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NIGERIA’S CHAMPIONS, ENYIMBA, SETS SIGHT ON CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TITLE

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Enyimba’s Coach Usman Abdallah is already looking beyond the club’s success at the concluded Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Championship Playoff as he confidently declared that the players can compete favourably on the continent in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League later in the year.

Enyimba on Wednesday night clinched their eight league title after a comprehensive 3-0 defeat of Akwa United in the second fixture of the last Matchday of the 2019 playoff at the Agege Stadium. Five other teams that finished in the top three of the regular NPFL season participated in the Playoff. The clubs are Kano Pillars, Rangers International, Akwa United, Lobi Stars and FC IfeanyiUbah. The Aba Elephants finished tops in the round rubbing mini league format with 12 points after losing once to Kano Pillars, that finished in second place after picking 11 points to join Enyimba as Nigeria’s second representative in the CAF Champions League. Rangers International grabbed the CAF Confederations ticket following their third place finish. 

Abdallah had always maintained that the Playoff was different from the home and away fixtures and the club’s performance at the playoff proved him right as Enyimba won four of their five games. At the regular post match conferences during the playoff and especially on the day Enyimba were beaten 2-0 by Kano Pillars, Abdallah insisted that “we are still in contention for the title though it seems not to be in our hands to determine anymore’. But the 1-1 draw between Pillars and Rangers on MatchDay 4 changed the dynamics and handed Enyimba the power to determine their fate as they flogged Lobi Stars 2-1 to mount the leadership.

Asked if he considers his squad a balanced side that can win the CAF Champions League, Abdallah responded, “this players worked hard to achieve this result and I have every confidence that with a lot more hard work, they can compete well on the continent”.

He would not be drawn into comparing the present squad with the previous squads that won the CAF Champions League back to back in 2003 and 2004 but explained that, “every team comes with their own potentials and strengths. There are no two squads that can be same and alike but what I know is that the players we have here are dedicated and hardworking. Yes, we are not ruling out scouting for some other players to add to the strength of the squad”.

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It was the Coach’s second season at Enyimba having to inherit the side from Paul Aigbogun. The soft spoken coach said the title win is a fulfilment of his ambition to bring something to Enyimba. 

“We should look at the win in the context of the entire team including the supporters who have stood by us. On personal note, I feel fulfilled that I am able to add to the laurels of Enyimba and it is a personal attainment for me”, remarked Abdallah who confided in a club staff that he would wish to join his family and savour the moments if he could enjoy that luxury.

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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German Thomas Tuchel becomes 3rd foreign manager for England

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 - Bayern Munich v VfL Wolfsburg - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 12, 2024 Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel looks on before the match REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth/File Photo

Former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has been named the new head coach of the England national team, the country’s Football Association said in a statement on Wednesday.

The German, who is England’s third foreign manager, after Sweden’s Sven-Goran Eriksson and Italian Fabio Capello, will be assisted by Englishman Anthony Barry, the statement added.

“We are thrilled to have hired Thomas Tuchel, one of the best coaches in the world and Anthony Barry who is one of the best English coaches to support him,” FA CEO Mark Bullingham said.

Tuchel replaces Lee Carsley, England’s under-21 manager, who has been in temporary charge since the resignation of Gareth Southgate after England’s defeat by Spain in the Euro 2024 final in July.

-Reuters

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Factbox on England head coach Thomas Tuchel

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Champions League - Bayern Munich Training - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - May 7, 2024 Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel on the pitch during a walk around REUTERS/Juan Medina/File Photo

German Thomas Tuchel has been appointed head coach of the England national team on Wednesday.

Born: Aug. 29, 1973 in Krumbach, Germany.

PLAYING CAREER

* Tuchel played for his local club TSV Krumbach, before moving to FC Augsburg’s academy at the age of 15.

* He never played for Augsburg’s senior side and joined German second division team Stuttgarter Kickers in 1992.

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* After eight league appearances for Kickers, Tuchel moved to fourth-tier SSV Ulm.

* Tuchel made 69 league appearances for Ulm as a central defender before he was forced to retire in 1998 at the age of 25 due to a knee injury.

COACHING CAREER

* Tuchel began his coaching career with a youth team role at VfB Stuttgart in 2000, working with future Germany internationals Mario Gomez and Holger Badstuber.

* He returned to Augsburg and took charge of their reserve team for the 2007-08 season.

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* Tuchel was appointed Mainz 05 manager in 2009, replacing compatriot Juergen Klopp.

* He guided Mainz to Bundesliga stability during his five-year stint at the club, gaining plaudits for his team’s high energy, attacking style of play.

* Tuchel took over from Klopp as Borussia Dortmund coach in 2015.

* He led Dortmund to a 2-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2017 German Cup final. He was sacked by Dortmund three days later.

* Tuchel joined Paris St Germain in 2018 on a two-year contract, replacing Unai Emery.

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* He won two Ligue 1 titles, including a domestic quadruple in his second season, and guided the club to their first Champions League final, where they lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich.

* Tuchel was sacked by PSG on Christmas Eve in 2020, despite the club finishing top of their Champions League group and sitting third in the Ligue 1 table.

* He was named Chelsea manager in January 2021 on an initial 18-month contract following the dismissal of Frank Lampard.

* Tuchel revived the team’s Premier League season and guided the London club to the Champions League final, where they beat Manchester City. Chelsea also won the Super Cup and Club World Cup.

* Chelsea sacked Tuchel in September 2022 following a shock 1-0 defeat at Dinamo Zagreb in their opening Champions League group game.

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* Bayern Munich appointed Tuchel to succeed Julian Nagelsmann in March last year.

* Bayern decided to let Tuchel go at the end of the 2023-24 season despite a contract until 2025. Tuchel steered Bayern to the Bundesliga title in 2022-23, but they finished the last campaign without any silverware for the first time in more than a decade.

* Tuchel will become England’s third foreign manager after Sweden’s Sven-Goran Eriksson and Italian Fabio Capello.

* Tuchel will take over the team in January ahead of the qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup.

-Reuters

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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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