SPORT - The African Mirror

Mar

25

2024

African champions Ivory Coast held to draw by Benin

FOOTBALL

Oumar Diakite scored a second-half equaliser to spare the blushes of newly-crowned African champions Ivory Coast who were held to a 2-2 draw by Benin in a friendly in Amiens, France. It was the first game for coach Emerse Fae since his side lifted the Cup of Nations title on home soil last month, but they had to come behind twice to draw after a lacklustre performance. Benin midfielder Junior Olaitan opened the scoring before winger Max Gradel equalised just before the half-hour mark. Olaitan’s second goal put Benin on course for victory before Diakite equalised again after 69 minutes.…

Mar

25

2024

By HATEM MAHER

Croatia beat Tunisia on penalties after 0-0 friendly draw

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WORLD Cup semi-finalists Croatia needed a penalty shootout to beat Tunisia following a 0-0 draw in a friendly. Keeper Ivica Ivusic, who replaced Dominik Livakovic in the second half, came to Croatia's rescue with three penalty saves as his side prevailed 5-4 after the game went to a shootout. Seifeddine Jaziri had a chance to win it for Tunisia in sudden death but Ivusic blocked his tame effort. The Cypriot-based keeper saved the decisive penalty from Oussama Haddadi. Croatia will face Egypt in the final of the four-team tournament on Tuesday after the hosts defeated New Zealand 1-0 on Friday.…

Mar

25

2024

By The African Mirror

Germany defeat a wake-up call for France, says Tchouameni

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FRANCE were completely outclassed by Germany in their 2-0 defeat and should treat the loss as a wake-up call ahead of the European Championship, midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni said. Florian Wirtz scored Germany's fastest international goal after seven seconds before the Euro 2024 hosts doubled their lead early in the second half through Kai Havertz to earn victory in the Lyon friendly. "I think we were outclassed in every department," Tchouameni told French TV network TF1. "We couldn't put our game plan in place. We came up against a great team. We need to do better, individually and collectively. "It's a wake-up…

Mar

23

2024

By The African Mirror

Police arrest former soccer player Robinho in Brazil

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POLICE arrested former soccer player Robinho in the Brazilian city of Santos to serve out a nine-year prison sentence for rape, local news website G1 reported. Robinho's defence had filed a petition to Brazil's Supreme Court to avoid his arrest, but the appeal was rejected on Thursday. On Wednesday, a separate local court ruled the athlete must serve his sentence in Brazil, though he was convicted in Italy.

Mar

22

2024

By The African Mirror

The BAL 4: Kalahari Conference wrap

BASKETBALL

ALL eyes in African basketball turned to Pretoria, South Africa for the Kalahari Conference of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) for a spot in the BAL playoffs in Kigali, Rwanda in May 2024. FUS Rabat, hailing from Morocco, stole the show - winning the Kalahari Conference in front a sold out crowd at the SunBet Arena - finishing with a 3-1 record. Angolan representatives Petro de Luanda emerged as the second place finishers in the group, also clinching their berth to the BAL playoffs, winning 2 games and suffering 2 defeats. South African representatives and Hometown heroes the Cape Town…

Mar

22

2024

By The African Mirror

Spanish soccer federation fires executives linked to corruption probe

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SPAIN'S soccer federation (RFEF) fired two executives it said were linked to a multimillion-euro corruption probe, adding that the case had caused "very serious damage" to the sport's image in the country. Pedro Gonzalez Segura, director of legal services, and Jose Javier Jimenez, director of human resources, had been removed from their positions, RFEF said in a statement. The federation "opened disciplinary proceedings and has removed from their jobs and functions the managers related to the legal case," the RFEF added. It is the second scandal in less than a year to rock Spain's top football body, coming after former…

Mar

20

2024

By The African Mirror

Boa Morte to leave Fulham at end of season to coach Guinea-Bissau

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LUIS Boa Morte will leave his role as Fulham's first-team coach at the end of the season to take over as Guinea-Bissau manager, the Premier League club said. Boa Morte, who played for Fulham from 2000-2007, returned to Craven Cottage in 2021 following the appointment of Marco Silva as manager to form part of his coaching team. "Everyone at Fulham would like to thank Boa for his efforts since his return to the Club, and wishes him the best of luck in this next chapter when he departs following our season finale away to Luton Town," Fulham said in a statement.…

Mar

19

2024

By BIRD STORY AGENCY

Pro basketball teams shine at the NBA-backed BAL Kalahari Conference

BASKETBALL

SOUTH Africa's SunBet Arena in Pretoria successfully concluded the group stage matches of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) on Sunday (March 17) as the inaugural Kalahari Conference ignited fierce competition and provided electrifying hoop action. Despite Burundi's club Dynamo withdrawing from the competition, other conference matches went on as planned, with Morocco’s Fath Union Sport de Rabat emerging at the top of the conference, followed by Clube Atletico Petroleos de Luanda of Angola. The two are automatic qualifiers for the BAL playoffs in May at the BK Arena in Kigali. Home team, the Cape Town Tigers, finished in third place,…

Mar

19

2024

By The African Mirror

Egypt becomes latest host of FIFA’s new friendly series

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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

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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…