Liverpool teen Elliott ‘truly sorry’ over video mocking Kane

London (AFP) – Liverpool teenager Harvey Elliott apologised on Thursday after a video emerged of him appearing to mock Tottenham striker Harry Kane.

The Snapchat video, taken during the Champions League final in June, shows Elliott, 16, performing an offensive impersonation of the England international.

Elliott took to Instagram to issue an apology, where he admitted his actions were “immature” and “senseless”.

“I would just like to wholeheartedly apologise for any offence caused on the back of a video of me currently circulating on the internet,” he wrote.

“The contents of the video do not represent who I am as a person or how I’ve been brought up, and I am truly sorry.”

A boyhood Liverpool fan, Elliott made his debut on Wednesday in a 3-1 pre-season victory over Lyon after moving from Fulham last week for an undisclosed fee.

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US women’s league seeks World Cup-winning bounce

New York (AFP) – The US women’s football team is the best on the planet, but the sport’s domestic league is virtually unknown. 

Players, organisers and fans hope that is about to change as the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is looking to capitalise on the national team’s triumph at the World Cup in July — and it could already be seeing a bounce.

“We’re seeing a huge wave from the World Cup. In the NWSL attendances have been up, so it’s great to see,” two-time world and Olympic champion Carli Lloyd told a group of reporters.

Lloyd, 37, spoke after playing a match for New Jersey club side Sky Blue FC.

More than a half hour after the game, Sky Blue FC players were still busy signing programmes, posters and calendars for the hundreds of young fans who lined up to meet their heroes.

“There’s a lot of people that still have no idea that there is a NWSL women’s league,” Lloyd said, and explained what the players could do to help change that.

“Changing people’s lives. Going down the line, signing autographs, taking selfies. A kid sees that. ‘Wow, I just got a selfie with Carli. I want to come back.’ That’s really what it’s all about,” she added.

A capacity crowd of 5,000 packed into Yurcak Field stadium last week for Lloyd’s first Sky Blue FC game since she returned from the World Cup in France.

The hosts lost 1-0 to the Washington Spirit.

The same night in Seattle, the Portland Thorns thrashed the Houston Dash 5-0 in front of a crowd of more than 22,000, just short of the largest-ever attendance for an NWSL match.

“Sometimes in the NWSL you don’t play in front of big crowds, so I feel like it’s awesome to have two games back-to-back where it’s been a sell-out crowd, said national team member Rose Lavelle, who plays for the Washington Spirit.

“Hopefully, it will just keep continuing,” she said. 

Many of the spectators AFP spoke to were watching Sky Blue play for the first time, highlighting the growing interest in the women’s game following the national team’s successful defence of their World Cup crown.

– Sponsorship –

In addition to their 2019 and 2015 titles, the US team also triumphed in 1999 and at the sport’s 1991 inaugural championship.

“I think women sports in general are catching on and being more popular,” said PJ Petrow, who has been coaching girls’ football for 25 years.

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Bielsa’s Leeds target Premier League push as Championship starts

London (AFP) – Marcelo Bielsa has another chance to deliver Premier League football to the success-starved fans of Leeds United after falling agonisingly short last season, as the Championship starts this weekend.

The charismatic 64-year-old Argentine, idolised by Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino, gave the three-time English champions a boost by agreeing to stay on for a second campaign. 

Leeds start their latest bid to escape the second tier on Sunday against Bristol City after the bitter disappointment of letting slip a 2-0 aggregate lead against Derby in the play-off semi-finals in May.

Derby should once again be strong after replacing replaced Frank Lampard, who left to manage Chelsea, with former Dutch star Phillip Cocu.

The relegated Premier League trio of Cardiff, Fulham and Huddersfield, will be buoyed by parachute payments, but the last side to go straight back were Newcastle, after they slipped out of the top flight in 2016.

West Brom, who reached the play-offs in May are positioned to make a strong push under former West Ham and Croatia manager Slaven Bilic.

– Leeds favourites –

But fallen giants Leeds, missing from the Premier League since 2004, are the early favourites to complete their journey back to the top flight.

Bielsa, who has kept faith with most of the squad from last season, also bringing in Portugal international winger Helder Costa on loan from Premier League side Wolves, has been succinct in his appraisal of their chances of success.  

“We can arrive at the goal we want to achieve,” he said.

The goal of automatic promotion has been hammered out in no uncertain terms by the club hierarchy.

Italian owner Andrea Radrizzani has stayed put, having denied rumours he was trying to sell the club.

“When you are really close to something and you don’t get it, you can take two roads,” Leeds director of football Victor Orta told the BBC.

“You can think about the chance you lost, or think about the one in front of you. We have decided on the second one. When you look back, you can’t advance.”

Orta said he was not concerned by the lack of new faces at the club, adding “continuity is our value for next season”.

At least Bielsa’s famously tough training regime will not be the shock it was on his arrival last year.

“You can have double, triple, four sessions a day,” said captain Liam Cooper. “There were hard blisters on my feet.

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Sundowns title favourites amid uncertainty over coach Mosimane

Johannesburg (AFP) – The 2019/2020 South African Premiership season kicks off Saturday with Mamelodi Sundowns favourites to complete a hat-trick despite uncertainty over the future of multiple title-winning coach Pitso Mosimane. 

He is reportedly upset that the 2016 CAF Champions League trophy-holders want to hire an unnamed Spanish technical director, threatening the independence of the four-time Premiership-winning coach.

Media speculation includes Mosimane eyeing a return to the national coach position should England-born Stuart Baxter resign this week amid sustained media and public criticism of him.

Baxter will hold a press conference Friday and many pundits believe he will quit a job worth 490,000 rand ($34,500/31,000 euros) a month, according to a leading weekly newspaper.  

Mosimane says his expensively assembled mix of South African, African and South American stars is not ready for the season opener against Pretoria neighbours SuperSport United.

“I do not like this match because it comes at a wrong time for us — we are not ready,” said the 55-year-old coach and former South Africa forward.

“When we played SuperSport last year it was just after returning from a Champions League match in Egypt and we lost 2-0,” he recalled.

Sundowns battled to score regularly at home and in Africa last season having lost Percy Tau and Keagan Dolly to European clubs and Khama Billiat to domestic rivals Kaizer Chiefs.

New Zealand forward Jeremy Brockie was signed last year to replicate his consistent scoring form at SuperSport, but flopped and often fails to make the 18-player matchday squad. 

Mosimane has turned to South America for a solution, hiring Uruguayan Mauricio Affonso from Peruvian club Alianza Lima.

Affonso had an eight goals-three assists record with Alianza last season and these are figures the coach will hope to increase in the Premiership.

Sundowns signed Uruguayan midfielder Gaston Sirino from Bolivian outfit Bolivar last year and he quickly became one of the outstanding players at the Pretoria club.

– Ageing stalwarts –

A challenge for Mosimane is that some of his stalwarts are ageing with centre-back Wayne Arendse and national team midfielder Hlompho Kekana both 34.

Orlando Pirates, the only other South African club to be crowned African champions, finished runners-up to Sundowns in the last two seasons and are considered the biggest threat again.

The Soweto Buccaneers have gone five seasons without a trophy and the pressure is on Serbian coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic to deliver silverware during his third season at the helm. 

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Kenya slash ticket prices in drive to win CHAN qualifier

Johannesburg (AFP) – Kenya have slashed ticket prices up to 80 percent in the hope that a huge crowd will turn up and cheer them to victory over Tanzania this weekend in an African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier.

Admittance to all sections of the 60,000-capacity Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi for the much anticipated east African derby has been reduced to 100 Kenyan shillings ($0.96, 0.86 euros). 

Ordinarily, some tickets would cost 500 shillings for an international fixture in a country where there is a minimum 50 shillings charge for domestic matches. 

Kenya and Tanzania drew 0-0 last weekend in Dar es Salaam, tilting the second round tie toward the Harambee Stars ahead of the second leg.  

“We dropped the ticket price in the belief that supporters will come in large numbers and back the national team,” Kenyan football boss Nick Mwenda told reporters.

“Our team has a very good chance of reaching the final qualifying round and a huge crowd will be a major motivating factor.

“The boys played well in Tanzania and we must give them our full support as they seek to finish the job at home.”

Midfielder Kenneth Muguna believes Kenya can triumph and move closer to a first appearance at the finals of a competition restricted to footballers playing in their country of birth.

“We dare not take anything for granted just because we held Tanzania away, but if everyone does his job effectively there is nothing to worry about.”

Tanzania defender Erasto Nyoni says the Taifa Stars must act like “soldiers defending the honour of the country.

“Tanzanians love the national football team and this must motivate us to do even better than in the first leg.”

– Failed four times –

While Kenya have failed four times to qualify, Tanzania made it to the first Nations Championship tournament 10 years ago in the Ivory Coast.

Whoever wins the clash of neighbours will face Sudan, who received a bye after coming third behind hosts and champions Morocco and runners-up Nigeria in the 2018 edition.

South Africa have called up forward Thabang Sibanyoni and winger Keletso Makgalwa from champions Mamelodi Sundowns as they seek to overturn a shock 3-2 away loss to Lesotho. 

“We will attack, attack, attack,” promised coach David Notoane ahead of the return match in Soweto. 

A youthful, experimental South African side equalised twice in Maseru before Lehlohonolo Fothoane snatched the winning goal for Lesotho one minute from time.

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EFL Championship: How to watch the 2019/20 season in United States

While the English Premier League attracts most of the attention in the United States, England’s second tier — the EFL Championship is a riveting competition and arguably more entertaining due to the attacking, open-ended to and fro in the games that resemble what the Premier League used to be like before the top four became too powerful.

Looking at the 2019/20 season of the Championship, England’s second division features 24 clubs who play 46 games in a season compared to 38 matchdays in the Premier League, and concludes with an epic four team playoff for the all important third spot in the following season of England’s top flight.

Unfortunately, the EFL Championship doesn’t air games on U.S. television, therefore making streaming essential if you want to follow your favorite club.

The first, and perhaps most familiar streaming option for the EFL Championship, is ESPN+. Now in its second year of existence, ESPN’s premium streaming service continues to add soccer content. The EFL Championship is no exception — ESPN+ is expected to stream 3-4 Championship matches a weekend. And at $4.95 per month, it’s a bargain.

As was the case last season, the 3-4 matches selected each weekend will likely be the most enticing on paper, featuring some of the bigger clubs in the division (Leeds, Fulham, QPR, etc.). If you’re a casual fan or die-hard, ESPN+ is certainly a viable option.

The second option to consider (either in conjunction with ESPN+ or separately) is iFollow, a streaming service introduced by the EFL last year, which allows fans who live outside the UK and Ireland to subscribe and view their favorite clubs matches online. The two catches are (1) that only a select number of clubs have adopted iFollow, and (2) any games streamed via ESPN+ will not be available on iFollow.

Another caveat is that the clubs not using iFollow have launched their own streaming service. But again, any games streamed via ESPN+ are not available via that service either.

At the end of the day, subscribing to both ESPN+ and either iFollow or a club’s own streaming service (prices vary) is recommended.

iFollow season passes are currently being sold for $140. ESPN+ is $4.95/month, which totals $49.50 across the 10-month season.

For both ESPN+ and iFollow, match replays and match highlights are made available the following day.

Here are the viewing options for Championship clubs for viewers in the United States for the 2019/20 season:

The following clubs have chosen to opt into the iFollow service, therefore making viewing of all EFL Championship games (not on ESPN+) possible via a subscription:

Club	ESPN+ (select games)	Stream select games via club website	iFollow (all games except ESPN+ matches)
Barnsley	✓		✓
Birmingham	✓	✓
Blackburn Rovers	✓		✓
Brentford	✓		✓
Bristol City	✓	✓
Cardiff	✓	✓
Charlton	✓	✓
Derby	✓	✓
Fulham	✓	✓
Huddersfield Town	✓		✓
Hull City	✓	✓
Leeds United	✓		✓
Luton Town	✓	✓
Middlesbrough	✓	✓
Millwall	✓		✓
Nottingham Forest	✓		✓
Preston North End	✓		✓
QPR	✓	✓
Reading	✓		✓
Sheffield Wednesday	✓		✓
Stoke City	✓	✓
Swansea City	✓	✓
West Bromwich Albion	✓		✓
Wigan	✓	✓

All matches on ESPN+ include quality commentators, while iFollow and club streaming services include announcers who are typically very pro in favor of your club.

While there is still much progress to be made before the EFL Championship is fully available on U.S. television and streaming like the Premier League is, ESPN+, iFollow and club streaming services present a good, cost effective start for die-hard fans of one of the most entertaining soccer leagues in the world.

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Wilson, Pedro hit memorable friendly strikes as Liverpool, Chelsea win

Paris (AFP) – Welsh international Harry Wilson gave Jurgen Klopp a reminder of his talents with a spectacular goal as Liverpool defeated Lyon 3-1 in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday.

Wilson, who spent last season out on loan at second-tier Derby, hit a 25-yard screamer in the 53rd minute to add to first-half goals from Brazil star Roberto Firmino and an own-goal by Joachim Andersen.

The game was European champions Liverpool’s last game before they face Manchester City in the season-opening Community Shield at Wembley this weekend.

Liverpool also welcomed back top scorer Mohamed Salah who was playing his first match of the pre-season after a break following the recent Africa Cup of Nations. 

Klopp said it was too early to say whether or not Firmino, playing for the first time since the Copa America, or Salah would start against City on Sunday.

“I don’t say 100 per cent not, there’s a chance that they will play, yes. We have to see how they react tomorrow, now training is not the highest intensity anymore, now training is about the detail,” Klopp told liverpoolfc.com.

Chelsea’s Pedro also scored a goal to remember with a back-heeled volley from a Ross Barkley cross as Chelsea downed Salzburg 5-3.

Christian Pulisic scored twice in the Londoners’ rout with Barkley and Michy Batshuayi adding to the total.

Meanwhile, Arsenal beat French club Angers 4-3 on penalties after playing out a 1-1 draw in France.

Angers took the lead through Algerian Farid El Melali before Reiss Nelson levelled just before the interval.

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Women’s World Cup to feature 32 teams from 2023, say FIFA

Paris (AFP) – The Women’s World Cup will be expanded from 24 to 32 teams at the 2023 edition in an effort to “foster the growth of women’s football”, FIFA said Wednesday.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino had already said that he was determined to push ahead with plans to expand the World Cup in time for the next tournament after hailing France 2019 as “the best ever”.

“The astounding success of this year’s World Cup made it very clear that this is the time to keep the momentum going and take concrete steps to foster the growth of women’s football,” said Infantino, who has succeeded in expanding the men’s tournament from 32 teams to 48 in time for the 2026 finals in the USA, Mexico and Canada.

“I am glad to see this proposal – the first of several − becoming a reality.”

The 2019 final was won by the United States although the 24-team tournament featured a few lopsided scores in the group stage, notably the Americans’ 13-0 thrashing of Thailand.

On Wednesday, the FIFA Council unanimously agreed to a proposal to expand the number of teams taking part. 

FIFA has yet to select a host for the 2023 World Cup. The nine candidates are Australia, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Japan, South Africa, New Zealand and South Korea, potentially with North Korea.

The 2019 Women’s World Cup was only the second since it was expanded from 16 teams to 24 in Canada four years ago. The competition started out with 12 teams in 1991.

Infantino has already promised to double the prize fund for the next Women’s World Cup having initially raised overall contributions from $15 million to $50 million in time for this year’s competition.

He said the increase was part of a wider plan to invest a further $500 million in the women’s game to achieve a total of $1 billion over the next four years.

“We have more than $2.75 billion of reserves, we don’t need all this money in the Swiss banks, they have enough money,” said the 49-year-old.

“We need to invest this in order to make the whole movement around the world grow.”

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‘We’ll have a good season’: Zidane confident as Benzema hat-trick helps lift gloom

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – French striker Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid defeated Fenerbahce 5-3 in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday which temporarily lifted the summer gloom which has engulfed the Spanish giants and coach Zinedine Zidane.

However, problems remain for Real as they have now conceded 16 goals in just five friendly matches.

They faced their Turkish opponents having been defeated by Tottenham 1-0 on Tuesday in the first match of a four-team event which also features German champions Bayern Munich.

“We are going to find the solutions, we are going to work. I stand by my players and I know that we are going to make progress and that we will have a very good season,” said Zidane whose team had been left bruised by a humiliating 7-3 defeat by city rivals Atletico in a friendly in the United States last week.

“Nobody likes conceding three goals but we have scored five. For us, this is a positive victory.”

Zidane’s preparations for the new season have also been overshadowed by the saga of Gareth Bale’s future at the club.

The Welsh star was left out of the Spanish side’s squad for the two matches in Munich after his planned transfer to Chinese side Jiangsu Suning, who had offered the Welshman a three-year-deal worth £1 million ($1.1 million) a week, broke down.

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Benzema hat-trick helps lift gloom at Real Madrid

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – French striker Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid defeated Fenerbahce 5-3 in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday which temporarily lifted the summer gloom which has engulfed the Spanish giants and coach Zinedine Zidane.

However, problems remain for Real as they have now conceded 16 goals in just five friendly matches.

They faced their Turkish opponents having been defeated by Tottenham 1-0 on Tuesday in the first match of a four-team event which also features German champions Bayern Munich.

Zidane’s preparations for the new season have also been overshadowed by the saga of Gareth Bale’s future at the club.

The Welsh star was left out of the Spanish side’s squad for the two matches in Munich after his planned transfer to Chinese side Jiangsu Suning, who had offered the Welshman a three-year-deal worth £1 million ($1.1 million) a week, broke down.

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Sheffield Wednesday striker Forestieri banned over use of racist language

London (AFP) – Sheffield Wednesday forward Fernando Forestieri has been handed a six-match suspension after being found guilty of using racist language by the Football Association’s independent regulatory commission.

The incident happened in a pre-season friendly last July between Wednesday and Mansfield, with Forestieri’s comments made towards Mansfield defender Krystian Pearce sparking a brawl on the pitch.

Forestieri was acquitted by magistrates in March of racially abusing Pearce but was charged by the Football Association in June.

The commission deemed the case against Forestieri proven, and the 29-year-old has also been given a £25,000 ($31,000) fine, warned as to his future conduct and ordered to attend face-to-face education.

Forestieri immediately announced he would be appealing, saying he was “devastated and disappointed” by the outcome.

In a statement on Wednesday’s official website, he said: “I have now been the subject of allegations of racism for over a year and it has been an extremely stressful time for both me personally and also my family in both England and Argentina.”

Forestieri continued to protest his innocence, saying: “I am not and never will be a person or a footballer who says offensive things by reference to race to my colleagues or other players, either on or off the pitch.”

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Klopp, Salah head nominations for FIFA Best awards

Paris (AFP) – Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp and three players — Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk — headed nominations released Wednesday for the FIFA Best awards that will be presented in Milan on September 23.

Klopp led Liverpool, and that vital trio of players, to the Champions League trophy and also second place to Manchester City in the Premier League.

Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi also make the shortlist for the men’s award along with PSG’s Kylian Mbappe, Tottenham’s Harry Kane, Belgian Eden Hazard and Dutch duo Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt.

American Alex Morgan and coach Jill Ellis will be favourites for the female player and women’s coach awards after spearheading the USA to the the women’s World Cup title in France last month.

The Best FIFA Men’s Player

Cristiano Ronaldo (POR/Juventus); Frenkie de Jong (NED/Ajax/Barcelona); Matthijs de Ligt (NED/Ajax/Juventus); Eden Hazard (BEL/Chelsea/Real Madrid); Harry Kane (ENG/Tottenham); Sadio Mane (SEN/Liverpool); Kylian Mbappe (FRA/Paris Saint-Germain); Lionel Messi (ARG/Barcelona); Mohamed Salah (EGY/Liverpool); Virgil van Dijk (NED/Liverpool)

The Best FIFA Women’s Player

Lucy Bronze (ENG/Lyon); Julie Ertz (USA/Chicago Red Stars); Caroline Graham Hansen (NOR/Wolfsburg/Barcelona); Ada Hegerberg (NOR/Lyon); Amandine Henry (FRA/Lyon); Sam Kerr (AUS/Chicago Red Stars/Perth Glory); Rose Lavelle (USA/Washington Spirit); Vivianne Miedema (NED/Arsenal); Alex Morgan (USA/Orlando Pride); Megan Rapinoe (USA/Reign FC); Wendie Renard (FRA/Lyon); Ellen White (ENG/Birmingham City/Manchester City)

The Best FIFA Men’s Coach

Djamel Belmadi (ALG/Algerian national team); Didier Deschamps (FRA/French national team); Marcelo Gallardo (ARG/River Plate); Ricardo Gareca (ARG/Peruvian national team); Pep Guardiola (ESP/Manchester City); Jurgen Klopp (GER/Liverpool); Mauricio Pochettino (ARG/Tottenham); Fernando Santos (POR/Portuguese national team); Erik ten Hag (NED/Ajax); Tite (BRA/Brazilian national team)

The Best FIFA Women’s Coach

Milena Bertolini (ITA/Italian national team), Jill Ellis (USA/USA national team), Peter Gerhardsson (SWE/Swedish national team), Futoshi Ikeda (JPN/Japanese U-20 national team); Antonia ‘Tona’ Is (ESP/Spanish U-17 national team), Joe Montemurro (AUS/Arsenal), Phil Neville (ENG/English national team), Reynald Pedros (FRA/Lyon), Paul Riley (ENG/North Carolina Courage), Sarina Wiegman (NED/Dutch national team)

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Nantes coach Halilhodzic quits club after one season

Nantes (France) (AFP) – FC Nantes coach Vahid Halilhodzic has resigned after just one season and will leave the club less than  two-weeks before the start of the new Ligue 1 campaign, sources close to the club said Wednesday.

Bosnian born Halilhodzic, 67, who took over as coach from Miguel Cardoso in October last year, has had stormy relations with club owner and president Waldemar Kita and his son Franck who is director general.

The former Nantes and Paris Saint-Germain player, who was an international for the former Yugoslavia, has been critical of the club’s strategy and recruitment policy.

The club declined to comment on Halilhodzic’s impending departure but the souces indicated that he will quit the club after Friday’s friendly against Genoa.

Stephane Zani, the current youth coach, will replaced him for the first Ligue 1 match of the season against Lille on August 11.

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Scaloni confirmed as Argentina coach for World Cup qualifying

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Lionel Scaloni signed a contract extension with Argentina on Tuesday to run until the end of the qualifying period for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) said on its website and social media channels.

The 41-year-old was initially hired as interim coach last August, just over two weeks after Jorge Sampaoli was sacked following Argentina’s last 16 elimination from the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Last November his deal was extended until December of this year. Following a third-place finish at the Copa America in Brazil, which ended earlier this month, Scaloni has been given the chance to try to qualify for the World Cup.

Qualifiers begin in March 2020 and will run until mid November 2021.

He will also be in charge for next year’s Copa America hosted jointly by Argentina and Colombia.

Scaloni, who had never held a head coach job before being appointed to lead the national team, had been boosted by support from his players, including five-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, following the Copa America.

Messi, though, will miss the start of World Cup qualifying after he was handed a one-game ban by South American football’s governing body CONMEBOL for his red card in the Copa America third-place play-off, in which Argentina beat Chile 2-1.

South American qualifying for the World Cup involves a single round robin with 10 teams playing each other home and away.

The top four sides will qualify directly for Qatar while the fifth placed team will go into an inter-continental play-off.

Argentina play friendlies against Chile and Mexico in the United States in September and then travel to face Germany in October.

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Sfaxien the main attraction in CAF Confederation Cup draw

Johannesburg (AFP) – CS Sfaxien of Tunisia are the star attraction in a 2019/2020 CAF Confederation Cup draw that includes only three clubs who have won African titles.   

The club from Mediterranean industrial city Sfax received a bye into the round of 32, where they will face Paradou AC of Algeria or CI Kamsar of Guinea during September.

Paradou are the likelier winners of the preliminary tie next month, but as newcomers to CAF football they may lack the experience to eliminate Sfaxien over two legs.

The only local-based footballer in the Algeria squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations this month was Paradou midfielder Hicham Boudaoui, at 19 the youngest in the national squad.

Sfaxien have won the African version of the UEFA Europa League a record three times, beating big-name opponents in each final.

They overcame Al Merrikh of Sudan 5-2 overall in 2007, edged Etoile Sahel of Tunisia on away goals a year later and TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo 3-2 in 2013.

Last season, coached by former Dutch star Ruud Krol, Sfaxien seemed set to reach the 2019 final after building a 2-0 semi-final first leg lead over Moroccan visitors Renaissance Berkane.

But, in a rare collapse by a Tunisian club in a CAF competition, they crashed 3-0 away and were eliminated.

– Challenge –

Krol has since departed, leaving Montenegrin Nebojsa Jovovic with the challenge of bringing the Confederation Cup trophy back to eastern Tunisia.

Sfaxien are the lone entrant among 53 challenging for a $1.25 million (1.12 mn euros) first prize to have won the Confederation Cup, which was introduced in 2004.

The other two CAF title winners are Enugu Rangers of Nigeria and Daring Club Motema Pembe of DR Congo.

Both lifted the now defunct African Cup Winners Cup: Enugu in 1977 and Motema Pembe in 1994.

Kinshasa-based Motema Pembe meet Stade Renard Melong of Cameroon, one of 19 Confederation Cup debutants, in a preliminary tie.  

Enugu received a bye to the round of 32 where they await the winners between AS Pelican of Gabon and AS Maniema Union of DR Congo.

Mogadishu City Club will become the first Somali side to play in the Confederation Cup when they meet Malindi of Zanzibar, leaving Cape Verde and Eritrea as the only nations never to enter.

But the chances of Mogadishu winning the tie will be lessened by having to play their home match outside the country for security reasons with Djibouti City the probable venue.

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US coach Ellis resigns after second Women’s World Cup win

Washington (AFP) – Jill Ellis, who coached the United States to a second consecutive Women’s World Cup title earlier this month, will step down after her team’s US Victory Tour in early October, US Soccer announced Tuesday.

The Americans beat the Netherlands 2-0 in the final on July 7 in France to defend the crown they captured four years earlier in Canada.

Ellis, who was appointed to the job in May 2014 after Tom Sermanni was removed a month earlier, has compiled an overall record of 102-7 with 18 drawn ahead of her farewell tour with the US squad.

“When I accepted the head coaching position this was the timeframe I envisioned,” Ellis said. “The timing is right to move on and the program is positioned to remain at the pinnacle of women’s soccer.

“Change is something I have always embraced in my life and for me and my family this is the right moment.”

Ellis, 52, will make appearances for the US Soccer Federation for at least a year.

“The US Soccer Federation and the sport in general owes Jill a debt of gratitude,” US Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro said.

“Jill was always extremely passionate about this team, analytical, tremendously focused and not afraid to make tough decisions while giving her players the freedom to play to their strengths.

“She helped raise the bar for women’s soccer in the USA and the world and given the history of this program, the level of success she achieved is even more remarkable.”

Ellis guided the Americans to wins in eight tournaments, although they settled for fifth at the Rio Olympics in quest of a fourth consecutive gold medal.

“The opportunity to coach this team and work with these amazing women has been the honor of a lifetime,” Ellis said. “I want to thank and praise them for their commitment and passion to not only win championships but also raise the profile of this sport globally while being an inspiration to those who will follow them.”

US Soccer is expected to name a new women’s national team general manager soon and then begin the process of looking for Ellis’s replacement, who will become the ninth coach in the program’s history.

“I want to sincerely thank the world class coaches and staff with whom I’ve had the privilege to work,” Ellis said. “They are quintessential professionals and even better people.”

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Esperance, Wydad included in CAF Champions League draw

Johannesburg (AFP) – Esperance Tunis and Wydad Casablanca, who are locked in a legal battle over which won the last CAF Champions League, will have first-round byes when the next edition kicks off.

Both the Tunisian and the Moroccan clubs will advance directly to the last-32 of the premier Confederation of African Football (CAF) competition. 

Esperance will play Cercle Mberi Sportif of Gabon or Elect-Sport of Chad while Wydad have been drawn against the winner of SO Armee of the Ivory Coast and Nouadhibou of Mauritania during September.

Two months ago, Esperance were leading Wydad 2-1 on aggregate with 30 minutes remaining of the second leg in Tunis when Wydad had an equaliser disallowed.

Wydad wanted the decision referred to VAR (video assistant referee), but the system was not working and the team stormed off in protest. 

After a 90-minute delay, Esperance were awarded the match and the team received medals and the trophy, but not the $2.5 million (2.24 mn euros) prize.  

When CAF officials later ordered the second leg to be replayed at a neutral venue, both clubs lodged appeals with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

CAF accepted this course of action and the Switzerland-based CAS has promised to reach a decision by July 31.

– Historic –

The next Champions League will be historic as an August-to-May season is introduced and the final is reduced from two legs to one match at a neutral venue.

There will also be a record 14 previous winners involved, including eight-time trophy-holders Al Ahly of Egypt.

While the new timetable has been welcomed as it matches most African domestic seasons, there is concern that finals could be watched by tiny crowds.

The Cup of Nations, which finished in Egypt on July 19, confirmed that African football fans show little interest in matches not involving their own clubs or national teams. 

A 9,000 crowd watched Senegal beat Tunisia in a semi-final that would have filled a 60,000-capacity stadium in Dakar or Tunis.

The latest Champions League begins in August with 29 preliminary round ties while Esperance, Wydad and TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo have byes.

Guinean club Hafia, who were African champions three times between 1972 and 1977, return after a 36-year absence and face Etoile Sahel of Tunisia. 

Dekedaha are the first entrants since 1990 from violence-ravaged Somalia  and they meet five-time champions Zamalek of Egypt.

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Real Madrid’s pre-season struggles continue with loss to Tottenham

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Real Madrid’s disastrous pre-season continued on Tuesday as they lost 1-0 to Tottenham in Munich.

“Our defeat was well deserved,” Real midfielder Tony Kroos told German TV after the match. It’s true that we’re not quite in good shape.”

Harry Kane scored the only goal of the game with a deft finish after pouncing on a disastrous pass by Marcello, who was trying to prevent a throw in, after 22 minutes.

Humiliated 7-3 last week by Atletico Madrid, Real could thank goalkeeper Keylor Navas, starting in place of injured Thibaut Courtois, for preventing a heavier against an enterprising and more aggressive Spurs team. 

Madrid survived some goalmouth scares in the first half. After the break, Dele Alli went close twice and 17-year-old Troy Parrott hit the inside of the post.

Zinedine Zidane’s team have conceded 13 goals and lost three of their four warm-up games.

“We started off very badly, the opponent took advantage of our mistakes,” said Kroos. 

With Gareth Bale, the source of turmoil in recent weeks, left out of the squad for the trip to Munich and James Rodriguez yet to start after returning from Bayern, Real rarely threatened. Star summer recruit Eden Hazard was invisible. 

Both teams will be in action again tomorrow. Tottenham play the winner of the Tuesday’s second match, between Bayern and Fenerbahce. Real will have the opportunity to make amends tomorrow against the loser.

Zidane’s men then travel to Austria to face Salzburg on August 6, then to Italy for a match against AS Rome, the last friendly before the starting the Spanish league away to Celta Vigo on August 17.

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Wolves sign AC Milan striker Cutrone

London (AFP) – Wolves signed Italy striker Patrick Cutrone from AC Milan in a reported £16 million ($19 million) deal on Tuesday.

Cutrone agreed a four-year contract and becomes Wolves’ second pre-season signing following the arrival of Jesus Vallejo on loan from Real Madrid last week.

“The club really wanted me and being able to play in the Premier League for Wolves is fantastic. I just can’t wait to get started,” he told Wolves’ official website.

Cutrone, a product of Milan’s youth academy, made 90 appearances for the club over the last two seasons, scoring 27 times and making seven assists.

The 21-year-old made his senior debut for Italy in 2018 after appearing at every level of youth international football for his country.

Wolves sporting director Kevin Thelwell said: “Patrick is an exciting signing at a very exciting period for this football club.

“We have a strong philosophy under the leadership of Nuno of bringing in the right type of people and developing young talent while staying humble and grounded as individuals. We feel Patrick perfectly fits into our philosophy.”

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Evra reveals row with United chief Woodward

London (AFP) – Patrice Evra has revealed he threatened Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward during a heated row over his future at the club in 2014.

Former France defender Evra retired from football on Monday after a glittering career that included an eight-year spell with United.

The left-back played for United from 2006 to 2014, winning five Premier League titles and one Champions League crown among a host of honours.

But the 38-year-old, who had a short-term deal with West Ham last season, didn’t always enjoy a smooth ride at Old Trafford.

Evra had told Woodward he intended to leave United when his contract expired at the end of the 2013-14 season, but after initially accepting his decision, Woodward announced he had triggered a one-year contract extension against the player’s wishes.

Evra went ballistic and threatened Woodward when he spoke to him about the deal.

Two months later the defender, then 33, joined Juventus for £1.2 million.

“Before the end of that season Ed told me: ‘Patrice, you’re going to stay for another year because we’ve got an option in your contract,'” Evra told Sky Sports on Tuesday.

“But I told him I needed to leave because of family reasons. He shook my hand and said he understood. Then in May I was having dinner in Dubai on my birthday and had a text from my agent. 

“He told me to go somewhere quiet and sent me a message with the statement from United saying they were pleased to renew my contract for another year. I went mad, I was really disappointed.

“I called Ed and swore on the phone, even threatened him. He said I couldn’t talk to the director of football like that and that he was going to fine me. 

“After that Ryan Giggs called and said I couldn’t leave just because of one man, but it gave me an excuse to leave. I’d already said to my wife we were going to leave, but inside I didn’t ever really feel I could. That gave me a little push.”

Evra’s revelation of the Woodward bust-up came on the same day he admitted his success in football was inspired by his humble childhood.

“I had nothing. We had nothing. But I was living as if I had everything,” Evra wrote in the Players’ Tribune.

“If I could tell you one secret about my life, this would be it. Anyone can be happy — anyone can love this game. Without this mindset, my friend, I would not be sitting here as a recently retired left back who played for France, Juventus and Manchester United.

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Chelsea ban fan over use of racist language

London (AFP) – Chelsea have permanently banned one supporter from Stamford Bridge for the use of racially abusive language and threatening and aggressive behaviour during last season’s home game with Manchester City.

The Premier League club have also temporarily excluded five other supporters for periods of between one and two years for the use of abusive language and threatening and aggressive behaviour at the fixture on December 8.

Chelsea, who have not released any names over the incidents, said they had delayed reaching a decision in the cases in order to ensure they did not prejudice the related police investigation.

The Crown Prosecution Service recently announced it had elected not to initiate any criminal prosecutions.

According to the club, all individuals sanctioned as a result of their investigation were offered the right to appeal and, where applicable, those appeals have been heard.

Referring to the supporter handed a lifetime ban from the ground, a club statement on Tuesday read: “While the club respects the decision of the CPS (not to charge the individual with a criminal offence), the question that it had to determine was not whether a criminal offence had been committed, but rather whether the individual acted in breach of the ticketing terms and conditions.

“In this regard, the club operates to the civil standard of proof, which is entirely different to the criminal standard.

“In reaching its decision, the club took into account the denial made by the individual as well as a range of other evidence, including video evidence and evidence from two lip-reading experts — both of whom advised that the individual had used words that are racially abusive.”

The statement added: “In this case the behaviour of all six individuals crossed the line of what is acceptable.”

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck in December blamed a “deeply unpleasant but vocal minority” for shaming the club’s fans in an open letter following incidents of abuse.

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Bale left out of Real Madrid squad for Munich friendlies

Madrid (AFP) – Gareth Bale’s future at Real Madrid took another twist when he was left out of the Spanish side’s squad for two friendly matches in Munich, starting with Tuesday’s game against his old club Tottenham Hotspur.

“Bale did not travel in order to resolve his future,” Spanish sports daily Marca reported on Tuesday, adding that Real Madrid were still in talks with Chinese side Jiangsu Suning who had offered the Welshman a three-year-deal worth £1 million ($1.1 million) a week.

However the Chinese club appear to have shut the door on Bale and sports daily As says he could be headed for a Premier League return. 

“Bale wanted to stay (at Real Madrid) but Zidane has made that impossible,” said As. 

“The preferred destination for Bale is the Premier League which closes its transfer window on August 8. There are only 10 days to find a team there.”

Real Madrid held up the proposed transfer to Jiangsu Suning on Sunday in a dispute over the fee and the Chinese club announced Monday they had signed Croatian striker Ivan Santini from Anderlecht instead.

Bale, 30, has been at the centre of transfer talk since Zinedine Zidane returned as coach of Real in March. 

The Frenchman has made no secret of his desire to offload Bale who joined Real Madrid in a then world record £85 million move from Tottenham in 2013.

The Spanish press has been mooting a possible return to Champions League finalists Tottenham although Bale’s salary demands are likely to be far beyond the pay structure at the north London club.

Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett has already insisted that any deal which sees the Welshman leave the Bernabeu would have to be a permanent one and not one that sees him shipped out on loan.

“Gareth is one of the best players on the planet. I can guarantee you he will not be going on loan to any club,” said Barnett.

Bale was not the only familiar name missing from the 24-man squad for Munich. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who shipped seven goals last week against Atletico Madrid, is injured while James Rodriguez came back late from holiday after playing for Colombia in the Copa America. 

Following the Spurs match, Real will face either Fenerbahce or Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

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Idrissa Gueye leaves Everton for PSG

Paris (AFP) – Senegal midfielder Idrissa Gueye has completed his transfer from Everton to Paris Saint-Germain, the French champions confirmed on Tuesday.

“Paris St-Germain is thrilled to announce the signing of Idrissa Gueye!” the club tweeted with a picture of “Gana” holding up a shirt with squad number 27.

The 29-year-old, who reached the semi-finals of the recent Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Senegal, was courted previously by PSG during the January transfer window. He has also been linked with a move to Manchester United.

Gueye has signed a deal until 2023 but no transfer fee has been disclosed.

“I’m immensely proud to sign for Paris Saint-Germain,” he told the club website.

“After focusing on the AFCON with Senegal, I wanted to give a new boost to my club career by joining Paris Saint-Germain, one of the most structured and ambitious sports projects in Europe. 

“I can’t wait to take in the amazing atmosphere of the Parc des Princes, which impressed me during my first seasons in France.”

Gueye played seven seasons with Lille from 2008 to 2015 before moving to England to join Aston Villa in 2016, playing 108 matches in three seasons with the club.

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Sudan footballers hope for revolution boost

Khartoum (AFP) – He has no kit or support system but 17-year-old footballer Emad Salim hopes Sudan’s uprising will bring a boost to his beloved sport and help its players step onto the world stage.

“There are no facilities or the equipment we need,” said Salim, son of a farmer, before booting a ball across a dirt pitch in a Khartoum neighbourhood.

“I need shoes, equipment and proper training, but there’s nothing.”

At sunset, friendly football matches are played on patches of open ground across the capital, with teenagers like Salim kicking up clouds of dust.

The pitches have no markings, are full of holes and the goal posts are almost always without a net.

“There is nobody to motivate me,” said Salim, a resident of Tuti Island, where the Blue Nile and White Nile meet in the capital.

“I hope the revolution changes this,” he said, referring to the months-long mass protest movement that led to the ouster of longtime president Omar al-Bashir in April.

Many say Bashir’s three decades of iron-fisted rule sidelined the sport — a national pastime.

There are no competitive youth leagues in Sudan, meaning young players like Salim can only play in friendly matches between local clubs.

Their skills are further cramped by poorly maintained pitches, which cause regular injuries that often end many talented players’ careers before they even take off.

The matches are “disorganised” and players lack any kind of training or management, said the vice president of the Sudanese Football Association, Al-Fatih Bani.

Local clubs avoid improving facilities because there are no competitive leagues for youths, he said.

While there are some 30 well-maintained pitches in the country, they are privately owned and open only to the elite, Bani added.

– Poor record –

Sudan has never qualified for the World Cup, even though the country was a pioneer of the sport on the continent.

Along with Egypt and Ethiopia, it helped to found the African Football Confederation, but has only won the African Cup of Nations once in 1970 when it hosted the tournament.

The last time Sudan qualified for the continent’s biennial tournament was in 2012, even though it has been expanded to a 24-nation format.

In 1989, Omdurman-based Al-Merrikh became the only Sudanese team to win an African club trophy.

Sudanese football fans are often seen sporting the shirts of international clubs instead of their national team, the result of its poor record brought on by decades of official neglect, according to Bani. 

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Brazil police end Neymar rape probe over lack of evidence

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Police in Brazil probing rape allegations against football superstar Neymar have closed the case due to a lack of evidence, the Sao Paulo attorney general’s office said Monday. 

The police decision will be sent to prosecutors on Tuesday, who will have 15 days to evaluate the case, a spokeswoman for the attorney general’s office told AFP. 

A final ruling on the case will be made by a judge. 

A spokesman for Neymar said he was not able to comment on the police decision. Sao Paulo police are due to hold a news conference on Tuesday. 

Neymar has vehemently denied allegations he raped a Brazilian woman in a Paris hotel in May. 

The ugly affair, which has dominated headlines and conversations in the soccer-mad country for weeks, overshadowed Brazil’s preparations for the Copa America.

Hosts Brazil went on to win South America’s showcase tournament earlier this month without their biggest player, who was injured in a warm-up friendly before the opening match.

The scandal blew up on June 2 when Neymar published a seven-minute video on Instagram, where he had first been in contact with Najila Trindade, revealing that he had been accused of rape.

In an attempt to defend himself against the allegations, Neymar’s video was accompanied by WhatsApp messages and images of his encounter with Trindade — without her consent, possibly breaking Brazilian law.

– Police questioning –

The drama quickly snowballed. Extracts of a televised interview with Trindade, in which she accused Neymar of “aggression together with rape,” aired just one hour before he was about to enter the pitch for the pre-Copa game between Brazil and Qatar.

Neymar tore his right ankle ligament in the 20th minute, ruling him out of the tournament. 

In the following weeks, Neymar was questioned by police over the WhatsApp messages. 

He also appeared before police in Sao Paulo, where Trindade had filed her complaint at the end of May.

As the case dragged on, police filed a defamation suit against Trindade — who was dropped by multiple lawyers — after she insinuated the force was corrupt.

“The police are bought, aren’t they? Or am I crazy?” she told television channel SBT last month in response to questions over the police investigation of an alleged theft of a tablet device from her home that contained a short video she claims has conclusive evidence she was assaulted.

Despite the seriousness of the allegations, polls have shown that most Brazilians believe Neymar is innocent. 

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Brazil police end Neymar rape probe over lack of evidence: official

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Police in Brazil probing rape allegations against football superstar Neymar have closed the case due to a lack of evidence, the Sao Paulo attorney general’s office said Monday. 

The police decision will be sent to prosecutors on Tuesday, which will have 15 days to evaluate the case, a spokeswoman for the attorney general’s office told AFP. 

A final decision on the case will be made by a judge. 

Neymar has vehemently denied allegations he raped a Brazilian woman in a Paris hotel in May. 

The ugly affair, which has dominated headlines and conversations in the soccer-mad country for months, overshadowed Brazil’s preparations for the Copa America.

Hosts Brazil went on to win South America’s showcase tournament without their star player, who was injured in a friendly before the opening match.

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De Rossi eager to run out at Boca’s iconic Bombonera

Buenos Aires (AFP) – World Cup winning Italian veteran Daniele De Rossi said he cannot wait to play in the iconic Bombonera stadium as he was unveiled by new club Boca Juniors on Monday.

The 36-year-old midfielder has signed a one-year contract with the Argentine giants after bringing down the curtain on his 18-year Roma career at the end of last season.

He was cheered wildly when presented to fans at the Bombonera stadium and given the number 16 shirt — the same as he wore at Roma.

“If you love football, if you like great stadiums full of passion, no-one should deny themselves an experience like this,” he said when asked if he had a message for footballers in Europe.

Boca are one of the most successful sides not just in Argentina but the whole of South America.

They have been Argentine champions 33 times, bettered only by historic rivals River Plate with 36, and won the Copa Libertadores — the continental equivalent of the Champions League — six times, just once less than fellow-Argentines Independiente who lead with seven.

“My aim is the same as Boca’s … to win the Libertadores, win the league. From what I’ve heard it’s to win everything,” said De Rossi, who helped Italy claim the 2006 World Cup during a 117-cap career.

While many former Boca players — such as Diego Maradona, Walter Samuel and Carlos Tevez — have gone on to enjoy successful careers in Italy, De Rossi is the first major Italian star to play for the Buenos Aires outfit.

De Rossi said he was looking forward to playing in “a stimulating atmosphere, because that stimulus is the most important thing for me since I live football 24 hours a day. It’s like it devours me, it eats me up: I don’t want somewhere that will turn me off.” 

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Schweinsteiger aims to show ‘best of MLS’ against Atletico

Orlando (AFP) – Bastian Schweinsteiger hopes Atletico Madrid’s final game of their US tour won’t descend into a flurry of mayhem and red cards when the MLS All-Stars take on Diego Simeone’s team on Wednesday.

Atletico’s 7-3 win over Real Madrid in New Jersey on Friday saw both La Liga clubs reduced to 10 men in an unusually highly charged pre-season encounter.

Atleti continue their preparations for the forthcoming La Liga season when they take on the best of Major League Soccer in Orlando, with a near sell-out crowd of 25,000 expected at Exploria Stadium.

German World Cup winner Schweinsteiger, who plays in MLS for Chicago Fire, believes Simeone’s side were fired by the presence of Los Blancos and is adamant his team-mates, coached by Orlando City’s James O’Connor, can prosper without kicking lumps out of the opposition.

“Intense games are always good but the other night I am sure the rivalry between the teams also played a part,” Schweinsteiger, the former Bayern Munich and Manchester United midfielder, told AFP.

“I think this will be different — we don’t want to hurt anyone, we just want to play our way and we want to show what is the best of MLS.”

The All-Star game in MLS, like those in the NBA and Major League Baseball, is designed as a mid-season exhibition respite.

Although with Simeone preparing for a strong challenge in La Liga and the Champions League, the Spaniards —  who have spent upwards of 219 million euros ($240 million) this summer following the departures of Antoine Griezmann, Lucas Hernandez and Rodri — will be very competitive.

“I like this All-Star concept a lot, you play with the best players in the league, have a different coach — this one is Irish — and we are playing against a top team from Europe so will be a good test,” Schweinsteiger said.

“They have invested a lot of money in new players, they are very strong, very tough and they have a very good coach. It won’t be easy but if we show our quality  we can definitely compete.

“Their approach is dictated by Simeone. He’s done an amazing job over the last five years and they have become one the top teams in Europe. That’s why it will be interesting.”

– Focus on Felix –

Atletico, who take their tour to Mexico at the weekend, remain angry with Barcelona over the sale of French star Antoine Griezmann, whose 120 million euro ($135 million transfer was contested by Atleti.

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Saudi Arabia appoint Renard as coach

Riyadh (AFP) – Herve Renard, who resigned as Morocco coach following the team’s surprise elimination at the African Cup of Nations, said on Monday he was taking over Saudi Arabia’s national team. 

“Happy to start a new adventure in Saudi Arabia on a new continent,” the 50-year-old Frenchman tweeted.

He led Zambia to a surprise African Cup of Nations title in 2012 and has also coached the national teams of Angola, Ivory Coast and Morocco in Africa, as well as clubs in France, England, Algeria and Vietnam. 

The Saudi Football Federation confirmed the appointment, with its boss Yasser Almisehal saying “the choice was made on a great name, capable of bringing something extra to Saudi football”. 

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‘Never heard him say he wanted PSG exit’: Verratti on Neymar

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti said on Monday that Neymar had never told him he wanted to the leave the club.

Barcelona vice-president Jordi Cardoner said in late-June the Brazil forward would like to return to the Camp Nou.

“I have never heard him say he wanted to leave,” Verratti told French broadcaster RMC. 

“Beyond that I don’t know what he has been saying to the club. 

“When a player wants to leave, the club should let him leave. Depending on the financial conditions agreed by the club of course. But you can’t keep a player who wants to leave,” the 26-year-old added.

The world’s most expensive footballer who joined the French champions for 222 million euros ($252 million) is yet to feature during their pre-season tour in Asia and French media reported he will miss Tuesday’s game against Sydney in China.

He will also sit out the French Champions Trophy against Rennes in Shenzhen next Saturday as he completes a six-match domestic ban for an incident involving a fan the last time the teams met, in the French Cup final.

“Of course I would be disappointed to see him leave, he’s a great player,” Verratti said, who has been ruled out of the fixture against the Australians.

“It’s between him and the club,” the Italy international addded.

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Algeria to begin Cup of Nations title defence by hosting Zambia

Johannesburg (AFP) – Algeria will begin their Africa Cup of Nations title defence at home to former champions Zambia during November, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed Monday.

The Desert Foxes will also visit Botswana between November 11 and 19, giving the defending champions a realistic chance to collect a maximum six points from the two matches.

Zimbabwe complete Group H and the top two finishers after each nation plays the other three at home and away qualifies for the 2021 tournament in Cameroon.   

Zambia have struggled in the Cup of Nations since a shock 2012 final victory over the Ivory Coast after a penalty shootout in  Libreville.

In the four subsequent editions, the Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) made two first round exits and did not even qualify for the last two tournaments.

Botswana took just one point from a possible 18 in 2019 Cup of Nations qualifiers and were 107 places below Algeria in the July world rankings.

Riyad Mahrez-captained Algeria became African champions a second time by beating Senegal 1-0 in the final in Cairo this month thanks to a second-minute goal from Baghdad Bounedjah.

Fixtures

Preliminary round

Liberia v Chad, South Sudan v Seychelles, Mauritius v Sao Tome e Principe, Djibouti v Gambia

First, second legs: Oct 7-15

Groups

Matchday 1 (Nov 11-19)

A: Mali v Guinea, Namibia v Liberia/Chad; B: Burkina Faso v Uganda, Malawi v S. Sudan/Seychelles; C: Ghana v South Africa, Sudan v Mauritius/S. Tome; D: Democratic Republic of Congo v Gabon, Angola v Djibouti/Gambia; E: Morocco v Mauritania, Central Africa Republic v Burundi; F: Cameroon v Cape Verde, Mozambique v Rwanda; G: Egypt v Kenya, Togo v Comoros; H: Algeria (holders) v Zambia, Zimbabwe v Botswana; I: Senegal v Congo Brazzaville, Guinea-Bissau v eSwatini (formerly Swaziland); J: Tunisia v Libya, Tanzania v Equatorial Guinea; K: Ivory Coast v Niger, Madagascar v Ethiopia; L: Nigeria v Benin, Sierra Leone v Lesotho

Matchday 2 (Nov 11-19)

A: Guinea v Namibia, Liberia/Chad v Mali; B: Uganda v Malawi, S. Sudan/Seychelles v B. Faso; C: S. Africa v Sudan, Mauritius/S. Tome v Ghana; D: Gabon v Angola, Djibouti/Gambia v DR Congo; E: Mauritania v C.A.R., Burundi v Morocco; F: C. Verde v Mozambique, Rwanda v Cameroon; G: Kenya v Togo, Comoros v Egypt; H: Zambia v Zimbabwe, Botswana v Algeria; I: Congo v G. Bissau, eSwatini v Senegal; J: Libya v Tanzania, E. Guinea v Tunisia; K: Niger v Madagascar, Ethiopia v I. Coast; L: Benin v S. Leone, Lesotho v Nigeria

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Tunisia’s Skhiri heads to Bundesliga new boys Cologne

Montpellier (France) (AFP) – Montpellier’s Tunisia midfielder Ellyes Skhiri, who reached the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals in July, has joined newly-promoted Cologne, the Bundesliga club said on Monday.

“The move to the Bundesliga comes at the right time for me,” the 24-year-old told the German club’s website. 

“Cologne have taken a real interest in me and fully convinced me of the move. (They) are a big and exciting club with plenty of tradition, which I can identify with really well.” 

Skhiri, who has signed a four-year deal, had been with Montpellier as a youngster since 2010 and played 133 games since his senior debut in 2015 before being named vice-captain.

No transfer fee has been released.

He made the first of his 23 international appearances in March 2018 before featuring three times at the World Cup later in the year.

Montpellier, who finished sixth in Ligue 1 last year, have already signed Teji Savanier and Jordan Ferri as cover for Skhiri ahead of the new domestic campaign which starts against Rennes on August 10.

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Zimbabwe crush Mauritius in African Nations Championship

Johannesburg (AFP) – Never Tigere and Leeroy Mavunga scored two goals each as Zimbabwe walloped Mauritius 4-0 Monday in an African Nations Championship (CHAN) first leg qualifier.

Both Zimbabweans netted in each half at the Stade Auguste Vollaire on the Indian Ocean island in a second round match delayed one day by bad weather.

The result virtually assures Zimbabwe of a final qualifying round tie against South Africa or Lesotho with a place at the 2020 tournament in Cameroon up for grabs.

It was the second four-goal away victory in 15 first legs between Friday and Monday after Mali thrashed Guinea-Bissau 4-0 in Bissau.

Zimbabwe boast an outstanding away record in CHAN qualifying, winning seven and drawing two of 10 matches with the sole loss coming in Namibia two years ago.

They triumphed in Mauritius despite having to change coaches just before leaving Harare with Rahman Gumbo taking charge when Sunday Chidzambwa resigned. 

The CHAN is confined to footballers playing in their country of birth, giving them international exposure that might otherwise be denied as Europe-based players dominate most Africa Cup of Nations squads.  

Democratic Republic of Congo (twice), Tunisia, Libya and Morocco have won previous editions of a competition launched 11 years ago. 

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Evra announces retirement to focus on coaching

Rome (AFP) – Former France and Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has called time on his playing career, according to the Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport.

“My career as a player is officially over,” the 38-year-old told the paper.

Evra made his name with Nice and Monaco before Alex Ferguson signed him for Manchester United in 2006. He would go on to make almost 300 appearances for the club, winning five Premier League titles and the Champions Leage. 

He moved to Juventus in 2014, winning two Serie A titles, before spells at Marseille and West Ham.

He also played 81 times for France and captained them at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa which became famous for the French team strike at Knysna as they were eliminated in the group stages. 

Evra said that he was now turning his attention fully to coaching. 

“I started the course for the UEFA B licence as a coach in 2013,” he said. “Now, I want to finish that so that I can take the A licence. In other words, in a year and a half I will be qualified to manage a team.”

Evra was quick to praise the influence of his former Manchester United boss.

“He predicted that two of his players would become top level coaches: Ryan Giggs and Pat Evra,” he said naming himself in the third person.

“I think of Sir Alex as a father. He accepted me just as I am, sometimes a leader, sometimes arrogant.”

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Former qualifiers Angola, Togo given tough World Cup tasks

Johannesburg (AFP) – Former World Cup qualifiers Angola and Togo were given difficult first hurdles to clear when the African preliminary draw for the 2022 tournament was made in Cairo Monday.  

Angola were paired with the Gambia and Togo face the Comoros between September 2 and 10 in two of 14 two-leg ties involving the lower ranked countries.

Since qualifying for the 2006 World Cup in Germany at the expense of hot favourites Nigeria, Angola have made little impact in qualifying competitions for the global showpiece.

A Gambian team coached by Belgian Tom Saintfiet impressed in mid-year friendlies, winning away to 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers Guinea and Morocco.

Togo, who also made their only appearance at the World Cup in 2006, thanks in a big way to the goals of Emmanuel Adebayor, have not come close to repeating that feat.

African football heavyweights Ghana, Cameroon and Morocco all failed to win in the southern Africa island state of the Comoros in recent years.

The preliminary draw included six of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and two, Burundi and Tanzania, were paired. 

Aggregate winners join the 26 countries given byes, based on the July world rankings, in the six-round group phase from next March.

The 10 section winners advance to playoffs, which will decide the five qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia represented Africa at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and none of them made it past the first round.

Draw

Ethiopia v Lesotho

Somalia v Zimbabwe

Eritrea v Namibia

Burundi v Tanzania

Djibouti v eSwatini (formerly Swaziland)

Botswana v Malawi

Gambia v Angola

Liberia v Sierra Leone

Mauritius v Mozambique

Sao Tome e Principe v Guinea-Bissau

South Sudan v Equatorial Guinea

Comoros v Togo

Chad v Sudan

Seychelles v Rwanda

First, second legs: Sept 2-10

Byes: Senegal, Tunisia, Nigeria, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Mali, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Guinea, Cape Verde, Uganda, Zambia, Benin, Gabon, Congo Brazzaville, Madagascar, Niger, Libya, Mauritania, Kenya, Central African Republic

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Klopp says City showdown won’t influence Liverpool’s title bid

Edinburgh (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool’s Community Shield clash with Manchester City on Sunday will have no bearing on their battle for the Premier League title.

The two sides will renew the rivalry that saw them take the title race to a tense final day last season.

City eventually claimed their second successive Premier League crown by a single point as Liverpool’s bid for a first title since 1990 reached a painful conclusion.

Klopp’s men made amends for that angst just weeks later as they beat Tottenham in the Champions League final and the Reds are expected to fight it out with City for the major honours again in the coming campaign.

A win against Pep Guardiola’s team at Wembley would be a welcome psychological boost for Liverpool.

But, having seen his pre-season plans disrupted by the absence of key players such as Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and keeper Alisson due to the Copa America and African Cup of Nations, Klopp isn’t putting too much stock in the result of the curtain-raiser to the English top-fight season.

“For me, it has nothing to do with the rest of the season,” Klopp told reporters.

“It’s a game and, even if we only have eight players available, I would like to try to win it.

“If we win it, good. Will it have an influence on the season? I don’t think so. 

“If we lose it, not good. Will it have an influence on the season? No, again, I don’t think so.

“We have to prove ourselves during the season, not in one game. If I have to say this would be the statement for the season, I would be really mad.”

Klopp admitted he was surprised the Community Shield isn’t taken more seriously in England as he prepares to take part in the match for the first time.

“It’s a final. This is the first time that I realised nobody sees it like that to be honest. A ‘curtain-raiser’ is unbelievable,” he said.

“We think constantly about the game and how we can prepare for it and then everyone thinks, ‘Oh, do they really play?’

“That’s not too cool, but it’s how it is. I don’t know exactly why people play this competition if it means nothing. Why don’t we cancel it then?

“In Germany I won it five times, but nobody mentions it. We played every year. The Super Cup, you win it, nobody cares, you lose it and some care.”

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