International Football
48 Hours to Picking Russia ‘18 Ticket; It’s Fight to Finish Says Mikel
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, Yaoundé.
Like it happened 20 years ago when the Super Eagles became the first qualifiers for France 1998 World Cup, Nigeria could again become the first African team to earn a slot in Russia 2018 by Tuesday if the Super Eagles defeat the Cameroon on Monday in Yaoundé and Algeria beat Zambia at the Stade Mustapha Tchaker in Blida on Tuesday.
That will earn Nigeria an unassailable 12 points in the group hitherto tagged “Group of Death”. That first pushed Cameroon out of contention. Then the maximum points obtainable by either Zambia or Algeria will be 10.
The Super Eagles who landed in Yaoundé and surprisingly to cheers from Cameroonians are aware of their date with destiny.
Skipper Mikel John Obi was in high spirit as the Super Eagles arrived Yaoundé on Sunday afternoon for Monday’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.
“We are just very keen to finish what we started. We started a job in Uyo and it is time to finish it. If we can pick the World Cup ticket by Monday, why wait any longer?
“We are all very confident, because we know our ability and what we are ready to bring to the party.”
Apart from the 4-1 and 4-0 defeat that Shooting Stars inflicted on a Roger Milla inspired Tonnerre Kalara in 1976 and 1984 respectively and also the 4-1 defeat Enugu Rangers handed Cano Sportive Yaoundé in 1977, Friday’s massive 4-0 defeat of Cameroon is the biggest win Nigeria achieved over Cameroon in 21 matches spread over 57 years.
The Nigerian side is aware that the Cameroonians will want to fight back like wounded Lions that they are. Hugo Broos, the Cameroon’s Belgian coach told a press conference on Monday that his side will fight to regain its pride, even if World Cup 2018 looks like a mirage.
“The African champions cannot be disgraced like that”, he was quoted by a local English radio station to have said.
Mikel and his fellow Lion-eating Eagles are aware of the situation. “We are as hungry as, perhaps even hungrier than they are. It will be a tough affair but we will give our very best to take the three points.”
The side had tactical training session Sunday evening at the Stade Omnisport Ahmadou Ahidjo.
Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr has 23 very fit players to select from, with goalkeepers Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Dele Ajiboye and Dele Alampasu, defenders Uche Agbo, Abdullahi Shehu, Elderson Echiejile, Ola Aina, Leon Balogun, William Ekong, Tyronne Ebuehi and Chidozie Awaziem, midfielders Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, John Ogu, Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo and Mikel Agu, and forwards Ahmed Musa, Victor Moses, Odion Ighalo, Moses Simon, Anthony Nwakaeme and Kelechi Iheanacho making the trip.
At the Hilton Hotel on Sunday to receive the Nigerian team was Cameroon’s Minister of Sport, Bidoung Mpaktt, who chatted briefly with NFF President Amaju Pinnick.
FIFA has appointed respected Senegalese official Bakary Papa Gassama as the referee for Monday’s encounter, to be assisted by Jean Claude Birumushahu from Burundi (Assistant 1), Marwa Aden Range from Kenya (Assistant 2) and Maudo Jallow from Gambia (Reserve Referee). Osama Ataa Elmanan Hassan from Sudan will be match commissioner at the game kicking off 6pm.
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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