International Football
BREAKING! From the shadows of death, Flamingos bounce back to win Nigeria’s first global medal in U-17 women’s football
It was suspense all the way, but the Nigeria Flamingos flamed alive to win the bronze medal of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Mumbai India on Sunday!
A thriller it was as the Africans in a space of 17 minutes lost a three goal advantage as the hard fighting Germans with undying spirits cancelled the three goals, the last coming on the dot of 90 minute.
It then boiled down to another penalty shootout, the process they had once benefited from in the quaterfinals againf US, but worked against them in the semi finals against Colombia.
In the end, they proved to be the side with better nerves as they only lost one of their mandatory five kicks.
The bronze medal is special. It is Nigeria’s first medal in U17 women football. The taks begun with Nigeria escaping from an early goal by the Germans who found the net in the fourth minute, but the goal was annulled as the Video Assistant Referee observed that the Nigerian goalkeeper was fouled before the goal.
Nigeria fought back as Opeyemi Ajakaye in the 19th minute sprinted down the right wing before releasing a shot that beat the Germans.
Nigeria lead 1-0. Aminat Bello scored the second goal for the Flamingos in the 48th minute before Etim Edidiong got the third goal in the 63rd minute.
Then began the great German fight back. In the 73rd minute, Jella Veit nodded home from a corner kick to reduce the tally to 3-1.
Not done yet, they controversially scored a second goal from what looked an offside position. That was in the 85th minute when Paulina Bartz got the best of the Nigerian defence.
Then in the 90th minute, they levelled up through Loreen Bender to take the game into the third penalty shoot-out of the tournament. Significantly, Nigeria are the prime features of all the penalty shootout incidents.
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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