International Football
NIGERIA AND THE WORLD CUP TOP SEEDS
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, seven consecutive World Cup reporter.
Invariably, every team not in Pot 2 to Pot 4 will have to face a seeded team in the first stage of the World Cup. In the case of Nigeria, top seeds have always been difficult to crack in the group stage.
Only once, at France ’98 did Nigeria succeed in beating a seeded side after Spain slumped 3-2 in the opening Group D game in Nantes. At the France ’98 Final Draw conducted on December 4, 1997 in Marseilles, Spain was one of the seeded fifth among the eight top seeds and was projected as possible finalist.
Ecstasy as Sunday Oliseh celebrates his back breaking goal against top seed, Spain at France ‘98.
The commonest top seed that Nigeria always faces is Argentina. Both were in Group D at the USA ’94 when Argentina was number one among the six seeded teams. Both teams met again in Group F of Japan/Korea World Cup 2002.
Seven years ago, Nigeria faced Argentina in Group B in South Africa. Three years ago, both were Group F at Brazil 2014 and got entangled in a five goal thriller won 3-2 by Argentina.
In the four encounters with Argentina, Nigeria lost by the odd lone goal. It was 2-1 in 1994 when Argentina came from behind to win. Samson Siasia shot Nigeria ahead in the eighth minute before two free kicks expertly taken by Diego Maradona was scored by Claudio Caniggia in the 21st and 28th minutes.
Samson Siasia celebrates his eighth minute goal against Argentina at USA ’94. But Nigeria lost 2-1.
When both met again in 2002, a 63rd minute goal by Gabriel Batistuta broke the deadlock. Nigeria under Adegboye Onigbinde had played defensively hoping to scrape a goalless draw before the next projected less-tasking encounter with Sweden.
Gabriel Batistuta leaps above Nigerian defenders to score a 63rd minute goal at the World Cup 2002.
But it was not the Gabriel Batistuta’s goal that eliminated Nigeria from the 2002 World Cup. Rather, it was that of Henrik Larsson penalty and winning goal in the Sweden 2-1 defeat of Nigeria after the Super Eagles had taken the lead through Julius Aghahowa’s glancing header and the subsequent equalizer by Henrik Larsson.
Henrik Larsson celebrates his penalty kick goal that technically knocked out Nigeria from the 2002 World Cup.
It was again a 1-0 win for Argentina in 2010 in Nigeria’s only match ever to be shot by 3D camera at the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg. Gabriel Heinze scored early in the game in which Nigeria did everything to contain the rampaging Argentine attack hinged on Lionel Messi. The heroic performance by goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama also helped in keeping the score line low.
Gabriel Heinze’s solitary goal decided the outcome of Nigeria versus Argentina at South Africa 2010.
At Russia 2018, which top seed will Nigeria face next year? Will it be Argentina again? The answer emerges this Friday at the State Kremlin Hall in Moscow.
International Football
Portugal call up same player named in England Under-18 squad
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.
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
International Football
Soon Cisse ceases to be Senegal’s Coach
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.
“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.
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.
International Football
Why FIFA banned Samuel Eto’o
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 female, across 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.
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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