FOOTBALL - The African Mirror

Apr

2024

Nigeria name Finidi George as manager

NIGERIA have appointed their former winger Finidi George as head coach, officials said, elevating the 53-year-old from his previous role as assistant. George worked under former coach Jose Peseiro and took over after the latter's contract was not renewed despite leading Nigeria to the final of this year's Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast where they lost to the hosts. George was interim coach for two friendlies in March, a 2-1 victory over Ghana and a 2-0 defeat by Mali, and now has the job on a permanent basis. His immediate task will be to get Nigeria’s 2026…

Apr

2024

By The African Mirror

Premier League talking points

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TALKING points from the latest round of Premier League games. POROUS TOTTENHAM JOIN 50 CLUB AS DEFENCES STRUGGLE Tottenham Hotspur's concession of three goals before halftime against Arsenal meant they became the 16th club to let in 50 in the top flight this season. That is the most in a top-flight season consisting of 20 clubs since the 1909-10 season when 17 clubs reached that landmark and there could be more yet with Everton having shipped 48 with three games left. The reasons are complex, however, with VAR, teams playing out from the back and a glut of top-quality strikers…

Apr

2024

By The African Mirror

Talking points from European soccer

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TALKING points from the weekend in European soccer leagues: ITALY ATALANTA FOCUS ON EUROPEAN GLORY Gian Piero Gasperini's Atalanta are having a great season, with the Bergamo club chasing a top-four finish in Serie A, and looking to win the Europa League and Coppa Italia. However, the 66-year-old coach is clear about where his priorities lie as they prepare to face Olympique de Marseille on Thursday in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final. "Right now, the Europa League is the target we care about most, but we must be careful because Marseille are a strong side," Gasperini said.…

Apr

2024

By The African Mirror

Manchester City keep pressure on Arsenal with 2-0 win over Forest

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MANCHESTER City took another step in their bid to win a fourth consecutive Premier League title with a 2-0 victory over relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest, with Josko Gvardiol and Erling Haaland on target. Pep Guardiola's men kept the pressure on leaders Arsenal, pulling to within a point of the Gunners -- who held on to win 3-2 at Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the day -- in the table with a game in hand. "I think the most important thing is to not think (about the title race), especially these moments, but take it day by day," Haaland told Sky Sports. "Honestly…

Apr

2024

By KEN FERRIS

Arsenal must keep feet on the ground after Spurs win says Arteta

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ARSENAL must not get carried away with their Premier League title chances after edging local rivals Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 in a hard-fought London derby, manager Mikel Arteta said on Sunday. The Gunners raced into a three-goal lead by halftime but Spurs battled back with two goals and left the visitors holding on for the points after a storming late comeback. "Don't get carried away with yourself. Just understand we have to be better, we want to be better. There's a margin for improvement and we go again against Bournemouth," said Arteta. League leaders Arsenal host the Cherries on Saturday before…

Apr

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Disputed cup tie awarded to Moroccan side after kit confiscated

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MOROCCAN club Renaissance Berkane have been awarded a 3-0 win over hosts USM Alger (USMA) in the first leg of their African Confederation Cup semi-final despite refusing to play when their kit was confiscated by Algerian customs. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) said on Thursday that Sunday's second leg in Morocco would go ahead as scheduled. CAF added that USMA, who are the defending champions, would face further sanctions. Berkane went to the stadium in Algiers last Sunday for the first leg but did not leave the changing rooms at kick off time after their kit had been confiscated by Algerian…

Apr

2024

By Mpho Rantao

Zambia Football President Kamanga arrested for laundering

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THE President of the Zambian Football Association (FAZ), Andrew Kamanga, has been arrested and charged with offences related to money laundering. The country’s Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) announced the joint arrest and charging of FAZ President Andrew Kamanga and his deputy Reuben Kamanga and two other individuals for money laundering offences. In violation of Zambia's Penal Code, the DEC has charged the arrested individuals with conspiring to defraud, collecting money via false pretence, and acquiring financial advantage through false pretence. Kamanga is accused of using the money to fund trips for associates linked to him to the 2023 Africa Cup…

Apr

2024

By The African Mirror

African club semi-final fails to take place following dispute over Moroccan club’s jersey

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ALGERIAN side USM Alger's African Confederation Cup semi-final first-leg tie against Morocco’s Renaissance Berkane did not go ahead because of a political dispute over the visiting team’s jersey, leaving the outcome of the tie in doubt. The Berkane shirt features an expansive map of Morocco, including the disputed Western Sahara which has been a bone of contention between Rabat and Algiers, with the border between the neighbouring North African countries closed since the 1990s. When the Moroccan side arrived in Algeria on Friday, their kit was confiscated by customs and the team detained at the airport for several hours before…

Apr

2024

By The African Mirror

Premier League talking points

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TALKING points from the latest round of Premier League games. ARSENAL SHOW GRIT TO PROVE DOUBTERS WRONG Defeats by Aston Villa and Bayern Munich in their last two matches called Arsenal's backbone into question but Mikel Arteta's side answered the doubters with a gritty 2-0 win at Wolves to show that their title challenge is not over yet. It was a dour affair and though the statistics might suggest that Arsenal had it easy, they had to grind it out, scoring late in each half to show a different side of themselves that might prove vital as the title race…

Apr

2024

By The African Mirror

Everton grab 2-0 victory over Forest to boost survival hopes

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EVERTON secured three crucial points when they beat relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest 2-0 at Goodison Park to improve their own Premier League survival hopes and move five points clear of the drop zone. With Everton and Forest being docked eight and four points respectively for financial breaches, Everton is 16th in the standings with 30 points, having played one game fewer than Forest, who sit four points below in 17th place. Forest was furious at being denied three penalty claims and issued a strongly worded complaint on social media immediately after the game. There was little to separate the two sides…