International Football
Kanu, Cambiasso to Feature in FIFA U-17 World Cup Draw
Nigeria’s Nwankwo Kanu will be a celebrity participant when the draw for the FIFA U-17 World Cup holds on Friday in Mumbai, India.
Kanu who was a member of the Nigerian cup winning side of 1993 will be joined by Argentian’s Esteban Cambiasso who featured in the 1995 edition of the tournament.
According to a statement from FIFA, the duo will be joined by a host of other stars from across the host country who will descend on the Mumbai Sahara Star Hotel for the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 draw.
Kanu lifted the U-17 World Cup trophy back in 1993, scoring five goals as Nigeria were victorious in Japan.
Cambiasso was part of the Argentina side that finished third in the 1995 edition, scoring in the play-off for third place against Oman.
Neither current holders Nigeria or Cambiasso’s La Albiceleste are among the 24 qualified teams waiting with baited breath to see the outcome of the draw in Mumbai, but there are a number of first-time participants to catch the eye. Hosts India join African side Niger and Oceanian outfit New Caledonia in making their U-17 World Cup debut.
Qualified teams
Africa: Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Niger
Asia: India (as hosts), Iran, Iraq, Japan, Korea DPR
Europe: England, France, Germany, Spain, Turkey
North, Central America & Caribbean: Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, USA
Oceania: New Caledonia, New Zealand
South America: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay
Joining Cambiasso and Kanu as draw assistants will be former India captain Sunil Chhetri and badminton star Pusarla Venkata Sindhu. Chhetri currently plays for Bengaluru FC and the Indian national team, and is both the most-capped player and all-time top goalscorer for the Blue Tigers. Sindhu became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic silver medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, becoming the youngest Indian to finish on the podium at an individual Olympic event in the process.
International Football
Two Moroccan football players lost at sea, says club official
![](https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Abdellatif-Akhrif.png)
Two Moroccan players from top-flight soccer side Ittihad Tanger have been missing at sea since Saturday after strong currents drifted their small yacht, a club official said on Sunday.
They were in a group of five players from the club who went cruising off the northern city of Tangier when strong currents and heavy winds drifted their yacht away as they were swimming in deep waters, club deputy president Anass Mrabet told Reuters.
“Three players have already been rescued on Saturday, while research is still ongoing for the missing Salman Harraq and Abdellatif Akhrif,” he said.
The players did not have buoys on them when they jumped from the small yacht to swim, he said citing recounts by rescued players.
While Akhrif, 24, is already a full member of the squad, Harraq, 18, was about to move up to the senior team this year, Mrabet added.
Ittihad Tanger have been in the Moroccan top flight since 2015 and won the league title for the first and only time in their history in the 2017-18 season. However, they have struggled in the lower half of the standings in recent years.
-Reuters
International Football
FIFA launches ‘Football Manager’ World Cup with $100,000 in prize money
![](https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/arsene-wenger.jpg)
FIFA will host its first ever FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager this year to crown the best virtual manager on the highly-popular video game, world soccer’s governing body said on Thursday.
FIFA is partnering with Sports Interactive, the developers of the game that has sold millions of copies and has also been used by several football clubs to scout players and opponents thanks to its extensive database.
Players will compete for $100,000 in prize money in the final event from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.
“This competition requires participants to demonstrate a profound understanding of football strategy and tactics,” said former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is the ambassador for the esports event.
“Success demands not only mastery of game mechanics but also in-depth football knowledge, making this format a fascinating blend.”
FIFA said in the inaugural year of the event, selected member associations will be invited to be represented at the final event.
Member associations from all six confederations are expected to be invited while players can sign up on FIFA’s website.
-Reuters
International Football
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio robbed at gunpoint
![](https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/baggio.jpg)
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint at his home in northern Italy while watching his country’s match against Spain in the Euro 2024 tournament on Thursday, local police said.
Burglars broke into Baggio’s house near Vicenza, hit him on the head with a gun butt and locked him and his family in a room while they stole jewellery, watches and cash, daily Il Corriere della Sera reported. It said he suffered a deep wound.
“Luckily, the violence I suffered only resulted in a few stitches, bruises and a lot of fear. Now it is to overcome the fear,” Baggio was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.
Baggio, 57, played for clubs including Juventus (JUVE.MI), opens new tab, AC Milan and Inter Milan. He also played 56 times for Italy, scoring 27 goals, and is widely seen as one of his country’s all-time greats.
After the robbery, Baggio, widely known as the “divine ponytail”, was treated at a local hospital where he received stitches for the head wound, Italian media reported.
Italy lost to Spain 1-0 on Thursday and now must avoid defeat by Croatia to guarantee progression in the tournament.
-Reuters
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