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TOTTENHAM EUROPA LEAGUE CAMPAIGN BEGINS IN BULGARIA

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Tottenham Hotspur will face a trip to Bulgaria in the Europa League second qualifying round in September after being paired with Lokomotiv Plovdiv in Monday’s draw.

The tie will be played on Thursday, 17 September, five days after Jose Mourinho’s side kick off their Premier League campaign at home to Everton. They are due to play away at Southampton on Sunday, 20 September.

Lokomotiv qualified for the Europa League by winning the Bulgarian Cup for the second year running. Spurs qualified by coming sixth in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, League of Ireland side Shamrock Rovers have been handed a glamour tie at home to seven-time former European champions AC Milan in Dublin.

Steven Gerrard’s Rangers have been drawn away at Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar, the minnows who beat Celtic 1-0 at home in a Champions League qualifier in 2016 before losing the return in Glasgow.

After being knocked out of this season’s Champions League at home by Ferencvaros in the second qualifying round last week, Celtic will enter the Europa League in the third qualifying round, the draw for which takes place today.

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Complications caused by the coronavirus pandemic mean that all qualifying ties are being played as one-off matches at the home of the first team drawn from the hat, rather than over two legs.

All European ties are going ahead behind closed doors.

The delayed 2019-20 Europa League was only completed on 21 August, with Sevilla beating Inter Milan in the final behind closed doors in Cologne to win the trophy for the sixth time in 15 years.

In a separate draw, KF Tirana of Albania and Ludogorets of Bulgaria were given byes into the play-off round

Ties to be played on September 17 with winners advancing to third qualifying round

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Ties will be played as one-off straight knockout matches, rather than over two legs, because of the complications caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The first-named clubs are at home.

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND DRAW:

  • Hammarby (SWE) v Lech Poznan (POL)

  • Maccabi Haifa (ISR) or FK Zeljeznicar (BIH) v Kairat Almaty (KAZ)
  • B36 Torshavn (FRO) v The New Saints (WAL)
  • TSC Backa Topola (SRB) v FCSB (ROU)
  • Progres Niederkorn (LUX) v Willem II (NED)
  • Sfintul Gheorghe Suruceni (MDA) v Partizan Belgrade (SRB)
  • Lokomotiv Plovdiv (BUL) v Tottenham Hotspur (ENG)
  • Budapest Honved (HUN) v Malmo (SWE)
  • Lincoln Red Imps (GIB) v Rangers (SCO)
  • KF Renova (MKD) v Hajduk Split (CRO)
  • Dunajska Streda (SVK) v Jablonec (CZE)
  • Shamrock Rovers (IRL) v AC Milan (ITA)
  • Kaysar Kyzylorda (KAZ) v APOEL (CYP)
  • Lokomotiv Tbilisi (GEO) v Dynamo Moscow (RUS)
  • Coleraine (NIR) v Motherwell (SCO)
  • KF Teuta (ALB) v Granada (ESP)
  • Viking Stavanger (NOR) v Aberdeen (SCO)
  • CSKA Sofia (BUL) v BATE Borisov (BLR)
  • KF Laci (ALB) v Hapoel Beer-Sheva (ISR)
  • FK Ventspils (LAT) v Rosenborg (NOR)
  • Servette (SUI) v Reims (FRA)
  • Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO) v HSK Zrinjski (BIH)
  • Piast Gliwice (POL) v Prolactal Hartberg (AUT)
  • Hibernians (MLT) v Fehervar (HUN)
  • Nomme Kalju (EST) or NS Mura (SLO) v AGF Aarhus (DEN)
  • Neftci PFK (AZE) v Galatasaray (TUR)
  • IFK Gothenburg (SWE) v FC Copenhagen (DEN)
  • OFI Crete (GRE) v Apollon Limassol (CYP)
  • Bala Town (WAL) v Standard Liege (BEL)
  • FC Botosani (ROU) v KF Shkendija (MKD)
  • Aris Thessaloniki (GRE) v Kolos Kovalivka (UKR)
  • FK Riteriai (LTU) v Slovan Liberec (CZE)
  • Borac Banja Luka (BIH) v Rio Ave (POR)
  • FK Kukesi (ALB) v VfL Wolfsburg (GER)
  • NK Osijek (CRO) v FC Basel (SUI)
  • Bodo/Glimt (NOR) v Zalgiris Vilnius (LTU)
  • Inter Club d’Escaldes (AND) v Dundalk (IRL)
  • KuPS Kuopio (FIN) v Slovan Bratislava (SVK)
  • Linfield (NIR) v Floriana (MLT)
  • Riga FC (LAT) v SS Tre Fiori (SMR)
  • Djurgardens (SWE) v Europa FC (GIB)
  • Flora Tallinn (EST) v KR Reykjavik (ISL)
  • FK Sileks (MKD) v KF Drita (KOS)
  • FC Astana (KAZ) v FK Buducnost Podgorica (MNE)
  • Ararat-Armenia (ARM) v CS Fola Esch (LUX)
  • Connah’s Quay Nomads (WAL) v Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO) 

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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MFM Women Basketball Club at Mountain top after comprehensive defeat of hosts Liberian club

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The mountains in Monrovia, Liberia are set on fire by Mountain of Fire and Miracle Women Basketball Club who comprehensively beat hosts, Invisible Eleven by 112-42 points in one of the opening matches of FIBA Africa Women Basketball League Zone 3 Qualifiers on Tuesday.

The General Overseer of the Christian church that owns the club, Dr Daniel Olukoya promptly sent a congratulatory message even as the team prepares for another duel this Wednesday against champions of Cote d’Ivoire, Friends Basketball Association (FBA) of Cocody.

“Thank you for flying the Nigerian flag so proudly in Liberia with your big win. The MFM family expects more from you as always. We will continue to support you to reach your potential and be the best at what you do.”

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Falcons, Green Ladies’ clash in Lagos on Tuesday to start 2pm

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Tuesday’s international friendly between the Super Falcons and Algeria’s Green Ladies at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos will now commence at 2pm, as against the earlier-advertised 4pm.

The Nigeria Football Federation explained on Sunday that the Algerian delegation has opted to commence their return journey on Tuesday night.

“This has necessitated us moving the match forward in order to finish the encounter early for them to prepare for their movement to the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos for their return trip aboard Qatar Airways,” NFF’s Head of International Competitions, Dayo Enebi Achor, said.

The two international friendlies were put together by the Nigeria Football Federation to help the rebuilding process of the Super Falcons, following a below-par performance at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in France this summer, and the departure of American gaffer Randy Waldrum.

Two magnificent goals by Captain Rasheedat Ajibade earned the Falcons a 2-0 win over the Algerians on Saturday. A good number of home-based professionals, including former U17 stars Miracle Usani, Chioma Olise and Goodness Osigwe showed great promise in an entertaining encounter at the Remo Stars Training Complex in Ikenne-Remo.

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Farid Benstiti, Coach of the Green Ladies, told thenff.com that his youthful team will prove a handful for the Falcons on Tuesday, having learnt a couple of things during the game in Ikenne-Remo.

“We will be much better on Tuesday. My girls have seen and learnt a few lessons today. We will take those lessons on board and dig our feet into the ground against the Falcons on Tuesday.”

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It’s hattrick as Morocco hosts CAF Awards for the third time in a row

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The CAF Awards will again hold in Morocco this time on 16 December. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that the prestigious ceremony, which honors the best performers in African football, will again take place on December 16 in Morocco.

This marks the third consecutive year that the North African nation will host the event, following successful editions in 2022 at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maâmora and 2023 at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech.

No specific venue has been named for the 2024 edition.

The ceremony encompasses various categories, including the coveted African Player of the Year award, which has been presented annually since 1992, with Ghana’s Abedi Pele being the inaugural recipient.

Other notable accolades include the African Women’s Player of the Year, Youth Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, and Club of the Year awards, among others.

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