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The FIFA Confederations Cup in Numbers

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118 – is the number of clubs from 30 different countries that are represented at Russia 2017. Bayer Leverkusen, Porto, Spartak Moscow, Sporting Lisbon and Wellington Phoenix lead the way with five players apiece.

 

100 –  is the per cent of Russia’s players come from the country’s domestic league. Cameroon’s squad, by contrast, is comprised entirely of overseas-based players.

 

38 – is the number of years and four months is the age that makes Rafa Marquez the oldest player at Russia 2017. If fielded, the Mexico stalwart will become the second-oldest player in Confederations Cup history, behind Ali Boumnijel, who took to the field at the age of 39 years and two months in 2005. Marquez is also the only player at Russia 2017 who has already lifted this trophy.

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36 – is the number of years and 98 days old is the age at which Anthony Hudson will become the Confederations Cup’s youngest-ever coach when he takes charge of the All Whites in their opening match. The record currently belongs to former Nigeria coach Shaibu Amodu, who was 36 years and 263 days old when he managed the Super Eagles at the 1995 edition.

 

29 years and one month is the average age of the Chile squad, making it the oldest ever seen at a Confederations Cup. Germany have taken a different approach altogether, selecting Russia 2017’s most youthful squad with an average age of just 24 years and four months.

 

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18 – is the number of years old Dale Ingham could become the second-youngest player ever seen at a Confederations Cup. His New Zealand team-mate at Russia 2017, Chris Wood, holds the record, having played at South Africa 2009 six months after turning 17.

 

7 – is the number of editions of the Confederations Cup is the milestone Mexico will reach in Russia, taking them level with Brazil’s record tally. El Tri are the only previous winners among the eight teams vying for the title this year.

 

4 – is the number of Confederations Cup titles (1997, 2005, 2009, 2013) have comfortably established Brazil as the tournament’s most successful team. France, winners in 2002 and 2003, are the only other team to have won the competition more than once. Brazil have also won far more Confederations Cup matches than any other team, with 23 victories putting them 14 clear of second-placed Mexico and France.

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3 – is the number of European teams will compete at Russia 2017: the hosts, world champions Germany and UEFA EURO winners Portugal. This is the first Confederations Cup to involve three teams from the same confederation.

 

3 of the nine Confederations Cups to date have been won by the host nation: Mexico in 1999, France in 2003 and Brazil in 2015. Can Russia make it four from ten?

 

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0 –  number of foreign coaches have led their country to glory at the Confederations Cup. Half of the men in charge at Russia 2017 – not to mention the fans of Cameroon, Chile, Mexico and New Zealand – will be hoping to see that statistic consigned to the rubbish bin on 2 July.

 

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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International Football

Grudgingly, Eto’o accepts new Cameroon coach Brys, but fails to attend ceremony

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Cameroon’s new coach Marc Brys penned a contract on Monday but the Belgian’s appointment by the government remains contentious as the football federation did not attend the signing ceremony.

Brys has been handed a 2-1/2-year contract by Cameroon’s sports ministry but the federation (FECAFOOT) was conspicuous by its absence at the event in Yaounde.

Last week, FECAFOOT criticised the unilateral decision of sports minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombito to appoint the 61-year-old Brys, who has no prior experience as a national team coach and has not previously worked on the African continent.

FECAFOOT president Samuel Eto’o issued a statement on Monday, excusing himself from the unveiling event.

“We thank you for inviting us to the ceremony. Following this, we inform you of the fact that we received the letter two hours before the said ceremony,” wrote Eto’o.

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“Unfortunately, we are busy organising the funeral of our late Dad, and for this reason we will not be able to attend presence at the ceremony.”

His father’s funeral is to be held at the weekend.

Eto’o balked at Brys’ appointment and is now in a deepening standoff with the minister.

In Cameroon, the government has long paid the salary of the national team coach and therefore held powerful sway over FECAFOOT’s affairs, even if such state interference is frowned upon by world football’s governing body FIFA.

Any heightened dispute risks a potential ban from international competition for Cameroon, one of the heavyweights of African football.

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FECAFOOT held an emergency meeting on Saturday and asked Eto’o to propose an alternative coach for the national team.

Earlier on the weekend, the minister had defended the appointment, saying he had acted in accordance with national and international regulations.

In a letter to FECAFOOT, Kombi said his ministry’s appointment of coaching staff “in no way affects the autonomy of FECAFOOT and does not violate any of the ‘supranational regulations”.

He said FECAFOOT had suggested three candidates to the ministry but their salary demands ranged between 1.5 million euros and 2.5 million euros ($1.63 million and $2.71 million) per year.

“These are excessive amounts never paid to any coach in the history of the Indomitable Lions,” Kombi said.

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-Reuters

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Cameroon FA to propose national coach after emergency meeting –

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BREAKING! Turmoil In Cameroon Federation Over Naming Of New National Coach Brys -

Cameroon’s football federation (FECAFOOT) held an emergency meeting on Saturday and asked its president to propose an alternative coach for the national team, deepening a standoff with the sports ministry.

FECAFOOT on Wednesday accused the ministry of unilaterally appointing Belgian Marc Brys as coach and other staff to manage the Indomitable Lions, who are five-times African champions.

The dispute risks a potential ban from international competition as world soccer’s governing body FIFA has strict rules against government interference in national federations.

In a statement, FECAFOOT said its emergency committee had met on Saturday and unanimously confirmed that the federation had not been involved in the appointments in alleged contravention of regulations.

As a result, it asked its president Samuel Eto’o to propose a national coach and other management staff for the national side within 72 hours.

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Responding to a request for comment, a spokesperson for the ministry said the result of the FECAFOOT meeting was “an appeal. It is not yet a decision.”

On Friday, Sports Minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombi wrote to FECAFOOT to defend the coaching appointments, which he said were in accordance with national and international rules.

In a letter seen by Reuters, Kombi said the ministry’s move “in no way affects the autonomy of FECAFOOT and does not violate any of the ‘supranational regulations’.”

A spokesperson for the ministry confirmed the authenticity of the letter.

Kombi’s letter also said the salaries requested by three candidates earlier proposed by the federation for the position of coach ranged between 1.5 million euros ($1.6 million) and 2.5 million euros per year.

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“These are excessive amounts never paid to any coach in the history of the Indomitable Lions,” Kombi said.

FECAFOOT did not respond to a request for comment on the letter.

-Reuters

 

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BREAKING! Turmoil in Cameroon federation over naming of new national coach Brys. https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/2024/04/03/breaking-turmoil-in-cameroon-federation-over-naming-of-new-national-coach-brys/

Soccer Cameroon appoint Brys as new head coach https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/2024/04/03/soccer-cameroon-appoint-brys-as-new-head-coach/

 

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National team and club-mate Owolabi commiserates with grief-stricken Odegbami –

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National team and club-mate Owolabi commiserates with grief-stricken Odegbami -

Powerful left-wing back in his playing days, Felix Owolabi has expressed great grief over the loss of a son of former teammate, Segun Odegbami.

Both Felix Owolabi and Odegbami share common traits as the earliest tertiary institution footballers featuring for clubs and the national team.

While Odegbami was a mechanical engineering student at The Ibadan Polytechnic, Owolabi was an undergraduate at the University of Lagos.

Both were players of the then rampaging IICC Shooting Stars and the Africa Cup of Nations winning team of 1980. The crucial goals that won the cup for Nigeria were scored by the duo.

While Owolabi’s goal against Morocco sent Nigeria to the Africa Cup of Nations final match for the first time, Odegbami’s two goals in the final against Algeria put a stamp of definity to Nigeria’s victory before another club-mate Muda Lawal put in the third.

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“We have come a long way”, remarked Owolabi in a message to the Sports Village Square  Thursday morning.

“I have just arrived from Morocco on a national assignment trying to adjust and deal with the extreme and gruelling hot weather here in Nigeria when I got the sad news of the sudden death of the son of my dear brother and senior colleague Dr Olusegun Odegbami.

 

“Hearing the death of Oluwagbeminiyi Omo Odegbami,  I paused for a moment and did not know what to say.

“All the media both print and electronics carried it as a breaking news.

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“And that was when it dawned on me that I had to call ‘Big Sheg’ as he is fondly called by me.

“His authoritative confirmation about it dealt a blow on me and put me total darkness.What would have happened to this our vibrant and such an enterprising Oluwagbeminiyi?

“Why would death be so so wicked to suddenly take this gentleman away from us without notice. Going on a journey that he will need not to look at anybody, an eternal journey till Christ come.

“My heart and  that of my entire family are with you and the rest of the family”, remarked Owolabi.

“It is well. I pray that God grant him eternal rest. I pray also that the almighty God grant you the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. Today the death of Oluwagbeminiyi has made me to believe and conclude that death is real and it is universal

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