International Football
Two-goal hero in Nigeria’s defeat, Herrera averted racial slur against Super Eagles
But for pre-match communication of Mexican star, Hector Herrera, most of the 53,258 crowd at the Mexico 4-0 defeat of Nigeria would have been making racial slur against the Super Eagles’ players.
According to a report by The Orange County Register, a daily newspaper published in California, the crowd, largely composed by Mexicans had planned homophobic chants throughout the match which had the arena’s first full capacity since the coronavirus pandemic
Moments before the match, Hector Herrera who later scored two goals, stood with his teammates at the centre circle to offer one more reminder.
As Herrera echoed a message that was unmissable on the grounds throughout the evening — chanting a homophobic slur that had long been part of the ritual of Mexican men’s national team matches can only bring negative consequences for the team you love — the largest crowd in the city since pandemic restrictions were lifted on June 15 fell as quiet as it got all night.
When Herrera wrapped up his comments the sort of unmistakable roar that only occurs when people congregate in such large numbers rose from the stands.
For Herrera, the Mexican national team, and Soccer United Marketing, which organized the MexTour series, the event went off without any notable malintent from the fans.
The chant that plagued Mexican soccer has been inaudible from the stands since FIFA announced a fine and a two-match ban on spectators for competitive matches in Mexico last month.
On Saturday, match officials were not presented with a scenario in which they were required to stop the action or take players off the field as part of FIFA’s anti-discriminatory protocol that was instituted in 2019.
Instead, two minutes after the game began, Herrera quickly lifted the crowd once more by beating Nigerian goalkeeper Bobo Stanley Nwabili for the first of Mexico’s four goals in a shutout victory.
Fielding a squad of primarily domestic players, Nigeria remained winless all-time against Mexico (0-2-4).
In the 4th minute, Mexico had Nigeria scrambling and a ball over the top by Jesus Corona found Hirving Lozano, who dished it to goal scorer Rogelio Funes Mori.
The Mexican faithful cheered and screamed as Herrera hoped they would, and by the seventh minute the crowd came together for its first wave around the Coliseum.
Herrera did his part to keep up the positive spirit by cleaning up a saved shot from outside the 18 yard box, giving him a brace and Mexico a 3-0 lead in the 52nd minute. The 31-year-old midfielder who plays professionally for Atletico Madrid earned MVP honors.
L.A. Galaxy midfielder Jonathan dos Santos entered the match in the second half and capped Mexico’s 4-0 win in the 78th minute when he deftly controlled a pass that came over the top of the Nigerian backline with his right foot and hit a dipping half-volley into the back of the net.
El Tri, which outshot Nigeria 16 to 3, returns to competition with the start of the CONCACAF Gold Cup group stage on July 10.
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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