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Diego Simeone had no complaints about the manner of Atletico Madrid's Champions League exit, insisting his team gave their all but RB Leipzig deserved victory.

Leipzig stunned Atletico with a 2-1 triumph in Lisbon on Thursday as Tyler Adams hit a late, deflected winner to push the German side into the next round.

Joao Felix had earlier cancelled out Dani Olmo's opener from the penalty spot, but Atletico struggled to break down the Bundesliga side and were carved open too often going the other way.

Eventually, the Spanish side broke down, with Adams firing home a deflected 88th-minute winner to seal the victory for RB Leipzig.

As a result, the club advanced to the club's first-ever Champions League semi-final, with the German side only being founded just 11 years ago.

Despite the defeat, Simeone simply offered his congratulations to Leipzig as they advanced to set up a semi-final meeting with Paris Saint-Germain.

"We gave it everything we had," he told Movistar. "It was difficult for us to win the duels and they were faster.

"It has been a long year, with those 60 days off. Then there was pressure coming back to the Champions League. We had one week off then back to training.

"We haven't been able to play the way we wanted. I liked Leipzig. They had great determination, enthusiasm and freshness. That cost us. There are no excuses.

"We gave our best and made it to the quarter-finals. We are going out fairly and we have to congratulate our opponents."

Atletico midfielder Saul also acknowledged the scale of the disappointment for the club's supporters in Lisbon on Thursday.

"The opponents were superior in many phases of the game," the Spain international said post-game.

"We were very excited. The fans deserved more. We had a point of hope and we are very sorry."

The Champions League will continue on Friday as Bayern Munich face off with Barcelona in the third quarter-final matchup.

After that, the winner of that match will take on the winner of Manchester City's match against Lyon for the right to play either Leipzig or PSG in the tournament finale. 

Arturo Vidal has declared Barcelona are the best team in the world and that they are determined to show it against Bayern Munich in their Champions League quarter-final on Friday. 

The Catalan side finished second in La Liga this season behind fierce rivals Real Madrid after a stuttering end to their domestic campaign. 

Quique Setien's side did manage to beat Napoli in their Champions League last-16 tie however to set up a mouth-watering clash with Bayern. 

The Bundesliga champions head into the match as favourites after smashing Chelsea, but Vidal was quick to point out that he believes Barca are the best team in the world and can cause Hansi Flick's side problems. 

"I heard something but did not pay much attention, I know the Bayern players and what is being said outside is not what they think, tomorrow they are not playing against the Bundesliga teams but against Barcelona, ​​the best team in the world," Vidal said. 

"I understand the fans' doubt, in the league we did not reflect our level and that is why we lost, but we have Leo and other great players, that is why I say that we are the best team in the world and tomorrow we want to show it.

"I don't know if I deserve to be a starter, I think we all want to play and it is the coach who must choose who starts."

On Bayern, Vidal added: "They are champions in the Bundesliga and won the Cup but we are Barcelona and if we do what we know how to do, we will surely progress, we will try to leave everything on the field."

The Chilean is also a fan of the Champions quarter-final being decided in one match rather than across two legs - a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

"I like it, in Latin America it is played like this and it is very entertaining," he said.

"The teams go out to show more, when there are two games in the first they get far behind and the show is not so good, tomorrow it will be very nice."

Vidal also recently weighed in on the debate over Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski with the in-form duo set to face off on Friday. 

Highlands Park coach Owen Da Gama confirms he has been told of interest for his striker Peter Shalulile, who was wanted by an unnamed Egyptian club.

‘ODG’ says there is nothing he can do if management decides to sell some of his key players, suggesting that at the end of the day, it’s all about business.

With the MTN8 losing finalists rumoured to be on sale and that TS Galaxy owner Tim Sukazi is set to buy the club, Da Gama says he has no idea about such reports including interest from his top players.

“I’m not so sure about the sale of players, nothing has been communicated to me regarding the sale of the players, nothing has been spoken to me and nobody has even mentioned anything of that kind to me,” Da Gama told the media.

“I just heard there was an Egyptian club that was interested in Shalulile. But apart from that, nothing has come to the fore. Nobody has ever come to me and said to me there are teams interested in this or in that player.

“So, you know I can only cross that bridge when I get to that. If I’m told or the management decides if they want to sell a player there’s absolutely nothing I can do, I’m just employed like anybody else.

"I’ll give my pennies worth [two pennies worth] but at the end of the day if it’s a financial thing, then there’s nothing I can do about it.”

The former Bafana Bafana manager also confirms interest from Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) as the new Bidvest Wits owners look to secure Gavin Hunt’s successor.

“Somebody called from TTM and I made it clear I’m under contract at Highlands Park and if there’s anything they require because I’m contracted to Highlands Park, they should speak to Highlands Park but they have not done that as yet,” added Da Gama.

“I’m in a situation where I want to win things, I want to build things and you can’t build a team for two seasons, move away and build a team for two seasons.

“You want to build a team that can compete with the top five. Yes, I’m very ambitious but I want Highlands Park to do well. I think they’ve got the capacity and, we’ve got the backing from the directors and I definitely think we can still do better than where we are.

“I still believe Highlands Park has tremendous potential, we have already built a very solid foundation at Highlands Park and it’s truly my ambition to see if I can achieve more with Highlands Park.”

Mtibwa Sugar have released nine players as they rebuild their squad for the new season.

Goal can reveal the Sugar Millers coach Meck Maxime has given out a list of nine players, he wants to leave the club as he prepares to sign the new faces before the new season kicks off on September 6.

The players axed include: - Juma Nyosso, Ally Shomary, Juma Shemvuni, Majidi Bakari, Frank Ikobela, Evarist Mujwahuki, Kelvin Sabato and Geoffrey Mwashiuya.

“It is true we have released the nine players as listed above and we are planning to sign the same number ahead of the new season,” Mtibwa official Ally Masoud told Goal.

“Those released is as per the recommendation made by our coach Meck [Maxime] and we have to respect what the technical bench wants us to do, we will now start looking for new players elsewhere.

“On behalf of Mtibwa, I also want to wish the nine players all the best in their future assignments.”

The Sugar Millers finished the last campaign in position 14 after managing to secure 45 points, and it was three places below the relegation line.

Lipuli FC, Ndanda FC and Singida United were also relegated to the lower-tier league.

Earlier on Thursday, Mtibwa also lost one of their key midfielders Abdulhalim Humud, who signed for Namungo FC.

The 33-year-old helped the Sugar Millers escape relegation, and his experience is what has enticed the Lindi-based side to go for his services. With the club set for bigger challenges next season, they have decided to bolster their squad.

Namungo FC will represent Tanzania in the Caf Confederation Cup next season.

The team finished fourth in the league after getting 17 wins in the 38 matches played, 13 draws, and eight losses to finish the season with 63 points. 

They earned the right to play on the continent after reaching the finals of the FA Cup. Despite losing the game 2-1, Namungo qualified since Simba had won the league and were eligible to play in the Caf Champions League.

In that final game, Captain John Bocco and Man of the Match Luis Miquissone provided the vital goals that ensured the Dar es Salaam side head back home as the champions for the FA competition.

Summer transfer window season has been hotting up, with Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech's transfers to Chelsea already proving to be high-profile business.

More star-studded transfers are sure to unfold across Europe, with the summer transfer window's end having been pushed back a month due to the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak.

But could this summer's transfers be included in the release of FIFA 21, which will be launched this October? Goal takes a look.

FIFA 21 is set to be released on October 9, 2020, while the European summer transfer window will end a few days earlier on October 5  in line with UEFA's recommendation due to the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on football.

The transfer window across Europe was originally set to open on June 10, closing on September 1, so it will effectively be pushed back a month.

This means that while FIFA 21 could have a large majority of completed early summer transfers already in their system, a number of deals completed on or around deadline day could be added to the game by way of multiple updates.

Deals that were completed in the beginning stages of the transfer window, such as Werner to Chelsea or Leroy Sane to Bayern, for example, would likely already be in the game, while fresher transfers could be added with each update.

Those who decide to pre-order the hard copy of the game are sure to have the least updated version of transfers in the system.

EA Sports have updated their summer transfers on their system through free regular updates in previous iterations of the game, stating ahead of the release of FIFA 19:

"With the Summer Transfer Market in full swing, we have commenced moving players from their old squads to their new ones. Over the course of the next few months, as player transfers are approved in the real-world we will make those same changes in FIFA Ultimate Team.

"We will make these changes as quickly as possible, so expect multiple updates throughout July and August.

"Please note that this only applies to new items found in packs. If you obtained a player item prior to their transfer, their item will not change while in your collection."

FIFA 21 will be released on October 9, 2020.

Robert Lewandowski is a great player, according to Barcelona boss Quique Setien – but he’s no Lionel Messi.

The pair are set to go head-to-head when Barca play Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Friday.

Lewandowski is this season’s top scorer in the Champions League and is enjoying the most prolific season of his career to date, with a scarcely-believable 53 goals from 44 games in all competitions.

Six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi has had a predictably stellar campaign of his own on a personal note, with 31 goals and 26 assists in 43 appearances, though Barca missed out on the Spanish title to Real Madrid.

Ahead of Friday’s quarter-final, Setien made clear his admiration for Lewandowski – but he knows his own team is capable of magic.

“Lewandowski is a great footballer, but he is not up to [the level of] Leo. That's clear,” Setien said in his pre-match press conference.

“Now he is in a great moment. He has 13 goals in the Champions League and is very well assisted by his teammates, but we have already seen Leo the other day against Napoli. It's good that we can enjoy these players.”

Despite Barca’s reliance on Messi, Setien is adamant that if his side are to go through, the full XI needs to perform.

“He can help win the game, but I have always believed in the strength of the team,” he said.

“He is capable of making goals for himself, but without the strength of the team he would [score] less.

“We are concerned about many things about Bayern because they are a very complete team that press well, that arrive with many players at the top of the pitch, [and] that defend well.

“But we have the ability to overcome pressure and have the ball, and they know that if we overcome their pressure, we will do them a lot of harm.

“It will be up to both of us to defend and attack. There will not be a clear dominator and the one who will overcome the tie is the one that takes advantage of their chances.”

Bidvest Wits skipper Thulani Hlatshwayo has commended his teammates for their brave character in their 1-1 draw against Kaizer Chiefs on Wednesday night but he is now setting his sights on the Premier Soccer League (PSL) clash against Orlando Pirates.

The burly centre-back says the likes of Samir Nurkovic and Leonardo Castro didn’t really give them many problems but hopes they will maintain their never-say-die attitude going forward.

‘Tyson’ says they cannot only focus on former teammate and Buccaneers hitman Gabadinho Mhango, but will also give Vincent Pule and Fortune Makaringe the same attention.

“Obviously my thought on the game is that we had a different team compared to the one that we used against [Mamelodii] Sundowns. I think the guys did well,” Hlatshwayo told Wits’ media department.

“Although we played in patches, what I would commend is the attitude and character from the guys.

"It seems like we haven’t been, it shows we haven’t been playing for so long but it doesn’t really show that much because when I look at the Sundowns game and yesterday’s [Wednesday] game – we tend to pick up in the second half.

“And that’ where the character we have to grind in and yeah, most importantly what has worked for us is it’s a never give up attitude.”

The Bafana Bafana skipper also shares insight on how they plan to tackle the eagerly anticipated encounter against coach Josef Zinnbauer’s troops at Ellis Park Stadium on Saturday evening.

“We know what kind of a team is Pirates and they are speedy team, their front three or front four. They are quick and use their pace most of the time and it’s similar to the games we played against Sundowns and Chiefs,” he added.

“With their front three, as [Chiefs] much as they did not really give us a problem last night [Wednesday], with the combination play of Sundowns we had to do a lot of shifting, a lot of movement because they move a lot.

“They don’t really have an out and out striker. So, they play between the pockets and I believe Pirates will do that with [Augustine] Mulenga. I watched the game against Sundowns. Mulenga would drop and they will play the balls on the sides and try to use their pace.

“Obviously we have played against Gaba [Gabadinho Mhango] and we’ve played with Gaba. We know what kind of a player he is, he’s rational and he just goes, he plays, runs and shoots from anywhere.

“He has always done well for himself in the league and he’s our top scorer for the league and obviously he will want to add more on his tally. We wouldn't say we know his strengths and weaknesses.

"But we have to be alert at all times because as much as there’s Gaba, there’s also Pule, there’s Makaringe and they have quality going forward.”

Bayern Munich are making plans for Lionel Messi, but Hansi Flick is well aware of the threat of the rest of the Barcelona team in their Champions League quarter-final.

Bayern face Barca in Lisbon on Friday in a match the Bundesliga champions are expected to win, having been in dominant form in recent months.

But the Blaugrana have Messi in their ranks, the six-time Ballon d'Or winner seemingly determined to get his hands on a fifth European crown, the most recent of those coming in 2015.

Questions at Flick's pre-match news conference focused on the threat of Barca's number 10, yet the head coach was keen to remind reporters there will be more to the match than Messi.

"It's not Bayern Munich against Messi, but against Barcelona," he said. "Of course we have thought about how we will play against him.

"It is possible that we will play together to counter him as a team. We have to recognise the spaces, put him under pressure and try to win the one-on-one duels."

Flick added: "We have the necessary respect for Barcelona because they have been the dominant team in recent years. Many coaches and clubs have been inspired by Barca.

"They're nice to watch, the way they play, the way they train, their enthusiasm.

"Messi is not the only player who stands out. [Gerard] Pique, [Antoine] Griezmann, [Ivan] Rakitic and [Luis] Suarez are top players. [Marc-Andre] ter Stegen is a world-class goalkeeper.

"They have enormous quality and experience and we have to go against that as a team and bring our quality. We have a plan and hope that it works."

While opposite number Quique Setien suggested Robert Lewandowski was not in the same class as Messi, Flick refused to be drawn into a comparison between his talisman and Barca's.

"You can't compare the two players," he said. "Lewandowski is a world-class striker and has tremendous quality. For us, he is someone who guarantees goals but also creates goals.

"Messi has been by far the best footballer over the past few years. He's an exceptional player and I don't know if someone like that will come around again."

Teenage left-back Alphonso Davies has been one of the stars of the Champions League campaign so far but may now be the man tasked with marking Messi.

Team-mate Thomas Muller is determined not to leave the Canadian to face his mammoth task alone, though.

"Messi is in good shape, but you never defend him alone," Muller said. "My experience from the games in which I faced him was that it worked when the whole team was there.

"We have to act together against this individual quality. Alphonso Davies is also key here, but he is not alone."

David Accam has described helping Nashville SC to their first Major League Soccer victory in history as a “different feeling”.

The Tennessee capital outfit kicked off their resumption of the MLS regular season with a 1-0 win over FC Dallas, Accam scoring the goal which was his first for the club after joining from Columbus Crew this year.

He came off the bench to replace Randall Leal in the 82nd minute and put the ball in the back of the net four minutes later.

It is clearly a relief for the 29-year old Ghanaian having not played since March because of the coronavirus pandemic that has ravaged the United States as the most affected country in the world with more than five million confirmed cases and also a Tornado that hit the city of Nashville in early March killing 25 people and injuring more than 100 people.

Accam’s short cameo was able to win him the Nashville Man of the Match award.

"It's amazing," he said on the MLS website. "It's a different feeling because I haven't had this in a long time. Last year and this year have been really tough for me and my family with everything, with the tornadoes and the virus, everything.

“So, I was just happy to be on the field and support us and to score and also help the team get our first win of the season."

Both Nashville and Dallas did not participate in the MLS Is Back tournament in Orlando, Florida because of a bulk of the squad players testing positive for Covid-19. The head coach Gary Smith was not involved in the game after his coronavirus test was inconclusive and later found to be negative.

Assistant coach Steve Guppy stood in for Smith and was equally thrilled with Nashville’s first win while also describing Accam’s goal as “unbelievable class”.

"Obviously, I'm absolutely thrilled for everyone connected with the club," Guppy said. "I know how hard it's been to start with a dream of trying to bring MLS to Nashville and the reality and the excitement. And of course, the knock-back with what's happening in the world.

“Things were going against us with all sorts of delays and obviously Gary not being here, the incredible heat — there was loads of excuses.

"We spoke about it before, there was a load of excuses to throw in for maybe not tracking someone or just not quite wanting it enough.

“So, it was a real team effort and obviously David Accam comes on, shows a bit of unbelievable class. But I have to say Walker Zimmerman's block in the last few minutes was every bit as good as Dave's shot. So, fantastic, for me there was a lot of heroes out there today, plus the subs who came on."

Nashville’s early two matches had ended in defeat against Atlanta United and Portland Timbers. Accam has been in the United States since 2015 and has played for Chicago Fire, Philadelphia Union and Columbus Crew.

Paul Gascoigne has racked up more than a few of his fair share of headlines, dating back to his playing career for England – not to mention other off-pitch events.

The 2015 documentary Gascoigne has already touched upon details of the ex-midfielder's infamy, though he is now set to be at the centre of his own movie with a fresh actor to portray him.

Goal has what you need to know about what the movie will be about, how to watch it, when it will be released and more.

What is the Paul Gascoigne movie?

Gascoigne has confirmed an upcoming movie based on his memoir Gazza: My Story, and that the search for an actor to play him is underway.

The film be an in-depth journey across the former England international's controversial life on and off the pitch , covering such subjects as his alcohol addiction.

A separate documentary focusing on Gascoigne's life is set for release this November, but the movie is a different project.

“Let’s face it, I have nothing to hide. It has all been in the press, the good and bad," Gascoigne told the Mirror about the potentially revealing nature of the film.

The documentary will use archive footage of his time playing at Italia 90, Euro 96 as well as brief stint with Lazio in Italy.

Speaking on the documentary, Gascoigne said: “The documentary is out in November. The makers have spoken to me and my family.

“But there are backers looking at a film and trying to find someone to play me. I will guide them and read the script, it will be about my entire life. They will use my books.”

The biopic is set to be a tell-all of the infamous former footballer's life and times, including the epochal moment of his crying on the pitch after England were knocked out of the 1990 World Cup by Germany.

His personal life is also expected to take centre stage, with topics such as his divorce from ex-wife Sheryl on the cards.

His arrest for sexual assault in 2018 is also due to be covered.

“I don’t have any regrets, none whatsoever. I am not going to change because I don’t know how to change," Gascoigne continued.

"People say I am not perfect but I don’t want to be perfect. I am happy the way I am.”

Who will play Paul Gascoigne in the movie?

There has yet to be an announcement about potential candidates to play the former midfielder in the film yet, but the Mirror have suggested the likes of Game of Thrones star Sean Bean, Skins star Jack McConnell, and Normal People actor Paul Mescal.

When will the Paul Gascoigne movie be released?

The Gascoigne film is still in pre-production, so it could be set for release late in 2021 or 2022.

How to watch Paul Gascoigne movie

Goal will update this page with information as soon as new details about how to watch the project are announced.

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane says they cannot wait to have their supporters back to rally behind the team and that football is not the same without the beat of the drums on the stands.

The Masandawana boss, however, says they are adjusting to life under the Biologically Safe Environment (BSE) so far as they have reached the final of the Nedbank Cup and drew against Orlando Pirates in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) on Tuesday night.

As they turn their focus to Highlands Park whom they face at Dobsonville Stadium on Friday evening, ‘Jingles’ expects a dedicated, hardworking opponent, and an emotional clash against the Lions of the North.

“Football without supporters, that’s not the game. I mean especially, you just feel that silence when you observe the moment of silence and before, just the 30 seconds before and after,” Mosimane told the media.

“You know it’s so quiet and you just feel the void left by the supporters. You miss the supporters and football will never be the same without the supporters.

“We are just adjusting and we are following the protocols, the rules, and regulations that life matters the most but we can’t wait, especially at Sundowns, we can’t wait to hear the drum beat - we miss them.”  

On their upcoming league clash against coach Owen Da Gama’s troops, Mosimane anticipates a tough match against what he called giant killers but says it’s not always about tactics.

“Well so far so good, we have played two games, the semi-final [against Bidvest Wits] which we have achieved our objective to reach the final. In the league, we are stagnant with the results. We are in the same position,” he added.

“We haven’t moved down and up, the only challenge is that the games are getting lesser. So, that’s the whole thing but you can see the team since we came back it is not as we want it.

“But if we have to be honest, when we play Highlands we play well but not very good. So, we are getting there. At least we are in the final and then we drew the tough one [against Pirates].

“They had more chances than us to win the game, let’ be honest. We were there and we managed to get a point. So, we move on.

“Highlands, you can ask any team in the PSL, they are tough customers. It’s a team that...is also a giant killer you must know that. 

“So, it’s a team that is very strong, that works very hard. It’s a team that’s committed and a team that we all know that you earn your win.  You can’t just win, but you fight and sometimes with Highlands, it’s more than the tactics – it’s more on the emotional side."

The reigning PSL champions have 45 points at number two on the log table, they trail log leaders Kaizer Chiefs by four points following their draw against the Clever Boys on Wednesday night.

Ihlas Bebou come off the bench and scored the final goal as Hoffenheim recorded a 7-1 win over German third division side Wehen Wiesbaden.

The game marked the beginning of pre-season for Sebastian Hoeness’s side and it was a very easy affair with Croatian forward and World Cup runner-up Andrej Kramaric getting a brace in the eighth and 16th minutes, the second coming from the penalty spot.

There was a 2-0 lead for Hoffenheim going into the half-time break and Christoph Baumgartner also added his own brace in the 65th and 69th minutes to make it 4-0.

Die Kraichgauer still had more in the tank with Mijat Gacinovic and Robert Skov also getting into the scoring act in the 83rd and 90th minutes respectively before Bebou registered his name in additional time to put his team in seventh heaven. He had come on in the 51st minute to replace Kramaric.

Wehen scored a consolation goal in the sixth minute of additional time through Tobias Schwede.

Bebou joined Hoffenheim from Hannover 96 in the summer of 2019 and made a total of 32 appearances in the Bundesliga, scoring six goals and providing three assists. Every game he was involved in a goal ended in victory. His biggest impact game in a 2-0 and 3-1 win over Schalke 04 and Augsburg, scoring one goal and also providing one assist.

The 26-year-old Togo international also gave an assist during the final game of the season which ended in a 4-0 win over Borussia Dortmund at the iconic Signal Iduna Park. Hoffenheim ultimately finished the campaign in sixth place, thus settling for a place in the qualifiers of the Europa League next season. The Baden-Wurttemberg outfit will next tackle fellow Bundesliga side Mainz with the season proper set to kick off on September 19 with an away trip to FC Cologne.

Bebou has spent his entire senior career in Germany, first playing for Fortuna Dusseldorf before joining Hannover in 2017.

He has been capped 12 times for the Togo national team, making his debut in a 5-0 home win over Djibouti on September 4, 2019 during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The Sparrowhawks qualified for the tournament proper in Gabon but finished last in Group C behind DR Congo, Morocco and the Ivory Coast.

Ghana has summoned 30 players for camping ahead of their 2021 Fifa U17 Women's World Cup qualifying games against familiar foes Nigeria.

Baba Nuhu's team, announced via the Ghana Football Association's official website, that they are expected to assemble in Cape Coast on Friday for the two-legged play-off.

The Black Maidens were originally scheduled to regroup on August 1, having been granted special permission to regroup, despite a lingering national ban on all contact sports, including football, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Implementation of safety protocols, however, saw the camp start date rescheduled to a later time.

Ghana will host Nigeria in the first leg of the second-round showdown in October before travelling for the away fixture in November.

The winners over two legs qualify for the World Cup in India next year.

Whereas the Maidens are looking to seal a seventh straight appearance at the global championship, the Flamingos have set their sights on a sixth berth.

Indeed, Ghana are the only African side to have qualified for all six U17 Women’s World Cup tournaments held so far.  Their best performance was a third-place finish at Azerbaijan in 2012 where they beat Germany in the play-off fixture.

The 2021 World Cup was initially scheduled for November this year but had to be moved backwards due to the Covid-19 situation.

Full squad:

Goalkeepers: Ahamadu Amina (FC Savanah), Ziblim Farihana (Bagabaga Ladies), Amponsah Mary (Value Girls)

Defenders: Atinga Sandra (Kumasi Sports Academy), Seidu Faiza (Northern Ladies), Achiaa Anaesthesia (Sea Lions), Yahaya Asana (Bagabaga Ladies), Fuseini Zulaiha (Pearlpia Ladies), Opoku Abena Anoma (Ampem Darkoa Ladies), Aniwaa Luiza (Police Ladies), Yakubu Ayisha (Pearlpia Ladies), Mintah Sarfoah Linda (Prisons Ladies)

Midfielders: Acheampong Elshadai (Kumasi Sports Academy), Alhassan Basira (Pearlpia Ladies), Oppong Elizabeth (Samaria Ladies), Sarpong Elizabeth (Fabulous Ladies), Twum Tracy (Ampem Darkoa Ladies), Fodu Bless Matilda (Ideal Ladies), Akaheeh Doris (Northern Ladies), Alexia Ahoma (Holy Royals Ladies), Owusu Mavis (Ampem Darkoa Ladies), Agyemang Constance Serwaa (Halifax Ladies), Mafia Nyame (Rock Ladies), Aguadze Juanita (Police Ladies)

Attackers: Abdulai Salamatu (Bagabaga Ladies), Amponsah Ophelia Serwaa (Ampem Darkoa Ladies), Sarpong Alice (Sea Lions), Dejean Kubura (Zicom Stars Ladies), Abrafi Sarah (Dreams Ladies), Aoyem Georgina Aisha (Army Ladies)

Paris Saint-Germain could be without goalkeeper Keylor Navas for their Champions League semi-final after scans confirmed he has suffered a torn hamstring.

The Costa Rica keeper pulled up injured during PSG’s dramatic 2-1 quarter-final win over Atalanta on Wednesday.

Sergio Rico replaced him for the last 10 minutes of the game, which PSG won thanks to late goals from Marquinhos and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.

Now, Navas faces a race to be fit in time for his side’s next game on Tuesday, August 18, against either RB Leipzig or Atletico Madrid.

A statement from PSG on Thursday said: “Keylor Navas left the field during the match on Wednesday evening after feeling some pain in his right hamstring after clearing the ball.

“The examinations and MRI have confirmed a tear in the femoral biceps. His condition will be examined again on Saturday but his involvement in Tuesday's match is uncertain.”

However, Thomas Tuchel has had better news on his captain and key defender Thiago Silva, who also picked up a hamstring problem during the Atalanta game.

A small tear has been confirmed but he should be fit to play the next match: “Thiago Silva ended the match with a right hamstring issue and the medical examinations and MRI have confirmed a low-grade tear and are optimistic that he will be able to take part in the match on Tuesday.”

PSG will also be buoyed by the further return to fitness of Kylian Mbappe, who played the last 30 minutes against Atalanta and had a major impact on the game.

Marco Verratti was absent on Wednesday with a calf problem, but he is continuing fitness work and will have a medical evaluation on Saturday, while Layvin Kurzawa is also working his way back to full fitness.

PSG had a training session on Thursday without the players who played the full 90 minutes against Atalanta.

Verratti and Kurzawa were both missing but Mbappe was on the field with his team-mates.

Mbappe had been widely expected to miss PSG’s return to European action entirely with an ankle injury, but his trademark burst of pace down the left channel provided the impetus for his side’s winning goal.

Portuguese Liga BPI club A-dos-Francos have secured the services of Ghana striker Olivia Anokye on a one-year deal.

A-dos-Francos completed the signing of the 20-year-old Black Queens star this week, with the forward joining from Spanish Iberdrola outfit Cordoba, having passed the usual medical.

The Ghana international starred for Cordoba during her brief stint before the world went into lockdown following her arrival from rivals Eibar in the Reto Iberdrola in January 2020. 

Before her first move abroad in 2019, she started her career with the Sea Lions and was part of the Ghana squad at the 2018 Fifa Women’s U20 World Cup, making three appearances in France.

Her signing boosts the ambition of the Portuguese side to avoid a disappointing season, having escaped relegation due to the coronavirus cancellation after finishing bottom of the log last term.

Having sealed her move, the Ghanaian will now be featuring in the top-flight league for the first time following her initial second-tier stints with Spanish clubs - Eibar and Cordoba in the last 12-months.

She also becomes the second African to move to Portugal this summer, after South Africa's Jermaine Seoposenwe joined SC Braga.

She also joins the list of departing Ghanaians from Spain in 2020, following the earlier exit of Ernestina Abambila and Priscilla Okyere, leaving behind Grace Asantewaa and Princella Adubea.

Anokye will be hoping to impress her new employers at Campo Municipal Quinta Boneca and inspire them to success this season.

Marseille midfielder Pape Gueye has asserted that joining the French club was a very important decision for him.

The 21-year-old Franco-Sengalese moved to the Stade Velodrome from Le Harve where his senior career began. He was supposed to join Watford on a free transfer, but he pulled the plug on the transfer even after an agreement was reached, citing contractual irregularities for the refusal.

Gueye has since been acclimatising with the Marseille squad, playing in four pre-season games so far, three of them ending in victories.  He has been pleased with how things have been going so far at the club.

“This situation, I managed it rather well. I am well surrounded. I am not focused on this. I had to join Marseille, it was the most important for me,” Gueye said as per FootMercato.

“I am very happy to be a Marseille player. I chose Marseille because it is a great club. We all know Marseille, the supporters, the stadium, the quality of the players in the workforce, whether the oldest or the youngest.

“It makes a good mix. Marseille is what I envisioned when I was younger. It's a childhood dream. Before all that, I spoke to the coach. The most important thing for me today is to be here, I'm happy for that.

“My arrival went very well. I was well received by the group and the staff. Frankly, everything went well. I was well integrated into the field. The players spoke to me a lot as I am one of the youngest in the group. I am very happy with my adaptation and I thank the players and all the staff.”

One player in Marseille that will be facing competition for a regular starting berth is Boubacar Kamara. The 20-year old Franco-Senegalese centre-back played 24 times in Ligue 1 last term as the Phoenicians finished in second place and qualified for the Champions League for the first time in seven years.

The arrival of Argentine defender Leonardo Balerdi on loan from Borussia Dortmund will put Kamara’s place under threat, but coach Andre Villas-Boas does not think it will be a problem.

“It is true that he [Balerdi] is well integrated. He's a very interested person in the development of the game, he asks a lot of questions,” the former Chelsea boss said.

“He is well integrated, he is a very good person. We had conversations before he signed here. In this position, he is in an important competition with Boubacar Kamara who will evolve. But we talked about it, competition is part of football. He can also play more forward, we also tested that. I am happy with his technical and physical progress.”

RB Leipzig snatched a late 2-1 victory against Atletico Madrid thanks to Tyler Adams' deflected strike, booking a Champions League semi-final date with Paris Saint-Germain.

Leipzig, shorn of top scorer Timo Werner following his move to Chelsea, stunned Atletico in another dramatic finish in Lisbon after Joao Felix had pulled the LaLiga giants back into the tie.

Julian Nagelsmann's side matched experienced European campaigners Atletico stride for stride but looked to have lost their momentum when substitute Joao Felix cancelled out Dani Olmo's opener.

However, Adams – with the aid of a stray Stefan Savic foot – hit his first Leipzig goal to remarkably reach the last four and a meeting with PSG.

Bruno Fernandes believes winning the Europa League could help push Manchester United on to mount a serious title charge next season.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side face Sevilla in the last four of the Europa League on Sunday in the behind closed doors mini tournament being held in Cologne, Germany, with a place in the final on August 21 at stake.

This will be the club’s third semi-final of the campaign following the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, and Fernandes, who arrived from Sporting CP in the January transfer window, thinks going all the way and lifting the trophy - as the club did with Jose Mourinho back in 2017 - would stand them in good stead for mounting a title charge next season.

“I think we need to keep progressing and we need to start the league with the mentality to win. We know we play for a big club with big aspirations, also the players, we have big aspirations and we need to win some trophies,” Fernandes said.

“Of course, the Premier League is one of the trophies we want to win and I think to win the Europa League would be good for the mentality of winning trophies and fighting with the top clubs. For next season, if we can win this, it will be important.”

Solskjaer has crafted a young squad who are looking for their first trophy under the Norwegian, and Fernandes, who has shown himself to be one of the leaders in the group, reiterated how important it is for the team to lift the trophy next week.

“For the coach, it will be important and for the players because I think we've done very well until now and I think if we finish with a trophy, it will not be perfect, but it will be a good year for us because Manchester United needs to come back again to win some trophies and fight for the European competitions and also the league,” he explained.

One player who has had a remarkable first season in the senior team is Mason Greenwood. The teenager has made himself undroppable with his performances since football resumed in June and has scored 17 goals in all competitions.

“I think Mason has done a great season, of course,” Fernandes said. “He's young and he has great numbers this season. The age is just a number and you see Mason has done very well.

"He can do much more because of the qualities he has and he still has to grow up physically. He did fantastically this season and he will get better.

"He needs to play more and get more confidence from his team-mates and the staff and I think he will get much better because he has that quality.”

Kyle Walker says Pep Guardiola can only do so much for Manchester City and that it is ultimately down to the players on the pitch to deliver.

The City boss has not won the Champions League since leaving Barcelona in 2011 and has not got beyond the quarter-finals since he joined the Premier League club.

However his side are strong favourites in Saturday’s last-eight clash with Lyon, although Walker warned that they can’t any afford any errors if they are to get past the Ligue 1 side that knocked out Juventus in the previous round.

“Obviously, Pep can deliver what he delivers in the team talks and we listen, but I think it is down to us as players and what happens in both boxes,” the England defender said.

“You make a mistake in a big game like this and you are going to get punished and vice versa. If they make a mistake in their box, like we showed against Real Madrid, we can punish any team. Hopefully, we can hit the ground running, get a good start in the game and get the momentum going and really take the game to them.”

Walker is hoping that City’s superior sharpness could be a telling factor after football in England restarted in mid-June with Guardiola’s side playing 13 times in the last eight weeks.

Conversely, Lyon’s 2-1 defeat to Juventus was just their second game since March, and City will aim to come out flying at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon.

However, Walker knows how dangerous a side Lyon can be after they beat City at the Etihad Stadium and drew in France in last season’s Champions League group stages.

“[Beating Madrid] gives us a little bit [of confidence] because the teams such as Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon have not really played much football so hopefully we can use that to our advantage,” he added.

“They have got good players. We have watched a few clips of them and they look a really good team so it is going to be very difficult but we are just going to use the game plan, listen to the tactics from the boss and hopefully that will see us over the line.

“I think [knocking out Juventus] speaks volumes in itself. This year they don’t have the players that they had when we played against them but, again, they have just knocked Juventus out and you need to be a very good team, very disciplined to beat Juventus over two legs.

“It is going to be a difficult game but I feel it can swing in our way that it is over just the one leg and we can really attack the game and play every game like a final.”

Walker has won every domestic medal with City since moving from Tottenham in 2017 and admits that the Champions League is now the competition he wants to win more than any other.

“I think if you had asked me this when I signed here I would have probably said that the Premier League was the big one for me having not won it before I came here,” he said.

“Now I have collected two of them and a number of others and this is the one that I want, and I can probably speak on behalf of the whole squad and Manchester City as well for what they need as a club to put them onto that next pedestal.”