International Football
OSHOALA ON VIDEO: BEST OF WOMEN’S FOOTBALL IN AFRICA CELEBRATED
Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala was named African Women’s Player of the Year for fourth time as the CAF Awards 2019 celebrated the best of women’s football in Africa on Tuesday.
Exactly seven months after the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ got
under way, giants of African football were recognised at the star-studded
gathering in Hurghada, Egypt — with
representatives of Africa’s three teams at France 2019 picking up honours.
Nigeria forward Asisat Oshoala was named African Women’s Player of the Year and, in doing so, equalled compatriot Perpetua Nkwocha’s remarkable record of winning the accolade four times.
Meanwhile, Desiree Ellis picked up African Women’s Coach of the Year, while Cameroon were recognised with the African Women’s National Team of the Year.
We round up a memorable calendar year for the award winners, with France 2019 a focal part in their successes.
Asisat Oshoala: African Women’s Player of the Year
- Forward helped Barcelona to a runners-up finish in Spain’s Primera Division
- Reached UEFA Women’s Champions League final with Catalan giants, scoring side’s only goal in their defeat to Lyon
- Key player for Nigeria at France 2019, helping Super Falcons to a Round-of-16 finish
- Group-stage goal against Korea Republic, which showcased her speed, technique and balance, was nominated for France 2019’s Hyundai Goal of the Tournament
Desiree Ellis: African Women’s Coach of the Year
- Claimed African Women’s Coach of the Year award for a second year running
- Led South Africa at their first Women’s World Cup
- Banyana Banyana fought valiantly in a fierce group featuring Spain, Germany and China PR
Cameroon: African Women’s National Team of the Year
- One of two African teams to reach France 2019 knockout stage
- Snatched dramatic victory in injury-time in final group game which saw them progress to Round of 16, showing their relentless determination
- Ajara Nchout’s last-gasp goal in that game against New Zealand one of the iconic moments of France 2019 group stage and among ten nominees for the 2019 FIFA Puskas Award
– FIFA
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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