FOOTBALL - The African Mirror

Oct

19

2023

Algerian Atal suspended by Nice for Israel-Hamas conflict post

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ALGERIA international Youcef Atal was suspended by Nice for a social media post about the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Ligue 1 club said. Defender Atal, who has been at Nice since 2018, has since deleted the post. He had been on international duty with Algeria and was summoned to speak with the club as soon as he returned. Hamas fighters killed 1,300 Israelis on October 7 in the deadliest Palestinian militant attack in Israel's history, while Israel responded with intensive air strikes that have killed more than 2,800 Palestinians. "OGC Nice understands that the player acknowledged his mistake by quickly removing the…

Oct

19

2023

By CHRISTIAN RADNEDGE

Back your women’s teams properly, FIFA women’s officer tells FAs

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NATIONAL football associations need to properly support their women's teams so they can perform at their best, FIFA chief women's football officer Sarai Bareman said. A number of teams who featured at the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand were in dispute with their associations, casting a pall over the buildup to the tournament. England put aside a dispute over bonuses to reach the final, while Canada and Nigeria have long been locked in disputes with their respective federations. Jamaica even had to crowdfund for preparation expenses before they travelled to the tournament. Winners Spain had long been…

Oct

18

2023

By The African Mirror

Gueye’s return for Senegal cheers Everton ahead of Liverpool derby

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EVERTON could get a boost with the return of Idrissa Gueye for Saturday's Merseyside derby against Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League after he played for Senegal on Monday. The midfielder was named in the team to face Bournemouth on October 7 but did not play in the 3-0 win due to a heel injury. However, the 34-year-old came on in the 78th minute during Senegal's 1-0 win over Cameroon in a friendly. The Toffees are a lowly 16th in the standings on seven points after eight games while Liverpool is fourth with 17, three points shy of leaders…

Oct

15

2023

By The African Mirror

Holders Senegal draw Cameroon in Africa Cup of Nations group

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AFRICAN champions Senegal have been drawn with Cameroon at next year's Africa Cup of Nations finals while record winners Egypt will have old foe Ghana in their group at the tournament to be hosted in the Ivory Coast. The host nation was grouped together with Nigeria while World Cup semi-finalists Morocco look to have a comfortable path to the knockout stages. Senegal will play in Group C with Cameroon, Guinea and Gambia, who were surprise quarter-finalists when they made their Cup of Nations debut at the last edition. Senegal, ironically, plays against Cameroon in the French city of Lens on…

Oct

15

2023

By The African Mirror

Morocco hires Vilda as new women’s team coach

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WOMEN'S World Cup winner and former Spain coach Jorge Vilda was appointed as the new manager of the Morocco women's team, succeeding Frenchman Reynald Pedros. Vilda, who won the Women's World Cup with Spain in August, was sacked 10 days after FIFA suspended former Spanish FA (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales for giving a non-consensual kiss to striker Jenni Hermoso during the medal ceremony in Sydney. The 42-year-old coach, who considered his dismissal "unfair", was widely criticised for repeatedly applauding Rubiales during an emergency RFEF assembly in which the latter railed against "false feminism" and vowed not to resign. Vilda is…

Oct

15

2023

By The African Mirror

FIFA president Infantino offers condolences in letter to Israel and Palestine FAs

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FIFA president Gianni Infantino wrote to the Israel and Palestine Football Associations, offering his condolences over the "horrendous violence" in the past week in a conflict that has taken over 2,700 lives so far. Hamas militants killed more than 1,300 Israelis in their attack on Saturday. In response, Israeli air strikes have killed more than 1,400 people in Gaza so far, authorities there said. "I would like to express... our deepest condolences to the Israel Football Association and the Palestine Football Association, in light of the horrendous violence that has been occurring over the past days," Infantino wrote. "It is as…

Oct

13

2023

By The African Mirror

No Israeli, Palestinian flags allowed at Wembley for England games – FA

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FLAGS and shirts showing support for victims of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will not be allowed for England's games against Australia and Italy at Wembley, the FA said. England host Australia in a friendly on Friday before taking on Italy in a European Championship qualifier on Tuesday. "On Friday evening, we will remember the innocent victims of the devastating events in Israel and Palestine," the FA said in a statement. "We will only permit flags, replica kits and other representations of nationality for the competing nations inside Wembley Stadium for the upcoming matches against Australia and Italy." England and Australia players will…

Oct

12

2023

By The African Mirror

Morocco not trying to lure Yamal – federation statement

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MOROCCO are not still trying to persuade Barcelona's Lamine Yamal to play for them and they respect his decision to represent Spain, the Moroccan football federation said on Tuesday. Yamal, who has a Moroccan father, was born and raised in Spain and has become a key part of Barca's forward line and made his senior debut for Spain last month. Spanish newspaper AS reported on Tuesday that Morocco, who will stage the 2030 World Cup along with Spain and Portugal, are trying to convince Yamal to switch allegiance. The report said he had previously rejected a financial offer to play…

Oct

12

2023

By The African Mirror

Steps taken to avoid repeat of Liverpool VAR error, Webb says

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REFEREES chief Howard Webb said steps have been taken to ensure there is no repeat of the VAR error that saw a legitimate Liverpool goal against Tottenham Hotspur disallowed. The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) admitted that VAR got the offside decision wrong when Luis Diaz scored what should have been the opening goal in a 2-1 loss for the Anfield side. Diaz was onside but PGMOL said the goal was chalked off as VAR had "lost sight of the on-field decision" and incorrectly communicated "check complete". "Having seen what happened in Spurs vs Liverpool we analysed the situation, we had…

Oct

10

2023

By The African Mirror

Premier League talking points

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TALKING points from the eighth round of the Premier League season: ARSENAL ENDS MAN CITY HOODOO TO SEND TITLE MESSAGE Eight years without beating an opponent is a long time in competitive soccer, as is 12 defeats in a row to the same rivals. For Arsenal fans, ending that long barren run against Manchester City was worth the wait as Gabriel Martinelli fired a last-gasp winner to earn the Gunners a 1-0 win over the champions on Sunday and send the Emirates Stadium into delirium. Given the way Arsenal fell away in the Premier League title race last season, they…