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 Joe Aribo has stated he feels no different playing for either the Nigeria national team or his Scottish Premiership club Rangers.

The midfielder was handed a call-up to the Super Eagles in October following his eye-catching performances for Steven Gerrard’s men.  

The 23-year-old made his debut for the West Africans against Ukraine in a friendly and has now featured four times for the three-time African champions.

Aribo joined the Ibrox Stadium outfit last summer from English side Charlton Athletic and was a key component of the Gers’ team that finished as runner-up behind Celtic in the 2019-20 season.

The midfielder scored eight goals and provided eight assists in 43 appearances across all competitions for the Ibrox Stadium outfit last campaign.

Aribo explained that just like there are pressures to win games for the Super Eagles, a similar expectation exists at Rangers.

“I'd say playing in front of the big crowds, and we've got 50,000 over at Rangers, so it’s like no different and there’s an expectation at Rangers to win, where also that’s like Nigeria, expected to win”, Aribo told Rangers TV.

“So, I mean, that’s helped me bring that to the international stage. Literally, it is no different to Rangers.

"I mean, we are expected to win every game so it is just like okay, it is the norm now, it's literally become the norm for me so it's no different to being at Rangers."

Aribo started his career with Kinetic Academy before joining Staines Town youth setup and won the club’s academy player of the year award in 2014.

His impressive performances earned him a promotion to the first team and he made 22 league appearances for the side before joining Charlton in 2015.

Aribo spent four years with the Valley outfit and played 81 times, scoring 14 goals before leaving to team up with Rangers.  

The midfielder will hope to continue his consistent performances for the Gers during their pre-season games ahead of 2020-21 campaign.

Coach Pitso Mosimane believes the return of Rhulani Mokwena was important to Mamelodi Sundowns. 

Mokwena rejoined the Brazilians after three years of coaching elsewhere - two-and-a-half years at Orlando Pirates before being loaned to Chippa United for the remainder of his contract with the Soweto club. 

He was not offered a contract extension to finish the season by the Chilli Boys and Sundowns decided to bring him back to Chloorkop. 

"The return of coach Rhulani is important to the club; that's why we thank the club and the board for bringing Rhulani to the team," said Mosimane in an interview with YOU FM.   

Mosimane said Sundowns wouldn't have brought back Mokwena if he wasn't going to add any value, adding that his appointment shouldn't be seen as empowerment but professional.

He is also happy that everybody, including the supporters, has warmly welcomed the 35-year-old mentor.  

The Kagiso-born coach said he always knew that there was a possibility that Mokwena would one day return to Sundowns, and he's pleased that it finally happened when he became available at the start of July. 

"We like Rhulani, we want Rhulani. He'd not be here if he wasn't bringing any value. This is not empowerment employment. This is a professional situation the way I also knew that Rhulani's return was possible and thank God it happened," he continued.

"He's not a new person. He's a person we all know. I can just say he was well accepted by the players and the technical team. Even the supporters have accepted him. So, all is good."

Mokwena is working hand-in-hand with both Mosimane and Manqoba Mangqithi, the same coaches he worked with prior to his departure to the Sea Robbers in 2017. 

In 2016, the trio delivered the Caf Champions League to Chloorkop and added the Caf Super Cup a few months later. 

When Mokwena left the Brazilians, he wasn't replaced as Mosimane opted to keep Mngqithi as his only assistant. 

Mosimane and Mngqithi won two league titles and last year's Telkom Knockout Cup. 

Now, with Mokwena back in the technical team setup, Sundowns will be targetting their second Caf Champions League title in the next few years as mandated by club president Patrice Motsepe.   

Manchester City playmaker David Silva is set to depart the club at the end of the season, and the Premier League will lose an absolute gentleman on the field, according to former England goalkeeper Rob Green.

While the Spanish star has won the acclaim of manager Pep Guardiola, as well as a host of others in the game, Green reminisced about an incident that showed the great humility of the man.

Playing for relegation-fighting QPR at the Etihad Stadium, the shot-stopper’s side were heading for a thumping defeat, as he explained to BBC Radio 5.

“He’s beautiful to watch. He brings joy - even to play against!” Green said. “I played against him for QPR. We had to go to the Etihad and win to stay in the Premier League but got beaten 6-0. 

“There was about half an hour to go and I turned around and I said to myself: ‘You know what, I’m not going to concede 10. That’s all I’ve got. That’s my plan. Just keep it to single figures. 

“I started shouting to David Silva, saying: ‘Please, stop. You’ve won the game, just stop!’ And he turned round to me with about 20 minutes to go and said: ‘My friend, I’m sorry, you have no chance.’

“I couldn’t help but smile. You’ve got this guy who’s an absolute genius on the pitch and is so magnanimous and kind at the same time. He had empathy in everything about him.”

Silva, who has played 36 times for City this season, scoring six goals and laying on 11 more, joined the club from Valencia in 2010 and over the subsequent decade established himself as one of their all-time greats.

The 34-year-old has won four Premier League titles, five EFL Cups and two FA Cups – the first of which in 2011 ended City's 35-year trophy drought.

Before the start of the current campaign, Silva stated 2019-20 would be his final season in England, and while it has ended in disappointment in terms of losing the title to Liverpool, City can still salvage glory via the FA Cup.

On Saturday, they will face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the semi-final, while they still have league matches against Watford and Norwich to follow before returning to the Champions League with a clash against Real Madrid.

Anthony Martial can become a “killer” striker at Manchester United with the help of Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes, says Louis Saha.

A France international has been freed to occupy a central attacking berth at Old Trafford this season.

Much of his senior career to date has been spent occupying a role on the flanks, with his pace and direct running allowing him to thrive out wide.

United did, however, take the decision to part with Romelu Lukaku in the summer of 2019 and needed somebody to fill their No.9 shirt while becoming a focal point in the final third of the field.

Martial has taken on that responsibility and rewarded a sizeable show of faith with a career-best return of 22 goals.

At 24 years of age, there is still plenty of potential to unlock in his game and Saha believes a fellow countryman can benefit from having talented playmakers providing him with ammunition.

The former United frontman told the club’s official website of Martial: “It’s fair to say Anthony is in the form of his life, for me.

“He’s definitely a player that excites me as a fan and an ex-player. I have been in that position where Anthony is, in that No.9 shirt, and I understand the pressure behind it.

“But I like his reaction; his desire to hurt defenders in many ways.

“He has the quality as well to score 25+ goals and, when you see the goals he’s scoring, not everybody can do that.

“I am just a massive fan of his and just wish him to have that consistently, to believe he can reach even higher heights because he’s got too much potential to stop there.

“People may assume this is his top form but I’m not sure because, when you look at his quality, he has definitely improved his positioning and his killer instinct.

“He is really getting there. We can always look for improvement and it’s more about switching on sometimes, as I like to think of it. I was the same.

"If it’s something he can address, it will make him more of a killer player because you now have players like Bruno Fernandes, who is going to challenge Paul Pogba in terms of creativity in midfield.

“Imagine how much you have to be on your toes as a striker because, if the ball comes from Fernandes, one touch, the ball could come to you.

“It’s the same with Pogba, so you have to find a way to get really busy and appreciate the fact that you need to create space all the time.

“This is the only thing I can see he will need to improve – not because the player can’t but because the players now around him are so adept at passing the ball.”

Martial’s efforts have helped to fire United into contention for a top-four finish in the Premier League, while their attention is about to shift to the pursuit of major silverware and an FA Cup semi-final date with Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday.

Lionel Messi is growing “angry” at Barcelona because he is “only human” and lacks the support required to deliver on expectation, says Dani Alves.

The mercurial Argentine has taken to airing his frustration on a regular basis in what has been a testing campaign for all concerned at Camp Nou in 2019-20.

Arch-rivals Real Madrid have snatched the Liga title away from Barca, with Champions League glory all that the Blaugrana have left to aim at.

Messi fears that further heartache will be endured there unless collective improvement is overseen in Catalunya, with alarming regression endured since the turn of the year.

Concerns regarding on and off the field activity has sparked talk of a talismanic figure seeking a move elsewhere, with contract talks said to have been shelved by Barca’s superstar skipper.

Alves can appreciate why such speculation has surfaced, with it clear that a “natural winner” is not happy with the backing he is getting from those around him as he seeks to maintain the standards that have delivered him six Ballons d’Or and countless major honours.

Brazil international Alves, who spent eight years at Camp Nou between 2008 and 2016, told Catalunya Radio’s ‘Tot Gira’: “Leo is a natural winner. He doesn't like losing.

“When the team loses, it’s normal he gets angry, he always wants to win. Just like me. We always want to win.

“He's been doing what he does for so long, he knows when a team gives one thing and when it gives another. That's why he says what works and what doesn't because he knows.

“He's spent so many years at Barca, experienced so many things, and he knows exactly what the team needs to win.

“He sees, what I feel, a lack of support.

“I'll always say that Messi is the main course and we were the perfect ingredients for that plate. Now I have the feeling that he's doing everything, all the time, and we must remember he's only human.”

Barca took the decision to part with Ernesto Valverde in January, a coach who had delivered back-to-back title triumphs, and replace him with Quique Setien.

That call is considered to have backfired, with Alves admitting that the Blaugrana appear to lack direction and leadership at present.

He added: “What this Barca lacks is the identity it has always had, like Ronaldinho's Barca, our Barca.

“The identity of a team that dominates for 90 minutes, 100 minutes, or 150 minutes. Barca are there for people to enjoy.

“Now what I see, from the outside, is that Barca are just another team. They used to have an understanding throughout the team and made things look easy.”

Zinedine Zidane has just won La Liga and has a contract with Real Madrid until 2022 but acknowledged his future at the club could quickly have a different outlook.

In his first full season back at the helm, Zidane has led Madrid to success in the Supercopa de Espana and La Liga to take his trophy haul across two spells in the dugout to 11 – three shy of equalling Miguel Munoz's club record.

With the league wrapped up, the Spanish champions can focus on the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Manchester City. They trail 2-1 ahead of the return game at the Etihad Stadium on August 7.

Zidane guided Madrid to the Champions League trophy, which is considered the main objective every season at the Santiago Bernabeu, in three straight seasons during his first stint as coach.

Despite only winning the league on Thursday, Zidane was asked if he could guarantee that he will be at the helm next season.

He replied: "Nobody knows what's going to happen in the future. I never talk about next season or the following year. I've got a contract and I'm happy. You never know what will happen in the future.

"Things can change overnight in the world of football and I have no idea what the future holds."

Zidane urged his team to maintain their intensity in their final Liga game of the season on Sunday against Leganes, who will be hoping to get a positive result and retain their top-flight status.

"We have to find that motivation. It's a league game. When we put on the Real Madrid shirt, we want to win all the games," he said.

"That's the DNA at Real Madrid. It's a league game, not a friendly, and we want to play well. I don't think we've got anything to prove. We just want to maintain this positive momentum. We want to keep winning.

"We have another big game. We said there were 11 finals. There were 10 and we won the league, but we want to finish in the best way possible.

"We want to keep pushing and testing ourselves until the very end of the season. There will be a few days' rest after the game against Leganes, but the season continues. We will be back training and preparing for City after the game against Leganes."

Karim Benzema struck both of Madrid's goals in their 2-1 victory over Villarreal last time out, moving him onto 21 in La Liga for the season – two fewer than league-leading Barcelona captain Lionel Messi.

While Zidane would take great pride in Benzema winning the Pichichi Award for La Liga's highest scoring player, he was not willing to give any hints about his team selection for trip to Butarque.

"I'd love for Benzema to get the Pichichi," said Zidane. "But I'm not going to say who's going to play. He's a player whose done a great job and deserves to end the season as the top goalscorer, but it's going to go down to the final game of the season. Let's see what happens on Sunday."

Former Bafana Bafana captain Lucas Radebe has urged former club Leeds United to beef up their ranks and dreams to see South African players such as Percy Tau and Bongani Zungu playing in the Premier League.

Formerly on the books of Mamelodi Sundowns, Tau recently saw his loan deal with Club Brugge coming to an end and will return to Brighton & Hove Albion, while Zungu has been linked with a move to Rangers in Scotland.

Speaking exclusively to Goal just after his club gained promotion to the English top-flight, Radebe also praised manager Marcelo Bielsa, who he regards as a brilliant tactician.

On the other hand, the retired central defender also shared some advice for the current generation at Elland Road, saying they must work harder than before to sustain their top-flight status.

“I think one of the players that I would like to see in the Premier League following from our footsteps as African players, Percy Tau comes to mind,” Radebe told Goal.

“He’s one of the players that I’d definitely love to see in the Premier League. We have Bongani Zungu. He’s another player that I’d love to see in the top-flight.

“I know we [Leeds] are struggling with the defenders and goalkeepers but I’d like to see more of the young players going up and impress in the top-flight.”

Leeds sealed their promotion when they beat Eric Tinkler's ex-team, Barnsley, 1-0 on Thursday night and the former Kaizer Chiefs defender admitted he is very excited by the prospect of seeing his old employers compete with England's top clubs again.

“You can imagine how I feel, I’m so excited like a kid before Christmas. It’s absolutely amazing and if there’s any club that deserves to be in the Premier League, it’s Leeds,” added the Bafana legend.

“I mean it’s Leeds United, I’ve heard the fans of other clubs praising Leeds and that shows what a big club it is and what impact it has as well as the excitement it brings in the Premier League.

“But it’s been too long, you know and now we’re back where we belong - I hope we sustain the status for a long time.”

On what can the current generation do better to ensure they avoid heading back to the Championship, the 1996 African Cup of Nations winner called on them to work even harder than before.

“I think, one thing that will be an issue on individual players, they must not let it get to the head because there’s no doubt about the quality in the team, but there’s going to be competition among the individuals,” continued the 51-year-old.

“Obviously to stay in the Premier League, we need to reinforce and ensure the club stays in the Premier League. So, for them to sustain their status, they will need to work harder than we did.

“With Bielsa, I think we’ve got a brilliant coach. He’s one of the best managers that I’ve ever seen and we are lucky to have him as a club.”

Jadon Sancho continues to keephis cards close to his chest when it comes to transfer talk, with the Borussia Dortmund winger giving little away when it comes to links with Manchester United and Liverpool.

A meteoric rise to prominence has been enjoyed by the 20-year-old forward since he left Manchester City’s academy system in 2017.

Having taken the brave decision to head for Germany, Sancho has gone on to become a senior star for Dortmund and England.

A return to his roots is now being mooted, with leading sides in the Premier League eager to buy into his current ability and future potential.

Big-money offers are said to be in the pipeline, with those at Old Trafford having generated plenty of speculation when it comes to adding another exciting young star to their ranks.

Liverpool, though, are also said to be in the running as Jurgen Klopp seeks greater depth to his attacking options with the English champions.

Chelsea are another to have generated transfer gossip, although Frank Lampard has snapped up Hakim Ziyech from Ajax.

Sancho is aware of the interest he is generating, but claims to have made no decision when it comes to his long-term future.

“I don’t know what to say to that,” he told World Soccer Magazine when quizzed on the exit talk.

“It’s hard to say. That’s the future.

“You never know what could happen, so we will wait and see.”

While reluctant to be drawn into a debate regarding where he could end up in 2020-21, Sancho admits to having emotional ties to Liverpool.

He grew up wanting up to follow in the footsteps of Reds legend John Barnes, while also taking inspiration from a two-time World Player of the Year who starred across five memorable years at Barcelona.

Sancho said: “My dad was a big fan of John Barnes. He had a couple of videos of him at home and I used to watch them a lot.

“I used to look at Ronaldinho on YouTube. That was a big thing for me. He used to try things that no-one else would try and that made me like him a lot.

“I didn’t have a team that I supported, though. I just idolised a lot of great players.”

Sancho is currently tied to a deal at Dortmund through to 2022 and the Bundesliga giants have made it clear that they will not be sanctioning a sale without a fight.

Simba SC have confirmed they will add five new players into the current squad ahead of the new season.

The Wekundu wa Msimbazi were declared Mainland Premier League champions with six matches to spare and have also reached the final of the FA Cup after beating rivals Young Africans (Yanga SC) 4-1 in the semi-finals.

Simba information officer Haji Manara has revealed the club’s intentions in the ongoing transfer window is to beef up weak areas and five players will be signed.

“We have a very strong squad going into next season and we don’t have to go for panic buying, we will only bring on board five new players ahead of the new season,” Manura is quoted by Sokaletu.

“Our first target is to make sure that we retain the squad we have, and if we do so then it will be easier for us to have a good transfer window, we will only bring the new faces and plan for the new season.

“I know our fans will always want to see us actively involved in the transfer window with big-name signings, but I want to assure them we are prepared not to disappoint them, we already have names from the technical bench and we will make sure we sign those players.”

Meanwhile, Manara has confirmed Simba fans will have the opportunity to take a photo with the league trophy before their league match against Alliance FC at National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.

Simba were presented with the trophy in their away match against Namungo FC and it will be the first time they are parading the trophy to their fans in the City centre.

“We will have a photo session for fans with the trophy before our match against Alliance,” Manura told Goal.

“That will be the only way to appreciate our fans for the all-round support they accorded the team throughout the season, without the fans we could not have achieved winning the trophy three times in a row.”

By winning the league, Simba will represent Tanzania in the Caf Champions League.

Barcelona head coach Quique Setien has admitted that star man Lionel Messi was correct in his scathing attack on recent performances and that the Catalan club will not progress in the Champions League if they continue along their current lines.

A 2-1 midweek defeat to Osasuna saw the Primera Division title finally fall into the hands of Real Madrid, leading to six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi launching an astonishing broadside on the Camp Nou outfit from bottom to top.

The Argentine warned that Barcelona will exit the European Cup at the last-16 stage if they fail to improve, with their tie against Napoli balanced at 1-1 following a first-leg draw in Italy.

The return match is slated for early August, and though there is still doubt that Setien will be in the dugout for that clash, the former Real Betis coach agreed that there must be a dramatic improvement if the Serie A side are to be vanquished.

Speaking on Saturday ahead of a clash with Alaves on Sunday, he said: “We need to change a lot, otherwise we will also lose against Napoli.

"I already said before that playing like this we won't be able to fight for the Champions League and you see, we could not even fight for the league. We need to be self-critical.

“We are all aware that there are many things to improve, we must be more consistent and more reliable.

“If we manage to play a match like [the 4-1 win at] Villarreal, where everything went well, it surely gives us what we need to win the Champions League. 

“We must be more reliable during the 90 minutes and convince ourselves that if we give our best level, of course we can win the Champions League.”

He then addressed the question of whether he felt Messi’s words were a direct attack on his authority.

“No, not at all,” he said. “We all say things that are misinterpreted and others well, we experience it daily. I do not give it much importance. We all need a break to clean our minds. We will try to think in this regard.”

Meanwhile, the 61-year-old says he has no intention of handing in his resignation.

“The day I arrived I said that I would enjoy until the last day. I continue to enjoy despite the circumstances and I never thought that this would be easy,” he said.

“Defeat is always something to be overcome. I’m not experiencing anything I haven’t before and at no time have I felt like I want to leave.”

Arsenal may “end up having to pay” Mesut Ozil to leave the club, claims Paul Merson, with the German playmaker out of favour but showing no desire to leave a lucrative contract.

Exit talk is nothing new when it comes to a World Cup winner in north London.

Ozil has been a divisive figure throughout his time in England, with questions often asked of his commitment to the cause and desire to dig deep when the going gets tough.

Another move is being mooted at present, with a 31-year-old on big money in north London currently struggling for game time under Mikel Arteta.

Ozil and his representatives have, however, been eager to point out on a regular basis that their intention is to see out a deal through to 2021.

That is posing a problem to Arsenal, along with their struggles to get Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang tied down to fresh terms, and Merson admits drastic action may need to be taken by a club that has been risk averse for far too long.

The former Gunners star told the Daily Star: “There’s Mesut Ozil’s wages to get off the books. They might end up having to pay him just to leave.

“And Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang needs a new contract that won’t come cheap. He’s already in his 30s but Arsenal can’t afford to lose him.

“That’s a lot of money gone already. And I know Arsenal. I played there. Arsenal don’t gamble with their money.

“They don’t take big risks in the transfer market. It’s not their way. Arteta must know that - but if you don’t ask, you don’t get I suppose.

“A lot depends on the market as well. If someone goes for £80-90m at the start of the window, Arsenal are in trouble because it sets a tone and they can’t match it.

“But I think it’s hard for a lot of clubs to spend money right now, so you might find the top players everybody wants just don’t hit the market.”

Arteta is yet to discover what his budget will be for the next transfer window, which is due to open on July 27, but knows that fresh faces are required if collective standards are to be raised at Emirates Stadium.

Said Benrahma delivered an impressive display despite Brentford’s 1-0 defeat to Stoke City in Saturday’s Championship game.

The 24-year-old striker was afforded his 38th league start and gave a good account of himself, although his effort was not enough to help his side avoid defeat.

The Algeria international spearheaded Brentford’s attack along with French-born Cameroonian Bryan Mbeumo and Ollie Watkins.

The front three has been outstanding in this campaign, scoring 57 goals and their goalscoring prowess has helped the Bees’ promotion target so far.

Lee Gregory scored the only goal of the encounter and Stoke frustrated Brentford’s effort to level matter, as they ended the Bees' impressive form at Bet365 Stadium.

Benrahma struck two shots in the match, and completed three dribbles in his quest to open Stoke’s defence, and had a 74% successful pass rate.

The forward featured for the duration of the game while Mbeumo made way for Ghanaian winger Tariqe Fosu with six minutes left to full-time.

The defeat leaves Brentford in the third position on the league table with 81 points from 45 games, behind West Bromwich Albion and leaders Leeds United, who have now gained promotion to the Premier League.

Benrahma has scored 17 Championship goals and provided nine assists in 41 league appearances this season and has a total of 25 goals in 77 league games since joining the Bees in 2018.

The forward has been linked to several European clubs following his sparkling performances, including Premier League sides Chelsea and Arsenal.

The striker will hope to continue his eye-catching performances in their last league game of the season against Barnsley on July 22.

Benrahma, who has three caps for Algeria, has played for NRB Bethioua, Balma, Colomiers and t Nice youth setup before his promotion to the Eagles.

Kenya international Michael Olunga got back on the scoresheet after he helped Kashiwa Reysol beat Shonan Bellmare 3-2 on Saturday.

Olunga earned a brace after going for three matches without finding the back of the net despite starting in all the previous encounters.

The former Thika United star scored the opener in the 19th minute with an assist from Yuta Kamiya. He earned the second from the spot-kick when Hayato Nakama was fouled inside the box in the 44th minute.

Nakama scored the third for Kashiwa Reysol in the 77th minute with Hayato providing the assist to help the home side register what became their second win of the season.

Temma Matsuda scored the first goal for Bellmare three minutes after the hour mark before Naoki Ishihara added the second one in the 83rd minute with an assist from Toichi Suzuki.

There were two yellow cards recorded in the game with Bellmare’s Tarik Elyounoussi booked in the 32nd minute and Kashiwa Reysol's Kamiya followed suit in the third minute of added time.

Olunga and Nakama’s efforts ensured Kashiwa Reysol picked up a second win in five matches while Bellmare are still in search of a win in five attempts. They have lost four and drew in another match.

Kashiwa Reysol, now with six points after five matches, moved up the ladder and are now 12th while Bellmare dropped to the 17th spot with just a point.

In another encounter, Vegalta Sendai drew 2-2 at home against Consadole Sapporo while Kashima Antlers were 4-2 winners in a match they hosted Yokohama Marinos.

Kawasaki Frontale, who are topping the 18-team table with 13 points, registered the biggest win of the day when they humbled Yokohama FC 5-1 away, while Nagoya Grampus secured a slim 1-0 home win against Sagan Tosu.
 
Tokyo, at their own turf,  defeated Urawa Reds 2-0 while Gamba Osaka picked up a 2-1 victory against Oita Trinita. Vissel Kobe registered a 3-1 win against Shimizu S-Pulse and Sanfrecce Hiroshima lost 2-1 at home against Cerezo Osaka.

The next game for Olunga and Kashiwa Reysol will be an away tie against Urawa Reds on July 22.

Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger concedes that facing Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday will be a tough prospect, but feels that Olivier Giroud's return to scoring form puts the Blues in good stead ahead of the showpiece clash.

The Red Devils have been in imperious form since football's restart and have gone on a 19-game unbeaten run since a 2-0 defeat at home to Burnley back in January.

Indeed, the addition of Bruno Fernandes in the winter transfer window, Paul Pogba's return from injury and the form of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood have the Old Trafford outfit looking a match for any side in the world.

Rudiger, however, feels that Chelsea have an ace up their sleeve in the guise of World Cup winner Giroud.

“I'm really looking forward to the game,” the centre-back told the German FA's official website. “Man Utd are in great form – I mean, they haven't lost in 18 or 19 games.

"They beat us twice in the league, too, so they'll come into it with a huge amount of confidence.

“It's going to be a tough fight, but the good thing for us is that Olivier Giroud is firing again. He struggled for a while and some had already written him off.”

Despite a storming start to the season on the back of a transfer embargo, the Blues' form has suffered something of a dip of late, but Rudiger feels the Stamford Bridge side can still be happy with their campaign thus far.

“We're on the right track but we also have two tough games ahead of us, against Liverpool and Wolverhampton,” he said. “The good thing is that [Champions League qualification] is in our own hands.

“Not many would have thought that we could be in third place in the table at this point and unfortunately we've dropped a few points. On the whole, though, we can be satisfied with the season.

“For me personally, the season didn't start so well. There were a few injuries and aches and pains but I fought my way back into the team. I still don't have the same strength as before, though. I have to – and want to – work on that.”

Rudiger was also asked about Germany's prospects of winning their next major tournament – the rescheduled Euro 2020 – but the Berlin-born 27-year-old feels that the young squad might not yet be at the peak of its powers.

“We certainly have a lot of good young players,” he said. “Maybe it wasn't so bad for us that the tournament was postponed due to the coronavirus.

"Niklas Sule will be back, as will Leroy Sane. Now we have to see how things go until the European Championship.

“To be honest, we are not among the top favourites. I think other teams are a bit ahead of us.”

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa has claimed he enjoys the support from the majority of Kenyan Premier League (KPL) clubs.

The FKF’s elections are expected to be held soon since the tenure of the current office ended and Mwendwa, who is fighting to retain the presidency, said most of the top-tier clubs are in favour of his candidacy.

“There are KPL clubs who are supporting me and some are not in support of my candidacy but that is how democracy works,” Mwendwa told Radio Jambo.

“Let me challenge you, take the 17 clubs and carry out a poll you will be surprised that we enjoy the majority support.”

The federation top official also explained why the recently announced BetKing sponsorship will have a lasting positive impact on the league.

“I sought the BetKing deal because the league was coming back to FKF and if we were to take back the league without a sponsor it was going to be a real problem,” he added.

“We were trying to make everything work for KPL after suffering for two years. Of course, if it will make people happy about us then that is good because that is also politics.

“We are increasing the value of KPL in that even when BetKing will not be around the next sponsor will not come with money less than KSh220 million a year.”

Mwendwa also dismissed claims he hurriedly announced the sponsorship pact with the betting firm to woe KPL delegates to support him in the elections, the date of which remains unknown after earlier two attempts were stopped.

“People were claiming I hate KPL but now I have brought a sponsor they claim I am doing it because of the elections lying ahead,” he stated.

“As a leader, you must learn how to navigate noises as you move forward. You do the right thing and make sure it is the right thing.

“BetKing were clear that the sponsorship they wanted is one for the top league and that is why they were ready to fork out the money they have agreed to.

“Not all companies will agree to a deal of that amount if they are not confident of what they want to do.”

The FKF-BetKing deal is expected to be launched on or before September 1.

Leon Balogun featured as Wigan Athletic played out a 2-2 draw with Charlton Athletic in Saturday’s Championship game to boost their survival hopes.

The Latics were recently handed a 12-point deduction after they went into administration which they have appealed but in the meantime, the players have continued to show their resolve to ensure the club survive relegation.

After inflicting a heavy 8-0 defeat to Hull City last time out, manager Paul Cook rallied his players to another positive result at the Valley with the Super Eagles star playing a crucial role in the encounter.

Balogun was afforded his ninth Championship appearance and made the most of the opportunity with his decent defensive displays.

Jamal Lowe put Wigan in front in the ninth minute before Alfie Doughty levelled proceedings two minutes later after benefitting from Adam Matthews’ assist.

Kieran Dowell then restored the lead for the Latics, however, Anglo-Nigerian Chuks Aneke set up Macauley Bonne with a timely assist to score the equalising goal.

Balogun featured for the duration of the game along with Egypt international and Wigan captain Sam Morsy. The Super Eagles defender made two tackles and won five aerial contests in the match.

With the draw, the DW Stadium outfit are now 13 points clear of the relegation zone and will hope to secure all three points against Fulham in their last league game on July 22.

Balogun joined the Latics in January on a short-term loan after failing to enjoy game time with Premier League club Brighton and Hove Albion.

The 32-year-old then teamed up with the DW Stadium outfit until the end of the 2019-20 season and will hope to help them avoid relegation at the end of the season.

The defender has spent most of his career in Germany, playing for Hannover 96, Werder Bremen, Fortuna Dusseldorf and Mainz 05, among others.

Balogun has been with the Super Eagles since 2014 and has 32 caps for the three-time African champions since making his debut against Mexico.

The centre-back was part of Gernot Rohr’s team that finished third at 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, behind Senegal and Algeria, who won the title.

Simon Kjaer says that completing a permanent move to AC Milan is the realisation of a career-long ambition.

The 31-year-old centre-back has spent his career playing around Europe at the likes of Wolfsburg, Lille, Fenerbahce and Sevilla, but his goal was always to return to Serie A, where he made his breakthrough at the top level with Palermo.

Although he had subsequently spent temporary spells with Roma and Atalanta, on Wednesday it was confirmed his switch to Milan, where he had been since January after being loaned from Sevilla, has been made permanent.

“Milan is simply Milan. It has always been a special club for me,” Kjaer explained to Goal. “Since I went abroad as a young player 12 years ago and arrived in Palermo, this was simply the club for me. 

“Back then I told my agent that one day I would love to play in that red and black jersey. 

“It has been close a few times before, but now the timing was right. Milan is a gigantic club with a gigantic history. 

“I honestly believe that it is a privilege to play here and at the same time have the opportunity to help bring this club back to where we belong: to the top of Italian and European football.

“I had some good years in Sevilla, and it was great playing in La Liga and in the Champions League with this club. Sometimes things just change, and when many players come in, many players must leave, and that happened last summer. I wish everybody in and around the club all the best, and I know that they feel the same about me.”

That Milan moved to sign the Denmark international is perhaps no surprise given the success they have enjoyed with him in their side. Prior to Saturday's fixture with Bologna, eight of the 10 Serie A matches in which he has played have been won by the Rossoneri, who have suffered only one loss in the 14 competitive fixtures in which he has featured.

“Since I arrived in January, we have been working hard, developing as a team, and I have seen great progress,” he said. “We have a very young team with a lot of potential, and I believe that here in 2020 we have shown the way back to the top. It will demand a great deal of work from everybody, but I believe in a bright future for AC Milan. We have the history, the winning mentality, the passionate support of our fans, and great ambitions.”

Kjaer has been left particularly impressed by the atmosphere around the club and the city, and he explained that the players are missing the influence of the support in the stadium currently.

“You can sense football in the air in Milan - San Siro, Milanello, Casa Milan as the headquarters, supporters everywhere. Everything tells you that AC Milan is a great club, one of just a few global clubs with an amazing history and a great future,” he said. “I am happy that I will now be a part of this future, and I will give everything for this club.

“The fans have received me so well. Right now, because of the corona crisis, we miss them in San Siro, and everybody in football knows how much a great home crowd means to the players. But still we manage to get the great results even without their support in the stadium. We still play for them, even when they are not there.”

As one of the older members of the squad, Kjaer is shouldered with additional importance, but it is a challenge he embraces, having performed a similar task at international level.

“My role in Milan is pretty much the same as for Denmark,” he explained. “With my experience - also from being the Denmark captain - I am expected to take responsibility both on and off the pitch, and I enjoy that both as a person and as a player. When Milan came for me, I believed that I could help the team, and I immediately got the confidence from my coach.”

Meanwhile, he is excited what the future holds, particularly at international level, where he is set to lead a Denmark side undefeated in 90 minutes since 2016 (excluding a fixture in which an amateur side faced Slovakia), into a rescheduled Euro 2020 next summer.

“It is a great thought, especially after all these years in international football, that the next two years could actually be the most exciting of my whole career; playing for my dream club and with Denmark facing the Euros with our group games back home in Parken Stadium and then the World Cup in 2022,” he said.

Kalusha Bwalya and Toulouse winger Max Gradel have showered encomium on Leeds United after securing promotion to the Premier League on Friday.

The Peacocks’ return to the English top-flight was confirmed following West Bromwich Albion’s 2-1 defeat to Huddersfield Town at John Smith's Stadium.

The loss helped Marcelo Bielsa’s men to open a five-point lead at the top of the Championship table and with two games left to play, it is, thus, impossible for them finish below the top two.

The Peacocks last featured in the Premier League 16 years ago and have since struggled to return to the top-flight with no success.

Gradel featured for the side between 2009- 2011, initially on loan before the deal was made permanent and made 77 league appearances, scoring 25 goals for the side during his stay.

After leaving Leeds, he played for Saint-Etienne and Bournemouth before joining Toulouse in 2018, where he has featured in 57 games.

The 32-year-old winger has taken to social media to congratulate his former club on their return to the English top division.

“What a day for all Leeds United fans all over the world this is a special day today. Well done to all the players, coaches and staff and of course all the supporters for this amazing day,” Gradel tweeted.

Bwalya, meanwhile, has also joined millions of football enthusiasts in the world to praise the achievement of Leeds and his former manager Bielsa, who guided them to success.

“Congratulations to Leeds United for promotion to the Premier League. Congrats to my former coach Marcelo Bielsa who was always ahead of his time,” Bwalya tweeted.

Bwalya enjoyed success during his career, where he played for Cercle Brugge, PSV Eindhoven and America among other clubs.

The 56-year-old had 87 caps for Zambia and scored 39 goals before he ended his playing career and was named the 1988 Africa Player of the Year.

Simba SC's Erasto Nyoni was left a disappointed man after the newly crowned Mainland Premier League champions suffered a shock 3-2 defeat against Mbao FC at National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Thursday.

The Wekundu wa Msimbazi went into the league fixture beaming with confidence having beaten rivals Young Africans (Yanga SC) in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and also having been presented with the league trophy for winning the title for the third season in a row.

However, Mbao did not have any mercy for the champions as they scored goals courtesy of Rajab Rashid, Waziri Junior, and Donald John for the win while Simba scored via Meddie Kagere and Miraji Othman.

“In football, there is no big or small team, and the way we prepared this game was different from the way we did against Young Africans,” Nyoni is quoted by Daily News.

“All in all, we have lost and the next thing is to focus on Sunday’s match. “As a defender, I am upset with the outcome but Simba fans should not lose hope since we have other games coming ahead for us to do well.”

Meanwhile, Mbao coach Felix Minziro was happy with his charges for playing according to instructions and managing to come out with a huge win, their fifth straight league win this campaign.

“If we had lost today’s [Thursday] match, our chances of remaining in the league next season could have been over that is why we need to thank God for helping us to win,” Minziro also told Daily News.

“I have partial celebrations because despite winning five games in a row, we are still 19th on the table hence we need to produce another spirited performance against JKT Tanzania Jamhuri Stadium in Dodoma in our next match.”

Simba will now take on Alliance at the National Stadium on Sunday while Mbao will come up against JKT Tanzania.

Mbao must win their remaining matches to be assured of keeping their status in the top-flight or else they will follow Singida United, who have already been relegated to the lower division.

Ante Rebic has lifted the lid on Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s influence on Milan, explaining that the veteran Swede is a “leader” in the dressing room and on the pitch.

The 38-year-old striker returned to San Siro in January after eight years away and his return has coincided with an upturn in the club’s success. 

Ibrahimovic, who has enjoyed a storied career at the likes of Ajax, Juve, Inter, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United, has played 13 Serie A matches in 2020, scoring five goals and laying on another three as Stefano Pioli’s side have climbed from 11th to seventh off the back of a fine run of results.

Among the players to benefit most from Ibrahimovic’s presence has been Croatia international Rebic, who hadn’t found the net at all in the league before then. Since, he has netted 10 times in 15 league outings.

Speaking to Sportweek, he explained the sense of confidence that Ibrahimovic brings the side, pinpointing the recent 4-2 success over Juventus as a particular example.

“We need him. Ibra is a leader. Before the Juve match he said to us: ‘I will show Juventus players how to play football.’ It was his way of firing us up,” he said.

“He has brought so much to everyone. When he says something, most of the players are silent but if I don’t hold the same opinion as him, I tell him,” Rebic added before citing two further January additions as key influences.

“Asmir Begovic and Simon Kjaer, too ... They are mature players who know how to calm you down or encourage you.”

While Ibrahimovic’s future at San Siro remains in the balance, the Rossoneri captured Kjaer on a two-year deal from Sevilla earlier this week, ensuring that the Denmark captain will remain with the club after a loan deal was initially struck in January.

Milan are seeking to ensure European football for next season, with the next leg of their quest coming at home to Bologna on Saturday.

There are five matches of the Serie A campaign remaining, with Pioli’s side lying seventh in the standings on 53 points.