SPORT - The African Mirror

Aug

20

2025

East Africa’s upgraded stadiums spark a robust vision for sports tourism

CHAN 2024

THE 2024 CHAN, a tournament exclusively for home-based players, has given Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania a shared and immovable deadline to meet international hosting standards. For Kenya, the deadline has been matched by form on the pitch. The Harambee Stars are enjoying a dream run, booking a quarter-final slot after edging Zambia 1 – 0 on Sunday. The team has also won over two-time champions Morocco. According to Football Kenya Federation (FKF) official Michael Senelwa, the infrastructure gains are as significant as the football. “These facilities are an investment in positioning East Africa as a serious contender for bigger tournaments…

Aug

19

2025

By The African Mirror

Kenya coach McCarthy warns against complacency, Grant shifts Zambia focus to future

CHAN 2024

KENYA’S unbeaten march into the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 came with a warning from head coach Benni McCarthy — focus must remain as the journey gets tougher. The Harambee Stars defeated Zambia 1-0 in Nairobi to finish top of Group A with three wins and a draw, sparking celebrations among their home fans. But while McCarthy hailed the achievement, his opposite number Avram Grant was already looking ahead, stressing that the tournament had served as a testing ground for Zambia’s next generation. McCarthy urges focus after perfect group stage “I am very happy that…

Aug

15

2025

By The African Mirror

Atlas Lions roar back to life in Nairobi thriller

CHAN 2024

UNDER the blazing floodlights of Nairobi's Nyayo National Stadium, Morocco's Atlas Lions delivered a masterclass in redemption, tearing apart Zambia 3-1 in a pulsating TotalEnergies African Nations Championship encounter that will be remembered for years to come. The two-time champions arrived in Kenya's capital with their backs against the wall, their dreams of continental glory hanging by the thinnest of threads after a shocking defeat to the hosts. But on this electric night, with the East African air crackling with tension, Morocco reminded everyone why they wear the crown. From the opening whistle, the Atlas Lions prowled their territory with…

Aug

15

2025

By The African Mirror

Exclusive: Women’s Cricket booming in South Africa, says CSA’s Enoch Nkwe

SPORT

ENOCH Nkwe, the Cricket South Africa Director of national teams and high performance, expressed his excitement for the bright future of Women's cricket in South Africa. The rise of women's domestic cricket August is Women's Month in South Africa, a month that is meant to commemorate the 1956 women's march to the Union Buildings in protest of the Pass Laws. The month-long celebration honours the contributions of women to the struggle against apartheid and their ongoing role in shaping South African society. Now, 31 years into a democratic South Africa, the sacrifices made by women in the past have had…

Aug

12

2025

By The African Mirror

CHAN 2025: Drama in Kampala as Uganda soar and South Africa find their voice

CHAN 2024

THE afternoon sun blazed down on Kampala as South Africa stepped onto the Mandela National Stadium pitch carrying the weight of a nation's expectations and the burden of sitting rock-bottom in Group C. What followed was a masterclass in resilience that breathed new life into their tournament dreams. From the first whistle, Molefi Ntseki's warriors hunted in packs, pressing high and refusing to let Guinea settle into any rhythm. The early aggression paid dividends in spectacular fashion. Just ten minutes in, the dynamic duo of Thabiso Kutumela and Neo Maema combined with telepathic understanding – Kutumela's clever link-up play releasing…

Aug

08

2025

By Jovial Rantao

From war-torn DRC roots to Canadian Open Glory: The rise of Victoria Mboko, tennis’ newest star

TENNIS

IN a stunning display of talent and resilience, wildcard Victoria Mboko, an 18-year-old rising tennis star with deep African roots, shocked the tennis world by defeating the four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka to claim her first WTA title at the Canadian Open. Her victory, achieved in her breakthrough tournament, is much more than a sporting triumph - it is a story woven with courage, history, and hope, resonating deeply across Africa. Victoria Mboko’s remarkable journey begins long before her tennis rise, in the turbulent landscapes of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In 1999, amidst a devastating war that…

Aug

06

2025

By Jovial Rantao

Defending champions Senegal strike first blood against Nigeria in CHAN thriller

CHAN 2024

IN a battle befitting two of Africa's footballing superpowers, defending champions Senegal edged Nigeria 1-0 in a brutal Group D opener that lived up to every expectation at Amaan Stadium on Tuesday night. Christian Gomis' 75th-minute strike proved the difference in a contest that showcased both the tactical sophistication and raw intensity that has made West African football a continental force. The TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship – featuring exclusively domestic-based players – exploded into life as the continent's two most successful nations in recent years locked horns in what many considered a premature final. Senegal, riding high from their…

Aug

07

2025

By The African Mirror

Exclusive: Makhaya Ntini says Shukri Conrad’s arrival changed everything for Proteas

SPORT

THE unmitigated success of the Proteas since Shukri Conrad took over has been nothing short of incredible, according to legendary South African fast bowler Makhaya Ntini. It was no joke when Rob Walter resigned as the Proteas limited-overs coach on April 1, and it meant that a month later Conrad was given the role across all three formats. Conrad was first appointed as Test coach in February 2023, and at the time, Cricket SA (CSA) had envisioned that two different coaches would handle the limited overs and red ball formats. It came as quite a shock then when Walter resigned…

Aug

07

2025

By The African Mirror

Exclusive: Kevin Lerena announces break from boxing after disappointing Okolie defeat

SPORT

KEVIN Lerena has seldom tasted defeat in his boxing career, but in July, ‘Two Guns’ was left bitterly disappointed after his loss to Lawrence Okolie for the WBC Silver Heavyweight title at a packed Wembley Stadium in London. At 33, the loss may limit Lerena’s future and immediate prospects. With 35 pro fights to his name, Lerena has come away victorious in 31 of those bouts. The worrying stat for Lerena, though, is that three of his four losses have come in his last six fights. Lerena Reflects on Performance and Embraces Future Opportunities “It didn’t go my way, it…

Aug

05

2025

By Jovial Rantao

CHAN 2024: Congo, Sudan share points in thrilling Zanzibar opener

CHAN 2024

THE TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 kicked off with a pulsating 1-1 draw between Congo and Sudan at Zanzibar's Amaan Stadium on Tuesday night, setting the tone for what promises to be a fiercely competitive tournament. In the opening Group D fixture, both nations demonstrated the grit and determination that defines CHAN, the biennial competition exclusively featuring players from domestic African leagues. The match marked the first-ever encounter between these two sides at the tournament level, and it did not disappoint the lively crowd in attendance. Sudan strike first, Congo respond late Sudan looked the more dangerous…