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Tottenham Hotspur defender Serge Aurier has charged his teammates to grab maximum points against Sheffield United to boost their chances of qualifying for next season’s Uefa Champions League.

The North London club are eighth in the league standings after picking up four points in their first two games since the restart of the Premier League in June.

Following a 1-1 draw against Manchester United, they edged West Ham United 2-0 in their last outing which put them nine points adrift of the top-four.

Ahead of their trip to Sheffield, Aurier who has been a regular fixture in Jose Mourinho's team this campaign with 26 league appearances so far, advised his teammates to get ready for ‘a big test’ after both teams played out a 1-1 draw back in November.

The Ivory Coast international also revealed how the team bonded during the coronavirus lockdown without football action.

“We never stopped working during the isolation. We worked hard at home. We worked a lot,” Aurier told club website.

"The lockdown obviously stopped a lot, but we stayed together with things like Zoom and we would talk all the time. Like after training we would talk, seeing how everyone is doing and hearing each other’s news and that.

“We never lost that feeling of togetherness - for me, that was really good. Everyone was really happy to get back to training together and then you see that on the pitch as well. Everyone is fit and trying to give everything.

“We’ve now played two games. Against Manchester United, we had the possibility to win that, but we drew and then we managed to win the derby against West Ham.

“I think we are in a good way. I think Sheffield United is now a big test for us. If we want to finish in the top four, we need to win this game.

“They are very good team. When we played them at home in November, we drew, and I can remember that being a tough game. We just need to remain concentrated on our objective and on ourselves as a group. They are strong but we only look at ourselves.”

Since the restart of the Premier League, games have been played without fans in the stadium in an attempt to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Aurier believes Tottenham are lacking the motivation supporters give players during games which make home and away matches look more like the same.

“Before, with the fans, it pushed the players. When we have the fans, it is much easier for me... we play football for that, we play for the fans, we play for people to come to the stadium. That always give us a big motivation,” he continued.

“Every player loves that passion and intensity from the stands. Of course, we keep our motivation with or without the fans being there whenever we play but, of course, it is difficult. We know it is also difficult for the fans though as they can’t come to the stadium. We feel that.

“We are playing in an almost neutral environment now. For me, when we go and play away, it’s will be like playing at home and we need to keep that mentality. Without the fans, it is not the same.

"The best way to give energy to the fans though is to win these games. We know everyone is watching.

“The gaffer said it to us during the last game, and I think it’s right, that when we play, we need to understand that everyone is watching. There might not be anyone watching in the stadium, but they are all watching on the TV. So, we need to give our all for them and we need to feel how they feel at home.”

Manchester City have to cut out the mistakes if they are to have any chance of stopping Liverpool next season, according to midfielder Ilkay Gundogan.

The new Premier League champions travel to the Etihad Stadium on Thursday night, 23 points clear with seven matches still remaining.

While Liverpool have set an incredible pace that could yet see them break City’s record haul of 100 points they achieved two years ago, Pep Guardiola’s side have not matched their form of the last two title-winning seasons - losing eight matches already, more than the six of the last two campaigns combined.

“Liverpool had a great season, they hardly dropped points so it is so tough to maintain that level for such a long time,” Germany international Gundogan said.

“On the other side, we have to stop dropping points unnecessarily. Games that we have to win, we didn’t. I remember a game at Newcastle where we conceded a goal in the last minute and dropped two points there. We played a game at home to Wolves and lost the game.

“There are so many games where we made mistakes and were just unable to win these types of games.

“Still, we are second, it is not a bad season I would say. We know where we have to improve next season and if we are able to do that again we will be in the title race.”

Gundogan played for Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund before his move to City and says he is lucky to have worked for two of the best managers in the world.

“Both are amazing managers, there is no doubt about that,” he added. “If you are a great manager you have to have a great personality. This is something they definitely have in common.

“When it comes to the game they both focus on different things. Pep is maybe more about positions, dominating the ball while Jurgen is maybe more like winning the ball and trying to score goals as quick as possible with high intensity.

“I just think they are great human beings and the football world should be grateful that we have these two personalities.”

City can still make it a memorable season with an FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal later this month followed by the Champions League in August and Gundogan says there is no reason why they can’t target winning both.

“It is definitely exciting,” he said. “We still have two great competitions that we can win. We are playing to win it so that is our aim. It is not going to be easy but I think we have a chance to win both.

“Obviously, we have to improve still and play well because there is no room for mistakes, you have to be crucial. These games are crucial.”

Jurgen Klopp has dismissed suggestions Liverpool’s title win could mark the end of Manchester City’s era of dominance in the Premier League.

The Reds head to the Etihad Stadium on Thursday looking to underline their status as top dogs in England, one week after being crowned league champions for the first time since 1990.

The gap between the two sides is enormous, with Klopp’s team able to move 26 points clear of Pep Guardiola’s two-time champions with a victory.

Their supremacy in this campaign has been unquestionable, but Klopp laughed when it was put to him at his pre-match press conference that City, who will lose David Silva at the end of the season having waved goodbye to club captain Vincent Kompany last summer, could be coming to the end of a cycle under Guardiola.

“Did I hear that right, you think it could be the end of an era?” Klopp said.

“City did have to replace the likes of Kompany, and maybe they were a bit under pressure from different authorities so a big transfer was not possible, I don’t know?

“Now David Silva is going. You know how much I admire him. He never played in my team but I loved him since pretty much he started playing football. But if he can be replaced by somebody, then I have to say they have the perfect players for that; if it’s Bernardo Silva or [Phil] Foden, or Ilkay Gundogan can play that role as well.

“They don’t lose players, they replace them. A lot of world-class players are still there. If Aguero gets older, then Gabriel Jesus is there. They will not stop.

“I couldn’t be more positive about my team, but I cannot deny that they [City] are really good. That was always the case. We still wanted to beat them.

“I don’t see any end of an era, but what is an era? We won the title, and the next day people told me we were only a big team if we win it twice or three times or four times! Sorry! Can we at least speak for five minutes about winning it one time? That’s not too bad, we were fighting long enough.

“When the new season starts we will try to be in contention again, but no, I cannot see the end of anything for Man City!”

Liverpool head to the Etihad knowing that 15 points from their remaining seven league matches would see them set a new all-time top-flight record for a single season – eclipsing City’s ‘centurions’ from 2017-18.

It would also, wisdom suggests, strike a sizeable psychological blow heading into the next campaign, if the Reds could confirm their superiority.

Klopp, unsurprisingly, disagrees.

“I don’t think we have to make a statement,” he said. “What will change if we beat City tomorrow night, and what will change if City beat us? People will say a few things, but that’s really not important.

“We all have to be ready for next year, not only us, not only City. You can really see in the moment that [Manchester] United is coming up, people thought they had no chance but now we can see how good they are and how good they could be, and for sure they will not be worse next season. Chelsea as well.

“It’s not about City and us. It was for two seasons, pretty much, at the top of the table, but City have been there for four or five years and they have all the tools to be there again. 

“How can I say we are there, 100 per cent? We have to show that. It is difficult, for sure, and it will not get easier. 

“So this game on Thursday, it’s a very important game – but that’s because it’s the only game we play, and City see it the same way.”

Liverpool have welcomed James Milner back into training after a hamstring injury, but will be without defender Joel Matip for the rest of the season due to a foot issue.

Jurgen Klopp has explained how lessons from the world’s most famous rugby union side have helped him throughout his managerial career.

The Liverpool boss revealed that, early in his spell in charge of Mainz, he had been struck by a documentary about the New Zealand All Blacks, which laid bare the desire, mentality and sacrifices taken by players who pulled on the famous jersey.

At a press conference to preview his side’s trip to Manchester City, Klopp spoke of how he had used that at Mainz, even making his players listen to the famous ‘Haka’ to get them pumped up before games.

“I think it was my first pre-season,” he explained. “And in the summer break I saw this documentary. I was completely impressed by these big fellas and how they spoke. 

“At that time, the All Blacks were by far the best rugby team in the world, with a winning percentage of over 70 per cent. That’s so impressive. 

“These boys, they worked as butchers, as builders, all that stuff, and all these guys spoke about their past and what it meant to them to play for this team. 

“At Mainz, the last two minutes before the team bus arrived at the stadium for a game, we would always listen to the Haka, so that when the door opened it was pretty loud! It gave us just a little kick.

“They were the All Blacks, and at Mainz we made ourselves the All Reds! Nobody noticed that, because we were a small club, a small team. But for us it was big. That’s how it started for that team.

“I don’t know how much influence it had, but if you ask the players of that time, they really liked it. We were a team nobody is interested in, but we were really interested in ourselves!”

At Mainz, Klopp went on to earn promotion to the Bundesliga in 2004 – the first time in the club’s history they had reached the top flight.

Now, 16 years on, he is basking in the glory of guiding Liverpool to their first league title since 1990. 

But at Melwood on Wednesday afternoon, he promised the Reds would, like the All Blacks, refuse to rest on their laurels and would continue to hunt further success.

"I have learned that when you think you have reached the pinnacle you are already on the way down,” he said.

"We don't feel that. I don't feel satisfied. This is just another step, a big one, an unbelievably big one, but it's not the only thing I want to talk to the boys about when I meet them in 20 years' time.

"As long as you wear the shirt, less than 100 per cent is never allowed. That's not my phrase. I kept that for myself from the All Blacks documentary.

“And that's for each LFC player and for me. That's what we try to live.”

Super-sub Andriy Yarmolenko scored a last-gasp winner to give West Ham's Premier League survival hopes a huge boost in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Chelsea at the London Stadium.

Introduced in the 78th minute for Jarrod Bowen, who had earlier set up goals for Tomas Soucek and Michail Antonio, Yarmolenko coolly slotted home at the end of a swift counter-attack to stun Chelsea.

The vital result lifts David Moyes' side three points above the relegation zone, while Chelsea – for whom Willian scored twice, including a stunning free-kick – missed the chance to climb to third.

It is the first time the Hammers, who won the reverse fixture 1-0, have done the league double over the Blues since the 2002-03 season, although they were somewhat ominously relegated in that campaign.

It had not shaped up to be a good night for the home side when Soucek was initially denied his first goal for the club, a lengthy VAR review finding the prone Antonio to be offside when the Czech forced home the loose ball from a corner.

The Hammers' woes were compounded when Issa Diop brought down Christian Pulisic in the area and Willian confidently converted the spot-kick. 

But West Ham fought back and Slavia Prague loanee Soucek climbed above Cesar Azpilicueta to nod in the leveller from Bowen's corner.

Moyes' men took the lead when Bowen tricked his way into space and drove a low cross into the heart of the area, with Antonio on hand to provide the finish.

However, they could not hold on at 2-1 and Willian's cultured free-kick hit the inside of Lukasz Fabianski's left-hand upright before nestling in the net.

Remarkably, that was not the end of matters and, with the visitors pushing for a winner, the decisive goal came at the other end as Yarmolenko collected Antonio's pass before slotting in.
 

What does it mean? Hammers revived, Chelsea stunned

Frank Lampard's side have looked in fine form since the return from the coronavirus-enforced break, winning all three matches to reach the FA Cup semi-final and close the gap to third-place Leicester. West Ham, meanwhile, had lost back-to-back games without scoring.

But the form book went out of the window here, much to the Hammers' credit.

Moyes silences critics

Moyes has come in for significant criticism amid West Ham's struggles, but his side produced a display of which he can be proud. Even after the setbacks of Soucek's disallowed goal and then Willian's glorious equaliser, they showed huge character to dig deep and get the points.

Willian's a wizard

By netting in this game, albeit in a losing effort, Willian became the first player to score a Premier League goal in every calendar month. While the first strike may not make many highlight reels, though it was a solid spot-kick, his second was a thing of beauty.

Key Opta Facts

- West Ham ended a 20-game losing run when conceding the first goal in Premier League fixtures, with this the first time they avoided defeat after conceding first in the competition since February 2019 – a 3-1 win over Fulham.

- Only West Ham (22) and Aston Villa (19) have dropped more points from leading positions in this season's Premier League than Chelsea (18).

- This was West Ham's sixth Premier League win over Chelsea after conceding the first goal; only against Southampton (seven) have the Hammers come from behind after conceding first to win more times in the competition, while only Arsenal (seven) have beaten Chelsea more after conceding first to them in the division.

- This was Chelsea's 10th Premier League defeat of the season; only in 2015-16, when they finished 10th, have they suffered more in a single campaign in the Roman Abramovich era (12).

What's next?

Chelsea can do West Ham a favour by beating Watford on Saturday, while on Sunday Moyes' men head to a Newcastle United outfit buoyed by a dominant win over struggling Bournemouth.

Liverpool forward Sadio Mane is not accepting special mention about his combination with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, preferring that the whole team be credited for their triumphant season.

The three have so far this season combined to score 40 of Liverpool’s 70 Premier League goals to claim the title with seven games remaining and break a 30-year wait for that crown.

Salah leads the Anfield outfit’s scoring with 17 goals as well as seven assists, the same number managed by Firmino who has eight goals.

Mane’s 15 strikes and nine assists complete the trio’s contribution but the Senegal international appears to downplay their partnership, saying the team comes first before any talk of their combination.

“I always say we are lucky boys. People are always talking about us three but I think this team is more than the front three,” Mane told the Liverpool website.

“I am lucky to play alongside these two great players [up front] and they make everything easier for me… I will keep trying to work harder and harder to get better and better for the next games.”

Mane has also anointed left-back Andy Robertson as the “best” in his position in the world.

“Andy is a great lad, first of all, and he is a great player. You can see his desire and how hungry he is in the game and he always wants to learn and always wants to improve,” said Mane.

“For me, he is the best left-back in the Premier League for sure and in the world. He is still young and can improve a lot and he’s just an incredible player, always going forward and he is defending properly… he is just a unique player.”

Having already won the league title, Liverpool next visit Manchester City on Thursday.

They arrive at the Etihad Stadium in high spirits of their triumphant season but Mane emphasised that they always have to be “ready for the next games.”

“It’s a special moment and a unique moment. It has been a long [time], waiting for the title and finally we got it and you can see how happy the players, the staff, the manager, [the people] around the club, all over the world the supporters are,” Mane said.

“It’s just an incredible moment and now we have to enjoy this moment and at the same time make sure we are ready for the next games.”

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is hopeful Dani Ceballos can be brought to the Emirates Stadium on a permanent basis after a series of impressive performances for the Gunners. 

Ceballos, 23, joined Arsenal from Real Madrid on loan at the start of the 2019-20 season. 

Injury problems have restricted his involvement, however, with a muscle tear suffered in November ruling him out of action for almost three months. 

The midfielder appears to have come back from the coronavirus interruption in better shape, starting all three of Arsenal's Premier League games to date since the end of lockdown. 

And while Arsenal did not include a purchase option in last summer's loan agreement with Madrid, Arteta would be happy to see his compatriot stay on beyond the current term. 

"Both clubs have been in communication. I really like Dani and what he brings to the team," he explained to reporters following Wednesday's 4-0 thrashing of Norwich City. 

"When I joined he wasn’t available because he had a difficult injury, but he’s understanding what we’re trying to do really, really nicely and he has big personality to play and take the ball in any area of the field and give us the continuity that we need as a team to control the games better, but as well without the ball.

"The running that he’s putting in, the tackles, every time with the interceptions, his desire to win that ball back and help the team, he’s improved so much and he looks a really good player at the moment."

Ceballos has also recently commented on his future, stating that he was more likely to stay in the Premier League or return to former employers Betis than try his luck again under Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane.

“The owner of my future next year is me. Next year I want to play and I will hardly be able to do it at Real Madrid," the midfielder explained to El Larguero. 

“Would I return with Zidane? I have to make the decision. He told me this year that the best thing was for me to leave and get experience.

“Everyone makes their decisions and they must be respected, I have nothing against him because he has always been very clear with me.

“Betis? It is an option. I do not close the door to play in any club. I do not rule out continuing in the Premier [League].”

Achraf Hakimi has revealed his admiration for Real Madrid defender Marcelo as a player he aspires to emulate in his career.

The Moroccan full-back is reportedly on the verge of leaving the Spanish giants after agreeing on a five-year deal with Inter Milan at the end of his Borussia Dortmund loan.

Hakimi has been at Real Madrid since 2006 at the tender age of eight, and he progressed through the club's youth ranks, playing for Los Blancos during their pre-season tour in 2016 and also featuring for the Real Madrid B-side.

He made his La Liga debut in October 2017 and two months later, he broke his league duck against Sevilla. 

While developing his game at the Madrid academy, Hakimi had his sights set on Marcelo, who has been at the club since 2007, because of his qualities on the pitch and sense of humour.

“It was a dream for me to play alongside him, like it was when I signed for Real Madrid. I signed when I was young; I didn't believe it when they called me,” Hakimi told BBC Sport.

“As a young player, I looked up to Marcelo because he plays in the same position as me.

“He laughs all the time too; when he plays, he enjoys it. I want to be like him.”

During his two-year loan spell at Dortmund, Hakimi showed his versatility in Lucien Favre’s team to play as a left-back, right-back or winger in certain situations.

He proved his attacking prowess by contributing 10 assists and five goals for the Black and Yellows who finished second in the just-concluded Bundesliga campaign.

The Moroccan full-back shone in the various roles he played this season, but he reveals the right-back is his favourite playing position.

“I think I like the right-back role - but I like to go on the attack all the time,” he added.

“I like to play as a winger too, and sometimes I feel as if I want to play as a striker. But I think right-back is good.”

Despite his restricted playing time in Zinedine Zidane's team, the two-time Caf Youth Player of the Year won two Champions League titles and one La Liga crown amongst others with Los Blancos.

Barcelona head coach Quique Setien is “completely overwhelmed” with the task facing him at Camp Nou, claims former Blaugrana forward Christophe Dugarry.

Following a 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, the Catalans need Real Madrid to drop points in at least two of their remaining six matches to stand any chance of retaining the Liga title.

While a run of three draws in four games is not up to the standard expected of the club, matters are reportedly coming to a head behind the scenes, with the squad rapidly losing faith in the former Real Betis coach, who only took charge in January and Barca having resolved to sack him if the club ends the season without the league or Champions League.

Dugarry simply believes that the 61-year-old finds himself in a role that he simply was not prepared for.

“This is a coach who is completely out of his depth,” the 1998 World Cup winner told RMC. “Setien is very nice, but he’s not at that level. He doesn’t know what changes to make.

“He replaced Sergio Busquets in the 85th minute with Ansu Fati and only put on Antoine Griezmann in the 90th minute. He doesn’t know how to make his team play. He’s completely overwhelmed.”

The Griezmann case was particularly controversial, with the player’s family taking to social media to hit out at the coach for making the former Atleti star warm up for much of the second half only to deploy him with seconds remaining.

“I’m sure that he’s got nothing against Griezmann, but it’s just that Setien is incompetent,” Dugarry explained.

“Griezmann was the victim this time, but it could have happened to another player. He doesn’t know how to bring new vibrancy when the team does not find a solution.”

Meanwhile, Dugarry can understand why the Frenchman has found himself on the bench in three of the last four matches.

“He’s lost confidence, his performances are not good,” the pundit explained. “It’s true that Lionel Messi could pass to him more, but honestly it doesn’t shock me.

“Griezmann loses balls, he plays it safe. If Griezmann just goes to see Messi, it won’t solve their problems.”

Barca travel to Villarreal on Sunday with both the coach and the attacker under pressure. 

Belgian First Division A giants Genk have completed the signing of Cyriel Dessers from Eredivisie side Heracles Almelo.

The 25-year-old Nigeria senior national team invitee penned a four year deal with the Smurfs which will see him stay at the club until 2024.

Dessers joined the Heraclieden last summer from Utrecht on a three-year deal and enjoyed great success in his debut campaign with the side.

In 29 appearances across all competitions, he scored 18 goals and provided six assists which saw him emerge as joint-topscorer in the Dutch elite division, which was cancelled owing to the coronavirus outbreak.

His eye-catching performances generated a number of interests, however, Genk beat several European clubs to secure his signature in the summer.

Reacting to the move, Genk’s sporting director Dimitri de Conde said it will enable the player to take his career to the next level.

“Cyriel has developed excellently in the Netherlands as a footballer and as a real goalscorer,” he told the club website.

“He is Belgian, still young and ready to take the next step in his career. The fact that he was a supporter of our club as a child only makes it even better.”

For the Belgian-Nigerian, who had spells at OH Leuven, Lokeren, NAC Breda and FC Utrecht, joining the Smurfs is a dream come true.

“As a little boy you dream of great things. I dreamed of KRC Genk,” he tweeted.

He has been handed the no. 9 jersey and becomes the fifth African in Hannes Wolf’s squad after compatriots Paul Onuachu, Stephen Odey, Cote d’Ivoire’s Eboue Kouassi and Ghana’s Joseph Paintsil.

All eyes will be on him to help the Belgians qualify for Europe next term after finishing seventh in the First Division A after accruing 44 points in 29 outings.

Born in Belgium to a Belgian father and Nigerian mother, he pledged his international allegiance to the Super Eagles in December 2019.

He was called up by coach Gernot Rohr for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone which could not be held due to the pandemic which placed football-related activities on hold for months.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang admitted that he is yet to reach a decision on extending his Arsenal stay, but was happy to see Bukayo Saka sign his own deal. 

Aubameyang struck with two goals as the Gunners breezed past Norwich City 4-0 on Wednesday, a result that moves Mikel Arteta's charges up to seventh, six points shy of Manchester United in fifth; while deepening the Canaries' relegation woes at the foot of the Premier League table. 

The Gabon international is now level with Jamie Vardy on 19 goals as the league's top scorer in 2019-20 and also broke the Premier League record as the quickest Arsenal footballer to reach his half-century. 

But when asked whether he will be following Saka's lead and putting pen to paper on a fresh contract, Aubameyang was non-committal. 

"I’m really pleased that Bukayo signed da ting," the striker told BT Sport after the final whistle.

"And now we’ll see. We’re going to talk to the club and we’ll see what happens.

"First of all I'm really focused on the games and the end of the season so we'll see. 

"I'm really proud [of reaching 50 goals] but first of all I'm proud of the team. I thought we deserved the win because we did a great job. Everyone worked very well today so I’m really happy.

"I'm really happy today, my performance was good, I'm always happy to score goals and help the team to win games."

Aubameyang is out of contract at the Emirates Stadium in June 2021, and his uncertain future has attracted attention from the the likes of Barcelona. 

Manager Mikel Arteta, however, paid tribute to his star forward and expressed his belief that he would continue to grace north London for a while yet. 

"He's the type of player that is always trying to be the best, to score goals to help the team," Arteta explained to BT Sport. 

"I'm really glad for him, not just for his goals but for his attitude too.

"How many goals can he score? Hopefully another hundred. He's a magician... He is willing to stay with us."

Jermaine Seoposenwe has thanked the Spanish top-flight side Real Betis following the expiration of her six-month contract on June 30.

The South Africa international arrived at the Spanish Primera Iberdrola outfit in February and only played three games in all competitions, including the Women's Cup for Pier Luigi Cherubino's team.

She came on as a substitute in Betis' 2-0 win over Espanyol on February 15 and in a 2-0 triumph over Rayo Vallecano on March 1 five days after a 1-0 Cup loss to Logrono.

And following the league's suspension and subsequent cancellation in May, her side finished 12th with 20 points from 21 matches - the 26-year-old is grateful for the opportunity.

Before her journey to Spain, Seoposenwe enjoyed a fine albeit brief spell, scoring six times in eight games for Lithuanian champions Gintra Universitetas in a first professional move abroad. 

During her short spell at Gintra, she also made her first-ever outing in the Uefa Women's Champions League, featuring twice in the playoffs against Wexford Youths and Birkirkara last August.

On joining Betis, the striker, who previously starred for JVW FC in her home country, became the second South African woman to join a Spanish outfit after Ode Fulutudilu starred for Malaga in 2019.

On the international scene, she helped Banyana Banyana to a runners-up spot at the 2018 Africa Women's Cup of Nations and was part of the squad in their maiden Women's World Cup in France in 2019.

Having left Betis this week, the Cape Town-born striker is expected to make known her next possible destination in the coming days.

Ashanti Gold chief executive officer (CEO) Emmanuel Frimpong believes they are in good shape to represent Ghana in the 2020-21 Caf Confederation Cup.

The Miners received the nod to play in the competition on Tuesday following a Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Council decision to truncate the 2019-20 domestic football season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Asante Kotoko, the most successful club in the history of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) will represent the nation in the Caf Champions League. AshGold and Kotoko represented Ghana in this season's Confederation Cup and Champions League.

"We are 85 per cent ready for Africa," Frimpong told Kumasi FM.

"When the league was suspended, there was a rumour of AshantiGold and Asante Kotoko going for Africa hence we started preparing and putting everything in place.

"Our coach has been sending training schedules for the players at home. My players are very ready for anything.

"AshantiGold would have been at the top of the league but for the cancellation of the league."

Ordinarily, the winners of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) are awarded the slot for the Caf Champions League while victors of the FA Cup earn the Confederation Cup spot.

In 2017-18, Ghana was similarly unable to complete its football season, then due to a corruption scandal, and consequently decided against presenting any representatives for Caf competitions.

There were no Premier League or FA Cup competitions in 2018-19 as the nation was still picking itself up from the turbulent scandal.

However, following a decision to make a return to continental inter-club football after a one-year absence, Ghana organised novelty competitions to determine representatives for the 2019-20 African campaign.

Kotoko won the Ghana Tier One Special Competition, which replaced the Premier League, and participated in the Champions League where their adventure ended early as they were knocked out by Etoile Sahel of Tunisia in the first round.

Ashanti Gold, who won the Ghana Tier Two Special Competition - which replaced the FA Cup - played in the Confederation Cup. Like Kotoko, the Miners' journey ended in the first round following defeat to Moroccan fold RS Berkane.

Kotoko and AshGold held the third and fifth positions, respectively, on the standings.

Simba SC progressed to the FA Cup semi-final courtesy of a 2-0 win over Azam FC at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Goals by John Bocco and Clatous Chama were enough to see the league champions progress into the next phase of the tournament.

Bocco, who has turned into a key goal-scoring figure for the Wekundu wa Msimbazi since football resumed in Tanzania, scored the opener in the 40th minute to ensure Simba were leading at the break.

Benedict Haule's misplaced pass was collected by Francis Kahata and the Kenyan's cross into the box was headed in by Bocco with minimal interruption from the opponents.

Simba fought and they were deservedly rewarded in the 57th minute when Chama scored the second to stretch the lead against the defending champions.

The loss should be a big disappointment for Ugandan star Nicholas Wadada, who had hopes of victory and perhaps finishing the year with a trophy.

"It is a quarter-final and remember we also want to end the season on a high by winning a trophy,” Wadada told Football256.

“We are the defending champions of this trophy and the team is in high spirits and regardless [of the outcome of the league] we are confident of our chances.”

The loss is even bigger for Azam coach Aristica Cioaba who had called for "determination on the pitch, a fantastic organisation on the pitch, and also a good spirit and sacrifice, and players should know it is a Cup game."

On the other hand, captain Bocco, who led the onslaught by opening the score, should be heading home a happy man.

"We will strive to win the game, we want our fans to come and support us, we are ready to give them a smile and something to celebrate about," Bocco had promised before the match.

The Simba victory was also witnessed by their returning star Sharaf Shiboub. The South Sudanese was the only remaining player who were yet to touch base since the league resumed.

Shiboub's arrival was delayed by the travel restrictions ordered by his country to counter the spread of the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, First Division League side Sahare All-Stars defeated Premier League outfit Ndanda FC to book their slot in the semi-finals.

After a 1-1 draw at full-time, Sahare emerged victorious from the post-match spot-kicks. They managed to convert their penalties successfully four times compared to Ndanda's three.

Sahare now join Namungo FC, who defeated Alliance FC 2-0, and Yanga SC, whose controversial 2-1 win saw them progress to the penultimate stage of the domestic tournament as well.

Police coach Abdallah Mubiru has claimed they will not venture into the transfer market to fight for players who are earmarked by rivals Vipers SC and Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA FC).

The Venoms and KCCA have already swung into the transfer market with the former signing Disan Galiwango from Express FC while the latter have unveiled three signings - Italian Stefano Mazengo Loro, striker Charles Lwanga and midfielder Ashraf Mugume.

Police are yet to sign a player but coach Mubiru insists they will assemble a decent squad without fighting with the two giants for new signings.

“We are not going to fight with Vipers, KCCA, and URA for top players in the market but still we are going to assemble a decent side that will give us success soon,” Mubiru is quoted by Daily Monitor.

Mubiru, who also handles the Uganda national team, has admitted the club is struggling financially and will lose a number of key players this transfer window.

“I’m afraid to tell that even this season we are going to lose about five players, including Samson Kigozi, Arafat Galiwango, Pius Kagwa, and Denis Rukundo but we shall soldier on,” Mubiru continued.

However, despite the struggles, Mubiru believes the Uganda Premier League (UPL) club can still challenge for trophies when the new season kicks-off.

“When I look back at the three years I have been in charge, we are not so far away from becoming a side that can win trophies,” Mubiru stated.

"Two seasons ago, we topped the table for a while after a strong start and many reckoned we were destined to win the title that year but a few challenges here and there and we lost it.

“Most times we outplay our opponents even in games that we lose, we want to change that. We are one of the most attacking sides in the league and among the top scoring clubs.

"If we maintain that, polish our defence and focus on winning the title, why not?”

Police finished in the 13th position last season after the Federation of Uganda Football Association (Fufa) moved to end the top-flight prematurely owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

Vipers were declared champions by virtue of sitting at the top and will now represent the country in the Caf Champions League while second-placed KCCA will take part in the Confederation Cup.

Manchester United have released midfielder Angel Gomes on a free transfer, the club confirmed on Wednesday. 

Gomes, 19, started training with the United academy at the age of six and made his first-team debut towards the end of the 2016-17 season, becoming the club's youngest debutant since Duncan Edwards in 1953. 

But the youngster struggled to find regular football at Old Trafford, making only a handful of appearances at senior level and failing to score a single goal. 

His contract with the Red Devils expired on June 30 and the club have now revealed that he has chosen to pursue his career elsewhere. 

"Manchester United can confirm that Angel Gomes has not taken up the offer of a new contract and has, therefore, left the club," United signalled in a statement released on Wednesday . 

"The 19-year-old joined the Reds at a very young age and worked his way through the ranks before becoming the first player born in the 2000s to represent the first team, as a substitute for Wayne Rooney in the final game of the 2016-17 season, against Crystal Palace.

"It meant he became the youngest player since Duncan Edwards to make his senior debut for the club, soon after being awarded the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award.

"The attacking midfielder made 10 senior appearances in total for the Reds - three of them starts, which all came in this season's Europa League.

"His final outing came in the 4-0 defeat of Norwich City at Old Trafford in the Premier League in January.

"Everybody at Manchester United would like to wish Angel the very best of luck for the future and thank him for his efforts for the club."

United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had suggested that Gomes might be leaving at the end of June as the stand-off continued between player and club over his new deal. 

“I’ve got no news, nothing, so it doesn't look like it," Solskjaer told reporters when asked about the possibility of a contract extension.

“I've not heard from them last night or this morning, it seems like they haven't managed to agree so the answer is probably short and yes, then.”

AmaZulu FC captain Siyabonga Mbatha has extended his contract with the club amidst reported interest from Orlando Pirates.

The bulky shot-stopper has impressed this season despite Usuthu's struggles in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

Mbatha's previous contract was due to expire at the end of last month, but it has been extended according to AmaZulu's general manager Lunga Sokhela.

“We have extended Mbatha’s contract until the end of next season,” Sokhela was quoted as saying on Daily Sun.

“We are set to sit down with him and try and have a long-term contract."

Mbatha has been linked with Pirates since last January and it remains to be seen whether the Soweto giants will make an offer for the 31-year-old goalkeeper in the next transfer window.

The Umlazi-born shot-stopper, who has struggled with injuries this season having made just 15 appearances in the league.

Meanwhile, the publication also indicated that Mario Booysen will remain with AmaZulu until the end of next season after he signed a new one-year deal at the Durban-based side.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns central defender joined Usuthu last October as a free agent having been released by Kaizer Chiefs two months earlier.

Booysen has featured in 17 matches across all competitions for the team including their last game, which was the 1-0 win over his former side, Chiefs, on March 7 in a league match.

Lastly, Sokhela also confirmed that Tsepo Masilela will remain with the club until the end of the current season which has been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic since mid-March.

The experienced left-back's previous contract with the KwaZulu-Natal giants expired at the end of last month.

“Tsepo will stay until the end of this season, whenever that may be for now. At the end of the season, the club will decide regarding his future,”  Sokhela added.

Masilela was snapped up by the club last November having been a free agent since he parted ways with Chiefs at the end of the 2017/18 campaign.

The 35-year-old player has made eight appearances in the league for the relegation-threatened side this season.

AmaZulu are placed 15th on the league standings - three points behind 12th-placed Chippa United.

Arsenal ace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang notched his 50th Premier League goal for the Gunners against Norwich to become the club’s quickest player to that mark in the modern era, reaching the milestone on the occasion of his 79th appearance.

With his future still very much in doubt, the Gabon international opened the scoring against the relegation strugglers by robbing goalkeeper Tim Krul and then tapping into an unguarded net.

Soon afterwards, he laid on his side’s second against the basement club, delivering the pass from which Granit Xhaka fired under the Dutchman from a testing angle to make it 2-0.

It was, however, his contribution from the opener that fired him into the club’s history books as he notched the mark in a quicker time than legendary figures such as Thierry Henry and Ian Wright, who took 87 and 101 games respectively to reach the mark in the red of Arsenal.

Indeed, only five players have been quicker to the 50-goal mark in the history of the Premier League. 

Andy Cole, who came through the Arsenal youth ranks before achieving fame at Newcastle and Manchester United, is the fastest to his half century, grabbing it in 65 games, one fewer than Alan Shearer and three quicker than another former Old Trafford star in the form of Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Anfield favourites Mohamed Salah and Fernando Torres both reached their 50 in 72 matches, putting the former Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan forward, who turned 31 last month, in illustrious company.

Aubameyang has been with Arsenal since January 2018, when he joined the club for a fee in the region of £56 million ($70m). 

He made a hot start to life in the Premier League as he registered on his debut against Everton in a 5-1 home win, and after two blank outings went on a run of five goals in four games, finishing the season with 10 strikes in just 13 outings.

His first full season in England proved to be equally successful as he notched 22 goals in 36 outings, while he already has 18 in 30 this term, giving him a fighting chance of matching last season’s effort as Mikel Arteta’s side chase down European football.