FOOTBALL - The African Mirror

Feb

07

2024

South Africa coach Broos brings a touch of good fortune to team’s cause

AFCON 2023

VETERAN coach Hugo Broos might not have had a convincing run in charge of South Africa before the Africa Cup of Nations finals but when it comes to the tournament the 71-year-old Belgian is proving to have the Midas touch. Former Belgium international Broos won the continental title with Cameroon in 2017, taking a side given little chance before the start all the way to the winners’ podium and seven years later has led equally unfancied South Africa to the last four. They will be considerable underdogs when they face Nigeria in Bouake on Wednesday but Broos’ team confounded the…

Feb

04

2024

By The African Mirror

South Africa goalkeeper the hero as they reach Cup of Nations semi-finals

AFCON 2023

SOUTH Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams saved four penalties in the post-match shootout against the Cape Verde Islands to carry his country into the last four of the Africa Cup of Nations after a 0-0 draw in their quarter-final. Mothobi Mvala scored the decisive kick to make it 2-1 on penalties and win South Africa a semi-final place for the first time since 2000 but they were fortunate to get past the smallest nation in the tournament at Charles Konan Banny Stadium. South Africa now takes on Nigeria in Bouake in their semi-final on Wednesday. It was a game full of…

Feb

04

2024

By The African Mirror

Ivory Coast score last-gasp goal in extra time to reach semi-finals

AFCON 2023

HOSTS Ivory Coast kept up their incredible escape act at the Africa Cup of Nations as they came from behind to beat Mali 2-1 in Saturday’s quarter-final, scoring a last-gasp goal in extra time to book a semi-final with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Oumar Diakite got a touch to Seko Fofana’s strike to win the game for the Ivorians, who played with 10 men for most of the match after Odilon Kossounou was sent off shortly before halftime. Mali had taken a 71st-minute lead through Nene Dorgeles but the home team, roared on by the crowd at the Stade…

Feb

03

2024

By The African Mirror

Villa’s Traore joins Villarreal on free transfer

FOOTBALL

WINGER Bertrand Traore has joined Spanish side Villarreal on a free transfer for the rest of the season after leaving Aston Villa, both clubs said. Villa confirmed that Traore had agreed a mutual termination of his contract. The 28-year-old Burkina Faso international has struggled with playing time this season, only spending nine minutes on the field in the Premier League spread over two matches. He will join struggling Villarreal, who are 14th in the LaLiga table with 23 points, seven clear of the relegation zone.

Feb

03

2024

By MARK GLEESON

DR Congo book Cup of Nations semi-final berth with 3-1 win over Guinea

AFCON 2023

THE Democratic Republic of Congo came from a goal behind to beat Guinea 3-1 in their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final at the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium and join Nigeria in the last four. Chancel Mbemba, Yoane Wissa and Arthur Masuaku scored the goals as the Congolese recovered from conceding an early penalty to secure victory and a semi-final berth for the first time since 2015. Mbemba had given away a penalty when he shoved Mohamed Bayo in the box to allow the Guinea striker to score after 20 minutes but the Congolese captain made up for his error seven…

Feb

03

2024

By The African Mirror

Nigeria beat Angola to advance to Cup of Nations semi-final

AFCON 2023

NIGERIA were the first side to book a semi-final berth at the Africa Cup of Nations after Ademola Lookman's first-half goal ensured a 1-0 win over Angola in the last eight on Friday. Lookman finished off a flying run down the left by winger Moses Simon, who skipped the challenge of defender Kialonda Gaspar to break free and then teed up his team mate for his third goal of the tournament. The 26-year-old's 41st-minute strike at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium was enough to set up a semi-final meeting on Wednesday against either the Cape Verde Islands or South Africa, who…

Feb

02

2024

By BONFACE ORUCHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

International clubs look to Africa for female football talent

FOOTBALL

AFRICA is growing into a critical supplier of professional female football talent to international clubs outside the continent, according to a new FIFA report. The ‘Global Transfer Report 2023’ released on January 30 by the international football governing body, FIFA, shows that Nigeria and Ghana produced among the highest number (in the top ten globally) of women players in the international transfer market last year. The FIFA report assesses and aggregates the market dynamics of professional and amateur footballers globally. “An all-time record of 74,836 cross-border transfers were made in 2023. Some 23,689 (31.7%) of these moves involved professionals (men…

Feb

01

2024

By SIMON CHADWICK and PAUL WIDDOP

Afcon 2023: Africa’s diaspora footballers are boosting the continent’s game – but they are also creating challenges

AFCON 2023

THE Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is approaching its conclusion in Ivory Coast and speculation is rife about which team will be the ultimate winner. It cannot be one of the continent’s footballing heavyweights such as Morocco or Senegal. They were knocked out. Alternatively, a relative minnow like Angola or Cape Verde may emerge as the unexpected victor. Last time out, at the 2021 edition in Algeria, Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly lifted the trophy. Before that, Algeria’s 2019 triumph in Egypt saw Riyad Mahrez become the victorious captain. Significantly, neither player was born in Africa and there is a distinct…

Feb

01

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Morocco’s Cup of Nations calamity contrasts with World Cup heroics

FOOTBALL

ANOTHER African Cup of Nations calamity for Morocco keeps up a consistent sequence of failures in the tournament that contrasts starkly with their performance at the last World Cup. Morocco became the first African side to reach the World Cup semi-finals some 14 months ago and went into the Cup of Nations finals as favourites. Before the tournament, they had one loss in 12 games and invested heavily in their preparations, including arriving a week before kick-off in the Ivory Coast to adjust to the severe heat and suffocating humidity. But their hopes ended on Tuesday with elimination in the…

Jan

31

2024

By The African Mirror

South Africa stun fancied Morocco to book quarter-final place

AFCON 2023

EVIDENCE Makgopa and Teboho Mokoena scored second-half goals as South Africa shocked Morocco with a 2-0 victory to dump the World Cup semi-finalists out of the Africa Cup of Nations at the last-16 stage in San Pedro. Morocco, who had Sofyan Amrabat sent off late on, were among the favourites at the tournament in the Ivory Coast, but their continental curse continues and they remain without a Cup of Nations title since 1976, this time undone in the muggy heat of the Laurent Pokou Stadium. South Africa led in the 57th minute when midfielder Themba Zwane, so often the creative…