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Did Rohr Foresee the Zambian Challenge?
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
The Super Eagles’ qualification for the Russia 2018 World Cup has been postponed for another one month following the Zambia’s 1-0 defeat of immediate post-draw favourites, Algeria on Tuesday night.
The Super Eagles were initially projected to pick an outright qualification had the team achieved a double over Cameroon on Monday by taking the full points.
Picking of the ticket could also have been achieved on Tuesday if Zambia had not beaten Algeria in Constantine.
The stack reality now is that the Super Eagles have to win the next fixture against Zambia in Uyo to pick the ticket before a potentially tricky last match day fixtures which could involve horse trading with the two already eliminated giants, Cameroon and Algeria.
If Nigeria wins the October 7 fixture, the race to pick the Group B ticket gets to its climax. It will be coming on the eve of the 24th anniversary of that October 8, 1993 evening when Nigeria first qualified for the World Cup.
Hitherto, Zambia was the least expected to pose the most serious challenge for the Super Eagles, especially as the team was the first to concede goals and defeat in the power-packed Group B.
Moreover, the Zambian had the worst start in the final phase, losing on home soil.
But ahead of the Tuesday night surprised defeat of Algeria, Nigeria’s manager, Gernot Rohr at post match conference made reference to the danger posed by Zambia.
He told the gathering that the Zambian team that lost 1-2 at home to Nigeria was not the same side that beat Algeria 3-1 in Lusaka on Sunday.
“We are not done yet. We need to put up a good fight against Zambia when they come to Uyo next month”, he said as if he had premonition that Zambia could shock Algeria o n home soil.
“There have been changes in the Zambian side that lost to us and the team that beat Algeria 3-1 last Sunday”, Rohr said, noting that six new players have been injected into the side, especially from the team that won the Africa Cup of Nations under 20 earlier in the year.
Among the new inclusion that did not feature in the last October duel with Nigeria are Patson Daka, Fashion Sakala, Chisamba Lungu, Augustine Mulenga, Brian Mwila and Ziyo Tembo.
Two of them scored vital goals against Algeria that have put Zambia in contention for World Cup qualification. Patson Daka scored the vital goal that gave lifeline to Zambia on Tuesday night.
Patson Daka set Zambia on victory path on Sunday when he opened scoring in the sixth minute in the Lusaka 3-1 beating of Algeria.
A loss by Nigeria at home in October will put both Super Eagles and Zambia at par on points, but depending on the number of goals, Nigeria may have the edge on goal difference as the Super Eagles have a surplus of seven goals as against Zambia’s two.
Zambia will have to score three unreplied goals in the October match to be on equal level with Nigeria on all parameters.
A draw with Zambia on October 7 will stretch the group to the wire on the last match day on November 6 to set up potentially tricky fixtures as each will face the eliminated giants.
While Nigeria will be away to Algeria, Zambia will host Cameroon which may not up much resistance in the away fixture that means nothing to the team but could wish a complete routing of giants in the group.
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Morocco Handed Boost as Brazil Lose Only Specialist Right Back Ahead of World Cup Clash
Morocco have received an early boost ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group C opener against Brazil after the South Americans lost their only specialist right back, Wesley, to injury.
The AS Roma defender was ruled out of the tournament after suffering a left thigh muscle injury during Brazil’s 2-1 international friendly victory over Egypt in Cleveland on Saturday.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed on Sunday that medical examinations revealed damage to the adductor muscle in Wesley’s left thigh, forcing him to withdraw from Carlo Ancelotti’s 26-man World Cup squad.
His absence leaves Brazil with a significant selection headache ahead of Saturday’s showdown with Morocco. Wesley was the only natural right back in the squad, meaning Ancelotti may now have to rely on makeshift options such as versatile defenders Danilo and Ibanez to fill the position.
“The MRI scan revealed a muscle injury to the adductor muscle in his left thigh,” the CBF said in a statement.
“The CBF regrets the injury. Wesley is a player much loved by the squad and will always be considered part of this team as it seeks to win its sixth World Cup title.”
Brazil have moved quickly to replace the injured defender, calling up Atalanta midfielder Ederson, who is expected to join the squad in the United States on Monday.
For Morocco, the development could offer a tactical advantage as the Atlas Lions prepare to face the five-time world champions in what is expected to be one of the most eagerly anticipated matches of the group stage.
The North Africans, who reached the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup and continue to be regarded as one of the strongest teams outside Europe and South America, will be looking to exploit any defensive uncertainty on Brazil’s right flank.
Brazil, chasing a record-extending sixth World Cup title, are grouped alongside Morocco, Haiti and Scotland in Group C. The opening encounter between Morocco and Brazil is expected to play a key role in determining the eventual group winner.
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Algeria have extended the contract of national team coach Vladimir Petkovic and his technical staff until 2028, the country’s football federation said on Sunday, days before the World Cup in North America, with his previous deal due to expire immediately after the tournament.
Petkovic, who took charge in February 2024, has overseen a strong turnaround, leading Algeria to 21 wins, four draws and three defeats in 28 matches and guiding the team to qualification for the 2026 World Cup, after their absence from the 2018 and 2022 editions.
Algeria also reached the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after consecutive group-stage exits in 2021 and 2023, while climbing from 43rd to 28th in the FIFA world rankings and from seventh to fourth in Africa during the Bosnian’s tenure.
The federation said the extension reflected “stability and confidence in the work accomplished”, with Algeria set to open their World Cup Group J campaign against Argentina on June 17 before facing Jordan and Austria.
-Reuters
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Multi-champions Brazil, Argentina and Germany all won their preparatory games for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Saturday, although by small margins, with former champion England and hopeful Portugal also securing victories.
The busy day of friendlies saw some of the biggest stars on display, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Vini Jr and Mohamed Salah playing, but three-time champion Argentina opted to rest Lionel Messi against Honduras in Texas in a game where forward Lautaro Martinez shone with a goal and one assist for a 2-0 win. Simeone scored the second for Argentina.
Five-time champion Brazil beat Egypt 2-1 in Cleveland with Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes scoring early from inside the box and Lyon forward Endrick adding in the second half after an assist from Barcelona’s Raphinha. Zico scored for Egypt, while Salah played the first half and seemed to be in good form.
There was some drama with Brazil and AS Roma right back Wesley leaving the field in tears after what appeared to be a serious muscle injury in the left leg, which might take him out of the World Cup. Teams can change players up to one day before their first games.
Harry Kane’s first-half header earned England a 1-0 win over New Zealand in Tampa, while there were also victories for Scotland and Belgium as teams fine-tune ahead of the tournament’s kickoff next week.
With England manager Thomas Tuchel rotating his entire team at halftime and handing minutes to 22 players in the scorching 32-degree Celsius (90-degree Fahrenheit) heat, the result was secondary to the process.
But Kane’s clinical finish with a glancing header into the bottom corner from Djed Spence’s cross offered a timely reminder of the skipper’s importance to their hopes of winning a second Cup.
Four-time world champions Germany secured a ninth win in a row with a 2-1 victory over World Cup co-hosts the United States in Chicago.
Germany’s Kai Havertz (left) challenges United States captain Tyler Adams during the international friendly match between the USA and Germany at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, on June 6, 2026. Photo: Talia Sprague/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters.
Kai Havertz headed in Joshua Kimmich’s free kick to give them a second-minute lead, but the Americans snatched a stunning equaliser when Antonee Robinson thundered in a volley after defender Jonathan Tah had headed away a corner.
But Leroy Sane rifled in from 12 metres to restore Germany’s lead in the 57th minute.
Portugal defeated Chile 2-1 in an ill-tempered clash in Oeiras, where both teams finished with 10 men as Rafael Leao and Ivan Roman received their marching orders.
Goncalo Guedes gave the home side the lead before Bruno Fernandes added a second from outside the box. Lucas Cepeda scored a late consolation for Chile.
“We were superior in the 90 minutes, we managed to control the game very well, especially having a lot of the ball in the last third,” Fernandes told RTP.
Striker Romelu Lukaku continued his comeback from injury for Belgium with 25 minutes off the bench as they enjoyed a 5-0 victory over 10-man Tunisia in Brussels.
Leandro Trossard, Charles De Ketelaere, Kevin De Bruyne, Dodi Lukebakio and Nicolas Raskin scored the goals as Lukaku grabbed an assist.
“We wanted a good performance in front of our fans,” Belgium coach Rudi Garcia said. “It is a good preparation for the World Cup, we know this team can do great things.”
A much-changed Scotland scored all their goals in the first half as they romped to a 4-0 success over Bolivia in New Jersey.
Che Adams bagged two to go with strikes from Lawrence Shankland and Scott McTominay in an impressive performance.
Switzerland and Australia drew 1-1, while Bosnia and Herzegovina were held to the same scoreline by Panama.
-Reuters
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