International Football
It’s another Super Eagles’ anniversary
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
While this Monday 28 June brings back the sad memory of Super Eagles’ biggest World Cup flop, a 4-1 defeat by Denmark on this date at France ‘98, the team can also look back at its own anniversary as the Nigerian national football team became 72 years old at the weekend.
It was on 26 June 1949 that the team, then referred to as the ‘International Group’ was first composed when the Selection Committee of the then Nigeria Football Association, (NFA) announced the names of 17 of the 18 players that composed Nigeria’s first national team, which became the famed UK Tourists.
The 18th player, Okoronkwo Kanu whose surname was often anglicized as Kanoo was added five days later (2 July 1949)
Even though his choice was controversial as he was perceived to have passed his prime, he was the most learned of the lot and acted as the team secretary.
The Nigerian first ever national team was selected after the existing three regions – North, West and East as well as the then Lagos and Districts Football Association were asked to present the best players in their regions for inter-regional matches.
On June 26, 1949 the names of the players selected from those matches were announced as the first Nigerian national team composed to go on a goodwill tour of the United Kingdom. That was the beginning of what is now the Super Eagles.
Thirteen of the 18 players were from Lagos clubs. Two, Isaac Akioye and Olisa Chukwurah, were from the West. Two were from the East and one from the North.
Led by Captain Donald H. Holley, the NFA Chairman, the team travelled out of the country on August 16, 1949 and arrived Liverpool on Monday August 29. While on board of the Elder Dempster ship, MV Apapa, the players kept fit by running round the deck four times every morning and evening during the two-week voyage.
The tour by the Nigerian team to the UK was the first by any black or African country. It was later followed by those of Gold Coast (now Ghana) in 1951, Uganda in 1956 and The Caribbean in 1959.
For their matches, the Nigerian team wore olive green jerseys atop white shorts. Symbolically, it is the olive green shirt that current Super Eagles have inadvertently adopted as their second strip.
While in the UK, the Nigerian team played nine matches against British amateur clubs. Those matches are however not regarded as official games. Nigeria’s first Grade A match was played on October 8, 1949 with Sierra Leone while the UK Tourists made a stopover in Freetown in their return voyage.
Brazil will round off their 2025 calendar with two friendly matches in Europe next month, taking on Senegal and Tunisia as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup, the Brazilian FA (CBF) announced on Thursday.
The five-time world champions, managed by Carlo Ancelotti, will face Senegal on November 15 at Emirates Stadium in London and, three days later, they will meet Tunisia in Lille, France.
The CBF announced that these fixtures were designed to “provide the team with valuable experience against African opposition” ahead of next year’s tournament in North America.
After the conclusion of the South American qualifiers, the choice of opponents follows October’s encounters against Asian teams, which saw Brazil beat South Korea 5-0 but suffer a stunning first defeat to Japan.
With coach Ancelotti facing limited preparation time after arriving in May from Real Madrid, the matches form part of a broader plan to expose Brazil to a variety of playing styles in preparation for next year’s the World Cup.
Looking ahead to March 2026, the CBF has indicated that Brazil’s next set of friendlies will likely be against top-level European nations, with the U.S. as the expected venue.
Ancelotti has been steadily implementing his vision for the squad and has emphasised the importance of adapting to diverse tactical challenges, particularly against teams from other continents.
CBF sources indicated that the plan for the three remaining international breaks would be to make final observations regarding players and tactical adjustments in November, lock in the starting line-up in March and strengthen ties with Brazilian fans with a final friendly at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana before departing for the tournament.
The upcoming friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia will provide an opportunity to test Brazil’s readiness against two of Africa’s strongest sides.
Senegal boast a formidable squad featuring Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson and Kalidou Koulibaly. They shocked Brazil 4-2 in their last encounter, a friendly played in Lisbon two years ago.
Tunisia, meanwhile, are known for their defensive organisation and have consistently performed well in African competitions.
Back in September they were the second African team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup with two games to spare.
-Reuters
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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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