SPORT - The African Mirror

Aug

04

2025

HARAMBEE STARS ROAR: Kenya stuns two-time champions DR Congo in electrifying CHAN debut

FOOTBALL

THE earth shook in Nairobi on Sunday night. Not from any seismic activity, but from the thunderous roar of 60,000 voices rising as one when Austin Odhiambo's left boot changed the course of Kenyan football history forever. In a moment that will be etched into the folklore of East African sport, Kenya's Harambee Stars announced their arrival on the continental stage with a seismic 1-0 victory over two-time champions DR Congo at the sold-out Moi International Sports Centre, marking their debut at the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 with the kind of statement that sends shockwaves across…

Aug

02

2025

By HABIB NOORBHAI

Cricket’s great global divide: elite schools still shape the sport

SPORT

IF you were to walk through the corridors of some of the world’s leading cricket schools, you might hear the crack of leather on willow long before the bell for the end of the day rings. Across the cricketing world, elite schools have served as key feeder systems to national teams for decades. They provide young players with superior training facilities, high-level coaching and competitive playing opportunities. This tradition has served as cricket’s most dependable talent pipeline. But is it a strength or a symptom of exclusion? My recent study examined the school backgrounds of 1,080 elite men’s cricketers across…

Aug

01

2025

By The African Mirror

Exclusive: From township dreams to test captaincy as told by Temba Bavuma’s father

SPORT

IN the heart of Cape Town’s oldest township, Langa, a young boy once chased red leather cricket balls across dusty fields. Years later, that same boy who became a man, Temba Bavuma, would walk onto the hallowed turf of Lord’s Cricket Ground, the first Black African to captain South Africa in Test cricket. His is a story not just of sporting excellence, but of resilience, identity, and quiet defiance in the face of relentless scrutiny. At the centre of this journey stands his father, Vuyo Bavuma, who spoke candidly about the sacrifices, the setbacks, and the triumphs that shaped his…

Aug

01

2025

By ABDERRAHIM RHARIB

Ahmed Faras will be remembered as a football hero and symbol of Morocco

FOOTBALL

NICKNAMED Moul Lkoura, meaning the owner of the ball, Ahmed Faras, achieved iconic status in Morocco. The footballer was a hero to the people, a source of pride and national unity. Across Morocco, he is held in the highest regard for both his technical skills on the field and his character. With his passing at the age of 78, many have highlighted his humility, respect, kindness and modesty. His sense of patriotism towards Morocco was a beacon for decades, long after his playing days ended. Ahmed Faras' football trading card in 1970. Panini/Wikimedia Commons Faras also had another nickname: the…

Aug

01

2025

By The African Mirror

Exclusive: SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer hails junior Boks triumph as proof Springbok overhaul is working

SPORT

SOUTH African Rugby is celebrating a landmark moment as the Junior Springboks ended a 13-year title drought by claiming the World Rugby U20 Championship crown in Italy. Their victory marks a significant shift in the country’s junior rugby pathway and has drawn high praise from SA Rugby leadership. SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer hailed the triumph as a product of deliberate structural reforms, including key coaching appointments and a stronger alignment between age-group teams and the senior national setup. “The restructuring helped a lot,” Oberholzer said. “We focused solely on the structures at the juniors [u18 and u20s] and women’s…

Jul

30

2025

By The African Mirror

NIGERIA honours Queens of African Football with millions and houses

WAFCON

IN the hallowed halls of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, history witnessed a moment of pure recognition - a nation bowing in reverence to its daughters who had once again conquered a continent. The Super Falcons of Nigeria, crowned queens of African football for an unprecedented tenth time, stood not merely as athletes but as embodiments of a nation's unwavering spirit. When the final whistle echoed through the Rabat Olympic Stadium in Morocco, it carried with it the weight of legacy - a legacy that began in 1998 and has flourished through decades of dedication, sacrifice, and unparalleled excellence. The…

Jul

29

2025

By The African Mirror

The Queen bids farewell: A football icon’s golden goodbye

WAFCON

IN the dying moments of a penalty shootout that would decide third place at the TotalEnergies WAFCON 2024, tears streamed down the face of a warrior. Not tears of defeat, but tears of completion. For Jermaine Seoposenwe, the Cape-born magician who painted her dreams across football pitches worldwide, this was the final chapter of an extraordinary 15-year love affair with the South African national team. As the dust settled on Friday's heart-wrenching 4-3 penalty loss to Ghana, one of African football's most treasured jewels quietly closed the book on a career that redefined what it means to wear the Banyana…

Jul

28

2025

By CHUKA ONWUMECHILI

Nigeria wins its 10th Wafcon title – but women’s football has never been more competitive

WAFCON

NIGERIA’S Super Falcons came from two goals down to beat Morocco 3-2 in the thrilling championship final at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Rabat. But even despite Nigeria’s stunning comeback, with a winning goal two minutes from full time, it has become clear that the days of the West African nation’s sole dominance of women’s football in Africa have ended. Nigeria’s return to the pinnacle of the important Africa-wide tournament should not be read as a continuation of the country’s dominance on the field. Yes, Nigeria has now won Wafcon 10 times in 12 competitions. But the…

Jul

23

2025

By Jovial Rantao

Heartbreak and Heroics: Defending champions fall as Morocco and Nigeria set up dream final

WAFCON

THE dust has settled on two titanic battles that will be remembered for years to come, as defending champions South Africa crashed out in heartbreak while hosts Morocco defied the odds to reach their second consecutive final. When the final whistle blows on Saturday in Rabat, it will be the Atlas Lionesses facing Nigeria's Super Falcons in what promises to be a spectacular conclusion to a tournament that has captured the imagination of African football. In what was billed as "the final before the final," Nigeria delivered a masterclass in tournament football, stunning defending champions South Africa 2-1 in a…

Jul

23

2025

By The African Mirror

Andile Dlamini: How to turn pressure into legacy

WAFCON

SOME people are born with it. Confidence. The way they walk. The way they talk. The way they approach high-pressure situations. The way they approach adversity. The way they stand out when their backs are against the wall. Andile Dlamini is one of them. She belongs up there. Three clean sheets in the three games that she has played at the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024 in Morocco have Dlamini standing on cloud nine. South Africa’s finest and the reigning WAFCON Goalkeeper of the Year from the 2022 edition is stacking up exceptionally good performances like a…