International Football
SUPER FALCONS IN NERVY WAIT FOR PROBABLE ROUND OF 16 SLOT
BY FOLAKE OKEGBENLE
Nigeria Super Falcons will have to wait till Thursday to be sure of a probable Round of 16 qualification after going down 0-1 to hosts, France, through a retaken penalty kick on Monday night.
The Nigerian side, the obvious underdog of the encounter played
defensively to frustrate the home side ho had to wait till late in the second
half to get a penalty kick that decided the game.
And so, for the first time in the history of the competition, France won all three group games. If Nigeria eventual qualify, an explosive pairing with Germany will be on the card.
Already, 12 teams have picked qualifications, leaving four slots to be taken. Of the four slots to be contested for by the six third place finishers in the group, China in Group B are likely beneficiaries having obtained four points as against Nigeria’s three.
Nigeria will have to contest Australia, which also have three points going into their final group match against bottom-placed and pointless Jamaica in Group C.
Nigeria will hope Argentina should not win their final match in Group D as the South Americans who will face Scotland have just a point. A win over pointless Scotland gives Argentina a edge over Nigeria.
Scotland on the other hand may edge Nigeria out if they beat Argentina by a three-goal margin
Cameroon in third position in Group E have no point yet and have a goal deficit of three. The Nigerian eastern neighbours will have to win by at least four goals in their final match with equally pointless New Zealand to upstage Nigeria in the struggle for Round of 16 ticket.
The complexion in Group F also favours Nigeria as both Thailand and Chile, both with no points and heavy goal deficit of 17 and five respectively no realistic chance of getting a slot, even if any of them places third.
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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