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Orlando Pirates legend Edward Motale has dissected the local giants' problems ahead of their clash with Swallows FC in the Soweto Derby encounter on Saturday.

The two teams are set to collide in the PSL match at Orlando Stadium with Pirates winless in the current season having recorded two draws and one defeat, which came against Swallows in the MTN8 quarter-finals last month.

Motale feels that the Buccaneers tend to underestimate the Beautiful Birds, who are undefeated in their last five competitive matches against Bucs.

“I won’t say they are struggling against them. What I saw, especially their game in the MTN8, Pirates undermined Swallows, [feeling] that they have a new team, they have youngsters,” Motale told Sowetan.

"You could see their body language when they entered the field. They thought it would be a walkover and were shocked. Swallows are one team once you score first, they are good at coming back.

“They [Swallows] played 20 draws last season, most of them coming from a deficit," the retired defender explained. 

“I would say underestimating them has been Pirates' downfall, but I think now they have learnt their lessons and in a hard way. I think it will be a different ball game on Saturday.”

The two Soweto teams met twice in the league last season with both matches ending in a 1-1 draw at Orlando Stadium and Dobsonville Stadium.

Motale feels that Pirates' interim co-coaches Mandla Ncikazi and Fadlu Davids will be under pressure when the team faces the Beautiful Birds as they have not won a match since Josef Zinnbauer left last month.

“I would say they are under pressure in a sense that they have not won any game yet, but let’s give them time. Maybe their first win will give them a confidence booster,” he said.

“I believe results will come soon. There is this mentality every time they play small teams, they take them for granted. That’s what has been killing them.”

The last time Pirates defeated Swallows was in March 2014 with Tlou Segolela scoring the goal which inspired the Buccaneers to a 1-0 win over the Beautiful Birds in a PSL match at Orlando Stadium.

Marcus Bent has tipped Nigeria prospect Ademola Lookman to become an even better player at Leicester City.

The 23-year-old winger joined the Foxes on loan from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig during transfer deadline day after playing for Fulham last season.

At Fulham, he managed four goals in 35 appearances and according to Bent, who played for several clubs in the Premier League, including Leicester and Everton, the player will improve under the watchful eyes of manager Brendan Rodgers.

“Although Fulham didn’t do well last season, Lookman scored some goals. He is going into a team who are doing really well and playing good football,” Bent said as quoted by Football FanCast.

“Brendan is a good manager with good backroom staff.

“I don’t think he’s going to be a first-team player just yet but, learning from the players on the training ground and backroom staff, I think he will grow and become a good player.”

On signing for Leicester, Lookman, who has already turned out for England at U19, U20, and U21 level, told the club’s official website: “Most definitely, I’m delighted to be here.

“It’s a great honour to be at such a big and amazing club with such a huge history and a quality group of players.

“The facilities are incredible. It’s pretty mind-blowing and I just can’t wait to get to work here. I think the environment is very important for a player, so this is the right environment for me to work hard every single day and to help my craft be even better.

“I’m very, very excited to see the fans and to be in the stadium with a lot of fans. I’m just looking forward to playing out there with my new teammates and doing the best I can and hopefully getting lots of goals and assists for the team. I’ll try to help the team in any way.”

Lookman, who is eligible to feature for Nigeria at international level, joined a list of African players at Leicester, among them Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria), Patson Daka (Zambia), Wilfred Ndidi (Nigeria), Daniel Amartey (Ghana), and Nampalys Mendy (Senegal).

Lookman was born in England to Nigerian parents and is eligible for the national teams of both countries.

Gerard Pique has hinted that the 2021-22 campaign could be his last, with the World Cup-winning defender vowing to retire as a Barcelona player.

Spells at Camp Nou are set to bookend a remarkable career for the 34-year-old centre-half, with time in the famed La Masia academy ranks followed by a four-year stint at Manchester United.

Pique has been back at Camp Nou since 2008, taking in 568 appearances for Barcelona, and as talk builds of him becoming a possible club president of the future, thoughts are starting to turn towards life after football.

What has been said?

Discussing his future plans with La Sotana, Pique said: "I will retire at Barca. 

"This could be the last season, yes. I go year after year, so I cannot guarantee that I will be there next season. The day I feel that I can’t help Barca anymore, I will retire."

During his time in Catalunya, a man with 102 caps for Spain to his name has collected eight La Liga titles and three Champions League crowns to sit alongside the European Championship and World Cup successes he has savoured with his country.

Are Barcelona in a bad way?

While Pique remains committed to the Barca playing cause for now, the 2021-22 campaign is shaping up to be a testing one for those at Camp Nou.

Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann have made high-profile departures, with books needing to be balanced in Catalunya, and the Liga heavyweights are paying the price for mismanagement off the field.

Pique admits as much, with serious questions asked of how former president Josep Maria Bartomeu allowed such a mess to materialise.

Asked if Bartomeu is the worst candidate to ever fill a prominent post at Barca, Pique said: "I don’t know if he was the worst, but for me, during my time, he’s on the list for sure. 

"We all make mistakes, but in his time Barca weren’t where they should be."

Is the future looking brighter?

While Barca are having to rebuild at present, there is still enough quality on their books to compete for major honours.

They also have an experienced coach at the helm in the form of Ronald Koeman, who knows all about the demands of the club from his playing days, and Pique believes there will be better days to come.

He added: "I’m excited. The next five or 10 years will be very good for Barca."

Further reading

Gor Mahia sporting director Omondi Aduda believes Kenya can perform better in the remaining 2022 World Cup qualifiers with proper preparatory matches.

The Harambee Stars started their campaign with a stalemate at home against Uganda last Thursday, before settling to a 1-1 draw away to Rwanda on Monday.

Prior to their first Group E match, the Cranes had played Ethiopia in a friendly match and lost 2-1.

This was after Amavubi managed to play a double-header build-up match against the Central African Republic and secured an aggregate 7-0 win. However, it was not the same case with Kenya, as the administrator explains.

What did Aduda say?

"After Sunday's result, we have a two-point drift between us [Kenya] and Mali. A lot needs to be done for Stars to get a positive outcome in the forthcoming matches," the Gor Mahia official told Goal.

"The day they made a decision to relieve [Francis] Kimanzi and bring [Jacob 'Ghost'] Mulee, I believe, in their wisdom, they did that in good faith. They need to have proper preparations ahead of the remaining World Cup qualifiers. 

"Stars need preparatory matches; while others were playing meaningful build-up matches, Kenya played against Tusker and won by a solitary goal courtesy of a Tusker player [Boniface Muchiri] as well.

"From the two matches [against Uganda and Rwanda], we can gauge where our weaknesses are and what needs to be done. Then the deciding trajectory will be very clear with the double-header against Mali."

Mulee optimistic despite consecutive draws 

Meanwhile, Harambee Stars head coach Jacob Mulee insists the team is still in the race to Qatar despite failing to get maximum points away to Nyamirambo Stadium in Rwanda last weekend.

Kenya are second with two points, with Uganda and Rwanda following while Mali are at the summit with four.

"It is our second game and Rwanda is a good side and we have seen the way they played in the second half, they enjoyed the pace and possession but I think we scored the first goal then we lost concentration and conceded from a corner to allow them into the game,” Mulee told Goal. 

"But we also looked into the game; we created a lot of chances mostly from our captain, yes he scored a goal but he also had other opportunities to score a second goal and we can blame this draw on lack of utilising our chances in this game.

"Otherwise it is not fair because looking at both sides not having won their first games and coming back to Rwanda and we pick up a point, it is tight but we are still in the race for the World Cup, it is just not done yet, so we are still on, two games played and we go to Morocco for the Mali game and that will determine which way it will go."

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has admitted that efforts were made to take Neymar back to Camp Nou when he returned to office in Catalunya, with the Paris Saint-Germain forward making it clear that he "wanted to come".

Ever since the Brazil international left La Liga giants for Ligue 1 heavyweights as part of a record-breaking €222 million (£195m/$240m) transfer package in 2017, a return to Spanish soil has been speculated on.

Neymar was said to be keen on reuniting with Lionel Messi - which has subsequently happened in France - and Barca left a door open for a familiar face prior to him signing a new contract at Parc des Princes.

What has been said?

Laporta, who was voted in as Barca president for a second time in March, has told Esport3 when asked if sights were set on a South American superstar when he returned to Camp Nou as successor to Josep Maria Bartomeu: "Yes, we tried to sign Neymar again. 

"He contacted us and wanted to come."

Neymar eventually committed to a new contract at PSG in May, with that deal set to keep him in the French capital until the summer of 2025.

What about Ansu Fati's future?

While Neymar never returned and Messi has left Barcelona during a summer of serious cost-cutting, Laporta is not prepared to part with other prized assets.

Antoine Griezmann is another that has been allowed to move on, with the French forward heading back to Atletico Madrid, but the Blaugrana have high hopes for La Masia graduate Ansu Fati.

The 18-year-old suffered serious injury problems last season, but he is back now and has inherited the famous No.10 jersey that Messi vacated upon his departure.

Laporta insists the highly-rated Spain international will not be offloaded any time soon, with there no substance to reports suggesting that he could be used to free up more funds.

"These are lies. Never," Laporta added.

"Ansu has been brave, he has accepted to wear the number 10 shirt."

Will Barcelona add again?

With books being balanced in Catalunya, the hope is that Barca will soon be able to turn their attention back to bringing top talents onto their books.

Laporta is confident that will be the case, with the plan being to dip into the transfer market during 2022 for players that can take an ambitious outfit back to the top of domestic and continental games.

"Next year we will be able to sign more normally and have more ambitious goals," Laporta added, with Barca already one of the clubs said to be keeping a close eye on Erling Haaland's situation at Borussia Dortmund.

Further reading

Barcelona president Joan Laporta says Lionel Messi could not have been retained even if Antoine Griezmann's return to Atletico Madrid had been pushed through sooner, with those at Camp Nou still coming to terms with the "sad" events of a hectic summer.

The Blaugrana knew that they were being backed into a corner when it came to Messi's future, with the six-time Ballon d'Or winner running down the final year of his contract.

Fresh terms were agreed with the iconic Argentine, but paperwork was never signed and Laporta - who has overseen a serious cost-cutting exercise in Camp Nou - admits it is "strange" to see the club legend turning out for Paris Saint-Germain.

What has been said?

Laporta told Esport3 on Messi's departure and how nothing could have changed that course of events, even with big earners moving on and others accepting pay cuts: "What happened is what has been explained.

"There is objective data. Everyone can compare it. We were pressured that we would either sign the CVC loan [deal] or there is no fair play.

"There was no margin. There was a pre-agreement [with Messi] and we had shaken hands. There were several agreements and La Liga seemed to accept it, but then they said no without CVC. We didn't think that the situation was going to improve and we put an end to it.

"Messi could not have stayed even with Griezmann's [departure] and with the salary reduction of the captains. But it is important that we have lowered the salary cap because next year we can be more ambitious.

"I think we were both sad because the situation was not what we wanted. I have not spoken with Messi since. I saw his debut with PSG and it was strange to see him at another team, rivals. I did not like seeing him in another shirt."

Is the future brighter for Barcelona?

While Barca have been forced to part with Messi and Griezmann, among others, Laporta is confident that building blocks are being put in place that will allow a brighter future to be constructed at Camp Nou.

He added: "The reduction [of the expenditure] is important, [as] we have gone from 110 to 80 per cent.

"I want to congratulate the executives and the financial department of Barcelona for their work, and all those who have worked tirelessly and extraordinarily.

"And we have some heroes in [Gerard] Pique, [Jordi] Alba, [Sergio] Busquets and we will seal [the deal with] Sergi Roberto.

"What they have done is admirable. They are committed to the club, to the members. It is admirable. And we will continue with other players, such as [Samuel] Umtiti and others from the first team. We are in a process that is not easy.

"First the captains have set an example, and now we will continue with others."

Further reading

Gor Mahia have maintained they have not given up on signing midfielder Francis Kahata but only if two things happen before the transfer window shuts.

Kahata, who is a free agent after leaving Simba SC of Tanzania, is among the players being targeted by the former FKF Premier League champions as they look to strengthen the squad ahead of next season.

However, the deal to sign the player hit a snag on August 22 after the club claimed the player’s asking price was too much for them to afford.

Gor Mahia official Omondi Aduda has confirmed to Goal they are still open to signing the 30-year-old midfielder but only if he revises his asking price and secondly if the club gets the amount he is asking for.

What did Aduda say?

“We have not shut the door closed for Kahata, no…we only pulled ourselves out of the deal because the money he was asking for was too high,” Aduda told Goal on Tuesday.

“But we are still open to signing him [Kahata].

“We only have two options that can bring him back to Gor Mahia and option one is if the player revises downward his asking price and option two is whether Gor Mahia can get what he is asking for without being revised, then we will pay him to come.

“For now we don’t have such an amount to spend on one player, we need to strengthen in many areas and what Kahata is asking for can help us to sign at least three quality players, but he has a right to ask for what he asked, we don’t have a problem with that, our problem is we don’t have money to afford him.”

In a recent interview, Aduda confirmed to Goal why the deal to sign Kahata had hit a snag: “If you have Ksh10 million and you want to use it to sign seven players but one player wants the whole amount as his sign-on fee, is that going to be possible?

“We don’t have enough money to sign players and the little we have must be able to give us five or seven quality signings but if one player is asking to take the entire amount we have for signings, will it work?

“It will not be possible and it is the reason we have not made any progress in terms of bringing back Francis [Kahata].

Kahata left Gor Mahia at the end of the 2019 season to join Simba but after serving them for two seasons, he left the Msimbazi giants on June 3.

Further FKF Premier League reading 

Tottenham winger Lucas Moura has revealed his intention to return to Sao Paulo, admitting "I want to play for the club of my heart again".

Moura has been a key player for Spurs since completing a £25 million ($35m) switch from Paris Saint-Germain in January 2018, helping the club compete at the top of the Premier League and reach their first Champions League final.

However, the Brazilian only has two years left to run on his current contract and has now admitted that he harbours ambitions to head back to Sao Paulo - where he initially began his career back in 2010.

What's been said?

Moura spent two years at Arena Corinthians before joining PSG and feels he still has unfinished business with the club, as he told ESPN: “It’s in my plans to go back to Brazil, back to Sao Paulo.

"I never hid it from anyone, I never hid the affection and love I feel for Sao Paulo.

“When I left Sao Paulo, I said I wanted to stay for 10 years in Europe. Come rain, come shine, my goal, my plan is to stay 10 years.

“I do have a plan to go back to Sao Paulo. I want to feel again what it’s like to play at Morumbi, wear that shirt, the club of my heart. But I still have wood to burn. I’m feeling very good physically."

How soon will Moura leave Spurs?

Moura did go on to insist that he plans to stick around at Spurs for a while yet, though, having yet to pick up his first piece of silverware with the north London outfit.

Pressed on whether he could seek a transfer before his contract expires in 2023, the 29-year-old added: “I’m playing in a big league, in a big club. I have the goal of winning a title with Tottenham, which I haven’t achieved yet. I still have some goals to achieve here.”

What's next?

Moura has racked up 161 appearances across all competitions for Tottenham to date, including three Premier League outings at the start of the 2021-22 season.

The former PSG star has also recorded 32 goals and 19 assists, with it highly likely he will have the chance to add to that tally when Nuno Espirito Santo's side take in a trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Further reading

There is a "better environment" at Real Madrid this season, according to Gareth Bale, who says he is "more comfortable with the playing style" under Carlo Ancelotti.

Bale has enjoyed great success over the past eight years at Santiago Bernabeu, having initially been snapped up from Tottenham in 2013, winning two Liga titles and four Champions Leagues among a whole host of other major honours.

The Welshman fell out of favour during Zinedine Zidane's second spell in charge and ended up returning to Spurs on loan in 2020-21, but he is now back at Real for the final year of his contract and says he is enjoying a new lease of life with Ancelotti at the helm.

What's been said?

Asked whether his time spent on loan at Tottenham helped him mentally before Euro 2020 and his latest pre-season at the Bernabeu,  Bale told a press conference during the latest international break: "I think that showed coming back with Wales in the Euros.

"I have brought that into Real Madrid this season, where there is a better environment for myself. Every player will tell you if they're in a happier place mentally, then physically they are going to feel better and perform better.

"I'm playing and a bit happier and a bit more comfortable with the playing style of Real Madrid."

Bale on Ancelotti

The 32-year-old went on to discuss his relationship with Ancelotti, who he previously worked with at Real between 2013 and 2015.

Bale is delighted to have reunited with the Italian head coach, but insists he will only be guaranteed a regular spot in his team if he can keep performing to a high level on a consistent basis.

"I've always had a great relationship with Carlo," he added. "But it is always the same: you have to perform to get into the team. I had a good pre-season and a good start to the season. In football, you just have to play well and the perception changes very quickly."

What's next?

Bale has appeared in all three of Real's league games at the start of the new season, scoring once, and will be back in contention for a place in Ancelotti's line-up when they play host to Celta Vigo on Sunday.

The Blancos will turn their attention to the Champions League three days later, with an opening Group D clash against Serie A champions Inter on the cards.

Further reading

South Africa claimed a well-deserved 1-0 win over Ghana in the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifier at FNB Stadium on Monday evening.

Bongokuhle Hlongwane's late strike helped end Bafana Bafana's five-match winless run against the Black Stars across all competitions.

The victory also took South Africa to the top of their qualifying group (Group G) with four matches left, but some Bafana fans already believe that the team will go all the way and qualify for next year's World Cup.

Only the 10 group winners will advance to the third and final round of qualifying, which will decide which five teams go on to the finals hosted by Qatar next year.

Nevertheless, some South African fans believe that coach Hugo Broos' side has what it takes to not only qualify for the global tournament, but to go all the way to the final.

Check out how Twitter reacted to Bafana's narrow win over Ghana:

Ghana prospect Joe Dodoo has sealed a transfer from Wigan Athletic to League One side Doncaster Rovers.

Dodoo is eligible to represent England or Ghana internationally. In March 2013, Dodoo was called up to the England U18 team and played in a match against Belgium.

On May 20, 2016, he was called up to the Ghana squad for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Mauritius, but since he required Fifa to approve his change of nationality, he was unable to play, but trained with the squad.

"Rovers have completed the signing of experienced striker Joe Dodoo on a two-year deal,” the club confirmed on their official website.

“The 26-year-old arrives having made more than 100 appearances in the English game.

“Dodoo started his career with Leicester City, where he worked with current Rovers boss Richie Wellens at the King Power Stadium.

“He left the Foxes to join Scottish giants Rangers in 2016, and went on to make 24 appearances during his time at Ibrox, and also spent periods on loan at Charlton Athletic and Blackpool respectively.”

“The 6ft front-man has spent the past two seasons in Sky Bet League One with Bolton Wanderers and Wigan, and scored for both clubs against Rovers in each of his outings at the Keepmoat Stadium.

“He scored four goals and assisted a further three in 12 starts for the Latics last season.”

Speaking after signing the deal, Dodoo said: “It feels good to be here. I’ve always admired the way Doncaster play. I spoke to the manager and the club has ambition so I’m happy to be part of it. 

“The manager wants to play football, he wants to win. He wants to make sure the club does good things, so the ambition of the club and the style of play is what brought me here.”

On his reunion with Wellens, who handled him at Leicester, Dodoo said: “I was at Leicester with the manager so we know each other quite well. When the opportunity came for me to join here, things happened quite quickly,” he added. 

“Speaking to the manager just makes me want to be part of things and it makes it quite easy to collaborate together. 

“Every player wants to settle down and find somewhere that they can play their best football. Signing a two-year deal shows that I want to be here and do well for the club. I’m looking forward to it.”

Dodoo could make his Rovers debut in the Papa John’s Trophy tie at home to Rotherham United on Tuesday night.

Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee is not the right coach to take the Harambee Stars to the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar, according to the majority of Goal readers in Kenya.

The tactician is currently under pressure, early in the campaign, after collecting just two points from two winnable matches against Uganda and Rwanda.

 As a result, the Stars are second in Group E behind leaders Mali, who have four points after a win and a draw against Rwanda and Uganda, respectively.
 

In a poll set up on the Goal Africa Twitter account, readers revealed their opinions on the coach, who doubles up as a radio presenter. Some 64% of the voters believe the tactician cannot take Kenya to Qatar, while 36% think otherwise.

The tactician took over from Francis Kimanzi, who was fired in October 2020, a year after taking over from Frenchman Sebastien Migne, who was sacked after the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations held in Egypt , where Kenya failed to advance to the knockout phase.

After being appointed, Mulee has led Kenya in six competitive matches, winning just one. It started with the 2021 Afcon qualifiers where the Harambee Stars were held to 1-1 draws in Kenya by Egypt and Comoros.

He lost 2-1 away to the latter before winning by the same margin against Togo to finish third in Group G and fail to qualify for the biennial competition to be held in Cameroon next year.

Before the matches started, the tactician insisted he is optimistic the Harambee Stars will qualify for the World Cup.

"If I didn’t have hope [that Kenya will reach World Cup finals in Qatar], then I couldn’t have taken this job, always when I wake up every morning I have the hashtag #WC2022 as a reminder and I know God willing we will be there," Mulee told Arocho Live. 

"I have checked our opponents and with the plans I have already put in place, and with the support of the federation, I know we can make it and we will qualify."

Kenya will now play back-to-back matches against Mali in October before hosting Rwanda and finishing their group stage World Cup qualifying campaign away to Uganda.

Daniel James admits fears over his lack of game time at Manchester United led to him taking "safe" options, with the Wales international conceding that he was playing a "dangerous" game prior to sealing a summer switch to Leeds.

The 23-year-old forward took in 74 appearances across two full seasons at Old Trafford, scoring nine goals, but he was never a guaranteed starter and faced fierce competition for places throughout his time with Premier League heavyweights.

He accepts that overthinking his role in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's plans contributed to changes in his game that reined in his best asset - searing pace - with the intention being to unlock those qualities again after securing a move to Elland Road.

What has been said?

James has told The Telegraph of becoming risk-averse at Old Trafford: "I think everyone goes through part of their career where you don’t realise something is happening until you look back and have good people around you to analyse that.

"I started thinking, ‘What does he do that I can do?’ rather than thinking just about my game and being myself. It got to the point where I was being a bit safe in games.

"I got bought for my direct play, running in behind, running with the ball, trying things and not being afraid to lose the ball but slowly I started to come away from that and play a little safe.

"When I stepped back it was remembering to be direct, to be that person. 

"Safe is dangerous in the position I play. You’re not there to do that - you’re there to score goals and make assists and run yourself into the ground on and off the ball."

Will James discover his spark at Leeds?

Marcelo Bielsa has finally got his man having previously come close to doing a deal for James during the winter transfer window of 2019.

Leeds fans have always been good to the Welshman since seeing a deadline day move break down, with a fresh start now being embraced by all concerned in 2021-22.

James added on his fresh start: "Two-and-a-half years ago I nearly signed for the club and a couple of weeks later I played there with Swansea and had goosebumps that day because I’ve never experienced in a game someone chanting an opposition player’s name.

"It was a moment where you’re almost floating above your body and thinking ‘Is this actually happening?’. I remember coming off and getting a bigger applause than when [the Leeds striker] Patrick Bamford came off soon after.

"So going through that, having been on the other team then, it’s going to be great to see what it’s like now I’m actually playing for Leeds. I can’t wait to be at Elland Road."

Leeds will be back in Premier League action on Sunday when playing host to Liverpool, with James in line to make his debut in that contest.

Further reading

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy believes Mohamed Salah is the only player who can replace Kylian Mbappe at PSG.

The French international has been linked with a move to Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid next summer.

It will be a tall order for the Parisians to find a replacement for the talented World Cup winner, but the 44-year-old believes the solution lies with the Merseyside team.

With the Egypt international's contract with the Reds in its final two years, they are yet to tie him to a new long-term deal.

"Mo Salah is not the type of person who is going to start demanding double what anyone else is earning at the football club. I would be very surprised if that was the case, but never say never," Murphy said as quoted by talkSPORT.

"If Mbappe goes next summer, PSG will want to replace Mbappe with a superstar who can score goals. There are not many better than Salah.

"I would hope not [that he would want to leave for PSG], it’s very difficult for me to give perspective on this because would I ever leave Liverpool to go PSG? No, because Liverpool is my team.

"Mo Salah in the past, there have been some rumours about wanting to play in Spain. But if you are talking about playing in Spain to fulfil a childhood dream, it is very different from being greedy...

"Salah does not seem unhappy, he seems when you watch him play that he is still full of beans, full of energy, full of appetite and desire. He does not look like a player who is bored of where he is, who has lost his desire to be the best.

"He looks bang at it again. It wouldn’t surprise me if in the next two months that deal [his new Liverpool contract] is done."

This season, the 29-year-old has started the Premier League campaign well and in the three matches played, he has managed two goals and as many assists to ensure Liverpool are fifth on the table with seven points, two fewer than Tottenham Hotspur. 

Nigeria continue their journey towards qualifying for the 2022 Fifa World Cup Qatar with an away fixture versus Cape Verde on Tuesday.

The Super Eagles commenced their campaign on a winning note – defeating Liberia 2-0 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on Friday – with Kelechi Iheanacho bagging a first-half brace.

Victory over the Blue Sharks will brighten the three-time African champions’ ambition of qualifying for a seventh World Cup, in Qatar next year.

Bubista’s team, on their part, began their race for a maiden appearance with an impressive 1-1 away draw against the Central African Republic.

Despite taking a 36th minute lead through Julio Tavares inside Stade de la Reunification, they let their hosts restore parity courtesy of Tresor Toropite's effort seven minutes before the hour mark.

Although this is the first time the two teams would be meeting in a competitive match, Cape Verde would be hoping to make home ground advantage count against the West Africans who are without their Premier League stars.

TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch

For Nigerian readers, get your fix on the latest football on TV here! For those across the globe, that is also the place to be.

Also, the game can be watched live on TV through AIT and it can be streamed online courtesy of the NFF streaming platform. 

Squads & Team News

Potential Nigeria XI: Okoye, Omeruo, Awaziem, Shehu, Sanusi, Bonke, Michael, Kalu, Simon, Onyekuru, Osimhen

Potential Cape Verde XI: Vozinha, Stopira, Lopes, Furtado, Ponck, Tavares, Andrade, Furtado, Santos, Mendes, J. Tavares

Betting & Match Odds

Nigeria are 2.30 favourites to win with Betking. Cape Verde's chances of winning are rated at 3.40 and a draw is available at 2.85

Click here to see all of Betking's offers for the game, including goalscoring markets, correct score predictions and more.

Match Preview

This is the second time Nigeria and Cape Verde will be meeting at international level.

En route to participating in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations – where they emerged as African kings – the Super Eagles played out a 0-0 draw in a friendly match with the Blue Sharks at the Estadio Do Algarve.

Heading into this game, coach Rohr knows that there is no margin for error if they are to avoid a tortuous route to Qatar.

Although he will be without the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi and William Troost-Ekong due to Covid restriction in the United Kingdom, the German tactician boasts of quality in his squad to serve as replacements.

While addressing the media, former Burkina Faso handler stated that his ‘Super Commando’ Eagles can turn the tides against a highly defensive Cape Verde side. 

“They like to play quickly in the attack, they have wonderful players like Mendes, they have players in France, and they have offensive players,” he said.

“They like to set up with three at the back and we know they like to defend, but we have our idea, and we have our tactics to score goals and win the game.

“I know it won’t be easy with our situation, but we are a super commando, and we have to show our fighting spirit.”

The 2021 SAFF Championship will kick off on October 1 in Maldives. India will be vying for the title along with Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and hosts Maldives. However, Bhutan has refrained from participating due to travel restrictions imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, whereas Pakistan FA remains suspended by FIFA since April 7, 2021, due to third-party interference. 

This will be the 13th edition of the biennial international men's football championship. The Blue Tigers are the record champions in SAFF Championship as they have won it seven times. They have played 52 matches winning 34 games, drawing 10, and losing on eight occasions. 

Against Maldives, India have scored 22 times, the most number of goals against any SAFF nation. Let us see how Indian goal scorers, from IM Vijayan to Sunil Chhetri, have fared against the South Asian nations. 

From the table, we find that IM Vijayan has scored the most number of goals (4) against Pakistan. Meanwhile, against Afghanistan, Sunil Chhetri has netted the most number of goals (3) along with Jeje Lalpekhlua. Chhetri is also the highest scorer against Bhutan with three goals. 

Bhaichung Bhutia leads the charts against Bangladesh with his three strikes. He and Chhetri both have scored thrice against Maldives to occupy pole position. The former Indian captain is also the most successful striker against Sri Lanka along with Robin Singh as both of them have two goals. 
Against Nepal, five players are tied with two goals each. They are Mehtab Hossain, Sushil Kumar Singh, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Chhetri and Bhutia. 
 

However, there are several other goal scorers who have netted only once for India in the SAFF Championship. They are as follows: