SPORT - The African Mirror

Feb

02

2023

Bilbao-born Athletic Club striker Iñaki Williams wins LaLiga Santander Mid-Season African MVP Award

SPORT

RECORD-BREAKING Athletic Bilbao striker Iñaki Williams has won LaLiga Santander’s Mid Season African MVP Award, after a conclusive vote by a jury of football journalists and fans. Born in Bilbao with strong African roots, the 28-year-old has spent his entire professional career with Athletic Bilbao, with the pacey forward scoring 80 goals in his 362 appearances for Los Leones (The Lions) since making his LaLiga debut for Athletic as an 18-year-old teenager. The award is an acknowledgement and celebration of the standout African players campaigning in LaLiga and Williams was a convincing winner following a public vote and the votes…

Jan

31

2023

By SETH ONYANGO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

The NBA aims for a slam dunk in Africa after a successful tryout in Senegal, Rwanda

SPORT

AFRICA’S fledgling basketball league has received another shot in the arm after France and the National Basketball Association (NBA) announced a series of initiatives to prop up the game on the continent as the latter seeks to expand its global footprint and reach new fans. Last week, France and the NBA said they would pump investments into basketball infrastructure in Africa, including building multipurpose facilities that can host Basketball Africa League (BAL) and NBA games. French President Emmanuel Macron and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver also unveiled a comprehensive plan to collaborate on various initiatives that will elevate basketball in France…

Jan

28

2023

By The African Mirror

Africa making waves in global transfer market

SPORT

BIRD STORY AGENCY IN 2022, African countries were key players in the global player transfer markets in three reporting categories; men’s football, women’s football, and amateur football. This is according to the 2022 FIFA Global Transfer Report released by FIFA on 26th January 2023. Nigeria, Ghana, and Ivory Coast are listed among the top 10 globally in the number of transfers made in the Men’s Football category. Nigeria - ranked 5th - recorded 725 transfers in 2022, while Ghana recorded 515 transfers and is ranked 8th globally. The two earned US$104.2 million and US$17.4 million, respectively. Ivory Coast closes the…

Jan

20

2023

By The African Mirror

Africa Champions Cup MVP, Hagar Amer, shares her journey to basketball success

SPORT

SILALEI SHANI, BIRD STORY AGENCY AS the sound of the final buzzer fills the Eduardo Mondlane University Gym in Maputo, the bench players and the coaches of Alexandria Sporting Club flood the floor to celebrate their unprecedented victory. In a corner, the team's captain, Hagar Amer, takes a moment to herself. Overcome with emotion, Amer weeps freely at what she and her team have achieved - for the first time in her country's basketball history, an Egyptian club has just won the FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women. Amer is also named the tournament's most valuable player (MVP) averaging 15…

Jan

19

2023

By The African Mirror

Ronaldo-Messi rivalry set for new chapter in Riyadh

SPORT

MANASI PATHAK A new chapter in the celebrated rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will unfurl when they meet in an exhibition match as the Portugal forward gears up for his first game in Saudi Arabia since joining Al Nassr. After a glittering career in Europe that saw him win four Champions League titles with Real Madrid and two Scudettos at Juventus, Ronaldo signed for Al Nassr, describing it as the "right moment" to share his experience in Asia. The Saudi club is the latest stop in Ronaldo's career that began in 2002 at Sporting CP before the forward…

Jan

18

2023

By The African Mirror

Club World Cup draw in Morocco sees top world teams square up in February

SPORT

BIRD STORY AGENCY THE 2022 FIFA Club World Cup opening game will take place on 1st February and will see Egypt's Al Ahly take on New Zealanders Auckland City. This is according to the results of the draw that took place on Friday (January 13) in Sale, Morocco. The Club World Cup will take place between February 1-11 in Morocco after FIFA decided to postpone the competition in favour of the Qatar World Cup that took place between November and December 2022. Seven clubs from around the world will play in the cities of Rabat and Tangier in a competition…

Jan

17

2023

By The African Mirror

LaLiga Santander African Mid Season MVP Award back with a bang for its second season

SPORT

IT is time again to vote for the LaLiga Santander Mid Season African Most Valuable Player (MVP), as LaLiga celebrates the achievements of the wide range of exciting African players who have excelled in the Spanish top flight so far this season. Reigning LaLiga Santander African MVP, Yassine ‘Bono’ Bounou, underlined his star quality and world-class ability with a superb 2022 FIFA World Cup, playing a huge role in Morocco’s remarkable run to becoming the first African team to reach the tournament’s semi-final stage. His phenomenal performances in Qatar will make him one of the favourites to retain the inaugural…

Jan

14

2023

By The African Mirror

Manchester City’s Mendy found not guilty on six counts of rape

SPORT

MANCHESTER City defender Benjamin Mendy was found not guilty of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, while jurors could not reach verdicts on one count of rape and one of attempted rape, British media reported on Friday. The trial had been taking place at Chester Crown Court since August after 13 women made allegations against Mendy and co-accused Louis Saha Matturie. City issued a statement saying the club had noted the verdict. "Given there are open matters related to this case, the club is not in a position to comment further at this time," City said…

Jan

12

2023

By The African Mirror

Haller savours first game in Dortmund shirt after cancer battle

SPORT

SEBASTIEN Haller said he was relieved to finally make his first appearance in a Borussia Dortmund shirt following two surgeries and four rounds of chemotherapy for testicular cancer which sidelined the Ivory Coast forward for six months. Haller, who scored 34 goals for Dutch champions Ajax Amsterdam last season, was diagnosed during a pre-season training camp in July - weeks after he had been signed for an initial fee of 31 million euros ($33.25 million). The 28-year-old returned to training earlier this month and finally made his unofficial debut as he came on in the second half of Tuesday's friendly…

Jan

11

2023

By The African Mirror

African football on the rise: CAF’s new continental Super League

SPORT

BIRD STORY AGENCY AFRICAN football is poised for a boost as FIFA associations look forward to additional funding under the FIFA Forward 3.0 programme, 2022-2026. In the new round of funding, individual associations could get up to US$5 million to supplement operational costs and an additional US$ 3 million to execute specific football projects. Associations that are the most in need will also take home US$1.2 million to cover the costs of travel and accommodation for their national teams, as well as the purchase of football equipment. Confederations and regional/zonal associations will receive US$60 million and US$5 million respectively, to…