International Football
2017 CAF AWARD: AMUNEKE, IKPEBA, UDEZE FANCY MOSES’ CHANCES
BY BOLAJI OKUNOLA.
Three former Super Eagles’ stars; two of them African Footballers of the Year award winners are optimistic that Victor Moses will win the award for 2017.
Moses and teammate in the Super Eagles, William Troost-Ekong are among the initial shortlist of 30 who are in contention for the award slated for next year in Accra, Ghana.
In accordance with tradition, the list will in the coming weeks be prune to 10 before a final shortlist of three will emerge.
Even ahead the process of eliminating some contenders, Emmanuel Amuneke and Victor Ikpeba, award winners for 1994 and 1998 respectively are optimistic that Nigeria’s Victor Moses will scale all hurdles.
Less is said about Ekong, probably because he is a defender and players from that department hardly win the award.
Emmanuel Amuneke whose sterling performance at the Africa Cup of Nations final and the USA’ 94 splendid performance easily earned him the 1994 award told Sports Village square he was not surprised seeing Moses being shortlisted.
“Moses is a very good player every coach will want to have. He has proven himself several times. Seeing him being shortlisted for the award is not a surprise and I hope he joins the league of the winners.”
The 1997 award winner, Victor Ikpeba also shares the same view. “Moses’ ability as an excellent player easily distinct him among his peers”, remarked Ikpeba.
“He has played vital roles for both club and countries. He was a key member of Chelsea winning the English Premiership and getting the club to The FA Cup final as well as propelling Nigeria to almost effortlessly clinch a World Cup ticket from what was initially seen as ‘Group of Death”.
Similarly, former Super Eagles defender, Ifeanyi Udenze said in Sports Radio Brila FM that Moses have the qualities that should earn him the continental award which no Nigeria had won since 1999 when Nwankwo Kanu won.
Responding to a question from Sports Village Square, he remarked that Victor Moses’ chances are huge. “He scores goals and provided assists for Chelsea in the Premiership as well as the Super Eagles in the qualifying duels for the World Cup.
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
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
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
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
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.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
- World Cup1 week ago
BREAKING: At last FIFA’s Axe falls on South Africa!
- World Cup1 week ago
South Africa to Appeal FIFA Ruling Over Mokoena Eligibility Case
- Nigerian Football1 week ago
Super Eagles Set for Double Friendly Showdown with Venezuela and Colombia in USA
- World Cup1 week ago
Sport Minister Orders Probe into SAFA over Bafana’s Costly Points Deduction
- World Cup6 days ago
FIFA Sanction on South Africa Offers Super Eagles a Lifeline — But a Lesson from History Looms
- CAF Confederation Cup1 week ago
Asante Kotoko End Kwara United’s Confederation Cup Campaign in Abeokuta
- U-20 FOOTBALL1 week ago
Two penalty appeal lost as Flying Eagles stumble at first hurdle
- World Cup4 days ago
Super Eagles Walk Tightrope as Nine Key Players Risk Suspension in World Cup Qualifiers