International Football
NIGERIA’S JUNIOR AJAYI LEADS AL AHLY TO EGYPT SUPER CUP TRIUMPH
Egyptian giants, Al Ahly, profited from the exploits of Nigeria’s Junior Ajayi to emerge once again victorious in the infamous “Cairo Derby”, involving Zamalek.
Junior Ajayi scored two in the 3-2 defeat of Zamalek in the Super Cup at the Alexandria based Borg El Arab stadium.
The one match playoff was delayed from last season due to organizational reasons, and was used a curtain raiser for the new domestic season. The Cairo rivals will clash again in the 2019-20 Egypt Super Cup next January.
Nigerian import Junior Ajayi scored in each half, with Hussein Elshahat scoring inbetween for The Red Devils. Mahmoud Alaa scored twice from the spot to initiate a probable comeback for The White Knights but they couldn’t find the goal that could have forced the game to penalties.
It was Ahly’s 11th glory in the history of Egypt Super Cup compared to Zamalek’s three titles. Arab Contractors and Haras El Hodod has one title each in the competition that started in 2001.
After a slow start, Zamalek had to deal with an early blow when defender Mohamed Abdel Ghany suffered injury after just five minutes and was substituted by Mahmoud Hamdy.
Ahly had the first chance when Elshahat tried to make use of goalkeeper Mohamed Awwad blunder at the quarter hour mark but his shot was handled easily by the keeper.
Four minutes later Awwad came to rescue Zamalek again deflecting Mohamed “Afsha” Magdy’s shot over the line. But from the resulting corner Ajayi sent a powerful shot from close space giving Al Ahly the lead after 19 minutes.
Ahly had a similar blow at the half hour mark with defender Mahmoud Mitwally injured and leaving the field to Mohamed Hany. But the Red Devils continued controlling possession. And just before the break Elshahat was their hero. After passing brilliantly from Hamdi Naguez, he sent a powerful shot that was stopped by Awwad, but the rebound ball fell again to him from Mohamed Abdelshafy’s poor clearance to send both sides into the break with Ahly having a two goal lead.
The Red Devils started the second half from where they ended the first, and just three minutes after the restart Ajayi completed his brace, connecting well to Ramadan Sobhy’s pass before firing into the net, sending frenzy to Ahly supporters in the stands.
Zamalek fought back and had a penalty three minutes after the hour mark when Ahly’s goalkeeper Mohamed Elshenawy fouled substitute Mostafa Mohamed. Alaa stepped to reduce the deficit and give the White Knights hope again.
Ahly’s defensive problems worsened with defender Yasser Ibrahim also injured, leaving the field to veteran Hossam Ashour. And 15 minutes from time Zamalek had another penalty, with Alaa sending Elshenawy the wrong way to make it 3-2.
But the possible memorable comeback was never completed as Ahly remained solid in the remaining minutes to claim the trophy.
Meanwhile the 2019-20 season of Egyptian Premier League kicks off on Saturday (21 September 2019) with 18 teams competing for the title Al Ahly holds in the past four seasons.
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
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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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
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
NFF Communication director unfolds 20 Points of a 20-hour ordeal on Libyan soil
African football legends, Adebayor and Aubameyang condemn Libya’s treatment of Super Eagles
BREAKING! CAF wades into the Libya-Nigeria Airport episode
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
AIU releases its report on Tobi Amusan
-
Uncategorized1 week ago
Players boycott Libyan national team
-
AFCON6 days ago
Billiat’s penalty seals Zimbabwe’s 1-0 win over Namibia
-
AFCON1 week ago
Facts & Figures as AFCON 2025 qualifiers enter Matchday 3
-
AFCON1 week ago
AFCON 2025 in Morocco: Everything you need to know
-
AFCON6 days ago
Libya’s captain, Faisal Al-Badri alleges poor treatment in Nigeria
-
Uncategorized1 week ago
CAF compels Kwasi Appiah to step down from Ghana FA
-
AFCON2 days ago
BREAKING! CAF wades into the Libya-Nigeria Airport episode
-
Uncategorized1 week ago
Fastest World Cup final scorer is dead!