International Football
SEVEN SUPER EAGLES FOUND THE NET SO FAR
BY CHINWE EDOGA.
Seven Nigerian players are so far on the score sheet of the six matches the Super Eagles have played so far in the 2018 World Cup qualifying series in which the country has scored 12 goals.
Leading the pack is Chelsea’s talismanic Victor Moses whose brace against Algeria last November and goal against Cameroon brought his tally to three to lead the pack.
Sports Village Square recalls that Moses’ tally is a goal behind those of the leading quartet of Ghana’s Thomas Partey, Niger Republic’s Moussa Mauzou, Liberia’s William Jebor and Algeria’s Islam Slimani all who are on four goals.
Mikel Obi, skipper of the side appears to have specialized on scoring second goals at home for the Super Eagles – an act he has performed in the last two home games which brought his tally to two goals just like that of Kelechi Iheanachor and Moses Simon.
Iheanachor scored against Zambia in Ndola and put in the fourth goal in the 4-0 routing of Cameroon last month. Moses Simon enters the record book as the first Nigerian to score in the 2018 World Cup qualifying when he break the deadlock in Nigeria’s encounter with Swaziland in second round.
After a goalless first match and the return leg at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium appeared to be heading towards similar score line, Simon Moses broke the deadlock with his 51st minute goal. He scored again in Nigeria’s 1-1 away draw with Cameroon in Yaoundé.
On one goal sheet are Efe Ambrose, Alex Iwobi and Odion Ighalo. Ambrose doubled Nigeria’s lead in the 2-0 defeat of Swaziland in Port Harcourt in 2015 after an earlier goal by Moses Simon to push Nigeria into the third stage of the qualifying series.
Debutant, Alex Iwobi opened scoring in the 2-1 defeat of Zambia last year while Ighalo did the same last month in the 4-0 whitewash of Cameroon in Uyo.
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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