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International Football

Zambia, Algeria Hope for First Win

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Match Day 3 duels of the Group B of the Africa qualifying group for Russia 2018 will be rounded up this Saturday as Zambia host Algeria. Both sides are on a point each ahead of the game in Lusaka, Zambia.
Just like the current African champions, Cameron, neither Zambia nor Algeria had won a match since the final qualifying competition began last October.
As it is, only the Super Eagles have recorded victories in a group that was aptly dubbed “Group of Death” as all the four teams have been Africa Cup of Nations winners and three of the teams – Nigeria, Cameroon and Algeria – qualified for the last two editions of the World Cup in South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014.
But what initially looked like a Greek puzzle surprisingly turned simple like ABC as Nigeria appeared to be taking a stroll in the pack. All the three teams in the group have lost to Nigeria which is the only side to have obtained maximum points in all encounters.
Psychologically, Nigeria’s massive win over Cameroon may have effect on the Zambia-Algeria match coming 24 hours later. Both Zambia and Algeria have been both arithmetically and mathematically placed at huge disadvantage on qualification dream.
Victory by either therefore looks very unlikely. Zambia, playing at home will be without Rainford Kalaba who was cautioned in the team’s immediate past two matches against Nigeria last October in Ndola and away against Cameroon last November.
Meanwhile according to Times of Zambia, Skipper Kennedy Mweene said the Chipolopolo must beat Algeria just as Coach Wedson Nyirenda urged the players not to overrate Algeria but approach the game with caution.
The Zambian are third in a four-team Group B with one point, eight behind leaders Nigeria and will be desperate to pick up a win against Algeria to get the campaign back on track.
Cameroun are still second on two points while Algeria have one point.
The Times of Zambia reported that 26 players out of the 31 summoned for camp reported with just strikers Fashion Sakala, Patson Daka, Brian Mwila, Emmanuel Banda and defender Stoppila Sunzu being awaited.
Mweene said in an interview before their first training session at the Vodafone Woodlands Stadium that Algeria does not send any shivers down the player’s spine.
He said the North Africans were still beatable despite them having big names in Leicester City forwards Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani.
“I think the only result that will be acceptable at home is a win and then get something in Algeria. We are not afraid of them. Yes, most of them play in Europe but the football in Africa is different,” Mweene said.
The 2012 Africa Cup winning goalkeeper said despite the Chipolopolo bad start to the World Cup campaign, the team was still in contention.
“It doesn’t matter how we started the qualifiers, we are still in contention and we have to pull up our stocks,” Mweene said.
Mweene hailed the inclusion of the seven Under-20 players to the Chipolopolo saying that they can contribute to the glory of the team.
“If the under-20 impressed the coach in training, why not play them. It’s not about age, they do have some experience and it’s about who wants it more,” Mweene said.
Nyirenda said he was happy with the player’s turnout and that would work on blending them into a solid team.
Asked about midfielder Fwayo Tembo’s unavailability to play for the national team, Nyirenda said the squad had enough depth and will not have a problem with the player’s absence.
“I see great sparks in this group I have called, they have nothing to lose but everything to give,” Nyirenda said.
Meanwhile, Under-20 call-up Enock Mwepu said he has not come to warm the bench but play on Saturday.
Mwepu said that he was excited about being called to the senior national team for the first time and that he will do his best.
“I am here to play and not sit on the bench. I am ready for the challenge. Algeria is just a name, it’s a team like any other and we can stop them,” Mwepu said.

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

Portugal call up same player named in England Under-18 squad

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Mateus Mane in England's colour

Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Mateus Mane has become hot property after Portugal named the 17-year-old in their Under-18 squad on Friday, one day after England included him in their squad.

Mane was called up for a second successive England youth camp by coach Liam Bramley before the team travel to Marbella for a four-team tournament this month.

Mane is eligible for both teams having played for the Portugal Under-17 side last season. As the Under-18 team is a non-UEFA age group, both nations are entitled to call the player up.

He made his England international debut last month against the Portugal Under-18 side who have named Mane in their squad for a four-nation tournament this month.

With both tournaments running concurrently, Mane can only play for one team and Wolves and England confirmed he would feature in Bramley’s side.

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Reuters has contacted Portugal’s football association for clarification.

While players with multiple nationalities have played for more than one country if they are eligible, they are not allowed to switch allegiances at senior level – unless they have played only in friendly matches for the first country.

-Reuters

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International Football

Soon Cisse ceases to be Senegal’s Coach

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After 107 matches spanning nine years, Aliou Cisse will not have his contract renewed as Senegal coach, officials confirmed on Wednesday. Of the 107 matches, Cisse’s team won 70, drew 24 and lost 13.

But the impressive scorecard is not enough to impress his employers.

Thus, the end beckons for Cisse’s successful nine-year spell in charge of the side that included a first Africa Cup of Nations title and two World Cup qualifications.

He had been under increasing pressure after Senegal’s surprise last 16 exit at the 2023 Cup of Nations when they lost on penalties to hosts Cote d’Ivoire.

Senegal are unbeaten in six matches since then, but home draws with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burkina Faso, and criticism from certain quarters over their style of play, made up the mind of the country’s sports ministry, who fund the salary of the national team coach, that a change was needed.

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“The FSF would like to thank Aliou Cisse for his good collaboration and his brilliant results at the head of the various national selections that he has managed since his arrival in 2011 and wish him every success for the future,” the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) said in a statement.

FSF added Cisse’s exit stemmed from a failure to fulfil the targets in his last contract, which expired at the end of August, which included victory at the 2023 Cup of Nations and reaching the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup.

They also said the “regression of our national team in the FIFA rankings and the risk of disaffection between our national team and the Senegalese (public)” had played a role.

The FSF will appoint an interim technical team to lead the side in Cup of Nations qualifiers against Malawi at home on Oct. 11 and away four days later.

Cisse, 48, was captain of Senegal when they reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup with what is heralded as a golden generation of players.

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He briefly had a spell as caretaker coach of the national team in 2012, but took over full time three years later.

He led Senegal to 2018 and 2022 World Cup qualification, making the last 16 in the latter before losing to England. They were beaten in the final of the 2019 Cup of Nations by Algeria.

The side made up for that disappointment when they beat Egypt in the final two years later to be crowned African champions for the first time.

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International Football

Why  FIFA banned Samuel Eto’o

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Always in the news for bad reasons, Samuel Eto’o has again made global headlines. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has banned the former striker and the current president of the Cameroon Football Federation.

He is banned from attending Cameroon’s matches for the next six months for violating conduct rules during the recent U-20 Women’s World Cup, where his national team faced Brazil in the round of 16.

According to FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee, Eto’o was found to have breached articles 13 (“Offensive behaviour and violations of fair play principles”) and 14 (“Misconduct of players and officials”) of FIFA’s Disciplinary Code.

The sanction stems specifically from the match between Brazil and Cameroon, held on September 11 in Bogotá, Colombia. As a result, Eto’o will be prohibited from attending any matches involving Cameroon’s national teams, both male and femaleacross all age groups.

“Mr Eto’o has been notified today, the date on which the sanction comes into force,” stated the FIFA press release.

This is not the first time Eto’o has faced controversy. He previously drew attention for his behavior towards players and national team coach Marc Brys, whom he allegedly threatened in front of cameras if his directives were not followed.

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During the Qatar World Cup, the former Real Madrid, Mallorca, and Barcelona player made headlines again after assaulting a fan who filmed him outside a stadium after a match.

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