Throw back picture showing Pep Guardiola as a Barcelona player rejoicing after winning a medal with then Barcelona assistant coach Jose Mourinho.

Czech 10th seed Karolina Pliskova outplayed Serena Williams to reach the US Open final and end the American’s reign as world number one. Williams, 34, double-faulted on match point to lose 6-2 7-6 (7-5), and Pliskova will face German second seed Angelique Kerber in the final. The result guarantees that Kerber will overtake Williams at the top of the rankings after the US Open. Williams had also hoped to win an Open-era record 23rd major singles title. She remains tied with Steffi Graf for both Grand Slam titles, and the WTA record of 186 successive weeks as world number one. “Karolina played great today,” said Williams, who revealed she had been hampered by a sore left knee since earlier in the tournament. “I think if she had played any less then maybe I would have had a chance. So I think I wasn’t at 100%, but I also think she played well. She deserved to win today.” Australian Open champion Kerber beat Denmark’s Carolina Wozniacki 6-4 6-3 to reach her first US Open final. “It’s just incredible, it’s a great day,” said Kerber. “To be here in the final for the first time means a lot and to be number one in the world – it sounds amazing.”

Lol…They couldn’t even look at themselves to shake hands. By 12:30pm on Saturday 10th September 2016, Manchester United will host Manchester City at the Old Trafford in the first Manchester Derby of this 2016/17 EPL season. This derby is even more popular because of the managers involved, Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola. It’s more than the Old Trafford dugouts that will attract attention on Saturday. Guardiola and Mourinho have a rivalry that dates back to Guardiola getting the Barcelona manager’s job ahead of Mourinho in 2008. The pair did have a tempestuous relationship when they were last in direct opposition; with Guardiola at Barca and Mourinho at Real  Madrid between 2010 and 2012. But the chances are nothing they will say in their respective news conferences tomorrow will come close to Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s withering condemnation of Guardiola in his autobiography. The Swede had an ill-fated season at Barca which ended in acrimony as Ibrahimovic reacted to what he felt was Guardiola’s preference for Lionel Messi. “I thought he was all right, not exactly another Mourinho or Capello, but an OK guy,” was Zlatan’s first observations of Guardiola. By the end, Ibrahimovic felt Guardiola was “a spineless coward”. “Mourinho lights up a room. Guardiola draws the curtains.” The derby will sure make an interesting game given the caliber of managers and players involved. Sergio Aguero will be missing for City because of his three match ban for his elbow on a West Ham player. Who knows Nigeria’s Kelechi Iheanacho may get the nod to start for City. Ibrahimovich will be out to “teach” Pep some lessons. Be sure not to miss it.

On 8th September 1888, the first ever football league matches anywhere in the world were played. Above are the results. That was some 128 years ago. In today’s EPL, you only have Everton, Stoke and West Brom. The rest of these teams are in the lower leagues.

Crystal Palace have signed former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini on a contract until the end of the season. Flamini, 32, left the Gunners this summer having made 246 appearances over two spells and winning three FA Cups. The Frenchman, who also won the Serie A title in 2011 during five years at AC Milan, becomes Palace’s fifth permanent signing of the summer. Flamini moved to Italy after four years with Arsenal, before a return to Emirates Stadium in 2013. Palace manager Alan Pardew said he was pleased to “have secured a player of his stature”, adding: “His playing ability will help us but also his leadership qualities and his ability of how to win games in a passing style.” Flamini described his new club as “very ambitious” and said the move was a “very interesting challenge”. Palace added Andros Townsend, Steve Mandanda, James Tomkins, and Chrhistian Benteke earlier this summer, while Loic Remy arrived from Chelsea on loan.

The Rio Paralympics got under way with a stunning opening ceremony on Wednesday at the Maracana Stadium. The iconic stadium was packed with supporters and 4,350 athletes from 160 nations, staged on Brazil’s Independence Day, just two-and-a-half weeks after the Olympics. The central theme of the opening ceremony was “Everybody has a heart” with the president of the International Paralympic Committee Philip Craven making a rousing speech, highlighting the inspiration behind the event. Craven, who lost the use of his legs in a rock-climbing fall aged 16, said: “In a country which has faced major challenges of late, Paralympians will switch your focus from perceived limitations to a world full of possibility and endless opportunity. “They will surprise you, inspire and excite you, but most of all they will change you.”

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Barcelona have officially inaugurated their brand new American corporate headquarters – and ex-Barca star Ronaldinho was on hand to help with the unveiling. The Spanish giants announced that they have taken up residence in New York as they plot a new path across the Atlantic in the hope of agreeing new trading opportunities, as well as expanding their global reach. And Ronaldinho, who featured over 140 times for the club between 2003 and 2008, proverbially cut the red ribbon of the facility by kicking a ball into a small goal. Around 30 guests were invited to the unveiling, with Club President Josep Maria Bartomeu, Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber and the US ambassador to Spain, James Costos, all in attendance. The offices, which are situated on the 20th floor of 250 Park Avenue in the heart of Manhattan, will house a select team of Barcelona officials tasked with promoting the club’s charitable and social sides, as well as seeking out other deals.

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Odion Ighalo insists he could not turn his back on his Premier League dream to line his pockets. The Watford striker has rejected a string of lucrative offers to head to the Chinese Super League. The latest £37.5million bid from Shanghai SIPG was knocked back by Watford before deadline-day on the say so of the Nigerian. It’s believed Watford were ready to cash in but Ighalo did not want to head to the Far East at this stage of his career. Ighalo said: “I’m not moved by money from China. Yes it is big and crazy. When the right time comes I will go. “But now is not the right time. I love playing in the Premier League. It’s all I’ve wanted to do. “My mum and my siblings watch me in action in the best league in the world. I still have unfinished business in England.” Ighalo, who signed a new five-year deal on the eve of the new season, has seen the goals dry up in 2016. He has scored just three times in the Premier League this year and is still waiting to break his duck this season ahead of Saturday’s trip to West Ham. Ighalo, 27, added: “I know the goals will soon start flowing again. Now in the Premier League, it’s more difficult because they know me very well. “Every defender wants to mark me so hard and more than what they did last season.”

Reading manager Jaap Stam has confirmed that Asamoah Gyan failed a medical with Reading. The Ghana striker looked set to complete a shock switch to Madejski Stadium before last week’s transfer deadline – only for the move to dramatically collapse at the last moment. Gyan claimed it was because he was asked not to play in the Africa Cup of Nations, which starts in January – but Stam has labelled that claim as ‘rubbish’. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon at Hogwood Park the Dutchman said the club would have been happy to let the 30-year-old head off on international duty, providing he was fit. But stringent medical checks flagged up it would take six to eight weeks before he was up to full fitness, so Reading opted not to go ahead with the loan deal from Chinese side Shanghai SIPG. “Yes. He wasn’t in very good shape. When he joined us they did a very good medical on him which was very important because he’s been injured in the past. He hasn’t been playing a lot of games. “You need to be sure, if you bring a player in, that he’s fit and not that you need to work him for six to eight weeks to get him in shape. And maybe there’s a risk of him getting injured during that period so he’s out for a longer time. “And then he needs to go to Ghana in January and we lose him for two months. So it’s a big risk. “He wasn’t in good shape, that was the case. Of course the player says he was in good shape because he wants to play, but he wasn’t. Our medical people are not going to be lying about that. That’s why we made the decision not to sign him.

Nigeria and Watford striker Odion Jude Ighalo shared this adorable picture of his sons going back to school in the UK. He tweeted: Back to school🙏#happyboys#schoolruns#prouddad😍

The President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) Isha Johansen and two others have been detained over corruption allegations. The country’s Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) picked the trio up after an FA Cup match on Wednesday.

Sunderland have signed Boavista goalkeeper Mika on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee. The 25-year-old could make his Premier League debut against Everton on Monday. Fifa have ratified the signing after a technical issue meant Boavista were unable to complete their requirements by the 11pm deadline on 31 August. Sunderland needed cover in goal after first choice Vito Mannone, 28, was ruled out for up to three months with an elbow injury.

Tyson Fury’s world heavyweight title rematch with Wladimir Klitschko has been confirmed for 29 October. British world champion Fury, 28, claimed the WBO, WBA and IBF belts from the 40-year-old Ukrainian in November 2015, but pulled out of a July rematch with an ankle injury. The fight is at Manchester Arena. “I’m delighted that we can finally get the fight back on. We can now focus on giving the fans what they deserve,” said Fury’s manager and uncle Peter. Klitschko was undefeated for 11 years and had held the belts since 2006 before losing to Fury in Dusseldorf on a unanimous points decision. He tweeted: “Finally the rematch is fixed. I’ll remedy my mistake on 29 October at Manchester Arena. See you there.” Manchester fighter Fury is unbeaten in 25 professional bouts, with 18 knock-outs, while Klitschko is 64-4, with 54 knock-outs. Fury had originally held three of the world belts, but his IBF title was stripped from him soon after he won it when he failed to face his mandatory challenger. British boxer (of Nigerian descent) Anthony Joshua  is the current holder.

Neymar moved joint fourth on the list of Brazil’s top goalscorers with the winner in their 2-1 victory over Colombia in World Cup qualifying. The Barcelona striker is level with Zico on 48. Pele’s mark of 77 is the national record. Miranda put Brazil ahead before Marquinhos headed James Rodriguez’s free-kick into his own net. But Neymar got the winner with 17 minutes left when he beat Arsenal keeper David Ospina with an angled shot.

After a 38-year drought for fans and players alike, the rains finally came for the Ugandan national football team on Sunday, as the team booked their place at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Gabon. Fans who had filled the 45,000-capacity Namboole Stadium could not contain their joy at the final whistle, launching a full-blown pitch invasion to begin the celebrations, which erupted simultaneously across the country after the 1-0 victory against Comoros. With one of the youngest populations in the world, with an average age of 15, most Ugandans had not even been born the last time their country appeared in the tournament finals. Uganda’s Minister for Education and Sports Janet Museveni, who is also the first lady, saw a divine hand – if not “The Hand of God” – behind the historic win. The Ugandan team, under their nickname The Cranes, has been trending on social media across the country, with politicians also keen to show their support. Uganda last qualified for the tournament, when the country was still ruled by dictator Idi Amin. The Cranes reached the final of that tournament in 1978, losing 2-0 to hosts Ghana in the final.

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El Salvador’s national football team say they have refused a bribe to fix Tuesday’s World Cup 2018 qualifying game against Canada. At a news conference, team members played an audio recording of the person allegedly offering various incentives. Canada must beat El Salvador in Vancouver and hope Mexico defeat Honduras in the final round of Group A games to stand a chance of progressing. El Salvador cannot progress to the final round of qualifying. “It’s the most dramatic thing in football I’ve seen for some time now,” investigative journalist Declan Hill said. “The entire team came in with their coaches and said they had been approached on Saturday. They played an 11-minute conversation with the attempted match-fixer. “He was offering each player a variety of money per minute depending on the result they could get. The most they would have got for allegedly fixing the match would have been about $3,000 per player.” Hill said the offer was allegedly made by an El Salvadorian who knew some of the players, but who wanted to aid the Honduras national team. Canada, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico are members of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF). Three CONCACAF nations will qualify for the 2018 World Cup automatically, with a fourth entering a play-off against a team from the Asian Football Confederation.

Ivory Coast’s two medallists from the Rio Olympic games have been given cash awards and houses by the president. Cheick Cisse, who won taekwondo gold, was given $85,000 and Ruth Gbagbi, who won bronze in the women’s event, got $51,000. Cisse’s gold medal was the first in the country’s history. Last year, President Alassane Ouattara made similar awards to members of the national football team after they won the African Cup of Nations. He did not reveal any details about the houses given to Cisse and Gbagbi, or their location. Mr Ouattara and his wife Dominique wore the medals as they posed with the athletes for photos at the presidential palace in the country’s commercial capital, Abidjan. Ivory Coast had only won one Olympic medal until this year. Gabriel Tiacoh won a silver medal in the men’s 400m in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. He died in 1992. Ivory Coast used to be one of Africa’s richest countries but its economy has been devastated by years of conflict.

Efe Ambrose, Kris Commons and Kristoffer Ajer have been left out of Celtic’s Champions League squad. Defender Jozo Simunovic and winger Gary Mackay-Steven, who are working their way back from injuries, are included by manager Brendan Rodgers. Squads for Europe’s elite club tournament can accommodate 25 players but Rodgers has listed just 24. Celtic will meet Barcelona, Manchester City and Borussia Monchengladbach in Group C. Nigeria defender Ambrose turned down a deadline day move to Belgian top-flight club Standard Liege, while a move for Simunovic to Torino in Italy also fell through. Croatia Under-21 international Simunovic has not played since suffering a knee injury in January. Mackay-Steven is recovering from summer ankle surgery, while Commons has not featured this season, having had an operation for a back problem at the tail end of last term. Ajer, 18, arrived from Norway over the summer but is yet to make a start for the Scottish champions.

Lionel Messi will miss Argentina’s 2018 World Cup qualifier in Venezuela on Tuesday after injuring his groin in Thursday’s 1-0 victory over Uruguay. The Barcelona forward scored on his return from international retirement to send Argentina top of the South America qualifying group. Messi said after the game that his groin had been “hurting a lot”. Argentina coach Edgardo Bauza said: “He won’t be able to play. We can’t take any risks. We must take care of him.” After seven of the 18 qualifying games Argentina lead Uruguay, Colombia and Ecuador by one point with Brazil a point further back in fifth. A top-four finish will secure automatic qualification for Russia 2018, with the fifth-placed side facing a two-legged play-off against a team from Oceania – New Zealand, New Caledonia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands or Tahiti.

Sunderland have signed free agent Victor Anichebe on a deal until the end of the season. The 28-year-old Nigerian striker has been without a club following his release by West Brom in May. Anichebe played under Black Cats boss David Moyes for seven years at Everton. “I have a lot of good friends here and everyone knows that I know the manager really well. He brought me through as a young player and was a big factor in me coming here,” he said. Prior to his arrival, Jermain Defoe was Sunderland’s only fit senior forward. “I had a few options in England and Europe but the manager was a huge pull for me. He knows me inside out and I feel like he can get the best out of me,” added Anichebe. The Nigerian, who moved from Lagos to Liverpool at the age of one, scored 35 goals for Everton and the Baggies in 228 appearances. Anichebe won a silver medal with Nigeria at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.