International Football
TODAY IN HISTORY: NIGERIA GO TO TOULOUSE TO LOSE
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
With qualification for the Round of 16 already secured after the Super Eagles two victories over European sides, Spain and Bulgaria at the Group D of the France ’98 World Cup, the third match against South America’s Paraguay became a mere formality.
And so on this date, 24 June in 1998, at the match played in Toulouse, it was more important for Paraguay to win as the Super Eagles only played to fulfill the fixtures. Little wonder, the Super Eagles did not put up much attacking flair as they did in their preceding two games.
After enduring 180 minutes of tedious, goal-less soccer against Bulgaria and Spain, Paraguay needed less than one minute to hit the target against Nigeria.
A 51-second header by Celso Ayala helped Paraguay to a 3-1 victory over Nigeria and paved the way into the second round of the World Cup at the expense of Spain.
Ayala’s header was the fastest World Cup goal since Bryan Robson’s 27-second strike for England against France in Bilbao, Spain, in 1982.
Francisco Arce swung over a free kick from the right and, with the Nigerian defense stationary, Ayala jumped unchallenged to beat goalkeeper Peter Rufai’s attempted punch and head into an unguarded net.
The goal sparked Nigeria’s talented strike force into action and the Super Eagles, fielding only four of their regular starting lineup, equalized in the 11th minute though Wilson Oruma.
In the build-up to the goal, Nwankwo Kanu slipped an elegant pass through to overlapping winger Tijani Babangida who cut inside, and was felled by a Paraguayan defender, but still found the unmarked Wilson Oruma some metres from goal. Oruma, who at the time played for French club Lens, side-footed home.
The Super Eagles appeared fighting to go ahead. In a space of six minutes, the popular Paraguayan goalkeeper, Jose Luis Chiavert was kept busy, forced to make acrobatic saves from a Sunday Oliseh’s shot, a header from Taribo West and another shot from Rashidi Yekini.
Half time scores stood at 1-1. Paraguay went ahead again in the 59th minute. They got the third goal, five minutes to regulation time to edge out pre tournament favourites, Spain and advanced along with Nigeria.
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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