FOOTBALL - The African Mirror

Apr

15

2024

Late Okafor goal earns Milan draw in six-goal thriller with Sassuolo

FOOTBALL

SECOND-PLACED AC Milan twice fought back from two goals down to secure a 3-3 draw at relegation-threatened Sassuolo with a late equaliser by substitute Noah Okafor in Serie A. Milan have 69 points, six ahead of Juventus with six matches left. Sassuolo are second-bottom with 26 points. Inter Milan, who host Cagliari later on Sunday, are runaway leaders on 82. It was a frustrating match for Milan, who dominated possession and chances, particularly for Samuel Chukwueze who had two goals disallowed for offside by a hair's breadth. Sassuolo goalkeeper Andrea Consigli also made several fine saves, notably a sensational early…

Apr

14

2024

By The African Mirror

Isak brace leads Newcastle to crucial 4-0 win over Spurs

FOOTBALL

A dominant Newcastle United struck twice within 95 seconds as Alexander Isak's brace helped them secure a 4-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, a vital result in their bid to qualify for European competition. Newcastle, unbeaten at home since January, moved up to sixth place in the standings with 50 points from 32 matches, one ahead of Manchester United who have played a game less and visit Bournemouth later in the day. Spurs are fifth with 60 points. Isak scored at the half-hour mark when Anthony Gordon got hold of a long ball, shook off Destiny Udogie…

Apr

14

2024

By The African Mirror

Bayern battle past Cologne to end losing run, Coman out for weeks

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BAYERN Munich struck twice in the second half to earn a 2-0 win over Cologne and bounce back from two straight league losses ahead of their Champions League return leg against Arsenal next week. With Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen 13 points ahead and poised to wrap up their first league title with a win over Werder Bremen on Sunday, Bayern's only hope of silverware this season rests with the Champions League following their 2-2 draw in the first leg in London. They suffered a serious injury blow, however, with winger Kingsley Coman taken off in the 50th minute and ruled…

Apr

11

2024

By The African Mirror

Nigeria, Zambia women win playoffs to take last two Olympic spots

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ZAMBIA and Nigeria locked up the last two spots in the women's soccer tournament at the Paris Olympics after winning two-legged playoffs in the fourth round of African qualifying. Zambia needed extra time to get past Morocco in Rabat as the Copper Queens turned a 2-1 first-leg deficit into a 3-2 aggregate triumph with a 2-0 win at Moulay Hassan Stadium. Captain and Orlando Pride striker Barbra Banda opened the scoring for Zambia in the 38th minute and secured the ticket to the Olympics when she converted a penalty in the 105th minute. The Zambians will be in a tough…

Apr

11

2024

By The African Mirror

Champions League host nations tighten security after Islamic State threats

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FRANCE and Spain will step up security ahead of the Champions League quarter-finals in Madrid and Paris on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, top officials said, as Islamic State threatened drone attacks on Europe's top club soccer tournament. British police said they were aware of reports of threats and had a robust policing plan in place ahead of Arsenal's match against Bayern Munich in London on Tuesday night. The threats against some of the world's most-watched soccer matches underline the resurgence of Islamic State after several deadly attacks this year, including in Iran and Moscow. They also point to the complex geopolitical backdrop to…

Apr

08

2024

By LORI EWING

Liverpool need late goal from Salah to draw 2-2 with Manchester United

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MOHAMED Salah scored a late equaliser from a penalty kick as Liverpool escaped Old Trafford with a single point in a 2-2 draw with Manchester United to climb to even on points with Premier League leaders Arsenal. Salah stroked home in the 84th minute for his sixth league goal at Old Trafford, the most of any visiting player in the league's history, overtaking Steven Gerrard's five. With seven games remaining in the neck-and-neck title race, Liverpool and Arsenal have 71 points with the Gunners leading on goal difference. Holders Manchester City are third with 70 points, while United are sixth…

Apr

08

2024

By The African Mirror

Napoli’s rapid goal blitz gives them a 4-2 win at Monza

FOOTBALL

NAPOLI scored three goals within six second-half minutes as they clinched a 4-2 victory at Monza to keep alive their slim hopes of a top-four finish in Serie A. The defending champions are seventh in the table with 48 points, 10 points behind fourth-placed Bologna, who played out a goalless draw at Frosinone earlier on Sunday. Monza is 11th with 42 points. Napoli still finds themselves in a challenging position in the table, trailing both AS Roma and Atalanta who sit in fifth and sixth place with 55 and 50 points respectively. Atalanta have two matches in hand before their…

Apr

04

2024

By The African Mirror

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…