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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. 

Manchester City star Nathan Ake has revealed that his father died moments after he scored his first Champions League goal on Wednesday night.

Ake was named in Pep Guardiola's starting XI for City's first Champions League group stage fixture of the 2021-22 campaign against RB Leipzig, and quickly made his mark on proceedings by scoring the opening goal after just 16 minutes.

The Premier League champions went on to win a thrilling end-to-end contest 6-3, but the Dutch defender was given devastating personal news after the final whistle as his father Moise passed away following a reported battle with cancer.

What's been said?

Ake took to social media to pay tribute to his father the day after the game, and also confirmed that he witnessed the defender's milestone moment at Etihad Stadium before his death.

"I know you're always with me, you will always be in my heart and this one was for you, dad," The 26-year-old wrote on Instagram.

"The past few weeks have been the toughest of my life, my dad has been very ill and there was no more treatment possible. I was lucky to have a lot of support from my fiancé, family and friends.

"Yesterday after a difficult time I scored my first Champions League goal, and only a few minutes after he passed away peacefully with my mum and brother by his side.

"Maybe it was meant to be, watching me play always made him proud and happy."

Ake's City record

Ake completed a £41 million move to City from Bournemouth in August 2020, and has since made 16 appearances across all competitions for the club, scoring two goals.

A hamstring injury saw him miss a large portion of his first season at Etihad Stadium, but he has already featured in three games for Guardiola's side this term including the Community Shield final.

Ake could get another chance to show his qualities when City play host to Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, where a win could see them move to the top of the table.

Further reading

Arsenal's poor start to the season could end up being "really good for the club", according to Mikel Arteta, who insists he "can see a lot of light" at the end of the tunnel at Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners sat rock bottom of the Premier League table after the first three fixtures of the 2021-22 campaign, having followed up a 2-0 opening day reversal at newly-promoted Brentford with a 2-0 home defeat to Chelsea and a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Manchester City.

Questions have been asked over Arteta's position at the club as a result, but a morale-boosting 6-0 drubbing of West Brom in the second round of the EFL Cup eased some of the pressure on the Spaniard, who then saw his side pick up their first top-flight victory against Norwich last weekend.

What's been said?

Arsenal still have a lot to prove before they can be considered a formidable force again, but Arteta is confident that the long-term project he was brought in to oversee will soon begin to take shape.

"I can really see the light," the Gunners boss told a press conference on Thursday. "I’m telling you I’m very positive most of the time. I’ve seen the light and I can see bright lights.

"There can be bumps in the road within that light, but I can see a lot of light."

Arteta added on how he dealt with the criticism that came his way after the loss at City: "Life brings you things and you cannot decide it. There are certain things that you cannot control. What is coming to you is coming for a reason. Sometimes we don’t want to see it, but it’s coming for a reason - and it’s probably for the right reason. 

"Then it’s about how you take it and how you respond to that. The way that everyone around me responded is the way that I responded. That’s why it’s been fine. 

"It’s tough because it hurts, because you want to see something different. But what you want is not always what happens. Things happen for a reason and maybe what is happening had to happen and [maybe] it’s going to be really good for the club and really good for myself and everybody experiencing that situation.

"We have to believe that."

What's next?

Arteta was speaking ahead of his side's trip to Burnley on Saturday, where another win could see them rise into the top half of the Premier League standings.

Arsenal will then prepare for a third-round EFL Cup tie against AFC Wimbledon on September 22, which comes four days before the first north London derby of the season against Tottenham.

The Gunners only have domestic fixtures on their calendar after missing out on European qualification in 2020-21, and Arteta has admitted that it was painful to see their English rivals compete in the Champions League this week.

“That hurt a lot. It was painful to put on the TV and see those teams and Arsenal not being there," he said. “One hundred per cent that will be our motivation to get back into those competitions. We have the focus and the trigger is there.”

Further reading

Lucas Moura and Steven Bergwijn have joined Son Heung-min on Tottenham's injury list ahead of their London derby showdown with Chelsea on Sunday.

Moura and Bergwijn were both named in Nuno Espirito Santo's starting XI for Spurs' Europa Conference League group stage opener away at Rennes on Thursday night, which ended in a 2-2 draw.

Unfortunately, Bergwijn was forced to withdraw on the half-hour mark after appearing to aggravate the ankle issue that kept him out of last weekend's 3-0 Premier League defeat to Crystal Palace, and the visitors' misery was compounded when Moura limped off early in the second half.

What's been said?

Nuno Espirito Santo is now facing something of a selection crisis in attack with Son still battling his way back from a calf injury .

The Portuguese confirmed that Moura and Bergwijn availability for this weekend's meeting with Chelsea is also up in the air during his post-match press conference at Roazhon Park.

“Really painful. Too early to say [for Sunday]. The physios are working with them," Santo told reporters. "We don't know if they will be fit. It's tough."

The Tottenham boss added on his side's struggles since returning from the international break: "It’s been terrible. I must be honest. Let’s not hide behind anything.

"After the Watford game, everything that has happened has not been very good for us. But this is football. And we know it’s a moment we have to overcome.

"Today, we tried to show the players solutions, thinking about the game on Sunday. But it’s about overcoming obstacles. That will make us stronger for the future, for sure."

Spurs falter in Europe

Tottenham took the lead against Rennes after just 13 minutes as Moura saw his cross deflected into the net by opposition defender Loic Bade, but the hosts hit back via a well-placed curling shot from Flavien Tait midway through the first half.

Rennes enjoyed the lion share of possession thereafter, and eventually got the reward for their pressure when Gaetan Laborde turned home a rebound with less than 20 minutes left on the clock.

However, Spurs responded instantly thanks to a close-range finish from Emile-Pierre Hojbjerg and ultimately escaped with a point, with Santo eager to take the positives from a testing contest.

"We scored then we lost control, we played a good team who caused some problems," he said. "It is hard to judge the game. I think we finished well.

"Hard team to play, but the attitude was good with a lot of players playing out of position it is hard to properly judge."

Hojbjerg added on Tottenham's latest display to BT Sport : "We'll build on that. It's not what we came for, we came for three points but respect to Rennes and the stage they put here tonight.

"And the performance, I think they fought well."

Further reading

Ajax forward Sebastien Haller has been shortlisted for the Champions League Player of the Week.

In his debut in the European competition, the Cote d’Ivoire international found the net on four occasions as the Dutch elite division side decimated hosts Sporting Lisbon 5-1 at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

That saw him become the second player after Netherlands great Marco van Basten to score four times on a Champions League debut.

Moreover, he became the first African to score at least four goals in a match in the tournament’s history.

He will compete with Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski, DR Congo prospect Christopher Nkunku and Borussia Dortmund youngster Jude Bellingham for the individual player accolade.

Poland international Lewandowski – who won the Best Fifa Men's Player crown in 2020 – bagged a double as the German elite division side went to Camp Nou, saw and hammered Barcelona 3-0.

Bellingham on the other hand contributed a goal plus an assist to help Dortmund pick a 2-1 away triumph over Besiktas at Vodafone Park.

Despite RB Leipzig’s 6-3 defeat to Premier League side Manchester City, Nkunku found the net on three occasions at the Etihad Stadium.

The player with the highest number of votes will be crowned as the Champions League Player of the Week.

In a recent interview, former West Ham United star Haller stated he never expected a ‘dream’ debut in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

''This was a dream debut, but we also played well as a team. Both tactically and mentally, we did well. I'm happy,” Haller was quoted by Ajax website.

''Of course, I never expected such a debut because you're trying to focus. That went well. I scored after just a minute of play. Of course, that also gave a boost.

“You know your debut is already good by then. Everything that follows is actually extra. I was able to focus even more on the team after that first goal.

''I can hardly realize this yet. It can go fast. I don't think anyone expected a 1-5 win. We can enjoy this.''

Adama Traore's strike for FC Sheriff in their 2-0 win against Shakhtar Donetsk in Wednesday’s Champions League game has been nominated for the Goal of the Week award.

He will slug it out with Manchester City’s Jack Grealish, Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson and AC Milan’s Ante Rebic.

The Mali international opened the scoring for Yuriy Vernydub’s men in the encounter at the Sheriff Stadium, with the 26-year-old turning in an audacious strike.

Cristiano da Silva’s lung-busting run from left-back saw him complete his part in the goal with an inch-perfect cross for Traore, whose acrobatic volley rippled goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov’s net.

In the process, he wrote his name in the history books by becoming the player to score Sheriff’s first-ever goal in the Champions League, with what was the team’s first shot on target in the tournament.

Also, the 26-year-old became the first-ever Mali-affiliated player to score on a Champions League debut.

The victory was sealed two minutes after the hour mark through Guinean star Momo Yansane.

The Moldovans sat deep and allowed the Ukrainians to attack without conceding any clear-cut chances, perhaps, it was Vernydub’s side who came closest to scoring the third goal of the night, but Frank Castaneda’s effort was well saved by Pyatov.

Traore was in action from start to finish, while Ghana’s Edmund – who was handed a place in the starting XI – was replaced five minutes from full-time by Addo Stjepan Radeljic.

Ghana captain Andre Ayew opened his scoring account in the Qatari Stars League as Al Sadd came from behind to beat Qatar SC 3-1 on Thursday.

The winger’s second-half effort drew his club level before two late goals ensured an away victory for Xavi Hernandez’s outfit in the matchday two fixture.

It was his second game in the league, having made his debut in their 2-0 opening day triumph over Al Sailiya.

Thursday’s three points have sent Al Sadd joint-top of the league table, sitting alongside Al Duhail.

Sebastian Soria broke the deadlock for Qatar in the 39th minute, sending the hosts into the break with a goal advantage.

A little after the hour mark, Ayew hit back for visiting Al Sadd, driving into the box from the right before curling a shot past goalkeeper Jasem Adel Al Hail.

Brazilian midfielder Guilherme then scored in the 78th minute to put The Boss in front for the first time, before Algeria striker Baghdad Bounedjah struck on 83 minutes to seal the victory.

“I am happy with the result. We played an excellent match against a good team. We managed to come back with our character in the second half, and this is what we always need,” Al Sadd coach Xavi, renowned for his exploits with Spanish giants Barcelona during his playing days, said after the game, as his club’s official website reported.

“We used a lot of players and everyone is performing excellently, but we must play with the same performance throughout the match.

“We must take care of the recovery of the players, in preparation for the match against Al Rayyan. We are very excited about the Qatari Clasico. It will be a difficult match for sure, but my team is going through good moments.”

Ayew joined Al Sadd as a free agent in July, penning a two-year renewable contract after leaving Championship outfit Swansea City.

His goal is a delight for Ghana fans who will be counting on his effort for their upcoming 2022 World Cup qualifying doubleheader against Zimbabwe next month.

Victor Osimhen has been named in Napoli’s starting XI for Thursday’s Europa League clash against Leicester City.

The 21-year-old was a doubt for the game against Brendan Rodgers’ men following a knock during the Blues’ 2-1 victory against Juventus in a Serie A fixture at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

“Napoli were back at the Konami Training Centre on Monday morning following their win over Juventus on Saturday,” read part of the statement on the club’s official website.

“Next up for the Azzurri is their Europa League group stage opener away at Leicester City on Thursday [21:00 CEST kick-off].

“At the training ground, the squad kicked off the session with a practice game using smaller goals, followed by group tactical work. Those who weren't involved from the start in the defeat of Juventus then got stuck into a mini-match.

“Dries Mertens and Faouzi Ghoulam trained with the group for the full session, while Diego Demme and Victor [Osimhen] had individual sessions outside.

“Stanislav Lobotka received treatment and did individual work outside, with Lorenzo Insigne training in the gym after he picked up a knock on Saturday.”

Notwithstanding, he has overcome the injury setback to get Luciano Spalletti’s nod to start alongside Lorenzo Insigne and Hirving Lozano at the King Power Stadium.

Also named in the line-up is Fulham loanee Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa. The Cameroon international will hold sway in the midfield alongside Piotr Zielinski and Fabian Ruiz.

As expected, Senegal international Kalidou Koulibaly starts in the defence with Amir Rrahmani, Kevin Malcuit and Giovanni Di Lorenzo.

Elsewhere, Algeria international Adam Ounas will start as a substitute while his compatriot Faouzi Ghoulam has been ruled out of the fixture despite recovering from a muscle injury.

For Leicester City, Nigeria duo Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi as well as Zambia’s Patson Daka have been handed a starter’s role, while former England youth international of Nigerian origin Ademola Lookman and Ghana’s Daniel Amartey have been named as substitutes. Senegal international Nampalys Mendy is ruled out due to a groin injury.

Both teams must negotiate their way past Legia Warsaw and Spartak Moscow if they are to qualify from Group C.

Ex-Orlando Pirates coach Roger De Sa has confirmed his appointment as Egypt national team assistant coach to Carlos Queiroz.

Mozambique-born De Sa will be reunited with Queiroz, after working together for Bafana Bafana between 2000 and 2002.

De Sa was previously part of the former Real Madrid and Portugal coach’s backroom staff when he was at the helm of the South African national team.

The arrival of Queiroz in Egypt follows the departure of Hossam El Badry from the Pharaohs job and his new assistant coach has since quit as Cape Town All Stars tactician. 

“Yes, I have resigned. I am leaving on Monday to join up with the Egyptian national team,” De Sa told KickOff.

The former Bidvest Wits coach is known in Egypt after guiding Pirates to the final of the 2013 Caf Champions League where they lost to Al Ahly.

He admitted that he could not resist the call to work with the record African champions.

“I’m very fortunate that I’ve got a decent business and a very good marriage and family life that enabled me to continue my happy life here,” De Sa told iDiski Times.

“But with an opportunity like this, the temptation was always going to be there and I had to make a choice. Ja, it doesn’t get bigger. And let’s have a go.  

“I’ve enjoyed my time at [Cape] Umoya, and at Ajax [Cape Town Spurs], even All Stars, still in the game, which was important for me, which I get a lot of enjoyment out of it, and satisfaction. But it’s always like that, I think if I coached U10s, I would do it the same way. 

“So very fortunate and humbled by getting invited by them. Ja, it will be great, and who knows from there, but if that’s the end, it won’t be a bad ending.”

De Sa becomes the third South African coach to work in Egypt after Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane and Calvin Johnson.

Declan Rice has joined Frank Lampard in West Ham's record books after finding the net in their Europa League clash with Dinamo Zagreb.

The Hammers travelled to Stadion Maksimir on Thursday night for their opening Group H fixture, having earned their spot in the Europa League by finishing sixth in the Premier League last season.

Michail Antonio set David Moyes' side on their way to victory by scoring early in the first half, and Rice rounded off a comfortable 2-0 victory with a spectacular solo effort that also saw him enter into West Ham's hall of fame.

Rice's landmark strike

Rice intercepted a loose pass in his own half in the 50th minute of the contest, and proceeded to drive towards the opposition penalty area while showing off his impressive close control and balance.

The England international beat two defenders before firing a low shot through the Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper's legs, becoming the Hammers' youngest goalscorer in European competition since Frank Lampard over twenty years ago.

Lampard scored in a 1999-20 UEFA Cup encounter with NK Osijek at the age of 22 years and 88 days, with Rice only 157 days older when breaking his duck on the continental stage.

Rice's overall West Ham record

Rice was making his 150th appearance across all competitions for West Ham against Dinamo, and marked the occasion by scoring only his sixth goal for the club.

It was also the midfielder's first-ever strike away from home, but he has also recorded six assists since making his debut back in 2015.

What's next?

Rice will be back in contention for a place in Moyes' starting XI when the Hammers play host to Manchester United in their next Premier League outing on Sunday.

Further reading

Former Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund says he would consider returning for a second stint with Orlando Pirates if they approach him.

The Pirates job was left vacant following the departure of Josef Zinnbauer on August 16, leaving Mandla Ncikazi and Fadlu Davids as interim co-coaches.

Cavin Johnson has also been linked with Pirates, with rumours flaring up after he reportedly stepped down from his role as assistant to Pitso Mosimane at African football heavyweights Al Ahly.

With the Buccaneers unconvincing this season under the stand-in coaches, they might be forced to turn to Johnson or any other coach while Igesund who guided them to the Premier Soccer League title during the 2000/01 season would not turn them down.

“Without a doubt [I am available if Pirates table an offer]. I won the league with that team,” Igesund told Goal.

“But I have a football academy as you know. We have a proper football academy. The project is fully operational at the moment. I have 15 coaches and other staff in place, I have my own facilities, tutor programmes, so everything is in place. My academy can run quite nicely with the people I have.

“But I will definitely consider them. Pirates are a big institution in South African football without a doubt. I had good times when I was there. I won the championship with them. The first year with them I won the BP Top Eight Cup, I reached the Rothmans Cup final.”

A four-time PSL title-winning coach with Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, Santos and Manning Rangers, Igesund has changed gears in his career since his last PSL job with Highlands Park in 2017.

The 65-years-old, who also had a stint with Bafana, says he has turned down offers from some PSL clubs but would be open for a return to the Soweto giants.

“I’m still very active, I’m strong, I have done a lot for the game. I have been offered other jobs but I didn't take them because they weren’t exciting for me,” said Igesund.

“If I get back [to coaching a PSL team], I want to win the championship. I want a team which believes they can win the championship. If they were interested, they would obviously talk to me and I would consider something like that.

“You know I’m a very strong person and I don’t take nonsense, I make things happen. Every team I have coached has won the championship in the first year I am there. I don’t need eight months to get the team right.”

There has been pressure at Pirates to end a decade-long PSL title drought, a period in which they have watched their Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs winning it twice and Mamelodi Sundowns asserting their dominance with six titles. 

Tom Dele-Bashiru has promised to repay the faith Veljko Paunovic has shown in him joining Reading.

The Nigerian midfielder’s inability to tie down a regular place in Watford saw him loaned to the Select Car Leasing Stadium for the 2021-22 campaign.

Since joining the Royal, Dele-Bashiru had played four games without any success in front of goal.

Against Peterborough United, however, he scored a brace in the 3-1 triumph over Darren Ferguson’s side.

Buoyed by his performance, the 21-year-old has promised to keep scoring goals and making assists to repay the Serbian for trusting him.

"I’m really grateful to the gaffer for his trust in me and hopefully I can keep repaying him with goals and assists,” he told Reading website.

"Everyone has a clearer understanding of their responsibilities defensively now so I’m sure the clean sheet will be coming soon.

"We were all buzzing after the final whistle and I’m sure the lads will cherish this and want to keep having those winning feelings."

Heading to the game against the Posh, Reading had gone on a run of four games without winning in the English second-tier.

"I’m very happy we finally got the win, and to score two goals – it was a good team performance,” he continued.

"It was a bit of a scrappy game until Swifty scored an amazing free-kick, and after that, we had a bit of momentum and it was good to get the second and third goals.

"It was a great feeling, to do it at home, the fan support was great and I could hear them shouting my name. I’m really happy to get the three points.

"For the first one, I watched the ball come across and I had a feeling the keeper would go back across to where the ball came from, so I reversed it into the bottom corner.

"And the second, I heard everyone screaming shoot, Swifty screaming shoot, so I thought why not go for it!"

Dele-Bashiru is expected to start in the Royal’s midfield when they travel to Craven Cottage for their next fixture against Fulham on September 18.

Abdallah Sima wasn’t the most high-profile African mover during the summer transfer window—nor was he the most expensive—but in time, he could prove to be one of the most valuable deals of the summer.

This was one of the talking points on the recent African Football HQ transfer window special, as the pod discussed the biggest deals of the last few months.

Brighton & Hove Albion signed Sima from Slavia Prague, before duly loaning him out to Stoke City to help him acclimatise to life in English football.

It’s an arrangement that should work out for all parties, particularly in the years to come as Brighton look to reap the rewards on their investment.

In the short term, Stoke will appreciate the prospect of enjoying the services of a player in fine form, who offers versatility, a goal threat, and the physical presence to compete in the second tier.

The Championship is a rough-and-tumble, mud-and-nettles division, and its hurly-burly nature should afford Sima an ideal context in which to find his feet in the English game.

Moving from the Czech Republic to the Championship still remains a considerable leap, but it’s far more manageable than had the youngster been pitched in immediately against Premier League defences.

For Brighton, who parted with around £7 million for the frontman, the benefits could be far reaching.

Despite only making his professional debut in 2020, Sima netted 15 goals in 32 outings for Slavia Prague during his debut campaign.

As well as excelling in the Czech top flight—both in wide areas and through the middle—he showcased his quality in the Europa League, notably with a goal as Leicester City were eliminated in the Round of 32.

In the past, he’s been linked with Arsenal, who eliminated Slavia from the Europa League last term, and his ability to cut in from out wide to make or take goalscoring opportunities has prompted parallels with Gunners legend Thierry Henry.

In terms of his profile—both biographical and playing style—he should be an ideal long-term fit for the Seagulls, who love to cultivate youngsters with the potential of taking their game to the next level, and Sima has the potential to be a massive hit on the south coast.

Former Fenerbahce man Sam Johnson believes Borussia Dortmund and ex-Black Stars winger Otto Addo will make a good coach for the national team.

The West Africans are hunting for a new boss following the dismissal of CK Akonnor for a run of uninspiring performances on Monday.

Addo, who represented Ghana at the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2006 World Cup, has been heavily linked to the Black Stars vacant position, as have Ghana-born former Netherlands midfielder George Boateng and Serbian coach Milovan Rajevac, who coached Ghana at the 2010 World Cup.

“I prefer a local for the Black Stars and Otto Addo has the capabilities to coach the Black Stars. He’s been a coach for a while, although he’s not coached a national team before,” Johnson told Empire FM.

“If we pick Otto Addo for the Black Stars, I would wish that he’s paired with someone. If we get some of the young coaches on the local scene to support him it will be very good.”

Rajevac, meanwhile, is the frontrunner for the job, according to reports.

The Serbian is looking to make a return to the Black Stars after steering the team to the quarter-final of the World Cup in South Africa.

Before that, he led Ghana to the final of the 2009 African Nations Championship and the final of the 2010 Afcon tournament.

Veteran Ghanaian journalist Karl Tuffour, though, has concerns about the speculated second coming.

“There is a saying in the football fraternity that you never go back to a place where you had so much success. The pendulum has swung to a certain level; anything below that and you’re in trouble,” he said, according to Joy Sports.

“Millions of coaches around the world in the last 60, 70 years in the last 70 years do not make it a habit of going back. One or two have done, and it has turned out very bad.”

The Ghana Football Association is expected to name a new manager by the end of Thursday.

The new man will first be tasked to lead the Black Stars to victory in a 2022 World Cup qualifying doubleheader against Zimbabwe next month.

Finidi George took his first steps into club management on Wednesday, as he signed a two-year deal with domestic heavyweights Enyimba.

Nigeria’s biggest club should be NPFL contenders year after year, but this term they’ll watch on as Akwa United and Rivers United—clubs who cannot match their heritage and history—prosecute the Champions League.

The eight-time champions need a new lease of life, and it didn’t appear like that would have been forthcoming under Fatai Osho, whose contract expired last month.

So in comes Finidi, whose playing career in the sport is almost without parallel among Nigeria greats.

He amassed 62 caps and was a key figure in the Golden Generation who won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations before representing the Super Eagles at both the 1994 World Cup—when they reached the knockout stages—and the 1998 edition.

He was a Champions League winner with Ajax in 1995—one of an elite group of Nigerian players alongside the likes of Nwankwo Kanu and John Obi Mikel to have won European club football’s grandest prize—and subsequently represented the likes of Real Betis and Real Mallorca.

A spell in England with Ipswich Town didn’t entirely go to plan, but it has done little to diminish Finidi’s star in his homeland.

However, signing for Enyimba threatens to test him—and his nascent managerial career—in ways which could make the former wideman rethink his decision to put pen to paper with the People’s Elephant.

The main concern may be whether the 50-year-old will be given enough freedom by the board—and specifically chairman Felix Anyansi-Agwu—to influence the team and to impose his own vision on the side.

Too often, the work of the head coach has been undermined by interference or wavering support and backing from the club’s chiefs.

If Finidi is to succeed, then he must be given ultimate and unswerving control over matters of team selection and strategy. 

He may be inexperienced, but the chairman must back off and give him the breadth in which to operate.

Similarly, the ex-winger must be given control over recruitment and have an input in contractual situations.

Certainly, he can canvass opinion, but he must be backed in the market, have the financial support to retain players, and not have new recruits foisted upon him.

He must be allowed the freedom to build his own backroom staff, and for that unit to be given the backing of the board, while supporters must be more patient than they have been in the past and give the new man time to establish his philosophy. 

Anyasi-Agwu is a legendary club administrator, and clearly has Enyimba in his heart, but if there are questions or concerns about Finidi’s authority, then this most prominent appointment risks unravelling spectacularly.

Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee has for the first time spoken after leaving his position as the head coach of the national side, Harambee Stars.

The former Tusker coach has revealed he was forced by personal circumstances to leave Harambee Stars after serving for 11 months.

On Wednesday, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) confirmed they had reached a mutual agreement with the Premier League winning coach to part ways.

"I have been going through a tough time. I was in India for two months with my brother, who is ailing. After returning from India, a lot of things changed personally," Mulee is quoted by The Star as revealing.
 
"I had plans for the team but I thought I would be doing the country a disservice if I remained as the head coach yet I have personal issues affecting me."

"We were just about to start the World Cup qualifying games and in that situation, it is very difficult for a coach to resign.

"After the draws against Rwanda and Uganda, I sat down with the FKF and we all saw it fit that I hand over to someone else."

Mulee's last assignments with Harambee Stars were the 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Uganda and Rwanda. They collected two points from a 0-0 home draw against the Cranes before a 1-1 draw against Amavubi in Kigali on September 2 and 5, respectively.

Mulee's tenure saw a restructuring process undertaken at the national team with high-profile players including Ayub Timbe, Victor Wanyama, Erick Johanna, and Johanna Omollo - whose positions were always assured under the previous administrations - were dropped.

Mulee went on to appoint Michael Olunga - who scored against Rwanda to earn Kenya the second Group E point - as the captain replacing CF Montreal's Wanyama.

The Cecafa winner had replaced Francis Kimanzi in November 2020 as Kenya's coach, but failed to lead the country to back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations tournaments after featuring in the 2019 edition in Egypt. Harambee Stars failed to grab a ticket to Cameroon after dropping crucial points against Comoros following a home 1-1 draw and a 2-1 loss in Moroni.

Ajax star Sebastien Haller revealed he never expected a ‘dream’ debut in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Making his maiden appearance in the European club competition, the Cote d’Ivoire international scored four times as the Dutch top-flight side demolished Sporting Lisbon 5-1 at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

That feat saw him equal Marco van Basten’s 29-year-old Champions League record. Prior to that game, the Netherlands great was the only player to score four times on his Champions League debut – which he attained in November 1992 against IFK Goteborg during his spell at Serie A side AC Milan.

In addition, the former West Ham United man joined Simone Inzaghi, Dado Prso, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Andriy Shevchenko, Lionel Messi, Bafetimbi Gomis, Mario Gomez, Robert Lewandowski, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Cristiano Ronaldo, Josip Ilicic and Olivier Giroud in the ranks of players who have scored at least four goals in a match in the European elite club tournament.

Discussing his exploits against Ruben Amorim’s Lions, the 27-year-old claimed he has come to terms with his performance against the 19-time Primeira Liga kings.

''This was a dream debut, but we also played well as a team. Both tactically and mentally, we did well. I'm happy,” Haller was quoted by Ajax website.

''Of course, I never expected such a debut because you're trying to focus. That went well. I scored after just a minute of play. Of course, that also gave a boost.

“You know your debut is already good by then. Everything that follows is actually extra. I was able to focus even more on the team after that first goal.

''I can hardly realize this yet. It can go fast. I don't think anyone expected a 1-5 win. We can enjoy this.''

Haller was in action from start to finish while Morocco international Noussair Mazraoui was substituted for Devyne Rensch in the 70th minute.

The forward would be hoping to continue with his fine form when Ajax welcome Besiktas to the Johan Cruyff Arena on September 28.

Before then, he will lead the attack for Erik ten Hag’s team when they take on Cambuur, Fortuna Sittard and Groningen in their next three league outings.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer expects Edinson Cavani to make a return to full training at Manchester United next week, with the Uruguayan striker in line for a recall when the Red Devils face West Ham in the Carabao Cup.

United will face the same opponents on Sunday, meanwhile, with a trip to the London Stadium up next ater the Red Devils' 2-1 defeat to Young Boys in the Champions League.

Cavani, who has been nursing a "slight strain" suffered in a behind-closed-doors friendly outing against Stoke, will not make the first meeting with the Hammers, but he could be back in contention for the second instalment of back-to-back meetings with David Moyes' men.

What has been said?

Asked for an update on Cavani's fitness and how he fits into the bigger picture at Old Trafford now that Cristiano Ronaldo is leading the line, Solskjaer told reporters: "Edinson will hopefully start training with us after the weekend, maybe Monday, so maybe [he'll be] involved on Wednesday. 

"He had a fantastic season last season, the impact he made when he got his fitness... he struggled with niggly injuries early on. 

"We feel that to get the best out of him this season we need to get him 100 per cent fit and not rush him. 

"We’ve got a strong squad that will cope with having to let players heal and not risk any further injuries. 

"I see Edinson having a massive impact, he’s that type of personality and player. He can’t wait to play and he’s working really hard to get back on the pitch."

What's the latest on Lingard?

United tied Cavani to a new 12-month contract after seeing him hit 17 goals in 39 appearances last season.

Jesse Lingard is another of those working on a deal through to the summer of 2022, with the England international playmaker absorbed back into the Red Devils fold on the back of a productive loan spell at West Ham.

Questions have continued to be asked of how long the 28-year-old will be sticking around, amid fierce competition for places, but Solskjaer says contract extension talks are ongoing with a home-grown star.

He said when asked about Lingard, who made a costly mistake in a 2-1 Champions League defeat to Young Boys: "He’s got one year left on his contract and the club is talking to him and his dad. 

"We see him as a Man United player in the future. 

"Jesse has come back to us after a great spell at West Ham where he showed his qualities and got back into the England squad, scoring goals. 

"We really want to see the best of him this season we support him and we hope to keep him here with us. He’s a red through and through."

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