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AMUNEKE MAY FACE GOLDEN EAGLETS AT TANZANIA 2019 U-17 AFCON

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One of the most prolific footballers and coach from Nigeria, Emmanuel Amuneke could be contended with plotting against the Golden Eaglets as the draw for the Total U-17 Africa Cup of Nations hold on Thursday in Tanzania.

Amuneke handled Nigeria to runners-up position in Africa in 2015 and winning the world title for a record five times that same year. He was also an assistant to the team when Nigeria won the FIFA U-17 title in 2013.

He is now the chief coach in Tanzania and also responsible for the U-17 team of the country. With the draw holding at the Mlimani City Conference Centre à Dar Es Salam at 5.30 pm Nigerian time, Nigeria, the home country of Amuneke may face his team, Tanzania, if the Golden Eaglets are drawn in Group A.

Professionally, Amuneke will be committed to his Tanzanian team as it has happened in the past, even on larger scale. Otto Martins Gloria, a Brazilian handled Portugal against Brazil at the 1966 World Cup just as Sven-Goran Eriksson did for England against his home country, Sweden at the 2002 World Cup.

The qualified teams for the African tournament are host Tanzania, Angola, Cameroon, Guinea, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Uganda

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The Pots ahead of the draw

 The final tournament will be held from 14-28 April 2019 in Dar es Salaam with the semi-finalists qualifying to represent the continent at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Peru 2019.

For the draw on Thursday, hosts, Tanzania and Guinea, the third placed at the last edition are the seeded teams of level 1. Tanzania will head Group 1 as A1 while Guinea head Group B as B1. Both will therefore not meet at group stage.

Guinea got seeded owing to the non-qualification of champions, Mali and the runners-up, Ghana.

Based on the results of the last edition especially the final tournament and qualifiers, Cameroon and Angola are in Level 2 Pot 1 as qualified teams to the final tournament of 2017.

Nigeria along with Morocco, Senegal and Uganda will be in Level 3 (pot 2). The first team to be drawn from the 1st pot will be in Group A and a ball will be drawn from Pot 3 containing the position of Group A to determine its position (A2-A3-A4).

 Then the second team to be drawn will be automatically be in Group B, then a ball will be drawn from Pot 4 to determine its position (B2-B3-B4). For the four remaining teams in Pot 2, the ball to be drawn first will be in Group A and a draw will be done to determine its position (A2-A3-A4) from the third pot and the ball drawn 2nd will be in Group B and a draw will be done to determine its position (B2-B3-B4) from Pot 4. The same procedure will be repeated until all the teams are drawn.

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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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Ahead of Nigeria-Libya match: Some kidnapped journalists regain freedom

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An unspecified number of Nigerian journalists travelling to Uyo for Friday’s Nigeria versus Libya’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match have been rescued.

This is contained in a press release by the Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN) on Thursday. The association commended the Nigerian security forces for their efforts in the rescue operation.
From the press release, it was gathered that the media men were abducted within the  Anambra and Imo states axis.

”SWAN therefore commends the security operatives, particularly the Nigerian Army and Police for their prompt action which ensured that up to six of the held Sports Journalists regained their freedom with efforts to get the remaining person freed”, reads the SWAN statement.

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Klopp becomes Red Bull global soccer chief in first job after Liverpool

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Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - May 19, 2024 Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp reacts as he gives a speech after his last match as Liverpool manager REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo

German coach Juergen Klopp has been appointed head of global soccer for Red Bull, owners of several clubs including RB Leipzig and New York Red Bulls, the company said on Wednesday, in his first job since leaving Liverpool earlier this year.

Klopp, who ended his successful nine-year stint with Liverpool at the end of last season, will be starting on January 1, 2025.

“After almost 25 years on the sideline, I could not be more excited to get involved in a project like this,” Klopp, who also coached Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund, said in a statement.

“The role may have changed but my passion for football and the people who make the game what it is has not.”

The 57-year-old joined Liverpool in October 2015 and won the Champions League, their first English League title since 1990, the Club World Cup, FA Cup, League Cup and Super Cup, as well as the Community Shield during his time in charge.

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Klopp, who also led Dortmund to two Bundesliga titles, a German Cup and a Champions League final in 2013, had announced in January he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.

Klopp will not be involved in the day-to-day operations of the Red Bull-owned clubs in Germany, United States, Brazil and Austria, the company said.

“He will provide strategic vision, supporting individual sporting directors in advancing the Red Bull philosophy,” Red Bull said.

Klopp will also support the organisation’s global scouting operation, and contribute to the training and development of coaches.

“I see my role primarily as a mentor for the coaches and management of the Red Bull clubs but ultimately I am one part of an organisation that is unique, innovative and forward looking. As I said, this could not excite me more,” Klopp said.

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Some German media reported his Red Bull contract included an exit clause for the post of Germany national team coach.

Klopp has long been linked to that job, especially after his successful stint at Liverpool and with Germany struggling to make an impact on the international stage in the past decade.

-Reuters

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Cape Verdean, Delgado Rocha, to take charge of Libya, Nigeria battle in Benina

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Referee Delgado Santos Rocha Lenine of Cape Verde

The Confederation of African Football has appointed Delgado Santos Rocha Lenine, from Cape Verde, as referee for Tuesday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Super Eagles and the Mediterranean Knights of Libya at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benina, close to Benghazi.

He will be assisted by compatriots Djêry Gomes Lopes (assistant referee 1) and Jorge Santos Fonseca Aritson (assistant referee 2), with Hamidou Diero from Burkina Faso as fourth official.

Amir Abdi Hassan from Somalia will be in the role of commissioner, with Malian Dramane Dante as referee assessor and Rachid Medjiba from Algeria as security officer.

Tuesday’s encounter, which is at the back-end of a double header between both nations, will kick off at 9pm Libya time (8pm Nigeria time).  

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