International Football
NIGERIA, ZAMBIA IN FINAL SHOWDOWN
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
When the Super Eagles take on Zambia in Uyo on Saturday, it will be the second time ever both sides are meeting in a World Cup qualifier even though the make-or-mar encounter will be their 19th confrontation.
The duel is the reciprocal of last year’s first ever clash of both teams in a World Cup qualifying match. Unlike the previous one which anniversary will be two days after the Uyo clash, this match carries greater weight as it may mark the end of the World Cup struggles in the Group B of African qualifying series.
A possible win by Nigeria sees the Super Eagles picking a World Cup ticket, even with a match to spare. The last time that happened was in the qualifiers for the France ’98.
For Zambia, hoping for a first ever World Cup appearance, it will be the end of yet another struggle. But a win still keep them in struggle, even if it means tying in points with Nigeria, leaving goal difference as possible decider as both would head to their last games against already eliminated pre-series powerhouses of Cameroon and Algeria.
In that scenario, advantage sways more to Zambia’s favour having to play the last match at home against Cameroon which may not invest much in the encounter by inviting their legion of foreign stars.
Nigeria will then be away to Algeria, which has most of its national team players featuring in the domestic league and would therefore be available for a face-saving duel with Nigeria which will be banking on picking the World ticket in Algeria as it happened in 1993.
Another likely outcome in Saturday’s match is a draw which pushes both teams struggling till the last match day.
Should that be the case, Zambia will require a defeat of at least five goals against Cameroon next month and hope Nigeria drops all points in the match with Algeria. A draw will be sufficient for Nigeria in that scenario.
Zambia had always found Nigeria a hard nut to crack even though honours have almost been equally shared in encounters of both sides. In the 18 previous clashes Nigeria won seven while Zambia won five.
Zambia’s most famous win against Nigeria was the 5-1 recorded 44 years ago in a 1974 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in Lusaka. That was barely nine months after Nigeria had picked the gold medal of the football event of the 2nd All Africa Games in Lagos.
Surprisingly, it was Nigeria that opened scoring in the encounter after five minutes. By half time, Nigeria had already conceded four goals. That remained Zambia’s only memorable win over Nigeria. They will need an encore of this to push the Super Eagles to the second position on the ladder, given the high goal difference advantage that Nigeria currently enjoys.
Sports Village Square recalls that Chipolopolo last beat Nigeria in a competitive game 32 years ago when a last minute goal in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier denied the Super Eagles an appearance at the 1986 finals edition.
The first leg in Lagos ended goalless and the return leg on August 18, 1985 appeared destined for the same score line and the tie would be broken by penalty kick. Then the unexpected happened.
Zambia’s swift right winger, Lucky Nsiska, living up to his first name, collected the ball few metres from Nigeria’s half of the field.
He beat a Nigerian defender and sent another the wrong way with body swerve before setting a pass for a dashing Jack Chanda who put all strength in his right foot to fire a terrific shot past Goalkeeper Peter Rufai, almost on the dot of 90th minute.
Since that memorable loss, Nigeria have always had the edge over Zambia in subsequent encounters especially the 2-0 win in the 1990 Africa Cup semi final duel and the 2-1 recorded when Nigeria won the Africa Cup of Nations for the second time in 1994.
NIGERIA VERSUS ZAMBIA: TALE OF THE TAPE
P W D L F A
Nigeria 18 7 7 5 18 21
Zambia 18 5 7 7 21 18
15 July 1973: Zambia 5 -1 Nigeria: 1974 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
29 Jul. 1973: Nigeria 3-2 Zambia: 1974 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
14 Feb. 1976: Zambia 1-3 Nigeria Friendly match
10 Mar. 1978: Zambia 0-0 Nigeria: 1978 Africa Cup of Nations.
25 Jul. 1981: Zambia 3-0 Nigeria: Friendly Match
13 Mar. 1982: Zambia 3-0 Nigeria: 1982 Africa Cup of Nations.
10 Aug. 1985: Nigeria 0-0 Zambia: 1986 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
18 Aug.1985: Zambia 1-0 Nigeria: 1986 Africa Cup of Nations.
12 Mar. 1990: Zambia 0-2 Nigeria: 1990 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final.
10 April 1994: Zambia 1-2 Nigeria: 1994 Africa Cup of Nations final match.
15 Dec. 1997: Zambia 2-0 Nigeria: Friendly
18 Dec. 1997: Zambia 0-0 Nigeria: Friendly
13 Jan. 2001: Nigeria 1-0 Zambia: 2002 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
24 Mar.2001: Zambia 1-1 Nigeria: 2002 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
6 Jan.2010: Zambia 0-0 Nigeria: Friendly
25 Jan.2010: Zambia 0-0 Nigeria *(3-4 penalties): 2010 Africa Cup of Nations Quarter finals.
14 Nov 2011: Nigeria 2-0 Zambia: Friendly match.
25 Jan. 2013: Zambia 1-1 Nigeria: 2013 Africa Cup of Nations
9 Oct. 2016: Zambia 1-2 Nigeria: 2018 World Cup qualifier
Two Moroccan players from top-flight soccer side Ittihad Tanger have been missing at sea since Saturday after strong currents drifted their small yacht, a club official said on Sunday.
They were in a group of five players from the club who went cruising off the northern city of Tangier when strong currents and heavy winds drifted their yacht away as they were swimming in deep waters, club deputy president Anass Mrabet told Reuters.
“Three players have already been rescued on Saturday, while research is still ongoing for the missing Salman Harraq and Abdellatif Akhrif,” he said.
The players did not have buoys on them when they jumped from the small yacht to swim, he said citing recounts by rescued players.
While Akhrif, 24, is already a full member of the squad, Harraq, 18, was about to move up to the senior team this year, Mrabet added.
Ittihad Tanger have been in the Moroccan top flight since 2015 and won the league title for the first and only time in their history in the 2017-18 season. However, they have struggled in the lower half of the standings in recent years.
-Reuters
FIFA will host its first ever FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager this year to crown the best virtual manager on the highly-popular video game, world soccer’s governing body said on Thursday.
FIFA is partnering with Sports Interactive, the developers of the game that has sold millions of copies and has also been used by several football clubs to scout players and opponents thanks to its extensive database.
Players will compete for $100,000 in prize money in the final event from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.
“This competition requires participants to demonstrate a profound understanding of football strategy and tactics,” said former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is the ambassador for the esports event.
“Success demands not only mastery of game mechanics but also in-depth football knowledge, making this format a fascinating blend.”
FIFA said in the inaugural year of the event, selected member associations will be invited to be represented at the final event.
Member associations from all six confederations are expected to be invited while players can sign up on FIFA’s website.
-Reuters
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint at his home in northern Italy while watching his country’s match against Spain in the Euro 2024 tournament on Thursday, local police said.
Burglars broke into Baggio’s house near Vicenza, hit him on the head with a gun butt and locked him and his family in a room while they stole jewellery, watches and cash, daily Il Corriere della Sera reported. It said he suffered a deep wound.
“Luckily, the violence I suffered only resulted in a few stitches, bruises and a lot of fear. Now it is to overcome the fear,” Baggio was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.
Baggio, 57, played for clubs including Juventus (JUVE.MI), opens new tab, AC Milan and Inter Milan. He also played 56 times for Italy, scoring 27 goals, and is widely seen as one of his country’s all-time greats.
After the robbery, Baggio, widely known as the “divine ponytail”, was treated at a local hospital where he received stitches for the head wound, Italian media reported.
Italy lost to Spain 1-0 on Thursday and now must avoid defeat by Croatia to guarantee progression in the tournament.
-Reuters
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