FOOTBALL - The African Mirror

May

27

2024

Mbappe glad to leave PSG on winning note

FOOTBALL

FRANCE forward Kylian Mbappe said he is leaving Paris St Germain with his head held high after the Ligue 1 champions' 2-1 victory over Olympique Lyonnais in the French Cup final. Mbappe announced this month he would leave the French club at the end of the season after a seven-year stay during which he became their all-time top scorer, with 256 goals. His last game for the club came in Saturday's final at Lille's Stade Pierre-Mauroy, with first-half strikes from Ousmane Dembele and Fabian Ruiz securing a win for PSG. "It was both difficult and enjoyable because it's a final, and in…

May

26

2024

By The African Mirror

Equatorial Guinea forfeit World Cup qualifiers over ineligible Nsue

FOOTBALL

EQUATORIAL Guinea have had to forfeit their first two 2026 World Cup qualifiers after a FIFA Disciplinary Committee ruled that former Spain junior international Emilio Nsue was ineligible to play in both matches. The 34-year-old scored the winning goal in both of those games, against Namibia and Liberia, last November. Nsue, who finished as the leading scorer at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Ivory Coast earlier this year, has also been banned for six months from international football, FIFA confirmed in a statement on Friday, though they did not shed light on the specific reasons for his ineligibility.…

May

26

2024

By FERNANDO KALLAS

Xavi ‘proud and calm’ after being sacked by Barcelona

FOOTBALL

OUTGOING Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez said that he was proud of his achievements with the club and was looking forward to being a fan again, as he prepares to coach his final game against Sevilla after being sacked on Friday. "I have no regrets. I have tried to do my best. We have worked with a lot of love for this club. I'm a Barca fan for life... It's an apprenticeship for the future," Xavi told a press conference on Saturday. "These are complicated days, they have not been easy, but I'm fine. I have a clear conscience, I'm proud of myself…

May

25

2024

By FERNANDO KALLAS

Barcelona sack Xavi after season of turmoil

FOOTBALL

BARCELONA sacked manager Xavi Hernandez, four weeks after confirming their former midfielder would honour the last year of his contract and lead them through next season. The decision ended months of arguments between Barca and Xavi who made 767 appearances for the club over 17 seasons and helped them win 25 major trophies. "Today Friday, FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta has informed Xavi Hernandez that he will not be continuing as first team coach in the 2024-25 season," Barcelona said in a statement. "Barcelona wish to thank Xavi for his work as coach, as well as for his inimitable career…

May

25

2024

By The African Mirror

Stubborn defence stands between Al Ahly and more Champions League success

FOOTBALL

AL Ahly will start as favourites to secure a fourth African Champions League title in five years when they host Esperance of Tunisia in Cairo on Saturday in the second leg of the final but must break down a stubborn defence to do so. The Egyptian giants are a long-standing dominant force in African club competition and show no signs of letting up as they look to extend their record number of wins in the continent’s top club competition to 12. They forced a goalless draw in a dour first leg in Tunis last Saturday and with a formidable home…

May

25

2024

By The African Mirror

Real Madrid’s Tchouameni to miss Champions League final

FOOTBALL

REAL Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni will miss the Champions League final due to a foot injury and could be a doubt for the European Championship, Real manager Carlo Ancelotti said. The 24-year-old, who has made 38 appearances across all competitions for the Spanish champions this season, has not played since he suffered a stress fracture during their Champions League semi-final win over Bayern Munich this month. Real play Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final at Wembley on June 1. "He's doing individual work but he's not ready for the (Champions League) final," Ancelotti told reporters ahead of their last…

May

23

2024

By AMINDEH BLAISE ATABONG

Cameroon’s appointment of Brys as manager suspended by sports tribunal

FOOTBALL

CAMEROON'S appointment of Belgian Marc Brys as head coach was suspended by the country's top sports tribunal on Tuesday following the petition of an amateur football club. The country's sports ministry stirred controversy last month when it named 61-year-old Brys as manager of the Indomitable Lions without consulting the football federation (FECAFOOT). The move sparked a dispute between the sports ministry and FECAFOOT, which said the government had made a unilateral decision. In response, it asked its president Samuel Eto'o to propose a national coach and other management staff for the national side within 72 hours, deepening its standoff with the sports ministry. Eto'o kept Brys…

May

23

2024

By The African Mirror

McKinstry named as new coach of Gambia

FOOTBALL

GAMBIA have appointed Irishman Johnathan McKinstry as their new coach, weeks before they resume their World Cup qualifying campaign. The 38-year-old McKinstry has previously had stints as coach of Sierra Leone, Rwanda and Uganda. His appointment on Thursday by Gambia’s National Sports Council comes after it described as a “thorough recruitment and selection process”. No terms of his contract were given. McKinstry was a relatively unknown 27-year-old when Sierra Leone appointed him coach in 2015 but he was sacked a year later. He spent 18 months as Rwanda coach and had a similar term with Uganda. The Gambia is one…

May

23

2024

By The African Mirror

Manager Pochettino’s departure from Chelsea shocks ex-players

FOOTBALL

CHELSEA'S decision to part ways with manager Mauricio Pochettino surprised many former players who believe it could torpedo the club's endeavour to return to the top of the Premier League. Pochettino joined Chelsea ahead of the 2023-24 campaign after the club finished 12th in the previous season. The early months of the Argentine's tenure were far from convincing as the expensively assembled squad took time to gel, but a run of five straight wins in their last five league games lifted them to sixth place and secured European football. Former Chelsea player Craig Burley did not hold back on his assessment of…

May

21

2024

By MAHFOUD AMARA

Al Ahly and Esperance highlight the dominance of North Africa in club football. Lessons for other African teams

FOOTBALL

AL AHLY, based in Cairo, and Esperance, in Tunis, are among the most successful clubs in the history of the main club cup competition in Africa, the CAF Champions League. Al Ahly has reached the finals multiple times and boasts 11 titles, making it the most successful club in the competition’s history. Similarly, Esperance has secured the title multiple times. These successes have not occurred by accident. The two clubs have financial muscle, effective management systems and large fan bases. These factors not only boost their performances in competition but also influence their strategic decisions at the Confederation of African…