FOOTBALL - The African Mirror

Dec

30

2023

Tunisia’s Man Utd midfielder Mejbri opts not to play at AFCON

AFCON 2023

TUNISIA will be without Manchester United's Hannibal Mejbri at the African Cup of Nations as the midfielder decided he was not ready to be in the squad, manager Jalel Kadri said. The 20-year-old Mejbri decided to skip next month's tournament amid media speculation that he is close to securing a loan move away from Old Trafford. "Hannibal told me that he did not feel ready for the African Cup of Nations because he is going through an important situation at his club," Kadri told a press conference. Experienced midfielder Ferjani Sassi has been excluded from the final 27-man squad along…

Dec

30

2023

By The African Mirror

Hosts Ivory Coast leave Zaha out of African Cup of Nations squad

AFCON 2023

IVORY Coast's Galatasaray winger Wilfried Zaha has not been called up by coach Jean-Louis Gasset in the country's 27-man African Cup of Nations squad which was named on Thursday. The 31-year-old, who moved to Turkey from Crystal Palace in the close season, has only played in two friendlies for Ivory Coast this year, missing their Cup of Nations qualifiers and last month's first round of World Cup qualifying. Gasset has included Nottingham Forest's Serge Aurier, Ibrahim Sangare and Willy Boly plus Al-Ahli midfielder Franck Kessie and Trapzonspor winger Nicolas Pepe, who returns after a year's absence. Hajduk Split's Chester Diallo…

Dec

27

2023

By The African Mirror

Mauritania recall Ba for African Cup of Nations

AFCON 2023

MAURITANIA recalled former Ligue 1 midfielder El-Hadji Ba. It handed a first call-up to teenager Oumar Ngom as coach Amir Abdou unveiled his 27-man squad for next month’s African Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast. The 30-year-old Ba, formerly with Racing Lens and Sunderland, last played for the country 18 months ago but his recent signing for Mauritanian champions FC Nouadhibou earned him an international recall. Ngom, 19, has played in two French second-division games for Pau this season. Mauritania begins their Nations Cup campaign against Burkina Faso in Bouake on January 16. They also take on Algeria…

Dec

27

2023

By The African Mirror

Veteran winger Dominquez to lead Mozambique at Cup of Nations finals

AFCON 2023

MOZAMBIQUE have named 40-year-old winger Dominguez to captain their 23-man squad at next month's African Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast and also handed a first call-up to former German under-20 international Alfons Amade. Dominguez competed for Mozambique when they last appeared at the finals in 2010 and is likely to be the oldest player at the tournament, which kicks off on January 13. Defensive midfielder Amade played for Germany at the under-20 level but has switched his international allegiance although has yet to make his debut for Mozambique, who compete in Group B in the final and…

Dec

27

2023

By The African Mirror

Guinea-Bissau skipper Mendes to make fourth Cup of Nations appearance, Mendy turns down call-up

AFCON 2023

GUINEA-BISSAU captain Jonas Mendes will participate in a fourth successive African Cup of Nations finals after being named in their 25-man squad for next month's tournament in Ivory Coast, officials said. However, leading Ligue 2 striker Alexandre Mendy has turned down a call-up even though he played in a World Cup qualifier last month. Mendy's 12 goals for Caen make him the leading marksman in the French second division. Mendes, 34, has kept goal in all but two of the nine matches the small West African country has played at the finals following their debut in 2017. Mendy is the…

Dec

26

2023

By The African Mirror

Egyptian Super Cup semi-final settled after 34 penalty kicks

FOOTBALL

IT took 34 penalty kicks before Modern Future finally beat Pyramids 14-13 in a nerve-shredding shootout in the Egyptian Super Cup semi-final after the contest had ended in a 0-0 draw. Modern Future, who will face either Al Ahly or Ceramica Cleopatra in the final, squandered three spot kicks while Pyramids lost the match after missing a fourth penalty kick at Abu Dhabi's Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium. Pyramids defender Osama Galal wasted two penalty shots, including the decisive one that sealed victory for Future. Even though at times it felt that the shootout was never-ending, it was well short of…

Dec

24

2023

By The African Mirror

Al-Ahly beat Urawa Red Diamonds 4-2 to finish third in Club World Cup

FOOTBALL

AL-AHLY defeated Urawa Red Diamonds 4-2 in an entertaining Club World Cup third-place playoff to secure a top three finish in the tournament for the fourth time, despite losing a two-goal lead and missing a penalty. The Egyptian side, appearing in their fourth consecutive third-place playoff, finished third in 2006, 2020 and 2021, while Japan's Urawa came third in 2007. Al-Ahly took the lead in the 19th minute when a short corner move found Mohamed Hany well outside the box and his fierce strike was parried by the keeper and Yasser Ibrahim pounced from close range. Six minutes later Al-Ahly…

Dec

22

2023

By The African Mirror

Morocco’s fabulous football year – what’s behind their success on and off the field

AFCON 2023

IN 2022 Morocco became the first African and Arab national football team to reach a Fifa World Cup men’s semi-final, and Wydad AC won the Africa Champions League. The good news continued in 2023 with the women’s team making history by reaching the final 16 at the World Cup and the news that Morocco will host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournament and co-host the 2030 men’s World Cup. Mahfoud Amara is an Arab world sport specialist. We asked him what’s behind Morocco’s success. MAHFOUD AMARA, Associate Professor in Sport Policy & Management, Qatar University How has the…

Dec

20

2023

By The African Mirror

Fluminense beat Al-Ahly 2-0 to reach Club World Cup final

FOOTBALL

Jhon Arias and John Kennedy scored in the second half to give Brazilian side Fluminense a hard-fought 2-0 win over Egypt's Al-Ahly in their Club World Cup semi-final at King Abdullah Sports City. The Copa Libertadores champions will face the winners of Manchester City's semi-final against Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds on Tuesday in Friday's final in Jeddah. It was a compelling encounter, with an aggressive Fluminense dominating possession, but often being exposed by Al-Ahly's counterattacks. Colombia winger Arias was a constant menace, running up and down the right channel and hitting the post twice in the first half. However, Africa's…

Dec

18

2023

By The African Mirror

Osimhen back on target as Napoli beat Cagliari to go fourth

FOOTBALL

VICTOR Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored in the second half as Napoli eventually broke down Cagliari 2-1 at home in Serie A and moved provisionally up to fourth in the standings. Champions Napoli, who have struggled at home this season having gained just one point in their previous four league games at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, rose two places to fourth on 27 points from 16 games. They are 11 points behind leaders Inter Milan and two above fifth-placed AS Roma, who visit Lazio and Bologna respectively on Sunday. "It was a very important victory for us, we needed…