Looking for Soccer News?

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes Mason Greenwood can get even better, after the teenager impressed as Manchester United beat Brighton in the Premier League.

The 18-year-old scored United’s opener at the Amex Stadium on Tuesday night and assisted their third as Solskjaer’s side took their unbeaten run to 15 in all competitions.

The Norwegian thinks there is still more to come from the teenager who has scored 13 goals in all competitions this season.

“He’s getting better. You can see clearly that he’s maturing and improving, he’s only 18 still so we will see more from him,” Solskjaer said.

“I’ve said it throughout the year that as long as we can get him faced up in and around the box he’ll create chances for us but in this game his hold-up play and his link-up play and general movement was fantastic as well.

“It’s great when he can go inside and outside, both to his left and right. He’s a special talent, a special kid that we are going to look after, try to develop into a top top player. He’s doing well now but he is still young and has things to learn. He knows that but we have a special talent there we have to nurture.”

Greenwood was just one of the positives in a dominant performance from United in Brighton. Bruno Fernandes scored a brace and the team kept another clean sheet as every player impressed against Graham Potter’s side.

The win means United have closed the gap on fourth placed Chelsea to two points and after such a controlling performance, Solskjaer was asked if United are on the path to something special.

“We’re too far to be on the road to something special because special for this club is not where we are,” Solskjaer replied.

“But the team is improving, we’re in with a shout for the Champions League next year and we still have the FA Cup and Europa League to play and the team is improving, the players are coming back and the style is better.

"We can play against different types of teams now, we know we have pace on the counter and when the space is there, we have more players and we are better at dominating teams.

“It’s been good since the restart, everyone has worked really hard over the restart and we agreed before the lockdown what we were going to do and everyone was true to their word and came back fitter and stronger and we are ready to keep pushing on and challenging the teams in front of us.”

Bright Edomwonyi was the hero as Austrian Wien secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Altach in Tuesday’s Austrian topflight encounter.

Five minutes after his introduction in the second-half, he got the all-important point as his team responded positively to their aching home loss to St. Polten on Saturday.

Despite dominating possession in the opening minutes of the encounter, the visitors were unable to beat the hosts’ backline marshalled by Berkay Dabanli and Philipp Schmiedl.

Altach’s first major threat came in the 25th minute but goalkeeper Patrick Pentz parried Sidney Sam’s shot as well as a rebound from Daniel Nussbaumer who was in an offside position.

Two minutes later, Johannes Tartarotti handed Alex Pastoor’s men the lead thanks to an assist from Sam.

The goal brought out the best from the visitors but they were unable to level matters at the Cashpoint Arena as they trailed 1-0 going to the half-time break.

Their persistence paid off in the 57th minute through Maximillian Sax who volleyed home Thomas Ebner’s assist.

As Wien chased for the winner, manager Christian Ilzer brought in Edomwonyi for James Jeggo in the 74th minute. Five minutes later, he guaranteed his team all points at stake with the winner after pushing Patrick Wimmer’s cross over the line.

The goal was the 25-year-old’s second of the season after ending a run of 22 games without a goal in team’s 2-1 away win at Swarovski Tirol.

22-year-old Gambian center-back Maudo Jarjue was not listed by Wien for the encounter. For Altach, Cameroon’s Samuel Gouet replaced Manfred Fischer in the 31st minute, while his compatriot Frantz Pangop was handed a starter’s role but was substituted in the 76th minute for Christian Gebauer.

Mali’s Ousmane Diakite who is on loan from Red Bull Salzburg was not listed for the game.

Thanks to this result, Austria Wien lead the relegation play-off log with 31 points from 31 outings. They host Mattersburg in their last game of the season on Saturday as Edomwonyi would be hoping to add to his tally.

Altach, whose safety is assured will slug it out with St. Polten at the NV Arena.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says there is no threat of the revamped and rescheduled conclusion to the 2019-20 Champions League being called off because of coronavirus.

The pandemic caused the top European club football competition to be suspended in March, and there are now plans to finish it with a mini-tournament in Lisbon this August.

However it has been announced that from Wednesday this week, 19 neighbourhoods in the north of the Portuguese capital will be put back under strict lockdown rules, limiting gatherings to just five people.

Ceferin has moved to allay fears, and said he spoke to Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa and the national football federation's president Fernando Gomes via video call on Tuesday about the situation.

A statement from Ceferin read: "I would like to thank the Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa for his dedication to this project and the work he is doing alongside the Portuguese Football Federation to ensure that Portugal delivers a successful tournament.

"I am confident that with the continued and constant collaboration between all stakeholders, we will conclude the season in a positive way in Lisbon. There is no need for a Plan B."

The plan is to have all quarter- and semi-final matches, as well as the showpiece, played over a single fixture in Lisbon, rather than the two-legged affairs played at the respective home grounds of the clubs involved in the matches up to the final.

The tournament is scheduled to commence on August 12, with the final 11 days later. Matches will be split between Benfica's Stadium of Light and Sporting Lisbon's Estadio Jose Alvalade.

When the Champions League came to an enforced halt in March, only half of the last-16 ties had produced winners. Paris Saint-Germain, Atalanta, Atletico Madrid and RB Leipzig have booked their places in the quarter-finals by overcoming Borussia Dortmund, Valencia, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur respectively.

In the other round of 16 ties, Manchester City won 2-1 at Real Madrid in their first leg match, Bayern Munich had beaten Chelsea 3-0 away, Lyon led Juventus 1-0 after their game in France, whule Napoli and Barcelona were level at 1-1.

The second legs of those fixtures are scheduled for August 7 and 8, although their venues have yet to be officially confirmed.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has announced the complete cancellation of the 2019-20 domestic season due to the coronavirus disruptions.

The campaign has been suspended since March 15

Tuesday’s decision was reached at an Executive Council meeting, and it represents the second straight premature termination of a football season by the West African nation.

The Ghana Premier League and FA Cup are the competitions to have been affected.

"The Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association, has taken a decision to cancel the 2019/2020 football season following a marathon meeting on Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at the GFA Secretariat in Accra. Details soon," the GFA announced on social media on Tuesday night.

Domestic football in Ghana has been on hold since a national ban on public gatherings, including sporting and religious events, came into effect as part of measures to curb spread of the coronavirus disease on March 15.

The Premier League was at the matchweek 15 stage when it was halted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Ghana's ban on all contact sports, including football, remains in effect until at least July 31.

Following recent return of some national leagues in England, Spain, Germany and Italy, there have been calls for Ghana to follow suit, but the rising numbers of infections in the West African nation has left concerns about the desire for football to return.

At the time of temporary suspension, a total of six cases had been recorded.

As at Tuesday June 30, the west African nation has registered 17,1741 cases including 113 deaths, 13,268 recoveries and 4,361 active cases. The current active cases includes 390 new cases announced on Tuesday.

Medeama, who sit sixth on the men's league table, nonetheless, want football to return as soon as possible, albeit under strict safety protocols like playing matches behind closed doors.

Personalities from Berekum Chelsea, Eleven Wonders and King Faisal, however, have called for total cancellation of the 2019-20 season.

Earlier this month, the GFA revealed it was engaging the Government of Ghana over possible resumption of the football under strict safe protocols such as playing matches behind closed doors, having had a first request rejected.

The 2019-20 season marked the return of the Ghana Premier League for the first time since 2018 after a turbulent corruption scandal caused a premature termination of the 2017-18 campaign.

Sergio Busquets conceded Barcelona face an uphill battle to retain their La Liga crown after a 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.

Lionel Messi scored his 700th goal but it was not enough for Barca to claim all three points at Camp Nou, where Saul Niguez scored two penalties to earn Atleti a share of the spoils.

The draw leaves Barca one point behind leaders Real Madrid, who could move four clear with a win over Getafe on Thursday.

There are five games remaining for Barca to turn things around, but midfielder Busquets acknowledged their fate may well now be out of their hands.

"Look, to fight for the title is really complicated if you're dropping two points each two games, but we're going to keep fighting until the end," the Spain international told Movistar.

"We know it's difficult but we're going to try. They're a difficult rival. We dominated and created chances but the two penalties, penalised us – it's been a real shame.

"We were leaders and in a perfect situation before the break. I think it's been difficult for us since – some matches we've played better, others we haven't.

"Dropping points today and at the weekend means we're a little bit further away from our goal, which is to retain the title. I think we played better today but it's a difficult task ahead of us."

Diego Costa's own goal from Messi's corner put Barcelona ahead, before Saul hauled Atleti level from 12 yards – his goal coming after Costa had seen his penalty saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen, only for a VAR check to spot the goalkeeper had moved off his line.

Messi chipped home his landmark goal from the penalty spot shortly after half-time, yet Saul kept his composure with his second spot-kick of the match.

Yannick Carrasco won both of Atleti's penalties, and the Belgian – who returned to the club in January following a stint in China – was buoyed by the visitors' resilience.

"We always want to win, but I think the team played well. It's just unfortunate we couldn't get the three points," he said.

"We have to keep working and think about the next game. We were playing against one of the best teams in the world. A point away from home is always positive but we wanted to win.

"It's the attitude which is the most important facet of this team always. After that we can win or lose, but if the attitude is the correct one then the coach is happy. Today wasn't to be but we can be proud of our performance."

Jacinto Dala was on target as Rio Ave silenced 10-man Sporting Braga 4-3 in a thrilling Primeira Liga outing on Tuesday.

Both teams went into the game needing a win which would boost their Europa League ambitions.

Nevertheless, it was the hosts who secured maximum points despite a two-goal deficit at Estadio dos Arcos.

After an entertaining 20 minutes that saw both sides come close to scoring, Braga took the lead in the 21st minute through Paulinho.

The Portuguese forward fired past goalkeeper Pawel Kieszek after profiting from Toni Borevkovic’s poor defending.

Six minutes later, they doubled their lead courtesy of a brilliant free-kick by Ricardo Horta.

Not minding the setback, the Vilacondenses continued to fight and they pulled one back in the 34th minute through Mehdi Taremi. The Iranian fired home from close range Nuno Santos’ cross.

A minute later, Santos levelled matters after volleying past goalkeeper Matheus Magalhaes owing to Braga’s shambolic defending.

Four minutes before the half-time, the hosts took the lead for the first time as Dala drilled home a low pass from Santos.

The visitors made it 3-3 as Paulinho headed past Kieszek a cross from Wenderson Galeno.

Victory was sealed in the 90th minute as Taremi earned his double from the penalty spot after substitute Rolando denied an obvious goalscoring chance with his arm – which got him sent off by referee Nuno Almeida.

On loan from Sporting Lisbon, Dala put in an impressive shift but was replaced in the 66th minute by Carlos Mane. The goal was his sixth this term from 10 Portuguese topflight outings.

Guinea Bissau defender Eliseu Nadjack was an unused substitute by manager Carlos Carvalhal, whereas Libya star Ali Elmusrati who is on loan from Vitoria Guimaraes saw every minute of action.

Angola’s Wilson Eduardo was introduced for Horta in the 79th minute but his presence could not rescue the Arsenalists from their ninth defeat so far this term.

With this result, Rio Ave stay fifth in the log after gathering 47 points from 29 games. They continue their chase for a place in Europe next season with a trip to Gil Vicente on Sunday.

Former Liverpool striker Neil Mellor says that Jurgen Klopp is among the Reds' greatest managers, adding that the German has turned doubters into believers during his time at Anfield.

Klopp took over a club that was struggling on and off the field when he became manager in 2015, with many still struggling to bounce back from the club's failed title push under Brendan Rodgers in 2013-14.

Off the field, Liverpool were lagging far behind their Premier League rivals commercially, with the Reds struggling to close the gap.

In his first press conference, Klopp promised that he would deliver a title, and he's done just that by guiding Liverpool to success in the Champions League, Club World Cup and, perhaps most importantly, the Premier League.

Klopp has built Liverpool into a juggernaut in the process, and Mellor says the German's rebuild of an entire football club has earned him a place among legendary predecessors like Bill Shankly and Kenny Dalglish.

"Klopp is adored by Liverpool supporters and rightly so," Mellor told GentingBet. "When he took over at Liverpool the club was nowhere near competing for the top six, the season he arrived Liverpool finished 8th.

"Within a previous press conference he said: ‘we will win a title’ and Liverpool fans wanted to believe him but found it difficult, because of where Liverpool actually were.

"Klopp has turned any doubters into believers, and he has been phenomenal in what he has given Liverpool. Klopp has brought a togetherness and a connection to the club, which is really unique.

"Every supporter feels like they’re connected to the football club and you can see the players do too, with how they were together and celebrating the title win, and even game to game."

Klopp penned a contract extension in December, committing his future to Liverpool through the 2023-24 season.

Mellor says that he cannot fathom Klopp leaving as the manager has a chance to build a legitimate dynasty now that Liverpool have claimed their spot atop the Premier League.

"Liverpool have now put themselves into a position as one of the biggest clubs in the world, and Klopp will want more success at Anfield," he said.

"I know we’ve seen both [Luis] Suarez and [Phillippe] Coutinho leave Liverpool for Barcelona, but I think Klopp would leave on his own terms, when he is ready. Hopefully he can go again next season to take the team to win the Premier League title again."

He added: "The beauty of Liverpool is that no one is even considering anyone else other than Jurgen Klopp as manager.

"He’s working to take Liverpool to that next level where they want to be Liverpool and the club are as happy as they have been for 30 years, with this manager in place taking the football club exactly where the fans want him to be. 

"There is no talk whatsoever that they want to see anybody else coming in and taking over the football club. Klopp seems to be Liverpool down to the ground, with his mentality and his approach.

"It's times like this, that the supporters can really enjoy having somebody like your club in charge who connects to the people of the city."

With seven games remaining in the Premier League season, Liverpool will now embark on a victory tour as the Reds cap off what could be a historic title-winning campaign.

Thursday's match with Manchester City gives Liverpool a chance to extend their historic lead atop the Premier League, with the Reds already maintaining a 23-point gap between the two sides.

Liverpool could also break the record for points in a season, surpassing Manchester City's centurions, and Mellor believes that cementing further records is more than enough motivation for Klopp's side.

"The big test for Liverpool is achieving 100 points and remaining motivated – but one of Liverpool's main strengths is the mentality that they have within the group," he said. 

"So they have to rely on that new target, which is to be the Premier League team with the greatest ever points. To get 100 points is just unbelievable, so if Liverpool can do that, that is the incentive from now to the end of the season and it is possible.

"That will be the mentality – to enjoy this moment, and then prepare for the next games."

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has warned that Leicester matches may have to be postponed or moved to a neutral stadium after the city went into full lockdown.

However, the club has said it does not expect anything to change due to the safety measures they already have in place.

While many places in England are preparing to ease restrictions on pubs and restaurants, a rise in coronavirus cases has forced Leicester to impose stricter restrictions this week, with schools closing on Thursday and non-essential shops to be shut for the next two weeks.

Health secretary Matt Hancock said that around "10 percent of all positive cases in the country over the past week" have come from Leicester and told the House of Commons on Monday that residents should stay at home as much as possible and only travel when essential.

The restrictions could affect the Foxes as they look to play their last seven Premier League matches of the season and Masters says the English top-flight and officials at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport are discussing the situation.

"Just about every eventualilty between our officials and DCMS officials has been discussed at some point," he told Sky Sports.

"So, we've had a huge dialogue with the authorities about the concept of neutral venues and if what is happening in Leicester, which we're waiting to hear, does affect the club's ability to host home games, either the match on Saturday against Crystal Palace at 3pm, or subsequent matches.

"Then we have the opportunity to play those matches elsewhere or postpone them until a date when it is safe to do so."

The league's CEO would not rule out the rest of the campaign being cancelled if other areas are forced to follow Leicester's example and introduce new measures to contain the spread of the virus.

"If that were to happen in multiple areas or the virus creates other risks then obviously there is that risk that we might not be able to complete the season," he added. "We've got to get to the end of July, complete our 380 games and as I said look cautiously optimistic to the season of 2020-21."

But the Foxes released a statement to clarify that they do not expect games to be affected by the lockdown and that they will continue to train as they have in recent weeks.

"All parties remain entirely satisfied that, through the continued implementation of our Covid-19 operations plan, the Club’s football operations can continue to safely function under existing protocols and, in doing so, there will be no greater risk posed to Club personnel, visiting teams or our surrounding communities," the statement read.

"Consequently, first team training will continue at Belvoir Drive and our forthcoming Premier League fixtures remain unaffected.

"The Club remains agile to the evolving nature of the situation and suitable continuity arrangements are in place in the event we are required to deviate from our existing protocols."

Amir Kakomo has challenged SC Villa's management to work even harder to ensure the club does better next season.

Kakomo acknowledged last season problems might have hindered their performance, but hoped the Jogoo's top-hierarchy will do better in the future as they hope to challenge for the league title.

"Not to get me wrong, Villa are a great club but with where the club was before and where they were last season, some improvement in that regard should be done and the club’s fortunes will definitely improve," Kakomo told Football256.

"For me, I think we can challenge even better than third where we finished last season with slight changes in management.

"But any club to develop and move forward, a good and firm structure is inevitable. And I think if we can have a more stringent and centralised system especially regarding players querries, then the club will move forward."

The midfielder signed for the club before the abandoned season began and confirmed talks are ongoing concerning a contract extension.

“The deal is not yet settled but negotiations between my agent and the club are ongoing which is a clear signal that I am to extend my stay at the club,” he added.

"I have really enjoyed my first season at Villa. I have grown as a player and as a person since I joined this great club.

"I have enjoyed every moment of it despite the challenges we have faced through the season. And I will take great lessons from what I have learned."

Meanwhile, St.  Lawrence University (SLAU) head coach Denis Nono has advised Wakiso Giants on how they can reap big from their new signing Owen Kasule.

"The beauty with the top flight is that teams tend to allow some space during games. And Kasule is a player who easily utilises space to stamp his mark on the game," Nono told Football256.

"To get the best out of Kasule, I reckon he should be allowed the freedom to explore these spaces and the resulting performances will be spectacular.

"But if you limit his touches, then things might fall apart and the golden boy might not reach his full potential which will be hurting for me and all those that have seen him rise to the limelight."

Nono, who is Kasule's agent, further revealed what the player likes as he prepares to have a taste of the top-flight football.

"Kasule loves the team to be built around him and always loves to carry the burden of the team but this time around I hope he can be a little bit patient with himself as next season will be his inaugural season," Nono continued.

"The top division is different from where he has played previously, and I know he has the potential to become a household name. Generally, I am excited for him."

AmaZulu have said that they will not be retaining Moeneeb Josephs as their player when his contract expires on June 30, but the club is "open to the idea" of the goalkeeper continuing in his role as first-team assistant coach.

The former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper has struggled for game time in the past two seasons at AmaZulu, managing just one league appearance this season and six last term.

Josephs is already a player/interim assistant coach to Ayanda Dlamini at the club, who is standing for Jozef Vukusic who was placed on special leave.

But Usuthu general manager Lunga Sokhela has urged Josephs to weigh up his options, either to retire from playing since his contract would not be renewed or they would welcome him to focus on a role in the first team technical set-up.

“We spoke with Meoneeb’s agent. We said that Meoneeb needs to come out and tell us what he would like to do, because this is not your regular player,” said Sokhela as per IOL.

“If he wants to announce things like retirement, he must do that. He is the one that must talk about what he wants to do post his football career. From our side, we did indicate that we won’t be renewing his contract beyond the 30th of June.

“Meoneeb needs to come out and speak so that we can do this properly. We want to avoid a situation where there is speculation.

"We have to give him that respect. He teamed up well with Ayanda Dlamini during the Kaizer Chiefs match. We are open to that idea [of Josephs being an assistant coach]. We are not against it, but we don’t want to be seen as making decisions on Moeneeb’s behalf.”

While working as stand-in coach Dlamini’s understudy, they were architects of AmaZulu’s famous 1-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs in their last match before football was suspended in South Africa.

With AmaZulu yet to resolve Vukusic’s future, Dlamini could remain in his position as interim coach for the rest of the season to help second-from-bottom Usuthu fight against relegation.

Fatoumata Kanteh has signed a new two-year contract with Spanish Primera Iberdrola side Sporting Huelva.
 
The Primera Iberdrola club took to social media to reveal the news, saying Kanteh will remain at the club until at least June 2022.

The striker arrived at Huelva in July 2019 from rivals Logrono where she featured in 17 matches, scoring once during her one-year stint with Gerardo Leon's team.

The 22-year-old, who was born and raised in Banyoles, is still eligible to represent the Gambia by her biological parents and is likely to play in the 2020 Africa Women's Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Despite her minor injury in February, Kanteh played 19 leagues matches in all competitions for Antonio Toledo's team, scoring once as her Huelva-based side ended in 14th spot after 21 matches.

Her immense contribution to Sporting Huelva's relegation escape saw the club extend her stay beyond the 2019-20 season before the suspension and subsequent cancellation due to coronavirus.

The Spanish-Gambian born has expressed joy over her new contract with the club ahead of the new 2020-21 season.
 
 "I will spend two more seasons here giving you my best. I am very happy to renew," Kanteh told the club website.

"I thank the coaching staff, the management, for trusting me, for giving me an opportunity and for continuing to fulfil my dream here, which is to continue playing in the First Division. 

 "We started roughly, we were almost all new but, well, after that we understood each other well, we worked very well and until the virus thing appeared, that, nothing, we had to stay at home, confinement, and the season could not be finished, but I keep the work of all the colleagues who have been and who will be this season."

Having signed a contract extension with the Iberdrola outfit, she further commented on her health status, her message to the fans, and ambition with the team.

"I hope to help the team to move higher on the table so as not to struggle, possibly be in the middle of the table and not suffer as we have suffered this season," she said.

"I'm already much better. I hardly notice it. I remember the moment and I see it on videos and it gives me goosebumps. 

"I fell very badly and just at that moment I still remember, that I didn't want anyone to touch me and it hurt a lot, and then even less in the doctor, but I'm better now and this shoulder is going to be a lot of war this season.

"We will not make our people suffer. We expect a lot of work, a lot of sacrifices, a commitment from the new ones who are going to come and from those who are already here and stay for half the table."

Manchester City winger Leroy Sane is set to complete a move to Bayern Munich after the two clubs agreed to a deal worth up to €60 million (£54.8m/$67m).

The Bundesliga champions will pay an initial €49m (£44.7m/$55m) for the German international with another €11m in add-ons. City have also secured a 10 per cent sell-on clause.

Sane, who was in the final year of his contract, is set to fly to Munich in the next 24 hours to complete the move and is not expected to play for City again this season.

The 24-year-old will sign a five-year deal believed to be worth €22m (£20.1m/$24.7m) a year, more than City were prepared to pay.

City had offered the former Schalke player a new deal that was turned down. The club is believed to happy with the money recuperated with uncertainty surrounding the transfer market amid the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on football finances.

Sane has missed most of the current season with injury but was one of the key players as City won the domestic treble last year.

City boss Pep Guardiola recently admitted that he was disappointed that Sane had turned down a new deal with the club.

“I’m so disappointed,” he said. “When we make an offer it’s because we want him; he’s got a special quality that is difficult to find.

“We tried before the injury [and] the surgery and after that and he rejected this offer. He has other wishes and I understand [but] we want players who want to commit and achieve our targets.

"I love him so much, he’s incredible, I’ve nothing against him – he wants another adventure.”

Sane was at the centre of a transfer saga between the clubs last summer that was expected to rumble on until deadline day, only for the winger to suffer a serious knee injury in the Community Shield in August.

Bayern decided against a move in January, with Sane still recovering from the setback that has seen him miss the whole season so far, though he was edging closer to an on-field return when the Premier League was shut down by the Covid-19 outbreak.

His only appearance since August was a 10-minute cameo in the 5-0 victory over Burnley in June.

Sane joined City in August 2016 from Schalke in a deal worth €52 million (£37m/$46m).

Gambia Football Federation (GFF) head of women's football Sainey M’boge believes the creation of the Caf Women's Champions League will offer the stage to unearth new female stars in Africa.

On Tuesday, the Caf Executive Committee approved the creation of the women's club competition, which will start in 2021, in its plans to grow the women's game. 

The development means Caf has begun the implementation of its a four-year women's football strategic plan for Africa, in collaboration with Fifa, decided upon in Egypt last November. 

Women's football has struggled for support on the continent, largely due to the paucity of funds but Fifa has offered a Covid-19 Relief Plan of $500,000 to member associations.

"The Caf Women’s Champions League will be launched in 2021. The format and other details will be communicated in due course," Caf confirmed via a statement. 

Goal understands at least 35 countries on the continent have a running National Women's Football League.

And the former Gambia international, who oversees the Gambian Women’s Football League, feels the event will arouse interest to support domestic leagues and expose new talent.

”We will see the emergence of new stars instead of the usual dominant clubs that you find in the men’s game,” M’boge told Goal.

“It will also give more exposure and experience to coaches, players, and administrators.

"In the Gambia, we are fully supported by our Executive Committee that put Women’s football as a top priority with the president been passionate about its progress.

”I must congratulate Caf for the great step because you will have thousands of girls and women across Africa who will now be dreaming of playing in the Champion League.

"We also have to give credit to the Gambia Football Federation  executive for this opportunity without which it would have been difficult for us to integrate into the beautiful game."

Tottenham's decision to sell Mousa Demebele cost them the Champions League title, Kieran Trippier says.

The Belgian midfielder spent seven years with the London outfit and made almost 250 appearances before he moved to China to join Guangzhou R&F in a deal worth £11 million ($14m) in January 2019.

Spurs went on to reach the Champions League final that season, only to lose 2-0 to Liverpool.

Trippier believes the decider in Madrid could have gone in the London side's favour had they opted to keep Dembele for the remainder of the campaign, as a player of his quality could have made the difference against Jurgen Klopp's team.

"They've got quality players, but, for me, the little fine margins of winning something is obviously when Mousa left. That's my opinion," the full-back, who left Spurs last summer to join Atletico Madrid, said on the Beautiful Game podcast.

"As a player, you don't want to see a player like Mousa leave, especially in January. Unless there was something that he needed to leave or whatever, I honestly don't know.

"It didn't make sense because he's the fine margins of winning you the Champions League final. That's how good he was.

"He could have three players around him, and you could give him the ball.

"The amount of respect the players had for him, and to see a player like that leave in January when you are going through a difficult season, for me, it didn't make sense.

"That's just my opinion. I don't want to speak on any of the players' thoughts on that.

"As soon as he goes it just saps it out of you because you've lost Mousa Dembele."

Trippier also had a lot of praise for former Spurs team-mate Harry Kane, who he believes would score for any team. 

"He can play at 50 percent and still score goals. He's the best finisher I've seen - him and Jermaine Defoe in training," he added. 

"He's unbelievable and the best professional I've ever come across. He doesn't drink, top professional on and off the field, does everything right. He'll score goals no matter where he is, so I have no concern about what people say about him."

Joao Felix is perhaps feeling the pressure of the "economic impact" from his move to Atletico Madrid but he can emulate Antoine Griezmann in becoming a star for Diego Simeone's side, says Abel Xavier.

The Portugal sensation was one of the most sought-after players of the previous close season prior to joining Atleti, who paid €126 million (£113m/$142m) to Benfica for his signature.

There have been flashes of the brilliance that saw Atleti stump up that huge sum, though six goals and a solitary assist from 24 LaLiga appearances - prior to Tuesday's clash with Barcelona - is hardly the most fruitful return.

Former Portugal international Xavier is convinced Joao Felix will adapt to life at the Wanda Metropolitano, though, and is sure it remains the right environment for the 20-year-old to flourish.

"There is a great hope on Felix because of his move to Atletico [but] the economic impact of his value is giving him too much pressure," Xavier told Stats Perform News.

"He needs to find the correct surrounding to be able to realise the potential of his own game. 

"That is going to be the next step with him, especially at Atletico Madrid with their philosophy and style of play.

"I admire Simeone a lot. There are a lot of people who do not like the identity of his game because he's very effective. At the end of the day he's fighting for the big trophies.

"But when you are integrating a big player, a fantasy player, a player who likes to have the ball… it's a process also for Felix to work on different aspects of the game.

"Maybe he was not used to defending so much without the ball. He needs to have the ball.

"For that reason I think it's a good process that will build him in different aspects to become stronger.  

"He's going to be one of the greatest in the future, for sure, with the correct set-up and style of play collectively."

Some pundits have questioned whether Joao Felix was right to move to Atleti and his name was linked tentatively with Manchester United during the coronavirus-enforced shutdown.

Xavier doubts anyone would pay more for his services than Atleti did, though, and said Joao Felix can become key for Simeone, just as Griezmann did for five seasons before joining Barcelona last year.

"It's very difficult at this present moment that someone can come and pay more than what Atletico paid for him," Xavier said. 

"He needs right now to be focused on his game. He's had a few injuries also, which is not a good sign. He needs to find stability and consistency. 

"Atletico right now is the best place for him. Stay two or three years and be the main figure in the same way that Antoine Griezmann was."

Young Africans (Yanga SC) secured their place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup after coming from a goal down to beat Kagera Sugar 2-1 in a match played at National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday.

The Jangwani Street-based giants are keen to win the domestic cup to earn a Caf Confederation Cup ticket after rivals Simba SC were declared Mainland Premier League champions and will compete in the Champions League.

Yanga coach Luc Eymael had also requested his players to return the favour for him after Kagera beat him 3-0 in his first match in charge of the club after he arrived from Black Leopards of South Africa to sign a short-term deal.

Eymael named a squad with one change, goalkeeper Metacha Mnata coming in for Kenyan Farouk Shikalo while upfront, he gave strikers David Molinga and Ditram Nchimbi the task to go for the goals.

Kagera were the better side as they raided Yanga in the opening stages and it took them only 20 minutes to take a deserved lead when Aweku Ibrahim scored from close range.

Kagera went into the break enjoying a 1-0 lead and they should have scored more than the single goal as they dominated the proceedings in the first period.

After the resumption, Yanga levelled matters when Molinga met a cross from a corner-kick to head home to score his third goal for the club in just three days. The Congolese import had scored two goals as Yanga came from a goal down to beat Ndanda FC 3-2 on Saturday.

Dues Kaseke then won the game for Timu ya Mwananchi after he slotted home from the penalty spot in the 76th minute after a Kagera defender was punished for bringing down Molinga.

Eymael was happy to have earned revenge against Kagera and also said his main ambition now is to go all the way and lift the Cup.

“I really wanted to beat Kagera, they beat me in my first match when I arrived in to coach Yanga and I was keen to revenge and I want to thank my boys for doing the job for me,” Eymael told Goal after the match.

In another match, Namungo FC made it to the last four after a goal in each half helped them to beat Alliance FC 2-0.

On Wednesday, newly crowned league champions Simba will take on Azam FC at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam while Sahare All-Stars will come up against Ndanda FC.