International Football
FIFA RANKING: NIGERIA YET TO REGAIN NUMBER 1 STATUS IN AFRICA
It has been almost a decade since Nigeria ranked as Africa’s best in the monthly FIFA rankings.
The trend still persists, as Nigeria just retained its fourth position in Africa. Worse still, the Super Eagles dropped two places from their previous 44th position in the FIFA World Rankings released on Thursday.
The stagnation in the continent is also reflected in the points the team garnered. It remains as 1,427 points as in that of December 2018.
The first ranking of the year also saw Asian champions, Qatar, climb to 55th in the world, gaining 38 places and reaching their best position since 1993.
According to FIFA statement, the Asian Cup has
been responsible for the notable changes in the rankings, with the scarcity of
games in other confederations leaving the top 20 unchanged, and Belgium still
in pole position.
Further down the table, Qatar is not the only
team to have ascended in spectacular style.
Fellow finalists, Japan (27th, up 23) have also
soared up the order, while Korea Republic (38th, up 15), United Arab Emirates
(67th, up 12) and Jordan (97th, up 12), all registered double-digit gains.
There were also significant upward moves by the
likes of Iraq (80th, up 8), Iran (22nd, up 7) and Uzbekistan (89th, up 6).
Another consequence of these changes is that
Asia has boosted its numbers in the Ranking’s top 50.
The Asian Football Confederation is now
represented by four teams up, one on the last edition, and now stands level
with Africa, whose numbers have been depleted by Congo DR (51st, down 2),
dropping out.
Meanwhile, Senegal retains her top spot among
CAF teams with 1,505 points and 24th in the world with Tunisia following
closely with 1,493 points on 28th place.
Behind is Morocco who garnered 1,440 points
after descending three places, from 40th placed in the previous list to 43rd.
The next rankings will be published on 4th
April.
Well-travelled Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte has been named as Guinea’s new coach, less than a month before their next round of World Cup qualifiers.
Duarte, 56, has twice previously coached Burkina Faso and taken charge of Gabon and Togo, while also coaching at clubs in Portugal, France, Tunisia, Angola and Saudi Arabia.
Guinea’s football federation gave no contract details when they made the announcement on Monday, but said they would be looking for Duarte to “restructure their national team”.
Guinea trail leaders Algeria by eight points in their World Cup qualifying group with four games remaining, leaving them with only a slim chance of qualification.
They play Somalia away on September 5 and then Algeria at home on September 8 in their next two qualifiers although a stadium ban means Guinea have moved their home game to Casablanca, Morocco.
-Reuters
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Veteran coach Louis van Gaal says he has been cured of cancer and is keen for a return to the higher levels of the game.
The 73-year-old announced three years ago that he was suffering from prostate cancer, but told a Dutch television talk show, “I’m no longer bothered by cancer.”
When he announced his illness, Van Gaal was the coach of the Dutch national team, but he has not worked since the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
“Two years ago, I had a few operations. It was all bad then. But it all worked out in the end. I have check-ups every few months, and that’s going well. I’m getting fitter and fitter,” he said.
Van Gaal, whose career has included stints at Ajax Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United, reiterated a lack of interest in returning to club management but said becoming the national coach of a top-tier country could tempt him back.
He now serves as a special advisor to Ajax.
-Reuters
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In a compelling twist of football destiny, Davide Ancelotti is stepping into his own spotlight as he begins his first head coaching role at Brazilian club Botafogo—just months after parting ways with his legendary father, Carlo Ancelotti, at Real Madrid.
The 35-year-old has been appointed as Botafogo’s new manager, the club announced on Tuesday, following the sacking of Renato Paiva. Davide, who has spent the last decade working alongside his father at some of Europe’s top clubs—including Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton, and Real Madrid—has signed a one-year deal with the Rio-based team.
This marks a significant milestone for the younger Ancelotti, whose career has long been shaped by his father’s influence, but who now faces the challenge of carving his own identity on the touchline.
The move comes shortly after both father and son departed Real Madrid at the end of last season, with Carlo taking over the Brazilian national team. Now, in a poetic alignment, father and son find themselves on different paths within Brazilian football—one leading the Seleção, the other steering the fortunes of a storied domestic club.
Botafogo’s decision to appoint Davide follows a controversial parting with Paiva, who was dismissed just days after their exit from the Club World Cup. Though he oversaw a stunning win over Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain, a 1-0 extra-time loss to Palmeiras in the round of 16 proved to be his final act after just four months in charge.
As Davide Ancelotti begins this new chapter, all eyes will be on whether the son of one of football’s most decorated managers can step out from his father’s shadow—and perhaps, in time, build a legacy of his own.
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