FOOTBALL - The African Mirror

Jan

09

2024

Profile of Nigeria team for 2023 Africa Cup of Nations

AFCON 2023

FACTBOX on Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers Nigeria. Africa Cup of Nations record: Previous appearances in finals: (19) 1963, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2019, 2021 Best performance: Winners 1980, 1994, 2013Drawn in Group A with Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Ivory Coast. Coach: Jose PeserioIt has not been a happy time for the 63-year-old Portuguese technician since he took over at the helm of the Super Eagles in May 2022, with reports of late payment of his salary and constant criticism from supporters, especially since they lost to…

Jan

09

2024

By The African Mirror

Profile of Egypt team for 2023 Africa Cup of Nations

AFCON 2023

FACTBOX on Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers Egypt. Africa Cup of Nations record: Previous appearances in finals: (25) 1957, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1970, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2017, 2019, 2021 Best performance: Winners 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010Drawn in Group B with the Cape Verde Islands, Ghana and Mozambique. Coach: Rui VitoriaThe 53-year-old Portuguese has been in charge of the Egyptian side for the last 18 months after signing a four-year deal in July 2022. After a modest playing career in the lower reaches of…

Jan

09

2024

By The African Mirror

Profile of Ivory Coast team for 2023 Africa Cup of Nations

AFCON 2023

FACTBOX on Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and hosts Ivory Coast. Africa Cup of Nations record: Previous appearances in finals: (24) 1965, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 Best performance: Winners 1992, 2015Drawn in Group A with Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Nigeria. Coach: Jean-Louis GassetThe 70-year-old Frenchman is in his first job as a national team coach, although served as Laurent Blanc’s assistant for two years with France after the 2010 World Cup. Most of Gasset’s coaching career has been spent in…

Jan

08

2024

By The African Mirror

Gambia keep faith with giant-killers of two years ago

AFCON 2023

GAMBIA will have a consistent look about them for this month’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast, selecting 18 players from the squad that provided a giant-killing performance at the last tournament in Cameroon two years ago. Gambia coach Tom Saintfiet only planned to name his squad on Tuesday, but the final 27-man selection had to be submitted to the Confederation of African Football last Wednesday and they made it public on Sunday. It sees a return for the bulk of the squad that reached the quarter-final on their debut appearance at the last finals, beating Tunisia…

Jan

08

2024

By The African Mirror

Four English non-league players headed to Cup of Nations with Tanzania

AFCON 2023

Four players from non-league clubs in England have been included in Tanzania’s 27-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast. Tanzania made no formal announcement of their squad but it was released on Sunday by the Confederation of African Football, one week ahead of the kick off of the tournament. Haji Mnoga, on loan from home town club Portsmouth at Aldershot and a former England under-17 international, was named along with Tarryn Allarakhia from Wealdstone, also in the National League, The 26-year-old Allarakhia previously played in League Two with Crawley Town. Somali-born Mohammed Sagaf plays…

Jan

08

2024

By MARTYN HERMAN

Liverpool strike late to knock Arsenal out of FA Cup, Man City cruise

FOOTBALL

AN own goal by Jakub Kiwior and a thumping late strike by Luis Diaz sealed a 2-0 victory for Liverpool at Arsenal in the weekend's headline FA Cup third-round tie as the hosts' dismal form extended into the New Year. Arsenal wasted a sackful of chances in the first half and was made to pay as Liverpool skipper Trent Alexander-Arnold's free-kick glanced off the head of Kiwior in the 80th minute. Diaz then made sure of eight-time winners Liverpool's place in the fourth-round draw as he lashed home in stoppage time. Earlier on Sunday, Manchester City romped to a 5-0…

Jan

05

2024

By LORI EWING

Man United keeper Onana available for Wigan Cup game

FOOTBALL

MANCHESTER United will have goalkeeper Andre Onana available for their FA Cup third-round match against Wigan Athletic, manager Erik ten Hag said, following talks to delay his departure to the Africa Cup of Nations. United play third-tier Wigan on Monday and Cameroon have a friendly scheduled for Tuesday against Zambia before they kick off the tournament against Guinea on January 15. "We're talking with the Cameroon federation, it was an issue during the talks with Andre when he came in here (in July from Inter Milan)," Ten Hag told reporters. "It's constructive." United, languishing eighth in the Premier League nine…

Jan

05

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Ngamaleu returns for Cameroon as teams forced into Cup of Nations squad changes

AFCON 2023

WINGER Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu will make his return to the Cameroon selection after being named as a late replacement in their Africa Cup of Nations squad headed to the Ivory Coast later this month. The 29-year-old Ngamaleu was one of his country's key players when they hosted the finals two years ago but was omitted from the original squad for this tournament, which kicks off next Saturday. He also played at the 2022 World Cup finals. He comes in at the last moment to replace uncapped teenager Regis Mughe, who has elected to stay with his French club Olympique de…

Jan

05

2024

By The African Mirror

Namibia trim Africa Cup of Nations squad

AFCON 2023

NAMIBIA have trimmed their squad for this month’s Africa Cup of Nations finals, cutting it down to 23 from the 28 who have been preparing in Ghana this week, the country’s football association said. They submitted a final squad list to the African Confederation before Wednesday’s deadline, with 11 players returning from the squad when Namibia last competed at the finals in Egypt in 2019. It includes Peter Shalulile, top scorer with South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns, and fullback Ryan Nyambe, who grew up in England and played at Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic before joining Derby County this season.…

Jan

04

2024

By The African Mirror

Injury-hit Mali include two newcomers in African Cup of Nations squad

AFCON 2023

INJURY-HIT Mali has named uncapped Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Boubacar Traore and Lorient striker Sirine Doucoure in their squad for this month’s African Cup of Nations finals. Traore, who joined Wolves from Metz in France last year after an initial loan spell, has previously played for Mali at junior level, including winning the African under-20 championship in 2019. Doucoure has served mainly as a substitute this season and has scored one goal in Ligue 1. Coach Eric Chelle, who will be without several key players in the Ivory Coast, brought in both players as replacements in his 27-man squad ahead of…