Edouard Mendy sparked scenes of jubliation while away with Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations, after he became the first African to win FIFA’s Best Goalkeeper award on Monday.
The 29-year-old won the prestigious prize after a stellar year in between the sticks for Chelsea, where he helped guide the club to Champions League and UEFA Super Cup glory.
And after it was confirmed that he beat Gianluigi Donnarumma and Manuel Neuer to the award, he was treated like a hero by his Senegal team-mates in what was a heart-warming moment.
In a video filmed by Bayern Munich and Senegal full-back Bouna Sarr, Mendy can be seen celebrating his achievement while his international team-mates applaud and punch the air with joy.
While Mendy wasn’t able to attend the ceremony in person, it was most likely made more special being around his compatriots.
Mendy took to Instagram after winning the prize, where he thanked everyone for helping achieve a lifetime goal .
He wrote: ‘What a pride to receive this award today.
“I am even prouder to be the first African goalkeeper in history to win this title, and I hope to pave the way for many others.
“The first word that comes to my mind is THANK YOU.
“Thank you to my companion, my children, my family and all those around me.
“Thank you to the French clubs that trained me and allowed me to evolve.
“Thank you to my club Chelsea, my coach, the staff and the players. Thank you to my country, Senegal, my coach and his staff, and all the players of my selection.
“I will continue to work hard, as I have always done, to maintain this level of performance and win new titles.
“To conclude, I would just like to say: believe in yourself, in your dreams, always give your best, trust yourself, everything is possible.”
Barcelona boss Xavi has admitted that Ousmane Dembele will be sold this month unless he signs a new deal.
Dembele has been linked with Manchester United as well as other clubs, like Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle and Liverpool.
Dembele’s agent Moussa Sissoko claims Barca are ‘losing’ the France winger due to their blunt attitude but admits the 24-year-old has ‘high demands’ on pay.
Now Nou Camp boss Xavi says he has made it clear to Dembele that this month’s transfer window is his D-Day.
Xavi said: “What I can say is that we are in a complex and difficult situation.
“The club has decided that if he does not renew we have to make a decision with him.
“It’s not easy but Mateu Alemany (Barca chief executive) has been negotiating with his representative for five months and we can’t wait any longer.”
Timo Werner has questioned how Chelsea supporters have treated him since his £47.5million switch from RB Leipzig back in 2020 – admitting that he misses good chances.
The former Stuttgart striker has managed only 18 goals across 71 outings, scoring seven times in 46 Premier League appearances and only once in 11 games so far this season.
Despite that, Werner has been supported by the majority of fans, much to his own surprise.
Speaking to Lynsey Hooper ahead of their draw against Brighton on Tuesday evening, he said: “Sometimes I don’t know why they are supporting me so much.
“I’m a striker and I want to score but miss chances.”
Werner went on to thank supporters for making him feel at ease during his drops in form, promising to continue giving his all as Thomas Tuchel’s men look to get back on track.
He added: “It makes it so fun to play in front of the Chelsea fans & when they give the support they give me.
“It makes me stronger when I miss chances or have hard times.
“I try to give my best every game, 100% to make sure the team are happy.”
Tuchel said of the misfiring forward earlier this season: “From the first games I think he was not happy with the performances in the beginning.
“We know that he can be much more dangerous and much more of an attacking threat than he was.
“But in the last training sessions he’s been more relaxed, more fluid in his movements, and showing more confidence.”
Real Sociedad secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Atletico Madrid at the Reale Arena in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday evening. The result means the San Sebastian side will progress to the last eight of the competition while Atletico are out.
La Real took the lead in the 33rd minute through Adnan Januzaj, who had been assisted by Joseba Zaldua. Alexander Soerloth then doubled their advantage just two minutes into the second half.
The result is a blow for Atletico, who were dumped out of the Supercopa de Espana by La Real’s Basque rivals Athletic Club last weekend. They’re enduring a poor season indeed despite being the reigning champions of La Liga – they’re currently fourth in the league table, 16 points behind pace-setters Real Madrid/
La Real started the season on fire but their form has dropped off in recent times. They’re currently fifth in La Liga, level on points with Atletico, and will be looking to go all the way in the Copa del Rey.
Before the match, Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone was caught on camera furiously gesticulating from inside the team bus after some Real Sociedad fans attacked the vehicle.
Atletico Madrid were given a hostile reception ahead of Wednesday’s Copa del Rey clash, as the team bus was pelted with stones by Real Sociedad fans on its way to the Basque side’s stadium.
The vehicle met with a huge crowd of rival supporters as it approached the Reale Arena, with many hurling insults and even missiles.
Sitting at the front, coach Diego Simeone was incensed by the unfriendly greeting and clashed with Atletico’s aggressors even as the bus continued to inch forward.
In a video filmed by a fan, Simeone can be seen in the front seat angrily pointing towards the culprits.
And he is met with a chorus of abuse, with a number swearing back towards him in Spanish.
Nigeria go into the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations full of confidence after a 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau kept their perfect run going.
Umar Sadiq’s second-half strike put his side in front, before captain William Troost-Ekong doubled the lead after a long VAR review. It means the Super Eagles are the only team to secure maximum points from the group stage.
They will face one of the best third-placed teams in the last 16 on Sunday, as their search for a fourth AFCON title continues.
Nigeria made eight changes to their starting lineup, with their spot in the knockout stages already secured. Premier League trio Troost-Ekong, Wilfried Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho were the only players to keep their place.
The Super Eagles dominated possession from the start as expected, but clear-cut chances were at a premium for much of the half.
Kelechi Nwakali whipped a great ball in from a free-kick and Semi Ajayi got on the end of the cross in front of the goalkeeper, but his header was over the bar.
📹 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒: 🇬🇼 0-2 🇳🇬#TeamNigeria make it 3️⃣ wins out of 3️⃣ with an impressive display against Guinea-Bissau ✅
Nigeria’s best chance fell to Sadiq when he found himself clean through in the box. He went round the goalkeeper, but got the ball stuck under his feet and the Guinea-Bissau defence got back to clear.
Iheanacho had a volley from a corner comfortably saved, while Guinea-Bissau’s only shot of a goalless first-half came when Jorginho scuffed an effort wide when the ball fell to him completely free on the edge of the box.
The Super Eagles took the lead ten minutes into the second-half. Iheanacho was played into space in the box, he curled a perfect pass with the outside of his left foot to the back post where Sadiq had a tap in.
Guinea-Bissau looked for an immediate response, and Francis Uzoho had to be alert to tip behind Jorginho’s well-struck free-kick.
Moses Simon came off the bench and produced a sensational running, beating three Guinea-Bissau defenders before firing a left-footed shot straight against the bar. Troost-Ekong scored as the ball bounced to him a couple of yards out, but he was initially denied by the offside flag. After the VAR checked dragged on for several minutes, the goal was eventually given.
Simon went close to getting on the scoresheet himself after another mazy run as Guinea-Bissau had no answer to his pace, but the angle proved too tight before he fired another effort into the side-netting in stoppage time.
It was another comfortable night for the Super Eagles as they breezed through Group D, and they’re a side that will very much be feared in the knockout stages.
Umar Saadiq and William Troost-Ekong got on the scoresheet as #TeamNigeria equalled their 2006 record of finishing the group stage at this tournament with a 100% record.#AFCON2021
Esteban Obiang’s second-half goal delivered a huge shock, leaving the defending champions needing to beat the Ivory Coast in their final match.
Obiang struck from a corner to end Algeria’s run of 35 unbeaten internationals, inflicting their first defeat since October 2018.
The shock Group E result leaves Algeria bottom of the standings and needing a win in their last group game against the Ivory Coast on Thursday to stand any chance of advancing.
The tight nature of the group will make Thursday’s final round of games fascinating, with the Equatoguineans facing the Leone Stars in Limbe at the same time as Algeria take on Ivory Coast in Douala.
Algeria were held to a goalless draw by Sierra Leone in their opening match and were once again frustrated in front of goal – this time by a side mostly comprised of players from clubs in the lower leagues in Spain.
Youcef Belaili had two attempts blocked by keeper Jesus Owono shortly before the Desert Foxes had the ball in the net for the first time midway through the first half.
Owono made a fine reaction save to keep out Riyad Mahrez’s header but Baghdad Bounedjah tapped in the rebound – only for an offside flag against Mahrez to cut Algeria’s celebrations short.
Equatorial Guinea then threatened, as Pablo Ganet had a low free-kick clawed away by Rais M’Bolhi and Iban Salvador sent a fierce strike flashing past Algeria’s right-hand upright.
Belaili had a shot deflected wide midway through the second half before Josete Miranda helped on Salvador’s corner for Obiang to convert for the shock winner.
Algeria had chances to equalise, with their record goalscorer Islam Slimani miskicking from close range before Belaili’s rasping low strike from the edge of the area was then ruled out for offside.
Obiang made a crucial block to shut down an opening for Ramy Bensebaini and the Equatorial Guinea defender subsequently diverted Youcef Atal’s cross behind.
The Equatoguineans managed five minutes of injury time well and defeat leaves Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi sweating on their final match against Ivory Coast, with the Elephants not yet assured of progress to the knockout stages themselves.
Sierra Leone scored a dramatic equaliser deep into stoppage time to snatch a 2-2 draw against Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Elephants looked to be cruising into the last 16 but a howler from goalkeeper Badra Sangare in the 93rd minute allowed Alhadji Kamara to tap in from three yards.
Sangare fumbled a back-header and Steven Caulker stole in to cross for Alhaji Kamara, who slipped but just about managed to scuff the ball into the net.
Sangare appeared to get caught in the pitch and had to leave the pitch on a stretcher, so former Tottenham right-back Serge Aurier ended the match in goal.
The injury is a major concern for Ivory Coast, who are already without first-choice goalkeeper Sylvain Gbohouo after was suspended by FIFA on the eve of the tournament over an alleged doping violation.
It had looked like Nicolas Pepe had scored the winner for Ivory Coast with a bit of quality on 65 minutes.
But Sierra Leone rescue a point at the death when Kamara scored his first international goal in seven years.
Serge Aurier ended up in goal for Ivory Coast after goalkeeper Badra Sangare left the field on a stretcher after the equaliser.
The injury to Sangare is a major concern for Ivory Coast, who are already without first-choice goalkeeper Sylvain Gbohouo after was suspended by FIFA on the eve of the tournament over an alleged doping violation.
Borussia Dortmund have expressed dismay over Haaland’s remarks claiming that the German side were pressuring him to make a decision over his future.
The 21-year-old Norwegian’s £64million release clause promises to make him one of the most sought after players in world football this summer – with Manchester United and City reportedly keen.
And earlier this week Haaland revealed Dortmund are applying pressure on him to make up his mind about where he wants to be next season – and want him to do so by the end of January.
He said: “Borussia Dortmund are now pushing me to make a decision about things… but I just want to play football.
“That probably means that I will soon have to get things started. I never spoke until now to respect the club.
“Dortmund have started to put lot of pressure on me. They want me to decide [my future] now. And so yes, things will happen now, even if I only wanted to focus on football and play football.”These quotes have stunned Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc – who has publicly insisted no such talks have taken place between the player and the club.
He told Kicker: “Haaland’s comments surprised us a bit. There is no deadline and there have not even been any talks yet.
