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INTERNATIONAL DREAM CUP: FUTURE EAGLES FINISH THIRD, RETURN TO NIGERIA ON TUESDAY

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Nigeria’s U15 boys on Sunday lost their final game of the 2019 International Dream Cup to their European counterparts Romania 2-1 at the Yurtec Stadium in Miyagi.

The game, which was played on Sunday morning, saw the Future Eagles bag a second consecutive defeat at the U16 tournament in Japan. Nigeria started the tournament with a 3-1 win over Mexico on 12thJune, but lost against the host country Japan on 14th June and against Romania on the last day of the tournament on 16th June.

Future Eagles head coach, Haruna Ilerika made two changes into the line-up against Mexico. Sulaimon Lawal started his first game of the tournament with the team captain, Oluwatobi Adeleke rested, while Ejiofor Chidera started ahead of Damilola Adeyeye.

Nigeria dominated the first half with beautiful build-up play from the back, but lacked the right decisions in the final third with the trio of Egesionu Sopuruchukwu, Opeyemi Qudus and Evbuomwan Gift finding it difficult to crack down the compact Romania defence.

Robert Todol scored in both halves for Romania while Sopuruchukwu scored a late consolation for the Future Eagles. Todol scored his first goal of the game late in the first half after a defensive mix-up by the Nigerian boys.

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Romania resumed the second half as the better side, and Todol completed his brace of the match two minutes into the second half.

It was a late improved performance for the Future Eagles as they dominated the last 15 minutes in the second half chasing for goals. Sopuruchukwu reduced the deficit in the 90th minute for Nigeria, his beautiful header beating Romania goalkeeper Robert Popa after connecting with John Mark’s pull-out from the right. Nigeria were close to getting the equalizer in the additional minute but team captain Adeleke headed wide from close range despite connecting well with Kelvin Agho’s cross from the left.

Team captain Oluwatobi Adeleke told thenff.com: “We appreciate the Nigeria Football Federation for this great opportunity. The exposure and the platform will make us better. We came to Japan to learn and compete with three other continents. Actually, we had our target to finish as the best team in the tournament, but we could not in spite of winning our first game. The exposure is important for us and we have learnt so much at this tournament.”

Nigeria finished third with three points from a possible nine, scoring five goals. The Future Eagles scored in all their three games. 

The contingent is expected back in Abuja, Nigeria on Tuesday afternoon according to the Team Administrator, Adewale Adeyinka. 

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However, Japan emerged champions of the U16 International Dream Cup after defeating Mexico 5-0 in their final game on Sunday. Japan finished top with nine points, while Romania finished second. Nigeria were third with three points and Mexico finished bottom of the championship with only one point.

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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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International Football

Portugal call up same player named in England Under-18 squad

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Mateus Mane in England's colour

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.

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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

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International Football

Soon Cisse ceases to be Senegal’s Coach

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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.

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“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.

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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.

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Why  FIFA banned Samuel Eto’o

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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 femaleacross 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.

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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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