International Football
Goal scorer against Liberia, Iheanacho six others leave Super Eagles’ camp
For the first time in many years, Nigeria’s lead football brand will be attempting to feature almost two different teams in the same competition within the same period.
The bulk of players who played on Friday against Liberia in the Group C of the World Cup qualifiers are reportedly out of camp and back at their different clubs in Britain.
Among those who left on Saturday is Kelechi Iheanacho. Others include his Leicester City mate, Wilfred Ndidi; Oghenekaro Etebo and William Troost-Ekong both of Watford FC; Alex Iwobi of Everton and the duo of Leon Balogun and Joe Aribo from Rangers in Scotland.
The match with Cape Verde will be held at the 5,000 capacity Estadio Municipal Aderito Sena on the island of Mindelo on Tuesday.
Should Nigeria avoid defeat on the fortress ground of the new dark horse of African football, the team will consolidate in its top of the log following the massive win against Liberia last Friday in Lagos.
“The Cape Verde match will not be easy considering the exit of some of the players from the United Kingdom. We have just two days to train and we have to play on a synthetic pitch in the Southern Hemisphere, remarked Gernot Rohr on NFF TV.
“We have to adapt to two extreme situations. The win in Lagos was on wet grass and under a difficult situation and here we are going to another extreme surface, a dry hard pitch (Synthetic surface) which is not going to be easy for my players to adapt easily.
“With the camp reduced, I know we still have quality players to step up the tempo and grind the result at Cape Verde it is certain that we have to build a fresh defense, midfield and the attack within a limited time,” he further remarked.
Should Super Eagles claim another win on Tuesday, it will be the second consecutive World Cup qualifying series that Nigeria will win her first two matches on the go.
At the last qualifying round of matches to Russia 2018, Nigeria won 2-1 away at Zambia and home win against Algeria to sit at the summit of the log from Match Day-one till the final match.
A record achievement set by the Franco/German tactician since Frenchman, Phillip Trousse piloted the team in the France ’98 qualifying round of matches when Nigeria was assured of Mundial qualification with a game to spare against Syli Stars of Guinea in Conakry.
Brazil will round off their 2025 calendar with two friendly matches in Europe next month, taking on Senegal and Tunisia as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup, the Brazilian FA (CBF) announced on Thursday.
The five-time world champions, managed by Carlo Ancelotti, will face Senegal on November 15 at Emirates Stadium in London and, three days later, they will meet Tunisia in Lille, France.
The CBF announced that these fixtures were designed to “provide the team with valuable experience against African opposition” ahead of next year’s tournament in North America.
After the conclusion of the South American qualifiers, the choice of opponents follows October’s encounters against Asian teams, which saw Brazil beat South Korea 5-0 but suffer a stunning first defeat to Japan.
With coach Ancelotti facing limited preparation time after arriving in May from Real Madrid, the matches form part of a broader plan to expose Brazil to a variety of playing styles in preparation for next year’s the World Cup.
Looking ahead to March 2026, the CBF has indicated that Brazil’s next set of friendlies will likely be against top-level European nations, with the U.S. as the expected venue.
Ancelotti has been steadily implementing his vision for the squad and has emphasised the importance of adapting to diverse tactical challenges, particularly against teams from other continents.
CBF sources indicated that the plan for the three remaining international breaks would be to make final observations regarding players and tactical adjustments in November, lock in the starting line-up in March and strengthen ties with Brazilian fans with a final friendly at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana before departing for the tournament.
The upcoming friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia will provide an opportunity to test Brazil’s readiness against two of Africa’s strongest sides.
Senegal boast a formidable squad featuring Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson and Kalidou Koulibaly. They shocked Brazil 4-2 in their last encounter, a friendly played in Lisbon two years ago.
Tunisia, meanwhile, are known for their defensive organisation and have consistently performed well in African competitions.
Back in September they were the second African team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup with two games to spare.
-Reuters
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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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