International Football
NIGERIA AND THE WORLD CUP TOP SEEDS
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, seven consecutive World Cup reporter.
Invariably, every team not in Pot 2 to Pot 4 will have to face a seeded team in the first stage of the World Cup. In the case of Nigeria, top seeds have always been difficult to crack in the group stage.
Only once, at France ’98 did Nigeria succeed in beating a seeded side after Spain slumped 3-2 in the opening Group D game in Nantes. At the France ’98 Final Draw conducted on December 4, 1997 in Marseilles, Spain was one of the seeded fifth among the eight top seeds and was projected as possible finalist.
Ecstasy as Sunday Oliseh celebrates his back breaking goal against top seed, Spain at France ‘98.
The commonest top seed that Nigeria always faces is Argentina. Both were in Group D at the USA ’94 when Argentina was number one among the six seeded teams. Both teams met again in Group F of Japan/Korea World Cup 2002.
Seven years ago, Nigeria faced Argentina in Group B in South Africa. Three years ago, both were Group F at Brazil 2014 and got entangled in a five goal thriller won 3-2 by Argentina.
In the four encounters with Argentina, Nigeria lost by the odd lone goal. It was 2-1 in 1994 when Argentina came from behind to win. Samson Siasia shot Nigeria ahead in the eighth minute before two free kicks expertly taken by Diego Maradona was scored by Claudio Caniggia in the 21st and 28th minutes.
Samson Siasia celebrates his eighth minute goal against Argentina at USA ’94. But Nigeria lost 2-1.
When both met again in 2002, a 63rd minute goal by Gabriel Batistuta broke the deadlock. Nigeria under Adegboye Onigbinde had played defensively hoping to scrape a goalless draw before the next projected less-tasking encounter with Sweden.
Gabriel Batistuta leaps above Nigerian defenders to score a 63rd minute goal at the World Cup 2002.
But it was not the Gabriel Batistuta’s goal that eliminated Nigeria from the 2002 World Cup. Rather, it was that of Henrik Larsson penalty and winning goal in the Sweden 2-1 defeat of Nigeria after the Super Eagles had taken the lead through Julius Aghahowa’s glancing header and the subsequent equalizer by Henrik Larsson.
Henrik Larsson celebrates his penalty kick goal that technically knocked out Nigeria from the 2002 World Cup.
It was again a 1-0 win for Argentina in 2010 in Nigeria’s only match ever to be shot by 3D camera at the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg. Gabriel Heinze scored early in the game in which Nigeria did everything to contain the rampaging Argentine attack hinged on Lionel Messi. The heroic performance by goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama also helped in keeping the score line low.
Gabriel Heinze’s solitary goal decided the outcome of Nigeria versus Argentina at South Africa 2010.
At Russia 2018, which top seed will Nigeria face next year? Will it be Argentina again? The answer emerges this Friday at the State Kremlin Hall in Moscow.
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
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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
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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.
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