International Football
Despite languishing at Group C bottom, CAR still dream Qatar 2022
Only Liberia, with two points lesser look like having a realistic chance of upstaging the Super Eagles. Yet the bottom-placed Central African Republic (CAR) with just a point, are not giving up.
With the second stage of the World Cup qualifying series in Africa getting into half way mark this week, the shafts are being separated from the seeds. Nigeria’s Super Eagles are holding on tenaciously to the Group C leadership after getting maximum points from the first two matches.
According to information gathered from the country’s radio station, Radio Ndeluka, Raol Savoy, the national coach, expressed confidence that his team can still make it to Qatar next year.
They have back-to-back fixtures with the Super Eagles this weekend – on Thursday in Lagos and Sunday in Douala. The Spanish-Swiss coach remarked that his team had played balanced games so far only that they were yet to win any.
Reflecting on their first match which they forced a 1-1 draw with Cape Verde to earn their only point so far, the coach said:
” We have a lot of young people, most of whom play in Bangui and others who evolve in Europe. It is a very positive result especially in the commitment and the respect of the instructions. I am very proud of these young people of the the way they managed this match by taking the bull by the horns to succeed in taking this good point. I repeat this Cape Verde team was clearly superior in quality and experience. ”
Going into the second match which they narrowly lost 0-1 to Liberia in Monrovia savoy said: “ We must now forget about this Cape Verde match and get down to work to face Liberia. It’s a different opponent that will cause us other concerns. We also want to cause them problems. We absolutely have to get a second positive result. We must do everything to ensure that all these players are ready for Liberia to be a quality match that we can come out with a positive result.”
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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