International Football
Facts ahead of Portugal’s clash with Ghana
Just a week after battering Nigeria’s Super Eagles in a pre-tournament friendly duel, Portugal, in Group H, take on Ghana, the team that was responsible for Nigeria’s absence.
This is Portugal’s sixth successive FIFA World Cup finals campaign as they square against Ghana, who, absent in 2018, return to face the same team they met in their closing encounter eight years ago – a 2-1 defeat that led to both teams’ exit in Brazil.
Although this is only their eighth FIFA World Cup appearance, Portugal have been ever-presents this century, coming fourth in 2006, the first of Cristiano Ronaldo’s record-equalling five tournament participations. The legendary forward will be looking to make history in Qatar as the first player to score in five FIFA World Cups.
Ghana also have something to look forward to. In 2010, they became the third African team to reach the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals.
In André Ayew, a veteran of the 2010 and 2014 finals, they boast a local hero, with the Ghana skipper having inspired Al Sadd to victory in the 2021-22 Qatar Stars League.
Facts ahead of Portugal’s clash with Ghana
Ghana and Portugal meet today in a Group H contest of Qatar 2022 as both quest for major marks. Here are some of such.
• Portugal need just one goal to reach the landmark of 50 goals scored at the World Cup.
• Portugal have won three and drawn one of their last four World Cup matches against African opposition.
• Cristiano Ronaldo is featuring for a record-equalling fifth time at the World Cup.
• Ghana’s appearance at Qatar 2022 means they have qualified for four out of five World Cups since making their final competition debut in 2006.
• Ghana have only failed to score in two of their last 11 World Cup matches.
- Portugal team facts
Overall record: Play 30; Win 14 ; Draw 6 ; Lost 10 Goals For 49; Goals Against 35; Goal Difference: 14
Biggest win: 7-0 Portugal-Korea DPR (21/06/2010)
Biggest defeat: 0-4 Portugal-Germany (16/06/2014)
Highest scoring draw: 3-3 – Portugal-Spain (15/06/2018)
Highest scoring match: 8 goals – Portugal 5-3 Korea DPR (23/07/1966)
Most goals scored in a match: 7 goals – Portugal 7-0 Korea DPR (21/06/2010)
Most goals conceded in a match: 4 goals – Portugal 0-4 Germany (16/06/2014)
Most goals scored at a FIFA World Cup: 17 – 1966 (6 matches)
Fewest goals scored at a FIFA World Cup: 2 – 1986 (3 matches)
Most goals conceded at a FIFA World Cup: 8 – 1966 (6 matches)
Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA World Cup: 1 – 2010 (4 matches)
FIFA WORLD CUP STREAKS
Successive wins: 4 (1966, 2006)
Successive defeats: 3 (1986-2002)
Successive draws: 1 (six times)
Successive matches without a defeat: 5 (2006), 5 (2014-2018)
Successive matches without a win: 4 (2006-2010), 4 (2010-2014)
Successive matches with a goal scored: 7 (1966-1986)
Successive matches without scoring: 3 (2010-2014)
Successive clean sheets: 3 (2010)
Ghana team facts
FIFA WORLD CUP TEAM RECORDS
Overall record: Play: 12 Win 4 ; Draw 3; Lost 5; Goals For 13; Goals Against 16; Goals Difference -3
Biggest win: 2-0 Ghana-Czech Republic (17/06/2006)
Biggest defeat: 0-3 Ghana-Brazil (27/06/2006)
Highest scoring draw: 2-2 Germany-Ghana (21/06/2014)
Highest scoring match: 4 goals – Germany 2-2 Ghana (21/06/2014)
Most goals scored in a match: 2 goals (four times)
Most goals conceded in a match: 3 goals – Ghana 0-3 Brazil (27/06/2006)
Most goals scored at a FIFA World Cup: 5 – 2010 (5 matches)
Fewest goals scored at a FIFA World Cup: 4 – 2006 (4), 2014 (3)
Most goals conceded at a FIFA World Cup: 6 – 2006 (4), 2014 (3)
Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA World Cup: 4 – 2010 (5 matches)
FIFA WORLD CUP STREAKS
Successive wins: 2 (2006)
Successive defeats: 1 (five times)
Successive draws: 1 (three times)
Successive matches without a defeat: 2 (three times)
Successive matches without a win: 4 (2010-present)
Successive matches with a goal scored: 5 (2010-present)
Successive matches without scoring: 1 (three times)
Successive clean sheets: 1 (2006, 2010)
International Football
Portugal call up same player named in England Under-18 squad
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.
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
International Football
Soon Cisse ceases to be Senegal’s Coach
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.
“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.
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.
International Football
Why FIFA banned Samuel Eto’o
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 female, across 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.
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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