look at: Are they able to kick a football that isn’t round? Of course, they have exceptional technique. But maybe what would take longer, and what I would say is more challenging, is how we have to put the helmet and shoulder pads on, we have to make sure the ball is gone in 1.15 to 1.2 seconds from snap to kick, and you have 11 really big guys coming at you. We have a target that is 16 feet eight inches and 10 feet off the ground, with 80,000 people in the stadium. And we have to make that timing work, and make it work 80-90 per cent of the time. Therein lies the challenges for the guys that want to make this conversion.

“It is a different skill set that you are going to have to bring. I’m not against it at all. Harry Kane brought it up at some point and I said it’s ludicrous to think, and I continue to say that. I’m not discouraging Harry Kane if he wants to give this a shot, but let me be involved and let me teach you some of the nuances.

“If I was going to be a soccer player at the highest level, who better to teach me than Harry Kane? Or Ronaldo, or Messi. My point is that you don’t just plug somebody in because they are good soccer players and say he is going to be an All Pro kicker – that’s a little bit disrespectful of what the guys over here are doing.”

Mental strength is also an important weapon in any kicker’s armoury, with the opportunity to play your way into a game – like Kane and Co get in soccer – often removed from the equation for those who spend long spells on the sidelines waiting for their time to shine.

“It’s moments of intensity interrupted with boredom and sideline management,” added Andersen.

“What you are looking at is: How do you manage your time? How do you manage your energy to bring forth your very best in these key situations when you are asked to perform at the highest level with great intensity and focus? How do you do that? How do you recruit that? How do you train that?

“It’s not normal. It’s not like the rhythm of a soccer game where you have continuous flow. I imagine the comparison would be like this: you are only brought in to do free kicks. Not penalties, just free kicks. And you are expected to score eight or nine out of 10 – with a wall of 11 guys, around that wall, through that wall, into a goal, with a goalkeeper. And you are going to lose your job if it drops to seven out of 10 – you are going to get fired!

“I’m not discouraging anybody that wants to follow their dreams. I think it’s interesting, I would love to see a woman do it.”

Given the success enjoyed by the USWNT team, there may be plenty of ambitious performers willing to give that a go.

Talent pools are deep in men's and women’s games, with Andersen acknowledging that the marketing power of a high-profile crossover star would hold obvious appeal to the NFL and its ongoing efforts to grow an ever-expanding brand.

“When I played, Denmark wasn’t that interested but when I kicked us into a Super Bowl, all of a sudden it was national news in Scandinavia,” said the 60-year-old, who left Copenhagen to become the NFL’s all-time leading points scorer at one stage.

“I’m keenly aware that this has great marketing value, because I have seen it with my own situation. Absolutely I would invite that. I would love to help and assist in locating and finding the right candidates who could pull that off.

“There is no question that the NFL wants to make the game more global than it is – although it is quite popular. Would I love to see it happen from a marketing standpoint? Absolutely. It would be fantastic.”

Could that happen on British shores?

There has been plenty of talk regarding a London-based franchise, and who better to head that team up than Tottenham striker and England captain Kane.

“It would be great,” said Andersen.

“It’s storybook stuff. Fly me to London. Let’s go kick, Harry! If you are ready to hang up your soccer cleats and you want to give this a serious go, let’s do that.”