International Football
NIGERIA’S JUNIOR AJAYI LEADS AL AHLY TO EGYPT SUPER CUP TRIUMPH
Egyptian giants, Al Ahly, profited from the exploits of Nigeria’s Junior Ajayi to emerge once again victorious in the infamous “Cairo Derby”, involving Zamalek.
Junior Ajayi scored two in the 3-2 defeat of Zamalek in the Super Cup at the Alexandria based Borg El Arab stadium.
The one match playoff was delayed from last season due to organizational reasons, and was used a curtain raiser for the new domestic season. The Cairo rivals will clash again in the 2019-20 Egypt Super Cup next January.
Nigerian import Junior Ajayi scored in each half, with Hussein Elshahat scoring inbetween for The Red Devils. Mahmoud Alaa scored twice from the spot to initiate a probable comeback for The White Knights but they couldn’t find the goal that could have forced the game to penalties.
It was Ahly’s 11th glory in the history of Egypt Super Cup compared to Zamalek’s three titles. Arab Contractors and Haras El Hodod has one title each in the competition that started in 2001.
After a slow start, Zamalek had to deal with an early blow when defender Mohamed Abdel Ghany suffered injury after just five minutes and was substituted by Mahmoud Hamdy.
Ahly had the first chance when Elshahat tried to make use of goalkeeper Mohamed Awwad blunder at the quarter hour mark but his shot was handled easily by the keeper.
Four minutes later Awwad came to rescue Zamalek again deflecting Mohamed “Afsha” Magdy’s shot over the line. But from the resulting corner Ajayi sent a powerful shot from close space giving Al Ahly the lead after 19 minutes.
Ahly had a similar blow at the half hour mark with defender Mahmoud Mitwally injured and leaving the field to Mohamed Hany. But the Red Devils continued controlling possession. And just before the break Elshahat was their hero. After passing brilliantly from Hamdi Naguez, he sent a powerful shot that was stopped by Awwad, but the rebound ball fell again to him from Mohamed Abdelshafy’s poor clearance to send both sides into the break with Ahly having a two goal lead.
The Red Devils started the second half from where they ended the first, and just three minutes after the restart Ajayi completed his brace, connecting well to Ramadan Sobhy’s pass before firing into the net, sending frenzy to Ahly supporters in the stands.
Zamalek fought back and had a penalty three minutes after the hour mark when Ahly’s goalkeeper Mohamed Elshenawy fouled substitute Mostafa Mohamed. Alaa stepped to reduce the deficit and give the White Knights hope again.
Ahly’s defensive problems worsened with defender Yasser Ibrahim also injured, leaving the field to veteran Hossam Ashour. And 15 minutes from time Zamalek had another penalty, with Alaa sending Elshenawy the wrong way to make it 3-2.
But the possible memorable comeback was never completed as Ahly remained solid in the remaining minutes to claim the trophy.
Meanwhile the 2019-20 season of Egyptian Premier League kicks off on Saturday (21 September 2019) with 18 teams competing for the title Al Ahly holds in the past four seasons.
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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