International Football
Draw with Super Eagles ends Saudi Arabia’s losing streak
Saudi Arabia ended their six-game losing streak in dramatic fashion on Friday as they secured a 2-2 draw with Nigeria in the 100th minute of their friendly in Portugal.
Mohamed Kanno’s late, late free-kick provided an exciting end to an entertaining game. The Green Falcons had held their own throughout, and kept going to the final seconds before bagging their reward.
Salman Al-Faraj’s free-kick broke the deadlock on the hour but Victor Boniface’s tap was deflected into the net for Nigeria by Saudi Arabia’s defender, Abdulelah Almri in the 73rd minute.
Kelechi Iheanacho then scored what looked to have been a fine winner, with nine minutes remaining, before Kanno’s timely intervention.
Coach Roberto Mancini, who was appointed in August, will be relieved that he did not have to face the media to explain a seventh successive defeat for Saudi, and a third in three since he took over.
Nigeria were on top in the first half and Mohammed Al-Owais began a busy evening early on, getting down well to push a shot from Boniface to safety.
The Bayer Leverkusen forward was dangerous once more just before the 20-minute mark but Al-Owais dealt with the low shot comfortably once again, and was also relieved when Victor Osimhen shot over from close range.
Saudi Arabia were still very much in the game and a few minutes before the break they fashioned the best chance of the half. Fahad Al-Muwallad, brought back into the starting lineup by the Italian boss, burst into the area and, with just the goalkeeper to beat, stretched for the shot and Francis Uzoho saved.
The African team should have taken the lead on the stroke of halftime but Ademola Lookman shot just wide while in a one-on-one situation.
Saudi Arabia looked a little more dangerous after the break and scored on the hour, although it came out of nowhere. Al-Faraj took a free-kick and the looping ball deceived Uzoho who palmed the ball into his own net. Nigeria were stunned.
They were almost two down shortly after. Substitute Saleh Al-Shehri pulled the ball back for Abdullah Al-Hamdan and the forward’s low shot looked destined for the back of the net before it was smartly blocked.
Saudi Arabia felt they should have had a penalty with 20 minutes remaining as Semi Ajayi seemed to handle a Salem Al-Dawsari pass but, despite a check from VAR, the kick was not awarded.
It was 1-1 three minutes later. Boniface had missed a couple of chances but made no mistake after getting to the near post to guide a low left-sided cross from Moses Simon into the net.
Nigeria took the lead with nine minutes left. Al-Hamdan’s misdirected ball fell to Iheanacho and the forward, who has been in fine scoring form for Leicester City, curled home a delightful shot from the edge of the area.
Another legitimate claim for a Saudi penalty was ignored before Kanno’s late free-kick salvaged the draw. The losing streak had finally ended and Mancini will be encouraged.
Attention now turns to Mali on Tuesday, a final warm-up for November’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
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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