SPORT - The African Mirror

Nov

15

2022

Unhappy Perez says Verstappen showed “who he really is”

SPORT

ALAN BALDWIN RED Bull's Sergio Perez said teammate Max Verstappen showed "who he really is" after the double Formula One world champion refused to give back a place in Sunday's Sao Paulo Grand Prix. The radio comment came after the Mexican let Verstappen overtake on the understanding that the position would be returned if the Dutch driver could not pass Alpine's Fernando Alonso for fifth place. Perez needs every point to beat Ferrari's Charles Leclerc to overall runner-up while Verstappen has already clinched the title. Red Bull has never finished one-two in the drivers' standings. Perez and Leclerc are now…

Nov

15

2022

By The African Mirror

World Cup-bound Kuol ‘lethal’, says Mariners coach Montgomery

SPORT

CENTRAL Coast Mariners coach Nick Montgomery labelled Australia's World Cup-bound teenager Garang Kuol "lethal" as the forward signed off from A-League action with a brace from the bench against Macarthur FC. The 18-year-old, the youngest member of the Socceroos squad heading to Qatar, scored twice to pull the 10-man Mariners level against Dwight Yorke's team but a late goal from Jed Drew earned the Bulls a 3-2 win that moves them to fourth in the standings. But it was the performance of Kuol that was the key talking point as the youngster underlined once against why Australia coach Graham Arnold included…

Nov

13

2022

By The African Mirror

World Cup 2022: full list of 26-man squads playing in FIFA tournament

SPORT

FOLLOWING is a list of players who have been called up for the November 20 - December 18 World Cup in Qatar. ARGENTINA Injured forward Paulo Dybala has not played for his club AS Roma since early October but has been named in the squad, while Lionel Messi will lead the side. Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Franco Armani (River Plate) and Geronimo Rulli (Villarreal). Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), German Pezzella (Real Betis), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Juan Foyth (Villarreal), Nicolas Tagliafico (Olympique Lyonnais), Marcos Acuna (Sevilla).Advertisement · Scroll…

Nov

12

2022

By The African Mirror

Mane named in Senegal squad for World Cup

SPORT

SADIO Mane has been named in Senegal's squad for the World Cup in Qatar despite suffering an injury playing for Bayern Munich. The 30-year-old striker, whose decisive penalty kicks won both the Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup qualification for his country this year, suffered an injury to his right fibula in Bayern's 6-1 win against Werder Bremen and misses this weekend’s clash against Schalke 04. But coach Aliou Cisse included the team’s talisman when he named his 26-man squad at a news conference in Dakar on Friday, saying he was confident Mane could recover in time to play…

Nov

12

2022

By The African Mirror

Brazil to clinch sixth World Cup in Qatar – market analysts

SPORT

VUYANI NDABA and SARUPYA GANGULY BRAZIL is tipped to claim the World Cup for the sixth time in the tournament that kicks off November 20 in Qatar, according to a Reuters poll that last successfully predicted the champions in 2010. The global survey of 135 football-following market analysts worldwide agreed with the bookmakers that Brazil would triumph for the first time since 2002. Almost half of the respondents expected Brazil to win while 30% were evenly split between France and Argentina. Germany, England and Belgium scored in high single digits. "Brazil has a big chance this time with the depth…

Nov

12

2022

By The African Mirror

Nets’ Irving is not anti-Semitic, says NBA Commissioner Silver

SPORT, BASKETBALL

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he met with Kyrie Irving earlier this week and that he did not believe the Brooklyn Nets guard was anti-Semitic, Yahoo Sports reported on Thursday. Irving was heavily criticized for promoting a film that the seven-time All-Star has since said contained "false anti-Semitic statements". The Nets suspended him for at least five games after he "refused to unequivocally say he has no anti-Semitic beliefs". Irving later apologized to those "hurt from the hateful remarks made in the documentary". "Based on what he said directly, to me (I) have no doubt that he's not anti-Semitic but…

Nov

11

2022

By The African Mirror

Ngadeu-Ngadjui left out as Cameroon name squad for World Cup

SPORT

CAMEROON left out long-serving centre-back Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui from their squad for the World Cup in a shock omission as coach Rigobert Song named his 26-man selection for Qatar. The coach also surprisingly included two home-based players -- Souaibou Marou and Jerome Ngom -- who had won their first caps just hours before in a friendly against Jamaica. The team will be captained by Vincent Aboubakar, who competed as a teenager at the 2010 World Cup and again in Brazil in 2014 when the Indomitable Lions last appeared at the finals. It will also be a third World Cup for defender…

Nov

11

2022

By The African Mirror

Costa Rica head to World Cup after home victory over Nigeria

SPORT

WORLD Cup-bound Costa Rica bid farewell to home fans with a 2-0 victory over Nigeria in a friendly international on Wednesday. Oscar Duarte’s seventh-minute goal was followed by a second from Kendall Waston in the 73rd minute against a Nigerian team without any of their overseas-based regulars and made up mainly of members of their Under-23 team. Costa Rica had several other chances to add to their tally as supporters at the National Stadium provided a carnival atmosphere ahead of the team's departure for the World Cup in Qatar. Costa Rica will compete against Germany, Japan and Spain in Group…

Nov

10

2022

By The African Mirror

From Bochesa to Cape Town, Ethiopian athlete Tadu Nare comes down the mountain

ATHLETICS

STEPHEN GRANGER IT’S Sunday, 23rd October 2022, and the final SPAR Women's Grand Prix 10km race at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town is underway. Three green-vested athletes, Tadu Nare, Helalia Johannes, and Selam Gebre, form a small lead group through the halfway mark. The rest of the athletes are running for fourth place at best. Johannes, the Namibian winner of the 2019 SPAR Grand Prix title, leads this trio. But not long after, Nare, the smallest of the three, takes command of the race, opening a wide gap between her and the two until she crosses the finish line…

Nov

09

2022

By The African Mirror

‘Qatar is a mistake,’ says former FIFA President Sepp Blatter

SPORT

SEPP Blatter, the former president of FIFA when Qatar was awarded the 2022 World Cup hosting rights in 2010, told Swiss newspaper Tages Anzeiger "Qatar is a mistake," adding that "the choice was bad." The Qatar decision has been marred by controversy, including allegations of corruption and human rights violations since it was first announced. Blatter, who led FIFA for 17 years, has also been embroiled in accusations of corruption during his tenure. He was cleared of fraud by a Swiss court in June. The prosecutors have appealed the ruling. "It is too small of a country. Football and the World Cup…