International Football
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP: SUPER FALCONS MAY FACE WORLD’S NO 1 USA, GERMANY OR FRANCE
BY APESIN ADEMOLA.
The Super Falcons are in Pot 4 of the FIFA Women’s World Cup to be hosted by France next year as the draw is conducted at La Seine Musicale on the island of Île Seguin, Boulogne-Billancourt, in the host country, from 6pm (local and Nigerian time) on Saturday.
They could therefore be paired against United States, Germany, host nation France or any other strong opposition.
Despite being one of only seven countries to have featured in all seven past editions of the global tournament, Nigeria have not fared too well with only three wins and same number of draws in 22 matches they are placed 39th in the latest FIFA rankings.
Among the teams in the hat, the Super Falcons are only better than the two other African representatives – Cameroon (46th) and South Africa (48th) – as well as Jamaica (53rd).
France (No 3) will be the top team in Group A. They will not face any of the other seeded sides – United States (No 1), Germany (No 2), England (No 4), Canada (No 5) and Australia (No 6).
The Americans have won the title three times (1991, 1999 and 2015), while Germany were champions back-to-back in 2003 and 2007.
In Pot 2 are two other past winners, Japan (2011 and currently No 8 in FIFA rankings) and Norway, 1995 champions and now 13th in FIFA standings.
Completing that Pot are the Netherlands (No 7), Sweden (No 9), Brazil (No 10) and Spain (No 12).
Pot 3 is made up of Korea Republic, China PR, Italy, New Zealand, Scotland and Thailand.
Ahead in Pot 4 are two South American teams Argentina (No 36) and Chile (No 38), who are joined here by Nigeria, Cameroon, South Africa and Jamaica.
By the rule of the draw, no group can contain more than one team from each confederation apart from UEFA, which have nine teams, where each group must contain a maximum of two UEFA teams.
South Africa, who won bronze medal in the recently concluded African Women’s Championship in Ghana, will be making their entry into the global stage in France 2019.
Other debutantes are Chile, Jamaica and Scotland.
Italy are returning to the tournament for the first time since 1999, hosted by the United States where they exited at the group stage.
Also back in the competition are Argentina, who have been absent since 2007 when they placed bottom of their group.
Apart from the Super Falcons of Nigeria, the regulars are the United States, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Brazil and Japan.
Next year’s tournament holds from June 7 and July 7.
International Football
Portugal call up same player named in England Under-18 squad
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.
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
International Football
Soon Cisse ceases to be Senegal’s Coach
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.
“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.
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.
International Football
Why FIFA banned Samuel Eto’o
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 female, across 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.
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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