Sport
Khumalo Confident as Bantwana Aim To Secure World Cup Spot Against Nigeria
Bantwana of South Africa head coach, Ntombifuthi Khumalo, is determined to lead her team to the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Khumalo’s squad will face Nigeria’s Flamingos in the first leg of their second qualifying round at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday. Kick-off is set for 3 pm local time (2 pm in Nigeria).
Bantwana had a dominant run in the first round, crushing Gabon 22-1 on aggregate. However, Khumalo knows Nigeria will be a much tougher opponent.
“We are focused on getting to the World Cup,” Khumalo told safa.net. “Our plan is to manage each 15-minute period carefully, focusing on our defense to avoid conceding.”
She added that her team will play with an aggressive mindset. “We will press high and create scoring chances because we can’t win without attacking. But our main priority is to stay solid at the back and avoid conceding.”
Khumalo also mentioned that her team has worked on tactical adjustments, especially focusing on defense and pressing high up the pitch. The overall winner from this tie will advance to the final qualifying round.
Former footballer Thierry Henry has shared his thoughts on Arsenal’s match following their loss to Atlético Madrid on October 13.
Speaking during a brief interview on CBS Sports, Henry criticised the practice of players or coaches expressing certain opinions through the media instead of addressing issues directly within the dressing room.
“I’m not a coach anymore, but I always say, whoever speaks like that, out. Keep that in the dressing room, it’s as simple as that,” Henry said on CBS Sports.
“That is the only way it can work. You have to say those things to a person’s face… going through the press, I am not really a fan of that.”
Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has shared his thoughts on the 2026 Ballon d’Or award, revealing that he hopes the winner will come from his team.
The manager spoke about how hard his players have worked and expressed his belief that they deserve the recognition.
“What I hope is that we win this trophy. We have players who deserve it.”
“Last year, we were the best team. We showed that it wasn’t just Ousmane Dembélé who deserved it.”
French football pundit Walid Acherchour has named Lamine Yamal as his pick to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, sparking reactions among football fans.
Acherchour’s choice came as a surprise to some fans, who expected him to support fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappé instead.
Speaking about his prediction, Acherchour expressed confidence in Yamal’s chances of winning the prestigious individual award.
“For me, Lamine Yamal, he is going to get it [2026 Ballon d’Or]. For me, there’s no doubt anymore,” Acherchour said, as quoted by Actu Foot. That start to the season shows that in fact, he was injured during the World Cup. He was the best player in La Liga, and he won the World Cup.
“Even if, for me, in fact, he doesn’t have the Ballon d’Or unanimously because his World Cup was average, even being average, he won it with Spain. He won La Liga with Barça.”
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