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International Football

Two-goal hero in Nigeria’s defeat, Herrera averted racial slur against Super Eagles

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Mexico forward Hirving Lozano (22) takes control of the ball from Nigeria midfielder Anthony Shimaga (4) and defender Emmanuel Oluesi (20) during the second half of an international friendly soccer match Saturday, July 3, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

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.

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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.

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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.

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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International Football

Portugal call up same player named in England Under-18 squad

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Mateus Mane in England's colour

Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Mateus Mane has become hot property after Portugal named the 17-year-old in their Under-18 squad on Friday, one day after England included him in their squad.

Mane was called up for a second successive England youth camp by coach Liam Bramley before the team travel to Marbella for a four-team tournament this month.

Mane is eligible for both teams having played for the Portugal Under-17 side last season. As the Under-18 team is a non-UEFA age group, both nations are entitled to call the player up.

He made his England international debut last month against the Portugal Under-18 side who have named Mane in their squad for a four-nation tournament this month.

With both tournaments running concurrently, Mane can only play for one team and Wolves and England confirmed he would feature in Bramley’s side.

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Reuters has contacted Portugal’s football association for clarification.

While players with multiple nationalities have played for more than one country if they are eligible, they are not allowed to switch allegiances at senior level – unless they have played only in friendly matches for the first country.

-Reuters

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International Football

Soon Cisse ceases to be Senegal’s Coach

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After 107 matches spanning nine years, Aliou Cisse will not have his contract renewed as Senegal coach, officials confirmed on Wednesday. Of the 107 matches, Cisse’s team won 70, drew 24 and lost 13.

But the impressive scorecard is not enough to impress his employers.

Thus, the end beckons for Cisse’s successful nine-year spell in charge of the side that included a first Africa Cup of Nations title and two World Cup qualifications.

He had been under increasing pressure after Senegal’s surprise last 16 exit at the 2023 Cup of Nations when they lost on penalties to hosts Cote d’Ivoire.

Senegal are unbeaten in six matches since then, but home draws with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burkina Faso, and criticism from certain quarters over their style of play, made up the mind of the country’s sports ministry, who fund the salary of the national team coach, that a change was needed.

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“The FSF would like to thank Aliou Cisse for his good collaboration and his brilliant results at the head of the various national selections that he has managed since his arrival in 2011 and wish him every success for the future,” the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) said in a statement.

FSF added Cisse’s exit stemmed from a failure to fulfil the targets in his last contract, which expired at the end of August, which included victory at the 2023 Cup of Nations and reaching the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup.

They also said the “regression of our national team in the FIFA rankings and the risk of disaffection between our national team and the Senegalese (public)” had played a role.

The FSF will appoint an interim technical team to lead the side in Cup of Nations qualifiers against Malawi at home on Oct. 11 and away four days later.

Cisse, 48, was captain of Senegal when they reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup with what is heralded as a golden generation of players.

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He briefly had a spell as caretaker coach of the national team in 2012, but took over full time three years later.

He led Senegal to 2018 and 2022 World Cup qualification, making the last 16 in the latter before losing to England. They were beaten in the final of the 2019 Cup of Nations by Algeria.

The side made up for that disappointment when they beat Egypt in the final two years later to be crowned African champions for the first time.

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Why  FIFA banned Samuel Eto’o

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Always in the news for bad reasons, Samuel Eto’o has again made global headlines. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has banned the former striker and the current president of the Cameroon Football Federation.

He is banned from attending Cameroon’s matches for the next six months for violating conduct rules during the recent U-20 Women’s World Cup, where his national team faced Brazil in the round of 16.

According to FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee, Eto’o was found to have breached articles 13 (“Offensive behaviour and violations of fair play principles”) and 14 (“Misconduct of players and officials”) of FIFA’s Disciplinary Code.

The sanction stems specifically from the match between Brazil and Cameroon, held on September 11 in Bogotá, Colombia. As a result, Eto’o will be prohibited from attending any matches involving Cameroon’s national teams, both male and femaleacross all age groups.

“Mr Eto’o has been notified today, the date on which the sanction comes into force,” stated the FIFA press release.

This is not the first time Eto’o has faced controversy. He previously drew attention for his behavior towards players and national team coach Marc Brys, whom he allegedly threatened in front of cameras if his directives were not followed.

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During the Qatar World Cup, the former Real Madrid, Mallorca, and Barcelona player made headlines again after assaulting a fan who filmed him outside a stadium after a match.

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