International Football
JAY JAY OKOCHA’S NEPHEW, IWOBI TAKES NIGERIA TO RUSSIA 2018
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Nigeria on Saturday became the first African team to qualify for the Russia 2018 World Cup after an energy sapping 1-0 defeat of brave Zambian side that put up stiff resistance.
Before a capacity crowd at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, millions of Nigerian football followers have Alexander Iwobi, the 21 year old nephew of Austin Jay Jay Okocha to thank.
He came off the bench midway the second half and instantly made impact as blasted home the clincher in the 73rd minute after an interchange of passes from Victor Moses and Abdullahi Shehu.
Incidentally, he scored the opening goal in the 2-1 win that the Super Eagles had recorded a year ago against Zambia in Ndola. Game appeared going even with both sides until Iwobi came in to replace Simon Moses.
Before then, the Super Eagles had been put on edge as chances after chances were being lost owing to anxiety and the tension created by the high stakes. The fluidity that had characterised previous encounters with Algeria and Cameroon were glaringly absent as the Zambians punctuated virtually every tricky interchange of passes.
Point man, Odion Igalo did not really get the spaces he deserved to optimise his game as he was often crowded by the rampaging Zambians.
The adventurous postures of the Zambians also added to the frustration that enveloped the arena. Coach Gernot Rohr had begun with the same line-up against Cameroon.
Nigeria scales through having attained an unassailable 13 points even with a match to go with bottom stuck Algeria which has lost every match apart from the opening day duel with Cameroon which ended 1-1.
The Super Eagles are six clear points ahead of second placed Zambia while Cameroon which also beat Algeria 2-0 occupies the third position on six points, just one behind Zambia’s.
Nigeria’s next match will be next month against Algeria in North Africa – a match which is just to fulfil the fixtures. Zambia will be hosting Cameroon in an inconsequential encounter in Lusaka.
In qualifying on Saturday, Nigeria became the first African side to do so.
The African Group B from where Nigeria qualified was seen by many as the toughest group.
But Nigeria was dominant, remaining unbeaten throughout and only dropping points thanks to a Cameroonian penalty on the road in Yaoundé.
The 4-0 win a few days earlier against the reigning African champions was a particular highlight. In beating Zambia on Saturday, Nigeria have extended their unbeaten streak in the World Cup to 34 matches.
International Football
Portugal call up same player named in England Under-18 squad
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.
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
International Football
Soon Cisse ceases to be Senegal’s Coach
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.
“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.
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.
International Football
Why FIFA banned Samuel Eto’o
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 female, across 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.
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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