International Football
Twenty Nigerian Flamingos set as Egypt U17 lands Abuja for Women’s World Cup
Both Nigeria and Egypt may have failed in the bid for the flagship FIFA World Cup later in the year, both are hoping to ameliorate their last hurdle miss by picking tickets for the U17 Women’s World Cup which also holds this year in India.
The delegation Egypt’s U17 girls for Sunday’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup third round, first leg encounter with Nigeria’s Flamingos has arrived in Abuja.
Flamingos, who bumped their counterparts from the Democratic Republic of Congo 8-0 on aggregate (3-0 in Kinshasa and 5-0 in Benin City) last month, will reach the final round of the qualifiers if they fly past their Egyptian counterparts.
Both teams clash at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Sunday, 17th April with the return leg to take place in Cairo on Friday, 30th April.
The winner on aggregate will tango with the winner of the fixture between Ethiopia and South Africa for a place at this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, which will be staged in India, 11th – 30th October.
Meanwhile, the Ivorian match officials appointed by the Confederation of African Football for Sunday’s encounter are also in Nigeria, led by Natacha Gérardine Konan (Referee). The others are Lou Djenan Danielle Ta (assistant referee 1), Ndeko Edwige Appia (assistant referee 2) and Zomadre Sonia Kore (fourth official). The match commissioner is Mervat Hussein Sadig from Sudan).
…Bankole picks 20 for Egypt
Head Coach Olowookere Bankole has picked 20 players from the group in camp for the task of eliminating Egypt’s U17 girls and reaching the final round of African qualifiers for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.
The list is comprised of two goalkeepers, seven defenders, four midfielders and seven forwards.
Goalkeepers: Faith Omilana, Linda Jiwuaku
Defenders: Blessing Sunday, Comfort Folorunsho, Tumininu Adeshina, Olamide Oyinlola, Omamuzo Edafe, Miracle Usani, Confidence Nwoha
Midfielders: Blessing Emmanuel, Taiwo Afolabi, Chidera Okenwa, Joy Igbokwe
Forwards: Aminat Bello, Mercy Itimi, Alvine Da-Zossu, Anastasia Atume, Opeyemi Ajakaiye, Yetunde Ayantosho, Adaobi Okah
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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