International Football
SENEGAL CAN MATCH BRAZIL, COACH CISSE INSISTS
Senegal coach Aliou Cisse insisted yesterday that there is “nothing at stake” in today’s friendly against five-time world champions Brazil.
But the Senegalese appear serious enough about the clash to plot an unscheduled training session at Jalan Besar Stadium on Tuesday, just hours after arriving in Singapore from Paris.
And despite his words to the contrary, Cisse, 43, has nothing but victory in sight, telling a pre-match press conference: “What’s important is to come out of the game victorious.”
While some would rate the Lions of Teranga as the underdogs in
tonight’s game at the National Stadium, the former Paris Saint-Germain and
Birmingham defensive midfielder is confident his men will be able to hold their
own against the likes of Neymar, Gabriel Jesus and Philippe Coutinho.
He explained: “Their strength is in attacking together and defending together. It is important to play our own game and to our talent.”
While world No. 20 Senegal may boast names such as Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly and Idrissa Gueye of PSG, Sadio Mane, who joined Liverpool for £34 million (S$57.3 million) in 2016 to briefly become Africa’s most expensive player, is undoubtedly the team’s biggest star.
Cue the chants of “Mane, Mane” from Liverpool fans gathered at Swissotel the Stamford to catch a glimpse of the 27-year-old star as he boarded the team bus for a training session at Bukit Gombak Stadium yesterday evening.
The roar of the 50 fans even attracted the attention of two curious Hong Kong tourists, who wandered in and wondered aloud in Cantonese who the football squad walking through the lobby were.
But despite his status, Mane, with a black-and-green snapback perched on his head, was relaxed as he fielded questions at the press conference.
And he is looking forward to facing Liverpool teammates Roberto Firmino and Fabinho on the pitch.
“Brazil are one of the best teams in the world and I’m always talking with Fabinho about it before the game,” said the soft-spoken player.
“I say, ‘Listen, we’re going to win 4-0’,” he added with a grin. “I love to win, to play against Brazil and win is a big thing for me, my teammates and my country, and I’ll try to get a positive result.”
Having netted 50 goals in 100 appearances for his club and 19 for his country, he has received accolades from Argentina captain Lionel Messi, who recently voted for Mane as the best player in the world.
“Wow, what a compliment, I wish, I wish,” said the Senegalese, when asked about the vote. “I take it as a compliment, try to do my best and never give up.”
After leading the team to a runners-up finish at the Africa Cup of Nations in July, Cisse is aiming for his talented side to go further at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and better Senegal’s best finish of a top-eight placing in 2002.
He had captained the 2002 squad that stunned France 1-0 in the group stage before losing 1-0 to Turkey in the quarter-finals.
When asked to compare the 2002 team with his current side, he said: “We can’t compare the two generations because the mentality, approach are different.
“In terms of results, I can say the 2002 generation is a little bit better because we reached the quarter-finals. If they want to be better than us, they must reach the semi-finals.”
Mane certainly got his coach’s message yesterday, as he leaned in, gave a knowing smile and nodded.
-The Sraits Times
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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