International Football
THIS DAY IN HISTORY: NIGERIA’S FIRST PENALTY SHOOT-OUT EXPERIENCE
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
On this date, 12 July 1980, the Nigeria national team then called the Green Eagles had their first penalty shootout experience. It was in a World Cup qualifying match with Tunisia at the National Stadium, Lagos.
Going into the match, the Green Eagles carried a two-goal deficit from the first leg played in Tunis in the Espana ’82 World Cup qualifier.
Tunisia had edged Nigeria out at the last hurdle for the qualification to Argentina ’78. With a 2-0 deficit, it appeared another elimination was in the offing.
In desperation, the Nigeria Football Association enlisted for the first time, Europe based John Chiedozie and Tunji Banjo as well as Ghana-born, but Nigeria based Leotis Boateng.
The debuting Leotis Boateng connected a free kick to give Nigeria the lead in the 11th minute. Then began a titanic battle in a match officiated by John Hunting, an English referee.
As early as 13th minute, Tunisia had to substitute their most potent player, Tarek Dhiab with Hedi Bayari owing to injury. The full capacity stadium urged the Super Eagles on.
It was in the 75th minute that substitute player; Emmanuel Osigwe cannoned in the expected second goal that stalemated aggregate scoreline at 2-2.
The match then went into straight penalty shootout. Even though penalty shoot-out had been operational since the 1970s as tiebreaker in football matches that require a winner, it was in this match that Nigeria national team first experienced it.
Tension rose when Kadiri Ikhana missed his kick to become the first Nigerian player to do so. But Nigeria eventually prevailed 4-3 to advance to the next stage.
Before the Nigerian national team match, Nigerian club sides have had penalty shoot-out scenarios.
Shooting Stars on 2 October 1976 became the first Nigeria team to be involved in a penalty shootout in an international contest after a 2-2 aggregate draw with Zamalek of Egypt over two legs in the then African Winners Cup semi-finals.
Shooting Stars excelled 5-3. The club had the same experience in a local derby with Enugu Rangers at the same stage of the African Winners Cup semi-finals in November 1977 at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna. Rangers won 4-2.
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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