International Football
ASPIRING WORLD CHAMPIONS, NIGERIA’S FLYING EAGLES LAND IN POLAND
It is 20 years since Nigeria’s Flying Eagles had their best outing at the FIFA U-20 World Cup at Saudi Arabia. They are optimistic of a more fulfilling outcome this time around.
After long-term training session in Germany, a privilege most of their predecessors did not have, the Flying Eagles have landed in Poland. They have rounded off a three –week residential training at Bad Gogging on the outskirts of Munich, Germany on Saturday.
The team flew out Germany via Munich on Sunday morning for the final leg of preparation for the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup that starts on 23rd May.
While in Bad Grogging,
the team played four friendly games (a 3-3 draw with Freiburg U19s; a 1-2 loss
to Saudi Arabia U20s; a 3-1 win over AFR Aelen and; a 1-1 draw with Red Bull
Salzburg) as they seek to win the FIFA U20 World Cup for the first time.
Two –time runners at the competition, in 1989 and 2005, Nigeria took the bronze medals at the 1985 finals staged in the former Soviet Union.
Team captain Ikouwem Udoh Utin told thenff.com that the camping exercise in Germany has helped the team blend very well.
“Our time in Germany has really helped us to come together as a group, blend with one another as well as learn new things from our coaches,” Utin enthused.
“It has been a wonderful experience here in camp. The boys now understand one another better and we have perfected our plans as we go into the tournament.
“We want to make Nigeria proud in Poland and we will do our best not to disappoint Nigerians. Our aim is to go all out and win the trophy for Nigeria. We also want to thank the NFF and Nigerians for their support and we will go there and represent Nigeria well.”
IK Sirius of Sweden striker Henry Offia is also optimistic that the team will go far in Poland 2019 and the lessons learned in camp will go a long way to help actualise this aim.
“I’m really happy and grateful to be part of this team. This is my first time with any of the national teams and I’ll do my best not to disappoint,” Offia stated, adding:
“We’ve had a good time in camp, learned a lot from the coaches and hopefully we put all into practice in Poland. It will be a tough competition no doubt but we are determined to go out there and make Nigeria proud. I’m grateful for this opportunity and I’ll make best use of it.”
Seventeen –year old goalkeeper Jonathan Zacalla, who is also one of the new faces in the team believes this team will give their best in Poland.
Zacalla, who plays for Triestina in Italy also told theff.com that the camping exercise has helped develop his game which hopefully will translate to a good outing in Poland.
“The camping exercise was tough but I enjoyed every bit of it. It was a good experience for me and the other players,” he revealed.
“I’m hopeful of a good outing in Poland and will continue to work hard to make it happen. Our coaches have done a lot in training and I hope we can use that to good effect when the U20 competition starts.”
The team was boosted by a visit to the camp on Thursday by President of Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi and Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr.
Nigeria will start its FIFA U20 World Cup campaign on 24th May against Group D foes Qatar before other duels against USA and Ukraine.
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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