FOOTBALL - The African Mirror

Nov

23

2023

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

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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

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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…

Nov

19

2023

By The African Mirror

Onana injured playing World Cup qualifier in Cameroon

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MANCHESTER United goalkeeper Andre Onana faces a potential spell on the sidelines after suffering a suspected adductor injury as he helped Cameroon win a 3-0 home over Mauritius in their World Cup qualifier in Douala. He had to leave the pitch 10 minutes from time after hurting himself making a save in the game, the first for the Indomitable Lions in the 2026 qualifying campaign. Cameroon officials did not comment on Onana’s condition after the game and it was unclear whether he would travel with the squad to Libya, where they play in Benghazi on Tuesday in their next World…

Nov

16

2023

By MARK GLEESON

Gruelling African World Cup qualifying gets underway

FOOTBALL

MORE places for Africa at the next World Cup finals has not lessened the intensity of the qualifying process, often described as the toughest in world football, which kicks off this week. Qualification for the 2026 tournament has begun in Asia and South America, and Africa starts its two-year qualifying campaign on Wednesday to determine who will fill the nine automatic places for the continent at the event co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the U.S. The expansion of the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams means Africa’s quota of finalists is increased from five to nine, with the possibility…

Nov

16

2023

By The African Mirror

Liverpool’s Diaz meets father first time since latter’s kidnapping

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LIVERPOOL and Colombia winger Luis Diaz has reunited with his father for the first time since the latter's kidnapping ordeal, the Colombian football federation said on Tuesday. Luis Manuel Diaz, 58, was released on Thursday by the leftist National Liberation Army (ELN) 12 days after he was taken hostage on Oct. 28 in Barrancas, a rural municipality where he lives in the northern province of La Guajira. The winger remained with Liverpool through this period up to Sunday's Premier League win over Brentford, before returning to Colombia ahead of Thursday's World Cup qualifier against Brazil. The Colombian FA shared pictures of the father and…