International Football
Nigeria’s National Grammar School in Enugu gets CAF’s 800 match balls through NFF
National Grammar School, Nike, Enugu State of Nigeria is one of the 44 schools featuring in the second edition of the CAF African Schools Football Championship (ASFC) that will benefit from 800 match balls from CAF President, Dr, Patrice Motsepe.
With the competition in full swing, Member Associations participating have already reaped the rewards of being a part of this season’s competition.
An innovative brainchild of CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe – which is a first in world football, the CAF African Schools Football Championship not only affords school-going learners an opportunity to partake in international football, but brings about unique initiatives geared at nurturing future African leaders.
As part of its innovative approach to youth football development and affording access, CAF distributed 800 PUMA match balls to all 44 participating Member Associations across the CAF Zones.
The distribution of match balls took place ahead of the start of this week’s CAF African Schools Football Championship Zonal Qualifiers which are currently underway in Togo.
With each Member Association having received 800 Match Balls ahead of the tournament, the ASFC strategically feeds into the CAF President, Dr Motsepe’s bold vision of growing African football to be globally competitive and self-sustaining.
Commenting on the initiative, CAF Member Association’s Director Sarah Mukuna said distributing match balls to the Member Associations forms part of the tournament’s objective of providing access and giving support to all CAF Member Associations.
“The distribution of match balls forms a key component of the African Schools Football Championship, as it aids support to our Member Associations’ various youth development programmes. We take pleasure in always finding unique ways of collaborating with our Member Associations and Zones in developing the African game”, said Mukuna.
The CAF African Schools Football Championship is currently in its Zonal Qualifiers where teams are competing for a place in next year’s Continental finals set to take place in April 2024.
Running concurrently to the Zonal Qualifiers are the various capacity building programmes by CAF, which include the Young Reporters Programme, Young Referee Programme, Medical Officer Programme, Coaches Programme as well as the CAF Safeguarding Programme, which are all seamlessly integrated into the Championships.
International Football
Two Moroccan football players lost at sea, says club official
![](https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Abdellatif-Akhrif.png)
Two Moroccan players from top-flight soccer side Ittihad Tanger have been missing at sea since Saturday after strong currents drifted their small yacht, a club official said on Sunday.
They were in a group of five players from the club who went cruising off the northern city of Tangier when strong currents and heavy winds drifted their yacht away as they were swimming in deep waters, club deputy president Anass Mrabet told Reuters.
“Three players have already been rescued on Saturday, while research is still ongoing for the missing Salman Harraq and Abdellatif Akhrif,” he said.
The players did not have buoys on them when they jumped from the small yacht to swim, he said citing recounts by rescued players.
While Akhrif, 24, is already a full member of the squad, Harraq, 18, was about to move up to the senior team this year, Mrabet added.
Ittihad Tanger have been in the Moroccan top flight since 2015 and won the league title for the first and only time in their history in the 2017-18 season. However, they have struggled in the lower half of the standings in recent years.
-Reuters
International Football
FIFA launches ‘Football Manager’ World Cup with $100,000 in prize money
![](https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/arsene-wenger.jpg)
FIFA will host its first ever FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager this year to crown the best virtual manager on the highly-popular video game, world soccer’s governing body said on Thursday.
FIFA is partnering with Sports Interactive, the developers of the game that has sold millions of copies and has also been used by several football clubs to scout players and opponents thanks to its extensive database.
Players will compete for $100,000 in prize money in the final event from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.
“This competition requires participants to demonstrate a profound understanding of football strategy and tactics,” said former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is the ambassador for the esports event.
“Success demands not only mastery of game mechanics but also in-depth football knowledge, making this format a fascinating blend.”
FIFA said in the inaugural year of the event, selected member associations will be invited to be represented at the final event.
Member associations from all six confederations are expected to be invited while players can sign up on FIFA’s website.
-Reuters
International Football
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio robbed at gunpoint
![](https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/baggio.jpg)
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint at his home in northern Italy while watching his country’s match against Spain in the Euro 2024 tournament on Thursday, local police said.
Burglars broke into Baggio’s house near Vicenza, hit him on the head with a gun butt and locked him and his family in a room while they stole jewellery, watches and cash, daily Il Corriere della Sera reported. It said he suffered a deep wound.
“Luckily, the violence I suffered only resulted in a few stitches, bruises and a lot of fear. Now it is to overcome the fear,” Baggio was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.
Baggio, 57, played for clubs including Juventus (JUVE.MI), opens new tab, AC Milan and Inter Milan. He also played 56 times for Italy, scoring 27 goals, and is widely seen as one of his country’s all-time greats.
After the robbery, Baggio, widely known as the “divine ponytail”, was treated at a local hospital where he received stitches for the head wound, Italian media reported.
Italy lost to Spain 1-0 on Thursday and now must avoid defeat by Croatia to guarantee progression in the tournament.
-Reuters
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