Flying Eagles boss Bosso eyes bronze medal against Tunisia

Published

3 years ago

March 10, 2023

Ladan Bosso

Nigeria coach Ladan Bosso has set his sights on clinching the bronze medal of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2023.

The Flying Eagles will face Tunisia in the third place match on Friday at the Cairo International Stadium at 16:00 local time (14:00 GMT).

Nigeria lost 1-0 in the semi-finals to The Gambia at the Cairo International Stadium on Monday night.

Steve Biko forward Adama Bojang scored the lone goal to send the Young Scorpions to their first ever TotalEnergies U-20 AFCON final.

“It was unfortunate we lost the semifinals and now we will play the third place match,” Bosso told journalists at his pre-match press conference.

“The third place is as good as the final. We believe if we get it right we will take something home and I believe we can put smiles on the faces of football loving Nigerians.

“Nevertheless it is always believed that second best is not good enough but we have to fight for third place.”

The record champions of the tournament have secured qualification to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia later this year alongside The Gambia, Senegal and Tunisia.

“The most important thing is the target given to us was to first qualify the team to the World Cup which we achieved,” said Bosso.

“We wanted to get something additional but fortunately we didn’t get it right.

“We had our mistakes but I understand the feelings of some sections of Nigerians will not be comfortable with it.

“We lost to The Gambia not that they were better than us because we should have sealed that game in the beginning.

“Nevertheless the way we prepared for the Gambian team is the same way we will prepare for Tunisia with some adjustments to get the win,” he added.

Abel Ogwuche was named the Man of the Match in the quarter-final victory over Uganda in Ismailia and he reiterated that the Flying Eagles will be playing to secure a podium finish.

“We are a hundred percent prepared to take something back to Nigeria. We lost the last game but in football there can only be three outcomes,” Abel said.

“Tomorrow we will be coming out to win the game and take something back home and put a smile to our fans back home.

“This tournament is a great opportunity for us the players to be seen and showcase our talent and we will do our best.”

Guinea names Portugal’s Duarte as new national coach

Published

1 month ago

August 12, 2025

Kunle Solaja

African Cup of Nations - Semi Finals - Burkina Faso v Egypt- Stade de l'Amitie - Libreville, Gabon - 1/2/17 Burkina Faso coach Paulo Jorge Duarte Reuters / Amr Abdallah Dalsh Livepic/File Photo

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 Van Gaal says he is cured of cancer

Published

2 months ago

July 12, 2025

Kunle Solaja

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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International Football

Like father like son, Davide Ancelotti becomes Brazil’s Botafogo manager

Published

2 months ago

July 9, 2025

Kunle Solaja

Davide Ancelotti, son of Brazil's Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, has been appointed coach of Botafogo, the Rio de Janeiro club announced on Tuesday.

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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