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Women’s World Cup 2023: Setbacks for Africa’s four qualifiers in friendlies

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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“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.

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“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.

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-BBC

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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International Football

Portugal call up same player named in England Under-18 squad

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Mateus Mane in England's colour

Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Mateus Mane has become hot property after Portugal named the 17-year-old in their Under-18 squad on Friday, one day after England included him in their squad.

Mane was called up for a second successive England youth camp by coach Liam Bramley before the team travel to Marbella for a four-team tournament this month.

Mane is eligible for both teams having played for the Portugal Under-17 side last season. As the Under-18 team is a non-UEFA age group, both nations are entitled to call the player up.

He made his England international debut last month against the Portugal Under-18 side who have named Mane in their squad for a four-nation tournament this month.

With both tournaments running concurrently, Mane can only play for one team and Wolves and England confirmed he would feature in Bramley’s side.

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Reuters has contacted Portugal’s football association for clarification.

While players with multiple nationalities have played for more than one country if they are eligible, they are not allowed to switch allegiances at senior level – unless they have played only in friendly matches for the first country.

-Reuters

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International Football

Soon Cisse ceases to be Senegal’s Coach

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After 107 matches spanning nine years, Aliou Cisse will not have his contract renewed as Senegal coach, officials confirmed on Wednesday. Of the 107 matches, Cisse’s team won 70, drew 24 and lost 13.

But the impressive scorecard is not enough to impress his employers.

Thus, the end beckons for Cisse’s successful nine-year spell in charge of the side that included a first Africa Cup of Nations title and two World Cup qualifications.

He had been under increasing pressure after Senegal’s surprise last 16 exit at the 2023 Cup of Nations when they lost on penalties to hosts Cote d’Ivoire.

Senegal are unbeaten in six matches since then, but home draws with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burkina Faso, and criticism from certain quarters over their style of play, made up the mind of the country’s sports ministry, who fund the salary of the national team coach, that a change was needed.

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“The FSF would like to thank Aliou Cisse for his good collaboration and his brilliant results at the head of the various national selections that he has managed since his arrival in 2011 and wish him every success for the future,” the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) said in a statement.

FSF added Cisse’s exit stemmed from a failure to fulfil the targets in his last contract, which expired at the end of August, which included victory at the 2023 Cup of Nations and reaching the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup.

They also said the “regression of our national team in the FIFA rankings and the risk of disaffection between our national team and the Senegalese (public)” had played a role.

The FSF will appoint an interim technical team to lead the side in Cup of Nations qualifiers against Malawi at home on Oct. 11 and away four days later.

Cisse, 48, was captain of Senegal when they reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup with what is heralded as a golden generation of players.

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He briefly had a spell as caretaker coach of the national team in 2012, but took over full time three years later.

He led Senegal to 2018 and 2022 World Cup qualification, making the last 16 in the latter before losing to England. They were beaten in the final of the 2019 Cup of Nations by Algeria.

The side made up for that disappointment when they beat Egypt in the final two years later to be crowned African champions for the first time.

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Why  FIFA banned Samuel Eto’o

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Always in the news for bad reasons, Samuel Eto’o has again made global headlines. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has banned the former striker and the current president of the Cameroon Football Federation.

He is banned from attending Cameroon’s matches for the next six months for violating conduct rules during the recent U-20 Women’s World Cup, where his national team faced Brazil in the round of 16.

According to FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee, Eto’o was found to have breached articles 13 (“Offensive behaviour and violations of fair play principles”) and 14 (“Misconduct of players and officials”) of FIFA’s Disciplinary Code.

The sanction stems specifically from the match between Brazil and Cameroon, held on September 11 in Bogotá, Colombia. As a result, Eto’o will be prohibited from attending any matches involving Cameroon’s national teams, both male and femaleacross all age groups.

“Mr Eto’o has been notified today, the date on which the sanction comes into force,” stated the FIFA press release.

This is not the first time Eto’o has faced controversy. He previously drew attention for his behavior towards players and national team coach Marc Brys, whom he allegedly threatened in front of cameras if his directives were not followed.

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During the Qatar World Cup, the former Real Madrid, Mallorca, and Barcelona player made headlines again after assaulting a fan who filmed him outside a stadium after a match.

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