SPORT - The African Mirror

Nov

29

2022

Aboubakar rescues Cameroon in comeback draw with Serbia

SPORT

TOBY DAVIS CAMEROON'S Vincent Aboubakar came off the bench to rescue his side by scoring one superb goal and creating another as they fought back to draw 3-3 with Serbia, a result that kept both sides' slim chances alive at the World Cup. Serbia's Strahinja Pavlovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic scored in first-half stoppage time and Aleksandar Mitrovic netted after the break to cancel out Jean-Charles Castelletto's opener for Cameroon at Al Janoub Stadium. Aboubakar was summoned off the bench in the 55th minute and pulled a goal back for Cameroon with a stunning scooped chip over the keeper in the…

Jan

05

2023

By The African Mirror

Lampard may pay the price but Brighton prove Everton crisis runs deeper

SPORT

ROHITH NAIR AS Everton's winless run extended to seven games following Tuesday's 4-1 thrashing by Brighton & Hove Albion, manager Frank Lampard cut a forlorn figure on the touchline with the Merseyside club hovering just above the relegation zone. A valiant 1-1 draw away at reigning champions Manchester City over the weekend proved to be nothing more than a blip as Brighton ran riot while Everton capitulated at Goodison Park again. 4 - Brighton have scored four goals in a top-flight away game for the first time in their history, with all four goals coming inside the first hour of the match.…

Nov

28

2022

By The African Mirror

Soccer Iran tells Klinsmann to quit FIFA job after ‘outrageous’ rebuke of team

SPORT

MARTIN PETTY and MANASI PATHAK IRAN coach Carlos Queiroz lambasted German soccer icon Juergen Klinsmann for criticising his team's World Cup conduct, calling his remarks a "disgrace to football" and urging him to quit his FIFA post, as Iran's soccer federation demanded an apology. In comments as an analyst with broadcaster BBC, Germany's 1990 World Cup winner Klinsmann accused Iran of systematic gamesmanship during their stunning 2-0 stoppage-time win over Wales on Friday and said Queiroz's record with other national teams made him the right match for Iran. "That's their culture and that's their way of doing it and that's…

Nov

28

2022

By The African Mirror

Morroco scores Africa’s 2nd win at World Cup 2022

SPORT

JULIEN PRETOT MOROCCO claimed their first World Cup victory in 24 years as they upset a hugely disappointing Belgium side 2-0 with goals by Romain Saiss and substitute Zakaria Aboukhlal in a boiling atmosphere on Sunday. The Morocco fans gave the match a vintage World Cup feel at the Al Thumama Stadium and Sabiri curled a wide free-kick past Thibaut Courtois before Aboukhlal netted in added time to put Morocco top of Group F with four points, one ahead of Belgium. It was Morocco's first win at a World Cup since they beat Scotland in 1998. They left the 2018…

Nov

27

2022

By The African Mirror

Duke header gets Australia past Tunisia for first World Cup win since 2010

SPORT

NICK MULVENNEY A Mitch Duke header gave Australia their first World Cup victory in 12 years with a 1-0 win over Tunisia in a hard-fought contest that kept alive their hopes of progressing from Group D. Target man Duke scored in the 23rd minute with a glancing header that flew past keeper Aymen Dahmen's despairing dive, and the Socceroos then held back a largely toothless Tunisian attack over the remainder of the contest. The victory, only the third for Australia in six visits to the World Cup finals, was the perfect response to their 4-1 drubbing at the hands of…

Dec

07

2022

By The African Mirror

Morocco makes history, carries hopes of Africa, Arab world

SPORT

MOROCCO rode a wave of passionate support and kept the World Cup dreams of the Arab world alive as they eliminated fancied Spain in a penalty shootout on Tuesday to reach the quarter-finals. In doing so, they became the first Arab nation to advance to the last eight, ensuring a breakthrough for the region in the first global tournament in the Middle East, and also became the fourth African side to go this far in World Cup history. Their victory will be seen as not only a triumph for Morocco but vindication of the controversial FIFA decision to hand Qatar the hosting…

Dec

20

2022

By The African Mirror

French hearts are broken but future looks bright

SPORT

JULIEN PRETOT FRANCE will be heartbroken after losing the World Cup final to Argentina in a penalty shootout but the genius of Kylian Mbappe and the depth of talent in the squad bode well for the future. France began the World Cup without Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema, striker Christopher Nkunku, midfielders Ngolo Kante and Paul Pogba and lost left-back Lucas Hernandez in the first game and yet still reached the final, where they lost 4-2 on penalties after a spectacular 3-3 draw. Mbappe, who turns 24 on Tuesday, netted all three French goals, taking his tally from two World…

Dec

19

2022

By The African Mirror

Argentina win incredible final on penalties

SPORT

MITCH PHILLIPS ARGENTINA won their third World Cup in extraordinary style, beating France 4-2 in a penalty shootout after Lionel Messi scored twice in a 3-3 draw that featured a hat-trick for Kylian Mbappe as the holders recovered from 2-0 down after 80 minutes. It was an incredible night of drama and fluctuating fortunes, delivering one of the all-time great finals to cap a wonderful tournament. Argentina had looked to be cruising to a one-sided victory after Messi's penalty and a brilliant goal by Angel Di Maria in the first half put them in total control but Mbappe converted an…

Dec

16

2022

By The African Mirror

LaLiga puts its stamp on stunning Clifton Fives Futbol pitch and supports the fight against Gender-Based Violence

SPORT

SPANISH professional football league, LaLiga, this week made its mark on one of the world’s most beautiful football pitches, branding the iconic FIVES Futbol pitch in Clifton on Cape Town’s famous Atlantic Seaboard. LaLiga is FIVES Futbol’s Official League Sponsor in South Africa and as part of the partnership, it on Thursday unveiled the Clifton pitch with a mini tournament attended by Cape Town media and influencers, among them Banyana Banyana star Thembi Kgatlana, and the female-only Badgers Football Club. Clifton is one of the world’s top tourist destinations and the Fives Clifton pitch is at a breath-taking location, on…

Dec

16

2022

By The African Mirror

77 and counting: Neymar Jr has achieved goalscoring greatness

SPORT

Despite Brazil's shock exit on penalties, Neymar Jr has sensationally equalled Pelé's record with a stunning extra-time goal against Croatia in Qatar and become his country's leading men’s goal scorer. Here is all you need to know: - The nutmegs are still there, and so are the cheeky flicks, the incredible control in tight spaces and the ability to wriggle his way out of what seems a dead end. Goals sometimes seem like an added extra for Neymar Jr - yet he's now Brazil's joint all-time leading men’s goal scorer. - Heading into his third major global tournament, he knew…