The Belgian tactician has named his preliminary squad ahead of the friendly games against Panama later in March. The games have been lined up as part of Bafana's preparations for the global football bonanza in the middle of this year. Already, the coach's preliminary squad has been analysed, and questions have arisen on who should be in and who does not deserve a place in it.
Even though the Premier Soccer League title has entered a critical juncture, the Sea Robbers could not beat Siwelele and ended up dropping points. The Buccaneers were not lethal in front of goal and wasted many goal-scoring opportunities, with blame placed squarely on their strikers. But according to their legend, all is not lost, and Pirates still have a high chance of winning the title.
Referees play a critical role in any football competition but a long line of controversial decisions in South African football are undermining the integrity of the officials. Virtually all of the PSL's coaches have pointed out various refereeing mistakes during the season but, as the 33-year-old former Mamelodi Sundowns player points out, the officals who make these mistakes rarely, if ever, are punished for their errors.
Arda Guler produced a moment of pure magic to cap off Real Madrid's resounding 4-1 victory over Elche, launching a breathtaking 68-metre lob from inside his own half. The audacious strike left the Bernabeu in awe and perfectly encapsulated a dominant night for Los Blancos, with the 21-year-old playmaker proudly taking to Instagram to share the spectacular footage.
Arsenal moved nine points clear at the Premier League summit following a late 2-0 win over Everton, but the talk of north London remains Max Dowman's sensational cameo. Given the freedom by Mikel Arteta to provide a game-winning spark, the 16-year-old bypassed title-race nerves to break down a stubborn Toffees side, forcing a mistake for Viktor Gyokeres' opener before adding a second himself.
Former Bucs striker Andries Sebola did not hold back in his assessment of the current forward line following the stalemate at Orlando Amstel Arena and believes the lack of clinical finishing is threatening their title aspirations, specifically singling out their 24-year-old striker for criticism and questioning Abdeslam Ouaddou's tactics and substitutions.
Argentina teammates Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul were not included in Javier Mascherano’s matchday squad for Inter Miami’s road clash with Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium. Neither player is injured, and both were reportedly rested ahead of Miami’s second-leg meeting with Nashville SC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
In Leverkusen, nine Bayern players managed to secure a point. Afterwards, all the attention turned to the referee. Criticism came even from the very top of the FCB hierarchy.
U.S. international Josh Sargent made his long-awaited Toronto FC debut on Saturday, coming off the bench in the 70th minute for Robin Fraser’s side. The 26-year-old was welcomed with a loud roar from the BMO Field crowd and nearly made an immediate impact, but Toronto had to settle for a 1-1 draw after Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s late equalizer.
FC Bayern Munich’s 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen on matchday 26 of the Bundesliga was marred by a number of controversial decisions by referee Christian Dingert, who disallowed two of Munich’s goals and sent off Luis Diaz for an alleged dive. He says he would not make that decision again.
FC Bayern picked up a point in a heated match in Leverkusen. Two controversial incidents in particular caused a great deal of frustration for the record champions.
After winning two domestic trophies, Bucs' focus is now firmly on the Premier Soccer League title. However, they face a real challenge from defending champions Masandawana, who have put themselves in a strong position to extend their dominance in the top flight. Just like the previous seasons, the race is turning out to be a two-horse race as Downs and the Soweto giants engage in a tight battle for the title.
Harry Kane has been forced to settle for a place on the bench for the second consecutive match. Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany has opted to stick with Nicolas Jackson for the high-stakes Bundesliga showdown against Bayer Leverkusen.
Real Madrid continue to face a selection headache ahead of their La Liga clash with Elche as several superstars remain sidelined. Manager Alvaro Arbeloa has been forced to dig deep into the academy ranks to patch up a depleted matchday squad ahead of the meeting with Manchester City on Tuesday.
The Portuguese star is fast settling with the Tshwane giants and has made vital contributions, especially in the CAF Champions League. Given that this is his first season in the Premier Soccer League, the playmaker is still in the process of familiarising himself with the terrain of the competition. Despite what he has shown, some have criticised the 27-year-old, but he has answered them.
Premier League fans face an unusual Saturday schedule as both Arsenal vs Everton and Chelsea vs Newcastle occupy the 17:30 GMT slot. The two matches were held in the afternoon due to European competition commitments.
Marseille supporters staged a 45-minute silence during their clash with Auxerre to protest a "season of humiliations". The usual cauldron of noise at the Stade Velodrome was replaced by jeers as the home faithful vented their frustration.
A run of four defeats in a row has seen an enormous amount of pressure heaped on Amakhosi's management, coaches and players. But the young winger is adamant that all the external noise from media, pundits and fans will not distract from the team's focus on turning their form around
Ivan Toney was at the heart of a heated post-match scuffle following Al-Ahli’s dramatic 3-2 defeat to Brendan Rodgers’ Al-Qadsiah. Despite the England striker scoring his 25th league goal of the season, the hosts' sensational second-half comeback sparked a tense atmosphere that boiled over as the final whistle blew.
To boost their chances of reaching the semi-finals, Kabo Yellow needed a huge victory at home before focusing on the second leg. The Tshwane giants fought and claimed a win and a clean sheet, meaning they are on the right course to reach the last four. However, the battle is not over, as the Brazilians will travel to Mali for the second leg, a crucial battle where the Bamako-based side will be keen on pulling off a miracle.
