International Football

MO SALAH SET TO RETAIN AFRICAN FOOTBALLERS’ CROWN

Published

6 years ago

January 8, 2019

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

If precedence is anything to be considered, Egyptian football star, Mohamed Salah will be named the 2018 African Footballer of Year this Tuesday. He is expected to emerge top again in the same field of trio that contested for the 2017 edition.

The two other contestants are club mate in Liverpool, Sadio Mane of Senegal who will be right at home at the event and Arsenal and Gabon’s forward, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Past winners have always been the echoes of what European media announced. In December 2018, BBC announced Mohamed Salah as the organisation’s African Footballer of the Year.

As in the past, this is expected to get the endorsement of CAF electorate composed of CAF Media Experts, Legends, Coaches of the quarter-finalists of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, and Coaches & Captains of the 54 Member Associations.

If he wins, he becomes the first North African to win back-to-back. West African players have achieved that feat in the past.

Samuel Eto’o did it from 2003 to 2005.

Yaya Toure of Cote d’Ivoire won in three straight years from 2011 to 2014.

PAST RESULTS

Year Position Player Team

1992 1^st Abedi ‘Pele’ Ayew Ghana/Marseille

1993 1^st Rashidi Yekini Nigeria/V. Setubal

1994 1^st Emmanuel Amuneke Nigeria/Sporting CP

2^nd George Weah Liberia/PSG

3^rd Rashidi Yekini Nigeria/Setubal

1995 1^st George Weah Liberia/Milan

2^nd Emmanuel Amuneke Nigeria/Sporting CP

3^rd Daniel Amokachi Nigeria/Everton

1996 1^st Nwankwo Kanu Nigeria/Inter

2^nd George Weah Liberia/Milan

3^rd Daniel Amokachi Nigeria/ Beşiktaş

1997 1^st Victor Ikpeba Nigeria/Monaco

2^nd Japhet N’Doram Chad/Monaco

3^rd Taribo West Nigeria/Inter

1998 1^st Mustapha Hadji Morocco/Deportivo

2^nd Austin Okocha Nigeria/PSG

3^rd Sunday Oliseh Nigeria/Ajax

1999 1^st Nwankwo Kanu Nigeria/Arsena

2^nd Samuel Kuffour Ghana/Bayern

3^rd Ibrahima Bakayoko Cote d’Ivoire/Marseille

2000 1^st Patrick M’Boma Cameroon/Parma

2^nd Lauren Etamé-Mayer Cameroon/Mallorca

3^rd Samuel Eto’o Cameroon/Mallorca

2001 1^st El Hadji Diouf Senegal/Lens

2^nd Samuel Kuffour Ghana/Bayern

3^rd Samuel Eto’o Cameroon/Mallorca

2002 1^st El Hadji Diouf Senegal/Liverpool

2^nd Papa Bouba Diop Senegal/Lens

3^rd Ahmed Hossam Mido Egypt/Ajax

2003 1^st Samuel Eto’o Cameroon/Mallorca

2^nd Didier Drogba Cote d’Ivoire/Marseille

3^rd Austin Okocha Nigeria/Bolton

2004 1^st Samuel Eto’o Cameroon/Barcelona

2^nd Didier Drogba Cote d’Ivoire/Chelsea

3^rd Austin Okocha Nigeria/Bolton

2005 1^st Samuel Eto’o Cameroon/Barcelona

2^nd Didier Drogba Cote d’Ivoire/Chelsea

3^rd Michael Essien Ghana/Chelsea

2006 1^st Didier Drogba Cote d’Ivoire/Chelsea

2^nd Samuel Eto’o Cameroon/Barcelona

3^rd Michael Essien Ghana/Chelsea

2007 1^st Frederic Kanoute Mali/Sevilla

2^nd Michael Essien Ghana/Chelsea

3^rd Didier Drogba Cote d’Ivoire/Chelsea

2008 1^st Emmanuel Adebayor Togo/Arsenal

2^nd Mohamed Abou Trika Egypt/Ahly

3^rd Michael Essien Ghana/Chelsea

2009 1^st Didier Drogba Cote d’Ivoire/Chelsea

2^nd Samuel Eto’o Cameroon/Inter

3^rd Michael Essien Ghana/Chelsea

2010 1^st Samuel Eto’o Cameroon/Inter

2^nd Asamoah Gyan Ghana/Sunderland

3^rd Didier Drogba Cote d’Ivoire/Chelsea

2011 1^st Yaya Toure Cote d’Ivoire/Man. City

2^nd Seydou Keita Mali/Barcelona

3^rd Andre Ayew Ghana/Marseille

2012 1^st Yaya Toure Cote d’Ivoire/Man. City

2^nd Didier Drogba Cote d’Ivoire/S.Shenhua

3^rd Alex Song Cameroon/Barcelona

2013 1^st Yaya Toure Cote d’Ivoire/Man. City

2^nd Mikel Obi Nigeria/Chelsea

3^rd Didier Drogba Cote d’Ivoire/Galatasaray

2014 1^st Yaya Toure Cote d’Ivoire/Man. City

2^nd Pierre-Aubameyang Gabon/Borussia

3^rd Vincent Enyeama Nigeria/Lille

2015 1^st Pierre-Aubameyang Gabon/Borussia

2^nd Yaya Toure Cote d’Ivoire/Man. City

3^rd Andre Ayew Ghana/Swansea

2016 1^st Riyad Mahrez Algeria/Leicester City

2^nd Pierre-Aubameyang Gabon/Borussia

3^rd Sadio Mane Senegal/Liverpool

2017 1^st Mohamed Salah Egypt/Liverpool

2^nd Sadio Mane Senegal/Liverpool

3^rd Pierre-Aubameyang Gabon/Borussia

International Football

Former Chelsea manager, Pochettino takes over US men’s team

Published

1 week ago

September 11, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Nottingham Forest v Chelsea - The City Ground, Nottingham, Britain - May 11, 2024 Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino arrives at the stadium before the match REUTERS/Molly Darlington/File Photo

Former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has been named new coach of the United States men’s team, U.S. Soccer announced on Tuesday.

Pochettino, who parted ways with Premier League side Chelsea in May after one season in charge, will take the reins of the national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Mexico, Canada and the United States.

The Argentine, a former Paris St Germain and Tottenham Hotspur manager, said his decision to join U.S. soccer was not just about football, but about the journey the country was on and he could not pass up the opportunity.

“The energy, the passion, and the hunger to achieve something truly historic here – those are the things that inspired me,” he said in a statement.

“I see a group of players full of talent and potential, and together, we’re going to build something special that the whole nation can be proud of.”

U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker said Pochettino was a “serial winner with a deep passion for developing players”.

“His track record speaks for itself, and I am confident that he is the right choice to harness the immense potential within our talented squad. We are thrilled to have Mauricio on board as we embark on this exciting journey to achieve success on the global stage.”

The U.S. have been without a permanent coach since a humiliating early exit from the Copa America on home soil in July led to the sacking of Gregg Berhalter after his second stint as head coach.

The 51-year-old boss was first appointed in 2018 and led the Americans to the knockout stages of the 2022 World Cup, but just weeks later found himself embroiled in a bitter public row with one of the team’s brightest emerging talents, Gio Reyna.

U.S. Soccer’s search for a new coach when Berhalter’s contract expired at the end of 2022 included names such as Canada coach Jesse Marsch, but they ultimately rehired Berhalter in June last year with the full support of the players.

However, it proved unsuccessful as the U.S. failed to progress beyond the group stages of the Copa America after a shock 2-1 defeat to Panama and a crushing 1-0 loss to Uruguay.

Pochettino will take over after Mikey Varas, who has been appointed interim coach, oversaw friendlies against Canada last Saturday and New Zealand on Tuesday.

The U.S. drew 1-1 with New Zealand in Cincinnati after Christian Pulisic’s goal was cancelled out by Ben Waine’s late equaliser.

The U.S. will next play friendlies against Panama on Oct. 12 and Mexico three days later.

-Reuters

International Football

BREAKING – Video: Osimhen accepts to join Galatasaray

Published

2 weeks ago

September 3, 2024

Kunle Solaja

At last, Nigeria’s striker Victor Osimhen is out of the limbo. He has accepted to join Galatasaray on loan.

He is now asking for a release clause at Napoli to become €75m instead of €130m

He also wants a break clause for January in case top clubs approach him over move.

The final points are being discussed. He has been videoed celebrating with the Turkey club’s fans.

International Football

Uruguay striker Suarez to play last international match on Friday

Published

2 weeks ago

September 3, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez announced his international retirement on Monday, ending a 17-year career with his national team as their top scorer with 69 goals.

The 37-year-old, who has 142 caps for his country, made his international debut in 2007 and was key in the squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup and won the Copa America a year later.

“Friday will be my last match with my country’s national team,” an emotional Suarez told a press conference.

“The fact that is my decision to retire and that I’m not retired because of injuries or that they stop calling me for one thing or another, that gives me a lot of comfort, it helps me individually.

“It’s difficult but it gives me peace of mind that until the last game I have given my all, and that flame has not been extinguished little by little,” the striker added.

Uruguay take on Paraguay at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo on Friday in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup before facing Venezuela four days later.

Suarez scored the stoppage-time goal against Canada that secured third place at the Copa America in July and the striker added that one of his aims was to show he could continue to contribute to the national team.

“My dream was for my children to see me win something important with the national team … that last goal was very nice for them and even though it wasn’t a trophy to take home, it was very nice for them,” he said.

“I wanted to show people again that I can continue to contribute to the national team and, well, I had the Copa America and yes, I could have done it (retired) perfectly after that, but having analysed the situation, I want to do it with my people, in my stadium.

“I want my children to live this experience. Saying goodbye with the people here is something that I don’t know if many have done.”

Suarez has already said Inter Miami will be his last club after joining the Major League Soccer side last year to reunite with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.

-Reuters