International Football
AFP REPORTS AIRED BY CAF INDICTS REFEREE FOR PENALTY AGAINST NIGERIA
BY BOLAJI OKUOLA.
Algeria may have escaped another home defeat by Nigeria, but the world probably knows their escape was referee-assisted. In their last World Cup qualifying duel with the World Cup-bound-Nigeria, the Algerians were trailing 0-1 until Yacine Brahimi won and converted a harshly-awarded late penalty to rescue a 1-1 draw for Algeria.
According to an AFP report which CAF adapted on its online publication, the Gabonese referee ruled that Abdullahi Shehu fouled Brahimi as he moved into the box in Constantine, but big-screen replays suggested otherwise. Here is the report by the French agency:
“Porto midfielder Brahimi was lucky to still be on the field after escaping with a yellow card for head-butting Shehu 12 minutes from time.
“ Nigeria went ahead on 62 minutes when John Ogu pounced on a weak clearance by Aissa Mandi and rifled the ball past Faouzi Chaouchi into the roof of the net.
“A heated second half that threatened to get out of control at times gave the crowd some cheer after a woeful opening 45 minutes in which Algeria did not have a shot on target.
“The final-round qualifier marked the start of a third spell as Algeria coach for 1987 African Footballer of the Year Rabah Madjer.
“He would have been disappointed with some of the chances wasted by the “Desert Foxes” with Mandi and Islam Slimani missing second-half “sitters”.
“The stalemate meant Nigeria finished unbeaten and Algeria winless in the “group of death”, which will be completed Saturday when second-place Zambia host Cameroon in Ndola.
“Nigeria finished with 14 points, Zambia have seven, Cameroon six, and Algeria just two from a bitterly disappointing campaign after reaching the last-16 of the 2014 World Cup.
“Bosnian coach Vahid Halilhodzic quit soon after the extra-time loss to eventual champions Germany in Brazil, complaining of continuous media criticism.
“Madjer is the fifth coach to be put in full-time charge since after Frenchman Christian Gourcoff, Serb Milovan Rajevac, Belgian Georges Leekens and Spaniard Lucas Alcaraz.
“Algerian Nabil Neghiz had a short spell as caretaker coach of a team that has plummeted from first to 13th in the FIFA Africa rankings.
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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