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Sky-Going Bafana Bafana Brought Back to Earth

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Nigeria’s Tormentor-in Chief, Stuart Baxter, who prides himself as the only one to have guided Bafana Bafana to beat the Super Eagles is under fire at home as his team now languishes at the bottom of Group D World Cup qualifying series in Africa.

Under Baxter, South Africa beat Nigeria 2-1 in November 2004 in a Mandela Challenge match at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. Last June, his hurriedly assembled Bafana Bafana shocked under-strength Super Eagles by 2-0 in Uyo, leading to South Africa hailing Baxter as their hero.

A new era, it was declared had started for Bafana Bafana. But the 2-0 win over Nigeria had turned into a mere flash as Bafana Bafana have failed to sustain the momentum.

Cape Verde did the unimaginable as they hauled six vital points from South Africa following a convincing 2-1 win on the road at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban in the return leg of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia qualifier on Tuesday, 5 September.

The Blue Sharks came into the match high on confidence after shocking the South Africans five days ago with the same margin at the Estadio Nacionale in Praia.

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Knowing that anything less than a victory would see them kiss their World Cup dreams goodbye, South Africa went for an all-out attack from the opening whistle.

Hlompho Kekana coming on for former teammate, Bongani Zungu was first to test Josimar Dias with a long-range effort in the seventh minute which went wide. Danilson Da Cruz immediately returned the favour just a minute later with an ambitious strike that hardly troubled Bafana Bafana goalie Wayne Sandilands.

Tokelo Rantie should have grabbed the lead for the hosts as early as the ninth minute after some questionable defending saw the striker pounce on a loose ball but fired wide off the mark with his weaker foot.

The Sharks seemed to have no problem in allowing Bafana to have the ball as most of their play was foiled in the final third with quick transitions from the Islanders.

Ryan Mendes, who caused a lot of problems in Praia for the South Africans was denied by Sandilands who tipped over his ambitious effort from the right.

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Themba Zwane’s creativity in the middle of the park gave Bafana a lot going forward. The skilful winger almost created the opener after doing well to beat his marker and lay a ball for Mamelodi Sundowns teammate, Hlompho Kekana who failed to direct his effort from a good position.

The visitors started like a house on fire in the second half and created the first clear opportunity seconds after the restart. This was the first warning which the home team failed to take note of.

Rantie then came close on the 49th minute but his shot narrowly missed the target.

Cape Verde deservedly took the lead in the 52nd minute after Morgan Gould had conceded a free kick in the danger area and Rodrigues’ stinging shot gave Sandilands no chance.

Rodrigues then completed his brace with another stinging drive on the 66th minute after doing well to cut in from the left and fire a rocket that left Sandilands with no chance.

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Substitute Andile Jali reduced the deficit in the 88th minute but it was a question of too little too late.

Bafana Bafana now languish at the bottom of Group D with 4 points and while they still have a mathematical chance of going to Russia, it will be quite difficult with the next matches against Senegal and Burkina Faso.

 

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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Portugal call up same player named in England Under-18 squad

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Mateus Mane in England's colour

Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Mateus Mane has become hot property after Portugal named the 17-year-old in their Under-18 squad on Friday, one day after England included him in their squad.

Mane was called up for a second successive England youth camp by coach Liam Bramley before the team travel to Marbella for a four-team tournament this month.

Mane is eligible for both teams having played for the Portugal Under-17 side last season. As the Under-18 team is a non-UEFA age group, both nations are entitled to call the player up.

He made his England international debut last month against the Portugal Under-18 side who have named Mane in their squad for a four-nation tournament this month.

With both tournaments running concurrently, Mane can only play for one team and Wolves and England confirmed he would feature in Bramley’s side.

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Reuters has contacted Portugal’s football association for clarification.

While players with multiple nationalities have played for more than one country if they are eligible, they are not allowed to switch allegiances at senior level – unless they have played only in friendly matches for the first country.

-Reuters

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Soon Cisse ceases to be Senegal’s Coach

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After 107 matches spanning nine years, Aliou Cisse will not have his contract renewed as Senegal coach, officials confirmed on Wednesday. Of the 107 matches, Cisse’s team won 70, drew 24 and lost 13.

But the impressive scorecard is not enough to impress his employers.

Thus, the end beckons for Cisse’s successful nine-year spell in charge of the side that included a first Africa Cup of Nations title and two World Cup qualifications.

He had been under increasing pressure after Senegal’s surprise last 16 exit at the 2023 Cup of Nations when they lost on penalties to hosts Cote d’Ivoire.

Senegal are unbeaten in six matches since then, but home draws with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burkina Faso, and criticism from certain quarters over their style of play, made up the mind of the country’s sports ministry, who fund the salary of the national team coach, that a change was needed.

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“The FSF would like to thank Aliou Cisse for his good collaboration and his brilliant results at the head of the various national selections that he has managed since his arrival in 2011 and wish him every success for the future,” the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) said in a statement.

FSF added Cisse’s exit stemmed from a failure to fulfil the targets in his last contract, which expired at the end of August, which included victory at the 2023 Cup of Nations and reaching the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup.

They also said the “regression of our national team in the FIFA rankings and the risk of disaffection between our national team and the Senegalese (public)” had played a role.

The FSF will appoint an interim technical team to lead the side in Cup of Nations qualifiers against Malawi at home on Oct. 11 and away four days later.

Cisse, 48, was captain of Senegal when they reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup with what is heralded as a golden generation of players.

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He briefly had a spell as caretaker coach of the national team in 2012, but took over full time three years later.

He led Senegal to 2018 and 2022 World Cup qualification, making the last 16 in the latter before losing to England. They were beaten in the final of the 2019 Cup of Nations by Algeria.

The side made up for that disappointment when they beat Egypt in the final two years later to be crowned African champions for the first time.

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Why  FIFA banned Samuel Eto’o

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Always in the news for bad reasons, Samuel Eto’o has again made global headlines. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has banned the former striker and the current president of the Cameroon Football Federation.

He is banned from attending Cameroon’s matches for the next six months for violating conduct rules during the recent U-20 Women’s World Cup, where his national team faced Brazil in the round of 16.

According to FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee, Eto’o was found to have breached articles 13 (“Offensive behaviour and violations of fair play principles”) and 14 (“Misconduct of players and officials”) of FIFA’s Disciplinary Code.

The sanction stems specifically from the match between Brazil and Cameroon, held on September 11 in Bogotá, Colombia. As a result, Eto’o will be prohibited from attending any matches involving Cameroon’s national teams, both male and femaleacross all age groups.

“Mr Eto’o has been notified today, the date on which the sanction comes into force,” stated the FIFA press release.

This is not the first time Eto’o has faced controversy. He previously drew attention for his behavior towards players and national team coach Marc Brys, whom he allegedly threatened in front of cameras if his directives were not followed.

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During the Qatar World Cup, the former Real Madrid, Mallorca, and Barcelona player made headlines again after assaulting a fan who filmed him outside a stadium after a match.

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