International Football
GUINEA CROWNED WAFU PLATE CHAMPIONS
The Syli Nationale of Guinea beat Cape Verde 4-2 on penalties to be crowned Plate champions of the WAFU Cup of Nations after a goalless final in Thies on Saturday.
Saikouba Camara stopped Paulo Horta’s spot kick before Jair Garcia balloon his effort over the goal to allow Morlaye Sylla to fire in the winner.
The Blue Sharks have themselves to blame for not winning the trophy at the Stade Lat Dior as they missed great chances to see off Kanfory Bangoura’s Syli.
It was Guinea who had the first crack at goal after 15 minutes when Mory Kante’s fierce drive from distance missed the target.
The Blue Sharks found their way into the Guinea area midway through the half following a neatly build counter attack.
Helnani Cardoso played in Erikson Soares who skipped away from a couple of challenges before shooting towards the far post forcing the fully stretched Camara to make the save.
The Syli controlled the remaining minutes of the half and they had chance to score but they failed to find a way past Keven Sousa.
Captain Jean Mouste saw his 25 yards free kick saved by Sousa before Kante missed a sitter from 12 yards out on the stroke of half time.
The second half saw the two sides cancelling each other with rear openings for either side.
Substitute Hericles Correia latched on to through ball before dragging his effort wide against Camara’s goal before the match headed to extra-time.
It was the Cape Verde who created the best opportunities in extra-time through De Rosario and Monteiro.
Five minutes into first half of extra time Cardoso squared a pass to Vanderlei De Rosario who failed to beat the keeper.
Amarilson Monteiro should have won the game for Cape Verde in the closing stages of the final when he raced to connect with a rebound but his effort came of the keeper.
Guinea won the shootouts 4-2 after Paulo Horta and Jair Garcia missed their spot kicks.
-Cafonline
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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