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Lionel Messi could end up making a move to Inter Miami, says Gonzalo Higuain, with a current Argentine star in Florida admitting that David Beckham's ambitious MLS franchise want to sign the six-time Ballon d'Or winner.

A switch to the United States for an all-time great has been speculated on for some time, with a man who left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain over the summer hinting that an American adventure may appeal to him.

Higuain, who is a former international team-mate of Messi's, is reluctant to be drawn on whether a deal will be done, but he acknowledges that Beckham and Co would like to get a modern-day superstar onto their books.

What has been said?

Higuain told ESPN of the Messi rumours: "I don't want to get in trouble, I don't know about Leo in Miami. 

"He signed for two years with PSG... The club wants it, we'll see."

Could Higuain play alongside Messi?

With Messi committing to PSG until at least the summer of 2023, there is little chance of him heading across the Atlantic any time soon.

If a move is to happen at some stage, though, then there would be an opportunity for him to be reunited with Higuain.

The 33-year-old former Real Madrid and Juventus frontman is, however, eager to point out that he will only be sticking around in Miami through to the end of the 2022 MLS season.

Higuain added on his own future plans: "With Inter Miami I have another year of contract, then I'll take a sabbatical, away from football and everything."

Would Higuain play for Argentina again?

While a club reunion with Messi is being ruled out, there could be a chance for Higuain to force his way back into the Argentina set-up.

He boasts 75 caps for his country, but walked away from international duty in March 2019 and has not figured for the Albiceleste since gracing the 2018 World Cup.

After seeing Messi inspire a memorable Copa America triumph this summer, Higuain was asked if he could be tempted to make a return.

He said: "I do not see the possibility of a return, there have been many years of wear and tear. My head was completely detached from the national team. 

"I am in another phase of my life, today my priority is family. I would not change the opportunity to see my daughter smile for anything in the world."

Further reading

Kaizer Chiefs attacking midfielder Keagan Dolly has explained what the forwards have been doing in order to improve their sharpness in front of goal.
 
In regulation time, the Glamour Boys have scored four goals across all competitions in five games and Dolly - who signed for the Soweto giants before the season began - has revealed what measures his partners have undertaken to improve their sharpness.

"The strikers have been remaining behind after normal training sessions just working on their confidence in front of goal. Every striker that goes on the field wants to score and they never want to go to the field and mess," Dolly told the club's media department.
 
"The goals would come once we make it a habit of training and scoring and that is what we have been doing, making sure that when we do go to the match, we are ready and confident.
 
"We take each game as it comes and now our focus is on the Royal AM. They are tough opposition, but I have always said there is no easy game and we know Royal AM and what we need to do is to stick to playing the football that we know. We need to take our training sessions into the match and once we do that we will come on top.
 
"We are creating chances, but we need to start converting them. You could see in the Baroka game that we created six or seven chances that we should have scored."

Amakhosi will host Royal AM on Saturday.

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers is unhappy with the sending off of his player Wilfred Ndidi in the 2-2 draw with Napoli on Thursday's Europa League assignment at King Power Stadium.

The Nigeria international was sent off late in the game after he was adjudged by Portuguese referee Tiago Martins that he had committed a second bookable offence, adding to the yellow card received early in the first half. 

But the decision did not go down well with the tactician who felt it was harsh and the referee was not great.

"I did not think the referee was very good. He was unfortunate and had done really well to get through the game to get to that point after the early yellow," Rodgers told the club's official portal.

"He is just trying to stop the attacker. It was a little bit harsh, I didn't think the first one was yellow. I did not think the referee was great."

On Thursday night, it was the Foxes who started on a high and Harvey Barnes assisted Ayoze Perez to find the back of the net after just nine minutes.

Zambia international Patson Daka thought he had doubled the advantage for the English side in the 59th minute but after VAR consultations, it was ruled out for offside. 

It mattered little as Barnes scored five minutes later after Nigeria striker Kelechi Iheanacho found him in the danger zone. 

Victor Osimhen pulled one back in the 69th minute for the Serie A heavyweights after converting a Fabian Ruiz pass, before completing his brace with three minutes to go.

The West African was in a good position and had no trouble converting a Matteo Politano cross. 

After sharing the spoils, the two teams are now joint second in Group B with a point each. Legia Warsaw, who defeated Spartak Moscow by a solitary goal, lead the pool.

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With so much technology out there like games consoles and TV shows, it can be hard to get kids into reading.

Reading is so important, it’s where children can learn empathy and about different cultures, it’s where dreams can be lived out between the pages and where they can learn how the top footballers become the best. 

These books have been proven to appeal to even the most reluctant of readers and are guaranteed to entertain any girl or boy who’s football crazy. From galactic football matches to inspiring refugee teams, there’s sure to be something kids, teens and grown-ups of all ages will enjoy.

Recommended reading age: Older children and teenagers

This recently published debut novel from the super striker Ian Wright was inspired by his own story. This uplifting follows 13-year-old Jerome Jackson who dreams of being a world-class footballer but struggles with his difficult home life.

Get it from Amazon for £9.59

Recommended reading age: 5-7 years

This beautifully illustrated board book teaches little ones lots about football including history and how to run a local club.

Get it from Amazon for £7.72

Recommended reading age: 12-15 years

Based on the adult bestseller, this true story has been specially adapted for young readers. It tells the story of the Fugees, a football team brought together by a young Jordanian immigrant who created a programme for kids from war-torn countries which inspired a community.

Get it from Amazon for £7.24

Recommended reading age: 10-14 years

Rashford’s charitable influence has helped feed hungry children up and down the country, and his goals have inspired many. He wrote this motivational book to help kids reach their full potential, use their voice for change and feel comfortable in their skin.

Get it from Amazon for £4.99

Recommended reading age: 7-12 years

Girls FC is a 12 book series about 12 friends who start an all-girls football team aka “the best football team in the world” after struggling to get the attention of the school coach. Each humorous book follows a different teammate’s unique story for a rollercoaster journey of friendship and football.

Get them from Amazon for £5.25

Recommended reading age: 12-17 years

Author Kwame Alexander is a poet who has written this novel about a football-obsessed 13-year-old boy entirely in verse. The story unfolds through an attention-grabbing medium that kids and especially reluctant readers love.

Get it from Amazon for £5.99

Recommended reading age: 12-16 years

Fictional South American journalist Paul Faustino sits down with three interesting characters during this series and takes the reader on a journey full of mystery and intrigue. They tackle subjects such as slavery and Amazonian environmentalism whilst doubling as a football-themed thriller for kids.

Get them from Amazon for £6.29

Recommended reading age: 8-12 years

Jaz Santos vs The World is the first in a new book series about a young girl’s self-made football team for fans of Jacqueline Wilson. It’s an awesome story of self-empowerment and belief that will get kids to dream bigger. The second book doesn’t come out until next year, so there’s still plenty of time to get reading.

Get it from Amazon for £4.99

Recommended reading age: 3-10 years

This football picture book has been charmingly illustrated by graphic artist Lawerta. It educates kids about 16 of the most important and iconic goals in football history. The fun rhymes are enjoyable for adults too and it makes for perfect bedtime reading.

Get it from Amazon for £6.99

Recommended reading age: 7-9 years

Does what it says on the tin, this is a book full of absolutely cheesy jokes that kids will love reading out loud. A highlight? “Q: Who's in goal when the ghost team plays football? A: The ghoulie, of course.”

Get it from Amazon for £4.99

Recommended reading age: 7-11 years

Fans of Horrible Histories will love these books that are filled with silly facts and trivia such as “When do footballers poo?” and “What is a vomitory?”. There are even chapters on maths, biology and geography. 

Get the boxset from Amazon for £12.34

Recommended reading age: 6-8 years

Legendary player Frank Lampard’s book series about a kid who wins a magic football at a carnival takes young readers all over the world. With adventures in ancient Rome, the Wild West and New York, New York to name but a few there is endless fun for kids with big imaginations. The paperbacks are about a fiver each or you can get all 20 in a boxset.

Get the first book on Amazon for £5.01 or the full collection for £22.49

Recommended reading age: 10-11 years (Year 6)

This football book is from the Pearl band range of the Collins Big Cat scheme. This is a mystery story where a little boy sees the football shirt he’s been saving up for pinned to a tree. The only problem is, it’s commemorating the death of a young boy. Ross takes it home with him anyway. The story teaches citizenship and plays with the idea of morality. 

Get it from Amazon for £7.50

Recommended reading age: 3-8 years

This picture storybook tells the story of an all-night galactic game of football with players from all over the galaxy. It teaches children the importance of inclusivity and acceptance when things don’t always go to plan. It’s the perfect imaginative bedtime story to send your little ones off into dreamland.

Get it from Amazon for £7.99

Recommended reading age: 8-12 years

This quirky, heartfelt and humorous book is told from the perspective of Pickles the dog who loves playing football with his two-legged best friend, Elsie. It’s inspired by two real stories and through the football fanatics, there is the story of a Dad trying his best to provide for his little family.

Get it from Amazon for £5.75

Recommended reading age: 8-12 years

Minutes before winning the schools’ cup final, protagonist Scott scores an own goal. After the match, a nasty message is written on the wall about him. It’s a funny story about friendship and acceptance and owning up to your mistakes. This book has a dyslexia-friendly layout.

Get it from Amazon for £5.94

Recommended reading age: 6-12 years

From the creators of quarterly football magazine Mundial comes this whopper of a book that is cool, charming and full of quirky information. Serving as a guide to all things football, kids and adults alike will have hours of fun poring over all the fun details and colourful illustrations.

Get it from Amazon for £12.55

Recommended reading age: 6-10 years

This book aims to get disinterested kids interested in maths by using football imaging and ideas instead of regular numbers. This workbook covers addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, but also has fun little non-math activities scattered throughout to keep the child’s attention.

Get it from Amazon for £6.99

Recommended reading age: 12+ years

This book is part of the Bloomsbury High/Low reading scheme which aims to create exciting and age-appropriate stories for readers of 12+ with dyslexia, with English as a second language or who struggle to read. This coming-of-age story follows a boy from a tower block as he joins a Premier League academy.

Get it from Amazon for £5.99

Recommended reading age: 9+

Freaks United is a hilarious book perfect for reluctant readers. The main characters try out for their school football team, only they don’t make it and are labelled “freaks”. Instead of wallowing, they decide to create Freaks United, a team for the kids who don’t get picked.

Get it from Amazon for £5.99

Recommended reading age: 8+

Adults may remember Roy of the Rovers from back in the day, but he’s had a makeover and is repackaged and revived for today’s kids. Roy Race is 16 years old with dreams of playing for Melchester Rovers, and he’s finally about to get his chance. Scouted is the first in a series of six illustrated novels.

Get the first book from Amazon for £5.94

Recommended reading age: 5+

There are many books in the Football Superstars collection, with even more on the way, each totaling 128 pages. They’re designed for fans of Tom Gates books and are jam-packed with information about specific players including the story of how they got to become a superstar.

Get them from Amazon for £5.25

Recommended reading age: 7-12 years

The Charlie Fry series is an epic saga about achieving your footballing dreams and overcoming adversity. 11-year-old protagonist Charlie Fry has Cystic Fibrosis but that doesn’t stop him from playing football. There are 7 books in this series including The Football Girl Wonder.

Get them from Amazon for £3.63

Recommended reading age: 8-12 years

These books are uber-popular, with over a million copies being sold. What they are is simple (unofficial) biographies aimed at children, so they read like a story that will entertain. There are so many of these out there with all the best football players of all time getting a feature.

A box set like this with 20 books saves a lot of money in the long run and will keep football fans occupied for ages.

Get the boxset from Amazon for £38.99

Chuba Akpom inspired PAOK Thessaloniki to a 2-0 win over Lincoln Red Imps in the Europa Conference League match played at Victoria Stadium on Thursday.

The Nigeria-eligible forward struck on the stroke of half-time to give his team the lead before Alexandru Ionut Mitrita scored the second after the break.

Akpom's first chance came in the 17th minute. He managed to get into the danger zone, went past two defenders before unleashing a fierce strike but straight to the goalkeeper.

The visitors looked stronger when on the attack but the defenders kept their discipline to ensure they do not concede. 

Another chance for the former Arsenal man came in the 36th minute when he raced clear but a last-ditch tackle by the defender saved the day for the hosts.

It looked like the two teams will go to the break without getting a goal, but in the second minute of added time, it changed. Lucas Taylor found Akpom who had no problem tapping in from close range.

The Greek outfit continued to push for another goal with Akpom coming close twice.

But it was his teammate who doubled the advantage in the 56th minute. The defenders failed to clear the ball in the danger zone and it fell to Ionut Mitrita who unleashed a fierce strike past the goalkeeper.

It was a goal that piled more pressure on the opponents and frustration was evident. Goalkeeper Lolo Soler had to be cautioned for alleged vulgar language that, on other occasions, would have seen him get a red card.

The custodian had to be alert to stop PAOK from getting a third goal in the 79th minute. Thomas Murg received a lofted pass in the area and looked set to hit the target, but Soler made a decent save to deny him.

It was the hosts who ended the game on a high. Joseph Chipolina beat his markers before unleashing a rocket, but with the goalkeeper well beaten, the ball crashed against the bar and bounced to safety.

PAOK are now second in Group F with maximum points, the same as leaders FC Copenhagen who have a superior goal difference after defeating Slovan Bratislava 3-1.

Victor Osimhen believes he has a lot to offer Napoli after his double enabled the Italian side to secure a 2-2 draw against Leicester City in a Europa League fixture on Thursday.

The 22-year-old Nigeria international came to the rescue of Napoli after he scored two second-half goals to earn his side a point from the Group C battle at King Power Stadium.

It was Leicester who took an early lead through Ayoze Perez and doubled their advantage on the hour mark through Harvey Barnes, but an improved second-half display saw the visitors level proceedings courtesy of Osimhen, who scored from a well-worked team goal before heading in the second after a cross from Matteo Politano.

Osimhen, who was doubtful for the opening game of their Europa League campaign, has praised the team’s effort for helping them to claw back and pick up an important point away.

“I’m happy and we played as a team, even when we went two goals down, we kept playing as a team,” Osimhen said as quoted by Sky Sport Italia.

“I don’t want to set an objective. The club always believed in me, starting with these two goals is certainly important and I want to continue like this.”

Though his debut campaign has been distracted by injuries and at one time Covid-19, the Super Eagle feels he has a lot to offer Napoli if he stays healthy.

“I have everything to give to Napoli, I want to stay healthy, avoid injuries and one step at a time we can together achieve our targets,” Osimhen continued.

Meanwhile, Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti praised his team for showing a strong character to earn the draw.

“The team started the right way, then lost the ball a few too many times building out from the back and those proved costly,” Spalletti told Sky Sport Italia.

“After that, we took the initiative throughout and it remained a perfectly balanced match. We reacted to conceding the second goal just as we were really pushing, and that was a risky situation because we could’ve let our heads drop.

“Instead, we pushed even harder and got it back on level terms, because it frankly would’ve been unjust if we had lost this game.

“We saw today that this team has a strong character, which had been a weakness in previous years. The team reacted really well.

“I want to compliment those who came off the bench because they proved their quality and it makes it easier for everyone because they are not fighting to take the place of another teammate but to play alongside him.”

Moise Kean was the man Juventus turned to after seeing Cristiano Ronaldo depart for Manchester United, but the 21-year-old says he does not "feel any pressure" filling the boots of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner in Turin.

The Bianconeri found themselves a striker light as the summer transfer window prepared to close, with the iconic Portuguese walking away from the final year of his contract as he headed back to Old Trafford.

Massimiliano Allegri has various other options at his disposal, including Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata, but Kean - who stepped out of the club's academy system in 2016 - was the man drafted in following Ronaldo's exit as a two-year loan deal was struck with Everton.

What has been said?

On being asked to help fill the void created by the departure of an all-time great, Kean told reporters: "I don’t feel any pressure in replacing Ronaldo.

"I just want to lend a hand to the team where I grew up and where I lived good times.

"I just want to play, I have no pressure, I just feel the responsibility of wearing the Juventus shirt."

He added: "I've always loved playing for this club. As soon as the opportunity arose, there was no doubt in my mind and I made the right choice. Juventus have always had a place in my heart.

"I'm very lucky to have experienced different leagues like the Premier League and Ligue 1 at my age. I've learnt a lot and now I'm ready to give my all for this team.

"I'm here to help the team. This is the club where I grew up and I have lots of great memories. I do feel a sense of responsibility in playing for Juve but it's not a burden.

"We have a young team with lots of experience. We haven't made the best of starts but Juventus always aim high and I'm sure we'll achieve great results.

"Allegri is a coach who always aims for the top and he's taught me lots of things. The Malmo game was good for morale. We're ready for our match against AC Milan on Sunday."

How many goals has Kean scored in his career?

Kean hit eight goals through 21 appearances for Juve during his first spell at the club, which included a loan stint at Hellas Verona in 2017-18.

He left for Everton in 2019, but struggled to make an impact in English football and has registered just four efforts for the Toffees in 39 outings.

A spark was found, though, during a loan spell at Paris Saint-Germain last season, with the target found on 17 occasions for the Ligue 1 giants.

He is now back in familiar surroundings and looking to prove his worth at Juve, with Kean also looking to add to his collection of 10 caps and four goals for Italy after missing out on a place in their triumphant Euro 2020 squad.

Further reading

Erling Haaland "laughed and walked off" after an international opponent asked to swap shirts with him, claims Gibraltar forward Reece Styche.

Styche claimed Haaland snubbed Gibraltar captain Roy Chipolina following their 2022 World Cup qualifier against Norway earlier this year - meaning none of the Gibraltar players asked him for his jersey when they faced off again earlier this month.

Hednesford Town striker Styche, who scored in Gibraltar's recent 5-1 defeat to Haaland's Norway, said the Borussia Dortmund striker lacked "class", despite his ability on the pitch.

What has been said?

The 32-year-old, who plays in the seventh tier of English football, told The Sun: "None of us wanted Haaland's shirt, so we snubbed him. Last March, our skipper Roy Chipolina asked for Haaland's shirt when we met in Gibraltar.

"Norway won 3-0 but Haaland never scored, was substituted after an hour and was in a bit of a mood.

"After they'd both done TV interviews, Roy said to him: 'My little boy's a massive fan of yours, do you mind swapping jerseys?' Haaland just looked at him, laughed and walked off! He can buy a lot of things - but he can't buy class - perhaps the media hype has gone to his head.

"He had the chance to make a little kid's day, month, year, whatever and he said no. So no-one wanted his shirt in Oslo. Maybe he kept it to mark his hat-trick or gave it to a Norwegian fan because it was their first home match with supporters after Covid."

Styche's big strike

Haaland netted a hat-trick in Norway's 5-1 win in Oslo on September 7 to move his country closer to qualifying for a first World Cup since 1998 - however it was Styche's goal for Gibraltar, currently 195th in the FIFA world rankings, which caught the eye.

The forward latched onto a loose ball and expertly clipped it over the keeper just before half-time to stun the home crowd - and Styche says the honour of playing for his country far surpasses any victories or major tournaments.

He said: "I don't need Haaland's top as a memento. My goal is down in history and I'll always have the memories stored in my head.

"I remember vividly looking at the screens after 34 minutes and saying out loud: 'Don't let this opportunity pass you by Reece.' Five minutes later Haaland made it 3-0, but four minutes after that our press won the ball back and I always knew I was going to dink the goalkeeper to score."

Further Reading

Nigeria international Ibrahim Sunusi came off the bench in the 78th minute to score and inspire CF Montreal to a 4-2 Major League Soccer win over Orlando City at the Exploria Stadium in Florida on Thursday.

It was a game that also saw the hosts see two red cards - Nani was sent off after two bookable offences in the 28th and 35th minute while Andreas Perea who given his marching orders with seven minutes to go and his team had to finish the game with nine men.

Montreal scored their first goal after 18 minutes when Rommel Quioto teed up Mathieu Choiniere. 

In the 37th minute, the provider turned scorer as he converted a Djordje Mihailovic pass in the danger zone to double the advantage.

Two minutes later, Kenya international Victor Mugubi Wanyama was yellow-carded after breaking down an attack from their hosts.

Despite being a man down, Orlando pulled a goal back in the 40th minute courtesy of Robin Jansson.

The first half whistle sounded with Montreal having an advantage but it would have been more if they took the numerous chances they created.

In the 63rd minute, the Lions pulled level when Ruan tapped in an Emmanuel Mas pass after a swift attack.

With Montreal looking for another goal, Wanyama was substituted in the 69th minute, with Ahmed Hamdi taking his place. Finland international Lassi Lappalainen was also introduced in place of Joaquin Torres.

The Fin made an impact 10 minutes later when he scored from a Quioto pass. The latter was having a good game and the Lions struggled to contain him.

It was a relief for them when he was eventually substituted for the West African teenager. The latter took two minutes to seal the win for his team with their fourth strike.

The win took Montreal to sixth position with 34 points from 24 matches. They have won nine, drew seven, and lost eight. Despite the loss, Orlando City remain third with four points more.

They have won 10 matches, drawn eight, and lost six.

Ander Herrera believes Kylian Mbappe can be convinced to sign a new contract at Paris Saint-Germain, with a summer transfer away from Parc des Princes never on the cards for the World Cup-winning forward.

Real Madrid did look into prising the 22-year-old away from PSG, with Goal confirming that a €220 million (£189m/$260m) offer was tabled as the last recruitment window ran down.

That was knocked back, with efforts being made in the French capital to tie a prized asset to fresh terms, and Herrera believes success in Ligue 1 and the Champions League this season will tempt the superstar frontman into staying.

What has been said?

Herrera told El Larguero when asked about the exit talk surrounding Mbappe and the chances of him staying put: "I had the intuition that he was going to stay. 

"What the club had always told us is that Mbappe was staying. I asked him two weeks before the market closed and he told me 'I am here'. Everything I saw in the press did not marry with what happened here. 

"What happens this season may affect Mbappe staying."

How has Messi settled?

Mbappe is now one of three iconic forwards on PSG's books, with the Frenchman lining up alongside Neymar and six-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi.

The legendary Argentine completed a stunning switch to Paris as a free agent once his Barcelona contract expired, with Herrera among those looking for the all-time great to provide further inspiration in 2021-22.

He said of Messi: "In football there are different types of leadership. There are those who talk a lot, a captain who encourages and then there are leaders who set an example. That is Leo.

"When he arrives in Paris and is the first to be in the gym, when he is not and takes the time to joke with others, that is an example of leadership. 

"Seeing that the best in the world does not cut any corners makes the younger ones say: If he is like this, we have to follow him."

Will Ramos make an impact?

Alongside Messi, PSG also snapped up another proven performer at the very highest level when acquiring former Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos.

The veteran Spanish defender is yet to make an appearance for the club, as he looks to shake off niggling injury problems, but Herrera is delighted to have a fellow countryman on board.

He said of another World Cup winner in Paris: "He has a crazy desire to play. He is a leader and a winner. 

"He has played 99 per cent of the games in his career and I don't want to burden him too much by asking more of him. We really want to see him with us.

"I am sure that when he comes back it won't go wrong again."

Further reading

Leicester City striker Patson Daka was left disappointed after his goal against Napoli in the Europa League was disallowed by VAR on Thursday night.

The 22-year-old Zambia international, who joined the Foxes from Red Bull Salzburg, was handed his full debut by manager Brendan Rodgers in the game at King Power Stadium, and he thought he had scored his first goal for the side in the 59th minute after Nigeria striker Kelechi Iheanacho and Youri Tielemans combined to set him up.

Daka then riffled the ball into the bottom corner but VAR interjected to rule the strike out for offside.

Leicester had taken the lead in the Group C fixture after Ayoze Perez scored in the ninth minute before Harvey Barnes made it 2-0 in the 64th minute, but a double from Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen in the 69th and 87th minutes ensured Napoli secured a 2-2 draw.

Daka has explained his disappointment at his effort being disallowed but said it will motivate him more to score in future assignments.

“I am disappointed [then he smiled], ahh, it was almost a dream come true for me, I was really ahh, [shaking his head], out of words, like I was lost in the moment, I was overwhelmed, I was happy and just immediately when I saw the referee waiting on VAR I just knew there was little chance for me to get the goal,” Daka told Leicester TV after the game.

“I didn’t know that I was offside, so I was waiting for him to start the game and just saw him waiting and I knew like something wasn’t right, I was really disappointed that I didn’t get my first goal for the club.

“It was a positive thing for me nevertheless, I think it was just unfortunate the goal didn’t count but it gives me a lot of confidence going forward because I still have a lot of opportunities to come and I know where the goal is.”

“It was a tough game and we knew it was going to be a tough game and I think it was really important for me personally to get some minutes and at the end of the day we are just disappointed we didn’t manage to get the three points,”

“It was really a beautiful goal from Ayoze [Perez], it was really a great team goal the atmosphere was really great, it was crazy, it was amazing, the fans came in numbers to push us, to give us the extra energy that we needed and it was just unlucky that the great start we had didn’t come out to be a good ending.

“We are not pleased with the outcome of the game but we have a lot of positives we can take from this game and take us to the next game on Sunday, we have got something to build on Sunday, and our performance today can be improved and collect maximum points.”

Leicester will turn their focus to the Premier League where they have an away game against Brighton & Hove Albion at Falmer Stadium on Sunday.

Turkish football tactician Engin Firat is leading the race to replace Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee as the next head coach for the Kenya national side, the Harambee Stars, Goal can reveal.

The position fell vacant after the former Tusker coach left after a mutual agreement with the Football Kenya Federation. Mulee had just led Kenya in two 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Uganda and Rwanda, where they managed to register two points from a 0-0 draw at home and a 1-1 draw in Kigali, respectively, in early September.

The former Moldova coach, 51, according to sources within the federation, is now leading the race in as far as the hunt for the next coach is concerned.

"He [Firat] is the top candidate to be appointed," said the source on Friday. "FKF is keen to have a foreigner at the Harambee Stars this time around and this idea is not influenced by how Francis Kimanzi and Mulee performed.

"Kimanzi and Mulee did exemplary jobs with our team but the idea, considering the assignments ahead, is to have a coach with maybe a different aspect of the experience to lead the Harambee Stars."

"The federation is keen to have a coach who would come and continue with the culture set by Kimanzi and Mulee, where mostly local players who were performing well were considered.

"This does not mean the federation will set the course for the new coach, but everyone knows the importance of continuity. 

"We have to learn from our past and understand the need for a continuous building of the team rather than having to start all over again when a new coach is appointed."

Firat is an experienced coach, having worked with 18 teams, both clubs and national sides since he started his career in 1997. Among the high-profile sides he has worked with are Eintracht Frankfurt of Germany between 2000 and 2002 and Fenerbahce of Turkey, where he worked as an assistant manager between 2002 and 2003.

His latest station of work was Moldova, a position he left in 2021.

Should Firat eventually get appointed, keen eyes will want to see whether he will work without Kenya's high-profile stars like Victor Wanyama, Johanna Omollo, and Ayub Timbe, who were dropped by Mulee.

Mulee - who has revealed why he had to resign - left his position after 11 months at the helm of the former Cecafa champions.

Tusker will begin their FKF Premier League title defence with an away game against AFC Leopards on September 25.

According to the fixtures released by the Football Kenya Federation and obtained by Goal, the Brewers, who won the title last season after finishing top of the table with 65 points from 32 matches, will face Ingwe at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi in their opener.

Who will Gor Mahia face?

Former Premier League champions Gor Mahia will begin their quest to wrestle the title from Tusker with a home game against KCB, who finished second last season, at Kasarani Stadium also on September 25.

Promoted sides Vihiga Bullets and FC Talanta will begin their campaign with home matches against Bidco United at Bukhungu Stadium and Wazito FC at Kasarani, respectively.

In other matches lined up for the opening day, Posta Rangers will face Kariobangi Sharks at Thika Stadium; while Bandari will host Mathare United at Mbaraki Stadium in Mombasa.

Meanwhile, Sofapaka will entertain Nairobi City Stars at Nyayo Stadium, Ulinzi Stars will welcome Nzoia Sugar at ASK grounds in Nakuru while Kakamega Homeboyz will face Vihiga United or Police FC at Bukhungu Stadium.

Vihiga and Police are battling in the play-offs to determine which team will be promoted to the top-flight.

After the opening matches on September 25, the league will take a break for international matches where Kenya’s Harambee Stars are scheduled to face Mali in a home and away fixture before it will resume on October 15.

Kariobangi Sharks will face Gor Mahia on October 15 at Nyayo Stadium while Posta Rangers will come up against Vihiga Bullets at Thika Stadium.

On October 16, KCB will entertain AFC Leopards at Utalii grounds, Bidco United will battle Bandari at Thika Stadium while Tusker will host Talanta at Kinoru Stadium in Meru.

And on October 17, Wazito will face Homeboyz at Nyayo Stadium, Nzoia Sugar entertain Sofapaka Sudi Stadium while Vihiga United or Police will come up against Nairobi City Stars.

However, the season proper will kick off with the Super Cup pitting last season’s champions Tusker against Shield Cup winners Gor Mahia on September 22 at Thika Stadium.

FKF Premier League opening fixtures on September 25; Posta Rangers vs Kariobangi Sharks (Thika Stadium), Gor Mahia vs KCB (Kasarani Stadium), Vihiga Bullets vs Bidco United (Bukhungu Stadium), Bandari vs Mathare United (Mbaraki Stadium), FC Talanta vs Wazito FC (Kasarani Stadium), Sofapaka vs Nairobi City Stars (Nyayo Stadium), AFC Leopards vs Tusker (Nyayo), Ulinzi Stars vs Nzoia Sugar (ASK grounds) and Kakamega Homeboyz vs Vihiga United/Police FC (Bukhungu Stadium).

Further FKF Premier League reading 

Karl Toko Ekambi inspired Olympique Lyon to a 2-0 win over Rangers in Thursday’s Europa League fixture.

In the tight encounter staged at the Ibrox Stadium, the Cameroon international put the Ligue 1 giants ahead in the 23rd minute – beating goalkeeper Allan McGregor with a rocket after he was teed up by Bruno Guimaraes.

Ryan Kent was close to restoring parity, but a brave save from goalkeeper Anthony Lopes ensured that the French elite division took a slim lead into the half-time break.

Steven Gerrard’s men came out stronger in the second half, however, they leaked the second goal as James Tavernier mistakenly turned the ball into his own net.

Nigeria’s Leon Balogun was on parade from start to finish, whereas his Super Eagles teammate Joe Aribo – who was named in the starting XI – was subbed off for Fashion Sakala in the 76th minute.

At the Karaiskakis Stadium, Morocco international Youssef El-Arabi and Mbwana Samatta were on target as Olympiacos secured a 2-1 triumph over Belgian side Royal Antwerp.

El-Arabi had fired the Greek side ahead in the 39th minute but that was chalked off after VAR replays for being in an offside position.

In the 52nd minute, the Atlas Lion broke the deadlock when he headed a Mady Camara’s lofted cross past Jean Butez.

That lead lasted for just 13 minutes as the visitors levelled matters through Tanzania international Mbwana Samatta who headed home Manuel Benson’s cross.

Three minutes from full time, Oleg Reabciuk nicked the winning goal by converting Marios Vrousai’s assist. Royal Antwerp’s hopes of getting a late equaliser got dashed when Jelle Bataille was shown the way out for a second caution.

At the RZD Arena, Moscow, Nigeria prospect Tino Anjorin scored his first goal in Europe as FC Lokomotiv Moscow played a 1-1 draw with Olympique Marseille.

Although the Ligue 1 side dominated ball possession, it was the hosts who had the first chance but Fedor Smolov’s fierce shot from outside the box struck the goalpost.

The Muscovites were reduced to ten men in the 58th minute as Nayaur Tiknizyan was shown the way out by referee Irfan Peljto for a foul inside the penalty area.

Cengiz Under converted the ensuing kick to give Marseille the lead in the 59th minute.

Benefitting from their opponents’ numerical disadvantage, the visitors created scoring chances. Even at that, they were very poor in the final third.

A minute from full time, super-sub Anjorin rescued Marko Nikolic’s team from defeat with his late effort.

Elsewhere, Nigeria international Paul Onuachu last-gasp effort handed Genk a 1-0 triumph over Rapid Vienna at the Allianz Stadium.

The Indian Super League (ISL) is often a very competitive league. In almost every edition, there has been a scramble at the business of the end of the season for a place in the top four.

However, over the years we have witnessed that there are a few teams who have been more consistent over others. FC Goa happens to be one of them. Apart from a disastrous campaign in 2016 where they finished at the bottom, the Gaurs have been in the playoffs in every season.

Similarly, Mumbai City FC, have also been one of the most better performing teams. Under the guidance of Alexandre Guimaraes, they topped the league standings in 2016 and they repeated the feat in 2020-21 as well with Sergio Lobera at the helm of affairs. In fact, in the previous season, not only did they clinch the shield, the Islanders also lifted the ISL trophy after defeating ATK Mohun Bagan in the final.

Whereas, Bengaluru FC have finished first in the league table twice in four years. Although they had a disappointing outing in the previous season, they would be looking to turn things around in the upcoming edition under new coach Marco Pezzaiuoli. It must be noted that Bengaluru and Jamshedpur FC joined from the 2017-18 season only. East Bengal and ATK Mohun Bagan became a part of ISL from 2020-21 season only (ATK were a part from the start before they merged with Mohun Bagan). Hyderabad FC joined the ISL in the 2019-20 season while Odisha FC also came into being in the same season (formerly Delhi Dynamos).

Let us now find out which team has garnered the most number of wins in ISL so far.