International Football
Cameroon edge Thailand to keep Women’s World Cup dreams alive
Cameroon left it late to end the dreams of Thailand in the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Play-off Tournament semi-final with a 2-0 victory at Hamilton’s Stadium Waikato on Saturday.
The 10-woman Indomitable Lionesses needed a late brace strike from substitute Gabrielle Onguene to see off their Asian rivals, who were also eyeing a third consecutive qualification and set up an inter-continental Group B playoff final date with Portugal.
The Cameroonians made a slow start but managed to cope with the pouring attacks of the Asians thanks to brilliant saves from keeper Ange Bawou in the opening 30 minutes of the match.
The most promising moment for the Central Africans came on the brink of half time when Charlene Meyong hit the crossbar just a few moments after Michaela Abam missed a sitter.
With a barren first half, Gabriel Zabo’s side came back into the encounter on a high with Collette Ndzana creating some scoring chances from the left wing but they could not profit from it.
In the 70th minute, Abam almost won a penalty inside the opponents’ box after her effort was deflected off the hand of a Thai defender but they were denied following a VAR review.
Four minutes later, Zabo brought in captain Onguene, and the CSKA Moscow forward broke the deadlock in the 79th minute with an easy tap-in off a brilliant pass from Ajara Nchout.
The Lionesses’ super-sub went on to dribble her marker before blasting home the second with her left foot into the bottom-right corner three minutes later to increase her side’s advantage.
A late incident in the additional time saw Cameroon goalkeeper Ange Bawou sent off for a poor challenge following a VAR review, with forward Tatiana Ewodo Ekogo putting up brilliant saves to protect the victory after taking over in goal.
-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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