International Football
CHAN 2018: To Be or Not To Be for Nigeria?
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Is the old order changing? Will Nigeria miss out from another CAF competition for national teams? Will Nigeria pick a qualification ticket in Kano for the very first time?
These are the three crucial questions begging for answers as the Nigerian home-based national team squares up this Saturday, with counterparts from the neighbouring Republic of Benin.
It is the quest for qualification for the African Nations Championships which finals are holding next January in Kenya. Ahead of the second leg duel in the soccer crazy and densely populated ancient city of Kano, Benin Republic comes with a goal advantage, prompting the poser: Is the old order changing?
Last Sunday’s late and surprised 1-0 defeat of Nigeria was the first time ever in 21 clashes that spanned across 58 years that the Nigerian western neighbours won a match against a Nigerian national team.
Before then, it could have been normal that pre-match thoughts would have been on margin of victory rather than a contemplation of draw, let alone a loss.
In fact, Benin Republic over the last decade or so had to build its national teams around Nigerians who defected. Such was the situation that cerebral Nigerian journalist, Ojeikere Aikhoje once wrote an article titled: “The other ‘Super Eagles’ in Benin Republic”.
He enunciated from goalkeeper to several outfield players and concluded that one day, the national team of Benin, the Squirrels, will one day field a complete ‘Republic of Benin Super Eagles’ against Nigeria’s Super Eagles as there were a dozen of Nigerian-born players who have been drafted into the Benin team.
Sports Village Square recalls the last competitive clash of Nigeria and Benin Republic at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Benguela, Angola. Nigeria struggled to get a 1-0 win over Nigerians-powered Benin Republic which had players like Mouri Ogoubiyi (real name: Muri Ogunbiyi), Razack Omotoyossi (Razak Omotoyosi) among others.
So tough was the encounter that Nigeria was saved by a 42nd minute penalty kick converted by Yakubu Aiyegbeni. Before then, virtually every encounter with Benin ended with unmitigated defeat of the Nigerian western neighbours.
Typical results included the 10-1 humiliation in an Nkrumah Cup encounter on November 29, 1959. Recall another 7-0 defeat of February 14, 1977 when Adokiye Amesimaka, as a Law undergraduate at the University of Lagos made his debut international appearance.
The 7-0 defeat was also repeated on the same date the following year with Amesimaka scoring a brace and defender, Godwin Odiye scoring his only goal for Nigeria to atone for an own-goal he scored barely three months earlier.
Even the Nigerian second string national team had also made a mince-meat of Benin when on August 10, 2005 the Benin national team was beaten 6-0 at the Abuja National Stadium.
But is the old order changing? This explains why the Salisu Yusuf boys more look beyond just a two-goal margin win over Benin. Sports Village Square also recalls that another neighbor, Niger Republic eliminated Nigeria in the quest for the 2011 edition.
Nigeria, beware of your neighbours! Recall that the elimination of Nigeria by Niger was completed in Kano on March 27, 2010. Will another dream be buried in Kano this weekend? The home-based Super Eagles must work hard to eliminate Benin and remove any jinx that any adverse result will bring to the football-loving city of Kano.
It was in that city that the dream for the 2006 World Cup literarily died following a 1-1 draw that gave Angola the edge. Niger Republic also held the home-based Super Eagles to a goalless draw in that city seven years ago after having won the first leg 2-0 at home.
Arise, Ikechuwu Ezenwa and others, Nigeria’s call obey!
Nigeria Previous 21 Encounters with Benin Republic
P W D L F A
Nigeria 21 15 5 1 61 9
Benin Rep. 21 1 5 15 9 61
• 8 Nov.1959 (Nkrumah Cup) Benin 0-1 Nigeria
• 29Nov.1959(Nkrumah Cup)Nigeria 10-1 Benin
• 25Jan.1963 (Nkrumah Cup) Benin1-1 Nigeria
• 2 Feb.1963 (Nkrumah Cup) Nigeria 4-1 Benin
• 2 Jan.1965 (AAGq) Nigeria 1-1 Benin *Abandoned
• 11 December. 1965 (F) Nigeria 1-0 Benin
• 27 Feb. 1966 (F) Benin) 1 -2 Nigeria
• 20 Dec. 1972 (F) Nigeria 3- 0 Benin
• 14 Feb. 1977 (F) Nigeria 7- 0 Benin
• 14 Jan.1978 (3 AAGq) Nigeria 7-0 Benin
• 17 Jan.1978 (3AAGq) Nigeria 2-0 Benin
• 14 Oct. 1979 (F) Benin 1-1 Nigeria
• 4 Nov. 1979 (F) Nigeria 5-0 Benin
• 1 Feb. 1987 (SCSA) Benin 1-1 Nigeria
• 30 Sept. 1990 (ACNq) Benin 0-1 Nigeria
• 27 April 1991 (ACNq) Nigeria 3-0 Benin
• 2 Feb 2004 (ACN) Benin 1-2 Nigeria
• 10 Aug, 2005 (F) Nigeria 6-0 Benin
• 28 Jan.2008 (ACN) Benin 0-2 Nigeria
• 16 Jan. 2010 (ACN) Benin 0-1 Nigeria
• 13 Aug. 2017 (Chanq) Benin 1-0 Nigeria
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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