SPORT - The African Mirror

Jan

26

2024

Salah will ‘100%’ return for AFCON final if he recovers: Klopp

AFCON 2023

MOHAMED Salah will definitely return to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) if he recovers in time from injury and Egypt reach the final, Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said. The 31-year-old winger returned to England for treatment after picking up a hamstring injury in Egypt's 2-2 draw with Ghana last week. Liverpool assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders has said Salah is expected to return to action in three to four weeks if there are no setbacks in his recovery. The AFCON final is on February 11. "Egypt and Liverpool both have the same interest, we want Mo Salah fit as soon…

Jan

26

2024

By SILALEI SHANI, BIRD STORY AGENCY

bird’s African Basketball Wrap: Pascal Siakam traded, Clare Akamanzi to start as NBA Africa CEO

BASKETBALL

AFRICA’S basketball calendar for the new year is starting to take shape, with the Basketball Africa League kicking off in March and the 2025 Afrobasket qualifiers scheduled for February 23-25. The host countries for the opening window of this edition of Afrobasket will be Tunisia and Egypt, with Tunisia hosting Groups B and E and the latter hosting the first games of Group D. The remaining groups will play their qualifying games in November. Teams heading to Tunisia include Group B’s Cape Verde, Nigeria, and Uganda, together with the winners of Africa Zone 1 qualifiers, while Group E is comprised…

Jan

25

2024

By The African Mirror

DR Congo advance to Cup of Nations last-16 after Tanzania draw

AFCON 2023

THE Democratic Republic of Congo has set up a last-16 clash with record seven-time winners Egypt after playing to a 0-0 draw with Tanzania in their final Africa Cup of Nations Group F fixture. The Congolese finish second in the pool with three points following a trio of draws and advance along with group winners Morocco, who take on South Africa in the next round. It was a game of very few chances for the 12,847 crowd at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium but they could at least celebrate that Ivory Coast had secured a place in the last-16 as…

Jan

25

2024

By The African Mirror

Tunisia out of Africa Cup of Nations after South Africa draw

AFCON 2023

TUNISIA limped out of the Africa Cup of Nations finals with a whimper after they were held to a 0-0 draw by South Africa in the sweltering heat of Korhogo, a result that sends their opponents into the last-16. The onus was on Tunisia to make the play as they needed a win to move off the bottom of Group E, but they created very little in the contest and failed to break down a resolute South Africa. Mali tops the pool with five points from their three games following a goalless draw with Namibia, with South Africa in second…

Jan

25

2024

By The African Mirror

Namibia qualify for Cup of Nations last-16 for first time

AFCON 2023

NAMIBIA qualified for the knockout phase of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time as they held Mali to a 0-0 draw in their last group game on Wednesday. Namibia qualified as one of the four best third-placed finishers after they ended their Group E campaign with four points. Mali won the group with five points and South Africa were second also with four, finishing above Namibia after beating them 4-0 on Sunday. Tunisia were eliminated after they drew 0-0 with South Africa in the other Group E game. Group winners Mali advance to a last-16 meeting with…

Jan

24

2024

By The African Mirror

Mauritania claim historic win to dump Algeria out of Cup of Nations

AFCON 2023

MAURITANIA served up another shock result at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals to dump 2019 winners Algeria out of the tournament with a 1-0 victory and seal a historic place in the last-16 at the Stade de la Paix. Mauritania had never led in any of their previous eight matches at the continental finals, let alone won a game, but a first-half goal from Yali Dellahi was enough to send Algeria packing in a second successive embarrassing early exit for coach Djamel Belmadi’s side after a similar failure in 2021. Angola took top spot in Group D with…

Jan

24

2024

By The African Mirror

Cameroon rally to advance to last-16 after Cup of Nations classic

AFCON 2023

CAMEROON fought back with two goals in the closing stages to edge Gambia 3-2 in a thrilling encounter at the Africa Cup of Nations finals and advance from Group C after being minutes from elimination. Defender Christopher Wooh netted a dramatic stoppage-time winner to put the Indomitable Lions second in the group behind Senegal. They finished ahead of Guinea on goals scored while Gambia were eliminated after a third successive loss. Cameroon had to claw their way back in a game of relentless attack and end-to-end action to keep alive their hopes after falling 2-1 behind with only five minutes…

Jan

24

2024

By ROHITH NAIR

Japan coach Moriyasu appalled by racist abuse directed at keeper Suzuki

FOOTBALL

JAPAN coach Hajime Moriyasu said he was "ashamed and appalled" to see his goalkeeper Zion Suzuki subjected to racial abuse on social media after they lost their second Asian Cup group game against Iraq last week. Iraq claimed their first victory over Japan in 42 years with a 2-1 upset after Suzuki's error allowed Aymen Hussein to score the opener. The 21-year-old, who has a Ghanaian-American father and Japanese mother, said he welcomed criticism of his performances but wanted people to stop commenting on his race. "For our precious player Suzuki, I feel very ashamed and appalled that he was racially discriminated…

Jan

24

2024

By The African Mirror

Gambia coach Saintfiet quits after Cup of Nations exit

AFCON 2023

GAMBIA coach Tom Saintfiet quit minutes after his side’s elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations despite a sterling effort to try and secure a place in the last-16 at the expense of five-time winners Cameroon. The 50-year-old Belgian said his contract was running out in August but he would be leaving immediately. The Gambia was his 10th job as a national team coach and by far his most successful. He qualified the small West African country for their first Cup of Nations in Cameroon two years ago and then took them on a giant-killing run to the quarter-finals. They…

Jan

24

2024

By The African Mirror

Senegal beat Guinea 2-0 as both advance to last-16

AFCON 2023

ABDOULAYE Seck and Iliman Ndiaye scored second-half goals as defending champions Senegal beat Guinea 2-0 in Yamoussoukro on Tuesday to make it three wins from three in Africa Cup of Nations Group C, as both teams advanced to the last-16. In contrast to what we have seen so far in the Ivory Coast, it was a game of few clear-cut chances with neither side overly committed to attack. It was no surprise when Seck's opener came from a set-piece before Ndiaye provided a neat finish. Senegal top the pool with nine points, followed by Cameroon with four as they edged…