FOOTBALL - The African Mirror

Apr

04

2024

Cameroon federation surprised at naming of new national coach Brys

FOOTBALL

CAMEROON'S football federation (FECAFOOT) did not know about the appointment of a new national team coach and was surprised by the sports ministry announcement naming Belgian Marc Brys. Cameroon Sports Minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombi said 61-year-old Brys was taking over as coach of the Indomitable Lions following the dismissal of Rigobert Song in February. But the federation said on Wednesday it was taken aback by the news, setting up the potential of conflict between the sports ministry and soccer federation which could lead to a ban for one of Africa's footballing heavyweights. “The Cameroonian Football Federation has learned, at the same time as…

Apr

04

2024

By The African Mirror

Racially abused player speaks out after abandoned Spanish match

FOOTBALL

SENEGALESE goalkeeper Cheikh Sarr has heard racial slurs directed at him from the stands before, but when a fan allegedly approached just to racially insult him during a Spanish third-tier league game last Saturday, he decided he'd had enough. "I grabbed him and asked why he was insulting me. My attitude was not aggressive, I just wanted to ask him why," the 23-year-old told reporters on Tuesday of the incident in Sestao, a working-class town in northern Spain, which led to the game being abandoned. "Other times it could be seen as something playful or a joke. However, this was…

Apr

04

2024

By FERNANDO KALLAS

Getafe hit with three-match partial stand closure after racist abuse

FOOTBALL

GETAFE have been ordered to partially close their central stand for three matches by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) following the racist and xenophobic abuse suffered by Sevilla manager Quique Sanchez Flores and player Marcos Acuna in Saturday's LaLiga game. Referee Iglesias Villanueva stopped the match in the 68th minute as part of LaLiga's protocol against racism after he heard fans in the stands calling the Argentine defender a "monkey" and the Spanish coach a "gypsy". The club have also been fined 27,000 euros ($29,000). The RFEF said in a statement that the closed area in the stands must display…

Apr

02

2024

By Manfred Zwecker

Premier League talking points

FOOTBALL

TALKING points from the weekend in the Premier League: LIVELY LIVERPOOL SET UP FOR KLOPP SEND-OFF Liverpool's players showed against Brighton & Hove Albion they are ready and willing to do everything in their power to give coach Juergen Klopp a successful send-off as he enters his final months as manager. Sunday's comeback win featured everything that Klopp holds dear -- suffocating pressure high up the field, quick decisions and little skill from his attacking players turning a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 win for the home side. The win put Liverpool back on top of the table and the…

Apr

02

2024

By The African Mirror

Talking points from European soccer

FOOTBALL

TALKING points from the weekend in European soccer leagues: ITALY ALLEGRI UNDER PRESSURE The season has changed quickly for Juventus and manager Massimiliano Allegri. After their loss against Lazio on Saturday, Juve have only one win in the last nine Serie A matches from which they have gained seven points. What had looked like shaping up to be a title battle with leaders Inter Milan before Christmas, has transformed into a struggle to achieve a top-four spot, a goal clearly stated by Allegri on several occasions. If Bologna and AS Roma win their respective matches on Monday, they will be…

Apr

01

2024

By LORI EWING

Man City and Arsenal draw 0-0 to hand Liverpool title-race advantage

FOOTBALL

ARSENAL nullified reigning champions Manchester City in a 0-0 draw at the Etihad Stadium, allowing Liverpool to take top spot on a pivotal day in the Premier League's three-way title race Mikel Arteta's Arsenal, in the hunt for their first league title in 20 years, are second in the table on 65 points with nine games remaining, while City are third with 64. Liverpool, on 67 points, claimed the lead with their 2-1 comeback victory over Brighton & Hove Albion earlier on Sunday. "No way can you be fully happy (with just a point)," Arteta told Sky Sports. "Listen, I think we…

Apr

01

2024

By The African Mirror

Liverpool go top after 2-1 comeback win over Brighton

FOOTBALL

STRIKER Mohamed Salah scored the winner as Liverpool came back from a goal down to beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 and go top of the Premier League ahead of Manchester City's showdown with Arsenal. Salah's sublime second-half strike leaves Liverpool on 67 points, three ahead of second-placed Arsenal and four ahead of City on a pivotal day in the title race. The Egyptian striker tormented Brighton, taking 12 shots to notch up his highest total in a Premier League game and, even though only one of them found the back of the net, it was to prove vital. Danny…

Mar

25

2024

By The African Mirror

African champions Ivory Coast held to draw by Benin

FOOTBALL

Oumar Diakite scored a second-half equaliser to spare the blushes of newly-crowned African champions Ivory Coast who were held to a 2-2 draw by Benin in a friendly in Amiens, France. It was the first game for coach Emerse Fae since his side lifted the Cup of Nations title on home soil last month, but they had to come behind twice to draw after a lacklustre performance. Benin midfielder Junior Olaitan opened the scoring before winger Max Gradel equalised just before the half-hour mark. Olaitan’s second goal put Benin on course for victory before Diakite equalised again after 69 minutes.…

Mar

25

2024

By HATEM MAHER

Croatia beat Tunisia on penalties after 0-0 friendly draw

FOOTBALL

WORLD Cup semi-finalists Croatia needed a penalty shootout to beat Tunisia following a 0-0 draw in a friendly. Keeper Ivica Ivusic, who replaced Dominik Livakovic in the second half, came to Croatia's rescue with three penalty saves as his side prevailed 5-4 after the game went to a shootout. Seifeddine Jaziri had a chance to win it for Tunisia in sudden death but Ivusic blocked his tame effort. The Cypriot-based keeper saved the decisive penalty from Oussama Haddadi. Croatia will face Egypt in the final of the four-team tournament on Tuesday after the hosts defeated New Zealand 1-0 on Friday.…

Mar

25

2024

By The African Mirror

Germany defeat a wake-up call for France, says Tchouameni

FOOTBALL

FRANCE were completely outclassed by Germany in their 2-0 defeat and should treat the loss as a wake-up call ahead of the European Championship, midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni said. Florian Wirtz scored Germany's fastest international goal after seven seconds before the Euro 2024 hosts doubled their lead early in the second half through Kai Havertz to earn victory in the Lyon friendly. "I think we were outclassed in every department," Tchouameni told French TV network TF1. "We couldn't put our game plan in place. We came up against a great team. We need to do better, individually and collectively. "It's a wake-up…