FOOTBALL - The African Mirror

Oct

09

2023

Ex-FIFA boss Blatter slams decision for World Cup in six countries, SonntagsBlick reports

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FORMER FIFA President Sepp Blatter has criticised the decision by world soccer's governing body to hold the World Cup in six countries across three continents. Morocco, Spain and Portugal were named hosts of the 2030 tournament, while Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will also host the opening matches to mark the tournament's centenary, FIFA said in a surprise announcement on Wednesday. The decision was criticised by Sepp Blatter, who was FIFA President from 1998 to 2015, before being forced out after a corruption investigation. "It is absurd to tear the tournament apart in this way," Blatter told Swiss newspaper SonntagsBlick. "The World…

Oct

08

2023

By PETER HALL

McTominay rescues Man United as Tottenham go top

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MANCHESTER United needed two stoppage-time goals from Scott McTominay to secure a dramatic 2-1 win over Brentford as Tottenham Hotspur went top of the Premier League with a 1-0 victory at Luton Town on Saturday. Chelsea claimed back-to-back league wins for the first time since March after thrashing Burnley at Turf Moor and Everton climbed to 15th with their second victory of the season at home to Bournemouth. Boos rang around Old Trafford at halftime as United went into the break trailing Brentford, staring down the barrel of a seventh defeat this season in all competitions. Defensive frailties were exposed…

Oct

08

2023

By PETER HALL

Sterling stars as Chelsea secure back-to-back league wins

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CHELSEA secured back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time since March after coming from behind to thrash Burnley 4-1. Looking to end a run of four successive home defeats on their return to the top flight this season, promoted Burnley raced into a 15th-minute lead, Wilson Odobert scoring his first goal in English football to stun the visitors. Chelsea offered little in response until Ameen Al Dakhil put through his own net in the most unfortunate circumstances three minutes before the break to get Mauricio Pochettino's team back level. Having failed to win in their last 19 matches when…

Oct

07

2023

By The African Mirror

Pogba’s second sample tests positive in counter-analysis – report

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JUVENTUS midfielder Paul Pogba's positive doping test has been confirmed in a counter-analysis on a second sample, Sky Sports and ANSA news agency reported, a month after he was provisionally suspended. Pogba was suspended after a test conducted by Italy's national anti-doping organisation (NADO Italia) detected testosterone, a hormone that increases athletes' endurance. The test was performed after Juve's 3-0 Serie A season-opening victory at Udinese on August 20. His agent Rafaela Pimenta said at the time that Pogba had never intended to break the rules. Reuters has contacted Pimenta, who was not immediately available for comment. NADO Italia refused to comment…

Oct

07

2023

By The African Mirror

‘Arsenal are back’ and will be title contenders again, Man City’s Guardiola says

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ARSENAL were Manchester City's biggest rivals last season and the London club will once again be contenders for the Premier League title, City boss Pep Guardiola said. Arsenal led the league for several months last season before City caught up on the home stretch and snatched the title away from them en route to a historic treble. But Mikel Arteta's side beat City to win the Community Shield and are one of two unbeaten teams in the league this season. Arsenal sit third in the table, a point behind leaders City ahead of Sunday's game at Emirates Stadium. "Arsenal was…

Oct

06

2023

By AHMED ELJECHTIMI

Moroccans ‘honoured’ to co-host soccer 2030 World Cup

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MOROCCANS welcomed the announcement that their country would co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, after years of failed attempts. FIFA on Wednesday made a surprise announcement confirming Spain, Portugal and Morocco as hosts after another bid dropped out, but said the three opening matches would be played in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. After five failed attempts to become World Cup hosts, the announcement that Morocco will share the honours will lift spirits in the north African country, a month after a devastating earthquake that killed nearly 3,000 people. Soccer is a big part of Moroccan life, with…

Oct

05

2023

By JULIEN PRETOT

Wahi finding his stride as Lens rediscover their touch

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RC Lens got off to a catastrophic start to the 2023-24 campaign, but Tuesday's 2-1 victory against Arsenal in the Champions League confirmed that last season's Ligue 1 runners-up are now back on track with striker Elye Wahi getting into his groove. The Sang et Or picked up only one point from their first five matches in Ligue 1, but a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Sevilla in their Group B opener served as a trigger. They followed up with two wins against Toulouse and RC Strasbourg and striker Wahi, who joined from Montpellier during the close season to replace Lois…

Oct

05

2023

By The African Mirror

Man Utd can still reach Champions League knockout phase: Ten Hag

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MANCHESTER United are still in the running for a place in the Champions League round of 16 despite Tuesday's 3-2 defeat by Galatasaray leaving them bottom of Group A, manager Erik ten Hag said. United, who lost 4-3 at Bayern Munich in their opener last month, twice took the lead against the Turkish champions through Rasmus Hojlund but were pegged back by goals from Wilfried Zaha and Kerem Akturkoglu before Mauro Icardi scored the winner. "Everything is open. There are still four games to go and we have a double (game) with Copenhagen," Ten Hag told TNT Sports after United lost for a sixth…

Oct

03

2023

By The African Mirror

Osimhen says unwavering love for Napoli following row

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NAPOLI striker Victor Osimhen's love for his club is unwavering, the Nigeria international said to end a row over mocking videos the club posted on social media. The Serie A champions came under fire after posting a video on TikTok with a high-pitched voice showing Osimhen missing a penalty in a 0-0 draw against Bologna last week. The club said on Thursday they never intended to offend their striker but stopped short of apologising to him. "Coming to the city of Naples in 2020 was a wonderful decision for me," said Osimhen on his Instagram account. "The people of Naples have shown me so…

Oct

03

2023

By The African Mirror

Talking points from European soccer

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Talking points from the weekend in European soccer leagues: GERMANY UNION MUST END LOSING RUN A year ago Union Berlin was launching what would become their most successful Bundesliga season, culminating in a fourth-place finish and a spot in this season's Champions League. But their 1-0 loss at promoted Heidenheim on Saturday confirmed the Berliners are now in freefall with their fifth straight defeat in all competitions. Having dropped to 11th with six points from six games, Urs Fischer's team have little time to recover as they host Braga in the Champions League on Tuesday and then visit Borussia Dortmund…