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Boulaye Dia scored his first La Liga goal for Villarreal in their 3-3 draw against Cadiz on Tuesday night.

The Senegal international had played in six league games for the Yellow Submarine without success in front of goal.

In his seventh league appearance against Alvaro Cervera’s side, he got his acts right to end his wait for his maiden strike in the Spanish topflight.

Having suffered a 2-1 defeat to Athletic Bilbao their last time out, Unai Emery’s men welcomed Cadiz to Estadio de la Ceramica with the ambition of returning to winning ways.

That aspiration suffered a massive setback as early as the 15th minute as the visitors took the lead through Honduras international Anthony Lozano.

The 28-year-old took advantage of a fine assist from Alex Fernandez and buried a volleyed shot into the back of Sergio Asenjo’s net.

Despite conceding first the hosts did not rattle as they stepped up their game in their quest to restore parity.

In the 34th minute, Netherlands international of Nigerian descent Arnaut Danjuma thought he had evened things up for Emery’s team with a fine finish, but it was chalked off for an offside.

Two minutes before the half time break, they levelled matters when Pau Torres scored with a close-range header following a well-taken corner-kick from compatriot Dani Parejo.

In the goal-laden first half, Cadiz regained their lead in the 45th minute through Lozano courtesy of an assist from Fali.

Cervera’s team went two goals up in the 52nd minute through man-of-the-man Lozano who completed his hat-trick after finishing off a swift counterattack initiated by Ruben Sobrino.

Not willing to down without a fight, Villarreal continued to fight and were unlucky when Samuel Chukwueze’s shot kissed the woodwork.

Ten minutes from full time, Dia got the second goal for the reigning Europa League kings thanks to a final pass from Serge Aurier.

The comeback was complete in the 95th minute by Danjuma who scored from a very tight angle to help the home team seal a point.

Equatorial Guinea defender Carlos Akapo was introduced for Jens Jonsson in the 53rd minute but could do little to prevent Villarreal from making a late comeback.

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has for the first time called up Kaizer Chiefs forward Keagan Dolly since he was appointed South Africa coach in May.

Dolly is part of the provisional squad for the upcoming 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Ghana.

Group G leaders South Africa host Zimbabwe on November 11, before visiting Ghana for their final group game three days later as they seek to maintain top spot and reach the next qualifying round.

There have been players Bafana fans felt Broos was unfairly ignoring including Dolly.

Now that the Chiefs star is back in the national team fold, Twitter reaction has gone crazy. 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a Manchester United club legend and fan favourite owing to his 1999 Champions League final heroics, scoring a last-minute winner for the Red Devils against Bayern Munich to clinch not only the European title, but also the coveted Treble. 

The former forward was appointed caretaker manager of Man Utd following Jose Mourinho's dismissal from the club in the 2018-19 season, despite only having managed Norwegian side Molde at the top level.

So how many trophies has the ex-Norway international won as both manager and player? Goal takes a look.

How many trophies has Ole Gunnar Solskjaer won as manager?

The most prestigious honours that Solskjaer has won are during his time managing Molde, managing to win the Tippeligaen (the top of Norway's football league system) as well as the Norwegian Football Cup (the country's premier cup competition).

As manager of Manchester United Reserves, Solskjaer has also won the Lancashire Senior Cup and Manchester Senior Cup.

But Solskjaer has yet to win a major trophy as manager of Manchester United's senior team. The closest he has come to winning a trophy with the Old Trafford side is when he reached the Europa League final in 2020-21, but had to concede defeat to Villarreal after losing on penalties.

Villarreal won the shootout 11-10, after the game finished 1-1 in regular time.

*Not actually a trophy

How many trophies has Ole Gunnar Solskjaer won as player?

Solskjaer's trophy cabinet from his playing career is fully stacked, having won six Premier League titles with Manchester United (including winning the Treble in 1998-99, consisting of the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup).

He has also lifted the Community Shield with Manchester United on two occasions, in 1996 and 2003.

The 2021-22 Carabao Cup is underway with the Premier League clubs having entered the competition.

The tournament is now heading towards the quarter-final stage, with excitement now ramping up about who could be crowned winner of the League Cup.

Goal has everything you need to know about when the quarter-final draw for the Carabao Cup is, how to watch it, what teams are involved and more.

When is the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw?

The Carabao Cup quarter-final draw will take place during Soccer AM on Saturday October 30, with hosts Jimmy Bullard and John Fendley conducting the draw.

No exact time has been set for draw proceedings, but it will happen during the show's broadcast between 10:30am – 12pm BST.

How to watch or live stream the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw

The Carabao Cup quarter-final draw will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.

It will also be available to watch, free of charge on the Sky Sports YouTube channel.

The official Carabao Cup Twitter account will also be sharing updates as and when the draw happens live. You can also follow all the draw proceedings on the Goal Twitter account.

Which teams are in the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw?

The final set of Carabao Cup fourth-round matches will take place on October 27.

The quarter-final stage will begin the week commencing December 20, 2021.

In the third round, Manchester City registered an emphatic 6-1 win over Wycombe Wanderers to progress to the next round of the competition, while other Premier League sides such as Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal also managed wins.

West Ham pulled an upset with their 1-0 victory over Manchester United, Manuel Lanzini's ninth-minute goal sending the Red Devils crashing out of the competition.

Championship side QPR, additionally, got the better of Premiership team Everton, while Brentford managed a resounding 7-0 win over Charlton Athletic.

The fourth round consists of a handful of all-Premier League match-ups, with Chelsea vs Southampton, Arsenal vs Leeds, West Ham vs Manchester City, Leicester vs Brighton and Burnley vs Tottenham all on the cards.

Simeon Nwankwo played a significant role having bagged an assist as Salernitana recorded a 2-1 away win over Venezia in Tuesday’s Serie A outing.

With the scores tied at 1-1, the Nigeria international – who came on for Federico Bonazzoli in the 76th minute – set up Andrea Schiavone for a last-gasp winner.

Still fresh from their 4-2 home defeat to Empoli last time out, the Garnets travelled to Venice to square up against their relegation-threatened hosts.

The hosts began the game on an impressive note, dominating ball possession while the visitors preferred to sit back in their own half while relying on counter-attacks.

Fuelled by their dominance, Paolo Zanetti’s men took the lead in the 14th minute through Mattia Aramu, who beat goalkeeper Vid Belec from close range after he was teed up by Cristian Molinaro.

The Winged Lions continued to push for more goals in their bid double their advantage, but their profligacy in front of goal cost them dearly.

For Salernitana, they stepped up their game in the second half to restore parity through Italian forward Federico Bonazzoli a minute after the hour mark, with Franck Ribery supplying the assist.

Venezia’s ambition of winning suffered a massive setback as Chelsea loanee Ethan Ampadu was given his marching orders for a second caution.

Lifted by their hosts’ numerical disadvantage, Stefano Colantuono’s side regained their confidence and attacked in numbers as they aimed to pick up all three points.

That paid off with almost the last kick of the keenly contested tie as Nwankwo set up Schiavone to slot the ball past goalkeeper Sergio Romero, to the anguish of the home fans.

Salernitana have now picked up their first three away points of the ongoing campaign as a result of this triumph.

Joel Obi was handed a starter’s role but he was subbed off for Tunisia’s Wajdi Kechrida in the 76th minute, while Mali's Lassana Coulibaly and Cote d'Ivoire's Cedric Gondo played no role in the clash.

Even at the result, the Stadio Arechi giants occupy the 19th spot on the log having accrued seven points from ten matches played so far.

Gor Mahia assistant coach Sammy Omollo believes drawing Congolese outfit As Otoho in the Caf Confederation Cup is a fair result for the club.

After the draw conducted on Tuesday afternoon, the Kenyan heavyweights will have to get past the Central Africans in the playoff round to get into the group stage of Africa's second-tier competition.

Otoho dropped out of the Champions League owing to a 4-2 aggregate loss to Petro Atletico of Angola in the first round.

After being held to a 2-2 draw at home, they fell 2-0 away and dropped down. They are not new to the Caf CC having reached the group stage in the 2018/19 season.

'A fair draw to Gor Mahia'

"This is a fair draw for us because first, they are not a super power name in Africa, and in general Congo and Democratic Republic of Congo teams have been, recently, struggling," Omollo told Goal on Tuesday.

"So I believe it is a fair pairing for us, we cannot complain. We are also starting away, meaning we have an advantage.

"There is enough time for us to prepare; we will watch their videos, try to analyse them, we know their strong and weak points so that it will be easier for us to know what to do when we meet them."

Will new players feature?

The tactician has further commented on the possibility of involving new players in the fixture.

"It is quite unfortunate that we will not be able to use new players unless we qualify to the group stage," Omollo continued.

"We have no option but to work with the available 17 players. It is a thin squad, but of course, there is quality which I believe will be enough to give us what we need to advance.

"Lest we forget, these are the same players who helped us defeat Al-Ahly Merowe in the initial round. They will also help us make it to the next stage of the competition."

The first leg will be on the weekend of November 28 with the second leg taking place a week later.

Jamie Vardy will score the most goals for Leicester City in the 2021-22 campaign and not Kelechi Iheanacho or Patson Daka, according to a large portion of Goal readers.

The three strikers are key members of Brendan Rodgers’ squad, and they are expected to get the goals in the Foxes’ bid to challenge for silverware in the ongoing term.

Interestingly, they were part of the Leicester squad that silenced Brentford 2-1 on Sunday, however, none of them found the net against the Bees.

As the season continues to progress, we asked our readers who among Vardy, Iheanacho or Daka will emerge as the King Power Stadium giants’ top scorer.

In a poll conducted on the Goal Africa Twitter handle, a massive 49.7 per cent of total votes believes former England international will score the most goals for Rodgers’ squad.

This is understandable as the 34-year-old is currently the club's leading marksman having scored seven goals so far, coming from nine Premier League matches.

Elsewhere, 26.7 per cent pitched their tents with former RB Salzburg star Daka. Despite struggling for regular playing time, the Zambia international has scored five times so far.

Four of those goals came in their 4-3 triumph over Spartak Moscow in the Europa League.

In the process, he became the first Foxes player to score at least three goals in a single match for the club in a European competition since Derek Hines (vs. Aston Villa in November 1958).

At the bottom of the rating is Nigeria international Iheanacho, who had 23.6 per cent of the votes.

The former Manchester City golden boy is yet to replicate his terrific form from the 2020-21 season, when he helped the East Midlands outfit lift the FA Cup.

If the votes garnered by the Super Eagle is anything to go by, the Nigerian can be adjudged to be of lesser importance to the scheme of things at Leicester City at the moment.

The trio are expected to be in action when Rodgers’ team square up against Brighton and Hove Albion in Wednesday’s League Cup outing. Three days later, they host Arsenal in a Premier League encounter.

Tom Brady, Clint Dempsey and Sam Mewis are among those that have paid tribute to Carli Lloyd as the U.S. women's national team star prepares to play her final game.

Lloyd will take the field for the final time on Tuesday night as the U.S. take on South Korea at Allianz Field.

The match will be Lloyd's 316th and final cap as she ends one of the most legendary international careers in the sport's history.

Tributes to Lloyd

Among those to pay tribute to the 39-year-old star are several of her USWNT teammates, including Samantha Mewis, Tobin Heath and Lindsey Horan.

Current U.S. men's national team star Brenden Aaronson, who like Lloyd grew up in New Jersey, also expressed his admiration, as did USMNT legend Clint Dempsey, who invited Lloyd to join him for a hunting, fishing or golf trip.

Joining the chorus of praise from soccer stars was a video message from legendary NFL star Tom Brady, who marveled at Lloyd's achievements throughout her professional career.

Lloyd's legendary career

When she steps off the field on Tuesday, Lloyd will bring an end to a career that is matched by few in international soccer.

Lloyd is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, a two-time Women's World Cup champion and a two-time FIFA Player of the Year.

Her performance in the 2015 Women's World Cup finale, a 5-2 win over Japan, etched her into the tournament's lore forever as she became the first woman and the second soccer player ever to score a hat-trick in any senior World Cup Final after Geoff Hurst. 

In total, Lloyd has scored 134 goals across her 315 career appearances for the USWNT while also serving as a leading face of the NWSL for years.

Further reading

Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Josta Dladla thinks it was “always going to be difficult” for Amakhosi following the return of coach Stuart Baxter and new players.

Baxter's second stint coincided with the end of Chiefs’ Fifa transfer ban, which the club had endured for two transfer windows, and the Briton wasted no time to sign nine new players but results were slow to come.

While some off-season arrivals like Keagan Dolly, Sifiso Hlanti and Phathutshedzo Nange are enjoying some regular game time, but that's had a negative effect on players who featured under stand-in coach Arthur Zwane at the end of last campaign.

That means the likes of Happy Mashiane, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, Reeve Frosler and Kearyn Baccus are finding it tough after having some decent playing minutes last season, under both Zwane and Gavin Hunt.

“Coach Baxter and Zwane’s philosophies were totally different. You saw a lot of youngsters Zwane was playing,” Dladla told Goal.

“Now they are not playing after coach Baxter took over. Obviously, you are going to see unhappy faces that are sitting out there.

"They were used to playing but this coach comes and they are not playing.

“And those who are playing would want to prove to the coach that he made the right decision but obviously the results were not going well for him.

"But football is always like that, you can lose a game today but tomorrow you have a chance to come back and redeem yourself.

“With Kaizer Chiefs, it was always going to be difficult for them. They got a lot of new players coming in, big players and some of them coming from overseas.”

Centre-back Daniel Cardoso also recently fell down the pecking order, together with Ramahlwe Mphahlele, as Baxter prefers Austin Dube and Njabulo Ngcobo instead.

Dladla believes the coach is yet to get it right with the new players and it will take time for them to adapt to his playing methods.

“Now you have a new coach who is also trying to bring his philosophy to the players," continued Dladla. 

“The players have to believe in what they get from the coach that it is going to work for them. So the players have to get used to the coach, the coach has to get used to the players.

“So it was always going to take time to get used to each other. The coach has to see who he trusts the most, who has to go out there and fight for him.

"It is only a few players who hit the ground running but with Chiefs, as you see they bought a lot of players, they were going to take time to get used to Baxter’s philosophy.”

After going for four games without winning, Chiefs managed to pick up three points in each of their last two games and now face a stern test to replicate that when they host Stellenbosch on November 2.

Knowing someone who’s a football fan is a blessing, as there are tonnes of gift options related to the sport just waiting to be given. Though when there is so much out there, trawling through the internet for the perfect gift can feel like a sport in itself. 

As far as 2021 has gone for Manchester United, things could be worse. Finishing second in the Premier League and being runners up in the Europa League make a hearty tonic for the way things have been turning south this Autumn. If things continue the way they are, that Manchester United fan in your life might be needing a bit of consolation in the way of gifts. 

There are hot off the press autobiographies to entertain and inspire, 3D puzzles with thousands of pieces for rainy days, and as always the humble mug to house soothing cuppas.

So whether you’re looking for a Christmas present for your dad, a birthday gift for your son or daughter, or maybe even a treat for yourself, here are the 27 best gifts currently available for Manchester United fans.

£10.00 or under

When it comes to Christmas gifts, you can’t go wrong with a good old fashioned mug. Perfect for all lovers of tea, coffee and hot chocolate these gifts are a way of expressing your love, your pride or your fan status in a useful way that will bring a smile to their face all year round.

Get it from FOCO for £7.50 (tub mug), £6.00 (number one fan) and £9.00 (number one dad)

Make bathtime a little bit more United with this fun red rubber duck. Equally enjoyable for kids in a bubble bath to play around with or as a floating companion during a grown-up soak. Plus, at £6.00 it’s a great shout for a Secret Santa gift for a Manchester United fan.

Get it from FOCO for £6.00

Charitable hero Marcus Rashford wrote this motivational book that’s being lauded as a self-help book for kids aged 10-14 to help young readers gain confidence, use their voice for good and reach their full potential. According to parents, even reluctant readers enjoy it.

Get it from Amazon for £4.99

The latest craze in fidget toys has a ringleader, and that is pop-its. Pop-its replicate that ultra-satisfying feeling of popping bubble wrap, and the dimples push right back to the other side to start again. They’re great for kids who need a little extra help focusing, and these Push-Itz have the classic Manchester United logo printed on them. Trust us on this one, the little ones in your life will thank you for it. 

Get them from FOCO for £10.00

What do you get for the person who has everything? This limited edition Manchester United gift bar of Cadburys Dairy Milk chocolate that swaps classic purple for bold red is the perfect gift for fans of any age with a sweet tooth. 

Get it from Amazon for £6.00

Peter Schmeichel has won more Premier League titles than any other goalkeeper and has been described as one of the giants of the game. The Danish former shot-stopper’s autobiography was recently published with great reviews so is ideal for gifting.

Get it from Amazon for £10.00

Manchester United fans will love this metal Old Trafford street sign that can be easily affixed to a wall. It’s a big step up from a blue-tac cornered poster in maturity and a cool way of showing appreciation for your football club.

Get it from FOCO for £10.00

£25.00 or under

These incredible Manchester United custom beer mats are the brainchild of twin brothers at Boot and Ball. With graphically sophisticated retro designs, fans have their favourite players commemorated in traditional beer mat form that feels like art rather than a coaster.

Get them from Amazon for £14.95

Patrice Evra is known lately for having one of the sunniest dispositions in all of football and his smile-inducing internet presence. But in this soon to be published autobiography, Patrice Evra bears all in what is sure to be a best seller.

Get it from Amazon for £16.00

This beautiful book documenting the evolution of the matchday programme, from a simple teamsheet to the glossy pages of today’s magazine comes straight from Manchester United. With long-reads and an article from Sir Alex Ferguson, it makes a lovely nostalgic gift.

Get it from Amazon for £14.31

Not just reserved for summer, this hat makes a great addition to any matchday outfit. This bucket hats is the perfect gift for those Manchester United fans who are too cool for school.

Get it from adidas for £25.00

This top from the Adidas 3 Stripes collection is that perfect intersection of where football merchandise meets fashion. In a strong red, black and white colourway, any Manchester United fan would be happy to unwrap this t-shirt.

Get it from JD Sports for £25.00

If you’d like to buy a Manchester United fan a piece of clothing, a football scarf is a great, one-size-fits-all accessory. Perfect for keeping warm on chilly match days whether watched at home with a cup of tea, at the pub with a pint or finally back at the football ground with a pie.

Get it from JD Sports for £12.00

This soft knitted hat makes a great gift for Manchester fans who want to show off their club pride in the colder months when a coat is non-negotiable and replica shirts are out of the question. This red hat from New Balance has the Manchester United crest embroidered into the front.

Get it from JD Sports for £13.00

These ceramic stoneware egg cups make having a hearty breakfast on match day an eggcellent choice. They have been dipped in Red Devil red and black, have a cool paint-splattered design and make a great and useful gift for any age.

Get them from FOCO for £12.00

These super cosy fleece-lined suede moccasin slippers are the perfect gift for Manchester United fans who like to put their feet up when watching football on TV. Plus, those mornings are only getting colder and these will help to take the chill off the air in style.

Get them from FOCO for £22.00

This quirky hand-painted Manchester United gnome in its dressing gown holding a cuppa is a lovely gift for those fans who like to display little nick-nacks around the house and garden to remind them of happy memories. 

Get it from FOCO for £20.00

This high-quality wooden jigsaw puzzle will withstand being put together and apart lots of times. The thick pieces are perfect for little helping hands if you can bear to share the fun.

Get it from FOCO for £25.00

Know someone who hates touching things like elevator buttons or punching in their pin at ATMs? These nifty “no-touch” keyrings are designed to do all the nasty work for you, so you can press the button at traffic lights without having to immediately whack out the hand gel. They’re covered in Manchester United branding, though you just might want to keep one for yourself.

Get them from FOCO for £15.00

It wouldn’t be a 2021 present if there wasn’t some small reference to all of the crazy changes that have happened in our lives. This 3 pack of Manchester United face coverings is great for those who like to show personality on their face masks.

Get them from FOCO for £20.00

No budget

This knitted Manchester United Christmas jumper will have kids the envy of their classmates with its patchwork style variety of Fair Isle festive patterns. The Manchester United crest is knitted in a few places with the traditional red, white and black colourway throughout.

Get it from FOCO for £30.00

These Quick Cut palm-sized electronic clippers from Remington makes the perfect gift for those whose hair never seems to stop growing. Equipped with enough guards for both trims and full haircuts, it also comes with a gold printed barber cape.

Get them from Amazon for £39.99

This 3 Stripes zip-up jacket from Adidas is perfect for those who like to keep up that classic Madchester fashion vibe. It’s great for popping over your work clothes to watch the football at the pub or gracing the stands at Old Trafford.

Get it from JD Sports for £55.00

This A3 sized book is filled with full-colour newspaper pages heralding Manchester United’s most iconic moments dating over 100 years. It makes for a really thoughtful gift that can be personalised with a nice label on the inside page at a later date.

Get it from Amazon for £29.74

This modern Manchester United backpack is made in an eye-catching Red Devil red and has a flat top so there’s more room for big documents, books and laptops. It’s the perfect gift for those who need to carry a lot of things every day.

Get it from JD Sports for £35.00

This third jersey is ideal for those who want a new Manchester United shirt but already have one in a classic red and want some variety. The deep blue ‘M’ chevron design is directly inspired by the 90s and pays homage to the away kits that saw the Class of 92 cut their teeth.

Get it from Adidas for £65.00

This BRXLZ mini version of Old Trafford will keep Manchester United fans young and old occupied for hours fitting together all the puzzle pieces. There are approximately 3246 pieces included which when put together create a lovely and quirky Manchester United memento.

Get it from FOCO for £60.00 

Gilbert Selebwa believes the Kenya national teams and clubs are struggling in their continental assignments since present-day players are not passionate about their teams and it is all about business.

The Harambee Stars have been struggling for positive results and have not won any of their last four competitive matches.

The most recent of those were back-to-back matches against Mali in the World Cup qualifiers, where they lost 5-0 away before falling by a solitary goal at home to crash out of contention.

The continental club involvement in the country was in the Caf Champions League where Football Kenya Federation Premier League champions Tusker FC fell to Egyptian giants 5-0 on aggregate to be demoted to the Confederation Cup.

No Kenya team has ever made it past the first round of the Champions League. Currently, both Gor Mahia - who won the FKF Shield Cup, and the Brewers are in the playoff round of the Confederation Cup.

Why are Kenya teams struggling?

"Before, players used to take pride in donning the club jerseys and national teams," Selebwa told Goal on Tuesday. 

"Teams would retain the same set of players for more than four seasons. But today, if you win the league and overhaul the team, how will you be successful? They were passionate, however, today it's all about business."

Who will Tusker, Gor Mahia play in Caf CC?

Meanwhile, K'Ogalo eliminated Al-Ahly Merowe of Sudan in the first round of the competition. After winning the initial meeting 3-1 away, the Kenyan heavyweights got a walkover in the second leg after the opponents failed to turn up.

Mark Harrison's charges will now play Congolese outfit As Otoho for a place in the group stage. The latter dropped out of the Champions League owing to a 4-2 aggregate loss to Petro Atletico of Angola.

After being held to a 2-2 draw at home, they fell 2-0 away and dropped down. They are not new to the Caf CC having reached the group stage in the 2018/19 season.

For the Brewers, it will be a tough assignment against the North African side CS Sfaxien.

The Tunisian side enjoyed a 5-0 aggregate win over Nigeria's Bayelsa United and booked themselves a slot in the competition's next phase.

Ghana have launched a protest with Fifa over Ethiopia’s decision to host their 2022 World Cup qualifying matchday five fixture in South Africa.

Second in qualifying Group G ahead of the last two rounds of matches, the Black Stars, as things stand, are set for a second game in South Africa in two months as Ethiopia, whose original home ground of Bahir Dar Stadium has been banned from hosting anymore international games, have chosen to host their penultimate round clash with the Black Stars at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on November 11.

In a fierce race with group leaders South Africa, who sit only one point ahead of Ghana, the West Africans have expressed concerns about the appropriateness of the Walias’ chosen venue, considering it stands to possibly benefit Bafana Bafana, who have a strong interest in the game ahead of their final matchday decider in Ghana three days later.

“Following Ethiopia Football Association request to have their World Cup qualifier against Ghana in South Africa, the Ghana Football Association last Friday wrote to the world's football governing body to ensure that there is fair play in the last two matches,” the GFA announced on its official website on Tuesday.

“Ghana and South Africa are separated by one point leading to the last two World Cup group matches. It is therefore shocking that the Ethiopia Football Association will seek to take their home match against Ghana to South Africa.

“The Ghana Football Association has indicated to Fifa that the sporting integrity of the World Cup matches must not be compromised and must ensure that fairness prevail in the remaining two group matches.”

A positive result for Ghana against Ethiopia could set things up for a final day showdown with South Africa.

Only the group winners qualify from the group to the third and final round.

“The GFA is of the view that it is wrong for a game of this magnitude to be played in a country which is in the same group and in contention for the top spot and urge Caf and Fifa to ensure that fair play is practiced to the latter in this matter,” the GFA added.

“The Ghana Football Association will continue to engage Fifa/Caf to ensure that the right thing is done so that the competitive nature of the qualifiers is maintained.

“Finally, due to the complexity surrounding this match, Fifa/Caf have been urged to confirm as soon as possible the venue of the match to enable us to plan our logistics especially player call ups and visa acquisition for the players who are scattered across the world.”

Ghana seek a return to the World Cup after missing out of the 2018 edition in Russia, while South Africa have not competed on the world stage since 2010 at home.

Football, being a game of tight margins, is unsurprisingly full of sliding doors moments.

This is true both on a micro level, where individual matches can be decided on seemingly innocuous moments, and on a macro level, where decisions off the field can come to have world-changing consequences in the medium to long term.

Against Watford, Mohamed Salah scored the goal that took him level with Chelsea legend Didier Drogba as the highest goal scorer of African extraction in Premier League history. For his 104th, the 29-year-old produced a moment of devilry that is increasingly becoming a calling card, bamboozling Watford’s defence with his whirring feet before cutting back onto his left and curling a finish inside the far corner.

“In this moment it is clear that there is no one better than him,” manager Jurgen Klopp gushed afterward. Salah’s celebration, his arms raised aloft and a cheeky grin on his face, suggested he agreed with the sentiment.

Since then, of course, Salah took his game to new heights - eviscerating Manchester United with a solo masterclass in which he netted a hat-trick to eclipse the Chelsea great and establish himself as Africa's all-time top scorer.

It could all have been so different, of course.

Liverpool had been admirers of the Egypt international during his time in Switzerland with FC Basel, but it was London club Chelsea who won the race for Salah’s signature in January of 2014. Scoring in both meetings against the Blues during that season’s Champions League Group Stage had made a strong enough impression, but at the time he was renowned more for his searing speed than his goal return.

He would go on to spend just one year at Stamford Bridge before departing on loan, first to Fiorentina and then to Roma. It was over the course of his 18 months in Italy that Salah seemed to unlock a new level of unprecedented ability in front of goal, before morphing into the goalscoring phenomenon he now is in Liverpool colours.

Considering what has followed, as well as the fact that, in all, Chelsea let him depart for a relatively modest total of €20million, it is tempting to wonder if the Blues did not make the wrong call.

It was hardly a crippling decision, especially as the club have provided a home for a slew of great players in the interim and won their fair share of important trophies. However, the idea that Salah could have hit these same heights and surpassed Drogba while in blue is a chastening one.

It is also, however, a little simplistic.

When the Egyptian moved to London, Chelsea were under the guidance of Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese manager would go on to win the league title the following season, but was at the time overseeing a very inconsistent campaign, defined by stuttering form and jarring halts in momentum that ultimately saw them finish in third place in the Premier League.

By many accounts, Mourinho and Salah just never hit it off, despite the forward applying himself well in training.

As former Chelsea Loan Technical Director Eddie Newton recounted, it “wasn’t about talent. It was a personality clash. I just didn’t think it was working at the time.”

Goal’s Chelsea correspondent Nizaar Kinsella shares a similar view: “at the heart of it was a difference of agreement with Jose Mourinho, who had a lot of power at the club at the time.”

Drogba, who returned to the club for the 2014/15 season, put Salah’s lack of involvement down to the plethora of options available in his position: “Mo wasn’t playing much. It was difficult. There was a lot of competition for places.”

Whatever the case, Salah was simply unable to force his way into the team at any point.

When he did get opportunities, however, the performances did not always justify them. In October 2014, despite beating lower league Shrewsbury Town in the League Cup, Mourinho singled out Salah for criticism, stating the Egyptian’s performance had failed to sow selection doubts in his mind.

If the feedback was intended to provoke, it did not have the desired effect: when Chelsea threw away a two-goal lead and crashed out of the FA Cup at home to Bradford the following January, Salah was once more underwhelming.

This was arguably the performance that convinced the club hierarchy there was little to lose letting him leave. “Without the trust of the manager, he had some poor games,” says Kinsella. “There was also a host of other talents, from Juan Mata, to Oscar, to Willian and Hazard so Chelsea were working out which ones to keep and who to sell.

"Ultimately, Chelsea knew they were letting go a very good player but not necessarily a world-class talent.”

It is a judgment that, while justifiable, has since been proven wrong. However, what if the club had kept the faith?

Well, in Drogba’s view, it was important that they didn’t. “In football, it is straightforward, the more you play, the better you become,” he explained. “The more you can understand the game, the more you can read the game and become confident.”

Sticking around without a run of minutes would almost certainly have been detrimental to Salah’s development.

As it happens, Mourinho departed the Chelsea post midway through the 2015/16 season and was replaced by Guus Hiddink, who steadied the ship until the end of a disastrous season. While all that upheaval was going on, Salah had begun his assault on Serie A, taking the first steps toward what has proven to be a successful Premier League career.

One can only wonder what might have been had Salah still been at the club when Antonio Conte arrived in 2016.

It is easy to imagine he would have made a fine deputy for Pedro on the right of the front three in the Italian’s title-winning 3-4-3, and would ultimately have forced his way into the starting lineup at some point toward the end of that season.

That, however, is an optimistic prognosis in the utmost.

Chelsea contemporary Andre Schurrle is the ultimate counterpoint: prolonged exposure to Mourinho ultimately scarred the German psychologically and, by his own admission, completely eroded his confidence and self-esteem.

It’s that idea of the sliding doors moment again: in getting out when he did (albeit by no design of his own), Salah found the confidence and belief he needed to show he was indeed world class. Indeed, it could all have been so different, but not necessarily in a good way.

Liverpool assistant Pep Ljinders has compared their Mohamed Salah-led attack to "velociraptors in Jurassic Park" after seeing them maul Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The Reds moved back up to second in the Premier League table with a stunning 5-0 victory over United on Sunday, which saw Salah take home the match ball after netting a hat-trick.

Naby Keita and Diogo Jota also got in on the act as Jurgen Klopp's side laid down an early marker in the title race, and Lijnders has been left in awe by their clinical edge in the final third.

What's been said?

Asked how Liverpool have become such an effective attacking outfit this season, Klopp's No.2 told a press conference: "We're shooting from everywhere! But no, I think it has a lot to do with how the team is playing so you can never judge scoring from just how we move the ball from the back, it's the whole package that creates.

"Our front players constantly get into good positions to score and then the quality of our front three, we said they looked like velociraptors in Jurassic Park and they go for it.

"They are lethal and that is what we want, of course. So if you score in the right moments, these games against Manchester United are a great example of what can happen as well."

Lijnders went on to insist that the Reds' recent success is not the result of a change of approach on the training ground, with the squad simply considered to be in better shape than last term after a longer summer break.

"Did we change anything [in the summer]? No. We always just want to improve," he added. "Sometimes proving it is just going back to basics and that is what we did in the summer.

"Also, top players - and we have a few, I think - need a break after some emotional periods, a lot of finals, a lot of intense seasons.

"It's good for them to have a break because if you want to be consistent, you have to respect recovery and the process of recovery and that is not only between the games but the seasons. Long may it continue!"

Keita fitness update

Lijnders, who was speaking ahead of Liverpool's Carabao Cup round-of-16 tie against Preston in midweek, also provided an update on the fitness of Naby Keita following his injury-enforced withdrawal against United.

The midfielder had to be stretchered off the pitch after a challenge from Paul Pogba, who was shown a red card, but Lijnders says the issue is not as serious as initially feared.

"It was a bad tackle, but luckily Naby's foot was not on the ground," he said. "It's just a bruise, it could have been much worse if his foot was in the grass. We'll take it day by day, but a bruise is painful of course."

Further reading

Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster says he was convinced that Mohamed Salah is a top professional after a conversation the duo had at full-time following Liverpool's 5-0 win at Vicarage Road.

Salah scored an incredible goal as his side smashed Foster's team in the Premier League clash on October 16.

But the goalkeeper was most impressed by a question the Egypt star asked him after the final whistle, which made a huge impression on Foster.

What did Salah say?

Foster told the story in his video blog, The Cycling GK, of Salah enquiring about which direction he would have gone had the Liverpool star stepped up to take a penalty. 

The former Manchester United goalkeeper said: "The bit I want to talk about, in particular, is the bit about Mo Salah. About what he said to me at full-time that made me think: 'Oh my gosh, you are so professional, so driven. You want to be the best you can possibly be'.

"They've just won the game 5-0, Mo Salah scored one goal in the game. He came up to me at full-time and he's got his hand over his mouth a little bit because he didn't want the cameras to catch it. But he's come up and he's gone: 'Ben, Ben'. I've gone like: 'Okay, yeah?' And he's gone like: 'If I'd got a penalty, which way would you have dived?'

"Now, as soon as he said that, I thought: 'Oh, you clever, clever boy'. Because we do our research. All the goalkeepers do their research on strikers and will try and find out where their last four, five or 10 penalties might have gone, for example. And Mo Salah, his last five penalties have gone to the keeper's right.

"So I've looked at him and gone: 'I'd have dived to my right because you put your last five penalties to the right'. And a big smile came up on his face, a big grin, and he went: 'Yeah, thank you. I need to know'.

"So, not content with winning the game 5-0 and scoring a goal, being man of the match and scoring an unbelievable goal. He has to know the tiny, little details about in his next game, if he gets that penalty, which way he should put it. That, for me, is why Mo Salah is at the top. He is the top."

How has Salah performed this season?

After that game, Salah went on to deliver a masterclass performance against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

He struck three times as the Reds secured another 5-0 victory to stretch their unbeaten run to 17 games in all competitions.

The 29-year-old now has 15 goals from 12 matches in all competitions this season.

His goals against United saw him become the highest-scoring African player in Premier League history and he is the first ever Reds star to score in three consecutive matches at Old Trafford.

Plus, he has now scored in 10 straight appearances in all competitions for Jurgen Klopp's team. 

Further reading

World governing body Fifa has sent three officials to Kenya just a week after the Cabinet Secretary for Sports Amina Mohamed ordered a thorough audit of the Football Kenya Federation accounts.

The three officials, from the Fifa governance department, will jet in on Tuesday and a source privy to the visit has told Goal they will stay in the country for three days.

The source further confirmed to Goal  that Fifa are not happy with the decision by the government to audit the accounts of the federation and they have asked the federation not to give out their Fifa accounts.

'Fifa unhappy with audit orders'

“It is true Fifa has sent three officials into the country and they will be here for at least three days, they are coming to follow up the issue of FKF accounts being audited and they are simply not happy the government is asking for the same,” the source told Goal on Tuesday.

“The main reason Fifa are irritated is that they always audit FKF accounts and they have never seen anything wrong with the accounts, they are the ones who give FKF money and they do a yearly audit, so Fifa is not ready to see someone else audit the account for FKF.”

The visit by Fifa was pre-planned

When reached for comment, FKF CEO Barry Otieno confirmed to Goal  a delegation of three officials from Fifa will arrive in the country on Tuesday but denied reports they are coming in because of the government orders to audit their accounts.

“It is true we have a Fifa delegation coming into the country today [Tuesday] for a three-day Fifa mission,” Otieno told Goal .

“The visit was pre-planned and has not been occasioned by the recent directive by the Ministry of Sports to inspect the federation.”

Meanwhile, Goal has also been informed FKF has received a letter signed from the Sports Registrar requesting they furnish them with a number of items so they can commence the audit exercise.

The letter received on Monday is asking the federation to provide 34 items, among them, contracts of all the players and coaches in the FKF Premier League, FKF financial statements from 2014, and Fifa accounts.

'Fifa should meet all stakeholders'

Elsewhere, former FKF President Sam Nyamweya has called on the visiting Fifa officials to make sure they meet all stakeholders before ending their tour of the country.

“On behalf of all football stakeholders, I want to request the visiting Fifa officials to make sure they hold a meeting with everyone involved in Kenyan football, they should make sure they meet the government, meet clubs and all stakeholders and even the Sports Registrar,” Nyamweya told Goal .

“The current situation of Kenyan football is very bad, the situation is very grave, they [Fifa] should move fast and help the situation by meeting everyone, to help balance and improve the situation.”

Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has welcomed the new “Kings on the block” in Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, among the most successful African finishers in Premier League history.

This is after Liverpool forward Salah surpassed Drogba's 104 goals in the top-flight.

The 29-year-old Egypt international became the top-scoring African player in Premier League history after notching a hat-trick in the 5-0 demolition of Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Heading into the fixture, Salah and Drogba were tied on 104 goals but the Liverpool forward turned on the screw to score three and reach a new tally of 107 goals.

His first goal came in the 38th minute which meant he had already overtaken the former Ivory Coast captain but he did not stop there as he scored two more goals in the 45th and 50th minutes.

With the record confirmed, Drogba had taken to his social media pages to welcome Salah as one of the new kings on the block.

“The new Kings on the block,” the 43-year-old wrote accompanied with a picture of him, Salah, and Senegal international Sadio Mane, who has scored 100 Premier League goals.

Salah first came to the Premier League from Basel and signed for Chelsea where he scored one goal in the top-flight as he didn't get the opportunity to prove himself.

Chelsea loaned him out to Fiorentina where gained confidence in a top European league. He then moved to Roma where he kept improving with his contribution to goals in Serie A. 

He returned to the Premier League by signing for Liverpool in 2017-18, where he's gone on to establish himself as one of the best goalscorers in the world.