International Football
ROHR PUTS SUPER EAGLES PLAYERS UNDER STRICT COVID-19 RULES
According to a report by ThisDay newspaper in Nigeria, ahead of the first international match on Friday in Austria by the Nigeria national team since the pandemic era, Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Gernot Rohr, is said to have put all the players under strict Covid-19 rules.
Nigeria play against African champion, Fennes of Algeria at the Jacques Lemans Arena in Austria with no fans allowed at the arena but the team’s handlers are also playing strictly by the rules on the players.
According to the team’ Media Officer, Toyin Ibitoye, “everything is going well in the camp and we are looking forward to a good game with all the players staying safe since arrival in camp.
He said that since the team’s arrival at Hotel die Zeit an der Glan in Austria, all the preparations towards the two matches have been going according to plans with all the conventional and health rules been applied on all the players.
“So far, there is no injury worry for the coach and we have been training twice on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“We are looking forward to a good game against Algeria and the players have put the loss at AFCON behind them meaning it’s not a question about revenge but preparation towards forth coming major qualifying tournaments.
“All the players are acquainted the global health challenge and because of this, coach had placed all of them under strict protocol rules with nose mask within the hotel, social distancing and regular sanitising after every outing outside of the hotel and training ground.
“Ahead of the match tomorrow, all the players will undergo mandatory Covid-19 text on Thursday which is aimed to clear all health doubt from both teams.
“The players are positive about the match and are looking forward to a favourable result that will gladden the heart of Nigerian back home and worldwide,” Ibitoye told ThisDay.
Three –time African champions Nigeria file out against the in-form Fennecs at the Jacques Lemans Arena on Friday before taking on 2004 African champions Tunisia at the same venue on Tuesday next week.
Coach Gernot Rohr is without three of his initial invitees, with Turkey –based midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo suffering a knock on Sunday, following earlier injury to Wilfred Ndidi and permission granted Italy –based forward Victor Osimhen to sit out the matches.
It is the first gathering of the Super Eagles this year, with the coronavirus pandemic shutting down football globally since the month of March, just before a quick-fire double AFCON qualifying series with Sierra Leone that will now hold in November.
Match organisers, Eurodata Sport has clarified that no fan will be allowed inside the stadium for any of the two matches, in conformity with extant protocols on the coronavirus pandemic.
Meanwhile, in part of their training, team’s captain, Amed Musa proved his positive postures towards Friday’s match with a brace in Tuesday’s training.
Just as new invitee, Samson Tijani was also on target haven’t played on same side with the team’s captain while Paul Onuachu scored the consolatory goal for the opposing training side.
According to Thisday newspaper, Musa’s team included Dele Alampasu, Mathew Yakubu, Kenneth Omeruo, Chidozie Awaziem, Chidera Ejuke, Samuel Chukwueze, Mikel Agu, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samson Tijani, Jamilu Colins and Frank Onyeka.
The match comes up on Friday from 7:30 pm Nigerian time.
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
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
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
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
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.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
- World Cup1 week ago
South Africa to Appeal FIFA Ruling Over Mokoena Eligibility Case
- World Cup1 week ago
FIFA Sanction on South Africa Offers Super Eagles a Lifeline — But a Lesson from History Looms
- World Cup1 week ago
Sport Minister Orders Probe into SAFA over Bafana’s Costly Points Deduction
- U20 FOOTBALL2 days ago
Flying Eagles Bank on ‘Magic of October 8’ to overcome Argentina
- World Cup6 days ago
Super Eagles Walk Tightrope as Nine Key Players Risk Suspension in World Cup Qualifiers
- World Cup7 days ago
Osimhen Returns as Chelle Names 23-Man Squad for Crucial World Cup Qualifiers
- U-20 FOOTBALL3 days ago
Nigeria, Argentina Renew Rivalry as Flying Eagles Target Quarter-Final Spot in Chile
- World Cup1 week ago
Lesotho, Nigeria’s next World Cup opponents Hail FIFA Verdict as Justice Served in Mokoena Eligibility Row