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Benik Afobe scored his first goal for Millwall as they bowed to a 2-1 to Fulham in Tuesday’s English Championship outing.

The DR Congo international returned to the Den after completing a season-long loan from Stoke City which reunited him with manager Gary Rowett.

After failing to score against Queens Park Rangers and Blackburn Rovers, the DR Congo international ended his wait with a second-half strike against the Cottagers.

Three minutes into the game, Marco Silva’s team took the lead through Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Fabio Carvalho sped down the left-hand side and cut the ball back to the Serbian forward, who had no problems in slotting past goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski.

Six minutes later, they doubled their lead through Carvalho who converted a through-ball from Neeskens Kebano.

After that early blow, Rowett’s team made attempts to get back into the game, but were met with a strong Fulham resistance.

Three minutes from full-time, Afobe reduced the deficit for his team as he turned Matt Smith's header over Paulo Gazzaniga and into the net.

In a recent interview, the 28-year-old stated he has unfinished business at Millwall and is keen to show he is among the best strikers in the Championship.

He told the South London Press: “I feel like I’ve got unfinished business. I feel like the fans didn’t get the true me.

“It’s not about me coming here to prove people wrong. It’s about proving people right – the ones who believe in me. I’m doing it for them.”

At the Madejski Stadium, Tom Dele-Bashiru made a losing debut as Reading crumbled 3-2 at home to Bristol City.

The Robins – who have failed to win any of their last four outings in all competitions – got off to a flying start through Andreas Weimann in the fifth minute.

Nine minutes later, they made it 2-0 through Chris Martin after he was teed up by Cameron Pring.

In the goal-laden first half, Femi Azeez reduced the deficit for the hosts in the 19th minute.

An attacking move saw Ethan Bristow and Tom McIntyre combine for Josh Laurent to then cut inside and passed to George Puscas.

The Romanian striker missed his kick but the ball fell to Azeez who rifled home from six yards out.

Nonetheless, the Royals ended up on the losing side. Born in England to a Nigerian father and Spanish mother, Azeez is eligible to represent England, Nigeria and Spain at the international level.

Red Star Belgrade defeated CFR Cluj 4-0 in Tuesday’s Europa League first leg play-off round, with El Fardou Ben Nabouhane finding the net.

The Comoros international got a second-half goal as the Red-Whites saw off the Romanians who have failed to win any of their last four games in the tournament.

Having crashed out of the Champions League following a 2-1 aggregate loss to FC Sheriff, the Serbian Super Liga side were demoted to Europa.

To stand a chance of progressing to the competition’s group stage, Dejan Stankovic’s team put up an impressive attacking display to hit their visitors for four.

The game was just five minutes old when Red Star took the lead through Milan Pavkov. The Serbian midfielder reacted quickest to head past goalkeeper Giedrius Arlauskis a rebound from Nabouhane’s shot.

Seven minutes before the half-time break, the hosts doubled their advantage through Aleksandar Katai who was set up by Pavkov.

Nevertheless, their comfortable lead was threatened on the stroke of half-time as manager Stankovic was mandated to replace injured Milos Degenek for Radovan Pankov.

Cluj began the second half like a house on fire, however, their numerous goalscoring attempts got thwarted as goalkeeper Milan Borjan made some fine saves.

Victory was guaranteed for the Serbians in the 68th minute through Nabouhane who drilled home from the edge of the box with Mirko Ivanic supplying the assist.

Thirteen minutes from full time, the African star turned provider for Ivanic as the Romanians returned home with heads bowed low.

Alongside Cote d’Ivoire’s Sekou Sanogo, Nabouhane was in action from start to finish but Gabon’s Guelor Kanga – who was handed a place in the starting XI - was subbed off for Nenad Krsticic in the 72nd minute.

Cluj boss Marius Sumudica did not list the quartet of Ulrich Meleke (Cote d'Ivoire), and Rachid Bouhenna (Algeria), Anas Tahiri (Morocco), and Mike Cestor (Congo) for action.

Before Red Star Belgrade travel to the Dr. Constantin Radulescu Stadium for the return leg on August 26, they host Backa Topola in a league game on Saturday.

After four matches played so far, the seven-time league winners occupy the third position in the log after accruing ten points.

Khalida Popal, the former captain of the Afghanistan women's national team, has described the Taliban's return to power this month as "like a nightmare."

After the withdrawal of international troops over the summer, the Taliban has seized back control of the country through force after 20 years outside of power. This week, the group took Kabul as foreign nations scrambled to evacuate embassies.

Popal, now a team director, has said she's received messages from her former team-mates saying they are scared of how the regime may treat women and unsure if they will be able to leave the country.

What was said?

"I receive messages from players from Afghanistan who are crying, saying we are abandoned and stuck at home not able to get out, they are afraid," Popal told BBC Sport. "All the dreams have just gone. It is just like a nightmare."

Popal, 34, is now based in Denmark, where she still serves as the director of the Afghanistan women's national team.

"Players are sending their videos and saying: 'The people I talked against are now outside my door, I cannot breathe, I am so scared and I don't see any protection,'" Popal added.

"What is happening right now is back to square one. We feel the show is over."

Popal, who helped form the first Afghan women's national team in 2007, has said she fears for the safety of girls and women under Taliban rule.

"We encouraged women and girls to stand up and be bold, and now I am telling them to take photos down, shut down your social media and try to shut down their voices. This causes so much pain," she said.

"The players have been so vocal, standing up for women's rights, and now their lives are in grave danger."

Further reading

Bayern Munich head coach Julian Nagelsmann has downplayed his role in a slump-busting 3-1 German Super Cup win over Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, as he acknowledged his side earned its place in the final because of last season's performances under predecessor Hansi Flick.

The victory and accompanying trophy were much-needed for the club after losing three of four pre-season friendlies and drawing with Borussia Monchengladbach this past weekend.

But for Nagelsmann, the pressure to maintain high standards in his new role will not have dissipated with the result, with the Bavarian boss saying he doesn't have much time to celebrate.

What has been said?

"We don't have much time to celebrate," Nagelsmann told reporters. "The title is a reward for last season as Hansi Flick won the league with this team.

"I'm happy, but the title belongs more to other people than me.

"We defended very well, we were aggressive. We won the ball high up the pitch. Niki (Sule) and Upa (Upamecano) were very stable at the back. It was a step forward for both of them."

'It means a lot'

For those who have been in competitive action for Bayern for more than a couple of weeks, the victory was heralded as an important accomplishment.

"The title means a lot to me," Robert Lewandowski told Sky Sports. "It was a good game for the fans with a lot of attacking actions. We can play even better than today, we are still at the beginning of the season. We need a bit more time.

"We'll enjoy this title and the look ahead. I really missed playing in front of fans. It was emotional and it's always something special."

Added Leon Goretzka: "The atmosphere was great, I really enjoyed playing in front of fans again. Dortmund showed they're a great team. We wanted to show our quality in this prestigious game and we did it well. In the end we deserved to win."

Next up for Bayern

The squad will take on Koln on Sunday in the Bundesliga before completing a rescheduled DFB-Pokal fixture against Bremer SV next Wednesday.

Further reading

Wolves forward Raul Jimenez has said it's a "miracle" that he's returned to the pitch after a horrific skull fracture put his life in danger.

Jimenez clashed heads with Arsenal defender David Luiz last November, leaving him with a fractured skull that required him to stay in hospital for 10 days.

The Mexico international completed his comeback at the weekend, as he played all 90 minutes of Wolves' 1-0 defeat to Leicester City on the Premier League's opening day.

What was said?

Speaking on the emergency surgery he required after the injury, Jimenez said: "[There was] the skull fracture, the bone broke and there was a little bit of bleeding inside the brain. It was pushing my brain to the inside and that is why the surgery had to be quick. It was a really good job by the doctors.”

“Since the first moment [the doctors] told me the risks,” the 30-year-old added on continuing his career. “Because they are doctors they have to tell you the truth and you have to take it.

"The skull fracture did take a little longer than we all expected to heal but it is a miracle to be here.”

Jimenez added that he has no memory of the clash with Luiz.

“I remember we arrived at the stadium, I left my things in the dressing room, went out with my team-mates to see the pitch and then we returned to the dressing room – and then it’s like lights out,” he said.

“I remember nothing else. I can remember when I first woke up in the hospital and I can remember some other things from the hospital but nothing really clear.”

Though doctors told Jimenez he may never play again, the striker insisted that he always believed he'd be back on the pitch.

"I never thought about finishing my career or stopping playing. There was a chance of that but I was always confident I was going to return.”

Jimenez looks to return to scoring ways

After successfully making his return to the pitch, the next step for Jimenez is to regain the scoring form he displayed prior to his injury.

Jimenez scored 13 Premier League goals in 2018-19 and followed that up with a sensational 2019-20 campaign that saw him increase that number to 17 goals.

The forward scored four times in 10 league games last term before his injury.

Further reading

Karim Adeyemi was on song as Salzburg secured a hard-fought 2-1 win over Brondby in Tuesday’s Champions League fixture.

Heading into the encounter staged at the Red Bull Arena, the visitors had never defeated any Austrian team when playing in Europe.

Powered by the desire to break this agelong jinx, the reigning Danish Superliga champions began the game on a solid note as they dominated ball possession.

That yielded a positive result in the fourth minute as Mikael Uhre put them ahead. Controlling a pass from Ghana prospect Kevin Mensah, the Danish forward twisted and turned in the box before unleashing an unstoppable shot past goalkeeper Philipp Koehn.

Despite the hosts’ attacking forays, they were unable to level scores as they went into the halftime break with a goal deficit.

Nonetheless, Salzburg turned things around in the 56th minute thanks to an equalizer from Germany youth international Adeyemi who profited from good work by Brenden Aaronson.

With the game looking destined to end in a 1-1 draw, Aaronson scored the winner in the 90th minute – showing great composure to bury Oumar Solet’s pass past goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.

While Adeyemi was subbed off for Switzerland international of Nigerian origin Noah Okafor in the 82nd minute, Mali’s Mohamed Camara was in action from start to finish.

Whereas, his compatriot Mamady Diambou and Guinea's Daouda Guindo were unused substitutes.

Elsewhere, Adama Traore was on song twice as FC Sheriff silenced Dinamo Zagreb 3-0 in Moldova.

The Mali international put his team ahead on the stroke of half time as he slotted past onrushing goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic after he was teed up by Brazilian defender Cristiano.

Although Dinamo dominated possession, they were indecisive in the final third. The Moldovan champions took advantage of that to get their second goal in the 54th minute through Dimitris Kolovos thanks to an assist from Guinea's Momo Yansane.

The visitors’ ambition of a positive away result got quashed in the 80th minute as Traore completed his double to the delight of the home fans.

With this result, Sheriff are on the brink of Champions League history and they could be the first-ever Moldovan side to reach the group stage of the tournament if they keep things tight in the second leg.

The second leg holds on August 25, 2021.

Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Benedict Vilakazi says he expected Josef Zinnbauer to part ways with the Soweto giants at the end of last season.

The record Pirates scorer also feels the Buccaneers created a ‘big problem’ for themselves by letting the German oversee the team’s pre-season before allowing him to resign.

Zinnbauer stepped down from his role as Pirates on Monday, four days before the start of the 2021/22 Premier Soccer League season.

“I expected him to leave Pirates, if not him leaving but the team to release him by the end of last season,” Vilakazi told iDiski Times. 

“The crucial part of putting things in place is during pre-season. That’s when you do all the things, plan, and all of that. Now, they allowed him to do pre-season training and now that he is resigning they also allow him to tender his resignation. 

“From my point of view in this scenario, if the coach has done a pre-season with a team and the new campaign hasn’t even started and he resigns, it’s a big problem, a serious problem for the team. But I think it was overdue for him to depart.”

Zinnbauer’s Pirates' future was always uncertain from the backend of last season when the Buccaneers fell off the PSL title race running.

They then started competing for a top-three spot which they only managed to secure on the last day of the season.

It was only when Mandla Ncikazi was announced to have joined Pirates’ as a member of Zinnbauer’s backroom staff in June that the German seemingly survived the axe.

The former Mainz 05 midfielder’s job came to an end when the Soweto giants were booted out of the MTN8 last Saturday, to end their hopes of defending the trophy they won last season.

It is now to be seen who will succeed Zinnbauer as his former assistants Ncikazi and Fadlu Davids are tipped to take over.

“Yes, he has resigned but the question is who is going to come in now after the team went through pre-season. Who is going to come in now and coach the team?,” said Vilakazi.

Nigeria have been handed a great chance of winning the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations thanks to a ‘favourable’ draw in the group stage, according to seasoned football administrator Samuel Olatunji-Okuku.

Gernot Rohr’s men will face Egypt, Sudan and Guinea Bissau in Group D in Cameroon and are heavy favourites to reach at least the round of 16.

Although the Pharaohs appear to be the Super Eagles’ toughest opposition in the group stages, the Tripple 44 Academy boss sees no reason why the three-time African champions should not overcome the North Africans and fight through to the knockout stages in their bid to reclaim a title they last lifted in 2013.

“Right now, there are no easy opponents in football, don’t forget it is a game of 11 versus 11, so anything is possible,” Olatunji-Okuku told Goal.

“It will go down to who wants it the most, but I expect the Super Eagles to qualify as group winners.

“Without sounding boastful, this is a favourable pairing that gives Nigeria the chance to win the competition for the fourth time.”

Nigeria will begin their quest for glory against the Pharaohs at the Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua on January 11.

In that encounter, the West African country will have the chance to get revenge against Egypt who stopped them from qualifying for the 2017 Afcon held in Gabon.

“We have got a fine record against Egypt in recent times, so I won’t press the panic button having being drawn with them,” he continued.

“Coach Rohr has got a pool of fantastic players to choose from, so it's not going to be a question of quality.

“Nigeria have the talent to get to the semi-final of this competition at least, but it still depends on how to make the lads play together as a formidable unit.

“So, getting the right players and the right way to play will be very important.”

Moreover, Olatunji-Okuku is not ruling out the possibility of either the Falcons of Jediane or Baciro Cande's Djurtus from causing an upset.

“They can, why not? Football is a game of upset and I’m not ruling them out.,” he added.

“In football, anyone can be beaten, but I’m also not ruling out the fact that we’ve got more than enough quality to prevent them from upstaging us.

“Honestly, I am happy with the draw and we have got a lot of reasons to believe this time around.”

Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan has described their group for the delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations tournament as a “tricky” one after the Black Stars drew Morocco, Gabon and Comoros Island.

The four-time African champions will face off against the Atlas Lions, The Panthers and The Coelacanths in Group C of the January 9 – February 6 tournament in Cameroon.

The final draw was conducted on Tuesday.

“I think it’s a tricky group,” Gyan, one of five African football legends who helped to conduct the draw in the Cameroonian Capital of Yaounde, said of Ghana’s group at the event broadcast live across the world.

“Morocco are up there, I think they conceded just one goal in the qualification, which statistically are one of the strongest in the group.

“Ghana are also up there. That’s my country, I will be rooting for my country. But everybody who has qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations is coming to win. So statistically, we’re up there but we don’t know what is going to happen.

“We just have to stay focused and do what we can do to just qualify from this group and then we see what happens because without [qualifying from] the group, you cannot be thinking of winning the cup. So we have to make sure we qualify from the group stage, and then think about winning the cup.”

Ghana will kick off their Cameroon adventure with a clash with Morocco at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo on January 10 before coming up against Gabon four days later.

The Black Stars, who will be seeking to go all the way to win their first title since 1982, will then wrap up their group stage mission with a meeting with Comoros on January 18.

“It’s been quite frustrating [that we have not won the cup in a long time],” Gyan remarked.

“Since 2008, our worst is the semi-final, so it’s like we’ve been coming closer to the cup but we don’t get it. I think back home, everybody wants nothing but the cup.

“It doesn’t matter about the performance. It’s about the cup. So that is what we’re praying for.”

Ghana’s last Afcon campaign ended in a Round of 16 exit At Egypt 2019.

Antonio Cassano has revealed that Chelsea and Italy midfielder Jorginho agreed with his opinion that it would be a "scandal" if he won the Ballon d’Or ahead of Lionel Messi.

Jorginho has been tipped to win the prize after playing a major role in Italy's Euro 2020 triumph as well as Chelsea's Champions League win.

But the former Azzurri striker has claimed the midfield star agrees that the award should always go to Messi.

What did Cassano say?

“Remember when I said any journalist who voted for Jorginho as Ballon d’Or should have his licence taken away?” Cassano asked Christian Vieri on his Twitch channel.

“Well, I was in Formentera with my family and just as I sat down, I felt a touch. ‘Antonio, you’re great!’ the voice says. I turn around to ask who he was, he took off his glasses and mask, and it was Jorginho!

“I told him, Jorgi, can you believe the scandal if they should give you the Ballon d’Or and not to Messi? He replied that he absolutely agreed with me, Messi should always win it.

“Now I admire Jorginho even more. We were talking for a good 90 minutes. He is an exceptional guy, very intelligent, humble and polite.”

What has Jorginho said?

Though Cassano claims Jorginho admitted he doesn't deserve the prize, the midfielder himself said last month he could be considered if voters prioritise trophies.

"We all have dreams," Jorginho told SporTV. "But, I'll be honest, it depends on the criteria that the decision is based on.

"If we're talking about talent then I know I'm not the best in the world. But if it's going on titles, then nobody has won more than I have this season.

"How could I compare myself to Messi, Neymar or Cristiano Ronaldo? They've got completely different characteristics to me. But, I repeat, it depends on the criteria."

When will the Ballon d'Or be awarded?

After the Ballon d'Or was cancelled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the award will handed out in December of this year.

Aside from Jorginho and Messi, other top candidates include Robert Lewandowski, N'Golo Kante, Cristiano Ronaldo, Romelu Lukaku and Kylian Mbappe.

Further reading

Ghana will open their delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations tournament with a first-round clash with Morocco on January 10.

The Black Stars are set to face the Atlas Lions for the second time in six months after the two teams were pitted against each other in Group C which also contains Gabon and Comoros.

It will be their first encounter since Morocco registered a 1-0 victory in an international friendly in Rabat in June.

The draw for the final tournament, which runs between January 9 and February 6 next year, was conducted in the Cameroonian capital of Yaounde on Tuesday evening.

Ghana, who are on the search for their fifth tournament title and their first since 1982, will face Morocco in their opening game at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde.

The Black Stars will then switch attention to face a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang-led Gabon in their second game on January 14 before wrapping up their group stage assignment with a tie against the Comoros Island who are set to make their debut appearance at the tournament.

CK Akonnor’s outfit will hope to finish among the top two in their group or among the best four third-placed sides to make it to the knock-out stage of the competition.

At Afcon, Ghana and Morocco last faced each other at the 2008 tournament where the former, hosts of the tournament, registered a 2-0 victory in their last group game, courtesy of goals from Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari.

The Black Stars’ last fixture against Gabon at the continental showpiece ended in a 1-0 victory at the 1989 championship.

The West Africans and Comoros have never met at Afcon but their last encounter in any competition came in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers where Mubarak Wakaso and Jordan Ayew scored to ensure passage from the preliminary round to the group stage of the series.

At Cameroon next year, Ghana will hope to make amends for a disappointing outing in Egypt in 2019 where they exited the competition at the Round of 16. It was their first time since 2006 failing to reach the quarter-final of the tournament.

Cristiano Ronaldo has denied talk he could be set for a sensational return to Real Madrid, hitting out at "disrespectful" media reports linking him with a move away from Juventus.

Ronaldo is entering the final year of his Juve contract and has been recently linked with Madrid and Manchester City, among other clubs.

The transfer talk also prompted Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti to deny reports he could bring the Portugal star back to the Santiago Bernabeu.

What was said?

In a lengthy Instagram post, Ronaldo said: "Anyone who knows me is aware of how focused I am on my work. Less talk and more action, this has been my guiding motto since the start of my career. However, in view of everything that’s been said and written recently, I have to set out my position.

"More than the disrespect for me as a man and as a player, the frivolous way that my future is covered in the media is disrespectful to all the clubs involved in these rumours, as well as to their players and staff.

"My story at Real Madrid has been written. It’s been recorded. In words and numbers, in trophies and titles, in records and in headlines. It’s in the Museum at the Bernabeu Stadium and it’s also in the minds of every fan of the club.

"And beyond what I achieved, I remember that in those nine years I had a relationship of deep affection and respect for 'merengue aficion', an affection and respect that I retain to this day, and that I will always cherish. I know that the true Real Madrid fans will continue to have me in their hearts, and I will have them in mine.

"As well as this most recent episode in Spain, there have been frequent news and stories associating me with a number of clubs in many different leagues, with nobody ever being concerned about trying to find out the actual truth.

"I’m breaking my silence now to say that I can’t allow people to keep playing around with my name. I remain focused on my career and in my work, committed and prepared for all the challenges that I have to face. Everything else? Everything else is just talk."

Ronaldo's time at Juventus

The Portugal star has continued his sensational scoring form during his time in Italy, scoring 101 goals in 133 appearances.

But, after joining from Real Madrid in 2018, Ronaldo has not yet helped the club to continental success, as Juventus have not advanced past the Champions League quarter-finals in three seasons with the forward.

Ronado has still won his share of silverware with Juventus, lifting two Serie A titles and winning the Coppa Italia last season.

Further reading

Nigeria will face Egypt in Group D of the preliminary round of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

Gernot Rohr’s men, who enjoyed a smooth qualification campaign where they were unbeaten and finished top of their group, have also been tasked with matches against Sudan and Guinea Bissau.

The draw ceremony which served up plenty of interesting match-ups took place Tuesday evening at Yaounde Conference Centre, Cameroon.

Comoros, who are making their first appearance at the tournament, will have their hands full when they take on Senegal, Ghana and Gabon in Group C.

Algeria must negotiate their way past Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire in Group E if they hope to make it to the second round of the championship.

Elsewhere, Tunisia have been zoned alongside Mali, Mauritania, and Gambia in Group F.

The Super Eagles begin their quest for glory against the Pharaohs at the Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua on January 11.

The 33rd edition of the biennial African football showpiece was due to begin on January 9, 2021, however, it was pushed back to January 2022 due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic that crippled football-related activities.

Before the advent of Covid-19, the competition was moved from June-July 2021 dates to January 2022 due to the unfavourable climate in the West African country during the summer months.

Nigeria last won the championship in 2013 when they defeated Burkina Faso 1-0 in South Africa courtesy of Sunday Mba’s first-half strike.

The three-time African champions finished third at Egypt 2019 after defeating Tunisia in the third-place play-off at Al Salam Stadium, Cairo.

Check out the groups in full below.

Veteran Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan is not looking to bow out of the game just yet, despite a frustrating 20/21 season.

Back home in the Ghana Premier League after 17 years abroad, the 35-year-old endured a difficult time with Legon Cities, battling with injuries for the most time of the campaign as the club fought relegation.

He made just six appearances for the Accra-based club and failed to find the back of the net, heightening calls for a retirement from the beautiful game.

"I have not retired from football," Gyan told Kessben FM .

"There were some injuries last season, but I am not done playing football. I can wake up one day and announce my retirement from football but at the moment, I am active.

"People will criticise me but I am only hoping to get back to my normal form and weight but if I am not able to regain my form, then I will call it off. But at the moment, I am working on myself to lose my weight.

"I returned to Legon Cities and you could clearly see that things did not go as planned because I have putting on weight but I am giving myself another season and I trust I will be back to my form. And if I am on my form, I don't think I will be overlooked. But for retirement, not now."

It is unclear where Gyan will be playing club football in the 2021-22 term after seeing out his season-long deal with Legon, whom he joined at the last hour after being heavily linked to 23-time Ghana Premier League champions Asante Kotoko.

The striker, Ghana’s most capped player and all-time top scorer, returned home after a spell with Indian Super League side NorthEast United.

When he first left Ghana in 2003, he joined Italian Serie A fold Udinese, where he spent two seasons out on loan at lower division side Modena.

He transferred to French outfit Stade Rennes in 2008 and left the Ligue club for then English Premier League side Sunderland after a fine performance at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

His career has also seen him play for Al Ain and Ahli Dubai in the UAE, Shanghai SIPG in China and Kayserispor in Turkey.

Juventus have confirmed the capture of Brazilian striker Kaio Jorge as the teenager has completed his expected move to Serie A.

Taking advantage of his expiring contract, which meant he could have left for free in December, Juve have spent just an initial €3 million on Kaio, half of which will be paid out this year and the rest in 2022, plus another €1m in bonuses. 

Santos will also earn five per cent of the profits of any future sale, while also having the right of first refusal should the striker ever be loaned back to a Brazilian club.

Who is Kaio Jorge?

Kaio began his career with Santos at the age of 10 and has since spent the entirety of his career with the Brazilian club. 

He was handed his first-team debut in 2018 at just 16 years old and picked up the Bronze Boot as he spearheaded Brazil's Under-17 World Cup win in the next summer.

Kaio finished the most recent Copa Libertadores as his club's top scorer, having netted five times in 12 games on the way to the finale while earning a spot on Goal's NXGN 2021 list.

The Brazilian teenager's agent, Andrea Bagnoli, previously revealed that Liverpool and Tottenham were also keen on a player that is "a little Lautaro Martinez, a little Roberto Firmino".

Locatelli up next

With Max Allegri back in as Juventus manager, Kaio won't be the club's last signing of the summer

Juve have reached an agreement to sign Manuel Locatelli from Sassuolo in a loan deal that includes a €35 million (£30m/$41m) obligation to buy, Goal can confirm, with that long-awaited transfer set to be the next to come to fruition.

Further reading

Tigres and Queretaro will both look to end their winless runs when they meet in Liga MX this week at Estadio Universitario.

Watch Tigres vs Queretaro on fuboTV (free 7-day trial)

Both Los Auriazules and Los Gallos Blancos are out to buck the trend and earn a much-needed victory as they seek to avoid being cut adrift of the Apertura reclassification race early on.

Ahead of the game, Goal has the details of how to watch on TV, stream online, team news and more.

TV channel, live stream & how to watch

In the United States (US), Liga MX matches can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (watch with a 7-day free trial).

New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.

Team news & rosters

Miguel Herrera's side have struggled to set the world alight this term - and their penchant for red cards is not helping, with Luis Alfonso Rodriguez the latest to face a ban after he was dismissed against Puebla.

Francisco Meza remains sidelined with a cruciate ligament issue likely to keep him out until the new year, while Andre-Pierre Gignac now joins him on the sidelines with an ankle fracture.

Predicted Tigres starting XI:  Guzman; Avalos, Salcedo, Reyes, Aquino; Carioca; Lopez, Fernandez, Vigon, Quinones; Gonzalez.

Hector Altamirano is still searching for a first win of the new campaign - and the longer he is forced to wait, the more nervy his position could become at Estadio Corregidora.

A shift to a 4-3-3 last time out earned another point against Pumas and they may well keep faith with a similar set-up on the road, with Leon loanee Nicolas Sosa up front once more.

Predicted Queretaro starting XI:  Aguerre; Mendoza, Perg, Doldan, Hernandez; Torres, Cabrera, O. Martinez, Barrera, Sosa, Ramirez.

Last five results

Head-to-head

Andrea Pirlo says that he'd be open to coaching in MLS someday as he looks to take the lessons learned during his time at Juventus and apply them to his next job.

Pirlo spent just one season in charge of Juve before being let go this summer in favor of Massimiliano Allegri.

The former Italy star says he's now looking forward to his "next adventure" which could possibly come in MLS, where he spent three seasons playing for New York City FC.

What did Pirlo say?

"I’m not ruling out anything,” Pirlo told The Athletic when asked about MLS. “It’s a great league. I see lots of coaches coming to MLS from other countries. I was lucky enough to play there.

"You saw what the USMNT did in the Gold Cup so I’d say the American game is taking off. Lots of Americans are now playing for the best clubs in the world — Juve, Barcelona, Chelsea. If they’re playing at that level, it speaks to their potential.”

Despite having left the league in 2017 upon his retirement, Pirlo says he still keeps tabs on what's going on in MLS and American soccer in general.

“I don’t watch all the games but I turn it on when I can,” Pirlo said. “I know it’s really hot this time of year. I remember playing in that heat. It’s hard for players to maintain high intensity when it’s this hot.

“I watch all the teams. I love New York — I had a place there before I moved stateside — but I like everything about MLS. I really enjoyed my time there. I got on well with the club, my teammates, the staff and the coaches I had.

"It was a great life experience, a great football experience too. Two of my kids were born in America, so it’s something we’ll always carry with us. It’s like home to them, a part of our lives. They’re American.”

Lessons from Juve 

Pilo lasted just 52 games in charge of Juventus, with the club failing to win Serie A and only barely securing qualification to the Champions League.

He was hired without any managerial experience, having only been named Juve's Under-23 coach 10 days before his promotion to lead the senior team. However, Pirlo says that his footballing philosophy has not changed despite his experience at Juve as he still believes in a style of play that can work at the highest levels.

“I’m not going to change it because some of the results weren’t good,” he said. “That’s still how I think about the game — playing out from the back, looking to keep the ball, regaining possession as quickly as possible. A lot depends on the players you have available to you and what they enable you to do. Players are much more important than coaches. It’s the coaches who must adapt.”

“I learned a lot,” he continued. “It was my first experience as a coach but it was very intense because we started the season with only one friendly game. It all went very quickly. We played every three days, without fans, without being able to recover and without being able to train and prepare for the next game. It was difficult to try something new. Recovery was more important.”

Currently without a job, Pirlo says that he's spent the last few months looking both inward and outwards at coaches that could inspire him going forward towards his next role.

“I’m looking at lots of different coaches,” he said. “You can learn from anyone. I’m watching games and training sessions online.

"Once it’s easier to travel, I’ll go watch some in person. I bumped into Mauricio Pochettino on holiday in Ibiza and he asked me to swing by Paris and say hello. If I can, I’d like to go to Manchester to see [Pep] Guardiola.”

Further reading

Gor Mahia assistant coach says Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania should be ashamed of even watching 2021 Africa Cup of Nations draw after failing to produce a team to take part in the biennial competition.

In the 2019 edition, the East Africa region was well represented as all the three nations made it to Egypt. Only the Cranes went past the group stage but were eliminated in the last 16 after falling to Senegal by a solitary goal.

The former Harambee Star believes the region has enough talent to compete with the best and it is 'shameful' East Africa is not amongst the 24 teams in the draw.

'It is a shame for East Africa'

"How can East Africa fail to produce a team to play in Cameroon? It is shameful to even sit and watch the draw without having one of our own," Omollo told Goal on Tuesday evening.

"It is a shame for East Africa considering we have the talent and players who can compete with others in Africa. Not that those who have made it to the competition are special, no. Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania would have been in central Africa.

"On my part, it is saddening that I will not be cheering Harambee Stars. Kenya have what it takes to perform well not only in the region but in the international scene as well."

Have the Federations failed?

The former defender has hit out at the responsible football associations for not providing a conducive environment where clubs and players at large can excel.

"We cannot keep on having wrangles with the clubs season in season out," Omollo continued.

"Federations should be focused on setting structures, good structures to develop players. The running of leagues should also be professional, it will motivate investors to come in, and players will be motivated to give their best.

"Look at most of the teams that have made it to the Afcon, they have structures, working structures. It is a challenge to East Africa."

Who will Omollo be supporting in the tournament?

"I am with the indomitable Lions, I believe they have what it takes to go all the way, and playing at home is an advantage."

The 2022 football calendar year is set to look a little different, with the Qatar World Cup taking place during the winter and not the summer for the first time in history.

This was done with the country's sweltering summer temperatures in mind, with the winter climate set to be slightly cooler for players.

But how will the 2022 World Cup impact the Premier League schedule, especially with the league's festive season being one of the busiest times of the season? Goal takes a look.

When will the 2022 World Cup take place?

The World Cup will take place between November 21, 2022 and December 18, 2022.

The tournament will take place in Qatar.

How will the Premier League schedule be affected by the 2022 World Cup?

The 2022 World Cup is the first iteration of the tournament to be held in the winter, as opposed to the traditional summer months, due to the overwhelming heat in Qatar that would make it difficult for players.

It was decided that the competition would be moved to December, owing to the cooler temperatures, but this means that European club schedules will be greatly impacted.

Plans for how the Premier League and other major European competitions will accommodate the World Cup have not yet been confirmed, but according to the BBC, a number of changes could be made.

They suggest that Premier League chiefs could potentially start the 2022-23 season one week earlier, while finishing one week later than usual – which means that the season could begin in early August and end in late May.

Usually, the Premier League season begins mid-August and concludes in mid-May.

Will the Premier League be paused for the 2022 World Cup?

A break in the Premier League has also been proposed, as players representing their country will be unavailable for club duty in order to be in Qatar for six weeks.

Premier League matches could be paused on November 12 and then continue on December 26, eight days after the World Cup final.

Under this plan, there would be six weekends without Premier League games.

Reports suggest that the Championship will also be paused throughout the World Cup, but their break will not be as long as the Premier League's.

League One and League Two are both still expected to continue.

Following the conclusion of the World Cup, participating players are expected to reintegrate themselves into domestic club action almost immediately.

Any kind of schedule change will be even more of a headache for the Premier League, as the festive period is already traditionally the busiest time of the season, with an abundance of midweek games.

The likes of La Liga, Bundesliga and Ligue 1 are likely to follow the same plan.