Moïses Caicedo named Ecuador captain after Valencia steps down at World Cup
Chelsea midfielder Moïses Caicedo has been appointed Ecuador captain midway through the World Cup, taking the armband from Enner Valencia, who relinquished the role during the tournament.
Valencia hands armband to Caicedo
Enner Valencia has stepped down as Ecuador captain during the ongoing World Cup. His successor is Chelsea midfielder Moïses Caicedo, who already wore the armband in the final group-stage match and has now been officially appointed captain for the remainder of the tournament. At an emotional ceremony alongside Valencia, the 24-year-old Caicedo was confirmed in his new role.
Ecuador scraped through the group stage
The captaincy change comes at a turbulent moment in Ecuador's tournament. Coach Sebastián Beccacece's side made a wretched start to the World Cup: a 1-0 defeat to Ivory Coast and a goalless draw against Curaçao left them on the brink of elimination. Relief finally arrived in the third group game, when a 2-1 victory over Germany secured third place in Group E — enough to advance to the round of sixteen. Valencia started all three group matches but has yet to find the net at this tournament.
Caicedo no stranger to the captaincy
Wearing the armband is nothing new for Caicedo. At Chelsea he captained the side twice during the past Premier League season, in home defeats to Manchester United and Manchester City in April. He had also previously led his country in a friendly victory over New Zealand in November. Ecuador face Mexico in Mexico City on Tuesday in the round of sixteen, with a win potentially setting up a last-sixteen clash against England or DR Congo.
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Source: Via South Wales Echo (GNews)
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