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Several NWSL stars including Ali Krieger, Ashlyn Harris and Jess Fishlock have hit out at the league's decision to host the 2021 NWSL Championship on a turf field with a 9am local kickoff. 

The league announced over the weekend that Providence Park in Portland would host the match on November 20, with the kickoff set for noon ET to accommodate a national TV slot on CBS. 

With the game taking place on the west coast, however, that kickoff time translates into an early-morning start for the biggest game of the season, which did not sit well with several players.

What was said?

Orlando Pride and U.S. national team defender Krieger initially fumed at the game not being played on grass, saying on Twitter: "Adding two new franchises next season with beautiful grass stadiums all around the country—moving in a great direction and then we choose turf to play the final of the best league in the world?! Wow."

OL Reign star Fishlock responded: "At 9am in the morning. 5am pre match sounds soooooo good," to which Krieger replied: "Right?! We don’t even train at 9am. Jokes."

Pride and USWNT goalkeeper Harris called the 9am start time "absolutely embarrassing."

NC Courage and USWNT forward Jessica McDonald added: "We deserve better than this, NWSL. This is NOT ok!!!!"

Even OL Reign head coach Laura Harvey joined the protests, saying: "9am kick off!!! Please please please change that. It’s not ok for any team! Showcase our amazing league and athletes the way they deserve."

Why is the game at 9am?

The NWSL opted to hold the title game at Providence Park, which has hosted the event twice before and drawn large crowds for both games.

But the stadium does bring the downside of being the only venue in the league without grass. Its location on the west coast also causes an issue for the event this season.

In order to have the match broadcast live on network television, CBS was only able to offer its noon ET time slot, with the later times occupied by college football.

It is unclear if the league would be willing to consider a change in venue or time at this point.

Further reading

Tanzania beat Madagascar 3-2 in a dramatic encounter to go top of Group J in their 2022 World Cup qualifier at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Tuesday.

Erasto Nyoni and Novatus Dismus gave Taifa Stars an early 2-0 lead. However, the visitors fought back to ensure they went to the break on level terms courtesy of Njiva Rakotomarimalala and Thomas Fontaine goals. Yanga SC star Feisal Salum ensured Stars went top of the group with a second-half goal.

The hosts needed just 10 seconds to win a penalty. They started the ball and Dismas played long in search of Simon Msuva. Barea defenders failed to clear the danger, and in a bid to save the situation, goalkeeper Adrien Melvin brought down Msuva.

The referee had no option but to hand Stars a penalty which was well executed by Erasto Nyoni to give his team an early advantage.

Taifa Stars settled and in early exchanges, they were the better side by far as Madagascar struggled to find their footing. Captain Mbwana Samatta had a massive chance to double the advantage in the 20th minute.

Reliant Lusajo crossed the ball from the left, and it kindly fell to the unmarked forward whose header missed the target. 

However, it mattered less as Dismus scored the second goal for the East Africans. The defenders, once again, failed to clear their lines and the ball was collected by the midfielder. From 40-yards out, he dribbled his way into the danger zone before calmly slotting the ball past the goalkeeper.

In the 28th and 30th minutes, Barea managed to get two off-target attempts courtesy of Rayan Raveloson and Romain Metanire that did little to trouble Aishi Manula in the Tanzania goal.

Tanzania became too comfortable and they paid the price in the 36th minute. The ball was crossed from the left by Loic Lapoussin. Mohamed Hussein was caught napping by substitute Rakotomarimalala who easily tapped the ball into the net.

The industrious Samatta managed to get space outside the 18-yard area in the 39th minute, but his ambitious shot missed the target by inches.

With a minute to the break, Nyoni committed a foul against Hakim Abdallah 20-yards from goal. It was taken by Fontaine and Manula failed to keep it out.

After the pause, Barea looked more comfortable and tried to increase their attacks hoping to get a third.

But it was the Stars who managed to score in the 52nd minute. Samatta went past his markers before spotting the unmarked Feisal Salum. He passed the ball to him and the Wananchi star comfortably beat the goalkeeper from 18-yards to make it 3-2 in favour of his team.

In the 60th minute, Tanzania were nearly punished after Bastien Hery played a cross into the danger zone. But the totally unmarked Abdallah headed above the crossbar with the goal at his mercy. 

Moments later, the visitors were almost punished when Dismus beat his marker before passing the ball to Salum. But the latter missed the sitter much to the relief of Barea.

The East Africans are on four points, the same as second-placed Benin while DR Congo come in third with two. Madagascar are at the bottom of the table with no point.

Tunisia remain unbeaten in their quest to clinch a ticket to the 2022 Fifa World Cup after securing a 2-0 win against Zambia at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Tuesday.

The North Africans took a deserved lead in the eighth minute through Wahbi Khazri before Anis Slimane struck the second in the 92nd minute to bag maximum points and remain the only unbeaten side in Group B after two rounds of matches.

Both teams went into the game having won their opening fixtures, Zambia beat Mauritania 2-1 at Stade Olympique in Nouakchott while the North Africans thrashed Equatorial Guinea 3-0 at Stade Olympique de Rades in Tunisia.

But heading into the game, the Chipolopolo were missing two of their key players – captain Enock Mwepu and Patson Daka – who returned to their respective clubs in England as they could have faced the mandatory 10-day quarantine if they had traveled to Zambia, which is listed as among the red zone countries during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mwepu, who features for Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League, had scored the opener against Mauritania while Daka, who turns out for Leicester City, set up the winning goal.

However, it was the Carthage Eagles, who started the game on the front foot. In the fifth minute Youssef Msakni combined well with Ben Slimane from the middle of the park and then set up Seifeddine Jaziri but his final touch after receiving the ball could not pose any danger for goalkeeper Chibwe Mwenya.

The visitors continued to pile pressure on the home team and it paid off in the eighth minute when Msakni was fouled inside the box as he prepared to shoot towards goal by Solomon Sakala and up stepped Wahbi Khazri, who sent keeper Mwenya the wrong way for the opening goal.

After the goal, the game resorted to midfield dominance and in the 21st minute, Zambia’s Lubambo Musonda almost pulled a goal back from a counter-attack but his ferocious effort was blocked by the Tunisia backline for a fruitless corner.

In the 31st minute, Chipolopolo created another chance, this time Dickson Chapa found himself with enough space inside the visitors’ box but he instead, placed the ball high over the bar.

Chapa was the first player to be booked by referee Otogo-Castane after a clumsy foul on Msakni and Edward Chilufya was also cautioned after a clumsy challenge on Ellyes Skhiri.

It was Zambia, who continued to dominate the game and in the 38th minute Prince Mumba, who scored the second goal when they beat Mauritania 2-1, tested goalkeeper Farouk Ben Mustapha with a long-range effort which went over the bar.

Tunisia went into the break enjoying a 1-0 lead and in the 58th minute Zambia coach Beston Chambeshi made a double change, with Kelvin Kampamba replacing Chilufya, who did not have a good game, while Boyd Musonda gave way for former Simba SC midfielder Clatous Chama.

Zambia continued to attack for the equaliser and Chama was flagged offside in the 68th minute after being put through by Chapa and three minutes later, Kampamba combined well with Chama who forced a fine save from Mustapha.

After the missed chances, Zambia were made to pay after Slimane slipped in from the far post to sneak the ball past Mwenya and silence the 5, 000 fans, who had been allowed to attend the match by Caf under strict Covid-19 protocols.

The win pushed Tunisia to the top of the table with the maximum, six points from two matches, Zambia are second on three points, while Mauritania and Equatorial Guinea are third and fourth respectively without a point.

Zambia XI; 1. Mwenya Chibwe, 3. Benedict Chepeshi, 13. Roderick Kabwe (C), 15. Dominic Chanda, 5. Solomon Sakala, 21. Boyd Musonda, Dickson Chapa 19, 8. Lubambo Musonda, 14. Edward Chilufya, 10. Prince Mumba, Brian Mwila 22,

Subs: 18. Gregory Sanjase, 16. Lameck Siame, 17. Spencer Sautu, 20. Clatous Chama 17, 7. Kelvin Mubanga, 11. Felix Bulaya, 2. Simon Silwimba, 23. Tandi Mwape, 6. Benson Sakala, 4. Prosper Chiluya, 12. Harrison Chisala, 9. Jimmy Mukeya.

Tunisia: Farouk Ben Mustapha; Ali Maaloul, Dylan Bronn, Yessine Meriah, Montassar Talbi; Ellyes Skhiri, Ferjani Sassi, Anis Ben Slimane; Youssef Msakni, Wahbi Khazri, Seifeddine Jaziri.

FC Goa defeated Army Green Football Team 2-0 at the Vivekananda Yubabharati Krirangan (VYBK), on Tuesday.

As a result, the Goan outfit climbed atop the Group B standings with fellow Indian Super League (ISL) side Jamshedpur second.

Army Green were not short of opportunities in the tie but were unfortunate when a deflection from Vikas Zanje's cross came off the woodwork in the 15th minute, besides a magnificent performance by Naveen Kumar produced at least half a dozen crucial saves in order to keep a clean sheet.

At the opposite end, Army Green goalkeeper Sarath Narayanan was busy throughout the tie and the scoreline would have been much worse if not for his intervention on multiple occasions, including denying Devendra Murgaokar in a one-on-one situation, a point blank header by Lalhmangaihsanga and a long range attempt by Alexander Romario.

Alberto Noguera was alert to a through pass by Makan Chote in the 35th minute to break the deadlock, while Murgaokar doubled the tally a minute from the hour mark with a toe poke off Romario's cross from the right flank.

Ahmed Musa has won his milestone 100th Nigeria cap in their World Cup qualification clash with Cape Verde on Tuesday.

Musa was expectedly selected to start in Mindelo as the Super Eagles hope to boost their chances of qualifying for Qatar 2022 against Bubista’s Blue Sharks.

After representing the country at youth level, the speedy forward made his senior debut on August 5, 2010, in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar – coming in as a substitute for ex-Chelsea star John Obi Mikel in the 2-0 win.

But he now becomes the third centurion for Nigeria, moving one short of Super Eagles’ record cap holders Joseph Yobo and Vincent Enyeama who have 101 caps each.

Should the Kano Pillars legend – who has 15 international goals to his credit - feature against the Central African Republic in October, he will join the former Everton and Lille stars in the country’s hallowed ranks.

The Fatih Karagumruk star shot into the international limelight after helping Nigeria U23 win the 2010 Wafu Nations Cup where he scored goals against Benin Republic and Burkina Faso.

His performances saw him invited to the senior national team prior to the 2010 Fifa World Cup, although he did not make the 30-man squad due to an ankle injury.

At the 2011 Fifa U20 World Cup in Colombia, the former Kano Pillars man scored three goals in five matches and he was included by Fifa’s shortlist for the Adidas Golden Ball.

He scored his first goal for the Super Eagles in an international friendly against Kenya in March 2011.

The three-time Russian Premier League winner has gone on to feature for Nigeria at two Afcon championships as well as two Fifa World Cups.

The 28-year-old began his European expedition at Eredivisie side VVV Venlo and his impressive performances at the Dutch side saw him sign for Russian top-flight side CSKA Moscow.

Having won three Premier League titles, one Russian Cup and two Russia Super Cups with the Horses in his four-year spell, he joined Leicester City on July 8, 2016, for a club record of £16.6 million at that time.

Following his inability to tie down a regular place at the King Power Stadium, he was sent back to CSKA Moscow on loan, before teaming up with Al Nassr in 2018 on a permanent deal.

Musa continued his professional career in Turkey after a short stint with boyhood club Kano Pillars.

Solomon Kwambe believes Cape Verde pose the biggest challenge to Nigeria’s 2022 Fifa World Cup ambitions.

The Super Eagles lock horns with the Blue Sharks in continuation of the qualifying campaign on Tuesday at the Estadio Municipal Aderito Sena in Mindelo.

Both teams settled for a 0-0 draw in their only meeting played in 2013 en route Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations triumph in South Africa.

Weighing in his thoughts ahead of Tuesday evening’s showdown, the 2013 Fifa Confederation Cup star warns that Gernot Rohr’s side should be wary of Bubista’s team – which he described as a ‘good side’.

“We played Cape Verde in 2013 before the Africa Cup of Nations and judging by that experience, I can tell you that they are not a bad side,” Kwambe told Goal.

“Although they are not a popular team in Africa, they are a very good side. So, I feel they will be the Super Eagles' major threat in the race to Qatar 2022.

“Even at my thinking, we have to watch out for Liberia and the Central African Republic who can prove difficult and even cause us some troubles.”

One factor that will boost Nigeria’s confidence in Mindelo is the fact that Cape Verde have lost two of their last three World Cup qualification matches played at home.

Given the quality in Rohr’s squad, the FC Tulsa star sees the country making their seventh World Cup appearance in the middle east country.

“The squad now have a lot of talented players and that’s a good sign for the country because these players will serve us with the required energy to win matches,” he continued.

“With luck on our side, I see us picking one of the tickets to represent Africa in Qatar. We began our game on a winning note against Liberia in Lagos and that’s an indication that we are on course to qualify.

“We must avoid complacency and also not look down on other teams in our group. If this is done, then there will be no trouble.

“It is not just about the players and technical crew, every Nigerian have a role to play in this qualification campaign.” 

Luis Enrique says he would happily hand over the reins of the Spain national side if Pep Guardiola wanted to take them on, with the Manchester City boss his pick to fill a demanding role next.

One former Barcelona coach is currently at the Roja helm, with that position filled - a brief break for personal reasons aside - for over three years.

Another could be approached when the time comes for Enrique to step aside, with the 51-year-old saying he would do that now if Guardiola could be prised away from the Etihad Stadium.

What has been said?

Enrique has told reporters ahead of a World Cup qualifying clash for his side against Kosovo on Wednesday: "I'd love that, I wish [Guardiola] was the Spain coach. I'd love it - it would be perfect.

"What's more, I'd love to see our national team with his stamp on them.

"I don't think Spain could have a better coach."

What about the present for Spain?

Spain suffered semi-final penalty shootout heartache against eventual winners Italy at Euro 2020.

They are now back on the road to Qatar 2022, with some new faces being added to the pot alongside established stars.

There are still no Real Madrid representatives in Enrique's ranks, while former Blancos captain Sergio Ramos is still missing after being overlooked for European Championship duty.

On the absence of a World Cup-winning defender that is now at Paris Saint-Germain and the lack of a Real star in his selection, Enrique added: "Unfortunately, [Ramos'] situation is the same. He's not played a single game since [Euro 2020].

"My actions speak louder than words [with regards to Real Madrid players].

"I could only dig myself a hole with an explanation."

Further reading

Cristiano Ronaldo has spent his first day back at Manchester United's Carrington training ground following his £20m ($28m) switch from Juventus on deadline day.

Ronaldo was granted permission to return to Manchester last Thursday after picking up a suspension while on international duty with Portugal.

The 36-year-old had to quarantine for five days upon his return to England, but finally met up with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and a number of his new United team-mates on Tuesday.

More to follow.

Willian has admitted that he "wasn't happy" at Arsenal while explaining his decision to rejoin Corinthians.

Arsenal initially snapped Willian up on a free transfer in the summer of 2020 after his departure from Chelsea, where he had established himself as one of the most consistent midfielders in the Premier League.

The Brazilian was handed a three-year contract at Emirates Stadium, but failed to reach the same high standards in his first season with the Gunners, and ultimately decided to cut short that agreement and head back to his homeland on deadline day.

What's been said?

Willian has now conceded that he didn't enjoy his time with Arsenal and also claims to have chosen a return to Corinthians ahead of a number of other options due to his desire to be closer to his family.

“I really thought about it a lot together with my family and close friends. Unfortunately, my time at Arsenal was not good. I was not happy there," the 33-year-old told Corinthians TV.

"I just wasn’t happy, but I will not go into details. But I thought that it was better to come back to Brazil. I looked into some other opportunities but I wanted to come back to Corinthians.

"I wanted to come back home to be near my family. A club that projected me to the world, that unveiled me and I think now was the right time to come back."

Willian's record at Arsenal

Willian was a regular in Mikel Arteta's starting XI throughout his short time with the Gunners, departing with 37 appearances to his name across all competitions.

The Brazil international was only able to record one goal and seven assists, and was ultimately powerless to prevent Arsenal from slipping out of European competition for the first time in 25 years.

Who else left Arsenal in the summer window?

Willian was one of only two players to leave the Emirates on permanent deals in the summer window, with Joe Willock joining Newcastle for £26 million after a successful loan stint at St James' Park.

Arsenal did sanction a number of other loans, though, with the likes of Matteo Guendouzi, William Saliba, Hector Bellerin and Reiss Nelson heading off to other clubs for the 2021-22 campaign.

Further reading

Ex-Orlando Pirates midfielder Joseph 'Shakira' Kamwendo has urged his former club to be patient with Olisa Ndah and Kwame Peprah.

The Soweto giants recently acquired Ndah, 23, and Peprah, 20, from Nigerian outfit Akwa United and Ghanaian side King Faisal, respectively, during the South African winter transfer window. 

Ndah, who is a Nigeria international, joined Bucs after helping Akwa clinch last season's Nigerian Professional Football League title, while Ghana under-23 international Peprah impressed with his scoring ability in the Ghanaian Premier League.

With much expected from the duo at Pirates, Kamwendo, who was on the books of Buccaneers for four years having joined from Malawian club Might Wanderers, pointed out that patience will be key to the players' success at the Houghton-based giants.

“Players coming to Pirates straight from other countries must be given time to know how things are done at the club," Kamwendo told Sowetan. 

"Pirates is a big club and it’s not easy to just come in and settle… it takes time."

Touted as Pirates' all-time leading goalscorer Benedict Vilakazi's replacement when he arrived in 2007, Kamwendo struggled to cement his place in the team's starting line-up and he was loaned out to Vasco Da Gama for the 2010/11 season, before being released by the club at the end of the same campaign. 

The Malawian football legend, who is currently serving as Malawi national Under-20 side assistant coach, stated that foreign players should be loaned out if they struggle in their first season with the club. 

“The only way to see if the player is good or not is by putting him on the pitch," Kamwendo said having also had spells with Zimbabwean club CAPS United and DR Congolese giants TP Mazembe during his playing days. 

"So I would urge the club to be patient with these kind of new players, maybe after one season you can loan him out if he’s not what you were thinking he is.”

Ndah will be hoping to emulate his countryman William Okpara, who achieved legendary status at Pirates and he is widely considered to be one of the greatest goalkeepers to have played in the PSL.

While Peprah will look to his compatriot Richard Ofori to help him adapt quickly at Pirates with the latter among the top keepers in the country at the moment.

Barcelona's trip to Sevilla on Saturday has been postponed after the High Council for Sports (CSD) sided with La Liga in a battle regarding scheduling in the Spanish top flight.

There had been calls for those welcoming back a number of international performers from every corner of the globe to be given a break before returning to domestic duty - especially those that have Champions League action to come next week.

Those requests were initially ignored, but Barca, Sevilla, Villarreal and Alaves will not be in action this weekend after a CSD ruling in their case.

What has been said?

A statement on Barcelona's official website reads: "High Council for Sports (CSD) has adjudicated in favour of the injunction requested by La Liga to postpone the fixture between Sevilla and Barca set for Saturday 11 September. The game was set to start at 9pm CEST in the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville but will now be played at a later date. 

"The request was made after the Spanish Football Federation's Competition Committee came out against La Liga's wish for the fixtures between Sevilla and Barca and Villarreal and Alaves to be postponed. 

"On 29 August La Liga released a press statement announcing that they have made a request to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to postpone the two games from that week's list of fixtures as well as to modify kick-off times of other fixtures. 

"After the failure of La Liga's injunction against FIFA's decision to prolong the time away of South American international players in the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the decision was taken as there will be players who return to their clubs on Friday after having played three games during the international break and many of them have games on Saturday and Sunday, all of which makes it clear that they will not be in any state to compete on an equal footing."

Who would have been hit hardest?

Barcelona and Villarreal are due to open their respective Champions League group-stage campaigns on Tuesday, meaning that they would need to be in La Liga action on Saturday.

They are, however, yet to absorb international stars back into their ranks.

In South America, Argentina's final game of the latest break will not take place until Thursday evening - the early hours of Friday in Europe - meaning that any players involved in that fixture would be rushed back into club action.

Sevilla would have been hit hardest by that as they have Gonzalo Montiel, Papu Gomez and Marcos Acuna in the Argentine squad.

Further reading

Liverpool have been urged to consider a move for prolific Nigeria international striker Paul Onuachu, with his current employers at Genk talking up a switch to Anfield for the towering 27-year-old.

Jurgen Klopp opted against bolstering his attacking ranks during the summer transfer window, but that situation could change in January.

The Reds are due to lose Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane to the Africa Cup of Nations, while Roberto Firmino remains the only recognised number nine on the club's books.

What has been said?

Genk technical director Dimitri de Conde believes Onuachu should be an option that Klopp and Co are exploring, telling Het Belang van Limburg: "Did you see Liverpool against Chelsea? Liverpool have the best strikers, but none with the same profile as Onuachu.

"He would have scored against 10 men.

"I'm not saying that Paul would play 90 minutes every week in Liverpool, but a club like that could really use him."

Why would Onuachu be of interest?

De Conde is right to suggest that Liverpool do not have a forward of Onuachu's ilk on their books, and have not done since Peter Crouch's time on Merseyside.

Onuachu is six foot seven inches tall, meaning that he provides a considerable threat to opponents in the air and on the deck.

Those qualities were put to good use last season as he registered 35 goals in all competitions, with 33 efforts in the Belgian top flight landing him the Golden Boot.

He has already hit a further three goals in the current campaign and is up to 13 caps for his country.

Onuachu is, of course, another that could be called up for Africa Cup of Nations duty in January, which may put the likes of Liverpool off, but he has seen a move to England mooted in the past and can expect to generate further interest in future windows.

Further reading

Jadon Sancho has vowed not to change his game at Manchester United, with the England international confident that his skill set can be put to good use in the Premier League.

The 21-year-old winger saw his stock soar while on the books of Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund, to the point that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was prepared to invest £73 million ($101m) in his ability.

Sancho is being eased into the fold at Old Trafford, with only one start taken in so far, but he is adamant that qualities which delivered a flurry of goals and assists in Germany can be transferred onto another prominent stage in English football.

What has been said?

Speaking to UMM, Sancho said of linking up with United at the end of a long-running transfer saga: "I haven't stopped smiling. I'm just happy to be here and be part of the Red Devils and the team.

"Especially when I made my debut, the lads have been very good with me and made it easier.

"I'm going to keep playing my game. I'm not going to change what I've been doing over in Germany. I've just got to bring it here and hopefully I can show the fans what I can deliver."

Will Sancho star for Man Utd?

Sancho has been added to an attacking talent pool at Old Trafford that is now overflowing with proven international performers.

Cristiano Ronaldo has become another addition to that group, with the likes of Edinson Cavani, Anthony Martial, Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes already on board.

Sancho is eager to click with those around him as quickly as possible, with a couple of fellow England stars exciting him the most when it comes to "crazy" potential in Manchester.

"That's going to be a crazy link up when Marcus [Rashford] gets back," Sancho added of a man that is currently working his way back from shoulder surgery.

"Obviously I've seen a bit of Mason [Greenwood] recently in training - he's crazy. 

"We're still getting to know each other, obviously movements and things like that, getting our understanding, but it's going to be crazy all three of us on the pitch."

United, with seven points taken from their opening three games this season, will be back in Premier League action on Saturday when playing host to Newcastle.

Further reading