International Football
Zambia’s Pirate-Bound Shonga Joins Chipolopolo for Nigerian Challenge
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
When Zambia’s coach, Wedson Nyirenda announced his 20-man squad to face Nigeria in next month’s World Cup qualifier, a major absentee was Justin Shonga, a striker with local club, Nkwazi.
He played major role in the elimination of Algeria in the twin fixtures in early September. Zambians reacted over his conspicuous omission in the list releases last Thursday which is taken as the final squad to face Nigeria in a crucial tie for both sides.
A win by Nigeria guarantees the Super Eagles’ sixth World Cup appearance. But a win by Zambia puts the copper-rich country at par on points with Nigeria, but with possible goal different disadvantage.
It will hope to make up for that setback with a possible wide margin home win against an already eliminated and dispirited Cameroon in the last match day in November.
If Zambia succeeds in its objective, it will be Chipolopolo’s first World Cup outing. Hence, no stone in being left unturned.
Sports Village square gathered that Coach Wedson Nyirenda has clarified that Nkwazi striker Justin Shonga is a full member of the team and will be part of the final squad which will face Nigeria next month.
He stated that Shonga had been left out of the 20-man provisional squad announced on Thursday because he was scheduled to travel to South Africa on Friday for undisclosed business.
But Sports Village Square gathered from other sources that Shonga went to tidy up a transfer to South Africa’s Orlando Pirates.
Shonga has not featured for Nkwazi since returning from national team duty against Algeria early this month and is said to have resumed training with his team mates early this week.
“Justin is member of full team that comes to camp after this camp. He is leaving for South Africa”, said Nyirenda.
Shonga is the second highest scorer in Chipolopolo colours this year having notched in six goals – behind only Brian Mwila who has scored eight – while he has netted five times for his club, Nkwazi in the current Zambian league.
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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