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SUDAN WANTS FRIENDLY MATCH WITH CHAN-BOUND SUPER EAGLES

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National coach of Sudan, Mohammed Abdulla Magzoub, wants a friendly match of his team with that of the home-based Super Eagles.

The coach who is better known by his appellation – “Mazda” called Sports Village Square from his base in Khartoum, Sudan to express his desire to have the friendly match.

He has been a long time friend of Sports Village Square chief, Kunle Solaja as both, along with Osama Atta Elmanan who has been designated  as the match commissioner three of Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying duels,  attended a FIFA/CIES Diploma course in sports management at Cairo University.

Sudan’s Osama Atta Elmanan was match commissioner when Nigeria beat Algeria 3-1 in Uyo last year November and played the same role in Nigeria’s 1-1 away draw with Cameroon in Yaoundé last month.  He is expected to play the same role on Saturday when Nigeria hosts Zambia.

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Mazda, the Sudanese coach led his team to Lagos last year upstage Emmanuel Amuneke’s Flying Eagles in the qualifying race for the African Youth Championship, the spring board to the FIFA under 20 World Cup.

He was the coach whose team also beat the Super Eagles 1-0 away in the race to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations which Nigeria also missed. Mazda’s team, like Nigeria, has qualified for 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) which host nation is yet to be decided.

While Sudan which hosted the 2011 edition is going to CHAN for the second time, 2018 will be Nigeria’s third. Mazda’s Sudan was a direct beneficiary of the last minute goal that the Samson Siasia’s conceded in Abuja against Guinea on October 8, 2011 in the qualification for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, the last to be competed in the previous even year calendar of CAF.

In class at Cairo University, the often quiet  Mazda will break his silence to express gratitude for the ‘gift’  the Super Eagles presented his team the previous year in 2011.

The ‘gift’ in question allowed Sudan’s qualification for Gabon-Equatorial Africa Cup of Nations. One may be wondering, what gift, when and how?

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Well, he spoke about the October 8, 2011 last match day for the qualifying series for the 2012 African Cup of Nations.

Up till the moment that the Super Eagles conceded the last minute goal against Guinea, the Sudanese were out, having lost 0-2 to Ghana at home in the game played simultaneously with that of Nigeria versus Guinea in Abuja.

In fact, the Mazda said he was already rueing what he considered another miss in the competition when the Sudanese FA Treasurer, Osama Atta Elmanan (another course mate who is designated as match commissioner for the Nigeria-Zambia match on Saturday) came 30 minutes after his press conference to inform him of the ‘great gift” from Abuja by the generous Super Eagles!

“So, as at the 89th minute of our match with Ghana, we were out and your Super Eagles were in. But within a minute, there was an ‘exchange’.

“The Super Eagles were out, and we were in. Thanks very much for your generosity”, Mazda joked.

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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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Ahead of Nigeria-Libya match: Some kidnapped journalists regain freedom

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An unspecified number of Nigerian journalists travelling to Uyo for Friday’s Nigeria versus Libya’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match have been rescued.

This is contained in a press release by the Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN) on Thursday. The association commended the Nigerian security forces for their efforts in the rescue operation.
From the press release, it was gathered that the media men were abducted within the  Anambra and Imo states axis.

”SWAN therefore commends the security operatives, particularly the Nigerian Army and Police for their prompt action which ensured that up to six of the held Sports Journalists regained their freedom with efforts to get the remaining person freed”, reads the SWAN statement.

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Klopp becomes Red Bull global soccer chief in first job after Liverpool

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Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - May 19, 2024 Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp reacts as he gives a speech after his last match as Liverpool manager REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo

German coach Juergen Klopp has been appointed head of global soccer for Red Bull, owners of several clubs including RB Leipzig and New York Red Bulls, the company said on Wednesday, in his first job since leaving Liverpool earlier this year.

Klopp, who ended his successful nine-year stint with Liverpool at the end of last season, will be starting on January 1, 2025.

“After almost 25 years on the sideline, I could not be more excited to get involved in a project like this,” Klopp, who also coached Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund, said in a statement.

“The role may have changed but my passion for football and the people who make the game what it is has not.”

The 57-year-old joined Liverpool in October 2015 and won the Champions League, their first English League title since 1990, the Club World Cup, FA Cup, League Cup and Super Cup, as well as the Community Shield during his time in charge.

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Klopp, who also led Dortmund to two Bundesliga titles, a German Cup and a Champions League final in 2013, had announced in January he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.

Klopp will not be involved in the day-to-day operations of the Red Bull-owned clubs in Germany, United States, Brazil and Austria, the company said.

“He will provide strategic vision, supporting individual sporting directors in advancing the Red Bull philosophy,” Red Bull said.

Klopp will also support the organisation’s global scouting operation, and contribute to the training and development of coaches.

“I see my role primarily as a mentor for the coaches and management of the Red Bull clubs but ultimately I am one part of an organisation that is unique, innovative and forward looking. As I said, this could not excite me more,” Klopp said.

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Some German media reported his Red Bull contract included an exit clause for the post of Germany national team coach.

Klopp has long been linked to that job, especially after his successful stint at Liverpool and with Germany struggling to make an impact on the international stage in the past decade.

-Reuters

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Cape Verdean, Delgado Rocha, to take charge of Libya, Nigeria battle in Benina

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Referee Delgado Santos Rocha Lenine of Cape Verde

The Confederation of African Football has appointed Delgado Santos Rocha Lenine, from Cape Verde, as referee for Tuesday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Super Eagles and the Mediterranean Knights of Libya at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benina, close to Benghazi.

He will be assisted by compatriots Djêry Gomes Lopes (assistant referee 1) and Jorge Santos Fonseca Aritson (assistant referee 2), with Hamidou Diero from Burkina Faso as fourth official.

Amir Abdi Hassan from Somalia will be in the role of commissioner, with Malian Dramane Dante as referee assessor and Rachid Medjiba from Algeria as security officer.

Tuesday’s encounter, which is at the back-end of a double header between both nations, will kick off at 9pm Libya time (8pm Nigeria time).  

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