Coach Peseiro on criteria for Super Eagles team selection

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Coach Jose Peseiro, has revealed the process behind securing the 25-man squad for Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign. The team will depart for Abu Dhabi, UAE on Tuesday for a six-day training camp and two friendly matches ahead of the tournament in Cote d’Ivoire from January 13 to February 11, 2024. Meanwhile, Peseiro said that the coaching staff took several weeks to evaluate the players before finalizing the squad. “We set out to pick the best available players, considering their performance for both their clubs and the national team.

AFCON 2024: Coach Peseiro on criteria for Super Eagles team selection

Coach Jose Peseiro’s Super Eagles team – Getty image “We also looked at their current form, fighting ability, and their impact on the team’s atmosphere,” he explained. Peseiro said that they had to narrow down the initial pool of 72 players to 42 before settling on the final 25. He highlighted the case of goalkeeper Stanley Nwabili, who is making his debut for the national team, explaining that the decision was based on thorough analysis and personal observations. Regarding the upcoming camp in Abu Dhabi, Peseiro pointed out that “The camp will allow us to fine-tune our strategies for the AFCON. “The friendly matches against Burkina Faso and DR Congo will provide valuable insights as we prepare for the tournament.” Looking ahead to the continental tournament, the coach expressed his ambition to win the competition, while acknowledging the tough challenge posed by Nigeria’s group opponents. He also said that his men are ready to compete at the highest level, and are determined to bring home the title.

Super Eagles coach to drop 16 players from provisional list to CAF

Super Eagles coach to drop 16 players from provisional list to CAF

Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro, will drop 16 players from his 41-man provisional squad for the upcoming African Cup of Nations. According to a source close to the team, the move aims to streamline the team for the tournament scheduled from January 13 to February 11, 2024, in six Ivoirian cities. Teams are allowed to register up to 27 players for the tournament, but Peseiro is opting for a “manageable 25” to ensure tactical flexibility during the tournament. The team is scheduled for friendlies against Burkina Faso and DR Congo in a pre-games competition in Abu Dhabi before heading to Cote d’Ivoire.

AFCON 2024: Super Eagles coach to drop 16 players from provisional list to CAF

Super Eagles coach to cut down squad for AFCON 2024 The source, as reported by The Guardian, stated, “Everything is set for the team’s departure for Abu Dhabi, where we will play tune-up matches against Burkina Faso and DR Congo in a three-nation pre-games competition.” He added, “As we speak, the chosen players’ clubs have been notified and have agreed to their departure for Abu Dhabi starting from this weekend.”

Courtois unhappy with Belgium coach, confirms he will miss Euros 2024 due to injury

Courtois unhappy with Belgium coach, confirms he will miss Euros 2024 due to injury

Real Madrid goalie Thibaut Courtois has confirmed that he will miss the Euros 2024 tournament with Belgium due to injury. Courtois is currently undergoing a recovery programme, after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament injury. In an interview with Sporza, he revealed his decision not to participate in the upcoming competition in Germany, citing the need to focus on his recovery. “Due to the injury, there will be no European Championship for me. First, I have to recover 100% completely, and then it is better not to set a date for it.

Courtois unhappy with Belgium coach, confirms he will miss Euros 2024 due to injury

Belgian international Thibaut Courtois – Getty image “If I am lucky, I can play another match in May. But you can never be 100% ready for a big tournament,” he added. Courtois also addressed a previous incident where he left the Belgium camp abruptly, expressing regret for his actions and apologizing to the team and fans. He explained that he felt frustrated with Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco’s decision to award the captaincy to Romelu Lukaku instead of him. “On Saturday of the match, a few hours before kick-off, Tedesco called Lukaku and me in. When he said that Romelu was captain against Austria and I was captain against Estonia on Tuesday, something broke inside me,” Courtois revealed. “It no longer worked. The fact that I no longer felt the appreciation of the federation or the coach made something explode inside me,” he said. He further criticized Tedesco, alleging that the coach had given inconsistent explanations for his captaincy decisions and had threatened to expose him if he spoke out about the issue. He also mentioned feeling ignored by Tedesco during his first international break with the coach, despite being one of the team’s captains.

Set to be sacked Napoli coach Rudi Garcia takes responsibility for club’s struggles

Set to be sacked Napoli coach Rudi Garcia takes responsibility for club's struggles

Napoli manager Rudi Garcia in an emotional statement, took responsibility for the club’s recent struggles after their defeat to Empoli. The French coach who is aware of his impending sack, acknowledged the difficult situation they find themselves in, while addressing the players in the dressing room. Garcia became Napoli’s coach, after Luciano Spalletti left the Naples club. In 16 games this season, the team have only secured eight wins, four draws, and four defeats.

Set to be sacked Napoli coach Rudi Garcia takes responsibility for club's struggles

Rudi Garcia Napoli manager – Getty image Garcia has also struggled to bring out the best performances from star players Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen, compared to their success last season. Following the defeat to Empoli, Garcia addressed the squad saying, “It’s not your fault, it’s only mine, this defeat and this situation.” Meanwhile, Napoli is actively seeking a replacement, offering a one-year contract to Igor Tudor, while also engaging in discussions with Walter Mazzarri as potential successors.

Super Falcons coach Madugu assures team’s ready to face Ethiopia

2024 Olympics Qualifiers: Super Falcons interim coach assures team's ready to face Ethiopia

2024 Olympics Qualifiers: Super Falcons interim coach assures team's ready to face Ethiopia

Super Falcons interim coach Justine Madugu says the team’s ready for their upcoming clash against Ethiopia in the 2024 Olympics qualifiers. The nine-time African champions had a 1-1 draw with Ethiopia in the first leg of the qualifiers held in Addis Ababa. Both teams are gearing up for the reverse fixture, set to take place at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja. Madugu emphasized the determination of his team to improve upon the previous result. 2024 Olympics Qualifiers: Super Falcons coach Madugu assures team's ready to face Ethiopia2024 Olympics Qualifiers: Super Falcons coach Madugu assures team's ready to face EthiopiaJustine Madugu – Getty image “We were not too happy about the result of that first game. It’s unfortunate not to win the first leg, but we are equally realistic with ourselves. “The girls have overcome those challenges and are really determined to make sure they are part of the Olympics next year,” Madugu said. Meanwhile, the winner of this second-round tie will face either Cameroon or Uganda in the subsequent round of the qualifiers.

Luis Castro confirmed as new coach of Al-Nassr

Luis Castro confirmed as new coach of Al-Nassr

Cristiano Ronaldo will play under fellow Portuguese compatriot Luis Castro next season, following the confirmation of his appointment by Saudi Arabian club, Al-Nassr. Al Nassr confirmed the appointment of 61-year-old Luis Castro as their new head coach on Thursday afternoon.

Luis Castro confirmed as new coach of Al-Nassr

Luis Castro gives instructions from the sidelines during a Europa League match. Source: AP Castro left his role at Brazilian Serie A side, Botafogo, which he has been at since March 2022 to join the Saudi Pro League club. On June 30, it was revealed he’d officially departed after accepting an offer from a ‘foreign club’, which has now been confirmed as Al Nassr. Sports broadcaster Ben Jacobs, revealed that Ronaldo who joined Al-Nassr in January following his dramatic departure from Manchester United, was heavily involved in Castro’s appointment. Castro is the latest coaching hire this week in the cash-rich Saudi Pro League, following Jorge Jesus’ appointment at Al-Hilal and Steven Gerrard’s at Al-Ettifaq. Al Nassr have been without a permanent manager since April, when the club parted ways with coach Rudi Garcia, with Dinko Jelicic coming in as caretaker. Luis Castro confirmed as new coach of Al-NassrCristiano Ronaldo in Al-Nassr jersey. Source: Getty Castro is a former professional footballer, playing for Vitória de Guimarães and Elvas in the Primeira Liga during his career. However, he spent most of his time down in the lower leagues before later becoming a manager in 1998. 61-year-old Luis Castro who will be leading Al-Nassr next season, is best known for his two seasons in Ukraine with Shakhtar Donetsk including home and away wins over Real Madrid in the group stage of the 2020-21 Champions League. He will lead Al-Nassr into a qualifying playoff for the Asian Champions League next month after the team finished runner-up last season in the Saudi Pro League. The champion Al-Ittihad was coached by another Portuguese, Nuno Espírito Santo. Al-Nassr is among four top Saudi clubs effectively nationalized last month by being taken into majority ownership by the sovereign wealth Public Investment Fund. PIF claims to have assets of around $700 billion and is chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.  

Brazil announces Carlo Ancelotti as new coach

Brazil announces Carlo Ancelotti as new coach

Carlo Ancelotti will become the coach of Brazil next summer when his current contract with Real Madrid expires. Carlo Ancelotti has been strongly linked with the Brazil job and Brazilian Football Confederation president Ednaldo Rodrigues has now announced the plan. In an intriguing move, Fluminense boss Fernando Diniz has been appointed on a 12-month contract and will then make way for Ancelotti in June 2024.

Brazil announces Carlo Ancelotti as new coach

Carlo Ancelotti celebrating a Champions League win. Source: Getty Brazilian Football Confederation president Ednaldo Rodrigues announced the plan. Rodrigues said; “His (Diniz) game plan is almost similar to that of the coach that will take over at Copa America, Ancelotti. “We don’t call him an interim coach of the national team. He will come and make the transition in Brazil for Ancelotti.” Real Madrid have not commented on Ancelotti’s link-up with Brazil. And no details regarding his contract with the South Americans have been shared. Ancelotti would be the first non-Brazilian manager to take over the team since a brief stint by Argentinian Filpo Nunez in 1965. While three non-Brazilians have previously managed the team, none have ever guided the country to the World Cup, making Ancelotti’s potential achievement historic.

Brazil announces Carlo Ancelotti as new coach

Brazil’s national team players. Source: AFP The Brazil role has been vacant since the resignation of Tite following the team’s quarter-final exit to Croatia at the 2022 World Cup. The five-time world champions have been coached by Under-20 manager Ramon Menezes in recent friendlies against African teams where they last lost to Senegal 4-2. 64-year-old Ancelotti began his second spell at the Bernabeu in 2021, after leaving Everton, and has won the Champions League, La Liga, a Copa del Rey, and the Club World Cup among a string of successes since his return. The Champions League final win against Liverpool in 2022 was Ancelotti’s fourth European triumph as a manager, and second with Real Madrid, after also winning the competition twice with AC Milan.

PSG coach Christophe Galtier and his son arrested over alleged racism

PSG coach Christophe Galtier and his son arrested over alleged racism

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) coach Christophe Galtier and his son have been detained as part of an investigation into racism allegations at one of his former clubs. Nice prosecutor Xavier Bonhomme told The Associated Press that Christophe Galtier and his son, John Valovic-Galtier, were placed in custody for questioning on Friday morning following allegations of racism.

PSG coach Christophe Galtier and his son arrested over alleged racism

PSG coach Christophe Galtier speaking at a press conference. Source: Getty The allegations first surfaced in the French media in April. Former Nice sporting director Julien Fournier had written an email at the end of the 2021/22 season in which he claimed Galtier had made discriminatory remarks at several members of the Nice squad. Fournier said; “He (Galtier) told me that I should take account of the reality of the city and that in effect we should not have as many Blacks and Muslims in the team. “He told me he wanted to profoundly change the team’s make-up and limit the maximum number of Muslims.” Fournier had also previously mentioned serious issues with Galtier during an interview with RMC, saying the PSG coach would never be able “to enter a locker room again” if he explained the reasons behind their dispute. Galtier, who is on his way out at PSG but still under contract, however, denied the allegation at the time. PSG coach Christophe Galtier and his son arrested over alleged racismChristophe Galtier at a training with PSG players. Source: Getty Fans reacted furiously to the allegations, leading to Galtier reportedly hiring private protection. Neither PSG nor Nice have commented on the accusations of discrimination. Galtier and Fournier both left Nice last year after working together at the club which is owned by Britain’s second richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe, for just a season. Galtier eventually secured an appointment with PSG as a coach. He led PSG to another French league title as expected, but PSG was eliminated early in the Champions League and the French Cup by rival Marseille this season. PSG’s form slumped after the World Cup, with 10 losses in 28 games in 2023. Galtier has one year left on his contract but PSG has reportedly been holding talks with Luis Enrique to replace him in the coming days.

Diego Cocca sacked as Mexico national team coach after seven matches

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Diego Cocca has been sacked by Mexico after leading the country to third place in the Nations League behind the United States and Canada. The Mexican football federation brought in Cocca in February after sacking Tata Martino following a poor performance at the World Cup in Qatar in which they crashed out in the group stage.  Diego Cocca sacked as Mexico national team coach after seven matchesDiego Cocca unveiled as Mexico’s coach. Source: Getty Mexico’s team however suffered a painful 3-0 defeat to the USA in the Concacaf Nations League, a game that hurt a lot and even though they got the third place against Panama, the new director of the Mexican Soccer Federation, Juan Carlos Rodríguez decided that the Argentinean coach would not continue as coach of the Tricolor. There was already a warning that the Diego Cocca era would be analyzed after leading Mexico to the Nations League and the 2023 Gold Cup, which will begin this weekend, but he’s been sacked before the second competition began. Announcing the Argentine coach’s sack, FMF commissioner president Juan Carlos Rodriguez said; “In the last week, I have found many deficiencies. A game against the United States can be lost, there’s always that risk because this is football and the win can go one way or the other. What cannot be accepted was the way in which it happened.  Diego Cocca sacked as Mexico national team coach after seven matchesMexico and United States players after a match last Thursday. Source: Getty “This phase has been flawed by the disorder in decision-making, by the lack of processes, rigour, and transparency in appointments, and by a perfect storm in the bad habits that we’ve been dragging for so many years. “The natural thing to do would be to wait for the end of the Gold Cup, but today we don’t have time to waste. So I inform you that I’ve made the decision to terminate the contract of Diego Martin Cocca and the members of his coaching staff.” Cocca who was sacked after seven matches, had managerial success in Mexico’s domestic leagues before taking over the senior national team. He won consecutive Liga MX titles with Atlas in the 2021 Apertura and 2022 Clausura. The 51-year-old Argentine also previously managed clubs in Argentina and Colombia. Jaime Lozano will now take over as interim manager as El Tri prepares to kick off their CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign on June 25. He previously led Mexico to the Bronze medal in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.  

Rudi Garcia replaces Spalleti as Napoli coach

Rudi Garcia replaces Spalleti as Napoli coach

Serie A champions, Napoli, have appointed Rudi Garcia as their new coach to replace Luciano Spalletti, who is currently on a sabbatical after helping the club end a 33-year Serie A title drought. The 59-year-old Frenchman who previously managed Roma in Serie A, won a French league and cup double with Lille in 2010-11. Garcia was most recently in charge of Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia before being removed near the end of the season.  Rudi Garcia replaces Spalleti as Napoli coach French tactician, Rudi Garcia. Source: Getty Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis who announced the appointment of Rudi Garcia, said; “I am pleased to announce that, having met with him over the last 10 days, Mr. Rudi Garcia will be the new coach of Napoli. We wish him a warm welcome and the best of luck!” With names like Luis Enrique, Julian Nagelsmann, and Gian Piero Gasperini linked with the job, Garcia’s appointment is likely to be viewed as underwhelming by Napoli fans coming off the high of their first Serie A title in 30 years. Rudi Garcia replaces Spalleti as Napoli coach Napoli’s President, Aurelio De Laurentiis. Source: Getty Osimhen’s outstanding performance resulted in 31 goals in all competitions, attracting interest from top European clubs, including Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich. De Laurentiis, on the other hand, has made it clear that he has no intention of parting ways with the 24-year-old unless it is on his terms. Napoli is set for an important new season where they will have to ensure that they are able to build on their success this season. And more importantly, maintain the free-flowing attacking style of play that they have been associated with this past season. The Frenchman has notably used a 4-2-3-1 formation on most occasions, Napoli fans will be looking forward to his strategies and tactics as they hope for continued success under his leadership.