International Football
Banyana thump Black Queens as Aisha Buhari Cup showpiece reaches halfway stage
The 2018 African Woman Player of the Year Thembi Kgatlana was the star of the evening as South Africa steamrolled Ghana 3-0 on Day 3 of the six-day Aisha Buhari Invitational Women’s Tournament in Lagos.
In an entertaining encounter at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena firmly dominated by the reigning African vice champions, Kgatlana was too much to handle for the Black Queens’ rear-guard led by Captain Portia Boakye, and she eventually accounted for one goal and one assist as the Queens were diminished.
The shape of things to come was clear as early as the seventh minute, when Ellen Coleman had to stretch full length to clear the ball from the line as the Banyana launched onslaught after onslaught, the pacy Kgatlana creating most of the trouble. The lithe forward, who plays her club football for Atletico Madrid of Spain, was in good enough position to gift the Banyana the lead after 12 minutes, but that was foiled by goalkeeper Dumehasi Fafali.
A minute later, Banyana’s calm-and collected captain Janine Van Wyk conjured a tricky floater from 30 yards that went away, and at the other end, Princella Adubea sliced her effort just wide as goalkeeper Kaylin Swart watched closely.
In the 17th minute, the nifty Kgatlana screened out her marker on the left but the ball hit the goalkeeper and rebounded off her body to kiss the crossbar. A grateful Hildah Magaia nodded the return into an empty net.
The entertainment flowed freely as Kgatlana showboated in beating three defenders, Van Wyk cleared from the line as Ghana launched a rare offensive and Fafali had to be super-alert to save twice from a dangerous Kgatlana. At the other end, Swart was called to action thrice within seconds as Grace Adams, Nina Norshie and Adubea threatened from close range but failed to get the ball into the net.
In the second half, the Banyana, efficient and diligent at the rear and menacing going forward, added another goal as the irrepressible Kgatlana outpaced two defenders and easily rolled the ball past Fafali on a counter-attack.
For some periods of the game, it looked gritty, but even then, most of the bone-cracking took place in the Ghanaian half as the slick South Africans showed technical superiority that prevailed over steam and resilience.
Seven minutes from time, it got worse for two-time African vice champions Ghana, Sibulele Holweni rising highest in the box to nod home a corner kick by substitute Robyn Moodaly.
Victory meant the Banyana are now the team at the top in the tournament, one goal better than African champions Nigeria who defeated Mali 2-0 on the opening day. A total of six goals have been scored in the tournament, with Nigeria’s Gift Monday the leading markswoman with two goals.
Saturday is rest day for all the teams, before Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses and the Femelle Aiglons of Mali tango on Sunday evening.
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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