Egypt Name Record Scorer Hossam Hassan As New Coach –
Egypt named Hossam Hassan as their new coach on Tuesday, with the team’s all-time leading scorer finally landing his dream job following the sacking of Portuguese Rui Vitoria.
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) made the announcement in a brief statement, saying Hassan’s twin brother, Ibrahim Hassan, had also been appointed as Egypt’s team director.
Although the EFA initially said they were considering foreign candidates for the role, they swiftly brought in Hassan as a replacement for Vitoria, who was dismissed on Sunday after the Pharaohs exited the Africa Cup of Nations at the last-16 stage.
Hassan has made no secret of his desire to take up the job on numerous occasions, complaining that he was often overlooked despite being sufficiently qualified.
Critics have cited his fiery temper as a reason for him previously failing to land the job, as he has had various disciplinary problems.
In 2016, he was briefly remanded in custody for running after and attacking a photographer following the end of a local league game while in charge of Al Masry. Most recently, he was fined for breaking the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) monitor during a league game in early 2023.
Although Hassan’s managerial stints have not yielded any trophies, he was often credited with helping unfancied teams punch above their weight. He has guided a handful of Egyptian clubs, including Cairo giants Zamalek, since beginning his coaching career in 2008, several months after he hung up his boots.
The 57-year-old enjoyed a decorated playing career, in which he won numerous titles with Cairo clubs Al Ahly and Zamalek. At international level, he won three Cup of Nations titles with Egypt and spearheaded their attack at the 1990 World Cup.
He is Egypt’s all-time leading scorer with 68 goals, 14 ahead of Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah.
-Reuters
Paris St Germain snatched a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich on Saturday to reach the Club World Cup semi-finals, with Ousmane Dembele embodying the composure of Luis Enrique’s side as he sealed the victory when his team were down to nine men.
Dembele found the back of the net six minutes into added time after being superbly set up by Achraf Hakimi and the French forward also shone defensively by pressing relentlessly and initiating the move that led to his decisive goal.
“I’d give the Ballon d’Or to Mr Ousmane Dembele,” coach Luis Enrique said after PSG’s Champions League final win over Inter Milan. “The way he defended…only that can be worth the Ballon d’Or. This is how you lead a team.”
Dembele proved his coach right once again against Bayern.
Rested for the group stage after sustaining a thigh injury and only coming off the bench after halftime in the last 16 and in the quarter-final, Dembele brought an incredible energy to a team who had been dominated by Bayern.
“It’s an important period for us. We had a score to settle with Bayern after the 2020 (Champions League) final (won by Bayern 1-0) and after they beat us earlier this season,” captain Marquinhos said. “We want to win this competition.”
PSG went ahead through Desire Doue, his first goal in the tournament.
“I try to help the team by scoring, but also with my efforts, notably defensively,” Doue said.
PSG, seeking a quadruple of titles after winning the Champions League, French Cup and the Ligue 1 title, will face Borussia Dortmund or Real Madrid for a place in the final.
They will be without centre back Willian Pacho and defender Lucas Hernandez, who picked up straight red cards after Doue’s opening goal.
“The first one is a clear red card,” coach Luis Enrique said. “I’m not sure about the second one. We deserved the win but it was really really hard. Nothing special. Business as usual.”
-Reuters
Former Nigerian international goalkeeper, Ike Shorunmu, has paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Peter Rufai, describing the legendary shot-stopper as his idol and a major influence on his football career.
In an emotional message following Rufai’s passing on Thursday, July 3, Shorunmu, who also manned the posts for the Super Eagles and Lagos-based Stationery Stores FC, revealed how the late Rufai’s charisma and goalkeeping brilliance inspired his own journey into the sport.
“Dodomayana was just a wonderful personality on and off the field,” Shorunmu stated, using Rufai’s popular nickname. “Because of him, I joined Stationery Stores FC. I admired him a lot when he was playing for Stores.”
Shorunmu, who eventually rose to become Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, said meeting Rufai in the national team was a dream come true. He credited the late captain with shaping his goalkeeping skills through valuable mentorship.
“When we now met in the national team, he taught me different things which I will not forget quickly,” he added. “Adieu, my idol Peter Rufai. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. I will miss you, Dodomayana.”
Rufai, who died at the age of 61, was Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper at the 1994 FIFA World Cup and helped the Super Eagles lift the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations. He also captained the team in several crucial matches and is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s greatest goalkeepers of all time.
His death has sparked an outpouring of grief and tributes from former teammates, football administrators, and fans both in Nigeria and abroad.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Perennial favourites Nigeria will kick off their 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign on Sunday with a Group B showdown against Tunisia at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.
The highly anticipated fixture is scheduled for 5pm Nigerian time.
This encounter marks only the second time the Super Falcons will face Tunisia at WAFCON. Their first meeting was at the 2008 edition in Equatorial Guinea, where both sides played out a goalless draw in a Group B clash in Bata.
Back then, Nigeria had drawn 1-1 with Ghana in their opener, while Tunisia fell 2-1 to South Africa. Nigeria eventually advanced to the knockout stage as group runners-up, while Tunisia finished bottom of the group.
The Super Falcons have a dominant record against North African opposition in WAFCON history, remaining unbeaten in open play across six matches (four wins, two draws).
Their only loss came via penalties to hosts Morocco in the semi-finals of the 2022 edition, after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
This year’s opener marks the third time Nigeria will begin a WAFCON campaign against a North African team.
They previously opened with emphatic victories—an 8-0 rout of Morocco and 4-0 wins over Algeria, in the 1998 and 2004 editions.
Overall, Nigeria have netted 25 goals and conceded just once in six WAFCON matches against North African opponents. They kept clean sheets in each of their first five such games before conceding against Morocco in 2022.
For Tunisia, Sunday’s match will be their fifth against West African opposition at WAFCON. Their record stands at one win, two draws, and one loss. Notably, they drew 0-0 with Nigeria and lost 3-2 to Ghana in the 2008 group stage.
More recently, they defeated Togo 4-1 in 2022 and held Senegal to a goalless draw in a 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup intercontinental playoff, before losing on penalties.
As both teams look to start strong in a competitive Group B, history favours Nigeria, but Tunisia will be eager to upset the script and make a statement in Casablanca.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
- OBITUARY3 days ago
BREAKING: Nigerian Goalkeeping Legend Peter Rufai is dead
- Nigerian Football2 days ago
Football Agent John Shittu Demands Retraction and ₦250 Million Damages from Samson Siasia Over Bribery Allegation
- WAFCON1 week ago
Super Falcons Land in Morocco, Eye Historic ‘La Decima’ Women’s AFCON Title
- FEDERATION CUP1 week ago
Kwara United Clinch Historic First Title as President Federation Cup Final Goes to Penalties for the 18th time
- FEDERATION CUP1 week ago
Rivers Angels Crowned 2025 Female Federation Cup Champions After Penalty Shootout Thriller
- OBITUARY2 days ago
Peter Rufai looked lean when I last saw him, says mourning NFF President, Gusau
- OBITUARY2 days ago
Family issues statement on Peter Rufai
- IMMEMORIAL2 days ago
Peter Rufai’s Death Adds to Long List of July Tragedies in Nigerian Football