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Former Ghana international John Paintsil is upbeat about the Black Stars' chances of making it out of the group stage of the delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations tournament but warns against complacency.

The four-time African champions have been pitted against Morocco, Gabon and Comoros in Group C in a draw conducted on Tuesday.

Only the top two teams at the end of the group stage secure automatic qualification for the knockout stage.

"It’s a tricky group. Currently, every country has improved because the game is dynamic and you cannot idle around. I see it as a difficult group," Pantsil, who featured at multiple Afcon tournaments for Ghana, told Asempa FM.

"Ghana will qualify at all cost, but we need to approach everything about it seriously. During our time we were always serious about qualifying, so I pray they maintain that discipline. It’s a very tricky group but Ghana will qualify.

"We will have problems if we don’t get ready. Our readiness is what will take us to the next stage. The group we find ourselves in is not something to relax over. 

"We cannot underestimate Gabon and Morocco, they always prove stubborn in tournaments they feature in. So we must be serious and be well prepared."

A team who finishes third in their group could still progress to the next round of the competition provided they finish among the four best third-placed sides. 

Ghana's last failure to go past the group stage of the Afcon tournament came at Egypt 2006.

In Cameroon next year, the Black Stars will hope to continue what has been a good qualification run in recent times. 

"We came here with a lot of expectations, and it is a good group for us but we are not underrating any team or country," Ghana head coach CK Akonnor said, as reported by Footballghana. 

"Cameroon is like a home to because I have played here before but we will have to prepare well and come into the tournament stronger but as I said, we are not underrating any team.

"We topped our qualifying group but we must prepare well for this tournament."

The continental gathering is set to run between January 9 and February 6 next year. 

Nigeria will face Morocco and Mali in Group A of the preliminary round of the first edition of the Aisha Buhari Cup.

The competition is organised in honour of Nigeria's first lady, Aisha Buhari, and it will be a week-long event in Lagos.

The draw ceremony place on Wednesday inside the Australia Hall of the plush Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island.

Eleven-time Africa Women Cup of Nations winners Nigeria must negotiate their way past Morocco and Mali in Group A if they hope to make it to the semi-final of the championship.

Five-time Awcon runners-up South Africa will have their hands full when they take on Ghana and Cameroon in Group B.

Randy Waldrum’s Super Falcons will commence their campaign against the Atlas Lionesses on September 13 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan on Monday.

The tournament is expected to get Nigeria ready for the 2022 Awcon qualifiers against Ghana in October. They failed to register a win in three matches played at the US Summer Series in June.

Meanwhile Onome Ebi - the only African to feature in five Fifa Women’s World Cup finals – has lauded the initiative which she claimed would be a good build-up for Morocco 2022.

“With regards to the Dr Aisha Buhari Cup, I see the competition as a good one because it will help most of the teams participating in it ahead of the Women Africa Cup of Nations,” she told NFF media.

“As we all know that the last AWCON did not hold due to the coronavirus, I believe this is going to help the teams by bringing African teams to play against themselves. 

"We just see it like we are playing the Africa Cup Nations again because I see it that it's the same teams that will likely be playing in the Awcon that will play in this competition.

“I am really excited and happy that we are going to play against a team like Ghana because we will be playing against them again in the qualifier.”

“I think that will really help in preparing the team because the qualifying games will be in October,” she continued.

“So, this tournament in September will help all the teams to prepare well in their qualifying games against their opponents.

"Hopefully, Nigeria will come out great and emerge champions because we have really been working, training and preparing ourselves, trying to come together.”

Italy star Manuel Locatelli has joined Juventus from Sassuolo in a deal worth up to €37.5 million (£32m/$44m).

Locatelli completed a medical at Juve's Continassa training centre on Wednesday morning before signing a contract that will keep him at the Allianz Stadium until 2026.

The Bianconeri have signed the 23-year-old on an initial loan with an obligation to buy, and he will join up with his new team-mates later this week.

Terms of the deal

Juve have acquired Locatelli on an additional two-year loan through 2023, which will not require them to pay a fee.

The club will then be obligated to purchase the midfielder for a €25m (£21m/$29m) fee, which will be payable over three years.

There is also a maximum of €12.5m (£11m/$15m) in bonuses should Locatelli hit all of his performance-related objectives.

Locatelli's credentials

Locatelli established himself as one of the top midfielders in Italy during his time at Sassuolo, who brought him in on loan from AC Milan in 2018 before making the deal permanent the following year.

He appeared in 99 games across all competitions for the club in total, recording seven goals and 11 assists while helping them secure back-to-back eighth-place finishes in Serie A.

Locatelli also has 15 caps to his name at international level, five of which were won during Italy's run to glory at this summer's European Championship.

When could Locatelli make his Juventus debut?

Locatelli hasn't had much of a pre-season following his exploits at the Euros, and might need time to get back up to speed before making his first outing in a Juve shirt.

The Bianconeri's 2021-22 Serie A opener away at Udinese could come too soon for the playmaker, but he will almost certainly be in contention to feature when Massimiliano Allegri's side play host to Empoli six days later.

Locatelli will likely link up with his country again for the first international break of the season after that fixture, with Juve not due back in domestic action until they face Napoli on September 12.

Further reading

Orlando Pirates assistant coach Fadlu Davids has revealed that Josef Zinnbauer's resignation shocked the players.

The German tactician decided to step down as the Soweto giants' head coach on Monday after he failed to guide the team to the MTN8 Semi-finals as Bucs lost 2-1 to Swallows FC on Saturday.

Zinnbauer had been in charge of Pirates for two-and-half years and he ended the club's six-year trophy drought by guiding the team to the 2020 MTN8 title triumph.

Davids admitted that they are disappointed by the 50-year-old's decision to resign when speaking at the 2021/22 PSL season launch in Johannesburg on Wednesday. 

"When a coach resigns, it’s really disappointing. The club is shocked, the players were shocked,” Davids told the media. 

“But it’s immediately setting that reset button, and then looking forward. What stares us in the face is Stellenbosch and it’s really important we have a good start to the new season." 

Davids and fellow Bucs assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi will be in charge of the team when they take on Stellenbosch FC in their opening league game of the season on Saturday.

The 40-year-old mentor disclosed that the players were close to Zinnbauer, but he pointed out that they have to move on quickly and focus on their clash with Stellies. 

“A lot of players were close to the coach, he had a good relationship with them,” Davids continued. 

“So, immediately, they had to take the news and get back onto the training field. It’s about making that switch; putting your emotions aside, and looking forward to what we are working for."

Davids has taken charge of a PSL club before having served as the Maritzburg United head coach between July 2017 and December 2018.

The retired striker led the Team of Choice to their first-ever major cup final as they lost to Free State Stars in the 2018 Nedbank Cup final.

While Ncikazi joined the Buccaneers' technical team as Zinnbauer's second assistant in June this year after a successful season with Lamontville Golden Arrows. 

The 52-year-old mentor steered Arrows to their highest ever finish in the PSL as the Durban-based side finished fourth in the league. 

He also had a short stint as the Maritzburg head coach between July and September 2015. 

Samuel Kalu has returned to training with Bordeaux, allaying fears that he could miss Sunday’s Ligue 1 fixture against Angers.

In a post by the club on Twitter, the African was seen training with the rest of his colleagues. “Samuel Kalu is back in training,” the tweet read.

The 23-year-old winger collapsed during the Girondins’ 2-2 draw with Olympique Marseille.

He fell in the fifth minute after joining the Bordeaux players in forming a wall for Dimitri Payet’s free-kick.

After he was attended to by medical personnel, he was subbed off for Remi Oudin in the 14th minute as Vladimir Petkovic’s men came from behind to grab a point at the Stade Velodrome thanks to goals from Timothee Pembele and Oudin.

The Ligue 1 outfit had confirmed that the Super Eagle was not suffering from any ‘cardiac abnormalities’ after intensive health examinations – stating that he would join the rest of the squad for their preparations against Gerald Baticle’s side.

“Indeed, our Nigerian international is fit to resume training this Wednesday,” a statement from Bordeaux website read.

“All the additional examinations carried out on Tuesday do not reveal any cardiac abnormalities.

“It was a vagal malaise last Sunday at the Stade Velodrome. Reassuring news for Samuel Kalu who is applying for this Sunday afternoon's appointment for the reception of Angers.”

It will be recalled that Kalu collapsed in training one day before the three-time African kings commenced their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations expedition in Egypt.

The former AS Trencin and Gent was quickly taken to a hospital in Alexandria. There, he was confirmed that he had suffered dehydration.

Last term, he featured in 20 French elite division matches with four goals to his credit.

Bordeaux made a stuttering start to the 2021-22 campaign after losing 2-0 to newly-promoted Clermont.

Against the Black and Whites at the Stade Matmut-Atlantique, the Gironde based outfit will be gunning for their first victory of the season.

As it stands, they occupy the 16th position in the log having garnered just one point from two matches.

For Angers that boast Souleyman Doumbia (Cote d'Ivoire), Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco), Stephane Bahoken (Cameroon), Sada Thioub (Senegal), Rachid Alioui (Morocco), Ismael Traore (Chad), Abdoulaye Bamba (Cote d'Ivoire), Farid El Melali (Algeria) and Sofiane Boufal (Morocco), they occupy the summit having won their two games so far.

Former Kaizer Chiefs head coach Gavin Hunt has addressed rumours linking him with the vacant Orlando Pirates coaching job.

The Bucs hot seat became vacant after Josef Zinnbauer resigned on Monday following the Buccaneers' elimination from this season's MTN8 last weekend as the team suffered a 2-1 loss to their Soweto rivals, Swallows FC.

Hunt has been one of the first coaches to be linked with the Bucs job despite the accomplished tactician having recently taken charge of Chippa United after his dismissal by Kaizer Chiefs at the end of May this year.

The 57-year-old mentor was quick to refute the rumour insisting that he was never ever approached by Pirates management in a bid to lure him to the Soweto-based club. 

"Pirates have never ever approached me," Hunt when speaking to Daily Sun on Wednesday. 

Hunt has now been linked with Pirates three times since last year having reportedly rejected Pirates before taking charge of their biggest rivals, Chiefs in September 2020. 

The four-time PSL title-winning coach was then believed to be on the radar of the Buccaneers after he left Amakhosi, but he has since moved to Port Elizabeth where he is in charge of the Chilli Boys.  

A Daily Sun source has stated that Hunt is in currently talks with Pirates after being given permission to talk to the Soweto giants by Chippa chairman Siviwe 'Chjppa' Mpengesi. 

“Hunt has been busy talking to Pirates after being given the green light by his boss Sviwe Mpengesi. The Chippa boss is a Pirates fan and that’s why he has always helped them whenever they need players while he also loaned their players," the source said. 

Pirates and Chippa have a good working relationship which has seen the two clubs exchange many players over the years, while coach Rhulani Mokwena was on loan at the Chilli Boys from Bucs between March and July 2020.

However, Pirates administrative officer Floyd Mbele insisted that there were no new developments with regards to getting a new coach when contacted by the same publication. 

Fadlu Davids and Mandla Ncikazi, who have been serving as Zinnbauer's two assistants at Pirates, are expected to be in charge when Bucs host Stellenbosch FC in their PSL match at Orlando Stadium on Saturday. 

Gor Mahia managed to pick up a 1-0 win over Posta Rangers in their Football Kenya Federation Premier League fixture at Ruraka Grounds on Wednesday.

Samuel Onyango's first-half strike enabled K'Ogalo to avenge a first-round defeat they suffered at the hands of Stanley Okumbi's men.
 
The Mailmen could have opened the score in the second minute when Eliud Lokuwom made his way into Gor Mahia's area, but he took too long to get composed and allowed Gad Mathews to close in on him and block him from shooting at close range.
 
Tito Okello, who could leave Gor Mahia when the season ends, came close to finding the back of the net in the eighth minute, but he could not beat Posta Rangers' Kevin Opiyo in goal. Bernard Ondiek almost claimed an opener in the 18th minute, but Mathews was alert to deny him at close range.
 
The former Kariobangi Sharks goalkeeper kept Gor Mahia in the game with two quick saves in the 25th minute when he stopped Lokuwom and Francis Nambute's strikes as Posta Rangers pinned the visitors into their own area.
 
K'Ogalo got a rare chance to mount a counter-attack in the 36th minute when Fred Nkata picked up Onyango who collected the ball and slotted home to put Mark Harrison's charges ahead. A minute later, Posta Rangers were denied an equaliser by an offside flag that ruled Nambute's goal out.
 
In the 50th minute, Karim Nikiema almost gave Gor Mahia a second goal, but Opiyo's outstretched arm sent the ball out as the visitors looked more dominant in the opening moments of the second half.
 
Two chances for Posta Rangers by Nambute and Joshua Nyatini were stopped by Mathews in the 66th and 70th minutes as K'Ogalo held onto the slim lead to register yet another victory under Harrison.
 
Meanwhile, title challengers KCB failed to collect three points that would have taken them to level with leaders Tusker after a 1-1 draw against AFC Leopards at Thika Stadium.
 
Vincent Wasambo struck for the Bankers in the 23rd minute when he managed to beat Ingwe's goalkeeper Benjamin Ochan at close range after receiving a low cross from Samuel Mwangi.
 
AFC Leopards made a change in the 46th minute when Washington Munene was stretchered off and his place was filled by Robert Mudenyu. Elvis Rupia restored parity in the 73rd minute when he managed to find the back of the net at a very tight angle.
 
The former Nzoia Sugar striker has now scored 17 goals for the local giants and is second to Erick Kapaito of Kariobangi Sharks on the top scorers' chart.

The U.S. women's national team has announced it will play two friendlies against Paraguay in September and two friendlies against Korea Republic in October.

The matches will all take place in the Midwest, with the USWNT facing Paraguay in Cleveland on September 16 and then in Columbus on September 21. The U.S. will then take on Korea in Kansas City on October 21 and in St. Paul on October 26.

The four games will feature the roster that took home the bronze medal at the Olympics and will be the final USWNT matches for Carli Lloyd, who announced this week she is set to retire at the end of the season.

What was said?

“The work never stops and every game we play has meaning,” said head coach Vlatko Andonovski in a federation release.

“These games are important to welcome back our Olympic team to play in front of our home fans, but they are also the first steps towards 2023 World Cup qualifying.

"We all know we have to be at the top of our game to win at the highest levels and the dedication of the entire group to that pursuit will never change.”

USWNT record vs Paraguay and Korea

The two matches in September will mark the first time the USWNT has played against Paraguay at the senior level.

Paraguay will be the fifth South American country the U.S. has faced in its history, joining Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Chile.

The USWNT has played Korea 13 times in its history, winning 10 and drawing three of those matches.

Further reading

Mamelodi Sundowns defender Lyle Lakay says he still has unfinished business with Bafana Bafana but will not lose sleep if he is not selected for the squad to do duty in September’s 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers.

On Thursday, South Africa coach Hugo Broos is expected to name the squad to travel to Zimbabwe for the September 3 Group G opener, before hosting Ghana three days later.

After being appointed Bafana coach in early May, Broos indicated that he will rebuild the national team with younger players.

Lakay was then not picked in Broos' first ever squad for June’s international friendly match against Uganda as well as the Cosafa Cup tournament.

“We all know and we can see the approach of the new coach has changed. Like they say, ‘it’s a rebuilding phase,’” Lakay told Sowetan Live.

“The coach has opted for a younger crop of players. It’s not that I am giving up on playing for the national team but if it doesn’t happen it doesn't happen. I will not obsess about the national team.”

But for now, the left-back is focusing on his Sundowns career ahead of the new Premier Soccer League season which kicks off on Friday.

For Lakay to increase his national team chances, he faces the tough task of fighting for regular football at Masandawana against Divine Lunga who was signed from Golden Arrows.

There is also another left-back Sifiso Ngobeni who was brought in from Bloemfontein Celtic and Lakay is already setting himself for an improved season.

“To be honest, I wasn’t really satisfied with how I did as an individual last season,” said Lakay.

“Personally, I’d set myself a target of 15 direct goal contributions [goals combined with assists] and made it to 13, missing my target by two. It was the highest for a full-back but I wasn’t satisfied at all.

“Firstly, I want to cement my place in the XI and then I have told myself that this season I will go for 20-goal contributions, seeing that last season I was two shy of my target of 15. If you look at last season it’s not like I didn’t have chances, there were opportunities where I could have got more with assists and even goals.’’ 

Apart from individual performances, Lakay is eying to help Masandawana clinch the Caf Champions League which they won in 2016.

“The Champions League is a big fish and that’s our main priority this season,” Lakay said.

“But having said that, it’s not like we are not going to give our all in other competitions because we want to win everything.’’

Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr has given a hint on how the Super Eagles intend to stop Mohamed Salah at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

Pooled in Group D against the Pharaohs, Guinea Bissau and Sudan, the three-time African kings will begin their campaign against the North Africans on January 11 at the Roumde Adjia Stadium.

The two-time African Player of the Year winner is one of the key men in Hossam El Badry’s and Rohr has nothing but the utmost respect for the Liverpool star’s ability.

However, the German coach, disclosed how his men will curtail the 29-year-old’s brilliance when they face off in Garoua.

"It is a big challenge to play against Egypt in the first game and a player like Mohamed Salah,” Rohr told Espn.

"It is a big challenge for all our defence and also for all our team. We will defend collectively against him of course, and we are growing together since a few years now and I believe our defence is able to be efficient against such a fantastic player."

The 68-year-old stated that Nigeria have been handed tough opponents, claiming he wanted to avoid the Egyptians.

Regardless, Rohr assured Super Eagles fans his team would be well prepared for the competition especially the opening match against El Badry’s side.

“We have a tough group. Egypt, everybody knows and everybody wanted to avoid. But they are with us, it is okay,” he continued.

"Sudan also. They have a French coach, a friend of mine, who did a good job since he arrived there, coming out from a difficult group. Also, Guinea Bissau is not easy.

"I would like to win against the first two teams, and then I can bring in the third game, as I did in the last Afcon, the substitutes, and give rest to our starting players from the first two matches.

"If we win the first two matches it is not a problem, we are qualified and then we can change our team. But of course, nobody will be underrated, and we are not afraid of anybody.

"I think that the most important is to start well the competition. We will be very, very well prepared. We need to be ready for this first match against Egypt in Garoua."

Tusker squandered a golden chance to move clear at the summit after they settled to a 0-0 draw against Nzoia Sugar in an FKF Premier League match on Wednesday.

The Brewers went into the match looking to maintain their three-point lead or better the same but they could not break down a resilient Sugar Millers’ side at Sudi Stadium.

Tusker coach Robert Matano maintained the same starting XI from their last league assignment against Kakamega Homeboyz which they won 2-0 but it was the home team, who looked the better team in the opening exchanges.

In the sixth minute, Nzoia striker Hillary Simiyu found space inside the Tusker’s danger zone after a good move initiated by Felicien Okada but his left-footed effort was punched out to a fruitless corner by Tusker goalkeeper Emery Mvuyekure.

Tusker then created their own chance in the 10th minute when Luke Namanda made a good run from the right-wing and set up Boniface Muchiri but his weak effort was stopped by goalkeeper Benson Mangala.

In the 20th minute, Tusker continued to raid the Sugar Millers and another move from Kevin Okoth saw Namanda chase the ball down the right-wing, and after positioning himself to shot towards goal, defender Gabriel Wandera reacted quickly to put the ball out for another corner.

Another chance for Tusker came in the 30th minute, Okoth combining well with Michael Madoya and Henry Meja but the latter’s effort from outside the box, went inches wide.

On resumption, Matano moved to make a triple substitution – Brian Marita, Humphrey Mieno, and Jackson Macharia coming in for Madoya, Muchiri, and Okoth – in a bid to stifle Nzoia from using the space in midfield.

The Brewers then continued to attack after the three changes and in the 49th minute Jimmy Mbugua almost put them ahead after dribbling past Nzoia defenders, but his right-footed effort kissed over the bar.

The Sugar Millers missed a clear chance to break the deadlock after a mistake by captain Eugine Asike allowed Leonard Kasembeli to go one-on-one with keeper Mvuyekure but the towering striker hit the woodwork with the ball rolling out for a goal-kick.

In the 75th minute, Matano made a double substitution, Apollo Otieno and Christopher Ochieng coming in for Namanda and Vincent Ngesa and four minutes later, the Brewers almost scored after Mieno’s glancing header went inches wide with the keeper out of his line.

The draw means Tusker will stay at the top with 62 points from 31 matches while KCB, who also dropped vital points after settling to a 1-1 draw against AFC Leopards, will remain second with 59 points from 31 matches.

It also means the winner of the league will now be decided on the final day – August 22 – when Tusker will host Bidco United while KCB will come up against Nairobi City Stars.

Nzoia Sugar: Benson Mangala (GK), Ian Karani, Vincent Mahiga, Gabriel Wandera, Elvis Ronack, Kevin Wafula, Kevin Juma, Joseph Mwangi, Felicien Okanda, Leonard Kasembeli, and Hillary Simiyu.

Subs: Boaz Opiyo (GK), Brian Wekesa, Ian Simiyu, Peter Gin, Daniel Musamali, Daniel Wafula, Elisha Wekesa, and Titus Kapchanga.

Tusker: Emery Mvuyekure (GK), Jimmy Mbugua, Hillary Wandera, Rodgers Aloro, Eugine Asike, Luke Namanda, Kevin Okoth, Henry Meja, Michael Madoya, and Boniface Muchiri.

Subs: Michael Wanjala (GK), Sammy Miseh, Eric Ambunya, Humphrey Mieno, Apollo Otieno, Jackson Macharia, Christopher Ochieng’, Brian Marita, and George Ogutu.

Anayo Iwuala has been invited for Nigeria’s 2022 World Cup qualification games against Liberia and Cape Verde, according to Tunisian topflight side Esperance.

Gernot Rohr’s men begin their quest to qualify for a place in Qatar 2022 against the Lone Stars on September 3 before locking horns with the Blue Sharks six days later.

And to prosecute these games, the three-time African champions will be relying on the former Enyimba winger.

“Our Nigerian striker Emmanuel Anayo has been invited to the expanded list in preparation for the Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifiers, specifically the matches between Liberia and Cape Verde and on September 3 and 7,” read a tweet from Esperance.

Thanks to his impressive performances in the Nigeria Professional Football League, he was handed a senior team call-up by coach Rohr.

Iwuala made his international debut for the three-time African champions in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Benin Republic on March 27.

After two years at the Enyimba International Stadium, the youngster was handed a three-year contract by the Blood and Gold that will keep him at the Stade Olympique de Rades until 2024.

Under the supervision of Radhi Jaidi, the former Kada City and Delta Force star would be hoping to help the reigning Tunisia elite division champions to a remarkable outing during next season’s Caf Champions League.

In a recent interview, the winger claimed it was “an easy choice” to swap life at the Aba Elephants for that at four-time Caf Champions League winners.

"It's a huge privilege to join such a great club like Esperance who have continental titles to show as part of their success story," Iwuala told BBC Sport Africa.

"It was an easy choice to come to Esperance, they are four times African champions.

“A big cub with an incredible culture, the professionalism and modern facilities, the welfare, tradition and standard of operation are quite attractive."

"From my position [playing in Nigeria] once I saw a chance here with the club I decided to grab the opportunity," he continued.

"I need to focus on the job, helping the team achieve more success and that remains the main priority of every professional footballer.

"I also look forward to working with coach Radhi Jaidi and prove myself under him. That is the immediate target for now.

"I don't know if coming here will further help me establish myself in the Super Eagles, but I know I will give my best here and that's all I can do for now."