SPORT - The African Mirror

Oct

24

2020

Mosimane’s Al Ahly storms into the CAF Champions League final with a 3-1 win

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER THEY are singing praises on the streets of Cairo to South African coach Pitso Mosimane who has guided Egyptian giants Al Ahly to the finals of Africa’s premier club competition - the CAF Champions League. Al Ahly overwhelmed Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca 3-1 in the second leg of the CAF Champions League semi-final. The victory gave Al Ahly, dubbed “the club of the century” - a total score of 5-1 because went into second leg 2-0 up. Striker Marwan Mohsen, who has found a new lease of life under Mosimane, scored early in the game and Hussen…

Oct

24

2020

By The African Mirror

Zambian female footballer’s success in Chinese league cheered at home

SPORT

CHRIS MFULA AFTER clinching the top scorer award in the Women's Chinese Super League, Zambian footballer Barbra Banda is inspiring girls at home to follow in her footsteps. The 20-year-old won the Golden Boot of China's top flight after scoring 18 goals in 13 games. The powerful forward, playing her debut season in China, finished the campaign nine goals ahead of her nearest challenger Temwa Chawinga of Wuhan Jianghan. Having helped her side seal third place in the standings, Banda has been the talk of the league. "I have made my name there, everyone is talking about me, which is…

Oct

22

2020

By The African Mirror

Eight players from Morocco’s Raja Casablanca test positive for COVID-19

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER A total of eight players at Morocco’s top club Raja Casablanca have tested positive for COVID-19, forcing the postponement of their CAF Champions League semi-final clash against Egyptian giants Zamalek. CAF has announced that the semi-final clash was re-scheduled from October 24 to November 1 after the Covid-positive players have to go into mandatory quarantine until October 27. In addition, CAF said its stance was also forced by a decision by the government of Morocco to withdraw special authorization for Raja to travel outside the country. In a statement, CAF said: “As a result, the team will…

Nov

25

2020

By The African Mirror

First-ever Bafana and Banyana Supporters Club in the Middle East launched

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AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER THE South African Football Association (SAFA) and the South Africans in Qatar (SAIQ) community group today officially launched and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the first Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana Supporters’ Club in the Middle East. The announcement made in Johannesburg and Doha today – exactly two years to the day before the kickoff of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar – was attended by SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan, Qatar Football Association General Secretary, Mansoor Al Ansari, and South Africa’s Ambassador to Qatar, HE Faizel Moosa. The MoU is part of…

Nov

27

2020

By The African Mirror

How Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ quote went round the world

SPORT

MARTYN HERMAN IT became the most iconic sporting comment of all time but the English-speaking world very nearly did not get to hear Diego Maradona's pithy reflection on his infamous goal in Argentina's 2-1 defeat of England at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Reuters sports correspondent Rex Gowar was in the bowels of Azteca Stadium after the match when Maradona confessed to the most talked-about piece of cheating in soccer history. "It was my first World Cup with Reuters," Gowar, who first encountered a teenaged Maradona in Buenos Aires as a photographer for an Argentine newspaper, recalled on Wednesday…

Nov

26

2020

By The African Mirror

OBITUARY – Diego Maradona, Argentine soccer genius who saw heaven and hell, dead at 60

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WORLD soccer great Diego Armando Maradona, who has died less than a month after his 60th birthday, was worshipped like a god for his genius with the ball, but his demons almost destroyed him. Maradona had died after suffering a heart attack at his home in the suburbs of Buenos Aires, those close to him confirmed. Argentine President Alberto Fernandez declared three days of national mourning. Rising to stardom from a grimy Buenos Aires slum to lead Argentina to World Cup victory, Maradona was a rags-to-riches story in his soccer-mad homeland and gained the iconic status of fellow Argentines Che…

Dec

05

2020

By The African Mirror

Africa’s bright basketball showcase

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BOITUMELO RANTAO BASKETBALL’S eyes shifted to Africa as national teams gathered in Kigali, Rwanda for the 2021 FIBA AfroBasket qualifiers. The first phase of continental competition between Africa’s hopefuls gave a sneak peek to which teams have distinguished themselves as frontrunners for the title. Nigeria’s head coach, Mike Brown is of the opinion that if the right things are put in place by African basketball federations, many teams can compete favourably with the best in the world. Teams have commenced preparations for the third window of the qualifiers between February 19 - 21, 2021. Brown, who is on his maiden…

Dec

03

2020

By The African Mirror

Schumacher’s son to make F1 debut

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MICK Schumacher, the son of the legendary F1 legend, Mike, is to make a historic debut in F1 in 2021. Haas has unveiled Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin as their new drivers, replacing Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen. Grosjean, who was injured after a horrific high speed crash in which his car burst into flames and was torn into two, was released from hospital yesterday. Schumacher will this weeked battle for the world championship in F2. An excited Schumacher, who will also drive from next year, said: The prospect of being on the Formula 1 grid next year makes me incredibly…

Dec

02

2020

By The African Mirror

Motor racing-Hamilton ‘gutted’ after positive COVID-19 test

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ABHISHEK TAKLE SEVEN-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton said he was devastated after testing positive for COVID-19 and being ruled out of Sunday's penultimate race of the season in Bahrain. It will be the first time the 35-year-old Mercedes driver has missed a race in an F1 career that started with McLaren in 2007. The sport's most successful driver of all time, with a record 95 wins and 98 pole positions, said on social media that he had tested negative three times in the past week but woke up on Monday with mild symptoms. The Briton said he then…

Dec

01

2020

By The African Mirror

Fittipaldi to replace injured Grosjean

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AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER BRAZILIAN Pietro Fittipaldi will make his Formula 1 at Sunday’s Grand Prix at the Sakhir Circuit in Bahrain, replacing the injured Romain Grosjean, the Haas team has announced. Grosjean sustained hand injuries during a horrific high speed crash in last weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix. Fittipaldi, (24), has attended the majority of Formula 1 races this season in his test and reserve driver role with Haas. The Miami-born Brazilian resume which includes a Formula V8 3.5 Championship title and several starts in IndyCar Series competition. Grandson of two-time FIA Formula 1 World Champion and double Indy 500 winner…