FOOTBALL - The African Mirror

Jun

18

2024

Nigerian forward Ejuke signed to Sevilla FC

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NIGERIAN Chidera Ejuke has been announced as the first signing for Spanish outfit Sevilla FC in the summer transfer window. In an official statement via its website, the club said, “Sevilla FC has reached an agreement with the Nigerian footballer Chidera Ejuke to become a new player for the Nervionense team, joining García Pimienta’s squad as a free agent and signing for three seasons, until June 2027.” Ejuke has had a successful stint with CSKA Moscow, scoring 10 goals and providing eight assists. He also made his debut in European competition, featuring in five matches in the UEFA Europa League.…

Jun

18

2024

By The African Mirror

Reaction to Romania’s 3-0 win over Ukraine at Euro 2024

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THE following is the reaction to Romania's 3-0 victory over Ukraine in Euro 2024 Group E, the country's first European Championship win in 24 years. Nicolae Stanciu, Romania midfielder and Player of the Match: "(The support} was unique, we've never felt anything like this before. My siblings, my father and my wife all had tears in their eyes. I'd like to thank them all, and I hope we've made them very happy today... What we did today was just sensational." Stanciu on his first-half goal: "It was the goal of my career. This shirt means everything to me. To score…

Jun

17

2024

By ANDREW CAWTHORNE

Weghorst’s first touch gives Dutch late win over Poland

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STRIKER Wout Weghorst came off the bench to snatch a late winner with his first touch and give the Netherlands a deserved 2-1 comeback victory over Poland in their Group D opener at the European Championship. Weghorst had barely been on the field when he slid home Nathan Ake's perfect pass into the area in the 83rd minute to send the tens of thousands of "Oranje" fans at Hamburg's Volksparkstadion into raptures. It was his third consecutive goal as a substitute for the national side. "So important to get the early win and for me personally it's a dream scenario,"…

Jun

16

2024

By The African Mirror

Former Arsenal and Everton striker Campbell dies at 54

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FORMER Arsenal, Everton and Nottingham Forest striker and soccer commentator Kevin Campbell has died at the age of 54. British media said he had been in hospital for two weeks before his death was announced. "We are devastated to learn that our former striker Kevin Campbell has died after a short illness," Arsenal said on social media. "Kevin was adored by everyone at the club." The London-born Campbell made his senior debut at Arsenal in 1988 and spent seven years at the club including two loan spells. He was part of the Arsenal side that won the English first-division league…

Jun

16

2024

By MITCH PHILLIPS

Xhaka is top 10 as Swiss overwhelm Hungary

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GRANIT Xhaka and Dominik Szoboszlai are the number 10s, captains and driving forces of Switzerland and Hungary, but it was Xhaka who took the plaudits with a superb all-round display in his team’s 3-1 Euro 2024 victory. Kwadwo Duah, Michel Aebischer and Breel Embolo scored the goals in a dominant Swiss display, despite Hungary briefly rallying at 2-1 after a goal by Barnabas Varga. With 126 caps and seven years at Arsenal under his belt, Xhaka is enjoying something of an Indian summer. He was key in Bayer Leverkusen's surprise Bundesliga title triumph and led from the front as the…

Jun

15

2024

By The African Mirror

Mali sack head coach Chelle

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MALI has fired head coach Eric Chelle, the West African nation's soccer federation said. In a statement, reported on national television, it gave no reason for the decision but the sacking comes days after Mali were held to a goalless draw by 10-man Madagascar in a Group I World Cup qualifier in Johannesburg. "The executive committee of the Malian Football Federation, meeting in extraordinary session today unanimously decided, with the agreement of the supervisory authority, to end the collaboration between the coach of the National Team Senior, Mr. Eric Sekou Chelle and the federation," the statement said. Chelle, 46, was born in…

Jun

15

2024

By The African Mirror

Crystal Palace sign Moroccan defender Riad

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CRYSTAL Palace has signed Barcelona's Morocco international defender Chadi Riad on a long-term contract, the Premier League club said. Real Betis' Chadi Riad REUTERS/Albert Gea The 20-year-old joins Palace after spending a season on loan at Real Betis for whom he played 30 times in all competitions. "The club has high-level players who are young and I have come here to follow their same trajectory, to grow as they have grown," Riad said in a club statement. Riad was born in Palma, Mallorca, to Moroccan parents and came through the island club's youth system before moving to Barcelona and graduating…

Jun

13

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Six of the best as Morocco win handsomely in World Cup qualification

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STRIKER Ayoub El Kaabi netted a hat-trick as Morocco stormed to a 6-0 win over Congo in World Cup qualification, maintaining their 100% start to the African preliminaries for the 2026 finals in North America. But other leading contenders, Cameroon and African champions Ivory Coast, were held to away draws on a busy day of action around the continent. El Kaabi kept up the goalscoring form that helped Olympiakos win the Europa Conference League last month with his hat-trick as Morocco made it three wins out of three in Group E. The thrashing of Congo in Agadir started with a…

Jun

12

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Nigeria lose World Cup qualifier, Ghana and Algeria win, Egypt held

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NIGERIA’S World Cup qualifying hopes took a heavy blow with a 2-1 defeat by Benin, but Ghana and Algeria salvaged wins while Egypt drew after all three were behind at halftime. Ghana's Jordan Ayew got a hat-trick as they beat the Central African Republic 4-3 in Kumasi after trailing 2-1 at the break, while Algeria were 1-0 down to Uganda in Kampala but second-half goals from Houssem Aouar and Said Benrahma secured a 2-1 win. Mohamed Salah came to Egypt’s rescue with a sensational equaliser for a 1-1 draw in Guinea Bissau. Nigeria lost away to Benin, who were forced…

Jun

11

2024

By FERNANDO KALLAS and EMMA PINEDO

Valencia fans convicted for racist abuse against Vinicius Jr

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THREE Valencia football fans were sentenced to eight months in prison for hate crimes against Real Madrid's Brazil player Vinicius Jr, the first conviction for racist insults in a soccer stadium in Spain, the court announced. "The ruling handed down today, which is final, establishes as proven that the three defendants insulted Vinicius with shouts, gestures and chants referring to the colour of his skin," the Magistrate's Court of Valencia said in a statement. "These shouts and gestures of a racist nature, consisting among other things in the repetition of the sounds and imitating the movements of monkeys, caused the…