SPORT - The African Mirror

Feb

01

2024

Afcon 2023: Africa’s diaspora footballers are boosting the continent’s game – but they are also creating challenges

AFCON 2023

THE Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is approaching its conclusion in Ivory Coast and speculation is rife about which team will be the ultimate winner. It cannot be one of the continent’s footballing heavyweights such as Morocco or Senegal. They were knocked out. Alternatively, a relative minnow like Angola or Cape Verde may emerge as the unexpected victor. Last time out, at the 2021 edition in Algeria, Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly lifted the trophy. Before that, Algeria’s 2019 triumph in Egypt saw Riyad Mahrez become the victorious captain. Significantly, neither player was born in Africa and there is a distinct…

Feb

01

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Morocco’s Cup of Nations calamity contrasts with World Cup heroics

FOOTBALL

ANOTHER African Cup of Nations calamity for Morocco keeps up a consistent sequence of failures in the tournament that contrasts starkly with their performance at the last World Cup. Morocco became the first African side to reach the World Cup semi-finals some 14 months ago and went into the Cup of Nations finals as favourites. Before the tournament, they had one loss in 12 games and invested heavily in their preparations, including arriving a week before kick-off in the Ivory Coast to adjust to the severe heat and suffocating humidity. But their hopes ended on Tuesday with elimination in the…

Feb

01

2024

By BONFACE ORUCHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

MMA’s African fighters are sparking a new era for the sport

SPORT

THE triumphs of African fighters in global mixed martial arts (MMA) tournaments are not just fueling a new generation of competitors entering the rigorous sport; they are establishing a distinct presence for MMA on the continent. Dricus Du Plessis, the 30-year-old South African professional mixed martial artist who kicked and punched his way into carrying the UFC middleweight championship belt on Saturday, January 20, has become the continent's latest poster boy for the sport. “It felt like 15 years of work, of gyming, of sacrificing—everything came together in one single sentence,” the South African expressed after the fight, according to…

Jan

31

2024

By The African Mirror

South Africa stun fancied Morocco to book quarter-final place

AFCON 2023

EVIDENCE Makgopa and Teboho Mokoena scored second-half goals as South Africa shocked Morocco with a 2-0 victory to dump the World Cup semi-finalists out of the Africa Cup of Nations at the last-16 stage in San Pedro. Morocco, who had Sofyan Amrabat sent off late on, were among the favourites at the tournament in the Ivory Coast, but their continental curse continues and they remain without a Cup of Nations title since 1976, this time undone in the muggy heat of the Laurent Pokou Stadium. South Africa led in the 57th minute when midfielder Themba Zwane, so often the creative…

Jan

30

2024

By JOEL OMOTTO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Tiny but mighty: How the minnows have outshone Africa’s football giants at AFCON 2023

AFCON 2023

THE story of Africa's smaller teams felling the continent's football giants continues, turning the event in Ivory Coast into one of the most exciting for fans, ever. Before the start of the competition, Senegal, Morocco, Nigeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia and Ghana were among those tipped to win it but at the halfway point of knockout matches, only three "powerhouses", remain. Algeria, Tunisia and Ghana did not even make it past the group stage, while Cameroon and Egypt, who sneaked into the knockout round, were eventually found out and sent packing. Equatorial Guinea, a nation of just 1.7 million people,…

Jan

31

2024

By The African Mirror

Mali seal quarter-final place with 2-1 win over Burkina Faso

AFCON 2023

MALI profited from quick starts to each half as an own goal from Edmond Tapsoba and a strike by Lassine Sinayoko secured a 2-1 victory over Burkina Faso in an Africa Cup of Nations last-16 clash at the Stade Amadou Gon Coulibaly in Korhogo on Tuesday. Mali scored within three minutes at the start of the match as the unfortunate Tapsoba turned the ball into his own net, and caught the Burkinabe cold again when they added a second two minutes after the break as Sinayoko netted his third goal of the tournament. Burkina Faso pulled a goal back when…

Jan

30

2024

By The African Mirror

Ivory Coast send defending champions Senegal out of Cup of Nations

AFCON 2023

MOUSSA Niakhate missed his penalty in the shoot-out as holders Senegal tumbled out of the Africa Cup of Nations after a drama-filled 5-4 loss to hosts Ivory Coast following a 1-1 draw at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in their last-16 clash. Senegal was quick out of the blocks and took the lead inside four minutes as Sadio Mane's cross from the left was chested down by Habib Diallo, whose thunderous shot from 10 yards settled in the top corner of the net. Mane was fortunate not to get a red card shortly after that following a poor challenge, but…

Jan

30

2024

By The African Mirror

5 key talking points as Afcon enters the knock-out phase in Côte d’Ivoire

AFCON 2023

JUDGING from media and online activity, this has been the most talked about Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in many years. That’s not just because the tournament, held every two years, is becoming a significant event on the international football calendar. It’s also because there was a lot at stake this year – for competing nations, teams, organisers (the Confederation of African Football or Caf) and hosts (Côte d'Ivoire). WYCLIFFE W. NJORORAI SIMIYU, Professor and Chair of Kinesiology and Health Science, Stephen F. Austin State University This is, after all, the third Afcon to test the new format of 24…

Jan

30

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Cape Verde edge Mauritania to reach Cup of Nations last eight

AFCON 2023

CAPE Verde Islands captain Ryan Mendes converted a penalty two minutes from time to edge Mauritania 1-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations last-16 clash and see the smallest country at the 24-team tournament advance to the quarter-final. Mendes, who was in the team when the Cape Verdians previously reached the last eight in 2013, blasted home the spot kick to hand the islanders a deserved triumph after they had dominated another fast and furious affair. The penalty was conceded by Mauritania goalkeeper Babacar Niasse, who was forced to come out as he scrambled to get to a poor back…

Jan

29

2024

By The African Mirror

DR Congo beat Egypt on penalties in Cup of Nations last-16

AFCON 2023

EGYPT goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal missed his penalty in the shootout as the Democratic Republic of Congo claimed an epic 8-7 victory following a tense 1-1 draw in their Africa Cup of Nations last-16 clash in San Pedro. Abou Gabal clipped the crossbar with his effort and then opposite number Lionel Mpasi scored against him as record seven-times winners Egypt bowed out at the Laurent Pokou Stadium, sparking jubilant scenes for the Congolese, who now play Guinea in the quarter-finals in Abidjan on Friday. Meschack Elia gave DR Congo the lead in the game when he headed in virtually on…