International Football
FLYING EAGLES GROUNDED BY SENEGAL IN WAFU U-20 FINAL
Senegal achieved a double over Nigeria at the weekend in final matches of continental and sub-continental tournaments.
The Senegalese followed their defeat of Nigeria in the final match of CAF beach soccer competition with a 2-0 defeat of Nigeria’s U20 boys, on Sunday in the final of WAFU Cup Tournament in Lome, Togo.
It was somewhat, sweet revenge for the Senegalese who, as hosts of the 2015 Africa U20 Cup of Nations, were among the victims as the Flying Eagles bulldozed their way to a seventh continental title.
The Nigeria U20 boys had beaten the host nation 3-1 in the tournament opening match and then ended the tournament by pipping the Senegalese 1-0 again in front of their fans in Dakar, to clinch the trophy.
Defeat is bound to sting the Flying Eagles into harder preparations for the 2019 Africa U20 Cup of Nations, for which they have been paired with hosts NigerRepublic, South Africa and Burundi in Group A. The championship, which will produce Africa’s four representatives for the FIFA U20 World Cup in Poland, will take place 2nd – 17th February 2019.
After a scoreless draw with Niger Republic, Paul Aigbogun’s wards thrashed Ghana’s Black Stars 4-2 to reach the semi finals from a depleted Group B – courtesy of the withdrawal of Benin Republic. In the semi finals, they prevailed over Mali 5-4 on penalties after regulation time ended 1-1.
On Sunday evening, Sagna Amadou got the Junior Lions of Teranga in front two minutes after the re-start, and Youssouph Badji made it two with 20 minutes left on the clock.
Senegal will play Burkina Faso, Mali and Ghana in Group B (all – West Africa affair) at the 2019 Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Niger Republic.
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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