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FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP: SUPER FALCONS MAY FACE WORLD’S NO 1 USA, GERMANY OR FRANCE

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BY APESIN ADEMOLA.

The Super Falcons are in Pot 4 of the FIFA Women’s World Cup to be hosted by France next year as the draw is conducted at La Seine Musicale on the island of Île Seguin, Boulogne-Billancourt, in the host country, from 6pm (local and Nigerian time) on Saturday.

They could therefore be paired against United States, Germany, host nation France or any other strong opposition.

Despite being one of only seven countries to have featured in all seven past editions of the global tournament, Nigeria have not fared too well with only three wins and same number of draws in 22 matches they are placed 39th in the latest FIFA rankings.

Among the teams in the hat, the Super Falcons are only better than the two other African representatives – Cameroon (46th) and South Africa (48th) – as well as Jamaica (53rd).

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France (No 3) will be the top team in Group A. They will not face any of the other seeded sides – United States (No 1), Germany (No 2), England (No 4), Canada (No 5) and Australia (No 6).

The Americans have won the title three times (1991, 1999 and 2015), while Germany were champions back-to-back in 2003 and 2007.

In Pot 2 are two other past winners, Japan (2011 and currently No 8 in FIFA rankings) and Norway, 1995 champions and now 13th in FIFA standings.

Completing that Pot are the Netherlands (No 7), Sweden (No 9), Brazil (No 10) and Spain (No 12).

Pot 3 is made up of Korea Republic, China PR, Italy, New Zealand, Scotland and Thailand.

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Ahead in Pot 4 are two South American teams Argentina (No 36) and Chile (No 38), who are joined here by Nigeria, Cameroon, South Africa and Jamaica.

By the rule of the draw, no group can contain more than one team from each confederation apart from UEFA, which have nine teams, where each group must contain a maximum of two UEFA teams.

South Africa, who won bronze medal in the recently concluded African Women’s Championship in Ghana, will be making their entry into the global stage in France 2019.

Other debutantes are Chile, Jamaica and Scotland.

Italy are returning to the tournament for the first time since 1999, hosted by the United States where they exited at the group stage.

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Also back in the competition are Argentina, who have been absent since 2007 when they placed bottom of their group.

Apart from the Super Falcons of Nigeria, the regulars are the United States, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Brazil and Japan.

Next year’s tournament holds from June 7 and July 7.

 

 

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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International Football

Guinea names Portugal’s Duarte as new national coach

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African Cup of Nations - Semi Finals - Burkina Faso v Egypt- Stade de l'Amitie - Libreville, Gabon - 1/2/17 Burkina Faso coach Paulo Jorge Duarte Reuters / Amr Abdallah Dalsh Livepic/File Photo

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.

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-Reuters

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Veteran coach Van Gaal says he is cured of cancer

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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.

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He now serves as a special advisor to Ajax.

-Reuters

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Like father like son, Davide Ancelotti becomes Brazil’s Botafogo manager

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Davide Ancelotti, son of Brazil's Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, has been appointed coach of Botafogo, the Rio de Janeiro club announced on Tuesday.

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.

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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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