International Football
WORLD CUP IS OUR PRIORITY, SUPER FALCON’S SKIPPER TELLS CAF
Rita Chikwelu led the Super Falcons to AWCON glory two years ago in Cameroon and the experienced midfielder with Swedish side Krstianstand DFF is relishing the prospect of going all the way yet again. Below are excerpts of her interview with CAFOnline.com;
CAFOnline.com: You were the captain when the Super Falcons won the 2016 AWCON trophy in Cameroon, what will be the focus of the team in Ghana?
Rita Chikwelu: Our priority first and foremost is to qualify for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France. We have won the AWCON title several times and we are still very positive going to the championship in Ghana.
How do you fancy your chances against Kenya, Zambia and South Africa in Group B?
I think every country wants to do well, so I don’t think it’s going to be easy for us because they will all come well prepared to play against us. We played Kenya about two years ago and they were very good. Of course, we know the quality of South Africa and I also think Zambia will like to show what they can do. We just have to be focused.
After beating South Africa in the semi-finals in 2016, are you not scared they would be coming to avenge that particular defeat when you meet on 18 November 2018 in Cape Coast?
We know that South Africa have played a lot of friendly matches coming for this AWCON but we remain positive and confident in our own abilities too. The championship for us is not about playing against South Africa, we are going to take it one match at a time.
How does it feel to be captain of this talented group with a lot of big players?
We are one big family in the Super Falcons and there’s no difference between young and old players. We live together like friends and members of the same family; and the unity in the team is one of the secrets of our success.
How tough is it working under Coach Thomas Dennerby?
We have learnt and we are still learning many things from him. He’s from Sweden and I play for Krstianstand in Sweden, so I perfectly understand what he wants from us. We are all coping nicely with his style and it showed in the way we played against Gambia in our qualifying match. It has been a great experience working with coach Dennerby.
What would be a wonderful championship for Super Falcons in Ghana?
We want to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup because we believe we should be out there playing against the best teams in the world. Personally, it is my wish to see the Super Falcons reach the semi-finals at the FIFA Women’s World Cup and Ghana 2018 is an opportunity for us to show what we are capable of doing. We want Nigerians to pray for us so that we can get to the World Cup as well as the AWCON trophy.
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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