Premier League – Brentford v Manchester United – Brentford Community Stadium, London, Britain – January 19, 2022 Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood celebrates scoring their second goal

Manchester United suspended footballer Mason Greenwood on Sunday, a move that followed accusations online that the 20-year-old player had assaulted a woman.

In an initial statement on Sunday, the club said it was “aware of images and allegations circulating on social media,” saying it would not comment further until the facts had been established, and adding:

“Manchester United does not condone violence of any kind.”

In a later statement, United said, “Mason Greenwood will not return to training or play matches until further notice.”

The allegations against Greenwood, including video, photographs and a voice note, were posted on Instagram on Sunday morning and later deleted.

Greater Manchester Police said a man was arrested on suspicion of rape and assault and was being held in custody for questioning after social media images and videos were posted by a woman reporting incidents of physical violence.

In keeping with police practice they did not name the suspect.

“An investigation was launched and following enquiries we can confirm a man in his 20s has since been arrested on suspicion of rape and assault,” the police said in a statement.

Greenwood has six goals and two assists in 24 matches in all competitions for United this season. He began his career at United’s academy and has played once for the England national team.

The President of CAF Dr Patrice Motsepe, having convened a meeting of the CAF AFCON Organising Committee, received the report compiled by CAF Safety and Security Department together with COCAN relating to the circumstances in regard to the tragedy that occurred at the Olembé Stadium.

The report highlighted the extensive onsite meetings and discussions which were held with senior representatives of the police, the gendarmerie, the military, together with high-ranking Cameroonian Government, Defence, and Police Ministers inclusive of the Governor of Yaoundé and other stakeholders.

The report dealt with and highlighted the tragic circumstances which led to thirty-eight people being injured and eight fatalities.

The report further highlighted the recommendations and interventions to ensure that a tragedy of this nature should never be repeated.

Having noted the recommendations and undertakings from Government in regard to additional security provisions over and above those which were already successfully implemented at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium during the Morocco and Malawi match and at the Japoma Stadium during the Gambia and Cameroon match, the CAF Organising Committee unanimously agreed to lift the suspension imposed on the Olembé, Stadium and allow one of the Total Energies AFCON Cup of Nations Semi-Finals as well as the Final Match to take place at the Olembé Stadium.

In conclusion, CAF, the Local Organising Committee and the Government of Cameroon having significantly increased security and resources at the Olembé Stadium, are confident that the safety and security of spectators and visitors will be assured.

he big European leagues are currently on a momentary pause due to the international break, but some of the lower leagues are still in full swing.

Some Nigerian stars were on duty for their clubs, and it was quite a productive day for most of them.

Aliyu Ibrahim

Ibrahim was the hero of the day for Lokomotiva Zagreb, as he scored the vital winner to give his side a 2-1 victory over Dragovoljac in the Croatian 1. HNL.

The 20-year-old winger has been brilliant for Lokomotiva this season, and his strike against Dragovoljac was his fourth in twenty league appearances.

Orji Okonkwo

It was another good day in the office for Okonkwo in the Serie B. The 24-year-old striker was brilliant for Cittadella in their 1-1 stalemate against Cosenza.

Okonkwo scored his second goal in consecutive games to draw his side level after going a goal down in the 16th minute

The Bologna loanee has been in red hot form this season, and he now has seven goals in 16 appearances.

Ubong Ekpai 

Ekpai just joined Ostrava on a six-month loan deal from Slavia Prague. And his first game for his new side was against his parent club, albeit a friendly match.

The 26-year-old made an immediate impact, as he scored his team’s second goal minutes after his introduction into the game.

However, it was just a consolation, as Ostrava lost 4-2 to the Czech Republic champions.

Kenneth Omeruo

The Nigeria international made his first appearance for Leganes after a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations outing, and he was an instant impact.

In his absence, Leganes lost all four of their games, but on his return to the lineup, they returned to winning ways, beating Alcorcon 1-0.

The Super Eagles star had three blocks, four clearances, and won three of his six duels. He also conceded a yellow card.

Nonetheless, the victory takes Leganes to 17th place, ten points away from the Laliga2 playoffs spots.

Alhassan Yusuf

The Nigerian star rattled the net for the first time this year in Antwerp’s 1-0 victory against Gent in the Belgian Jupiler League.

Yusuf scored the crucial winner for Antwerp in the 16th minute of the game to save his side’s blushes after Michael Frey missed a penalty in the 14th minute.

Yusuf’s goal was his first in over two months, and it ensured that Antwerp maintained their spot in third, behind Royal Union SG and Club Brugge.

Senegal overcame Equatorial Guinea to set up an Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against Burkina Faso.

Ex-Bristol City forward Famara Diedhiou put Senegal ahead with a first-time strike following Sadio Mane’s pass.

Equatorial Guinea were awarded a penalty before the decision was overturned, but then equalised soon after through Jannick Buyla’s low shot.

But substitute Cheikhou Kouyate volleyed Senegal ahead, with Watford’s Ismaila Sarr side-footing a late third..

Senegal, who never have won the tournament, face Burkina Faso on Wednesday, before Egypt play Cameroon in the second semi-final on Thursday, with the final taking place on Sunday, 6 February.

Equatorial Guinea, 114th in Fifa’s world rankings, had been hoping to cause an upset against a Senegal side ranked 20th – the highest-placed African nation.

Senegal started well as Idrissa Gueye fired a free-kick wide and Diedhiou had a shot saved by Jesus Owono before their 28th-minute opener.

Liverpool forward Mane, taken to hospital with concussion after suffering a clash of heads in the last-16 match against Cape Verde, played an excellent pass and Diedhiou finished well.

But Equatorial Guinea, semi-finalists in 2015, fought back early in the second half.

They thought they had a penalty when referee Victor Gomes pointed to the spot after the ball hit Kalidou Koulibaly’s hand at close range. But, following a VAR intervention, Gomes watched the incident on a pitchside monitor and judged Koulibaly could not have moved away in time as it was so close.

Equatorial Guinea bounced back from that disappointment and equalised in the 57th minute as Pablo Ganet linked up with Buyla, who fired an angled strike past Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

But Senegal were gifted a 68th-minute second when Crystal Palace midfielder Kouyate, brought on just three minutes earlier, volleyed into the net after two Equatorial Guinea defenders collided into each other while trying to head clear.

Another substitute Sarr, playing his first game since November after injury, sealed Senegal’s victory after good work from team-mate Saliou Ciss.

Having noted the recommendations and undertakings from Government in regard to additional security provisions over and above those which were already successfully implemented at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium during the Morocco and Malawi match and at the Japoma Stadium during the Gambia and Cameroon match, the CAF Organising Committee unanimously agreed to lift the suspension imposed on the Olembé, Stadium and allow one of the Total Energies AFCON Cup of Nations Semi-Finals as well as the Final Match to take place at the Olembé Stadium.

CAF said the report came after the President Dr Patrice Motsepe, convened a meeting of the CAF AFCON Organising Committee, which submitted the report compiled by CAF Safety and Security Department together with COCAN relating to the circumstances in regard to the tragedy that occurred at the Olembé Stadium.

The report highlighted the extensive onsite meetings and discussions which were held with senior representatives of the police, the gendarmerie, the military, together with high-ranking Cameroonian Government, Defence, and Police Ministers inclusive of the Governor of Yaoundé and other stakeholders.

The report dealt with and highlighted the tragic circumstances which led to thirty-eight people being injured and eight fatalities.

The report further highlighted the recommendations and interventions to ensure that a tragedy of this nature should never be repeated.

he English side are reportedly one of several notable clubs interested in acquiring the services of one of Nigeria’s key performers at the Nations Cup

French football market insider Ignazio Genuardi reports that English Premier League side Leeds are among the clubs to have approached Nantes for their exciting forward, Moses Simon.

Simon enjoyed a spectacular January in Cameroon, where he helped the Super Eagles record three wins in four matches at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

The 26-year-old was, by some clear distance, Nigeria’s most excellent footballer at the tournament, making it into the competition’s team of the group stage.

Before then, Simon had been Nantes’ top performer, producing one match-winning display after another and contributing two goals and six assists to the Canary’s Ligue 1 cause.h

Simon’s excellent showings appear to have caught the eyes of onlookers at Leeds United, with the Marcelo Bielsa-led side believed to be making a solid push to sign the Nigerian winger before the winter transfer window shuts in the next few days.

Nantes, however, have no intention of letting Simon leave France on the cheap, especially with his contract not expiring for another two and a half years.

The French Ligue 1 side considers the winger unsellable and will only sanction a sale if a considerable offer in the region of €20m comes in.

Simon joined Nantes permanently in 2020 for €5 million from Spanish La Liga side Levante following an impressive year on loan. The former KAA Gent star is currently valued at €9 million

The Nigerian star left Fulham after they got relegated from the Premier League last season, but he is close to sealing a return to English football 

Super Eagles forward Josh Maja is close to sealing a loan move to English Championship side Stoke City. The Nigerian forward left Bordeaux for Fulham on a six-month loan deal last season in their bid to preserve their Premier League status.

However, he was unable to help the cottagers as they got relegated. The former Sunderland man returned to the Ligue 1 side at the expiration of his contract, but he has been unable to secure a spot in the first eleven mainly due to injuries

This season, the London-born striker has only made four appearances in all competitions, and all four were as a substitute.

A move back to England could help reignite his career, and, Maja has undergone a medical, and he is close to sealing a loan move to Stoke City.

Maja has one cap for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, coming on as a stoppage-time substitute in Nigeria’s 2-2 draw against Ukraine in September 2019.

Mohamed Salah scored one goal and set up the other as Egypt beat Morocco in extra time in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.

Sofiane Boufal gave Morocco an early lead with a penalty after Ayman Ashraf caught Achraf Hakimi, a decision given by the video assistant referee.

But Salah tapped in an equaliser after Yassine Bounou parried a header and the game went to extra time.

Carlos Queiroz’s side will face hosts Cameroon in Thursday’s semi-final.

The seven-time champions may need to play that game with third-choice keeper Mohamed Sobhi, who came on for his international debut after Gabaski hurt himself while tipping Nayef Aguerd’s header on to the bar near the end of normal time.

Without that save there would have been no semi-final to worry about – and Salah would have been on the next flight back to England.

Boufal’s penalty was the only chance of note for either side in the first half – with most other efforts from long range.

Morocco were starting to dream of only their second semi-final since 1988 but Salah had other ideas, forcing extra time and then helping settle it by setting up half-time substitute Trezeguet.

Salah has been involved in 64% of Egypt’s goals at the Africa Cup of Nations – nine of 14 – since he made his competition debut in 2017.

Egypt should have scored a third right at the end after Morocco keeper Bounou came up for a free-kick. Morocco played it short but Egypt made a mess of their counter-attack and Salah shot into the side-netting.