FOOTBALL - The African Mirror

Nov

28

2023

Premier League talking points

FOOTBALL

RAMSDALE FAILS TO ANSWER ARTETA DOUBTS ARSENAL manager Mikel Arteta refused to get drawn too deeply into Aaron Ramsdale's performance at Brentford on Saturday but the England goalkeeper can hardly be expected to keep David Raya out of the starting lineup after a nervy display. Raya could not play for Brentford, the club from whom the Spaniard is on loan, giving Ramsdale his first start in the Premier League since September but he failed to impress. He got away with two mad moments in the first half and, despite Arteta praising his courage, Raya is likely to be back between…

Nov

26

2023

By The African Mirror

South Africa withdraw bid to host 2027 Women’s World Cup

FOOTBALL

SOUTH Africa has withdrawn their bid to host the Women's World Cup in 2027, the Football Association (SAFA) said. South Africa was among four bids confirmed by FIFA but the country will instead focus on submitting a bid for the 2031 tournament. "We felt that it was better to present a well-prepared bid for the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup and ensure we put our best foot forward, rather than producing a rushed presentation," SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao said on the FA's official website. The remaining candidates are a joint bid from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, one from Brazil and another joint…

Nov

25

2023

By The African Mirror

Forest’s Awoniyi facing long spell on sidelines after groin surgery

FOOTBALL

NOTTINGHAM Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi has had groin surgery that will rule him out of action for months, the Premier League club's manager Steve Cooper said. Awoniyi aggravated a groin injury while playing for Nigeria during this month's international break. The 26-year-old, signed from Union Berlin for a then club-record fee of 17 million pounds ($21.18 million) in 2022, has scored 15 goals in 39 games in all competitions for Forest in the last two seasons. "It's bad news on Taiwo, he's had to have surgery and he is going to be out for months," Cooper told reporters ahead of…

Nov

23

2023

By MARK GLEESON

Morocco win but other heavyweights humbled in World Cup qualifiers

FOOTBALL

GHANA and South Africa both suffered embarrassing defeats in World Cup qualification while top contenders Cameroon, Guinea, Senegal and Zambia also found it tough on the road as they all dropped points. On a busy day of 15 matches across the continent, there were also wins for Burkina Faso, the Cape Verde Islands, Morocco, Namibia, Tunisia and Uganda. But it was the Comoros, with a population of around a million, and Rwanda ranked 140 in world football, who tore up the form book in beating Ghana and South Africa respectively. Ghana’s loss in Moroni was a harsh reminder of their…

Nov

23

2023

By The African Mirror

Austria outclass Euro 2024 hosts Germany in 2-0 win

FOOTBALL

AUSTRIA outplayed a toothless Germany to win 2-0 in their friendly, ending their year on a high while piling more pressure on the embattled Euro 2024 hosts who had Leroy Sane sent off early in the second half. Marcel Sabitzer's low drive in the 29th minute put the dominant hosts, who have qualified for the Euros, in front with Germany posing no threat in attack and needing 32 minutes for their first shot on goal. Another quick passing move led to Austria's Christoph Baumgartner chipping the ball over keeper Kevin Trapp in the 73rd, with Germany down to 10 men…

Nov

22

2023

By MARK GLEESON

Ivory Coast win again in World Cup qualifiers as away teams hold sway

FOOTBALL

IVORY Coast's winning start to World Cup qualifying continued with a 2-0 victory over the Gambia as they were among five countries who had away success in group matches on Monday. Goals from Christian Kouame and Seko Fofana ensured success for the fancied Ivorians in Dar-es-Salaam, where Gambia hosted the game because their own stadia were not deemed fit enough to host international matches. Also victorious on the road were Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya and Madagascar while Mali were held to a surprise home draw as Africa’s preliminaries for the 2026 World Cup finals continued. The Ivorians, who will…

Nov

22

2023

By The African Mirror

Mendy sues Man City over unpaid wages after rape charges

FOOTBALL

FORMER Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy has sued the Premier League club over nearly two years of unpaid wages after he was charged with sexual offences in 2021, the player's lawyer said. The France international has filed a "multi-million-pound" claim with the Employment Tribunal, seeking the return of pay up until the end of his contract with the English champions, which ended in June. Mendy was found not guilty of one count of rape and one of attempted rape by a British court in July after being acquitted of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in January following allegations made…

Nov

20

2023

By MARK GLEESON

Centurion Mane celebrates with two goals in Senegal win

FOOTBALL

SADIO Mane marked his 100th cap for Senegal with two goals as they began their World Cup qualifying campaigning with a comfortable 4-0 home victory over South Sudan. There were also wins for South Africa, who edged Benin 2-1 at home in Durban, and Tanzania, who won 1-0 away to Niger. Mane, twice African Footballer of the Year, set up the opening goal in the first minute for Pape Matar Sarr and grabbed one himself five minutes later, with veteran midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye the provider. A third Senegalese goal followed on the stroke of halftime of the Group B…

Nov

20

2023

By The African Mirror

Onana out of Cameroon’s World Cup qualifier

FOOTBALL

GOALKEEPER Andre Onana has pulled out of Cameroon’s World Cup qualifier against Libya on Tuesday after leaving the field injured when they beat Mauritius in their opening Group D game. Onana has returned to Manchester United for treatment for an unspecified injury, the Cameroon Football Federation said on Sunday. He looked to be struggling with his adductors when he went off with 10 minutes left of the 3-0 win over Mauritius in Douala but no detail of his injury was given by the federation. Several press reports said his decision to leave the game was a precautionary measure and that…

Nov

19

2023

By MARK GLEESON

Ivory Coast enjoy goal feast but Cameroon labour to victory

FOOTBALL

IVORY Coast enjoyed a goal rout at the start of their World Cup qualifying campaign but fellow African heavyweights Cameroon, Ghana and Tunisia made heavy work of home games against lowly opposition. The Ivorians, who will host January’s Africa Cup of Nations, won 9-0 at home to the Seychelles in their Group F opener in a bright start to their bid for a place at the 2026 finals when the World Cup will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the U.S. Teenage striker Karim Konate and substitute Hamed Traore both scored twice in a game that might have seen a…