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Caf Secretary General Abdelmounaim Bah says moving the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournament to June or July is not an option, but January 2022 would be an alternative in the event the finals fail to be staged next year.

Qualifying matches for Afcon have been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, a move that could see the finals scheduled to be hosted by Cameroon from January 9 to February 6, 2021, being moved to later dates.

Caf has already cancelled the March and June qualifiers, and Bah says it is now impossible to have August matches go ahead as planned.

With some countries intending to have their domestic leagues running in the next few months and also following the resumption of football in Europe, Caf hopes Afcon qualifiers could continue in October, at a time when four rounds of matches would have already been lost.

"What we can say is that all the confederations hope to be able to play again this year and each is making its [own] arrangements. In this regard, the Asian confederation has announced that it will resume its qualifications in October and November. And at Caf we subscribe to this logic," Bah told Radio Sport Info.

"The international windows scheduled for March and June have been cancelled, but the months of October and November 2020 represent a lot of hope. We no longer include September in the strategies because it will be quite complicated to have the teams travel from one country to another as early as September. This means that the matches can resume locally but international matches will be difficult to be held because of the travel factor."

Bah says if Afcon fails to take place in January 2021, the next best option would be to stage the tournament 12 months later. He says switching the tournament to June 2021 would see Afcon suffer counter-attraction from the Uefa European Championships and Copa America.

"If we cannot make up for the Afcon 2021 qualifiers in October and November, we will have to think of another plan... But today the longer the crisis lasts, the more this scenario deserves to be thought about. Afcon next January, however, remains our number one priority," said Bah.

"January 2022 remains the second option for Afcon 2022...As everyone knows, playing in June/July in Cameroon is difficult because of the weather conditions. In addition, in June/July 2021 there is already a lot of competition with the Euro and the Copa America. So the best time to postpone the Afcon would be January 2022. But all that I repeat, these are alternatives because our priority for the Afcon is to play in January 2021."

Also affected by the coronavirus is the African Nations Championship which was due for April 2020 in Cameroon as well as the Africa Women Cup of Nations which was slated for November and Caf admits that both tournaments would be difficult to reschedule.

The current Caf Champions League and Confederation Cup campaigns which were stopped at the semi-final stages could, however, resume "very soon."

"We can announce here that the Champions League and the Confederation Cup are the competitions by which we will resume very soon. Besides, this year we have four magnificent posters not to be missed," Bah said.

Anthony Ujah featured as Union Berlin clinched a narrow 2-1 win against Kingsley Ehizibue’s Koln in Saturday’s Bundesliga game.

The Super Eagles player was afforded his 21st league appearance this season at RheinEnergieStadion but started the game from the bench.

The 29-year-old forward made a second-half appearance to help Urs Fischer’s side end an eight-game winless run, having last won against Eintracht Frankfurt on February 24.

The Iron Ones hit the ground running in the encounter and could have been rewarded for their efforts in the 33rd minute when the centre referee handed them a penalty but after consultation with the video assistant referee (VAR) the decision was revoked.

They, however, opened the scoring six minutes after the incident through Marvin Friedrich, who headed past goalkeeper Timo Horn, after benefitting from Christopher Trimmel’s assist.

A few minutes into the second half, Sebastian Andersson came close to doubling the lead with a fine header which was saved by Horn.

In his quest to secure a comfortable lead, manager Fischer brought on Nigeria international Ujah for Andersson in the 63rd minute while Koln’s Ehizibue, who was handed a starting role made way for Kingsley Schindler.

However, it was Christian Gentner, who doubled the Iron Ones’ lead five minutes after Ehizibue was replaced firing home from Marius Buelter’s assist.

Jhon Cordoba scored a late effort for Koln a moment before full-time which only ended up as a mere consolation as their visitors secured all three points.

With the result, Union Berlin are 13th on the Bundesliga table with 35 points from 31 games behind the Billy Goats, who edged them by goal difference.

Ujah has now made 25 appearances across all competitions for the Iron Ones in this campaign, scoring three goals and providing three assists.

The centre-forward will hope to deliver a more impactful showing for Berlin when they take on Jamilu Collins’ Paderborn in their next outing on Tuesday.

Ehizibue, meanwhile, will be expected to continue his consistent displays for Koln, having featured in 29 games across all competitions for his side since joining them last summer from PEC Zwolle.

The defender, who was recently handed his first Super Eagles call-up, will hope to feature for 90 minutes in their next league game against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) President Moses Magogo has asked Big League clubs to desist from the desire of 'trying to grow fast'.

Magogo urged the Fufa Big League officials to grow their club's capacities in order to avoid being demoralised after promotion to the Premier League and relegation back to the top-tier almost immediately.

“You need to grow your capacity before you go to the next level,” Magogo said during the Fufa Big League consultative meeting as was quoted by Sports Nation.

“A team wants to be in UPL just a year after promotion from Big League. It's not organic growth, many times you get discouraged because you are trying to grow fast.

“What is the purpose of being promoted and drop back immediately? When you go up when you haven’t grown, you will suffer and get demoralised.”

The consultative meeting was convened to discuss matters of the 2020/21 season and also the club licensing issues with Magogo urging the clubs to see the business side of football.

“Some clubs even close simply because ‘you took a Primary Four kid to sit for Primary Leaving Examinations [PLE] exams, even if he is the best, he can fail and think that school is a bad thing',” said the Caf Executive member.

“You will enjoy the UPL when you go when you have grown. There is a business side of football also. It’s not about promotion alone, you need to grow your capacity and that is why club licensing is there to put checks on whether you are ready.”

The Fufa chief also drew parallels between the Premier League and the second-tier competition as he also explained how the federation did not consult clubs before cancelling the league.

“It's [Big League] the hardest league to play in, maybe harder than the Premier League in terms of conditions there,” concluded Magogo.

“However, football can generate its own money and at Fufa we have tried it and has been successful.

“We cannot be consulting on matters of rules. It is clear, it’s a rule. However, I know that every decision by a regulator hurts one and will benefit the other.”

Meanwhile, Fufa's Club Licensing Chairman Rogers Mulindwa has hinted the Big League clubs will be required to have junior sides.

“There are some new ideas that every Fufa Big League club this time will have an U17 team,” Mulindwa said during the meeting.

“These teams will only be playing in that particular region [where the senior team plays]. It's a new idea and we had a debate with the members and they have welcomed the idea.”

Water FC, Kataka FC, Doves All-Stars, Bukedea FC, Bukedea FC, Nyamityobora FC, Kiboga Young, Ndejje University FC, Kigezi Home Boyz FC, Paidha BA FC, UPDF FC and Kitara FC were represented during the meeting.

Tanguy Kouassi will leave Paris Saint-Germain when his contract expires at the end of June, Goal can confirm.

The 18-year-old defender has been linked with a number of clubs around Europe including Barcelona, AC Milan, RB Leipzig and Rennes.

He had been one of the revelations of the season for PSG, making 13 first-team appearances and scoring three goals.

However, he has turned down the contract proposal put to him in Paris, and is now set to find a new club.

Neither Milan nor Leipzig are likely to land him, despite recent reports in France suggesting they could be the most likely destinations.

Rennes have made an offer to him, but competition for his signature is said to be “very tough”.

Kouassi joined PSG in 2016 from youth club Pays de Fontainebleau and has represented France at Under-16, Under-17 and Under-18 level, winning Under-17 World Cup bronze last year.

The decision to leave brings to an end months of discussions between PSG, Kouassi and his entourage.

As recently as last month, club sources had suggested they were hopeful of being able to keep him in Paris.

Now, all eyes are on Kouassi as he decides his next move.

The news comes on a busy day for PSG, following the announcement from director of football Leonardo that club veterans Thiago Silva and Edinson Cavani will leave at the end of the season .

The club captain and centre-forward are both out of contract at the end of June, but PSG are hoping to be able to keep them until the season is fully resolved in August.

Thomas Meunier and Layvin Kurzawa, both heavily linked with moves to the Premier League, are also expected to depart, though their futures are not yet fully decided.

The French champions are still in the Champions League and are through to the finals of both the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue.

Thomas Tuchel is aiming to have his squad return to training on June 22, with Neymar having returned to Paris on Saturday in order to avoid a potential 14-day quarantine .

PSG were awarded the Ligue 1 title after the season was cut short in April .

Jose Mourinho believes it is "too risky" for Tottenham to play any more friendlies before they return to Premier League action.

Spurs enjoyed a training friendly with Norwich City on Friday - the action split into four 30-minute quarters - as players from both clubs try to quickly get back up to speed ahead of the restart.

Harry Kane, Moussa Sissoko, Son Heung-min and Steven Bergwijn, who were all injured prior to the coronavirus-enforced suspension to the 2019-20 season, were all involved.

Mourinho would ideally like to fit in another game before Friday's huge clash with his former club Manchester United, but he is not prepared to gamble given Spurs' packed schedule upon the resumption.

"We are not going to have any more friendlies. We think it would be good, but it's too risky," Mourinho told the club's official website.

"We are going to do a normal preparation week, starting on the Monday and going through to Friday. After that, we've two more days and then West Ham, so the next 10 days are going to be busy.

"We have to adapt to this new reality, which is what we've tried to do.

"We have to think that the points are there to fight for. With fans or without fans, the points are there on the pitch. Ourselves and United will have to fight for them."

Mourinho was pleased that his players were able to experience a match situation inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium without fans, as will be the case in the top flight due to Covid-19 restrictions.

"We needed minutes, we needed to know the feeling of playing here without our supporters and to have this training session with another Premier League team is the best thing," the Portuguese coach added.

Spurs face an uphill battle to qualify for next season's Champions League as they sit eighth in the table, seven points behind fourth-placed Chelsea with nine games remaining.

After resuming with the game against top-four rivals United, Spurs will also take in a London derby date at home to West Ham before travelling to Sheffield United, who are also in Champions League contention.

Liverpool would win “the Premier League, the Champions League and the Grand National” if they could prise Kevin De Bruyne away from Manchester City, says Peter Crouch, but N’Golo Kante and Philippe Coutinho are considered to be more realistic targets.

The Reds continue to scour the market for potential additions, with the opportunity to move for RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner passed up.

Alternative options are said to figure prominently on Jurgen Klopp’s radar, with a desire to add greater depth to the Anfield attacking ranks seeing Borussia Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho and Wolves winger Adama Traore come into contention for big-money moves.

There have even been murmurings of a raid being launched on the Etihad Stadium for De Bruyne, with City facing the threat of star turns leaving if their European ban is upheld.

Crouch admits the Belgium international playmaker would be a dream addition on Merseyside, with his ball-playing ability perfectly suited to the system favoured by Liverpool.

Such a swoop may, however, be a little ambitious, with Klopp urged to consider a move to take World Cup winner Kante off Chelsea – amid reports of the Frenchman being made available – and a bid to bring Brazilian schemer Coutinho back to familiar surroundings from a forgettable stint at Barcelona.

Former Reds striker Crouch told the Daily Mail when asked if he would like to see De Bruyne at Anfield: “What a joy that would be!

“If Liverpool signed De Bruyne, they would win the Premier League, the Champions League and the Grand National next year. Maybe if we all throw £10 in, we will raise enough money to make it happen!

“The thing with Liverpool is that they really don't need much. Michael Edwards, their sporting director who I knew from my time at Portsmouth, has overseen an incredible recruitment drive. 

“Liverpool don't just have good players - they have good characters too and the training ground is harmonious.

“They won't stand still this summer and they will keep evolving. The front three is good enough to be left alone but maybe they need something in midfield. 

“If it was me, maybe N'Golo Kante would fit right in. I'd even bring Philippe Coutinho back, so long as he knew he would be a squad player.”

Liverpool have found considerable value in recent windows and appear reluctant to spend for the sake of it after assembling a squad that has tasted European glory and opened up a 25-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Simba SC have started planning for next season after they moved to keep Mzamiru Yassin and Said Ndemla at the club for the next two seasons.

The two players have signed a two-year contract each to stay with the mainland giants. According to a source, who did not want to be named, Simba paid TSh60millon to convince both players to stay.

“The two players have reached an agreement to stay at Simba and the club is very happy to keep them,” the source is quoted by Sokaletu.

“If there is a player whose contract is running down and is yet to talk to the club, then he must be on his way out because most of them [players] have already started talks to extend their stay.”

The move by Simba to renew the contracts of the duo comes barely five days after club chairman Mohammed Dewji assured club fans they will not sell any of their players in the coming transfer window.

The Mainland Premier League giants are keen to build a strong team ahead of next season’s Caf Champions League as they are likely to represent the country in the competition for the second season in a row.

“My fellow lions,” Dewji wrote in a statement on his official social accounts. “I want to assure you none of our players will leave Simba but we will also sign any player, from anywhere if our coach will need him in his squad.

“We want to remain consistent and will not let our squad change.”

Simba have already been linked with the services of two Gor Mahia players – defender Joash Onyango and midfielder Kenneth Muguna.

Goal understands the club is already talking to Muguna, who has 18 months left on his contract with K’Ogalo but has expressed his desire to leave for greener pastures because of salary problems.

Simba are currently chasing a third straight league title, as they top the league table on 71 points from 28 matches, while Azam FC are second on 54 points and rivals Yanga SC are lying third after accumulating 51 points.

Simba will resume the league with a home game against Ruvu Shooting at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.

South Africa's Bambanani Mbane and Burkina Faso's Salimata Simpore continued with their fine form as they scored in Dinamo-BSUPC's 7-0 victory over 10-woman Bobruichanka on Saturday.

Mbane and Simpore added to their goal tallies this season as the Belarusian giants resumed action (after their two-week break) on a high since their last encounter against Zorka-BDU which ended 3-0.

The hosts started on the front foot as Hanna Pilipenko beautifully set up Simpore to open the lead in the eighth minute after her initial header went wide and she also missed a sitter in quick succession.

In the 24th minute, Vita Nikolaenko teed up Anastasiya Linnik to double the lead for Dinamo before Anastasia Shlapakova grabbed a third of the match off Pilipenko's assist nine minutes later.

After the restart at Minsk Stadium, Dinamo continued from where they left off in the first half as Linnik bagged her second and her side's fourth of the match from the spot in the 52nd minute.

The worse befell the visitors as they were reduced to 10 players after Cameroon's Sorelle Metiefang was sent off in the 63rd minute after bagging two yellow cards in the space of four minutes.

Leveraging on their numerical advantage, Mbane, who replaced Nikolaenko in the 55th minute moment after Yuliya Slesarchik's brilliant shot off Anastasia Novikova's pass to ensure the fifth goal.

Substitute Kristina Tikhovodova, who came on in the 67th minute, set up Mbane in front of the box to blast home the sixth before substitute Viktoriya Valyuk sealed the win two minutes from time.

Simpore's goal was her sixth in five games for Dinamo and, the Burkina Faso star, who was taken off in the 71st minute, while Banyana star Mbane has now scored four goals in six matches.

Besides Simpore and Mbane, Cameroon defender Claudia Dabda lasted for the duration as the African trio propelled their side's win.

The victory takes Yury's ladies three points clear at the summit, while Neman in second, face third-placed Minsk on Sunday.

Dinamo will hope to extend their lead at the top when they visit second-placed Neman in the next league encounter on June 19.

Edinson Cavani and club captain Thiago Silva will both leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer, director of football Leonardo has confirmed.

The pair are both out of contract at the end of June but will remain with the club until the season is fully completed with the Champions League, Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue all still to be resolved.

Between them, they have made more than 600 combined appearances for PSG in all competitions.

"Cavani and Thiago Silva? Yes, we are coming to the end,” Leonardo told the Journal de Dimanche.

"The idea is to continue playing with them until the end of August.

"It was a very difficult decision to make; these are players who have marked the history of the club.

“Their stories were so beautiful. But yes, we are coming to the end.

"We had to make a logical decision, economically speaking and with regard to the generation that is coming through.

“Maybe we are wrong, I do not know, there is never a perfect moment. Now the Champions League is still in sight and the idea is to continue competing with them until the end of August. How it can be done is not yet clear [legally].”

Leonardo also confirmed that Layvin Kurzawa and Thomas Meunier are also likely to leave in the same manner, but this is not yet totally certain.

PSG are through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League following their 3-2 aggregate win over Borussia Dortmund in the round of 16.

They are also waiting to play in the finals of both the Coupe de France and Coupe de La Ligue, against Saint-Etienne and Lyon respectively.

Uruguay striker Cavani has long been linked with a move away from PSG, and seemed almost certain to leave the club in the most recent January transfer window.

Atletico Madrid, Manchester United, Boca Juniors, Inter Miami and Newcastle are among a wide variety of clubs to have been linked with a move.

Boca are out of the race after president Jorge Bermudez ruled out a move earlier in the year, but Cavani's next club remains to be seen.

Cavani has scored 200 goals in 300 games for PSG, winning six Ligue 1 titles among numerous domestic honours since joining from Napoli in 2013.

Silva moved from AC Milan the previous summer, going on to make 310 appearances and captain the club through its most successful period.

Jack Grealish would like to be “one of those Steven Gerrards” and spend his entire career at Aston Villa, says Kevin Phillips, but interest from Manchester United is expected to be too good to turn down.

A big-money transfer is said to be in the offing for the talented 24-year-old playmaker when the next window swings open.

Having proven himself on a Premier League stage, Grealish is considered to be ready for a step up English football’s grandest ladder.

Old Trafford may be the next rung he hits, with the Red Devils in the market for more creativity and prepared to splash the cash on top targets.

Villa will be reluctant sellers if an approach is made, especially if they preserve their top-flight status, but it is looking increasingly likely that a deal will be done.

Phillips admits that Grealish, as a boyhood Villans fan, will leave with a heavy heart, but it is difficult to see him being a one-club man when the opportunity is there to better himself.

“I am not sure about this because Jack Grealish loves Villa so much so it really would not surprise me if he wants to stay with his boyhood club in the Premier League,” former Villans striker Phillips told Football Insider.

“I can see him being one of those Steven Gerrards.

“On the other hand, Manchester United look like they are really going to have a go and sign some players to get them back to where they once were.

“It is difficult. If I am Jack Grealish and I had the chance to go to Manchester United, I would go. Simple as that. No matter what league I am in.

“But he is such a diehard Villa supporter, a local lad so I could see him staying.

“However, if they do go down I do not think he will be left with a choice. Manchester United is like Real Madrid or Barcelona for me, you go.”

Grealish has made no secret of his desire to grace the very top of the game, as he also chases down senior international recognition with England, but has stopped short of being dragged into a transfer debate.

Plenty are making noises for him, with many of the opinion that his ability and confidence would be well suited to a prominent role at the Theatre of Dreams.

Former Ghana coach James Kwasi Appiah believes his recent comment regarding the Black Stars' captaincy has been misconstrued.

In an interview with Happy FM, the 59-year-old proposed a rotational policy for the armband to quench perennial controversies over the position. The suggestion has generated debate, with many opposing the idea.

Swansea City attacker Andre Ayew is the current skipper of the Black Stars.

"I was a not saying Ghana should adopt the captaincy rotational policy now since it will make no sense because Dede Ayew has just been handed over the armband," Appiah explained, as reported by Sportsworldghana.

"I was suggesting that if there are captaincy challenges in the team in future, then we can try the rotational policy, maybe it could work for us.

"I was not advising the current head coach as purported in the media to change the captain but I was suggesting an option should we find ourselves in the same soup in future as a country."

Appiah, himself a former Black Stars captain, has coached Ghana on two separate occasions; first between 2012 and 2014 and second between 2017 and 2019.

“Sometimes this captaincy issue comes as a result of poor communication from management members or certain people trying to push their own agenda," the former Al-Khartoum boss told Happy FM earlier this week.

“Looking at our current situation, I will propose we rotate the captain’s armband and also a general captain appointed to speak on behalf of the players.

"Brazil and other countries have made it work, so we can also emulate them.

“We should be careful or else this captaincy row can affect the national team for years to come."

Appiah's second stint as Ghana coach produced the Black Stars' most recent controversy over the captaincy.

A month to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Egypt, the Black Stars were engulfed in a captaincy saga as veteran striker Asamoah Gyan - Ghana's leading striker - was stripped of the armband in favour of Ayew.

The displeased Gyan did not take the decision lying down as he sensationally announced retirement from international duty and would only rescind his stance following a plea by national president Nana Akufo-Addo. 

Vinicius Junior has been told he needs to “keep flying” at Real Madrid, with fellow Brazilian Rivaldo warning the 19-year-old that he cannot afford to let his standards drop.

The 2019-20 campaign has seen the exciting young forward remain on a steep learning curve.

Questions have been asked of his end product at times, but he has recorded four goals and three assists.

He had found consistent form prior to football shutting down amid the coronavirus pandemic, with Zinedine Zidane making him a regular in his plans.

Real have, however, been out of action since mid-March.

They will return to La Liga action on Sunday when taking on Eibar, and Rivaldo is challenging his fellow countryman to pick up where he left off and prove his worth at Santiago Bernabeu.

“Vinícius Junior was in his best form since his arrival at Real Madrid before the lockdown, scoring against Barcelona in El Clasico, but after the break many things can change,” 2002 World Cup winner Rivaldo told Betfair.

“Madrid will have Eden Hazard and Marco Asensio back on track, so the Brazilian has two additional contenders for a starting place.

“The first games back will only tell us which players have reached their peak before the others. I'm backing Vinícius to restart well and continue his good form, but there is a chance that things might not go so well after a big gap without playing.

“But despite the competitiveness in the squad, I believe Zinedine Zidane will pick players who are in good form and not just because of his preference, so Vinícius must try to keep showing his best football to continue as a starter.

“As we used to say in Brazil, he needs to keep flying to earn his place in the team.”

Real have welcomed the likes of Hazard and Asensio back into the fold as they prepare to restart their 2019-20 campaign.

Both had been nursing knocks prior to lockdown, but Zidane will have a wealth of options at his disposal when facing Eibar.

Gareth Bale is also back in the Blancos squad, with the Wales international – who continues to see a move elsewhere mooted – another of those who will rival Vinicius for an attacking berth.

Marcus Rashford says he is fit and raring to go as Manchester United prepare for the return of the Premier League.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side return to action with a trip to Tottenham on June 19, their first competitive game since their 5-0 Europa League win over LASK on March 12.

Rashford has missed their last 13 games with a back injury which at one point had looked likely to end his season.

Now, however, the coronavirus-enforced break has allowed him to work his way back to full fitness.

“I have been training now for two or three weeks,” Rashford told cricketer Yuvraj Singh in a live chat for Sony Sports India.

“It is important to get the fitness levels back up. You want to feel good again going into the game. I am definitely at that stage.

“I am just excited for the games to start again. It is a little disappointing that there will be no fans but they can watch it on TV and I hope they start enjoying the sport again.

“Football is a game that puts smiles on people’s faces. That’s what makes the game so great.”

Following United’s game against Tottenham and former boss Jose Mourinho, they look forward to fixtures with Sheffield United, Norwich and Brighton.

Meanwhile, Rashford has been making headlines of his own in recent weeks for his superlative charity work during the coronavirus crisis.

The 22-year-old has been working closely with charity FareShare to provide meals for vulnerable people during lockdown, and recently announced they had hit their target of providing three million meals across the UK, weeks before their target deadline.

“Before the lockdown, me and my family were speaking about how this situation can affect certain people,” Rashford explained.

“We came to the conclusion that some families and kids will be in vulnerable positions because their parents have lost their jobs so we knew their families will be affected and we decided to help.

“We just have to try and help people in different situations. That’s actually how the conversation came about.

“Me and my team started researching and learning more about the situation. The best way possible is to help.”

Wolves can keep Raul Jimenez and Adama Traore from the clutches of Manchester United and Liverpool, says Matt Murray, but Champions League football may be required in order to prevent sales.

The men from Molineux are in the hunt for a top-four finish as Premier League action prepares to resume in 2019-20.

Nuno’s side sit sixth in the table at present, five points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea and two behind Manchester United.

Bridging those gaps and climbing the standings could offer Wolves a shot at elite continental competition for 2020-21.

They are also still in the hunt for Europa League glory this season, which opens up another avenue for them to head down.

Murray believes his former club are capable of wrapping up a notable achievement and persuading key men on and off the pitch to stay put – with unwelcome exit talk being ramped up ahead of the next window.

The former Wolves goalkeeper told Sky Sports: “I think Nuno only has a year left on his contract.

“I think if Wolves can get into the Champions League, I would be that much more confident. Especially with Jimenez, he is that bit older and everyone wants to play at the highest level.

“Everyone feels at home, the Wolves fans love them but that would be my concern with Nuno.

“If they do get into the Champions League, they should tie Nuno down to a long-term deal.”

Mexico international Jimenez has admitted that he would find it difficult to turn down an approach from Real Madrid or Barcelona, while Arsenal are said to be another of his many suitors.

Traore, meanwhile, has seen his blistering pace thrust him onto the radar of those at Anfield, with Liverpool still in the market for added depth to their attacking ranks.

Murray can understand why Wolves’ star turns are generating interest, but is confident they can be retained.

He added: “I believe these players are good enough for the Champions League, so if they don’t get there, that would be a concern.

“But also with the coronavirus, I think Wolves can keep them for another year because clubs won’t be able to pay those fees.

“But sooner or later, Wolves will have to get into the Champions League to match those players’ ambitions.”

Jamilu Collins was on parade as Paderborn continued with their miserable form, losing 5-1 against Werder Bremen in Saturday’s Bundesliga game.

Steffen Baumgart’s men only returned to the German top-flight last season after clinching the second division title with Super Eagles star Collins playing a key role in the success.

They are, however, on the verge of returning to the second tier following a run of poor results, having only won four games in this campaign.

Paderborn’s last victory was against Freiburg on January 25 and are now winless in their last 12 matches across all competitions.

Their desire to bounce back to victory at Benteler-Arena suffered a blow after Davy Klaassen opened the scoring in the 20th minute, shortly after Bremen lost a glorious chance from the penalty spot.

Yuya Osako then doubled the lead in the 34th minute to inspire his side to surge forward for more goals while Klaassen added his second in the encounter five minutes later.

Maximilian Eggestein found the back of the net a moment before the hour mark to further compound the woes of their hosts.

A 66th-minute strike from Moroccan-born German Abdelhamid Sabiri proved little as Bremen claimed all three points comfortably, with Niclas Fuellkrug sealing victory at the death.

Collins, who was afforded his 27th league appearance in the encounter, featured throughout the game but could not help his hapless side avoid yet another defeat.

The loss ensured Paderborn remained at the bottom of the league table with 20 points from 31 games but could still avoid relegation if they win their remaining matches.

Collins, whose contract with the Benteler-Arena outfit ends in 2021, has made 29 appearances across all competitions in this campaign.

The Nigeria international has been one of the standout performers for Steffen Baumgart’s men this season and will hope to help his side return to winning ways against Union Berlin on June 16.

Mamelodi Sundowns forward Lebohang Maboe says a culture of success lured him to join Mamelodi Sundowns ahead of their Premier Soccer League (PSL) rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.

After missing just one league match for Maritzburg United in the 2017/18 season during which he scored an unconvincing two goals, Maboe attracted interest from the three traditional South African giants.

But it was Sundowns who won his signature and the forward says the Brazilians guaranteed him a Caf Champions League adventure and trophies, in an apparent acknowledgement that Pirates and Chiefs have been struggling for major silverware in recent seasons.

"Sundowns showed far more interest than other clubs. I was convinced that if I join this club, I would play in Africa and I have since played in Africa. Sundowns were the right team for me to join," said Maboe as per Sun Sport.

"At Sundowns you are also guaranteed that you are going to win two or more stories every season."

Maboe won the league title in his first season at Downs as Chiefs continued to look for their first league title since 2015, while Pirates have not been crowned champions since 2012.

During his debut Downs season, Maboe was the Brazilians top goal scorer with eight league goals and this season he has already helped them to the Telkom Knockout trophy.

But it is not all smooth in his second season at Chloorkop in which has managed just a goal in 17 PSL appearances and none in Cup games so far, a record that has not impressed Sundowns supporters.

This has seen him become a subject of booing by Downs fans and he appears to understand the supporters' displeasure with him.

"I knew there was pressure [at Sundowns], but it was going to help me grow by getting experience of playing in Africa. I don't regret coming here. It's the best decision I ever took," Maboe said.

The attacker also struggled in the Caf Champions League this season, as he featured in seven matches and failed to find the back of the net.

Another PSL title could, however, console him if the season is resumed as Downs are four points behind log leaders Chiefs, having played a game less, in their bid for a third straight league title.

Neymar has returned to Paris after three months in Brazil ahead of Paris Saint-Germain's planned return to training on June 22.

PSG were crowned French champions for the third successive season after the Ligue 1 campaign was cut short, but they are looking to prepare for two domestic cup finals and the potential return of the Champions League.

Thomas Tuchel’s side qualified for the quarter-finals after beating Borussia Dortmund 3-2 on aggregate, with their 2-0 home victory on March 11 being one of the last top-level games played in Europe before lockdown.

Neymar went home to Brazil four days after that game as lockdown restrictions were introduced in France.

Now he has followed advice from PSG to return to France before June 15 in order to avoid a potential two-week quarantine.

European countries could review their conditions for entering the country from that date.

It has been widely reported that Brazil has now passed the United Kingdom to record the second-highest coronavirus death toll in the world, and arrivals from badly-hit countries are likely to face stricter restrictions if policy changes are made in France.

PSG have a number of South American players in their ranks, many of whom returned home when lockdown began.

Edinson Cavani, Keylor Navas and captain Thiago Silva are all expected to return to France before Tuesday, with Marquinhos having already done so.

Despite the disappointment of the league campaign being curtailed, PSG are still hopeful of securing a historic quadruple this season.

They are set to face Saint-Etienne in the Coupe de France final, as well as playing Lyon in the final of the Coupe de la Ligue. Neither match has a confirmed date at this point.

Meanwhile, plans are still being put together to try and finish the Champions League.

PSG qualified for the quarter-finals alongside RB Leipzig, Atletico Madrid and Atalanta.

The remaining last-16 ties between Real Madrid and Manchester City, Chelsea and Bayern Munich, Lyon and Juventus as well as Napoli and Barcelona are all yet to be completed.

Reports suggest the most likely scenario at the moment is for all of the remaining knockout ties to take place in one city, in order to cut down on unnecessary travel around the continent.

Yanga SC downed Mwadui FC to register a 1-0 win at Kambarage Stadium in Shinyanga in one of the first Mainland Premier League matches after the resumption.

Balama Mapinduzi scored the all-important goal for Yanga who are racing to overtake second-placed Azam FC on the league table.

Mapinduzi scored to give Yanga a sixth-minute lead which received great applause from the fans who attended the match in Shinyanga.

The goal came as a result of a quick move engineered by Haruna Niyonzima, who beat an advancing Jaffar Mohammed on the left flank. Mohammed's cross was met by Ditram Nchimbi but the goalkeeper Mahmoud Amri saved Mwadui from the attack.

A second attempt by Mapinduzi, though, was too powerful for the goalkeeper to deny Yanga an opener. Deus Kaseke assisted in the creation of the goal.

The Wananchi side held onto the slim lead until the end despite Mwadui's numerous attempts on goal in the second half.

The win means Yanga are now equal on points, 54, with Azam who are in action on June 14 against Mbao FC. Luc Eymael's side will remain third though as Azam enjoy a huge advantage in goal difference.

The Yanga vs Mwadui FC tie had been carried forward due to the former's previous engagement in the Caf Confederation Cup. It was to be played in March but the league was suspended then due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Mwadui will remain 12th with 34 points as they sit a point above Lipuli FC, Mtibwa Sugar and KMC FC.

Meanwhile, third-place-chasing Namungo FC got two goals against Coastal Union in the first half as they dominated the proceedings while away from home.

It took the visitors just three minutes to get the first goal through George Makanga while the second one was scored in the 17th minute by Abeid Athuman.

Namungo did not keep their lead though as Coastal Union fought back in the second half and equalised to ensure the tie ended in a 2-2 draw.

Issa Abushehe scored the first goal for the hosts seven minutes after the restart of the second half before Hance Msonga struck the equalizer to deny Namungo all the points.

Namungo will remain fourth on the log with 51 points as the draw has denied them a chance to close in on Yanga.

Coastal Union are fifth with 46 points and enjoy one more point than sixth-placed Polisi Tanzania.