International Football
Nigeria to feature as stage set for CAF African Schools Football Championship Zonal Qualifiers
The anticipation is high as the West African Football Union (WAFU) B Zone is gearing up to host the upcoming edition of the CAF African Schools Football Championship from Thursday.
The WAFU B Zone kicks off the Zonal Phase of the competition, with the five countries vying for top honors in both the boys and girls U15 categories in the bustling capital of Togo between 24 – 26 November at the Stade Municipal.
The tournament, a brainchild of CAF President, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, promises an exciting showcase of youth football talent and international camaraderie.
This season marks a significant milestone in the championship’s growth, with over 800,000 young African boys and girls from more than 28,000 schools across 44 countries participating.
The competition is structured into three phases: National, Zonal, and Continental – providing a platform for budding footballers to showcase their skills on an international stage.
The five countries participating in the boys and girls Under-15 event includes hosts Togo, Nigeria, Benin, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire in the round-robin format competition.
The top four teams will advance to the semi-finals before the final decides the WAFU B champions who will then represent the Zone at the Continental phase in April next year.
Beyond the competitive aspect on the field, CAF’s commitment to holistic development is evident.
Initiatives like the Young Reporters Programme, Young Referee Programme, Medical Officer Programme, Coaches Programme and the CAF Safeguarding Programme are seamlessly integrated into the championship.
These programs are designed to empower the young participants not only as athletes but also as future leaders, instilling values that extend beyond the football pitch.
The competition forms part of the CAF President’s commitment to developing Africa’s next generation of football talent and future leaders.
After Togo’s hosting this week, upcoming zonal tournaments include UNIFFAC, COSAFA, CECAFA and WAFU A ahead of the 2024 continental climax.
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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