FOOTBALL - The African Mirror

Mar

01

2024

Arsenal’s Partey back for Sheffield United visit, Arteta says

FOOTBALL

THOMAS Partey is set to return to the Arsenal squad after a four-month absence when they visit bottom side Sheffield United, manager Mikel Arteta said. The Ghana international has had multiple injury problems this season and hasn't played since October, with just four Premier League appearances this campaign. "Thomas had a session before the last game and now he's done two consecutive sessions and he should be part of the squad," Arteta told reporters on Thursday. Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu, both out with calf issues, are close to recovery but not certain for Monday, Arteta said. "It's possible but…

Mar

01

2024

By AADI NAIR

Juventus clash may have come at the right time for upbeat Napoli

FOOTBALL

NAPOLI'S record against the traditional powerhouses of Italian football has been woeful this season but their home Serie A clash against struggling Juventus could be coming at just the right time for the champions. Napoli's shambolic title defence has seen them fail to win any of their four league matches against Juve, Inter Milan or AC Milan this season and they have dropped to ninth in the league standings, 29 points behind leaders Inter. For much of this campaign, few would have fancied Napoli's chances against Juventus, but the stars have aligned to give the champions an excellent chance to…

Mar

01

2024

By ROHITH NAIR and ELVIRA POLLINA

‘Heartbroken’ Pogba to appeal four-year doping ban at CAS

FOOTBALL

JUVENTUS midfielder Paul Pogba's career hung in the balance after he was handed a four-year doping ban but the France international said he would try to clear his name by appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The France international was provisionally suspended by a tribunal of Italy's national anti-doping organisation (NADO Italia) in September after testing positive for DHEA - a banned substance which naturally raises levels of testosterone. Juventus did not comment on the ban but a source confirmed they had been notified about the decision and would assess the next steps. The 30-year-old Pogba, who has a contract…

Feb

23

2024

By The African Mirror

Fiorentina’s Kouame treated for malaria

FOOTBALL

FIORENTINA winger Christian Kouame has been treated in hospital for malaria, the Italian Serie A club said. The 26-year-old was in the Ivory Coast squad that won the recent Africa Cup of Nations and played in the quarter-finals. "Christian has gone into hospital to receive treatment and will continue to be assessed over the coming days," Fiorentina said in a statement. Fiorentina are seventh in Serie A with 38 points. Kouame has played 22 matches for them this season, scoring one goal and providing one assist.

Feb

23

2024

By The African Mirror

Nigerian star scores as Napoli draws with Barcelona

FOOTBALL

NAPOLI fought back to hold visitors Barcelona to a dour 1-1 draw in their Champions League last-16 first leg on Wednesday as Victor Osimhen cancelled out Robert Lewandowski's opener. Last year's Spanish and Italian champions, both struggling this season, played out a poor match in which both sides were toothless and lacking attacking flair. Third in the LaLiga standings eight points behind leaders Real Madrid, Barcelona dominated the first half against a disorganised Napoli who barely managed to get out of their own half. "It is not a good result for the return leg," Barca manager Xavi Hernandez told Movistar…

Feb

23

2024

By The African Mirror

Messi shines as Inter Miami beat Real Salt Lake 2-0 in MLS season opener

FOOTBALL

LIONEL Messi set up one goal and had a hand in another as Inter Miami weathered a Real Salt Lake storm after the break to emerge with a 2-0 victory in the opening match of the 2024 Major League Soccer season. Miami dominated the first half in Fort Lauderdale and broke through in the 39th minute when Messi split the defence to find Robert Taylor, whose low shot looked like it had been saved by Zac MacMath before it spun out of his arms and into the net. Salt Lake, who had been tentative in the first half, came out…

Feb

20

2024

By The African Mirror

Traore, Diatta banned following Cup of Nations outbursts

AFCON 2023

MALI captain Hamari Traore and Senegal winger Krepin Diatta have been suspended for an effective two matches each following their respective tempestuous reactions to exits at the hands of hosts Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations. The Ivorians defeated Senegal on penalties in the last 16, with Diatta incensed over what he perceived to be incorrect calls from the match officials. He described the Confederation of African Football as "corrupt" and was found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute which also carried a fine of $10,000. Ivory Coast went on to beat Mali 2-1 after extra time in the quarter-finals following…

Feb

15

2024

By CHUKA ONWUMECHILI

African football won the 34th Afcon, with Côte d’Ivoire a close second

AFCON 2023

The 34th Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) came to an end in Côte d'Ivoire with millions of viewers around the world shouting at TV screens, and an astonishing performance by Côte d'Ivoire both on the field as champions and off it as hosts. The West African country beat Nigeria 2-1 in the final but the good news was bigger than the match. The group stage of the most important national tournament in Africa produced an average of 2.47 goals per game – the highest in the competition for over a decade. CHUKA ONWUMECHILI, Professor of Communications, Howard University As a…

Feb

13

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Ivory Coast relief after winning Cup of Nations

AFCON 2023

IVORY Coast’s success at the Africa Cup of Nations was all about taking advantage of second chances, but after coming from behind to beat Nigeria in Sunday's final, relief was the overwhelming emotion, winning coach Emerse Fae said. The host nation completed a fairytale recovery after coming close to early elimination, fighting their way back from a goal down in three of their four knockout matches before securing the trophy with a 2-1 success in Sunday’s final at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium. Fae started the tournament as assistant to Jean-Louis Gasset but took over when the veteran French coach was…

Feb

12

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Haller seals 2-1 Cup of Nations final win for Ivory Coast over Nigeria

AFCON 2023

SEBASTIEN Haller scored the winning goal nine minutes from the end as hosts Ivory Coast claimed a third Africa Cup of Nations title with a 2-1 victory over Nigeria in the final at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan on Sunday. It was a triumph born from adversity as the Ivorians scraped out of their group following two defeats, including a humiliating 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea, before finding their form in the knockout rounds with a never-say-die attitude that led them to the title. William Troost-Ekong’s header gave Nigeria a first-half lead as he rose to meet Samuel Chukwueze’s…