International Football
Women’s World Cup 2023: Setbacks for Africa’s four qualifiers in friendlies
Africa’s four qualifiers for next year’s Women’s World Cup all suffered fresh setbacks in their preparations for the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
South Africa, Morocco and Nigeria experienced humiliations in their latest friendly matches, while visa issues meant Zambia had to call off a scheduled warm-up game in Europe.
After being outclassed by Brazil in two friendlies last month, African champions South Africa were thumped 4-1 by Australia in London.
Desiree Ellis’s Banyana Banyana were without a host of key players, including captain Janine van Wyk and United States-based Thembi Kgatlana – with the latter recovering from an injury suffered at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in July.
The Matildas dominated by scoring three times in the first half and a fourth in the 53rd minute before Hildah Magaia netted a beautiful consolation towards the end.
“We were looking for an improved performance. It’s not where we wanted to be but it’s step by step and I felt we have improved,” said Ellis.
South Africa have played 13 games in the calendar year, scoring 15 goals but conceding 25 times (including five at the Wafcon).
Despite losing three friendlies by an aggregate score of 13-1 against two nations ranked in the world’s top 12, Ellis was impressed with her team’s response.
“A lot of positives for us because I thought it was a better performance,” she said.
“We tested some new players and I thought they really raised their hands. That’s the big positive for us – and we scored a goal.”
Pain in Spain for Morocco
Elsewhere, Wafcon 2022 hosts and runners-up Morocco suffered back-to-back 4-0 defeats against Poland and Canada in Spain.
The Atlas Lionesses, ranked 76th in the world, were also missing key players including captain Ghizlane Chebbak, defender Hanane Ait El Haj and Tottenham striker Rosella Ayana, who are all injured.
Coach Reynald Pedros admitted the North Africans played against two highly experienced sides before their maiden appearance at the World Cup.
The Frenchman said “important lessons” were learned in the loss to Poland in Seville on Thursday, while Canada found out “how difficult it is to break down” his defence in Jerez on Monday.
Morocco had previously faced Canada twice in February 2001 in Rabat, with the visitors winning the opener 4-0 before losing the rematch 1-0 two days later.
Falcons flying without wings
Nigeria were beaten 4-0 and 2-1 by the USA last month, and pressure on coach Randy Waldrum is increasing
Nigeria coach Randy Waldrum, meanwhile, has again come under criticism from local media after the Super Falcons’ 2-0 defeat by Japan in Kobe.
The West Africans were deprived of six regular starters in Asia and Mina Tanaka scored twice within a four minute second-half period, while brilliant goalkeeping from Chiamaka Nnadozie prevented the 2011 world champions from increasing the score line.
After a disappointing Wafcon semi-final exit on penalties, the nine-time African champions are winless in three friendlies since then.
Conceding eight times and scoring once in three lethargic performances has increased the pressure on the American coach.
“We can be proud of the women who gave Japan a fight,” said Waldrum.
“I am proud of their development and I think the fans will be proud of their performance at the World Cup.”
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board, under then-president Amaju Pinnick, announced in August that it was reviewing the team’s Wafcon performance, saying a “thorough evaluation of the capability of the coaching crew to lead the team to a creditable performance at the World Cup” is ongoing.
But the newly elected NFF boss Ibrahim Gusau is yet to comment about the future of Waldrum.
Zambia grounded as Senegal and Cameroon await draw
Elsewhere, Zambia could not travel to Breda for their friendly against the Netherlands on 6 October because of visa problems.
The game was cancelled with their European hosts unable to rearrange another fixture.
“Despite many efforts by the Dutch and Zambian FA and the authorities involved, it was unfortunately not possible to bring Zambia to the Netherlands for the match,” said Dutch FA (KNVB).
Despite the four qualifiers all suffering an underwhelming international break, Africa’s number of representatives at the 2023 Women’s World Cup could yet increase.
Senegal and Cameroon will contest a 10-team intercontinental play-off in New Zealand next February, where three slots for the World Cup will be available.
Chile, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), Haiti, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay and Thailand have also booked their places at that tournament, with Europe’s sole representative yet to be decided.
A draw for the play-off is set to be conducted later this month, and the World Cup is scheduled to be played from 20 July to 20 August next year.
-BBC
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.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
International Football
Players’ union, FIFPRO, wants 20-minute halftimes, more cooling breaks amid extreme heat
Global players’ union FIFPRO is exploring whether extending halftime to 20 minutes and introducing more frequent cooling breaks could better protect players from extreme heat.
Nine of the 16 host cities for the 2026 World Cup face conditions considered “extreme risk” for heat-related illness.
Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Guadalajara, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Monterrey and Philadelphia are expected to face dangerous levels of heat and humidity, posing player safety concerns and fuelling calls for mandatory cooling aids or schedule changes.
FIFPRO’s heat risk assessments are based on wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT), a measure combining temperature, humidity, solar radiation and wind speed to estimate how environmental conditions affect the body’s ability to cool itself.
Under FIFPRO guidelines, a WBGT reading above 28 degrees Celsius indicates conditions in which matches should be postponed or rescheduled to protect players’ health.
By comparison, world soccer governing body FIFA’s own guidelines set the extreme risk threshold higher, at 32 degrees Celsius WBGT – but even by that standard, six of the nine cities are still projected to exceed safe limits.
Major League Soccer in the U.S. has a threshold of 29 degrees Celsius WBGT.
“Cooling breaks at the 30th minute and 75th minutes are quite traditional, but from a physiological point of view it does not make sense,” said Vincent Gouttebarge, FIFPRO’s Medical Director.
“Even if you ingest more than 200 millilitres of fluid, you already cannot take it all. So I would definitely like to see some project where we look at the efficacy of perhaps more frequent but shorter cooling breaks – every 15 minutes, rather than only one during each half.”
LONGER HALFTIMES
Gouttebarge also questioned whether the traditional 15-minute halftime interval is sufficient when matches are played in extreme heat.
“You can imagine that halftime of 15 minutes might not be enough in order to decrease the core temperature,” he said.
“It could be a halftime of 20 minutes which would be significant. That has been shown in the laboratory and FIFPRO, together with the national union in Portugal in August, we are going to test this kind of mitigation strategy.”
The urgency of stronger heat protocols became clear at this month’s Club World Cup where two matches — Benfica-Bayern Munich in Charlotte and Chelsea-Esperance in Philadelphia exceeded the WBGT threshold FIFPRO considers unsafe.
“According to our position, those games should have been postponed later that day or rescheduled,” Gouttebarge said.
FIFPRO officials acknowledged that FIFA has responded constructively during the tournament by lowering thresholds for mandatory cooling breaks and improving pitch-side hydration, but stressed that proactive planning is critical.
“FIFA have been quite responsive once the tournament was under way,” said Alex Phillips, FIFPRO General Secretary.
“They have actually modified how they’ve been dealing with heat during the matches based on FIFPRO’s input, which is credit to the work of the team. Obviously, it would have been better if that happened in advance, but it’s better that they have adapted.”
FIFPRO warned that the risks highlighted at the Club World Cup are a preview of what players could face at the expanded 2026 World Cup.
“This is not just affecting the Club World Cup, but also future tournaments either in the U.S. or elsewhere in the world,” said Alexander Bielefeld, FIFPRO Director of Policy & Strategic Relations.
“We need a better balance between commercial interests and the health and safety of players,” he added, referring to earlier kick-off times to accommodate European television audiences.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Former Manchester United and England midfielder Paul Ince has been charged with drink-driving, police said on Monday.
Ince, who earned 53 caps for England and won two Premier League titles during his six years at United, has been released on bail and will appear in court on July 18.
“The incident involved a black Range Rover which had collided with the central reservation barrier. Officers attended the scene and arrested a 57-year-old man,” the Cheshire police said in a statement.
“Paul Ince, of Quarry Road, Neston, has since been charged with drink-driving.”
Reuters has contacted Ince’s representative for comment.
After retiring as a player, Ince led Milton Keynes Dons to a League Two title in 2007-08. He most recently managed Reading during 2022-23.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
- OBITUARY1 week ago
BREAKING: Nigerian Goalkeeping Legend Peter Rufai is dead
- Nigerian Football1 week ago
Football Agent John Shittu Demands Retraction and ₦250 Million Damages from Samson Siasia Over Bribery Allegation
- WAFCON6 days ago
Nigeria, Tunisia Set for High-Stakes WAFCON 2024 Clash in Casablanca
- OBITUARY6 days ago
Peter Rufai and I, Ike Shorunmu, pays tribute to late mentor
- OBITUARY1 week ago
Peter Rufai looked lean when I last saw him, says mourning NFF President, Gusau
- WAFCON4 days ago
Banyana Banyana Begin WAFCON Title Defence with Commanding Win Over Ghana
- WAFCON5 days ago
WAFCON 2024: At last, Super Falcons break opening match losing streak
- WAFCON1 week ago
With a new trophy, Morocco, the Kingdom of Light, ignites a new WAFCON era