International Football
FOR LACK OF RECORDS, NIGERIA FORFIETS ALGERIA’S MATCH
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Improper record-keeping has again taken its toll on Nigerian football as FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee imposed sanction on Super Eagles.
Consequently, the Super Eagles have forfeited the point it had in its last World Cup 2018 qualifying match with Algeria.
FIFA’s decision was due to Nigeria’s fielding of Shehu Abdulahi in the last match with Algeria.
Abdulahi was ineligible for the match having received a caution in the preceding match with Zambia.
The 63rd minute yellow card Abdulahi obtained was the second having also been cautioned in Nigeria’s first match of the World Cup qualifier on November 13, 2015 in the goalless encounter with Swaziland.
In addition to forfeiting the match, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF is also fined 6,000 Swiss Francs which is $6,047.70. Sadly and technically, the unbeaten run by Nigeria in the World Cup has been cut short owing to Nigeria not keeping records.
It was in similar vein that Shooting Stars of Ibadan was rendered impotent after learning on final match day that the highly dependable left winger, Felix Owolabi was ineligible for the crucial return leg match with Zamalek of Egypt in the final match of 1984 Africa Cup of Champions Clubs match.
The 1989 two year ban on Nigeria in age-regulated competitions was as a result of being unable to reconcile the dates of births of three players – Samson Siasia, Andrew Uwe and Dahiru Sadi – who had featured in U-20 tournaments before playing for the Nigerian Olympic team at the Seoul 1988 Olympics.
The forfeiting of the match with Algeria was not the only sanction that FIFA Disciplinary Committee imposed on Nigeria.
The NFF is also sanctioned and fined CHF 30,000 ($30238.50) for the invasion of the pitch at the September 1 match with Cameroon which Nigeria won 4-0.
International Football
Two Moroccan football players lost at sea, says club official
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Abdellatif-Akhrif.png)
Two Moroccan players from top-flight soccer side Ittihad Tanger have been missing at sea since Saturday after strong currents drifted their small yacht, a club official said on Sunday.
They were in a group of five players from the club who went cruising off the northern city of Tangier when strong currents and heavy winds drifted their yacht away as they were swimming in deep waters, club deputy president Anass Mrabet told Reuters.
“Three players have already been rescued on Saturday, while research is still ongoing for the missing Salman Harraq and Abdellatif Akhrif,” he said.
The players did not have buoys on them when they jumped from the small yacht to swim, he said citing recounts by rescued players.
While Akhrif, 24, is already a full member of the squad, Harraq, 18, was about to move up to the senior team this year, Mrabet added.
Ittihad Tanger have been in the Moroccan top flight since 2015 and won the league title for the first and only time in their history in the 2017-18 season. However, they have struggled in the lower half of the standings in recent years.
-Reuters
International Football
FIFA launches ‘Football Manager’ World Cup with $100,000 in prize money
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/arsene-wenger.jpg)
FIFA will host its first ever FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager this year to crown the best virtual manager on the highly-popular video game, world soccer’s governing body said on Thursday.
FIFA is partnering with Sports Interactive, the developers of the game that has sold millions of copies and has also been used by several football clubs to scout players and opponents thanks to its extensive database.
Players will compete for $100,000 in prize money in the final event from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.
“This competition requires participants to demonstrate a profound understanding of football strategy and tactics,” said former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is the ambassador for the esports event.
“Success demands not only mastery of game mechanics but also in-depth football knowledge, making this format a fascinating blend.”
FIFA said in the inaugural year of the event, selected member associations will be invited to be represented at the final event.
Member associations from all six confederations are expected to be invited while players can sign up on FIFA’s website.
-Reuters
International Football
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio robbed at gunpoint
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/baggio.jpg)
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint at his home in northern Italy while watching his country’s match against Spain in the Euro 2024 tournament on Thursday, local police said.
Burglars broke into Baggio’s house near Vicenza, hit him on the head with a gun butt and locked him and his family in a room while they stole jewellery, watches and cash, daily Il Corriere della Sera reported. It said he suffered a deep wound.
“Luckily, the violence I suffered only resulted in a few stitches, bruises and a lot of fear. Now it is to overcome the fear,” Baggio was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.
Baggio, 57, played for clubs including Juventus (JUVE.MI), opens new tab, AC Milan and Inter Milan. He also played 56 times for Italy, scoring 27 goals, and is widely seen as one of his country’s all-time greats.
After the robbery, Baggio, widely known as the “divine ponytail”, was treated at a local hospital where he received stitches for the head wound, Italian media reported.
Italy lost to Spain 1-0 on Thursday and now must avoid defeat by Croatia to guarantee progression in the tournament.
-Reuters
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