SPORT - The African Mirror

Jun

17

2024

Weghorst’s first touch gives Dutch late win over Poland

FOOTBALL

STRIKER Wout Weghorst came off the bench to snatch a late winner with his first touch and give the Netherlands a deserved 2-1 comeback victory over Poland in their Group D opener at the European Championship. Weghorst had barely been on the field when he slid home Nathan Ake's perfect pass into the area in the 83rd minute to send the tens of thousands of "Oranje" fans at Hamburg's Volksparkstadion into raptures. It was his third consecutive goal as a substitute for the national side. "So important to get the early win and for me personally it's a dream scenario,"…

Jun

18

2024

By Mpho Rantao

FE: Season 11 calendar revealed, and Liberty Global acquires stakes

MOTORSPORT

The calendar for season 11 (2024/25) of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship has been announced and features significant omissions and returns for the all-electric racing series. Eleven locations have been selected to host the all-electric racing series, with a few returning cities that were featured in earlier seasons and one yet-to-be-confirmed date. https://twitter.com/fiaformulae/status/1800510801016418709?s=61&t=Gl9YGLQ3J41O_wBN--QHVg The calendar was released by Formula E (FE) following approval from motorsport governing body FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) during FE’s month-long break before the penultimate rounds of the season. The calendar clearly indicates that Italy will no longer be a racing location, following the Misano double…

Jun

16

2024

By The African Mirror

Former Arsenal and Everton striker Campbell dies at 54

FOOTBALL

FORMER Arsenal, Everton and Nottingham Forest striker and soccer commentator Kevin Campbell has died at the age of 54. British media said he had been in hospital for two weeks before his death was announced. "We are devastated to learn that our former striker Kevin Campbell has died after a short illness," Arsenal said on social media. "Kevin was adored by everyone at the club." The London-born Campbell made his senior debut at Arsenal in 1988 and spent seven years at the club including two loan spells. He was part of the Arsenal side that won the English first-division league…

Jun

16

2024

By The African Mirror

Teenager Wanyonyi makes statement with blistering 800 at Kenyan trials

ATHLETICS

TEENAGER Emmanuel Wanyonyi sprinted to the third-fastest 800-metre time in history at the Kenyan Olympics Trials, setting a blistering statement barely a month before the Paris Games. The 19-year-old clocked one minute 41.70 seconds, the quickest time since 2012 and less than a second off the world record of 1:40.91 set by fellow Kenyan David Rudisha in 1988. Only Rudisha and Wilson Kipketer have gone faster than Wanyonyi did on Friday. Wanyonyi was the silver medallist at last year's world championships in Budapest.

Jun

16

2024

By MITCH PHILLIPS

Xhaka is top 10 as Swiss overwhelm Hungary

FOOTBALL

GRANIT Xhaka and Dominik Szoboszlai are the number 10s, captains and driving forces of Switzerland and Hungary, but it was Xhaka who took the plaudits with a superb all-round display in his team’s 3-1 Euro 2024 victory. Kwadwo Duah, Michel Aebischer and Breel Embolo scored the goals in a dominant Swiss display, despite Hungary briefly rallying at 2-1 after a goal by Barnabas Varga. With 126 caps and seven years at Arsenal under his belt, Xhaka is enjoying something of an Indian summer. He was key in Bayer Leverkusen's surprise Bundesliga title triumph and led from the front as the…

Jun

15

2024

By Mpho Rantao

UK’s LOLA Cars unveiled as new team to join Formula E

MOTORSPORT

There is a new competitor on the Formula E (FE) grid for the 2025/26 season and they are no stranger to motorsport, but rather to electric motorsport. Lola Cars announced its involvement in the all-electric ABB FIA Formula E World Championship from season 11 (2024/25), and its commitment from the GEN3 Evo era to the GEN4 era. FE announced Lola’s entry midway through the tenth season (2023/24) as another manufacturer competing for the coveted FE World Championship drivers' and manufacturer teams’ trophies. This commitment ensures the British car group's participation in the championship for at least six seasons. “We are…

Jun

15

2024

By The African Mirror

Mali sack head coach Chelle

FOOTBALL

MALI has fired head coach Eric Chelle, the West African nation's soccer federation said. In a statement, reported on national television, it gave no reason for the decision but the sacking comes days after Mali were held to a goalless draw by 10-man Madagascar in a Group I World Cup qualifier in Johannesburg. "The executive committee of the Malian Football Federation, meeting in extraordinary session today unanimously decided, with the agreement of the supervisory authority, to end the collaboration between the coach of the National Team Senior, Mr. Eric Sekou Chelle and the federation," the statement said. Chelle, 46, was born in…

Jun

15

2024

By The African Mirror

Crystal Palace sign Moroccan defender Riad

FOOTBALL

CRYSTAL Palace has signed Barcelona's Morocco international defender Chadi Riad on a long-term contract, the Premier League club said. Real Betis' Chadi Riad REUTERS/Albert Gea The 20-year-old joins Palace after spending a season on loan at Real Betis for whom he played 30 times in all competitions. "The club has high-level players who are young and I have come here to follow their same trajectory, to grow as they have grown," Riad said in a club statement. Riad was born in Palma, Mallorca, to Moroccan parents and came through the island club's youth system before moving to Barcelona and graduating…

Jun

13

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Six of the best as Morocco win handsomely in World Cup qualification

FOOTBALL

STRIKER Ayoub El Kaabi netted a hat-trick as Morocco stormed to a 6-0 win over Congo in World Cup qualification, maintaining their 100% start to the African preliminaries for the 2026 finals in North America. But other leading contenders, Cameroon and African champions Ivory Coast, were held to away draws on a busy day of action around the continent. El Kaabi kept up the goalscoring form that helped Olympiakos win the Europa Conference League last month with his hat-trick as Morocco made it three wins out of three in Group E. The thrashing of Congo in Agadir started with a…

Jun

13

2024

By The African Mirror

World’s fastest man Bolt ruptures Achilles in charity soccer match

ATHLETICS

JAMAICAN sprinting hero Usain Bolt ruptured his Achilles tendon at a charity football match in London, confirming the news in a social media post. The eight-time Olympic champion and world-record holder in the 100 and 200 metres was carried off on a stretcher during the second half of the Soccer Aid game at Stamford Bridge. Bolt posted an Instagram photo from a dressing room, his right foot encased in a walking boot. "Ruptured Achilles but done know we are a warrior," wrote Bolt, who flashed a peace sign in the photo. Bolt had been skipper of the World XI against…