FOOTBALL - The African Mirror

May

05

2023

How CA Osasuna rejuvenated its youth structure to usher in a new generation of first-team players

FOOTBALL

THROUGHOUT its 103-year history, CA Osasuna has punched above its weight. Coming from a city, Pamplona, of fewer than 200,000 people and surrounded by huge historical clubs in the Basque Country such as Athletic Club and Real Sociedad, they have had little choice. And given the meagre resources at their disposal, their achievements are admirable. They have spent 41 seasons in LaLiga Santander and achieved eight top-10 finishes, their best being when they came fourth in 1990/91 and 2005/06. They also had memorable campaigns in knockout competitions, reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup in 2007 and Copa del Rey…

May

05

2023

By The African Mirror

Five things you may not know about CA Osasuna

FOOTBALL

HERE comes a look at five interesting facts about one of the clubs to have spent the most time in the top flight of Spanish football, a club which is owned by its members and which prides itself on never giving up. Having spent 41 seasons in the top flight of Spanish football, and 37 in the second tier, CA Osasuna is one of the most historic clubs in LaLiga. It is also, along with Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Athletic Club, one of just four professional football clubs still owned by the club members. Throughout its more than 100…

May

05

2023

By The African Mirror

The magic of CA Osasuna’s El Sadar stadium, the award-winning ground that makes the most noise

FOOTBALL

THE venue in Pamplona was voted the 2021 World Stadium of the Year by Stadium Database. CA Osasuna will be playing in this Saturday's Copa del Rey final in Seville. Although the team will play far away from the city of Pamplona, they produced many magical nights at their home ground of El Sadar to make it this far. And, it's a very special stadium, one which was named last year as the ‘World Stadium of the Year 2021’ by Stadium Database, a leading publication covering stadiums and sporting infrastructure on an international level. The result of the popular vote…

Apr

29

2023

By The African Mirror

Five things you may not know about Real Zaragoza

FOOTBALL

THE club from Spain’s fifth-largest city have been playing at LaLiga SmartBank level for almost a decade, yet boasts a glorious past. Here come five things you may not know about the club. Real Zaragoza may not have played at LaLiga Santander level since 2013, but the team from the city of the same name boast a glorious past and is one of the most successful clubs in the history of Spanish football. Los Blanquillos – a nickname which refers to their white shirts – was founded in 1932 and have achieved a lot in its 91 years of history.…

Apr

29

2023

By The African Mirror

Taty Castellanos’ dream comes true as he nets four against Real Madrid to make LaLiga Santander history

FOOTBALL

THE Girona FC forward wrote his name into the history books, as no player had managed to put four past Los Blancos in more than seven decades. Girona FC striker Valentín ‘Taty’ Castellanos stole the limelight on Tuesday evening when he dismantled Real Madrid’s defence to lead his team to a big 4-2 victory in LaLiga Santander Matchday 31. Los Blancos did get off to a solid start, attacking Girona FC’s defence in waves in the opening stages, but Castellanos headed home just 12 minutes in after a great team move from Los Blanquivermells. It took the 24-year-old striker just…

Apr

29

2023

By The African Mirror

Five things you may not know about Taty Castellanos

FOOTBALL

THE Girona FC striker scored all four goals in his team's 4-2 victory over Real Madrid on Tuesday and here comes a description of his story so far and five things you might not know about him. Valentín ‘Taty’ Castellanos has had a good debut season in LaLiga Santander, but it reached a new peak on Tuesday night when he scored four goals against Real Madrid to lead Girona FC to a historic 4-2 victory. This was the first time since 1947 that a player had netted four against Real Madrid in a league match. He is the man of…

Apr

22

2023

By The African Mirror

Everything you need to know about Atlético de Madrid vs FC Barcelona

FOOTBALL

LOS Rojiblancos and Los Azulgranas have been facing each other in LaLiga Santander for decades and here’s all you need to know about how this rivalry has developed through the ages. LaLiga Santander Matchday 30 preview Five reasons not to miss this weekend’s crunch clash Griezmann and 10 other LaLiga stars who left and then returned to their previous clubs The rise of Samuel Chukwueze continues The Xavi vs Simeone rivalry has moved to the dugouts Since LaLiga Santander began in 1929, Atlético de Madrid and FC Barcelona have faced each other a total of 170 times in league matches,…

Apr

19

2023

By The African Mirror

Morocco should win Africa Cup of Nations first before thinking about World Cup, says Boufal

FOOTBALL

WORLD Cup semi-finalists Morocco, who became the first Arab team to beat Brazil last month, should focus on winning the Africa Cup of Nations next year before dreaming of glory at the 2026 World Cup, winger Sofiane Boufal said. Morocco was the surprise story at the World Cup in Qatar last year, beating Belgium, Spain and Portugal on the way to the semi-finals prompting coach Walid Regragui to talk up his desire of winning the 2026 edition. That dream became bigger after a 2-1 win over five-times world champions Brazil in a friendly match in Tangier last month. Only European…

Apr

18

2023

By MICHAEL SARPONG MFUM, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Former Ghana midfielder, Doreen Awuah, is bringing football to young girls

FOOTBALL

FOOTBALL is often seen as a male sport, but for Doreen Angelina Awuah, it was worth running away from home for. "As a young girl, I received lashes from my father on several occasions when I returned home from playing football. My parents warned me not to play football because it was considered a sport for males and told me to concentrate on my education," said Awuah. However, she was determined to pursue her passion, which led her to run away from home and relocate to the Western Region of Ghana for three years. "I was not given the opportunity…

Apr

19

2023

By The African Mirror

More chaos at Egyptian champions Zamalek as club president excluded

FOOTBALL

FIVE-TIME African champions Zamalek suffered another blow in a chaotic season as a local administrative court in Egypt ordered the removal of club president Mortada Mansour, days after the team appointed Colombian coach Juan Carlos Osorio. A local administrative court in Cairo ordered on Sunday to exclude Mansour from his post, as he has just served a one-month prison sentence over a defamation case against Al-Ahly president Mahmoud El Khatib. Mansour can appeal the ruling. Mansour told his YouTube channel, which has more than half a million followers, "I will not talk about the ruling now because judgment is the title…