FOOTBALL - The African Mirror

Jan

28

2024

Angola breeze into Cup of Nations quarters with 3-0 Namibia win

AFCON 2023

ANGOLA'S Gelson Dala scored twice as they reached the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals with a comprehensive 3-0 last-16 victory over neighbours Namibia, who were left to rue four mad first half minutes. Angola, who claimed their biggest ever Cup of Nations finals win, had an early setback when goalkeeper Neblu received a red card and they were under pressure from a Namibia side that looked the most likely to find the net. But the game turned when Gelson opened the scoring after 38 minutes, Namibia defender Lubeni Haukongo received a red card shortly afterwards and the Angola forward completed…

Jan

27

2024

By The African Mirror

Afcon’s decision to allow 24 countries to play is paying off – and having dramatic repercussions

AFCON 2023

BY the end of the group stage, the 34th Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) was one of the most exciting and memorable Afcon tournaments in recent memory. This was particularly true of the performances of the continent’s best players on the field. As a scholar of sports communication with a focus on African football, I’ve followed developments with interest, notably the 2019 decision to increase the number of national teams in the final stage from 16 to 24. CHUKA ONWUMECHILI, Professor of Communications, Howard University There were several critics of the expansion of the tournament. They argued that Afcon was…

Jan

27

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Ivory Coast seek reset but in-form Senegal await

AFCON 2023

HOSTS Ivory Coast gets to push a reset button after escaping early elimination at the Africa Cup of Nations and squeezing into the last 16 of their own tournament as a lucky loser. There will be no easy route to redemption, however, after a humiliating 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea left them third in their group and waiting for Zambia’s defeat by Morocco to confirm the Ivorians' place in the knockout stage as one of the four best third-placed finishers. They have been drawn in the last 16 in Yamoussoukro on Monday against holders Senegal, the only side to have…

Jan

27

2024

By NICK SAID

Abdou’s Midas touch takes Mauritania on history-making run

AFCON 2023

AMIR Abdou may be a little-known name in the world of coaching but has now masterminded two improbable feats in successive Africa Cup of Nations finals after leading tiny Comoros Islands and Mauritania to the knockout rounds. Neither minnow nation had come close before the 51-year-old took charge, but his ability to form a cohesive unit and tap into the countries' respective diasporas to improve their fortunes has made the little-heralded French-born tactician something of a Cup of Nations icon. On both occasions his teams have beaten continental giants to advance – in Cameroon two years ago Comoros defeated Ghana…

Jan

27

2024

By The African Mirror

Reaction to Liverpool manager Klopp leaving at end of season

FOOTBALL

LIVERPOOL manager Juergen Klopp has announced his decision to leave the club at the end of this season. Following are quotes and reactions: CARLO ANCELOTTI, REAL MADRID MANAGER "It's surprising, but I understand it. It can happen after so much time that his motivation drops a little and I think that's what happened to him. "For me, all the respect goes to him because he is a great coach and he will continue to contribute a lot to football." MICHAEL OWEN, FORMER LIVERPOOL PLAYER "All great things inevitably come to an end but I thought it would be two or three years…

Jan

26

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Eclectic cast rubbing shoulders with superstars at Cup of Nations

AFCON 2023

Stars like Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen are the headline acts at the Africa Cup of Nations but they rub shoulders at the tournament with journeymen who, for a fleeting week or two, get to enjoy an extraordinary opportunity. The African championship boasts an increasingly eclectic cast of characters, particularly in recent decades with the expansion of the tournament to 24 teams, with many countries searching for talent beyond their shores. It means a musician playing football in his spare time was among the more than 600 footballers at the tournament in the Ivory Coast, along with a…

Jan

26

2024

By The African Mirror

Tunisia coach resigns after surprise Cup of Nations exit

AFCON 2023

JALEL Kadri has left his role as coach of Tunisia following the side’s surprise early exit from the Africa Cup of Nations having finished bottom of their pool in the Ivory Coast on Wednesday and not met his pre-tournament goal of a semi-final place. Kadri, who led the side at the World Cup in Qatar where they beat France, announced in a post-match television interview following the 0-0 draw with South Africa that confirmed their elimination. Speaking to beIN Sports, Kadri said his contract would automatically expire since Tunisia failed to reach the semi-finals, which was the minimum requirement. When…

Jan

26

2024

By The African Mirror

Salah will ‘100%’ return for AFCON final if he recovers: Klopp

AFCON 2023

MOHAMED Salah will definitely return to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) if he recovers in time from injury and Egypt reach the final, Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said. The 31-year-old winger returned to England for treatment after picking up a hamstring injury in Egypt's 2-2 draw with Ghana last week. Liverpool assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders has said Salah is expected to return to action in three to four weeks if there are no setbacks in his recovery. The AFCON final is on February 11. "Egypt and Liverpool both have the same interest, we want Mo Salah fit as soon…

Jan

25

2024

By The African Mirror

DR Congo advance to Cup of Nations last-16 after Tanzania draw

AFCON 2023

THE Democratic Republic of Congo has set up a last-16 clash with record seven-time winners Egypt after playing to a 0-0 draw with Tanzania in their final Africa Cup of Nations Group F fixture. The Congolese finish second in the pool with three points following a trio of draws and advance along with group winners Morocco, who take on South Africa in the next round. It was a game of very few chances for the 12,847 crowd at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium but they could at least celebrate that Ivory Coast had secured a place in the last-16 as…

Jan

25

2024

By The African Mirror

Tunisia out of Africa Cup of Nations after South Africa draw

AFCON 2023

TUNISIA limped out of the Africa Cup of Nations finals with a whimper after they were held to a 0-0 draw by South Africa in the sweltering heat of Korhogo, a result that sends their opponents into the last-16. The onus was on Tunisia to make the play as they needed a win to move off the bottom of Group E, but they created very little in the contest and failed to break down a resolute South Africa. Mali tops the pool with five points from their three games following a goalless draw with Namibia, with South Africa in second…