International Football
Can Eguavoen and Amuneke deliver the World Cup ticket? 
The Super Eagles of Nigeria are at the verge of another World Cup appearance. Should the Eagles prevail tomorrow, Nigeria will feature in her seventh World Cup in Qatar.
Unlike in the previous two qualifiers for 2014 and 2018, it has been anything but a smooth ride for the Super Eagles. In the course of the 2022 qualifiers, the Super Eagles, on field, lost their admirable record of 36 unbeaten streak at the World Cup qualifying series.
Before the shocking 0-1 loss to Central African Republic in Lagos last October, the last time the Nigerian side lost a World Cup qualifying game was way back in 20 June 2004 against Angola in Luanda.
They went 38 matches without a loss, even though the result of their last qualifiers against Algeria, which ended 1-1, was annulled owing to Nigeria’s fielding of an ineligible Shehu Abdulahi.
The qualifying series for 2022 took a dramatic twist after the Eagles lost 0-1 to unrated Central African Republic in what incidentally, was the first ever international meeting between both countries.
That was the beginning of the end for the unduly elongated coaching tenure of Gernot Rohr. Although his team managed to reverse the score-line in the return leg at the adopted home ground of Central African Republic in Douala, Cameroon, it was clear that Rohr was living on borrowed time.
The last group match, a home duel with Cape Verde was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. Needing to just avoid a loss, Rohr’s team laboured throughout the game, despite getting a dream opening, scoring in the very first minute of the match.
The mantle has now fallen on former international, Austin Eguavoen, who incidentally as the coach of the national team, lost his role to a German, Berti Vogts in 2007.
Taking over from another German, Rohr, Eguavoen, seems to have had his ‘vengeance’. But what should we expect?
Austin Eguavoen is assisted by fellow ex-international, Emmanuel Amuneke as they prepare the Super Eagles for the decisive encounter with Ghana Black Stars.
The first match comes up in Kumasi on Friday. This will be Nigeria’s 111st World Cup qualifying match. Coincidentally, it was against Ghana that Nigeria debuted in the World Cup qualifying series when they met in Accra on 28 August 1960.
At the time, Nigeria lost 4-1. But time has changed and Nigeria Super Eagles have since taken the commanding role when it comes to World Cup qualification.
As at the end of the group stage of the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, no African side has racked up as many qualifying victories as Nigeria, whose overall record of 62 wins in 110 games equates to a win rate of 56.4%.
This record is the benchmark for Eguavoen and Amuneke as the Eagles target the ultimate goal of making it to Qatar 2022.
This will be Eguavoen’s second attempt at qualifying the Super Eagles for the World Cup. At the closing stages for the Germany 2006 qualification, he was drafted to take over from Christian Chukwu.
He achieved some good results, but they were not enough to steer the team to Germany. When he took over from Chukwu in 2005, though a defender in his playing days, he showed he had an attacking philosophy.
The Super Eagles under his watch scored 10 goals in two matches and became the only coach of Nigeria to have led a team to beat Algeria at home.
Such offensive inclination had seen his side becoming the only one with a 100 per cent outing at the group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations 2021. Playing against Ghana is not a strange assignment for him considering that his team had beaten Ghana before at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations in Port Said, Egypt.
With good attacking option as well as solid defensive strategy, Eguavoen’s side should be able to overcome Ghana and qualify for the World Cup, a feat that will make him and Amuneke, the third set of Nigerians to achieve World Cup qualification feat after those of Amodu Shaibu and Keshi combination in 2002 and Keshi in 2014.
The decisive match will air on SuperSport on DStv Premier League channel 203 and GOtv channel 38. Tuesday, March 29, 2022.
-ThisDay
The ‘Finalissima’ match between Spain and Argentina that was scheduled to be held in Qatar has been cancelled due to the conflict in the Middle East, while the South American side rejected multiple alternatives, UEFA said on Sunday.
The U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran have affected countries throughout the Gulf, disrupting travel in some of the world’s busiest transit hubs and forcing several sporting events to be cancelled due to safety concerns.
The contest between European champions Spain and Copa America winners Argentina was scheduled for March 27 at Doha’s Lusail Stadium, where fans would have had the opportunity to watch Lionel Messi go head-to-head with Lamine Yamal.
UEFA said they held discussions with the organising authorities in Qatar and concluded that the match could not take place due to the “current political situation” in the region.
“It is a source of great disappointment to UEFA and the organisers that circumstances and timing have denied the teams of the chance to compete for this prestigious prize in Qatar,” UEFA said in a statement.
Qatar’s Local Organising Committee said airspace disruption and travel restrictions led to the cancellation of its Qatar Football Festival, where the host country, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Serbia were also set to play friendly games this month.
The Football Association of Serbia later announced they would play away in Spain on March 27 and host Saudi Arabia four days later.
OTHER ALTERNATIVES REJECTED BY ARGENTINA
The Finalissima’s cancellation was not just about Qatar’s security concerns, however, with UEFA saying they explored other feasible alternatives, but they proved to be ‘unacceptable’ to the Argentinian Football Association (AFA).
UEFA first offered to stage the match at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid with a 50:50 split of supporters in the stadium.
A second option was to stage the Finalissima over two legs — at the Bernabeu on March 27 and the second leg in Buenos Aires during an international window before the next Euros and Copa America in 2028.
However, the AFA rejected both options. UEFA said Argentina made a counter offer to play the game after the World Cup but Spain had no available dates.
“Ultimately, UEFA sought a commitment from Argentina that, if a neutral venue in Europe could be found, the game could go ahead on 27 March… or on the alternative date of 30 March. This proposal was also rejected,” UEFA added.
SPAIN WERE READY TO PLAY
The Spanish football federation (RFEF) said they had offered Argentina “all possible options” in collaboration with UEFA to ensure the match went ahead, adding that they had the organisational capacity to stage the clash on short notice.
“From the very outset, the Federation has expressed its absolute commitment to ensuring this match goes ahead, as it believes it brings prestige and international reputation at a crucial time in a World Cup year,” the RFEF said.
“Furthermore, it has worked tirelessly to achieve this. Spain was prepared to play, as has always been stated.”
The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada kicks off on June 11.
The 2022 edition of the Finalissima was held at Wembley Stadium in London where Argentina beat Italy 3-0.
-Reuters
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Soccer chiefs from Europe and South America will hold a final meeting before a Thursday deadline to decide whether and where this month’s “Finalissima” between Spain and Argentina will be played, with London emerging as the leading candidate after doubts over Doha, multiple sources told Reuters on Tuesday.
The match between European champions Spain and Copa America holders Argentina had been scheduled for March 27 at Lusail Stadium in Doha.
However, it has become increasingly unlikely that Qatar will host the fixture after the Qatar Football Association suspended soccer tournaments indefinitely following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and retaliatory missiles fired at the Arabian Peninsula.
The Spanish FA (RFEF) has been pushing for a swift resolution, mindful that the March international break is viewed as vital preparation ahead of the June-July World Cup in North America.
“I know that negotiations are underway,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente told Spanish Public Radio (RNE) on Monday. “The first thing, as a society, is to stop the conflict, but once you are immersed in it and you don’t know how long it will last, the solution would be, as long as you can’t play there, to find another venue as soon as possible.
Wembley Stadium staged the previous edition in 2022, when Argentina beat Italy, but it is set to host England v Uruguay on March 27. London, however, has other stadiums capable of staging the showpiece, leaving the English capital as the most likely alternative should Doha be ruled out, sources confirmed.
ALTERNATIVE OPPONENTS CONSIDERED
While keen to face Argentina and high-profile players such as Lionel Messi, sources told Reuters that Spain had made clear their priority was not to waste the last window of international fixtures before the World Cup and they were already contemplating alternative opponents.
With Spain also due to face Egypt three days later, any change would require agreement between the RFEF and European soccer body UEFA, South American confederation CONMEBOL, global governing body FIFA and the Argentine FA (AFA).
The RFEF, AFA and UEFA did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
A spokesperson for South American confederation CONMEBOL told Reuters that several meetings between the parties had taken place in recent days but did not confirm Thursday’s deadline or London as the preferred venue.
Madrid was initially proposed by the RFEF but rejected by the AFA, who preferred a neutral venue rather than giving Spain home advantage.
Morocco offered to stage the game, but the RFEF was unwilling to back their Mediterranean neighbours amid tensions behind the scenes over the 2030 World Cup, which Spain, Morocco and Portugal will co-host. Both Spain and Morocco are campaigning to stage the final.
Miami was also considered, with Messi based there at Inter Miami, but Hard Rock Stadium is hosting the Miami Open tennis tournament at the same time.
-Reuters
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International Football
Spain-Argentina ‘Finalissima’ in Qatar at risk amid US, Israel attacks on Iran
The match between Spain and Argentina, tagged “Finalissima” in Doha, is in doubt after the Qatar Football Association suspended soccer tournaments indefinitely following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and retaliatory missiles fired at the Arabian Peninsula.
The contest between European Championship winners Spain and Copa America champions Argentina was scheduled for March 27 at Doha’s Lusail Stadium, with potential big-name draws including Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi.
“Qatar Football Association announces the postponement of all tournaments, competitions and matches, effective from today and until further notice,” the association said in a statement on Sunday.
“The new dates for the resumption of competitions will be announced in due course through the Association’s official channels.”
The final call on whether to postpone the game rests with event organisers UEFA and CONMEBOL.
The Bahrain Football Association postponed all its matches until further notice, while the Asian Football Confederation on Sunday announced it was delaying Champions League Elite fixtures in the region.
The Asian Champions League Two, currently at the quarter-final stage, has also been impacted, along with games in the Challenge League.
Countries across the Middle East have been on high alert since Saturday, when the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes against Iran, aimed at diminishing Iran’s military capability.
Iran retaliated by attacking U.S. targets around the region, including in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
On Sunday, Qatar’s interior ministry reported a fire in an industrial zone after debris fell from an intercepted missile.
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