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ARGENTINE PUBLICATION HIGHLIGHTS, ORODE, NIGERIAN PLAYER IN ARGENTINA

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Olé, a publication in Argentina has highlighted Felix Orode, a Nigerian player featuring in the domestic league. It began with a question lead: “Did you know that there is a Nigerian who plays here has chances to face the National Team (Argentina) in the World Cup?  The Nigerian who had his debut in the Argentine league under Coach Diego Simeone now features for Defensores de Pronunciamiento.

“My wife already tells me that Nigeria-Argentina is just another classic,” Orode joked with Olé. According to information at the disposal of www.sportsvillagesquare , Orode had a tough time adapting to customs and language in Argentina when he made his debut in San Lorenzo in 2009.  According to Olé, Orode’s career is taking a new turn since last year when the Super Eagles began to follow him.  “Yes, gentlemen: Felix could be Messi’s rival!” remarked Olé.  The highlight of the interview translated from Spanish runs:

  • What did you think when you saw that Argentina will face Nigeria in the group phase?

 

FELIX ORODE:  (smiles) I was looking at the drawing at home and, as soon as it came out, my wife said: “Again with you, we are a classic.” It’s going to be a nice game. It is a difficult group, where anyone can beat anyone…

 

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  • Your children Simona (almost two years) and Salvador (two), do you explain that his mother is Argentina and his father is Nigerian?

Yes, I taught them the two flags and I tell them whenever they have two countries. I feel the same way. I’m even doing Argentina citizenship and I want to make them Nigerian. I hope that someday we can travel all four, I want my mom to meet her grandchildren…

 

  • There is talk that you have a chance to go to the World Cup. Can you imagine yourself in Russia?

It’s my big dream! It all came up when in Sportivo barracks I was given the ticket to go visit my family. When we arrived in Nigeria they found out that I was playing in Argentina and they started following me. They asked the club to send my videos and now we’re in touch. I know it’s hard, but with God everything is possible.

·         Do you know the players of the national team?A few. I talk a lot with Moses Simon: with him I shared a squad in the Under 20, where I played in 2007. He told me many things and hopefully we can share the team again. ·         You already thought about changing the shirt with Messi if it touches you?It would be incredible, but I do not know if it would cheer me up. I always look at Barcelona for him, I admire him a lot. There are not many like him, a Messi pass is a goal. ·         What does your family say to you in Nigeria?My family is very happy, they call me every day and they tell me what is said about me in the media there. The only problem is that I am unaccustomed to the language and sometimes I mix Spanish with English and my mother challenges me because she does not understand me, heh.

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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International Football

Portugal call up same player named in England Under-18 squad

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Mateus Mane in England's colour

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.

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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

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Soon Cisse ceases to be Senegal’s Coach

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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.

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“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.

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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.

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Why  FIFA banned Samuel Eto’o

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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 femaleacross 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.

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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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