SPORT - The African Mirror

Mar

19

2024

Egypt becomes latest host of FIFA’s new friendly series

FOOTBALL

EGYPT became the fifth country to be selected as host of a new series of friendly games introduced by FIFA to allow teams from different confederations to play each other, the world soccer governing body said. The pilot phase was expanded to feature 24 national teams, who will play across three continents, FIFA said in a statement. The Egypt edition -- which will take place from March 22-26 -- will also include Croatia, Tunisia and New Zealand. Egypt will host New Zealand in the opening game on Friday, which will also mark the inauguration of a new 92,000-capacity stadium that…

Mar

18

2024

By LORI EWING

Ivory Coast star Diallo scores winner to send Man Utd into FA Cup semis

FOOTBALL

AMAD Diallo scored deep in extra time after Marcus Rashford made amends for a bad miss to lift Manchester United to a breathless 4-3 victory over northwest rivals Liverpool and into the FA Cup semi-finals. United's victory at Old Trafford kept alive their only hope of silverware this season and spoiled Liverpool's dreams of hoisting four trophies in manager Juergen Klopp's final campaign with the team. Erik ten Hag's side will face Championship (second-tier) outfit Coventry City in the semis after they upset Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 on Saturday. "Listen to the noise, you can tell what a big game it…

Mar

18

2024

By The African Mirror

Lorient hold Monaco 2-2 in game with two own goals and two red cards

FOOTBALL

STRUGGLING Lorient came away from AS Monaco with a precious point in Ligue 1 after a 2-2 draw that had two own goals while both sides were reduced to 10 men before Tiemoue Bakayoko scored a last-gasp equaliser for the visitors. The result leaves Monaco in third place, a point behind Brest in second after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Lille earlier on Sunday. Lorient are 15th with 26 points, one point above the relegation playoff spot. Lorient took an unexpected lead in the first minute when Mohamed Bamba struck the post but the ball rebounded off Wilfried Singo…

Mar

17

2024

By The African Mirror

Ghana re-appoint Addo as coach

FOOTBALL

GHANA has re-appointed Otto Addo as their new coach following the exit of Chris Hughton at the end of the dismal first-round exit at the Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast earlier this year, officials said. Addo is to take over the reins permanently in May but will take charge of friendlies against Nigeria and Uganda in Morocco this month having led Ghana at the World Cup in Qatar. He combined his post in Qatar with his role as a talent scout for Borussia Dortmund, who have now agreed to release him from his contract to lead the…

Mar

16

2024

By The African Mirror

Making waves and setting records

SPORT

FAR from the glamour of glittering awards ceremonies, which bring together the who’s who of global sport, Kirsten Neuschäfer finds solace in the vast expanse of the ocean, a place where the only spotlight comes from the sun. She’d far rather be all alone on her beloved boat, Minnehaha. But the South African sailor has had to force herself to become accustomed to international attention after winning the formidable 48,000km Golden Globe Race (GGR). Not only did she become the first female winner of a round-the-world sailing race after almost eight months at sea, but she did it solo, using…

Mar

15

2024

By The African Mirror

Real Madrid’s Diaz to represent Morocco

FOOTBALL

REAL Madrid winger Brahim Diaz was named in Morocco's squad after deciding to represent the North African team rather than Spain. Diaz was included in Walid Regragui's 24-man roster for the matches against Angola and Mauritania this month, the Moroccan Football Federation said in a statement. The 24-year-old represented Spain in one game and scored against Lithuania in 2021. FIFA rules say players can switch international allegiance as long as they have made fewer than three appearances for a country before the age of 21 and have not played for that nation for at least three years. Former AC Milan…

Mar

15

2024

By TOMMY LUND

Napoli face top-four test against title-chasing Inter

FOOTBALL

WHILE Inter Milan is romping towards a seemingly inevitable Serie A title, the battle for Champions League qualification is heating up with Napoli's top-four ambitions set to be tested when they visit the league leaders on Sunday. Runaway leaders Inter have a 16-point advantage over second-placed AC Milan with 10 rounds remaining, while champions Napoli are seventh, seven points off fourth-placed Bologna in an increasingly tight contest to book a spot among Europe's elite next season. Sitting between them, AS Roma and Atalanta have 48 and 47 points respectively, while Fiorentina trail Napoli by a single point. Both Inter and…

Mar

14

2024

By The African Mirror

Holders Al Ahly to meet Simba in African Champions League quarter-final

FOOTBALL

HOLDERS Al Ahly of Egypt were drawn against Simba of Tanzania in the quarter-final of this season’s African Champions League as they seek to win the continent’s top club title for a sixth time in the last eight editions. The draw was conducted in Cairo on Tuesday and has Simba’s domestic rivals Young Africans pitted against South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, one of the pre-tournament favourites. Al Ahly will have home advantage in the second leg and if they progress will meet either TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo or Angola’s Petro Atletico in the semi-final. Petro set an…

Mar

14

2024

By The African Mirror

Cameroon suspend player over alleged identity fraud and face Cup of Nations ban

FOOTBALL

CAMEROON have suspended a player they took to the Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast earlier this year for allegedly falsifying his name and date of birth, which could see them face a future ban from the tournament. The Cameroon federation FECAFOOT on Monday named Wilfried Nathan Douala among 62 players suspended from the league over administrative irregularities, mostly double identity and age cheating. There was considerable surprise ahead of January's Cup of Nations finals, where Cameroon went out in the second round when coach Rigobert Song picked the 17-year-old Douala, an unheralded player from second-division club Victoria…

Mar

13

2024

By The African Mirror

Ivory Coast Cup of Nations hero Haller to miss next two friendlies

FOOTBALL

IVORY Coast’s Africa Cup of Nations hero Sebastien Haller will miss his country’s next two internationals this month because of injury, new coach Emerse Fae said as he named his squad for friendlies against Benin and Uruguay. Haller, who resurrected his career at Borussia Dortmund after testicular cancer, scored the winner for the Ivorians as they beat Nigeria 2-1 in last month’s final in Abidjan. He had missed the early stage of the tournament in the Ivory Coast because of an ankle injury but recovered to score two vital goals including the winner in the final as the hosts claimed the title…