Connect with us

International Football

Bayelsa Queens win WAFU B zonal qualifiers and clinch CAF Women’s Champions League ticket

blank

Published

on

blank
Bayelsa Queens

Bayelsa Queens of Nigeria clinched the WAFU B title of the zonal qualifiers for CAF Women’s Champions League after defeating Ghana’s Ampem Darkoa Ladies 3-0 in the final on Saturday.

The Nigerian league champion won the trophy thanks to three first-half goals at the Yamoussoukro Stadium in Cote d’Ivoire to secure the rights to represent Wafu B at the top-flight women’s continental club competition to be played later this year

Goals by Miracle Joseph, Flourish Sabatine Choma and Chinyere Igbomalu before the break sealed the emphatic victory and secure their place at the tournament in Morocco.

 Bayelsa Queens took charge of the midfield at the start of the game allowing them to penetrate the Ghanaian half easily which resulted in the first goal with Joseph scoring from a penalty kick after her team-mate was brought down in the box.

They extended their lead nine minutes through Choma, a standout player in the tournament, who had no trouble in easily beating the Ghanaian goalkeeper Safiatu Salifu from close range with a beautiful solo effort.

The Nigerians continued their dominance and four minutes before the break Igbomalu easily tapped in to give Bayelsa the commanding 3-0 advantage at half-time.

Advertisement

Ampem Darkoa Ladies coach Nana Joe Adarkwa tweaked his tactics after the recess which gave the Ghanaian hope of a revival.

The Ghanaians were much more organized after the break as they took control of the game by becoming more aggressive and very fast but could not find the opening in the Nigerian defence who became more resolute.

Ampem Darkoa Ladies had lot of chances to win the match but Bayelsa defence worked overtime to ensure that the Ghanaians were kept at bay until the end of the match.

Bayelsa Queens were thus crowned champion of Wafu B who succeeded Ghanaian side Hasaacas Ladies who won the title last year by defeating Rivers Angels of Nigeria 3 -1 in the final of the zonal competition.

The Nigerian side will be seeking to improve on the performance of their predecessors Hasaacas Ladies who reached the final of the previous edition of CAF Women’s Champions League but lost 2-0 in final against Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.

Advertisement

Meanwhile Africa Sports of Cote d’Ivoire clinched third place after defeating Espoir on Benin 4-0 in the third place playoff match on Saturday.

-cafonline

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

International Football

Guinea names Portugal’s Duarte as new national coach

blank

Published

on

blank
African Cup of Nations - Semi Finals - Burkina Faso v Egypt- Stade de l'Amitie - Libreville, Gabon - 1/2/17 Burkina Faso coach Paulo Jorge Duarte Reuters / Amr Abdallah Dalsh Livepic/File Photo

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.

Advertisement

-Reuters

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Continue Reading

International Football

Veteran coach Van Gaal says he is cured of cancer

blank

Published

on

blank

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.

Advertisement

He now serves as a special advisor to Ajax.

-Reuters

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Continue Reading

International Football

Like father like son, Davide Ancelotti becomes Brazil’s Botafogo manager

blank

Published

on

blank
Davide Ancelotti, son of Brazil's Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, has been appointed coach of Botafogo, the Rio de Janeiro club announced on Tuesday.

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.

Advertisement

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.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Most Viewed