SPORT - The African Mirror

Sep

17

2025

Queen Kipyegon makes history as Africa shines in Tokyo

ATHLETICS

IN a performance that will be etched in athletics folklore, Kenya's Faith Kipyegon delivered a masterclass of middle-distance running to claim her historic fourth world championship title in the women's 1500 meters at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, cementing her status as the greatest ever in the discipline. The 31-year-old queen of middle distance left no doubt about her supremacy, scorching to victory in a commanding 3:52.15 - nearly three seconds clear of compatriot Dorcus Ewoi in what was both a statement of dominance and a coronation of greatness. With this golden triumph, Kipyegon has achieved what no woman…

Sep

16

2025

By SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith: Africa’s eternal sprint queen

ATHLETICS

IN the bustling streets of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, a football-loving girl would one day transform into Africa's most celebrated sprinter. Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith's journey from the dusty pitches where she first showed her speed to the gleaming tracks of world championships reads like sporting folklore. Born on November 18, 1988, her transition from football boots to sprint spikes in 2008 marked the beginning of a revolution in African athletics - one that would see her outrun seasoned athletes even while barefoot during her initial trials. What makes Ta Lou-Smith's story so captivating isn't just her raw speed, but the audacious…

Sep

16

2025

By The African Mirror

Morocco launches 100-day countdown to Africa Cup of Nations as ticket sales begin

FOOTBALL

RABAT, Morocco - The countdown to Africa's most prestigious football competition has officially begun, with organisers of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 unveiling giant countdown clocks across all six host cities to mark exactly 100 days until kick-off. The striking timepieces, installed in Rabat, Casablanca, Fès, Tangier, Marrakech and Agadir, serve as daily reminders that the continent's premier football festival is rapidly approaching. Each clock is ticking down to the highly anticipated opening match on 21 December at 20:00 local time, when hosts Morocco will face Comoros at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. The…

Sep

15

2025

By SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

African excellence shines bright at Tokyo 2025 World Championships

ATHLETICS

THE National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, has once again become a theatre of dreams for African athletics, as the continent's finest sprinters and distance runners delivered performances that will be etched in the annals of track and field history. The 2025 World Athletics Championships has showcased Africa's enduring dominance in distance running while revealing exciting new chapters in the continent's sprinting renaissance. Kenya's Golden Dawn: Chebet Breaks the Drought The championships opened with a moment of pure magic as Kenya's Beatrice Chebet stormed to victory in the women's 10,000 meters, delivering Kenya's first gold medal and ending a decade-long wait…

Sep

11

2025

By The African Mirror

The battle for 2026 FIFA World Cup: Nigeria, Cameroon dreams hang in the balance

FOOTBALL

AS the dust settles on another dramatic day of World Cup qualifying across Africa, two contrasting narratives emerge from the beautiful game's most unforgiving theatre. While Senegal and South Africa inch tantalizingly close to booking their tickets to the 2026 World Cup, two of West Africa's most storied footballing nations - Nigeria and Cameroon - find themselves staring into the abyss of qualification heartbreak. The Rise of the Underdogs In perhaps the most stunning subplot of Tuesday's action, the tiny Cape Verde Islands delivered a thunderbolt that reverberated across the continent. With a population barely exceeding 600,000 souls scattered across…

Sep

09

2025

By The African Mirror

Africa’s World Cup renaissance: Nine nations set to shine on global stage

FOOTBALL

THE drums of African football are beating louder than ever as the continent's elite nations enter the most crucial phase of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. With just four matchdays separating dreams from devastation, nine coveted tickets to North America are sparking fierce battles across the continent. Morocco Leads the Charge with Ruthless Precision The Atlas Lions have roared their way into history, becoming the first African nation to punch their ticket to the 2026 World Cup finals. Their emphatic 5-0 demolition of Niger at home wasn't just a victory—it was a statement of intent that echoed across…

Sep

05

2025

By SPORTS REPORTER

African World Cup dreams take shape

FOOTBALL

THE race for 2026 World Cup qualification heated up across Africa this week, with South Africa maintaining their surprising grip at the summit while continental powerhouses Nigeria find themselves in unfamiliar territory - chasing from behind. South Africa's Commanding Display Against Lesotho In a match that epitomised their resurgent campaign, Bafana Bafana delivered a masterclass performance, dismantling neighbours Lesotho 3-0 at home to preserve their precious lead atop Group C. The victory was as convincing as it was crucial, with South Africa showcasing the attacking flair and defensive solidity that has defined their unexpected rise. The breakthrough came in the…

Sep

04

2025

By The African Mirror

CAF World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: The state of play as Africa’s qualifying resumes

FOOTBALL

AFRICAN qualifying restarts on Wednesday with decisive stakes and places at the 2026 World Cup on the line.The equation is simple enough: the nine group winners qualify automatically for 2026 in Canada, Mexico and the USA. The four best runners-up head to the CAF play-offs for a route to the inter-confederation tournament. Here’s the state of play — group by group, the current tables, plus the fixtures to come. Group A Egypt have set a fierce pace and can all but seal top spot with another strong window. Burkina Faso remain the only realistic challengers and will fancy a late…

Sep

04

2025

By The African Mirror

SA: Pirates coach Ouaddou hospitalised after highway heroics turn tragic

FOOTBALL

ORLANDO Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is fighting for his recovery in a Gauteng hospital in South Africa after a devastating road accident that has sent shockwaves through South African football. The 46-year-old Moroccan legend and former Fulham defender was struck by a Nissan NP200 pickup truck on Sunday evening while performing an act of extraordinary courage – stopping to help victims of a highway collision on his team's journey home from victory. Ouaddou and five members of his backroom staff, including defender Tapelo Xoki, were rushed to hospital following the horrific incident on the R21 highway. The coaching staff…

Sep

01

2025

By The African Mirror

From Paris go-kart to F1 podium: Hadjar makes history as African-heritage driver to stand on Formula One rostrum

MOTORSPORT

IN a moment that reverberated across two continents, Isack Hadjar crossed the finish line at the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday to claim third place and become the first driver of African heritage to stand on a Formula One podium. The 20-year-old rookie, born and raised in Paris to Algerian parents, secured his breakthrough result behind race winner Oscar Piastri and defending champion Max Verstappen at the iconic Zandvoort circuit. As champagne sprayed across the podium, Hadjar's achievement marked not just a personal milestone but a historic breakthrough for African representation in motorsport's pinnacle series. Hadjar's journey to this historic…