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Ghana international David Accam has sealed a transfer to Swedish elite division side Hammarby, the club has announced. 

The attacker joins Bajen on a season-long loan deal from Major Soccer League side Nashville, with the option of a one-year extension at the end of the initial period. 

The switch marks his return to Sweden for the first time since 2015 when he left Helsingborgs for MLS fold Chicago Fire. 

"David Accam returns to Swedish football after six years in MLS," Hammarby have announced on their official website.

"Hammarby have agreed with Accam's current club Nashville SC and MLS on a loan for the 2021 season, with an option for another year.

"With the loan of David Accam, Hammarby strengthens in the offensive line, and then mainly the wide position where the 30-year-old Ghanaian usually plays."

Accam is hoping to revive his career with the new move, having struggled with injuries and for form and playing time since swapping Chicago Fire for Philadelphia Union in 2018.

"When David reaches his highest level, he is a top player with extreme excellence in the form of his speed and goal danger," Hammarby director of football Jesper Jansson said of their latest signing.

"David contacted me last autumn and wanted to make a restart in Europe after six seasons in MLS. 

"Having the opportunity to bring in a quality player like David under the conditions we have agreed with Nashville, MLS and David feels fantastic. 

"The arrangement with loans and option solution is based on David wanting to build himself in a new and safe environment. 

"Hammarby takes no risk in this, but only has the opportunity to bring in additional leaders to an already very good squad."

Accam made his career breakthrough in Sweden, playing for Ostersunds and Helsingborgs.

"I know David very well both as a player and as a person, and if we can lift him to the level he has in him, we get a quality player who will contribute a lot both on the field and in the group," Jansson added. 

"We believe that he can add another dimension to our offensive game, and we are convinced that he will make a strong role model, especially for our younger African players. 

"With the advantageous agreement structure, we have plenty of time to get David in shape, and also to evaluate future options during the spring."

The winger’s recent struggles at club level have affected his quest for call-ups to Ghana's national side, his last invitation coming in 2017.

Mathare United head coach Salim Ali has revealed the main reason that has seen his side post poor results in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League.

The Slum Boys were handed a third loss of the season when they fell 2-1 to Ulinzi Stars on Wednesday at Afraha Stadium.

“In all the losses we have suffered this season, one thing has occurred over and over again and that is we are conceding early in these games,” Salim said as was quoted by the club’s Facebook page.

“We are finding it hard to come back in games after going down early and we need to put a halt to this immediately.”

The club stated their inability to keep the opponents at bay in the opening minutes has been giving their rivals an upper hand in the past contests.

“In games against Sofapaka, Gor Mahia and now Ulinzi, Mathare have conceded the first goal inside the opening 12 minutes and this has given the opposition the perfect stability to ensure a win,” the statement added.

“Though this strategy has worked against us in the three games, it worked in our benefit when we deployed it and won against Zoo FC. Scoring twice inside the first 12 minutes to secure a 2-0 victory.”

Salim added the problem lies at the back as the striking department has been efficient.

“There has been one positive so far and that is we are not having problems scoring goals,” he added.

“It is defensively where more work has to be put in. We haven’t been the first on the scoresheet in any game except the one against Zoo, and with that game, you can see what can happen when we take the initiative early.

“So we need to do more of that and be exertive from the start.”

The Slum Boys will be up against Tusker in the next game. It is expected to be another tough match for the 2008 champions given the Ruaraka side looks a stronger opponent as they have fought their way up the ladder and are now in second place with 20 points just one below leaders KCB.

Real Mallorca midfielder Iddrisu Baba Mohammed has set his sights on winning the Africa Cup of Nations title with Ghana.

The Black Stars are hoping to end a long wait for a title, having won the last of their four Afcon trophies in Libya in 1992.

Baba is in his third year of international football with the west Africans following his debut during the 2022 Afcon qualifier against South Africa in 2019.

“I’m looking forward to another level, getting to another level in my career," Baba told Spanish outfit Tornarem.

"I want to either win a trophy or at least get to the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.

"I also want to achieve something with my club [Mallorca] or whichever club I find myself.”

Ghana have suffered a series of major disappointments at Afcon in recent times.

From 2008 and before the last tournament in Egypt, the Black Stars reached the semi-final of the competition, going on to finish as losing finalists in 2010 and 2015.

At the last gathering in Egypt, however, Ghana failed to make the quarter-final for the first time since 2006 following a surprising Round of 16 defeat to Tunisia in Egypt.

"I have been telling my guys that Ghana will win the Afcon and when they ask me why, I tell them it is because the players feel enough is enough and it is time for us to win it," Ghana striker Richmond Boakye Yiadom similarly told Citi FM.

"Whenever I speak or chat with the boys, most of them say that this time, no joke and we should win the cup.

"And if you have this unity and drive, you can succeed. What you need is unity and discipline."

Ghana first lifted the Afcon title in 1963 before making it two straight wins in 1965. In 1978, the Black Stars ruled Africa one more time before adding a last trophy to the cabinet in 1982.

"It’s not about me. It’s about us," Ghana coach CK Akonnor said on his ambitions in May last year.

"Over 30 years we’ve not won Afcon. I don’t want to be just another coach who comes in to manage Ghana and goes and then it’s the same story.

"I want us to work and make an impact, be relevant.”

The Black Stars are set to wrap up their qualification series for the 2022 event in Cameroon with a double-header against South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe in March. 

Manchester United are in talks with Deportivo Alaves about the possibility of Facundo Pellistri going on loan for the rest of the season, Goal understands.

The Uruguayan has held talks with both Alaves and Club Brugge after United gave him the green light to leave the club for the second half of the season to gain important experience.

While Pellistri was tempted by the opportunity presented by the Belgian side, after daily calls where they detailed how important he could be to their title challenge and Europa League pursuit, the teenager always favoured a move to Spain.

Sources say Pellistri has always dreamed of playing in La Liga and, after the Mendizorroza outfit presented their plans for his development and his importance to the team, he instructed the club of his wishes.

United, it is understood, have begun talks with the Spanish club after weighing up the best pathway for the teenager, who they signed in the summer transfer window for  €10 million (£9m/$12m) from Penarol. The club are keen for the right winger to go somewhere he can develop in the second half of the season.

Solskjaer has been impressed with Pellistri since he arrived in October and his performances and ability have pleased U23s manager Neil Wood. While they are very confident in his potential, regarding him as one of the brightest young attackers in South America when they signed him, there has been limited opportunity to get him involved with the first team and the United boss is keen for him to get as much experience as possible.

"There have been talks and quite a few clubs interested in Facundo to go out on loan and that’s maybe something we’ll let him do now he’s had a few games in the reserves and we want him to have regular football at a high level," Solskjaer said a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.

While he has been a regular in training with Solskjaer’s side he has made just two match day squads where he was an unused substitute in the Champions League games against Paris Saint-Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir.

It was expected he was in contention for a place in the squad for the FA Cup third round clash against Watford, only for the teenager to have to isolate having contracted Covid-19.

He has started eight times for the U23s where he has grown in confidence and settled into a different style of play and has managed three goals and one assist.

With Solskjaer predicting new recruit Amad Diallo could be included in a first team match day squad in the coming weeks. Pellistri has further slipped down the pecking order and all parties have agreed that the next step for his development would be going out on loan.

Cosafa has unanimously agreed to back Mamelodi Sundowns owner Patrice Motsepe for the Caf presidency.

The elections are set for March 12 at the elective Caf Congress in Rabat, Morocco as Motsepe gets ready to contest against Mauritania FA president Ahmed Yahya, Ivory Coast's Jacques Anouma and Senegal FA president Augustin Senghor.

In the 2017 elections, Cosafa threw their weight behind former Caf boss Ahmad Ahmad from their member Madagascar.

"At a meeting of Cosafa Executive Committee on 27 January 2021, it was unanimously resolved that Dr Patrice Motsepe is the only candidate endorsed by the 14-member regional body to run for the Caf presidency in March this year," Cosafa said in a statement.

"The Cosafa Executive reiterated a decision taken in 2017 that the zone should always support one of its own, in this case Dr Motsepe. In 2017, Cosafa was the first bloc to endorse eventual winner Ahmad Ahmad from Madagascar. The Executive has now resolved that member associates will back Dr Motsepe for the Caf presidency."

Cosafa is the biggest bloc of football associations in Africa with 14 members that can translate to as many votes for Motsepe if all members adhere to the stance taken.

The regional decision comes just after Motsepe was on Tuesday cleared by the Fifa Review Committee to contest after eligibility checks.

The South African billionaire was, however, due to appear before the Caf Governance Committee on Thursday for further integrity checks.

It is not clear if Caf's decision would override Fifa's if Motsepe does not satisfy the Governance Committee. But Cosafa president Phillip Chiyangwa is positive about Motsepe's candidature.

“We are confident that once we take a unanimous decision to back one of our own, other members who want real change in Caf will join the winning party. In Dr Motsepe we have a candidate who will usher in a new era for African football,” said Chiyangwa.

If Motsepe contests and win, he would automatically become Fifa vice-president.

Fikayo Tomori has admitted that he was glad to escape his "comfort zone" at Chelsea after joining Milan, while insisting that "there's more to football than the Premier League".

Tomori joined Milan on loan until the end of the season last week, with a £26 million ($36m) option to buy included in the final deal.

The 23-year-old had been starved of regular minutes in the first half of the campaign at Chelsea, and opted to seek a new challenge abroad instead of continuing to warm the bench at Stamford Bridge.

He made his debut as a substitute for Milan in a Coppa Italia quarter-final clash against Inter on Tuesday, which Stefano Pioli's side ultimately lost 2-1, and could be in line for his first start when the Serie A leaders take on Bologna this weekend.

Tomori followed in the footsteps of the likes of Jadon Sancho, Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala by venturing away from his homeland to continue his development, with the defender in no doubt that English players can benefit greatly from experiencing different leagues.

"A lot more people are realising that there's more to football than the Premier League and England," The Three Lions international told reporters after taking in his first Milan derby. "I speak to a lot of English players and they always say: 'How come players from Brazil or Argentina move at 16, 17 yet English players don't seem to go out of England a lot.'

"I think it's definitely a positive that many young English players want to leave England and are willing to try something new, to learn new languages and a different style of play. That's only going to benefit them and the national team as well.

"Going abroad gives you a different view on football as whole rather than just Premier League and England and being in the comfort zone. Being out of your comfort zone can definitely develop a person and a player as well."

Tomori went on to reveal that sought advice from several Chelsea team-mates who had previously taken in spells in Italy before making his way to San Siro, as he added: "When I knew coming to Milan was a possibility, I spoke to a lot of players that had played in Italy: Jorginho, Emerson [Palmieri], Toni Rudiger and Mateo Kovacic, who played for Inter, so I asked him how Milan was.

"I spoke to Thiago very briefly because his English isn't that great, but no one had a bad word to say about Milan or Serie A."

Reported Real Madrid target Eduardo Camavinga says he is happy at Rennes and wants to sign a new contract with the Ligue 1 club.

The 18-year-old midfielder, who has also been linked with Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, has emerged as one of Europe’s most exciting young players in recent years.

Camavinga’s next appearance will be his 50th in Ligue 1, and last year he became France’s youngest debutant and youngest scorer since 1914.

Rennes sporting director Florian Maurice said last summer that the club would not sell Camavinga even for €80 million (£72m/$89m) but, with his current contract set to expire in 2022, there had been rumours that an exit could be on the horizon.

Thomas Tuchel admitted he would like to have signed Camavinga while he was PSG manager, while the youngster switched agents late last year – but it seems he will be remaining with Rennes for the time being.

Speaking in a press conference on Thursday, he said: “My change of agent? These are things that happen, we shouldn’t focus on that. I have faith in my parents, quite simply.

“Could I sign an extension? Yes. Do I want to? Yes. What is holding it up? I do not know, there are negotiations.

“If you want to talk about that, there is my father… It is you, the journalists, who have been talking about me leaving, but I am 100 per cent focused on the club.”

In September, Camavinga spoke of his happiness at the club after reportedly snubbing interest from big clubs over the summer.

"Certainly when a big club is interested, it is nice. But I am not getting carried away,” he told Telefoot.

"I took this choice with my family [to stay at Rennes]. Today we are happy to have made this decision. I just need to focus on football and not think too much about everything else around it.

"Life is very good at the moment.”

Camavinga and Rennes are fighting for continental qualification in Ligue 1, currently sitting fifth in the table.

Julien Stephan’s side finished bottom of their Champions League group this season and their domestic aspirations took a hit with a defeat to second-placed Lille in their last game, though they remain only three points behind Monaco in third.

Bengaluru interim coach Naushad Moosa was left feeling disappointed after his team conceded two late goals in last four minutes of normal time to drop points against Hyderabad on Thursday. 

Sunil Chhetri's header from a free-kick and a composed Leon Augustine strike had given the Blues a healthy two-goal advantage. However, Aridane Santana and Fran Sandaza struck late to deny the Blues a win that they have been chasing for the last eight games. 

After the game, Moosa said, "It is heartbreaking to concede two goals in four minutes. The way they played, they showed character. That's what we have been struggling with this season - switching off and conceding easy goals." 

Moosa confirmed that defender Juanan will miss the next game with a hamstring injury. The Blues will also be without the services of Erik Paartalu due to an accumulation of yellow cards. 

The Indian coach also refuted a suggestion that his team is struggling with fitness. "I don't want to say fitness is a problem. It is just that we have to be more cautious. We have to be serious till the final whistle. They have been doing well, they had a good game. But it's just that fraction of a second."

Despite the disappointing result, Moosa praised the impact of Leon Augustine who took advantage of a Hyderabad error and finished with aplomb to score his team's second goal. 

"I had a chat with him (Leon). I had a feeling that he is going to score, with the way Rai and Mishra overlapping. I wanted to take advantage of that. And he did well and really went for the goal and he badly needed that goal, just for his confidence."

Tennis star Naomi Osaka has become a co-owner of the North Carolina Courage, the National Women's Soccer League club has announced.

Osaka, 23, is one of the most recognisable tennis players in the world, having won three Grand Slam titles already in her career: the 2018 US Open, 2019 Australian Open, and 2020 US Open.

She joins up with one of the most successful franchises in National Women's Soccer League history, with the Courage having two NWSL Championships and three NWSL Shields in the past four years.

“The women who have invested in me growing up made me who I am today and I cannot think of where my life would be without them,” Osaka said in a team release.

“My investment in the North Carolina Courage is far beyond just being a team owner, it’s an investment in amazing women who are role models and leaders in their fields and inspirations to all young female athletes. 

"I also admire everything the Courage does for diversity and equality in the community, which I greatly look forward to supporting and driving forward.”

Osaka has become the first investor in the Courage since Steve Malik acquired and relocated the team to North Carolina in 2017.

“I am thrilled to welcome Naomi as an owner of the North Carolina Courage,” said Malik.

“Naomi embodies the values we have been striving to cultivate at our club, and she brings an invaluable viewpoint on topics beyond sports.

"I cannot think of anyone better to help us as we continue to make a difference in our community and inspire the next generation of women.”

The Courage will enter the 2021 season looking to replace a number of U.S. women's national team stars who left during the off-season, including Crystal Dunn, Sam Mewis and Abby Dahlkemper.

Martin Odegaard is not guaranteed game time at Arsenal and will need to prove to Mikel Arteta that he is better than Emile Smith Rowe in order to fill a playmaking berth for the Gunners, says Nigel Winterburn.

Another creative influence has been added to the ranks at Emirates Stadium.

As Mesut Ozil headed through the exits in north London, bringing a long-running saga surrounding his future to a close, Norway international Odegaard arrived in the opposite direction.

He has been taken on a short-term loan from Real Madrid, with that initial agreement set to take the 22-year-old through to the end of the season.

Odegaard arrives in north London boasting plenty of pedigree, having been a senior star since the age of 15, but the form of Smith Rowe could see his path blocked early on in English football.

Former Arsenal defender Winterburn has told FreeSuperTips of added competition for places: “Emile Smith-Rowe got his opportunity in the starting team by chance. A lot of things were happening at the football club, and suddenly, he was thrown into the team because certain players weren’t available for selection.

“By bringing in Martin Odegaard, Mikel Arteta needs to be careful of how he integrates him with Emile Smith-Rowe. He [Smith-Rowe] has come in and had such a huge impact in a short time, so Arteta won’t want to pull him out of the team. The manager will want a long-term project where Smith-Rowe progresses into becoming a star of the future for Arsenal. 

“Odegaard coming in increases competition for places. Smith-Rowe is the starter now. If it's a competition between him and Odegaard, then Odegaard must prove in training that he's better than Emile Smith-Rowe. If not, Smith-Rowe will stay in the team.

“It’s an exciting time at Arsenal with three or four young players that could become long-term, successful players at the club. Players like Bukayo Saka, Joe Willock, Gabriel Martinelli, among others could, over time, become quality Premier League players.” 

While getting Odegaard onto their books, and already having Smith Rowe in place, there has been talk of Arsenal rekindling their interest in Lyon star Houssem Aouar over the summer.

Winterburn can appreciate why the rumour mill is ticking over, but admits there is plenty of risk to be found in any big-money deals.

He added: “Martin Odegaard and Houssem Aouar are two players that have been linked with Arsenal for quite a while. Both would be described as creative midfielders, which is a position that Arsenal has lacked for some time. 

“For me, I don’t get excited over players too quickly because it comes down to what the player does when he comes to your football club. They may have been successful previously, but if they don’t perform at the level you expect them to perform, people become very upset very quickly.” 

Maritzburg United have announced the signing of German goalkeeper Marcelo Engelhardt.

The 27-year-old has joined the Team of Choice from Eintracht Braunschweig, who are campaigning in German 2. Bundesliga.

The KwaZulu-Natal outfit released the following statement on Thursday afternoon as they strengthened their goalkeeping department: 

"Newly-signed Maritzburg United goalkeeper Marcel Engelhardt is excited to begin a new chapter in his career after joining South Africa's Premier Soccer League with the Team of Choice," a club statement read.

"Engelhardt, who has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal, arrives from Eintracht Braunschweig, a club based in Braunschweig, Lower Saxony, which competes in Germany's 2. Bundesliga division."

Engelhardt is looking forward to making a positive impact in the PSL side and he revealed that his compatriot and coach Ernst Middendorp convinced him to move to the Team of Choice. 

"I'm happy to be here, my new team-mates seem nice, the weather is quite hot as well - a big difference to Germany, I came here from snow," Engelhardt said.

"I hope to bring quality on and off the field, to get to know the guys well so that we can compete together and achieve something.

"I had a few calls with coach Ernst and he convinced me to take this trip to South Africa to join the Team of Choice. I didn't have to think about it a lot, I just packed my stuff and came here," he added. 

"It's very sad there are no fans right now. But I hope that soon it will be possible and we can celebrate some wins together."

Engelhardt has joined Sebastian Mwange, Bongani Mpandle and Jethren Barr in Maritzburg's goalkeeping department and he is seen as a replacement for Richard Ofori. 

Maritzburg chairman Farook Kadodia is hopeful that Engelhardt will provide a similar presence to that of Ofori, who moved to Orlando Pirates prior to the start of the current season. 

"The coach has done his homework on Marcel and we're expecting a lot from him in stepping into the space that Ofori vacated with his departure," Kadodia said. 

"We believe that Marcel has the right character traits, both in terms of his ability and his personality, to fill the gap left by Richard."

Maritzburg will take on Lamontville Golden Arrows in the KwaZulu-Natal Derby clash on Saturday. 

Toni Kroos is determined to land a fifth Champions League crown with Real Madrid and ensure that he heads into retirement, whenever that day comes, with no regrets from his playing days.

The classy midfielder is only 31 years of age and has no intention of hanging up his boots any time soon.

For him, there are still many more trophies to be chased down.

He has already experienced what it is like to land the biggest of those, with league and cup success savoured with Bayern Munich and Real.

The Germany international is also a World Cup winner, but he is eager not to rest on his laurels and to keep ambitions as lofty as possible.

In 2020-21, that means lifting European football’s grandest prize again with the Blancos.

Kroos has told the Tomorrow Podcast: “When you have felt what it feels like to win a Champions League, you want to feel it again and again.

“You may not be able to do it for a few years, since others also want to see what it is like, but that desire to relive the experience doesn’t go away.

“Despite having won it four times already, I continue to pursue the objective of winning the Champions League for the fifth time.

“It will be difficult and, if in the end it is doesn't work out, then they won’t shoot me either. Of course, while I’m still active I want to squeeze the most out of the time I have left.”

Kroos spent seven years as part of the first-team fold at Bayern before securing a high-profile switch to Madrid in 2014.

He has taken in over 300 appearances for Real, to go alongside the 101 caps he has earned for his country, and a relentless desire to be the best will never leave him.

Kroos added on his pursuit of tangible success: “It is something that is demanded at the club where I play.

“Here, past success belongs to yesterday. The most important thing is the present and the conquest for the next possible title. People are taught not to be satisfied with having won this or that title.

“Real Madrid's self-demands are very similar to mine, since one day I intend to put an end to my career in the most successful way possible.

“I don't want to leave titles along the way that I will regret later.”

Defending La Liga champions Real, who currently sit seven points off the title pace in Spain, are set to face exciting Serie A side Atalanta in the last-16 of the Champions League – with the first leg of that contest due to be staged on February 24.

The Federation of International Football Association has extended the mandate of the Egyptian normalisation committee.

Fifa appointed the body to take charge of all football-related activities in the North African country in August 2019 after officials in the previous administration walked away following the Pharaohs’ poor outing at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

Led by Amr El-Ganainy, the team comprising of one lady and four men were saddled with the obligation of managing football in the country until July 31, 2020. However, Fifa announced on Thursday that their tenure of office has been prolonged.

“The Bureau of the Fifa Council has decided to extend the mandate of the Egyptian Football Association normalisation committee, which was due to expire on 31 January 2021, until 31 July 2021,” a statement from Fifa website read.

“The Bureau observed that the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in the implementation of stricter measures in Egypt, which has had a disruptive effect on the activities of the normalisation committee and currently prohibits the Efa from holding its General Assembly as planned for at least six months.

“The decision to extend the mandate was taken with the primary objective of allowing the normalisation committee to fulfil all of the tasks entrusted to it in its mandate, which should conclude with the holding of elections for a new Efa leadership.”

Below are the mandate of the normalisation committee which were spelt out upon their launch two years ago.

- To run the daily affairs of Efa;

- To review the Efa Statutes (and other regulations where necessary) to ensure their compliance with the Fifa Statutes and requirements, and to ensure their adoption by the Efa congress;

- To review the statutes of the Efa members and ensure their alignment with the new Efa Statutes as well as with the Fifa Statutes and requirements, and ensure that said statutes are adopted by the relevant members;

- To organise and conduct elections for all Efa members based on their new statutes;

-As a last step, to act as an electoral committee in order to organise and conduct elections of a new Efa board based on the newly aligned Efa Statutes.

Former Tottenham midfielder Gus Poyet has said that Jose Mourinho is the perfect manager for getting the best out of Gareth Bale, whom he believes can still make the difference in any game against any team if he can stay fit.

The Welsh winger returned to his old stomping ground on loan from Real Madrid for the 2020-21 season, with supporters hopeful that the two-time PFA Players' Player of the Year could return to his best after a difficult spell in the Spanish capital under Zinedine Zidane.

Injury issues and inconsistent form have meant Bale has started only one Premier League match this season, scoring four goals in total across 13 appearances in all competitions and failing to register a single assist.

The 31-year-old's latest strike came against Wycombe Wanderers in the FA Cup in what was a fine showing, with Bale completing 90 minutes and responding to his manager's call to impress and earn more time on the playing field.

Following that 4-1 victory, the feeling is that Bale is finally beginning to find his feet again and Poyet believes that is all down to the managerial prowess possessed by Mourinho.

“I think you as a coach - and especially with the experience of Jose - you really believe in your way of managing,” Poyet told Stats Perform News. “And let's say it wasn't as easy as probably Jose thought. Because he was up and down.

“Now, I think he is still playing a part, even if it's in moments, he is still a player that at any time, any game, he can give you the difference between winning or not winning a game.

“I think we can see something, especially if he keeps himself fit. That's the key to the situation. So, you know, it's not only training well, it's about being fit enough to perform well.

“And there is a limit to Gareth at the moment, physically, that if he goes above that level, he can get injured. To control those levels is very, very difficult. But if there is someone who can do it, definitely it's Mourinho.”

Bale may well get another chance to impress the Portuguese boss when Tottenham host Liverpool in north London on Thursday night.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says that new loan signing Martin Odegaard was always going to be fighting a losing battle when being compared to Barcelona great Lionel Messi, but believes the Norwegian has the necessary qualities to thrive with the Gunners.

Real Madrid snapped up Odegaard from Stromsgodset as a teenager, farming the attacker out on loan to the likes of Heerenveen, Vitesse and Real Sociedad before giving him the chance to break into Zinedine Zidane's squad this season.

Minutes had been hard to come by under the French head coach, however, and the 22-year-old has been given the chance to shine in north London as a result.

Arteta is excited by the prospect of having Odegaard at his disposal, having watched the youngster mature into a more well-rounded player over the years, but said that early comparisons to Messi were always going to be wide of the mark.

“I wouldn't even get close to that name you just mentioned [Messi] because it's a lost battle in my opinion. Martin is Martin,” Arteta said of Arsenal's match-up with Manchester United on Saturday.

“He's such a talent. He needs the right environment, a little bit of time, but he's got the qualities to be a success for us. He's a specialist to playing in the pockets, to be in the number eight, number 10 positions.

“He can play on the sides, a really creative player, really comfortable on the ball in tight spaces, the capacity to create chances, to score goals.

“Something he has improved a lot is his work rate without the ball as well. It's another option to give us more creativity in the final third. He certainly has all the qualities and characteristics that we are looking for.

“Then it would be down to two things – first of all, how well he adapts here and how much of an impact he can have in our team, and second, what Real Madrid and the player thinks about it because he's owned by Real Madrid and the player has a big say on that.

“I just wanted to give him a clear picture of who we are as a club, what we are trying to do, what we expect from him, just try to transmit the passion and excitement that we had to bring him in.

“I wanted to show him the project, how he fits and just try to persuade him that this is the right place for him and try to make things work.”

Whether Odegaard features against United remains to be seen, but the squad as a whole are likely to be buoyed by the fact that the Red Devils' 13-match unbeaten run in the Premier League was brought to an end on Wednesday by Sheffield United.

Arteta took time to praise Chris Wilder's outfit despite their lowly position in the league, and warned not to underestimate a Manchester United side that will be looking to bounce back from a shock defeat.

“It's not a surprise because to beat any team in this league is extremely difficult and it's not taken for granted,” Arteta said of the Blades' 2-1 result at Old Trafford.

“Sheffield United are a really good threat and you see that. They've lost games they didn't deserve to lose.

“I think every game is completely different, [Man United] have the capacity and the quality to beat any side in the world, we know we’re going to have to be at our best.”

“The games are huge, we need to be better than what we were on Tuesday (a 3-1 win at Southampton) to beat them.

“They've been in top form. They've been top of the table playing really well. We know they are a real threat. We have to be at our best to beat them on Saturday.”

Richard Nane is disappointed by Togo’s premature exit from the 2021 African Nations Championship, nevertheless, he claims the tournament is an ‘exposure’ for his side.

After five failed attempts to reach the finals, the Sparrowhawks qualified for the biennial African football showpiece for the very first time after displacing 2018 runners-up Nigeria in the final qualifying round.

Zoned against reigning champions Morocco, Rwanda and Uganda in Group C, the West Africans made a stuttering start in Cameroon after losing 1-0 to the Atlas Lions – with Yahya Jabrane’s 27th minute penalty settling the keenly contested affair played inside Douala’s Stade de la Reunification.

They bounced back in their second game by defeating the Cranes 2-1 thanks to Paul Mbowa’s own goal and a beauty from Nane. Needing at least a draw in their last game against the Wasps, they crumbled 3-2 in Limbe to kiss the tourney goodbye.

Even at the setback caused by their inability to reach 2021 Chan’s quarter-final, the 25-year-old who is Togo’s top scorer with two goals is delighted with the experience accrued – which he claims would help his team in future.

“We are sad that the team failed to make it to the knockout stage. But we are glad we have got the exposure playing in our first Chan tournament,” Nane told Caf website.

“This exposure we have picked from playing at Chan will motivate us to work harder to try and qualify for other international tournaments.”

Chan was initially billed to hold in April 2020, but it was shifted to 2021 owing the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, which brought a stop to footballing activities across the globe.

Many had expected a low standard from ongoing competition due to the change in date, but Nane scores it very high while thumbing up Caf and the hosts for good organisation.

“Many teams prepared really well, and they are playing good football,” he added.

Morocco and Rwanda lock horns with Zambia and Guinea respectively for a place in the semi-finals while Togo are expected to commence preparations as soon as possible towards making a second appearance when Algeria host the rest of Africa in 2022.

Neymar has risen above Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to become “the best player in the world”, says former Brazil international Caio Ribeiro.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward has always been considered to form part of the global elite.

After bursting onto the scene at Santos, a high-profile switch to Barcelona presented an enigmatic talent with the prominent stage his undoubted ability deserved.

Neymar thrived alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at Camp Nou, finishing third in the 2015 Ballon d’Or vote.

He also filled the bronze medal position after completing a record-breaking switch to PSG in 2017, with the South American looking to escape sizeable shadows in Catalunya to become a leading man in his own right.

Injury struggles and questions of his attitude and future have never been far away in France, but impressive standards have been maintained in an 81-goal haul through 100 appearances.

At 28 years of age and supposedly at his peak, while Messi and Ronaldo reach their mid-30s, Neymar is in a position to become the standout performer in world football.

Ribeiro believes he is already there, with the former Santos, Sao Paulo and Gremio forward telling Panico Jovem Pan: “Even if he [Neymar] has behaviour that we don’t agree with, I think he is an ace, currently the best player in the world.

“He plays more balls than Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi.”

Neymar is considered to have retained that individualist spirit that many players in the modern game lack.

For Ribeiro, top talents are now so focused on adhering to the demands of their coaches that they have lost the ability to think and flourish by themselves.

He added: “It's a generation that is very dependent on the coach, and this is bad.

“In my generation, the coach spoke, you took the important bits and what you didn't agree with, you gave your point of view. Today, there is no such dialogue. Players lack responsibility, they are very dependent on the coach.”

Neymar will hope to continue bucking that trend at PSG, with Mauricio Pochettino now calling the shots at Parc des Princes, with the Ligue 1 title holders back in the hunt for domestic and continental crowns this season.

Thomas Tuchel is filling the “hottest seat in world football” at Chelsea, says Glen Johnson, with the German set to find that his “biggest challenge” at Stamford Bridge is piecing together a settled starting XI.

Inability to find a winning formula and bring out the best in big-money signings brought Frank Lampard’s reign in west London to a close.

A Blues legend has been ushered through the exits after 18 months at the helm, with a weighty managerial baton passed in the direction of former Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain boss Tuchel.

His first game in charge delivered club records, as Chelsea dominated possession against Wolves, but only a point was taken from a 0-0 draw on home soil.

Tuchel implemented plenty of changes on his bow, both in personnel and tactical approach, but Johnson says the depth of talent at his disposal will present a number of posers.

Lampard was unable to find the answers to those questions, with a revolving door policy at Chelsea back in operation as they turn to a ninth permanent coach since 2010.

“His biggest challenge will be finding his best XI,” former Blues defender Johnson told CheltenhamGuides.com of Tuchel’s to-do list.

“There’s a lot of new faces that have come in recently and it’s going to take time for him to get to know the players. He’ll have an idea of the players he likes.

“This was Lampard’s issue, there were so many good players that came through the door at once but only 11 can play and there are quite a few players that are similar too.

“When a new manager comes in, everyone reacts differently by whether they are playing, their age and what stage they’re at in their career.

“Some players that are not playing are rubbing their hands together when a new manager comes in thinking they’ve got a chance to show what they can do and they might be back in the team, whereas other players that are playing every single week might be thinking ‘oh god’ and they’ve got to prove themselves to the new manager again.

“That Chelsea seat is the hottest seat in world football so the manager isn’t going to risk it because he could be out of a job in six months.

“He is going to pick the players that he can rely on, he won’t be put off if this is one of the young guys, but at the same time, I’d be surprised if he goes to one of the young guys as someone he can trust early on. I hope this doesn’t hinder their development.

“I don’t think people can blame Lampard for holding players back or not giving them the chance to go and express themselves - the players should be doing that themselves. I don’t think the players were misfiring because of Lampard.”

Chelsea had slipped into mid-table prior to Lampard’s departure, with Tuchel’s side currently sat eighth in the Premier League – five points adrift of the top four and 11 behind leaders Manchester City.

Manchester City are in the middle of a brilliant run of form in the Premier League. Their recent thumping 5-0 win over West Bromwich Albion has helped them leapfrog rivals Manchester United on the Premier League table as they currently sit at the top of the charts with 41 points from 19 matches at the halfway stage of the season.  

The Sky Blues are on a 12-match unbeaten streak in the Premier League and have won eight straight matches, 11 in all competitions which is quite a resounding record for Pep Guardiola’s side. 

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To enter the contest, you have to create a single 60-second video on the Manchester City vs Liverpool match on February 6. Using your mobile phone, capture your preview and review of the game that demonstrates your personality and lets us know why we should select you. Go to this link to submit your entry: https://www.mancity.com/tecno-goal 

The winners will also receive a brand new TECNO mobile phone and a Manchester City merchandise pack. They will be mentored by Goal’s dedicated Man City correspondent Jonathan Smith and additional training will be done by Goal’s local editorial teams in India and Nigeria.  

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