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Christian Kouame has stated how "fantastic" it would be to make his Fiorentina debut whenever he is fit.

The 22-year old Ivory Coast international has been sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament injury for more than six months and has been unable to feature for the Viola since moving on loan from Genoa in January.

Serie A action returns after a three-month suspension this weekend and Kouame is hopeful he gets to play in the remaining round of fixtures having stepped up his fitness during the lockdown period.

The Florence-based outfit will take on Brescia at the Artemio Franchi next Monday evening.

"The team is working more and more to be ready to return to the field. It will probably take a little more time for me," Kouame told TuttoMercato.

"I certainly really want to go back to playing, but everything must be done without haste. I am constantly followed by medical and technical staff and only when it is all right and the doctor will give his ok then I will return to full capacity with the group, with which, however, I am already doing various parts of training and preparation.

"I am sure it will be an extraordinary emotion [making Fiorentina debut]. When the time comes, it will be fantastic to be able to wear this shirt. Since my arrival I have received so much affection from clubs and fans, I hope to be able to return as soon as possible."

Kouame also spoke about the issue of racial injustice in the wake of George Floyd's death.

Football has stood in solidarity with black people across the world who have been protesting and Kouame says the problem must be tackled, hence discussions must continue.

"It is important that we never stop talking about racism," Kouame explained.

"At this moment what is happening in America and all over the world makes it clear how much this issue is felt, but when the media hype for the death of George Floyd will be over, then yes, it will be important to continue to focus attention on a problem that exists and must be fought at all levels."

Patson Daka has admitted that he has a responsibility on him at RB Salzburg following Erling Haaland's exit.

Haaland left the Austrian giants in January to sign a four-and-a-half-year at Borussia Dortmund.

Prior to his exit, the Norwegian star scored 16 league goals but Daka is now the leading top scorer in Jesse Marsch's team with 23 goals after 25 league appearances.

The Zambia international disclosed that the presence of his compatriot Enock Mwepu has earned Die Mozartstadter support from the African country.

"It doesn't matter if we're playing against Manchester United or Real Madrid - everybody's supporting Red Bull because of us," Daka told BBC World Service. 

"Right now it's really crazy in Zambia. Most of the time people ask, 'how can we get the jerseys?'

"He [Haaland] made sure he left us in a very good position - so it was now up to us, up to me also, to take the responsibility.

"It has always been there but this time it was kind of different. When you're given this kind of opportunity, you have to utilise it and grab it with both your hands and I felt like this is the time now."

Before Daka, Liverpool duo Sadio Mane and Naby Keita are some of the established stars that rose through the ranks at Salzburg.

The 21-year-old, who was crowned the 2017 Caf Young Player of Year, was spotted by former Mali and Sevilla striker Frederic Kanoute during a continental youth tournament, and he said playing for the Austrian club is an opportunity.

"After we went for the under-17 Africa Cup, that's when he saw me and he contacted my club manager," he added.

"I was then with Kafue Celtic and we started talking. That's how we finally got to meet and that's how he also gave me the opportunity to come to Europe.

"I think it has been proven. Look at the likes of Sadio Mane, Naby Keita and Minamino - a lot of players that have played here really excelled.

"The club gives opportunities to every person, so I feel for me to be here is a blessing and I also want to utilise this opportunity."

Ghana midfielder Alfred Joseph Duncan believes his output for the national team has been affected by unfamiliar roles assigned to him in games.

The Fiorentina man has been criticised for below-par performances when on international duty as compared to his explosive performances at club level.

On his last appearance for the Black Stars, the central midfielder was deployed wide, culminating in an underwhelming showing in a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa in November last year.

"It’s something people have noticed from a distance," Duncan told Citi TV.

"When you watch me in my club and see the kind of contribution I make, you’d notice there’s a difference.

"I’ve been made to understand that I must be able to adapt to any role required in order to help the team.

“But sometimes it’s very frustrating when you’re asked to play a role you’re not used to. You don’t get to enjoy the game in the way you want.

"I’m a player who loves to get a lot of touches on the ball, so it becomes problematic when I’m deployed in a role that doesn’t allow me to do that."

After the underwhelming performance against South Africa, Duncan was left on the bench as the Black Stars faced Sao Tome and Principe four days later.

He was, nonetheless, called up for a doubleheader of games against Sudan in March but the matches were later postponed due to the coronavirus disruptions.

He would hope to earn an invitation when the Black Stars assemble for their next round of fixtures in October.

Last year, he missed the Afcon final in Egypt as he sought permission from Ghana’s officials to be excused for the tournament to enable him to undergo surgery on a persistent ankle problem.

He similarly missed the 2017 gathering due to injury.

Duncan first represented Ghana at youth level, playing for the West Africans at the 2013 Fifa U20 World Cup in New Zealand.

At club level, the 27-year-old has made 15 appearances in Serie A this season, scoring once and providing five assists.

The former Inter Milan man joined Fiorentina from Sassuolo in January. 

FIFA called for “tolerance, mutual respect and common sense” in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's criticism of U.S. Soccer's decision to retract the policy that would require players to stand for the national anthem.

U.S. Soccer confirmed over the weekend that the federation would be getting rid of the policy, which had been in place since Megan Rapinoe's decision to support Colin Kaepernick's protests of kneeling during the national anthem to combat police brutality and racism.

Trump, a highly-publicised critic of both Kaepernick and Rapinoe, said that he "won't be watching", adding that he also would avoid the NFL should players choose to kneel.

The President's tweets came in response to a bill proposed by senator Matt Gaetz, who called for national team players to be forced to stand; while adding: "I'd rather the US not have a soccer team than have a soccer team that won't stand for the National Anthem."

As a result, U.S. Soccer became the latest organization to emerge as a factor in the nationwide debate over the form of protest, which has been reignited amid ongoing demonstrations following the death of George Floyd.

On Monday, FIFA responded to Trump's criticisms, calling for "common sense" to be used.

“FIFA strongly advocates for tolerance, mutual respect and common sense when such important matters are debated,” read a FIFA statement to The Associated Press when asked about Trump’s comments. “FIFA has a zero-tolerance approach to incidents of all forms of discrimination in football, as outlined in the FIFA Statutes. We must all say no to racism and no to violence.”

FIFA president Gianni Infantino had previously praised several Bundesliga stars, including U.S. men's national team and Schalke midfielder Weston McKennie, for their displays and solidarity during the first round of matches after protests began.

Responding to Trump's tweet, FIFA stated that Infantino’s “position on the player’s rights to express themselves against racism, discrimination and violence was clearly stated two weeks ago and it has not changed.”

Infantino had previously introduced Trump at a dinner at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this past January and has also met with Trump as part of the U.S., Mexico and Canada's successful bid for the 2026 World Cup.

Robert Lewandowski says the Ballon d'Or is not his focus but that "anything is possible" when it comes to winning the award, while insisting that his best years are still ahead of him.

The Bayern Munich striker has never been in the top three for football's most prestigious individual prize, his best record coming when he finished fourth in the standings in 2015.

The 31-year-old is likely to be in the running for the 2020 prize, though, having scored 45 goals in all competitions to put Bayern on the brink of another Bundesliga title.

Should Hansi Flick's side also win the DFB-Pokal and Champions League this term, Lewandowski would be a strong candidate to become just the second player other than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to win the award since 2007.

"I was at the award ceremony last December," Lewandowski told France Football.

"We'll see. What I try to do is to always show the best of myself, win trophies and score more goals. But that's something that comes with collective trophies. That's the most important thing.

"I don't even think about the Ballon d'Or, even if, in my life, I believe that anything is possible.

"I am not yet in the best period of my career. Soon (I'll be). But all of these are just numbers. I am confident that the best moment of my career will come quickly. I know this is not my last contract. I want to play longer and stay in shape.

"I have all the time in front of me to think about the future, but I feel really good. I'm going to celebrate my 32th birthday next August, but that doesn't mean that I feel this age.

"For me, it doesn't matter in terms of everything I do, my involvement in and outside of football. What I want is not just staying on top for the next two or three years, I’m looking at the longer term."

Lewandowski puts his spectacular form down to a careful regimen of diet and training to keep mentally and physically sharp.

"I don't eat meat on the day of a match. It's too heavy for my body. I eat light – that's what I need," he explained.

"The meal depends on several things: when is the game, what time is it...

"If you eat rice or pasta, it will bring you big benefits in terms of energy in the very short term. But, over time, you gain nothing.

"It's not easy [to score] especially when you are tired. With 90 per cent of goals, it's the head that does the work and it's influenced by your level of concentration.

"If you're tired, your thinking will automatically be slower. In the penalty area, we have only 0.1 seconds, maybe 0.2, to think, make our decision and interact with the ball.

"That's why we come to training, because there is no other place to build automatic movements and shots. Whether it's left foot, right foot, whatever, you have to be ready. You don't even have to think about it – you have to do it."

Simba SC have urged their fans not to be worried after they posted a 1-1 draw against Ruvu Shooting in a Mainland Premier League match on Sunday.

The league champions took a deserved lead in the match played at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam when Shiza Kichuya found the back of the net with a neat finish but the visitors drew level courtesy of Fully Zullu Maganga to ensure the spoils were shared.

The result coupled with their rivals Young Africans (Yanga SC) winning 1-0 against Mwadui and second-placed Azam FC beating Mbao FC 2-0 at the Azam Complex, left Simba fans a disappointed lot despite maintaining their lead at the summit.

The club’s information officer Haji Manara has now called on the fans not to be disturbed by the outcome, and urged them to stay focused, and continue their support for the team, terming the result as “a small setback which will be rectified in next match.”

“I am sure the fans were not happy with the result and even us the officials we were not happy after dropping the points,” Manara told the club’s official website.

“I want the fans to know in football, you must expect such a result, you either win, lose or draw and it happened we managed to draw and they must stay calm and not be distracted by the outcome.

“We must continue to support the team together, we must remain focused as we have always been, and I want to assure the fans we are still in the driving seat to win the title, the trophy is already in our hands and cannot let it to slip away.”

Manara also took his time to praise Ruvu Shooting for their display which denied Simba a chance to score the winning goal especially in the second half of the fixture.

“Ruvu showed a good game, they fought like lions and gave all they could and I want to clearly state they deserved the point they got,” Manara continued.

Manara also thanked Simba fans for adhering to the safety measures put in place by the Ministry of Health to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

“I also want to take this opportunity to thank the fans for their maturity in following the safety measures that were laid down by the government and also urge them to maintain the same spirit in subsequent matches.”

Simba are now on 72 points after 29 matches; they have won 23, drawn three, and lost as many matches, 15 points ahead of Azam.

Youri Tielemans has underlined his intention to continue learning from Belgium team-mate Kevin De Bruyne, whom he labelled the Premier League's finest midfield talent. 

Tielemans, 23, joined Leicester City from Monaco in January 2019 and has quickly established himself as a key part of Brendan Rodgers' engine room. 

He has featured in all but one of the Foxes 29 Premier League games to date, scoring three goals to aid their hunt for a spot in next season's Champions League. 

At international level Tielemans has also struck up a promising partnership with De Bruyne, and he admits the Manchester City star is a huge influence on his game.

“At the minute, we have a lot of very good midfielders in the game and I just try and pick all the positives from all the midfielders around,” Tielemans told the Athletic.

“I really try and improve myself through watching others play. So, when I see another player playing I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s something I need to improve’ and then I’m trying it in a training session.

“At the moment, I think the best in the Premier League is De Bruyne. He just stands out. He is the complete midfielder. He is physical and runs a lot.

"Technically, he keeps it very, very easy. Tactically, he is very good as well. He’s got everything.”

Rodgers has suggested that his young charge could himself go on to coach at a high level, a thought that might not go down too well in the Tielemans family. 

“Don’t tell my wife that,” Tielemans joked. “She wouldn’t be happy about that.

“The manager hasn’t changed me but he’s trying to push me very, very hard, and to push me to my top level. He’s always trying to improve me as a player but as a person as well and with him, I’m really trying to think like a manager. I’m really trying to think about tactics.

"Whereas before, I understood everything that a manager asked me to do but I didn’t question why he had asked me to do that. So I was just doing it because he told me so.

“It would be way easier if every player would think and understand what the manager has asked him to do and not just do it because he was asked, but really understand it. If we all think the same, then we can only do great things on the pitch.

“Now I’m really thinking about it and asking questions if I don’t understand something. And, I think my tactical game has improved a lot under him and under Roberto Martinez as well with the national team. Those two have really improved me tactically and I learned a lot, and I still learn about it now.”

Leicester return to Premier League action on Saturday with a trip to Watford, as they look to consolidate their place in the top three with nine games remaining of the season.

Le Harve defensive midfielder Pape Gueye has called off his proposed move to Watford.

The Franco-Senegalese player's contract at the Stade Oceane is set to expire on June 30 and was announced to have signed a deal with the Hornets back in April.

However his agent, Pierre-Henri Bovis made a statement via L'Equipe that the deal was not complete due to some "irregularities".

"We are wondering about possible irregularities around the signing of the contract," Bovis said.

"We do not deny the existence of an agreement concluded with Watford through the former agent of Pape Gueye, but we point the finger at what could appear to be anomalies."

Now two months after the announcement and two weeks away from leaving Le Harve, Gueye released a statement via L'Equipe he won't be moving to Vicarage Road.

"First of all, I want to thank Le Havre. After eight years at the club, it is time to turn the page," he said.

"In the evening of the 30th June, I will quit the club that formed me. I want to thank all members of Le Havre for their companionship and their faith in me. Thanks as well to the loyal supporters, ever-present, who have carried this team.

"For me, the future is still uncertain. My mistake in this story is having had faith in a person who advised me poorly. I want to warn my colleagues of the abuse that they could be subjected to in terms of contract signings.

"I am not the first that this has happened to and I sadly won’t be the last. I wanted to speak out against the circumstances surrounding the signature of a contract with Watford and what I consider to be irregularities with their representatives.

"After numerous discussions, I conclude that there has not been any considerable administrative action taken to resolve my case. As a result, and in consideration of the fact that the contract has not yet taken hold, I announce the end of all contractual links to Watford.”

The irregularities stem from reports that claim Gueye had a pre-contract with two clubs in Spain and Italy before January 1, 2020, all initiated by his former agent Bakary Sanogo. Football laws state a player can only sign a pre-contract with another club six months prior to the expiration of his existing contract.

Despite calling off his Watford move, the Hertfordshire club according to Watford Observer are still planning to go ahead with filing the necessary paperwork to register Gueye as their player from July 1.

Kaizer Chiefs defender Eric Mathoho has been painted by Owen Da Gama, his former coach at Bloemfontein Celtic, as a player who follows instructions to the dot following a hilarious incident on his Premier Soccer League (PSL) debut in 2010.

Da Gama handed Mathoho the first taste of PSL action for Bloemfontein Celtic in February 2010 against Mamelodi Sundowns at Lucas Moripe Stadium.

It was a month before Mathoho turned 20 and he had to step in for Gary Goldstone who was injured and the defender stood tall in the 0-0 result.

“At first he refused, but I told him he would have to follow [then Sundowns forward] ‘Killer’ [Katlego Mphela] everywhere he went,” Da Gama told Far Post.

But Mathoho’s attention to detail saw him hilariously tracking Mphela even to the dressing room at half-time.

“We found him standing by Sundowns’ security. They wouldn’t let him pass. He wanted to go and be with ‘Killer’ in the dressing room,” said Da Gama.

Just over a year earlier, Da Gama had by chance discovered Mathoho who was playing for amateur side Tshiombo XI Securitas in Matatshe, Venda.

The coach was on a scouting mission for a striker who was playing for Dolphins FC, the team that was facing Tshiombo XI, but he ended up being swayed by Mathoho who had just been converted into a centre-back from being a defensive midfielder.

“It was Christmas Day [2008] and I was in Venda at my parents’ place. Dalton [Mabilu owner of Dolphins FC] invited me to come and watch his striker,” Da Gama continued.

“I was looking at the striker, but then this player caught my eye. He was winning every ball in the air, clearing every ball.”

Having been charmed by Mathoho, Da Gama then invited the defender for trials at Bloemfontein Celtic in June 2009 and the auditions were successful.

That was followed by the debut against Sundowns eight months later although Mathoho never enjoyed much action that season.

After two more seasons at Bloemfontein Celtic, Mathoho was then signed by Kaizer Chiefs and he is in his eighth season at Naturena.

From humble beginnings, the 30-year-old has established himself as an international defender and also two league titles have decorated his career.

Yanga SC winger Bernard Morrison has admitted to receiving cash from Simba SC who are reportedly attempting to sign him.

Morrison's future at Yanga has been cast into doubt after he missed the tie against Mwadiui FC on June 13. The Ghanaian forward switched off his phone before the match, making it difficult for the club to track him.

It later emerged he had was having meetings with some unnamed officials from Simba who are reportedly desperate to have him sign for the Wekundu wa Msimbazi.

“Simba came to me, I asked them to table their offer and they did. They later brought some USD 10, 000 which they claimed came from their president,” Morrison told Soka Letu.

“The money, they said, was part of their bargaining which was meant to soften my heart. USD 5000 was meant for me and the remaining part were meant for my agent.

“I accepted to pocket the money but on matters signing for them, I asked for some time to think about it. It seems the whole issue has brewed trouble since my agent has said the received money will bring more problems.

“But it is Simba who offered me the money and it has got nothing at all to do with signing for them.”

The former Orlando Pirates player was signed in the January transfer window for six months and went on to be a fan favourite given his stellar performances.

His superbly taken free-kick against Simba, on March 8, resulted in a goal that saw Yanga emerge victorious in Dar es Salaam. 

Yanga have already revealed they know of the meetings between their winger and Mainland arch-rivals.

“We have been reliably informed that there are still Simba officials who are tracking him and have promised a lot of money should he sign. What is shocking us is maybe he is forgetting that he is serving a two-year contract with Yanga,” the unnamed official said.

“We are now starting to see his disturbing behaviour but let us not deliberate on the issue so much because his phone might be faulty but again, he knows where the club's offices are and the officials.

“Someone might ask whether he has not been paid but there is no player who has not been paid may be talking of the June salaries and time of payment is not yet here.”

Morrison had already agreed on a contract extension with the Wananchi and it is understood the contract is signed and deposited at Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) offices.

He has scored three goals in 10 matches and has assisted in the creation of three other strikes.

Following Johnny Acosta’s attack on East Bengal’s investors Quess Corp through social media, his teammate Kassim Aidara lashed out at the Bengaluru-based company over non-payment of players’ salaries.

The Costa Rican World Cupper left Kolkata on Monday morning but not before he shared a post on Instagram in which he launched a scathing attack on Quess for not paying players’ salaries for the last two months.

He also accused the company of being apathetic towards the players’ situation during the Coronavirus pandemic. On Acosta’s Instagram post, his teammate Aidara commented and he too attacked the club’s investors.

Aidara’s comment read, “Brother, we had a great quarantine together, unfortunately, Quess East Bengal FC made it very tough for us in this difficult time. A lot of disappointment towards Quess East Bengal and there has been a lack of respect towards all the players but especially for us foreigners who enjoyed our time with East Bengal Club and it was a pleasure to be part of this amazing team and it was amazing playing alongside with you and all the other players. It’s a pity that all had to end in such circumstances. The fans are amazing and they didn’t deserve this kind of a disaster. Even the players didn’t deserve this kind of treatment from Quess East Bengal FC. Take care brother and I hope to see you soon Johnny Acosta.”

The relation between the players and the club turned sour in recent weeks as investor Quess Corp decided to activate the ‘Force Majeure’ clause in the players’ contracts and decided to cut their salaries for the last two months.

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has confirmed Gor Mahia as Kenya's representatives in the 2020/21 Caf Champions League.

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) had forwarded the name of K'Ogalo as the current campaign's champions after annulling the Kenyan Premier League on April 30.

Chemelil Sugar joined their fellow sugar men Sony in the second tier after suffering relegation, with Kisumu All-Stars and National Super League (NSL) side Vihiga United are set to play in the two-legged relegation/promotion match.

The league management protested the move and communicated the same to Caf before raising the matter with the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) where they argued that the federation overstepped their mandate to cancel the league and crown Gor Mahia.

"I cannot comment on the Caf issue right now since the case is in court," KPL CEO Jack Oguda said on Monday evening when contacted by Goal.

"Let us first hear what the Tribunal decides on the league annulment."

The FKF announced the promotion of Nairobi City Stars and Bidco United to the top tier. Simba wa Nairobi were leading the race with the Thika-based side second.

After submissions were made on June 12, by lawyers representing their respective clients, the tribunal's chairman John Ohaga set June 30 as the date the ruling will be made.

In Uganda, Vipers FC will represent the country in Africa's club elite competition.

The Venoms were crowned by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) after they cancelled the 2019/20 Ugandan Premier League season. The Kitende side was leading the race for the title with 54 points, four more than their predecessors KCCA FC.

A total 25 rounds had been played, representing 80% of the total matches and per the Fufa rules, Vipers had the right to be crowned.

Another East Africa country Rwanda will be represented by APR.

However, Ethiopia and South Sudan will not enter any team in the annual competition after declaring their domestic leagues as null and void. 

The Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) opted against annulling the league. The Tanzania Mainland League restarted on June 13, Simba SC need four wins to be crowned, which will give them the right to play in the Caf Champions League next season.

Callum Hudson-Odoi was forced to miss out on Chelsea's behind-closed-doors friendly against QPR on Sunday due to an ankle knock but the winger has overcome the injury to give Frank Lampard a full squad of options ahead of the Premier League's restart.

The 19-year-old will be aiming to take to the pitch against Aston Villa this coming weekend, having missed the Blues' 7-1 drubbing of QPR which followed on from a 1-0 victory over Reading at Chelsea's Cobham Training Centre.

Fellow youngster Reece James had missed several sessions through injury but was able to play a part in the club's latest warm-up clash. In addition, N'Golo Kante started against QPR after originally staying away from training due to fear of contracting Covid-19.

The France international only began 'phase two' contact training last week after Premier League clubs were given the green light to return to training three weeks ago.

In general, the lockdown period following the coronavirus outbreak has allowed Lampard to see some of his players come back after an injury crisis hit the club before the stoppage.

Mateo Kovacic, Tammy Abraham and Christian Pulisic were all out ahead of the break in play in March but are since back fit.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek's two goals against QPR gives Lampard cause for optimism after he has spent over a year out following tearing his Achilles tendon in a post-season friendly against the New England Revolution.

Lampard had been cautious about using the England international due to a lack of match fitness and has allowed him to play for the Under-23s to quicken his return.

Despite the good news, Chelsea still have to be prepared for injuries as they aim to play out their last nine league games - and their FA Cup matches - which are scheduled to finish before August 1 as part of a hugely busy fixture list.

Lampard and his coaching team have called upon the best of the academy to boost the squad as their teams at various youth levels saw their seasons cancelled.

After signing a new deal, Tino Anjorin has featured heavily in the pre-restart friendlies but there has also been minutes for Armando Broja, Ian Maatsen, Lewis Bate, Henry Lawrence and Tino Livramento.

Anjorin and Broja had made their debuts on March 8 in Chelsea's last match before play was suspended, a clash in which they won 4-0 against Everton in the Premier League.

Chelsea remain in fourth place in the league as they look to qualify for next season's Champions League once again. They will also prepare for a quarter-final match away at Leicester City on 28 June in the FA Cup.

Qatar have inaugurated the Education City stadium, the third venue to be completed for the 2022 World Cup. The world-class stadium has been completed on schedule by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) and Qatar Foundation.

It was formally inaugurated on Monday evening with a compelling live online programme celebrating the contribution of frontline workers and medical staff during the Coronavirus pandemic. The highlight of the programme was a speech by His Highness, The Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The Education City stadium, nicknamed 'Diamond in the Desert', has a capacity of 40000 and has advanced technology like the stadium cooling and other such features. The façade features triangles that form complex, diamond-esque geometrical patterns, appearing to change colour with the sun's movement across the sky.

It has received a five-star rating from the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) and parts of the stadium can be re-purposed after the tournament. It is the first Qatar 2022 World Cup venue to get such a rating.

The arena's capacity will be reduced by half and 20,000 seats will be donated to build stadiums in developing countries, helping cultivate a passion for the game around the globe.

H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the SC, said: "The completion of Education City Stadium is yet another milestone as we inch ever closer to the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world."

FIFA President Gianni Infantino also paid tribute to the frontline workers around the world before expressing confidence that football will return to normal ahead of the 2022 World Cup.

"Tonight, while announcing the completion of the Education stadium, we pay a tribute to those who fought and are still fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. We must not forget, health comes first. In some parts of the world, it is possible to look ahead. In others, we still have to be careful. The new stadium reminds us that football will return with more passion than ever. When time comes, we will be sharing the stands with family and friends. When time comes, we will celebrate the 2022 World Cup in Qatar," he said. 

Nasser Al Khater, CEO of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, said: “The atmosphere will be electric at Education City Stadium when it hosts matches during the World Cup. This is a football lover’s stadium and one we are certain fans from around the world will enjoy during Qatar 2022.

“Providing unique experiences for fans and players alike in 2022 is central to our planning, and we will stage several events across various venues in the lead-up to the tournament to test our readiness and refine our plans to guarantee that everyone visiting Qatar in 2022 has an exceptional time.”

Yasir Al Jamal, Chairman of the SC’s Operations Office and Vice-Chairman, Technical Delivery Office, said, "We are very proud to announce the completion of our third tournament-ready stadium, following the successful redevelopment of Khalifa International Stadium in 2017 and the inauguration of Al Janoub Stadium last year. All of our projects remain on track and, as we celebrate this milestone today, we also look forward to marking many more between now and the big kick-off on 21 November 2022."

Machaille Hassan Al Naimi, President of Community Development, Qatar Foundation, said: "Education City Stadium will be a focal point for the world of football in 2022, and for the people of Qatar for many decades to come after the tournament."

The construction of Khalifa International Stadium and Al Janoub Stadium is already complete and the two venues are operational.

Kalidou Koulibaly has described his teammate Dries Mertens as the "Higuain of Napoli" after he became the club's leading scorer in their 2-1 aggregate victory over Inter Milan in the Coppa Italia semi-finals on Saturday.

The Nerazzurri had taken an early lead via former Tottenham Hotspur man Christian Eriksen before Mertens equalised four minutes to the half-time whistle to secure a 1-1 draw on the night.

The Belgian's goal tally now stands at 122 ahead of Marek Hamsik (121) Diego Maradona (115), Attila Sallustro (108) and Edinson Cavani (104).

“I spent a lot of time with him [Mertens] in the early days of Napoli," Koulibaly told Sky Sports Italia.

"He came to pick me up at home and took me to Castel Volturno. We had a lot of laughs on the journeys between Naples and the sports centre.

"He spoke to me in my first year and told me not to give up because he believed in me a lot. It can be seen that he grew up in a serene and happy family. I wish him all the best in the world because he really deserves it.

"He has grown a lot, has become a killer. He is the Higuain of Napoli because he knows how to do everything, he is a really important player and I am proud to play with him."

Higuain played for Napoli between 2013 and 2016, scoring an impressive 91 goals in 146 competitive appearances. The Argentine joined Juventus thereafter and will be up against his former employers in the Coppa Italia final on Wednesday.

Koulibaly played the entire 90 minutes on Saturday, his second appearance this year after having battled with a muscle injury since December 2019.

The Senegal international continues to be linked with a move away from the San Paolo with the likes of Manchester United and PSG long interested in him.

However, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis emphasised on the pages of Corriere dello Sport, that he would not be selling the 28-year-old for less than €100 million.

"If [Manchester] City, United or PSG showed up with 100 million euros I would think about it and he [Koulibaly] could leave if that was his will. 60 million I don't even consider," he said.

Koulibaly will be hoping to take part in Serie A's resumption when Napoli travel to Hellas Verona next Tuesday.

Yanga SC goalkeeper Farouk Shikalo has narrated how a Gor Mahia official helped him cross the border between Kenya and Tanzania even though there is a restriction of travel between the two countries.

Shikalo said he had travelled back to Kenya when the Mainland Premier League was suspended due to a private issue. 

When the Tanzanian government allowed the resumption of football activities, the former Posta Rangers goalkeeper was still in the country. One of the hurdles he had to beat tpjoin Yanga teammates was the active cessation of movement between the countries.

Apar from the unnamed Gor Mahia official, the goalkeeper said a Mr Jerry Muro played a vital role in his travelling plans until he landed in Dar es Salaam.

“I left immediately after the league suspension because I had lost my elder brother and it is at that time when the Kenyan government suspended travel to or from Tanzania,” Shikalo told Global TV.

“[Jerry] Muro is the man who ensured my journey was a success. There is also another leader in Mombasa who helped me travel from Mombasa to Nairobi where I was picked by a Gor Mahia official who is working at the Namanga border.

“He [the K'Ogalo official] dropped me at the border and ensured my journey to the other side was smooth.

"From Namanga to Arusha Muro, who is well known, helped me throughout that length of the journey. He made hotel bookings for me in Arusha before he took me to Moshi again.

“At Moshi, I took Kilimanjaro Air to Dar es Salaam.

“Yanga were ready to pay for my air ticket but I told them I can use my own means until the border since the travel to Tanzania had been banned by our government.

“It is a journey that was riddled with challenges especially from Mombasa at a place called Kibokoni and Kizingo where there was total lockdown.

“From Mombasa to Nairobi I travelled with a District Officer and that made my travel along that route rather easier.”

The former Talanta FC and Bandari star further spoke about the targets he has for the club.

“I am ready to work,” continued the Harambee Star.

“I signed for Yanga when they were already participating in the Caf competition and my aim is to ensure they qualify again for the next editions.

“Our main aim as players is also to win the FA Cup and see that we finish the season in a better position in the league.”

The Kenyan did not feature against Mwadui FC on Saturday as Luc Eymael fielded Metacha Mnata instead. 

Mikel Arteta says it’s Arsenal’s responsibility to show Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang that his future is best served at the London club and remains hopeful his top scorer will sign a new deal.

The Gunners skipper is about to enter the final year of his contract and admits he has not yet decided whether he will extend his stay in the English capital.

Aubameyang has labelled his decision as “maybe the most important” of his career and, speaking to Telefoot over the weekend, the 31-year-old hinted that the current stalemate in talks is down to Arsenal rather than him.

“We have had exchanges with the club, for a fair few months now,” said Aubameyang. “And they know very well why so far nothing has happened.

“They have the keys. It’s up to them to do their work and after that we will see how things go.

“It is a turning point in my career, and I will be very frank with everyone, it will certainly be a very difficult decision to make. I still have not decided. It will maybe be the most important decision of my career.”

Barcelona, Inter and Real Madrid have been linked with a potential summer move for Aubameyang, but Arteta is hopeful his captain can be convinced to commit his future to Arsenal.

The Spaniard says the club have held “many discussions” with the striker and his representatives, but accepts that if his top scorer is to stay put, Arsenal must show him that the club’s ambitions match his own.

And, of course, he accepts that earning a spot in next season's Champions League will make talks easier.

“I think it’s our responsibility to make him feel that this is the right next step in his career,” said Arteta, ahead of Wednesday night’s trip to Manchester City.

“In order to do that he needs to feel valued. He needs to feel that he belongs to us and that we want him - and then he really needs to believe we can take this club forward in the way we want to do. He’s going to be a key player to do that.

“I think that [Champions League qualification] would help to persuade anybody, but we are very lucky to have the club that we have that a lot of players want to come and join.

“But it is not about who do we want to attract as well, it is how happy the players are here [too] and how convinced they are that they are in the right place. As well, it is our obligation to be fighting for almost every trophy and playing in the Champions League with this club.”

Arteta admits that the recent lockdown has not helped with talks over a new deal for the former Borussia Dortmund star, but says he remains confident an agreement can be found.

“We have many discussions with Pierre, his family and agent,” said the Gunners’ head coach. “I am pretty positive that we can find the right agreement for all parties.

“At the moment I am extremely happy about the way he is performing and behaving. I think I have a really good relationship with him where we can discuss face to face a lot of things. So far, as far as I’m aware, I think he’s very happy at the club.”

Now that the Team of the Season So Far (TOTSSF) promotion has ended in FIFA 20, EA Sports will keep fans entertained throughout the summer with new promotions, pack offers and other events.

The first promotion released after TOTSSF is Summer Heat, a new event for FIFA 20 that has not appeared in previous versions of FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT).

Goal brings you everything you need to know about Summer Heat, which players are available in Squad Building Challenges and more...

What is FIFA 20 Summer Heat?

As Summer Heat is a new addiiton to the FIFA 20 promotions calendar, FUT fans have been speculating exactly what the new promotion will bring to the game.

Usually, the FUTTIES event follows Team of the Season, while the Festival of FUTball promotion was the big summer release in FIFA 18, but now Summer Heat comes after TOTSSF and will see the return of some popular Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) from FIFA 20's previous promotions.

The loading screen for Summer Heat revealed that some SBCs from Ultimate Scream and FUTmas will be re-released, while there will also be new challenges and objectives with Flashback and Moments players.

When does FIFA 20 Summer Heat start?

FIFA 20 Summer Heat begins on Wednesday, June 17.

Every day during Summer Heat, new SBCs will be released at 6pm BST (1pm ET), while new promotional packs and other offers will be unveiled regularly.

Promotional packs are usually released in evenings and are available for 24 hours in limited quantities.

What are the FIFA 20 SBCs and Objectives?

The new Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) for Summer Heat include Flashback players and special Moments players which celebrate outstanding indvidual performances from the past.

In addition, there will also be re-released versions of popular SBCs from previous promotions from FUT including FUTmas and Ultimate Scream.

These re-released SBCs and Objectives will include upgraded versions of those player items, such as FUTmas Ferland Mendy being upgraded from an 85-rated card to a 93-rated one.

Erling Haaland's attitude towards matches and training has delighted Lucien Favre since the striker joined Borussia Dortmund, but his coach wants him to understand the necessity of an occasional rest.

Haaland has only started three of Dortmund's five Bundesliga matches since the season resumed last month, with the Norwegian suffering a minor knee injury at the end of May.

His performance against Schalke aside, the 19-year-old's displays have not been as explosive as they had been prior to the coronavirus-enforced break, but without him in the team Dortmund have appeared significantly short in attack.

It has proven a challenge for Dortmund to balance the need to keep him fresh while also maximising their attacking output - Haaland's late winner in the 1-0 victory over Fortuna Dusseldorf at the weekend coming after he came on as a substitute.

But Favre is well aware of the potential pitfalls of over-burdening Haaland, even if the teenager is not, and he acknowledged another striker will have to be brought in for next season in order to prevent the former Salzburg star suffering from burnout.

"I think everybody knows that," Favre told reporters on Monday when asked if he needs another centre-forward as back-up next term. "I think that's clear too, because he's only 19 years old.

"It is normal that he is sometimes tired when you have an English week [a weekend fixture following by one in midweek], because he can't do everything on his own.

"We have also noticed that he is still growing. He was injured two or three times recently since he came to us. So, we have to dose what he does, because otherwise it could be dangerous.

"He has to understand this, because sometimes it is not possible to play three games in one week. Many players have problems with that.

"You can get injured or you're just not fresh and it's important that he has the freshness, but normally Erling plays because we need him.

"I like his mentality, he always wants to be there and always win, but of course he also has to make his progress, he is only 19 and has so much potential.

"But he likes to train, he still wants to do special exercises after training and I like that. I really enjoy doing that with him, but he has to understand that it is important to dose the whole thing."

Dortmund return to action at home to Mainz on Wednesday, knowing a turnaround in the title race will already be beyond them if Bayern Munich beat Werder Bremen on Tuesday to clinch an eighth successive Bundesliga crown.