International Football
ROHR, OSHOALA MAKE CAF AWARDS SHORT LIST
BY FOLAKE OKEGBENLE.
The number of Nigerians jostling to be honoured at the CAF/Aiteo Award in Accra on January 4 next year has increased by two in individual categories and another two in teams’ category as CAF on Monday released the nominees for the other categories. Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala and Super Eagles’ manager are among the latest hoping to win individual awards while the Super Eagles and Falconets are jostling for teams’ awards.
Super Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr has been nominated along with four others for the award for the Coach of the Year. Contesting the award with him are Hector Cuper of Egypt, Hugo Broos of Cameroon, L’Hussein Amoutta of Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco and Mihayo Kazembe of DR Congo’s TP Mazembe.
This is a loaded category as virtually all the nominees are eminently qualified. Nigeria’s Rohr had a smooth sail with his Super Eagles in what was perceived as Group of Death in the FIFA World Cup qualifying series, becoming the first team to pick a ticket even with a match to spare and never lost a match in the heavily loaded group.
Cameroon’s coach, Hugo Broos came into reckoning for leading the team to win the Africa Cup of Nations earlier in the year while L’Hussein Amoutta of WAC of Morocco led his team to win the CAF Champions League just as Mihayo Kazembe of TP Mazembe did at the weekend, winning the CAF Confederation Cup.
Asisat Osoala of the Super Falcons looks head above all the other four contenders for the Women’s Player of the year.
Contesting with the Nigeria and Dalian Quanjian top scorer are: Chrestina Kgatlana of South Africa and UWC Ladies, Gabrielle Aboudi Onguene of Cameroon and Rossyanka, Rutendo Makore of Zimbabwe and Black Rhinos as well as Tabitha Chawinga of Malawi and Kvarnsvedens.
Similarly, the Super Falconets, the U-20 women’s team Nigeria is nominated for the Women’s National Team of the Year. Contesting for the award with the Nigerian team are: Ghana U-20, Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
World Cup-bound Super eagles are shortlisted for the National Team of the Year Award. Also nominated are: Cameroon, Egypt, Mali U-17 and Zimbabwe U-20.
The winners will be decided by votes from the members of the CAF Technical & Development Committee, CAF Media Experts Panel and Independent Media and TV Consultants.
But for the Referee of the Year Award, only members of the CAF Referees’ Committee will elect the winner.
THE FULL LIST OF THE LATEST NOMINEES:
Women’s Player of the Year
Asisat Shoal (Nigeria & Dalian Quanjian)
Chrestina Kgatlana (South Africa & UWC Ladies)
Gabrielle Aboudi Onguene(Cameroon & Rossyanka)
Rutendo Makore (Zimbabwe & Black Rhinos)
Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi & Kvarnsvedens)
Women’s National Team of the Year
Ghana U-20
Kenya
Nigeria U-20
South Africa
Zimbabwe
Coach of the Year
Gernot Rohr (Nigeria)
Hector Cuper (Egypt)
Hugo Broos (Cameroon)
L’Hussein Amoutta (Wydad Athletic Club)
Mihayo Kazembe (TP Mazembe)
National Team of the Year
Cameroon
Egypt
Mali U-17
Nigeria
Zambia U-20
Club of the Year
Al Ahly
Mbabane Swallows
SuperSport United
TP Mazembe
Wydad Athletic Club
Youth Player of the Year
Eric Ayiah (Ghana & Charity Stars)
Krepin Diatta (Senegal &Sarpsborg)
Luther Singh (South Africa & Braga)
Patson Daka (Zambia & Liefering)
Salam Giddou (Mali & Guidars)
Referee of the Year
Bamlak Tessema (Ethiopia)
Ghead Grisha (Egypt)
Janny Sikazwe (Zambia)
Malang Diedhiou (Senegal)
Mehdi Abid Charef (Algeria)
Papa Bakary Gassama (Gambia)
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 Cup6 days ago
FIFA Sanction on South Africa Offers Super Eagles a Lifeline — But a Lesson from History Looms
- World Cup1 week ago
Sport Minister Orders Probe into SAFA over Bafana’s Costly Points Deduction
- 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