FOOTBALL Archives - The African Mirror

Oct

02

2023

VAR officials replaced after offside error in Liverpool defeat

FOOTBALL

VIDEO Assistant Referee (VAR) officials Darren England and Dan Cook have been replaced for two games this matchweek after Liverpool wrongly had a goal disallowed in their 2-1 Premier League defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. Liverpool went down to nine men as Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota were sent off in the feisty clash before an own goal by Joel Matip sealed a stoppage-time win for Spurs. The Merseyside club thought they had taken the lead in the first half through Luis Diaz who got behind the defence and fired into the bottom corner past goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. However, the goal…

Oct

02

2023

By The African Mirror

Brilliant Akliouche’s brace gives Monaco 3-2 win over Marseille

FOOTBALL

AS Monaco beat Olympique de Marseille 3-2 to move top of Ligue 1, thanks to a brace from French midfielder Maghnes Akliouche and a powerful strike from Folarin Balogun. Marseille appointed Italian coach Gennaro Gattuso this week but he could not earn a debut victory and his side remained eighth in the table after their second defeat of the season. Marseille took the lead 30 seconds into the game when Iliman Ndiaye's goal caught the hosts off guard, only for them to respond minutes later when midfielder Akliouche fired a low shot past Pau Lopez. The visitors regained the lead…

Sep

30

2023

By The African Mirror

Napoli say they never intended to offend Osimhen amid row

FOOTBALL

NAPOLI said they never intended to offend their striker Victor Osimhen with mocking social media videos, but the Serie A champions stopped short of apologising to the Nigeria international. The Italian side posted a video on TikTok with a high-pitched voice showing Osimhen missing a penalty in their 0-0 draw against Bologna on Sunday, which was later deleted. Osimhen's agent Roberto Calenda later threatened legal action, while the 24-year-old player removed all images of himself in a Napoli shirt from his social media accounts. "To avoid any potential exploitation of the matter, Napoli would like to explicitly state that the club never intended to…

Sep

29

2023

By FERNANDO KALLAS

Barcelona under investigation for suspected bribery in refereeing case

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SPANISH soccer club Barcelona are under investigation for suspected "active bribery" as part of a probe into suspected corruption spanning two decades at the refereeing committee, according to a court document seen by Reuters. Police also searched the offices of the Spanish Refereeing Committee (CTA) inside the football federation (RFEF) headquarters in Madrid on Thursday, the Barcelona court said, as part of the ongoing inquiry into "possible systemic corruption" within the CTA. Spanish football and the RFEF in particular are going through a moment of reckoning amid allegations of sexual abuse against former RFEF chief Luis Rubiales. Rubiales kissed World Cup winner…

Sep

28

2023

By The African Mirror

Top Nigerian striker threatens legal action against Napoli

FOOTBALL

NAPOLI striker Victor Osimhen's agent said he "reserves the right to take legal action" against the club after a video mocking the player was posted and then deleted from the Serie A side's official TikTok on Tuesday. Roberto Calenda released a statement on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter, saying the video caused "very serious damage to the player". "What happened today on Napoli's official profile on the TikTok platform is not acceptable. A video mocking Victor was first made public and then, but now belatedly, deleted," said Calenda. "We reserve the right to take legal action and any…

Sep

28

2023

By The African Mirror

Morocco and East African co-bid to host future Africa Cup of Nations finals

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MOROCCO was awarded the hosting of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals, replacing Guinea who was stripped of the right to host the tournament last year, while the 2027 rights were handed to a co-bid from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Morocco won by default after Algeria, Zambia and a joint bid from Benin and Nigeria all withdrew before the vote of the Confederation of African Football's executive committee in Cairo on Wednesday. The North African country was a runaway favourite and will see the decision as a boost to their hopes of co-hosting the 2030 World Cup with Portugal…

Sep

27

2023

By The African Mirror

Tigres president killed after Colombian team’s home loss

FOOTBALL

THE president of Colombian second division club Tigres FC, Edgar Paez, was shot dead following his team's defeat on Saturday, the club have announced. The 63-year-old was returning home by car with his daughter after the 3-2 home loss to Atletico FC when he was killed by two men on a motorbike close to the stadium, local media reported. His daughter escaped unharmed and authorities are currently conducting an investigation into the murder. "The Tigres family and the sporting community are devastated by this event," the club said in a statement. "His commitment to the team and his dedication to…

Sep

26

2023

By The African Mirror

Rapinoe brings the curtain down on her fabled international career

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OLYMPIC champion and two-time World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe took her final bow in international football after the U.S. beat South Africa 2-0 in a friendly in the Soldier Field stadium in Chicago. The relentless 38-year-old striker was crucial to both of her team's goals, providing the long pass to Alex Morgan that set up Trinity Rodman's goal and taking the corner that Emily Sonnett headed into the back of the net. Rapinoe, who won the Golden Boot, Golden Ball, and Ballon d'Or for her role in the U.S. 2019 World Cup campaign, received a heartfelt farewell as she left…

Sep

26

2023

By The African Mirror

Abandoned Ajax v Feyenoord match set to resume on Wednesday

FOOTBALL

THE abandoned match between Ajax Amsterdam and Feyenoord will resume on Wednesday without spectators, the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) said. Ajax's home Eredivisie match against champions Feyenoord was abandoned on Sunday as fans threw flares onto the pitch, and mounted police used tear gas to disperse rioting fans outside the stadium. Ajax were trailing 3-0 in the second half when the game was initially suspended in the 56th minute before being abandoned. The remaining minutes will now be played behind closed doors. Ajax voiced disagreement with the KNVB's decision, citing scheduling concerns, and adding they were considering taking legal steps. "The competition…

Sep

25

2023

By The African Mirror

Darwin delights as Liverpool defeat West Ham 3-1

FOOTBALL

LIVERPOOL striker Darwin Nunez netted a brilliant goal as his side romped to a 3-1 Premier League win over a dogged West Ham United side at Anfield, deftly steering home a volley on the hour mark. The visitors got off to a flying start when Tomas Soucek forced a brilliant save from Alisson with a downward header in the seventh minute, and two minutes later Michail Antonio headed a Soucek cross wide with the goal at his mercy. But the Hammers were left to rue those early misses when Mohamed Salah was felled by Nayef Aguerd in the 15th minute…