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Azam FC have started their campaign in the 2021 edition of Mapinduzi Cup with a 1-1 draw with Mlandege at Amani Stadium on Thursday night.

Congolese striker Mopiana Mozizi scored on his debut to hand the Ice-cream a first-half lead before Rashid Mandawa replied for the opponents.

The 2014 Tanzania Mainland League champions came into the match hoping to start well and go top of Group C. The Chamazi-based charges coach George Lwandamina opted to give some fringe players a chance to show what they are capable of doing.

Wilbol Maseke was started in goal, with Bruce Kangwa, Daniel Amoah, and Yakubu Mohamed also getting their chance.

Mlandege had played their first group game on Wednesday against Malindi and ended up registering a 0-0 draw. A win for them on Thursday was vital to help them stand a chance of advancing to the next phase.

However, it was the Ice-cream Makers who scored in the 30th minute courtesy of the new signing Mozizi. It happened to be the only goal in the only goal in the first half.

In the second half, both teams gave their best to get a favourable result. Azam tried to keep the scores intact but their opponents upped their tempo hoping to get an equalizer.

With two minutes to go, Mlandege managed to get their equalizer courtesy of Mandawa and deny Azam maximum points.

Mlandege have now managed to get two points from as many matches while Azam are on one point.

The 2014 Tanzania Mainland League champions are the most successful in the annual competition, having won it a record five times.

Last season, they were eliminated in the last four by Simba SC. The teams settled to a goalless draw in regular time before Wekundu wa Msimbazi registered a 3-2 shootout win to advance to the finals where they eventually lost by a solitary goal to Mtibwa Sugar.

On Friday, Young Africans (Yanga SC) will be playing Namungo hoping to get maximum points after their 0-0 draw in their initial game against Jamhuri. Simba SC will be playing Chipukizi.

Feisal, Kaseke, Yasin Mustapha, Farid Mussa, Bakari Mwamnyeto, and Ditram Nchimbi are absent for Wananchi owing to Taifa Stars engagements.  

Khouma Babacar found the back of the net while Mbwana Samatta was in action as Fenerbahce beat Alanyaspor 2-1 in Thursday’s Super Lig game.

Babacar made his 12th league appearance this season as a second-half substitute in the encounter and delivered scintillating performances.

The forward scored his fourth league goal of the campaign but his effort was not enough to save Cagdas Atan’s men from defeat.

Samatta, meanwhile, came off the bench to make his ninth Super Lig appearance since teaming up with Fenerbahce in the summer on a season-long loan from Aston Villa.

The Tanzania international gave a good account of himself to help his side secure their 10th league win of the season.

Sinan Gumus opened the scoring for the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium outfit as early as the 12th minutes after he was set up by Ozan Tufan.

Fenerbahce were handed an opportunity to double their lead in the 67th minute from the penalty spot but Enner Valencia missed his strike.

Dimitris Pelkas then increased the Yellow Canaries’ lead in the 70th minute, firing his strike beyond the reach of goalkeeper Marafona.

In an effort to turn around the game to his favour, manager Atan brought on Senegal international Babacar in the 71st minute.

The forward soon made his presence felt when he reduced the deficit for Alanyaspor 10 minutes after his introduction into the game.

 Samatta replaced Senegal forward Mame Thiam with 15 minutes left to play and he played his part in his side’s victory.

The forward had 10 touches on the ball, struck one shot and had a 100 percent successful pass rate in the encounter.

With the result, Alanyaspor dropped to the fourth spot on the Super Lig table after gathering 30 points from 17 games.

Fenerbahce, meanwhile, moved to the second spot on the table after accruing 32 points from 16 league outings.

The Senegal and the Tanzania stars will be expected to continue their eye-catching displays for their respective clubs in their next games.

Tanzania Mainland League champions Simba SC have parted ways with their coach Sven Vandenbroeck only a day after he led them to the group stage of the Caf Champions League.

The 21-time league champions have confirmed that the Belgian is no longer part of the team despite recent success. 

"The Board of Directors of Simba Sports Club announces to its members and fans that we have parted ways with our head coach Sven Vandenbroeck by mutual consent," read a statement from the club obtained by Goal .

"Simba Sports Club thank coach Sven for the success achieved during his time with the club where we won the Tanzanian Premier League, the FA Cup, the Community Shield and qualified for the group stage of the Caf Champions League."

Wekundu wa Msimbazi have further named their interim coach as search for the new coach ensues. 

"In light of the above, assistant coach Selemani Matola will hold the position vacated by Sven up until we announce a new person for the role," the statement continued. "We recognize that Sven will always be part of the Simba family.

"We wish him all the best in his future endeavours."

Simba appointed the 41-year-old Belgian to take charge of the team in December 2019 after sacking Patrick Aussems a month earlier.

Aussems was relieved of his duties when the Wekundu wa Msimbazi claimed the Belgian left the club without official permission during the last international break.

The former AC Leopards tactician failed to further guide Simba SC in the Caf Champions League as they faltered against UD Songo of Mozambique in the preliminary round.

They turned for help on another Belgian, Vandenbroeck, who had left his role as the head coach of the Zambia national football team in February 2019.

Vandenbroeck served as the caretaker coach of Greek side Niki Volos Football Club in 2014. The former defensive midfielder was Hugo Broos's assistant when the Indomitable Lions won the Africa Cup of Nations two years ago.

He landed the Chipolopolo job in July 2018 but stayed for just eight months at the helm before he was sacked for failing to guide the team to the 2019 Afcon finals in Egypt.

At one time he was put on administrative leave by the Football Association of Zambia before it was announced his contract was not going to be renewed in March 2019.

As a player, Vandenbroeck played for Mechelen, Roda JC, De Graafschap, Akratitos, Lierse, Vise and Lov-Ham.

Fenerbahce coach Erol Bulut has addressed rumours linking his side to the signing of Arsenal attacking midfielder Mesut Ozil.

Sport1 in Germany reports that the playmaker is close to completing a move to the Turkish giants after holding talks with club directors in a video conference this week. Ozil is said to have agreed to sign a three-and-a-half-year contract with the Super Lig side.

Asked if the 32-year-old will be a Fenerbahce player in the coming days, Bulut refused to confirm the reports but admitted the situation will be resolved imminently.

"Mesut Ozil's situation will become clear in the coming days," he told Bein Sports after Fenerbahce's 2-1 win against Alanyaspor on Thursday.

"Mesut’s name is very common. It is not possible for me to make a comment before he comes."

Ozil's agent Dr Erkut Sogut told ESPN on Wednesday that the Germany international's future was days away from being cleared up, with clubs from the United States, Turkey and Qatar said to be interested in landing him.

The former Real Madrid star's contract expires at the end of the season and he is now free to open talks with other clubs over a pre-contract agreement.

"We were not allowed to talk legally before Jan 1 so now we are just starting to look at the options with the numbers and details," Sogut said.

"He might stay at Arsenal until the summer but he might go. Mesut's priority is to stay but you never know in football, things can change very fast. For the moment, we are just checking all the options for January and the summer.

"If we want to leave in January, I need to talk to Arsenal. If we sign for the summer, we don't need to. That's the situation. In the next seven to ten days, it will be a little clearer as now the transfer window is open, things can move faster."

Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta told reporters on Thursday that Ozil will remain at the club if they do not receive a good offer for him this month.

"If something is sorted this month it is because it is good for both parties - for Mesut and his future and good for the club," he said.

"If that is the case we will move forward, if it is not the case then he will continue here."

Ozil, who joined Arsenal in 2013, has not featured for Arsenal this season, having been left out of the squad lists for the Premier League and Europa League.

Veteran striker Fabio Quagliarella has reiterated his commitment to Sampdoria after reports linked him with a return to Serie A champions Juventus.

Juve boss Andrea Pirlo is believed to be targeting a new striker in the January transfer window and Quagliarella was rumoured on be on his shortlist.

The 37-year-old scored 30 goals in 102 appearances for the Turin giants between 2010 and 2014, but it seems he will not be returning for a second spell.

He has taken to Instagram to express his loyalty to current side Sampdoria, seemingly quashing speculation linking him with a move away.

"If you have given so much and received even more, if every time you feel the emotion beating in your chest, it means that the bonds are stronger than anything else, which go beyond flattering courtships, that put aside current reports and respect history," he wrote.

"I think, live and play like this. Forza Samp.”

Quagliarella is Sampdoria’s top scorer this season with seven goals in 14 appearances. He is in his sixth season with the Geonese club having joined for a second spell from Torino in 2015.

He has scored more than 200 goals in nearly 650 games since beginning his career with Torino in 1999, taking in spells at the likes of Fiorentina, Ascoli, Udinese and Napoli, as well as scoring nine goals in 28 appearances for the Italy national team.

With Quagliarella seemingly unavailable Pirlo will have to turn his attention to other targets, with former Southampton striker Graziano Pelle believed to be under consideration.

Goal reported at the start of this month that the 35-year-old Shandong Luneng player has been offered to a number of Italian clubs, including Juventus, current Serie A leaders AC Milan and their city rivals Inter.

Pelle himself is believed to be keen on holding talks over a move to Turin, with Juve viewing him as a short-term, low cost target to bolster their attack.

The Bianconeri, champions in each of the last nine seasons, face a real battle if they are to make it 10 Serie A triumphs in a row.

Pirlo’s side have made an underwhelming start to the season and currently find themselves seven points behind leaders AC Milan in fourth.

Amad Diallo has taken to social media to bid farewell to Serie A outfit Atalanta after completing his move to Manchester United.

After obtaining the rookie’s Governing Body Exemption, the Red Devils agreed to a fee worth £37 million for the winger, albeit, the deal is subject to him securing a work permit and personal terms.

The 18-year-old will be heading to England with beautiful memories, but he feels the time has come for him to move to greener pastures.

“Dear Atalanta, the moment to say goodbye has arrived,” Diallo said in a video posted on Twitter.

“It has been six extraordinary years, six years of growth, six years of challenges. But most importantly, six years of happiness and love.

“Here, I have become a man; you have given me everything I ever wanted, and I am more than proud to have played for Atalanta.

“You will forever have a special place in my heart. Wherever I go, you will always be with me for now and forever. Forza Atalanta!”

Speaking of his arrival, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: “As a club, we have followed Amad for a number of years and having watched him myself, I believe he is one of the most exciting young prospects in the game.

“Manchester United has such a proud history of developing young players and everything is in place to enable Amad to reach his potential here.

“It will take time for him to adapt but his speed, vision and fantastic dribbling ability will stand him in good stead to make the transition. He is a player with all of the raw attributes that are needed to be an important player for Manchester United in the years to come.”

Born in Abidjan, Diallo began his career at Italian side Boca Barco before heading for Atalanta on the back of impressive displays.

Thanks to his notable goalscoring feats with the Goddess youth team, where he won the Campionato Giovanissimi Nazionali, Supercoppa Primavera and two Campionato Primavera 1 titles, he was promoted to Atalanta’s first team during the 2019-20 campaign.

He made his Serie A bow on November 28, 2020 – coming on as a 77th minute replacement for captain Alejandro Gomez in the 2-0 home defeat to Hellas Verona.

Three days later, Diallo made his Champions League debut after being subbed on in the 68th minute against Midtjylland in a 1-1 home draw.

Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Rhulani Mokwena has hinted at fielding their full-strength side when they visit Baroka FC for Saturday’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) match at Peter Mokaba Stadium.

For the past five matches, log leaders Sundowns have been missing a number of players due to injuries and other medical conditions.

Headlining the absentees has been star attacking midfielder Themba Zwane, who has missed their last four games under unclear circumstances.

Gaston Sirino and Gift Motupa, who are yet to feature in league matches this season, could also feature against Baroka.

“The preparations for the Baroka match on Saturday have been good. I think we are in a good space,” Mokwena told Sundowns’ media.

“Of course, this is our third match in eight days, we have to be more focused on the physical aspects of our preparation to make sure that we still get enough freshness and energy to be able to play with the intensity that we want to play in our matches.

“We’ve tried to work on that in terms of our recovery processes and regeneration processes and we are in a good space. We almost getting a clean bill of health which is also very good, we are moving into space where we are welcoming a lot of players back to training.

“But of course that is also another process where we have to be patient and not rush individual players into competitive game forms. We have to integrate them, particularly those who’ve come from muscular and soft tissue injuries and those are the ones that we have to be very careful about in their integration and slowly progress them into competitive football.”

Despite missing some key players, Sundowns have remained a competitive outfit with players like Peter Shalulile, Brian Onyango, Mothobi Mvala and Khuliso Mudau stepping in to help the team maintain their grip at the top of the PSL standings.

The Brazilians arrive in Limpopo on a high after edging league title rivals Orlando Pirates at the turn of the New Year, before dismissing Botswana champions Jwaneng Galaxy 3-1 in a Caf Champions League match on Tuesday.

“We are happy we are coming from a very good result and emotionally we are also improving as a team,” said Mokwena.

“We are getting into the right state of mind and now it is all hands on deck and we look forward to travelling to Polokwane to play against a very good Baroka side.”

Downs meets a Baroka side that has fizzled out after starting the season on a high, but has won just once in their last five games.

Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kwesi Nyantakyi admitted to breaching multiple Fifa Ethics codes when he appeared before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for an appeal of his Fifa life ban. 

Earlier, the ex-Caf vice-president denied any wrongdoing when he was accused of offences relating to conflict of interest, bribery and corruption, and commission. Consequently, he was slapped with a lifetime ban after being fingered in a 2018 investigative documentary by renowned Ghanaian undercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

Nyantakyi's October 2018 lifetime ban from football was reduced to 15 years while a fine of $500,000 was slashed to $100,000 following his appeal in April last year. 

"[Nyantakyi] admitted his guilt only on the morning of the final hearing," Cas wrote in its full grounds, dated April 2020, relating to the decision to reduce his sanction, the BBC has reported. 

"[He] added that a life ban would ruin his life and be disproportionate in the circumstances," said the CAS report, which has yet to be made public but a copy of which has been seen by the BBC.

"[He] accepted at the hearing the necessity of CAS imposing a significant sanction and that, since he had admitted the offences, the ban could not be quashed."

In the 2018 documentary, Nyantakyi, GFA president at the time, was filmed taking $65,000 in cash from an undercover journalist posing as a businessman interested in investing in Ghana football. 

He and the 'imposter' later agreed on a sponsorship deal for the FA, the kind that was to see millions of dollars in commission paid to a company controlled by the renowned football administrator.

"The GFA, at the time of the commission of the offences, had not had a main sponsor for three to four years, leading [Nyantakyi] to jump at the chance of meeting the supposed Sheikh who might remedy this situation to the GFA's benefit," CAS stated when discussing some of the grounds for Nyantakyi's appeal.

"He emphasised that this was the supposed investor's idea, not his, and that he for his part thought he was negotiating the sponsorship agreement in good faith."

Nyantakyi had held the position of GFA president since 2005, his reign collapsed by the scandal.

According to CAS, it could not "consider [Nyantakyi's] late admission of guilt … as a basis on which to reduce the sanction against him", particularly taking into account his previous "fanciful and fabricated defence".

"He created an elaborate story involving his email account being hacked, denying his interest in the company which was to act as agent in the proposed scheme and claiming that the money which he did receive in the form of a bribe was intended instead as repayment of travel expenses."

Nyantakyi's position as GFA boss has since October 2019 been taken over by Kurt Okraku. 

Oumar Niasse has revealed how Ronald Koeman tried to force him out of Everton before the expiry of his contract.

The 30-year-old did not get a chance to fight for a first-team spot when Koeman succeeded Roberto Martinez at the helm of the Goodison Park in 2016 side, and he was relegated to the U23 team before he sealed a loan move to Hull City in the second-half of the 2016-17 season.

Following the exit of Koeman in October 2017, Niasse returned to the Toffees' first-team with eight goals in 22 Premier League matches during the 2017-18 season.

"It was like something really difficult, when you don't understand why this guy is doing that. It wasn't something I could understand," Niasse was quoted by Liverpool Echo.

"After Martinez had been sacked by the club, we had two weeks of training after coming back from holiday. And then Koeman called me into his office and told me I'd better find a club, he didn't think I was good enough to play for Everton.

"I said ok, no problem. To be honest, I tried to find a club, at that point I understood what he was doing. He didn't want me, I don't mind.

"I tried to find a club for a month, a month and a half. But I couldn't get the right offer - the offers I had were going back to Turkey or Russia, because I had good teams who wanted me there.”

Niasse joined Everton on a free transfer from Lokomotiv Moscow in 2016 and he signed a four-and-a-half-year contract.

The Senegal international, who started his professional career at US Ouakam in 2008, said playing in the Premier League has always been his football dream.

Even without a club since June 2020, Niasse insisted that playing in the English top-flight is his mission.

“But I'd fought for my life to arrive in the Premier League, I'm not going to leave just because one guy told me he didn't want me,” he continued.

“I signed four years, so either I get a good Premier League club to fight to make my dream come true, or I stay at Everton.

"When I didn't have a good club, I decided to stay. That's when, two or three weeks before the window closed, he tried properly to push me out, doing all the things he did.

"I understand what he was trying to do. So I said to him that either I got what I want with a move to a Premier League club, any Premier League club was good to me, but if I didn't have it I was going to stay.

"Deep down, I said I was fighting for something I really wanted. When you fight for your dream, everything becomes easier."

The Football Association (FA) panel accepted Edinson Cavani did not mean to cause offence with a social media post which resulted in the player receiving a three-match ban.

A three-man independent regulatory commission deemed Manchester United striker Cavani should only be imposed with the minimum sanction possible for a response to praise from a friend on Instagram.

Following his decisive double in a 3-2 Premier League win at Southampton on November 29, Cavani used a Spanish word often used as a term of endearment in Latin America. He later deleted the post and apologised when it was made clear to him that the phrase could be construed as having racist connotations in English.

Spanish language experts believe the FA showed “ignorance and error” in handing out a fine and ban to the Manchester United forward, while Cavani himself said his "heart is at peace".

When the FA published the written reasons for Cavani's punishment on Thursday, it was suggested the 33-year-old - who arrived at Old Trafford in October - should have been given media training by United.

Among the explanation for the verdict, the FA revealed: "The commission readily concluded that it was satisfied that there was no intent on the part of the player to be discriminatory or offensive in any way.

"The commission were satisfied that the player wrote his reply in affectionate appreciation of a message from his Uruguayan friend and that it was not designed or intended to be racist or offensive either to his friend or others reading the content of the Instagram post. 

"Such a conclusion was supported by all the available evidence relevant to the circumstances in which the post was made and having regard to the character and response of the player." 

Cavani was fined £100,000 and ordered to attend a mandatory face-to-face education programme, as well as serving a three-game suspension.

The commission also stated: "In light of the player's high profile in the game, his inability to speak English and the fact that he had approaching eight million Instagram followers, the commission were surprised that no such 'training’ had been specifically put in place for the player by his club.

It did, however, acknowledge United had "taken steps to ensure that the player has a greater understanding of his responsibilities on social media".

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has revealed Jeffrey Schlupp's latest injury will keep him out for "a number of games".

The Ghana midfielder is set for a spell on the sidelines after picking up an injury in the first half of Saturday's 2-0 home triumph over Sheffield United in the Premier League, moments after scoring the match opener.

Media speculation after Schlupp underwent a scan on Monday claimed the German-born is set to stay in the treatment room for three months. Hodgson, however, refused to confirm the reports.

"The medical staff are never prepared to do that [put a time frame on Schlupp's expected injury return], but he’s certainly going to be missing a number of games," Hodgson said in his team news on Thursday ahead of Friday's FA Cup encounter with Wolverhampton Wanderers, his club's official website reports.

"We’ll just have to do the best we can. It is a muscle strain. He’s got good powers of recovery and we hope he’ll have them again.

[This game may be too soon for [Tim Cahill] but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the squad for the next league game as well.

“We’re not risking [Scott Dann] in the game but I don’t see that as a long-term injury.”

Schlupp's absence will be a blow to Palace in their Premier League campaign this season.

The utility man has so far made 15 Premier League appearances involving 12 starts for the Eagles, who occupy the 14th spot on the table after 17 rounds of matches.

His strike against the Blades was his second goal of the season, having also netted a crucial equaliser to ensure a 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur last month.

He is certainly out of Friday's FA Cup encounter with Wolverhampton Wanderers and crucial league fixtures against Arsenal, Manchester City, West Ham United and again Wolves this month.

Schlupp joined Palace from Leicester City in 2017 after helping the former sensationally win the league in 2016.

His latest injury could see him miss Ghana's 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe in March.

The 28-year-old only returned to national duty last November after over a year in the international wilderness partly due to fitness issues. 

England boss Phil Neville has agreed to manage Team GB at the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics next summer but may change his mind and join Inter Miami, says the Football Association's director of women's football Dame Sue Campbell.

Neville is reported to have held talks with the MLS side, which is owned by his former Manchester United team-mate David Beckham, about the vacant manager’s job.

The club are on the lookout for a new boss after announcing on Thursday that current head coach Diego Alonso had left after just over a year and 23 games in charge.

Neville meanwhile has already agreed to step down as England head coach when his current contract expires in July, just a month before Team GB are due to compete at the Olympic Games.

Campbell says the former Manchester United full-back wants to manage the side in Japan, but that Miami’s approach may force a rethink.

"We did make a decision that Phil [Neville] would lead Team GB in November and we were moving towards an announcement when he started to have these discussions [with Inter Miami]” Campbell told BBC Sport.

"Until those discussions are concluded, I can't really say any more. If Phil remains, he will be Team GB coach. If he goes, we obviously have something to think about and work through. That is where we are.

"It is his long-term future and it is up to him to make his decision. I'm certainly not privy to any detailed conversations he is having with Inter Miami but I know he is having conversations.

"We have some time on our hands but we all want to know and particularly the players, who are our priority. Once we know the decision about Phil, we will move quickly to find the right solution.”

Neville has yet to manage on the men's side of the game, bar a very brief spell as caretaker boss of Salford City. He did spend a year as an assistant at Manchester United under David Moyes before working under his brother, Gary, and Nuno Espirito Santo at Valencia.

Netherlands coach Sarina Wiegman has already agreed to succeed Neville as Lionesses boss after the Tokyo Olympics.

Sports Club Villa midfielder Salim Abdallah has reacted to his lack of playing time at the Ugandan Premier League side.

The 20-year-old has been enjoying minutes only from the substitutes bench since he was promoted to the first team in the 2019/20 season.

The starlet is hopeful his time would come as he continues to put in the necessary effort.

“I know very many people think I should be getting more game time and even be able to start games but that is for the technical team to decide,” Abdallah told the club’s website.

“I am putting in all the hard work and concentration so that when the time comes for me to feature more often, I will perform exceptionally.

“I am patient, my time to shine will come and I urge the fans to be patient too.

“But as I wait for my time to come, I am working on some crucial elements of my game. In this break we are having now, I am working hard so as to improve my physical strength as physicality is a very important aspect of the modern game.

“I am also learning a lot from fellow offensive midfielders about ball distribution leading to assists to my teammates and also scoring goals because they win games.”

SC Villa have had a tradition of graduating their players from the youth sides to the senior ones and Abdallah is among the latest additions. The midfielder is happy that those who were promoted are doing well now.

“I am always happy seeing others succeed,” he added. “It is good seeing Benson Muhindo, Abdallah Ssekandi and Gavin Kizito become integral members of the senior side.

“As you very well know, Gavin is the biggest amongst us right now; he is already commanding a place in the starting XI, very disciplined and never depletes in performance. You can see from his performances that a big bright future awaits him.”

As he keeps on working hard in anticipation of a league start and regular minutes, Abdallah has set his eyes on winning matches for the Jogoos.

 “I will most definitely feature more often for my team as it has been this season. I hope to get my first league start and also help my team win more games when the league returns,” he concluded.

“I would like to thank the coaches and my teammates for the enormous support overtime. Above all, I thank Allah because it has always been Allah enabling me to achieve all these milestones in my career.”  

The Ugandan league is on a break which was necessitated by the qualification of the national side for the upcoming African Nations Championship tournament.

Taiwo Awoniyi said he is focused on helping Union Berlin in the Bundesliga with his contributions in front of goal.

The 23-year-old striker, who is on a season-long loan in Berlin from Liverpool, has scored five goals in his 12 league appearances for the Iron Ones so far this campaign and he is their second-highest goal scorer after Max Kruse (six goals).

On Saturday, Awoniyi helped Urs Fischer's side cruised to a 2-0 victory at Werder Bremen with a goal and an assist in the encounter.

The result stretched Union Berlin's unbeaten run in the Bundesliga to four matches as they climbed to fifth on the league table with 24 points after 14 matches.

When asked about his recent form, Awoniyi told the Bundesliga website: "For me it's always about the team. Always fighting, working, doing everything for the team.

“And for a striker, I believe once you put that first, the rest of the things will come."

The Nigeria youth star, who is currently in his seventh loan spell away from Anfield, is yet to play for Liverpool since he joined from Nigeria’s Imperial Academy in 2015.

Awoniyi is in contention to make his 10th Bundesliga start of the season and he will be aiming to continue his goalscoring form when Union Berlin host Wolfsburg on Saturday.

Meanwhile, his compatriot Anthony Ujah is still nursing a knee injury and has been ruled out of the game scheduled for the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei.

“Our squad is big enough. Sure, in the striker position, we have Kruse, Pohjanpalo, Ujah injured,” Fischer said in a press briefing on Thursday.

“In the current situation, I’m not stressed. It’s about the guys who are available. Oli Ruhnert has clearly said we are looking. We’ll see if successful.”

Former Kaizer Chiefs forward Pollen Ndlanya says 2021 “will be a special year” for the Soweto giants whom he believes stand a “real chance to win the Caf Champions League” despite facing reigning African champions Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns as potential group stage opponents.

The Champions League draw will be held in Cairo on Friday.

In their first-ever group stage participation, bottom-seeded Chiefs could be drawn in the same pool as their Gauteng rivals Mamelodi Sundowns who are in Pot 2.

The Soweto giants could also find themselves in the same group with top-seeded and defending champions Al Ahly who are coached by former Downs tactician Pitso Mosimane.

With Chiefs also facing the possibility of playing the likes of Esperance, TP Mazembe, Wydad Casablanca and Zamalek, Ndlanya regards his former team as “one of the biggest teams on the continent” and has confidence that Gavin Hunt’s men could be crowned African champions.

“I feel positive that the club has a real chance to win the African Champions League. This will be my dream and deepest wish for the fans and the best possible way we can celebrate the club's 51st birthday in style,” Ndlanya told Chiefs’ media.

“Kaizer Chiefs is one of the biggest team on the continent thanks to the dedication and hard work of the founding fathers and past players, duly assisted by the technical teams, management and staff, whose efforts have all contributed to reaching this milestone.

“Kaizer Chiefs is an iconic global brand today because of everyone’s contribution, love and passion. The Chairman has dedicated his life to the success of the Club and has worked tirelessly to build this world-class team and facility, the Village. After all the challenges that came in 2020, I believe that with help of God, 2021 will be a special year for Kaizer Chiefs.”

Although Chiefs are struggling on the domestic front, Ndlanya’s confidence in his former team might be emanating from the fact that they are unbeaten in all their four Champions League matches.

Impressively, Chiefs have won away in Cameroon against PWD Bamenda as well as in Luanda against Angolan champions Primeiro Agosto.

Meanwhile, Amakhosi chairman Kaizer Motaung has blamed the coronavirus pandemic for the team’s faltering in last season’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) title race.

It was a spectacular fall for the then Ernst Middendorp-coached Amakhosi who had led the standings for 28 games and came within 31 minutes of clinching the league crown.

But they drew 1-1 with Baroka FC on the last day of the campaign to allow Sundowns to overtake them right at the death as they needed a win to claim the league title for the first time since 2015.

“Our 50th anniversary was meant to be a special moment in history,” Motaung told the club website.

"But as we all know our plans were interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. We started brightly and focused our attention to lifting the Premiership until Covid-19 struck and halted our plans. We lost the title at the final hurdle of the league marathon.

“Be that as it may, we are entering this anniversary, with a renewed commitment to do our best. We still face difficulties and challenges given the continued pandemic, but we remain positive with the promise of hope as we seek out the opportunities to claw back what belongs to us.”

Chiefs' difficulties in the current PSL campaign has seen them win just one league match, drawing four and losing three, just two points better than bottom-placed Black Leopards.

Kerala Blasters suffered a disappointing 2-4 defeat against Odisha FC in the 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL) clash at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim, Goa.

The loss sees Kerala Blasters sitting in the second last position in the table with six points from nine matches. Kerala Blasters head coach Kibu Vicuna was quick to apologise to the supporters for their poor performance. 

"I want to say sorry to all the supporters. We did not play a good match and committed too many mistakes. This is not the team that we want to see and sorry for that," Kibu Vicuna said after the game. 

Vicuna said that his team were not at their tactical best throughout the match but expressed hope that the team will improve. He also mentioned that he was looking for a response from the team in their next match which comes up on Sunday against Jamshedpur FC. 

"Everything (was wrong) because tactically we commit a mistake and the result. The good thing is we have a game on Sunday and we have to react. We need to focus on the next game to get all the three points," he said. 

"Well, when you concede four goals, its impossible to get points. Today we will analyze the match but is a tough night for us," he added.

Kerala Blasters have used different pairs of centre-backs in the previous matches. Vicuna revealed that players' fitness has been a reason for that and he has had to rotate them according to their condition. 

"Yes, we have players that are not ready to play. Yesterday we had a problem with Costa (Nhaimonesu). In the last training, he worsened his injury and could not play tonight. He was recovering after an injury," he said. 

"In football, we have to keep going, I believe this team can play better, we have shown in matches. We have to recover from this loss. We have to play better in every aspect of the game." 

Milton Karisa and Saidi Kyeyune were on target as Uganda picked up a 3-0 win over Niger at the Annex 2 Omnisport Stadium on Thursday, in a pre-African Nations Championship (Chan) encounter.

The Cranes emerged victorious in their last engagement in the mini-tournament as they now are set to focus on the actual event.

Karisa scored Uganda’s opening goal in the second minute and that was his second of the tournament. In the 10th minute, Kyeyune added the second for the Cranes and it would have been three had Joachim Ojera tapped home a fine cross that was played to him by Viane Ssekajuugo.

Karisa scored the third in the 14th minute to take his tally to three goals in the four-nations tournament.

In the 57th minute, coach Johnathan McKinstry made a change as he introduced midfielder Tony Mawejje for Shafiq Kagimu, as Uganda looked more comfortable in dealing with their opponents.

Joel Mutakubwa had to be attended by the medical team in the 61st minute when he collided with an opponent as he made an attempt to clear the ball.

Ssekajugo, who had a good day against Zambia when he scored the two goals, was substituted in the 77th minute and his place was taken by Vipers SC’s Ibrahim Orit. The last change by Uganda was made in the dying minutes of an encounter they largely dominated as Kyeyune was withdrawn and Bobosi Byaruhanga came on.

Niger were unable to find a way to get even a consolation goal against the Cecafa champions who will now start their journey to Daoula where their Chan matches will be hosted.

McKinstry had said the Niger game was important for his side given that it will give them a glimpse of what to expect from Togo during a Group C encounter.

"Niger play physical, fast and direct football,” McKinstry said in an interview. “The biggest aspect of the game against Niger will be for the players to understand what kind of football they will face against Togo.

“A lot of the young boys in the squad have not come across this kind of football. Not many of them have experience and Thursday will be preparation for Togo. It is time to get their feet in the water so that they can understand and hopefully we can put up another top performance like in the previous two games.”

The Niger game was the last for Uganda, who picked up a 1-1 draw against Cameroon before they downed Zambia 2-0 in the second match.

Czech National Football League side FK Dukla Prague have announced the signing of Sunday Faleye.

The forward put pen to paper on a three-year deal at the Stadion Juliska outfit after successful medical examinations.

Faleye last played for Austrian second division side FC Wacker Innsbruck, where he found game time difficult to come by, featuring only in 10 league games.

In an effort to enjoy more playing opportunities, the forward has teamed up with Roman Skuhravy’s men until the summer of 2024.

Faleye has expressed his delight to join the Czech second division side and hopes to help the club achieve success.

"I am excited to have become a part of Dukla. I will try to do my best on the field and help the team to get as many points as possible,” Faleye told the club website.

FK Dukla Prague sports director Jan Stanek revealed his joy with the acquisition of the 22-year-old forward.

"I am very happy that we managed to catch the arrival of the first selected player, we are discussing the others,” Stanek said.

“We stood a lot on Sunday, it has very interesting advantages and preconditions. It increases our danger in attack, he is very strong one on one.

“We sometimes lacked more courage in these moments in the autumn and Sunday should clearly help us. Most opponents defend against us, so we need players who can bring us an advantage.”

Faleye featured for Shooting Stars and Akwa United in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) before moving abroad to join SCR Altach and then Wacker Innsbruck.

The forward featured for Nigeria’s U23 side prominently and also represented the Super Eagles' home-based team.

Faleye will link up with his compatriot Michael Ugwu and Ivory Coast midfielder Mohamed Doumbia at Stadion Juliska.

The attacker could make his debut for FK Dukla Prague when they take on Taborsko in their next league game on January 10.