Haiti international Josue Casimir has moved from AJ Auxerre to Russian Premier League club Dynamo Moscow on a season-long loan.

Dynamo Moscow have the option to make the transfer permanent when the campaign ends.

Casimir, 24, has won 10 caps for Haiti and was part of the country’s squad at this summer’s FIFA World Cup.

The defender joined Auxerre on a free transfer last summer and remains contracted to the Ligue 1 club until 2028. He made two appearances for Will Still’s side this season, both as a substitute.

His move to Russia was completed before the Russian transfer window closed on Friday.

Casimir’s departure comes two days after Auxerre confirmed Francisco Sierralta had joined Polish club Gliwice on Wednesday.

Auxerre are bottom of Ligue 1 after losing each of their opening three matches without earning a point.

Borussia Dortmund host Paderborn in the third round of the Bundesliga, with Niko Kovac’s side expected to secure another victory before the international break. Pinnacle888’s prices strongly favour the home team, who are aiming to continue their excellent recent form against the side that has returned to Germany’s top flight.

Borussia Dortmund have not won the German championship for more than 10 years, but their ambitions extend beyond domestic competition. They began the main stage of the Champions League with a victory and will now turn their attention back to the Bundesliga.

Only three points are likely to satisfy the hosts at Signal Iduna Park. Dortmund are expected to take the initiative from the opening whistle, applying pressure in an attempt to force Paderborn into mistakes and establish control of the match early.

Kovac’s side have won their past four matches in all competitions. Their two most recent successes came against Villarreal in the Champions League, where they prevailed 3-2, and Hoffenheim, who were beaten 3-2 in Dortmund’s latest away fixture.

Paderborn seeking first league win

Paderborn have played in the Bundesliga before, but were relegated to the second division before securing their return to the elite level. They have collected only one point from their opening two matches and will regard any positive result as valuable as they look to remain in the division.

The visitors face a difficult assignment in Dortmund and cannot expect many opportunities. However, if they are presented with a chance to take points from the match, they will look to make the most of it.

Paderborn began the season with a 1-1 draw against Mainz. They then suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat by Freiburg in their most recent league game.

Pinnacle888 odds

Pinnacle888 rate Borussia Dortmund as clear favourites at 1.25 to win. A draw is priced at 6.8, while Paderborn are available at 10.5.

The recommended selection is Borussia Dortmund to win the second half at odds of 1.45. The alternative suggested market is for both teams to score, priced at 1.77.

Recent statistics

Paderborn have lost only one of their past 10 matches in all competitions. Dortmund, meanwhile, have won four consecutive games across all competitions.

Three of the five most recent meetings between the clubs ended in draws, with the match statistics also listing two draws.

Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare has been nominated for Ajax’s Goal of the Month award after his strike against Sion in the UEFA Europa Conference League.

Arokodare scored five minutes after half-time to complete his brace and round off an impressive individual display for the Eredivisie club.

The 25-year-old enjoyed a prolific month, finding the net four times for Ajax since joining the club on a season-long loan from Sky Bet Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

His goal against Sion is one of 10 efforts included on the shortlist for the monthly award.

Arokodare is competing against Pharrell Nash, Anton Gaaei, Abdellah Ouazane and Julian Brandt, while Davy Klaassen, Oliver Edvardsen, Emre Unuvar, Diego Pugno and Isa Benyahia are also nominated.

The recognition comes after Arokodare’s strong start to his temporary spell in Amsterdam. His brace against Sion was among the highlights of a month in which he established himself as a regular source of goals for Ajax.

Despite his contribution, his fifth goal of the season was not enough to prevent Ajax from losing to PSV.

Brest face Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday at 18:45 GMT in the fourth round of Ligue 1, with both sides preparing for a meeting that presents contrasting approaches. Brest will look to Kamory Doumbia for inspiration, while Luis Enrique can call on the greater depth of the PSG squad.

Brest

Brest’s hopes of ending their difficult record against PSG are likely to rest heavily on Doumbia, who has made an outstanding start to the season. The Mali international has scored four goals in three matches and currently leads the Ligue 1 scoring charts.

His latest contribution came against Le Havre, where his two goals demonstrated his ability to decide a match almost single-handedly. Brest will need that same directness and efficiency against a PSG defence that is still developing its understanding.

Doumbia’s pace and finishing could provide Brest with their clearest route to an upset. The hosts’ probable approach will be to give him opportunities in the final third and hope he can maintain the form that has made him the team’s standout player in the opening weeks of the campaign.

Brest’s probable XI

Goalkeeper: Selvik

Defenders: Bradley Locko, Gautier Lloris, Le Guen, Kenny Lala

Midfielders: Pathe Mboup, Magnetti, Kamory Doumbia, Chotard

Forwards: Mama Balde, Ajorque

PSG

Where Brest’s attacking threat is concentrated around one influential player, PSG have a wide range of options available to Luis Enrique. The Parisian side may not yet be operating at full strength, but they retain quality throughout the team.

The arrival of Ferran Torres has added another attacking possibility, while Nuno Mendes is expected to return. His involvement could help PSG recover the balance and understanding that were important to the club’s strength last season.

The depth of the squad gives Luis Enrique the flexibility to rotate his players, manage the sequence of matches and respond to different situations during the game. Against Brest, PSG will aim to control the tempo and avoid dropping points.

PSG’s probable XI

Goalkeeper: Safonov

Defenders: Mendes, Pacho, Marquinhos, Hakimi

Midfielders: Fabian Ruiz, Joao Neves, Vitinha

Forwards: Maghnes Akliouche, Torres, Desire Doue

The match will be PSG’s fourth league fixture against Stade Brestois. Betting company 1xbet lists PSG as the clear favourites, with a price of 1.30 for a Paris victory. The odds for a draw are 5.50, while a Brest win is priced at 9.50.

Brest welcome PSG to Stade Francis-Le Ble on Sunday, 13 September 2026, with kick-off at 18:45 GMT in the fourth round of Ligue 1. The hosts are seeking to end a run of 34 matches without a victory against the Parisian club.

The match will be shown on Ligue 1+ in France, beIN SPORTS in the United States and Canada, Canal+ Sport in sub-Saharan Africa, and beIN SPORTS in the Middle East and North Africa.

Long wait for a Brest victory

Brest’s last win against PSG came on 26 January 1985. Since then, the sides have met 34 times without the Breton club securing another success, a sequence extended by Brest’s periods outside the top flight.

Recent meetings have underlined the scale of the challenge facing the home side. PSG have kept clean sheets in each of the past four encounters, including the two-leg Champions League play-off between the teams two seasons ago, while scoring 14 goals without reply.

Brest will nevertheless approach the game with confidence after an encouraging victory at Le Havre. Kamory Doumbia has been central to their positive start and already leads the Ligue 1 scoring chart with four goals.

The Pirates have scored four times across their opening two matches, including Ajorque’s equaliser against Toulouse. The early signs also suggest Julien Lachuer’s arrival as successor to Eric Roy is beginning to have an impact.

PSG have faced Rennes, Lille and Monaco in their first three matches, meaning Sunday’s opponents appear less demanding on paper. Luis Enrique will remain cautious, however, after the defeat by Monaco and a difficult start to the campaign showed there is still work to do.

The champions are not considered to be in danger of a serious setback, but their performances have yet to reach the level expected. Once PSG find their rhythm, they are likely to be difficult to contain. The expected return of Nuno Mendes could also help restore the understanding that has been one of the team’s strengths in recent months.

Ferran Torres has made a promising start, and his form gives Luis Enrique another attacking option. With Nuno Mendes expected back, PSG have the depth to cope with the schedule and attempt to control the match.

The formbook and recent history both favour the visitors. Brest, inspired by Doumbia, have enough attacking threat to score, but the disparity between the teams appears considerable after such a prolonged run without a win against PSG.

The predicted result is a 3-1 victory for PSG.

Listed match odds from 1xbet make PSG the clear favourites at 1.30. A draw is priced at 5.50, while a Brest win is valued at 9.50.

Monaco will put their perfect start to the Ligue 1 season on the line when they travel to Strasbourg in the fourth round.

The visitors have taken nine points from their opening three matches and sit top of the table alone. Strasbourg, meanwhile, have collected six points and will hope home advantage can help them take something from the leaders.

Monaco have made one of their strongest starts in recent years and will be expected to pursue another victory if they are to mount a serious challenge for the Ligue 1 title. However, a draw away to Strasbourg would not be regarded as a disastrous result.

Strasbourg have been consistent in recent seasons and their points tally represents a solid beginning to the campaign. Their meeting with Monaco is expected to be competitive, given the visitors’ current form, with the hosts facing a demanding task if they are to deny the league leaders.

The home side’s recent results offer encouragement. Strasbourg followed a 6-2 away win at Troyes with a narrow 2-1 victory at Lens in their last two matches.

Monaco also arrive in strong form. In the previous round, they came from behind to beat Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 away from home. Before that, they defeated Marseille 2-0 at home.

Pinnacle888 odds

- Strasbourg to win – 3.15

- Draw – 3.75

- Monaco to win – 2.15

The odds make Monaco the favourites, although Strasbourg’s recent performances suggest the hosts could make the contest difficult.

Key statistics

Strasbourg have won three of their past 10 matches and lost the other seven.

Monaco have won their last three away matches in all competitions.

Four of the clubs’ past five meetings have produced more than 3.5 goals.

Prediction

The suggested Pinnacle888 selections for Strasbourg v Monaco are a Monaco half-time win at 2.55 and fewer than three goals in the match at 1.9.

Those picks reflect Monaco’s strong start and their recent success on the road, while also taking account of the possibility of a closely fought game in which the total number of goals remains below three.

Rangers have progressed to the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League after defeating Beninese club Sobemap FC 5-4 in a penalty shootout.

The Nigerian champions were held to a 1-1 draw in the second leg of their first preliminary-round tie at Stade de Kegue in Lome on Friday. The result left the aggregate score level at 2-2.

Rangers went ahead in the 22nd minute when Sobemap FC conceded an own goal. However, the hosts responded and equalised with 25 minutes remaining.

Neither team was able to find a decisive goal during regulation time, meaning the tie had to be settled from the penalty spot.

Rangers converted enough of their penalties to win the shootout 5-4 and book their place in the next stage of the competition.

Fidelis Ilechukwu’s team will face Algerian giants MC Alger in the second preliminary round.

By Adeboye Amosu

Pap Matar Sarr has joined Juventus’ first-team training for the first time since completing his move from Tottenham, with the midfielder expected to be included in the squad for Sunday’s away match against Sassuolo, according to Football Italia.

The Senegal international had been working separately since arriving in Turin as he built up his fitness. His return comes at an important time for head coach Luciano Spalletti, who is facing a shortage of midfield options.

Weston McKennie, Khephren Thuram and Manuel Locatelli are currently unavailable. Thuram and Locatelli have both recently undergone surgery and are expected to miss several months.

Thuram is not expected to return until January 2027, while Locatelli faces five to six months of recovery after undergoing an operation on his meniscus.

McKennie trained separately again on Friday and is likely to miss the match against Sassuolo. Andrea Cambiaso is also expected to be absent.

Milan head coach Ruben Amorim has addressed criticism of his team, telling reporters that “our intention is to dominate” during a press conference before the Serie A meeting with Lazio.

The match will be played on 12 September. Milan have taken seven points from their opening three matches and currently sit fifth in the league table.

Christopher Nkunku has expressed surprise at AC Milan’s decision to send him on loan to German club RB Leipzig.

The France international also admitted that the style of football used by former AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri did not suit him last season.

Nkunku joined AC Milan after previously playing for Chelsea. He is now set to continue his career with RB Leipzig on loan.

Former Barcelona defender Gerard Pique believes Pau Cubarsi already deserves to win the Ballon d’Or, despite being convinced the young defender will not receive football’s leading individual prize.

Pique was discussing the current contenders for the award when he highlighted Cubarsi, Barcelona’s teenage centre-back, as a player capable of reaching that level. However, he does not expect the 17-year-old to become the next defender to claim the honour.

The most recent defender to win the Ballon d’Or was Italy international Fabio Cannavaro in 2006.

Raphinha has been named La Liga’s best player for August after scoring five goals and providing one assist in three league appearances for Barcelona.

The award was announced on La Liga’s official website, recognising the Brazil international’s influential start to the 2026/2027 campaign.

Raphinha has been used as a central striker rather than a winger this season, following a decision by Barcelona manager Hans-Dieter Flick.

That change in role has produced immediate results, with the 29-year-old leading the attack and contributing directly to six goals during the month.

Barcelona have won all four of their league matches so far and sit top of the Spanish championship with the maximum 12 points available.

Inaki Williams has announced that he is ending his international career with Ghana, becoming the latest player to withdraw from national-team football amid a recent wave of similar decisions across the world game.

The Athletic Club forward began representing Ghana in 2022. At club level, he continues to play for the Bilbao side.

The final match of Saturday’s Bundesliga programme on 12 September will see Koln host Werder in the third round of the German top flight, with both sides looking to build on one win and one defeat from their opening two fixtures.

Koln began the season with a 3-2 home victory over Hoffenheim but were beaten 4-1 away by Stuttgart in their second match. Despite the result, Koln registered 17 shots, three of them on target, and won eight corners.

The club currently sit 11th in the Bundesliga table.

Werder, meanwhile, claimed their first league win of the campaign last time out by defeating Leipzig 3-1 at home. Leipzig had been regarded as the favourites by bookmakers before the match.

Eren Dinkci opened the scoring in the first half, while Niclas Fullkrug and Marco Grull added further goals after the interval. Werder recorded 12 shots, including seven on target, and had two corners despite holding only 29% possession.

The Bremen club had started the season with a 4-1 defeat by Freiburg and are currently 10th in the table.

Head-to-head record and key figures

Koln are the bookmakers’ favourites for the match and have won three of their past four games.

Werder have won two of their last three matches, while their recent head-to-head record includes two victories in the past five meetings with Koln and one defeat.

The most recent meeting between the teams ended in a 3-1 win for Koln.

Koln’s home record against Werder also provides encouragement. They have lost only one of their previous five Bundesliga matches against the club at home.

The prediction accompanying the match preview backs Koln to claim the three points, with the expectation that Werder will face a difficult evening away from home.

The match is scheduled for 12 September 2026 in Koln and will complete the third-round fixtures in the Bundesliga.

RB Leipzig head coach Martin Demichelis is at risk of losing his job after the club’s poor start to the season, according to Bild.

Leipzig have lost their past two matches, going down to Werder in the Bundesliga before suffering defeat by Como in the Champions League. Those results have prompted doubts within the club’s hierarchy over whether Demichelis is the right manager for the team.

The pressure will intensify when RB Leipzig face Hamburg on Sunday. Bild reports that victory is essential, with Demichelis potentially being dismissed before the upcoming international break if his side fail to win.

The Argentine’s position is being judged against more than the recent results. RB Leipzig underwent a major restructuring during the summer, while injuries have left the team without six important players in their latest matches.

Communication between Demichelis and the squad has also been identified as a problem.

The manager conducts his interviews in German but is often unable to find the words he needs, meaning questions from journalists are sometimes not answered fully. Bild says Demichelis has very little command of English, which has made communication with his players even more difficult.

The match against Hamburg therefore represents a significant test for Demichelis as he attempts to steady RB Leipzig’s season and ease the concerns within the club.

Arsenal have renewed their interest in Sevilla midfielder Lucien Agoume, with the 24-year-old reportedly included on the club’s shortlist following further scouting.

The Gunners had already monitored Agoume during the summer of 2025 and are understood to have recently sent scouts to watch him in action. According to Ficherio, Arsenal want to gather more information about the defensive midfielder before deciding whether to make a formal approach.

Agoume remains under contract with Sevilla until June 2028 and is valued at around 15 million euros by Transfermarkt. The midfielder, who is of Cameroonian origin, is approaching an important stage of his career and is expected to assess carefully what his next move would offer.

A transfer to Arsenal would only be attractive to Agoume if the club could provide sufficient assurances over his playing time. Arsenal already have a well-stocked midfield, meaning the London club may need to convince him that he would have a regular role while continuing his development.

Arsenal are not the only club monitoring the situation. Fulham are also reportedly interested and could attempt to move ahead of the Gunners in the coming months.

Sevilla are believed to be open to the possibility of selling Agoume if they receive an offer they consider satisfactory. His contract gives the Spanish club a strong negotiating position, although a bid close to his reported 15 million-euro valuation could lead to discussions.

It remains unclear whether Arsenal’s current interest will develop into a concrete proposal. The club’s next step is likely to depend both on its assessment of Agoume’s performances and on whether the player can be persuaded that a move to London would offer him the regular football he is seeking.

Agoume currently earns an annual salary of 1,040,000 euros, equivalent to 682,198,480 FCFA, at Sevilla. Born in Yaounde, he would also have to decide whether Arsenal represents the best environment for the next stage of his career.

Barcelona have extended the contract of 18-year-old Egypt forward Hamza Abdelkarim until 2030 after his impressive performances for the club’s youth side and during pre-season.

The Catalan club confirmed the agreement on Friday, having decided to make his move from Al Ahly permanent. Abdelkarim initially joined Barcelona in February on loan with an option to buy, but quickly made an impression on the club’s decision-makers.

He scored six goals in 11 appearances for the Under-19 side, performances which led Barcelona to activate the purchase clause. The option was estimated at about 1.5 million euros, allowing the forward to continue his career in Catalonia on a permanent basis.

Abdelkarim then strengthened his claim for further opportunities during Barcelona’s preparations for the 2026/27 season. Included in Hansi Flick’s squad, he scored four times and caught the attention of the coaching staff as he moved closer to involvement with the first team.

His progress was rewarded at the end of August when he made his first appearance for Barcelona. Abdelkarim came on against Rayo Vallecano in a 5-2 victory, recording his first minutes in the club’s senior side.

The Egyptian has won six international caps and has also taken part in the World Cup. Barcelona now regard him as one of the club’s long-term prospects.

His next potential opportunity comes with Barcelona due to face Levante in the fifth round of the Spanish championship. Betting company 1xbet lists Levante at 15.00 to win, with a draw priced at 8.00 and Barcelona at 1.09.

OGC Nice have intensified discussions with Stade Rennais over a possible loan move for Ghana international Alidu Seidu, with an option to buy potentially included in the deal.

The 26-year-old defender is keen on the move as he looks to secure regular first-team football. A source close to the player, cited by Footy-Africa, said negotiations between the two clubs were progressing, although no agreement has yet been reached.

Seidu is currently out of Stade Rennais’ squad and is training individually at home while he waits for a solution to his situation. His representatives have confirmed that talks with OGC Nice are advancing.

Nice consider Seidu as a replacement option

Seidu attracted interest from Olympique de Marseille and Strasbourg during the summer. Strasbourg reached an agreement with the player over personal terms, but were unable to meet Stade Rennais’ financial demands.

The Rennes club had been seeking 10 million euros for the defender, which prevented the proposed move to Strasbourg from going ahead.

Following the closure of the French transfer window on 1 September, OGC Nice can explore the possibility of signing Seidu as a joker. That option has become more relevant after Antoine Mendy suffered a serious knee injury.

Nice are understood to have made Seidu a priority, but are still waiting for INEOS to approve their budget before moving forward with greater urgency.

Seidu is under contract with Stade Rennais until June 2029 and is valued at 6 million euros by Transfermarkt. A temporary move to Nice would allow him to remain in Ligue 1 while providing an opportunity to rebuild his season and gradually return to competitive football.

Stade Rennais are due to play their fourth league match of the season against OM shortly.

Stade de Reims are making progress in their pursuit of Sporting Club de Bastia attacking midfielder Alexandre Bi Zaouai, with discussions over a possible move reportedly moving in the right direction.

The Ivorian is under contract with Sporting Club de Bastia until June 2029, but Reims have shown concrete interest in bringing him to the club. A transfer would offer Bi Zaouai the chance to take the next step in his professional career, according to information from 225foot.

Bi Zaouai has gradually established himself as an important player for Bastia. His technical ability, attacking work-rate and capacity to make a difference in the final third are understood to have persuaded Reims’ directors to pursue a deal.

For the Ligue 2 club, the proposed move would provide another creative option in the attacking areas. Bi Zaouai’s market value is estimated at 1.5 million euros, while his arrival would give the player an opportunity to continue his development at a new club.

The player had previously attracted interest from Aris Thessaloniki, as reported exclusively by Africafoot. Olympiakos had also been pursuing him in recent days.

A transfer fee of more than 2 million euros, alongside a four-year contract, had been discussed in connection with the interest from Greece. However, Reims now appear to be in the strongest position to complete a deal for the young talent.

Reims are preparing for their next match in the French Ligue 2 campaign, when they will face AS Nancy-Lorraine in the sixth round of fixtures.

Egypt teenager Hamza Abdelkarim will sign a new Barcelona contract next week, extending his stay with the Spanish champions until 2030.

The 18-year-old joined Barcelona on loan from Cairo club Al Ahly in February before completing a permanent move in the summer. He had already featured for Egypt at the World Cup, appearing in four of the team’s five matches.

Abdelkarim became the youngest player to represent Egypt at the tournament. He subsequently made a strong impression during Barcelona’s pre-season campaign, scoring four goals in five games.

His competitive debut for Barcelona came as a late substitute in last month’s 5-2 La Liga victory over Rayo Vallecano.

The club said Abdelkarim is scheduled to sign the contract extension on Tuesday.