International Football
Once upon a time in Egypt, Nigeria mauled Uganda 8-1; Can history repeat itself?
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles face the Hippos of Uganda on Thursday at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismaila, Egypt.
The winner qualifies for the 23rd edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup that will hold in Indonesia.
The setting presents some favourable historical memories for Nigeria. It is at Ismaila that Enyimba first won the CAF Champions League for Nigeria 20 years ago.
This is now where the Flying Eagles will attempt to pick their 13th Under 20 World Cup qualification. For Uganda, it will be their first ever qualification if they beat Nigeria.
At the under 20 level, this will be the first ever encounter of Nigeria and Uganda. Will the city of Ismaila again bring good fortunes to Nigeria?
It was at this city that the Nigeria U-23 team had their biggest win ever when on 23 September 1991, they mauled Uganda 8-1 in the group stage of the football event of the All Africa Games.
They made hays early. From the second minute, the team handled by James Peters, was already a goal up through John Zakari who was commonly known as John Zaki.
The player later scored again against Uganda in the 28th and 80th minute to complete his hattrick.
Also on the scoresheet in the encounter were Patrick Mancha who had a brace just as did Emmanuel Amuneke. Tijani Babangida and Jide Oguntuase scored a goal each.
Thirty two years later, will Nigeria again win and with a big margin too? So far the Flying Eagles have been lethargic in their offensive, scoring three goals in three group matches.
But the Ugandans too have not faired better. They scored four goals in three matches and also conceded three thus having a credit of just a goal.
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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