SPORT - The African Mirror

Dec

27

2023

Guinea-Bissau skipper Mendes to make fourth Cup of Nations appearance, Mendy turns down call-up

AFCON 2023

GUINEA-BISSAU captain Jonas Mendes will participate in a fourth successive African Cup of Nations finals after being named in their 25-man squad for next month's tournament in Ivory Coast, officials said. However, leading Ligue 2 striker Alexandre Mendy has turned down a call-up even though he played in a World Cup qualifier last month. Mendy's 12 goals for Caen make him the leading marksman in the French second division. Mendes, 34, has kept goal in all but two of the nine matches the small West African country has played at the finals following their debut in 2017. Mendy is the…

Dec

26

2023

By The African Mirror

Egyptian Super Cup semi-final settled after 34 penalty kicks

FOOTBALL

IT took 34 penalty kicks before Modern Future finally beat Pyramids 14-13 in a nerve-shredding shootout in the Egyptian Super Cup semi-final after the contest had ended in a 0-0 draw. Modern Future, who will face either Al Ahly or Ceramica Cleopatra in the final, squandered three spot kicks while Pyramids lost the match after missing a fourth penalty kick at Abu Dhabi's Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium. Pyramids defender Osama Galal wasted two penalty shots, including the decisive one that sealed victory for Future. Even though at times it felt that the shootout was never-ending, it was well short of…

Dec

24

2023

By The African Mirror

Al-Ahly beat Urawa Red Diamonds 4-2 to finish third in Club World Cup

FOOTBALL

AL-AHLY defeated Urawa Red Diamonds 4-2 in an entertaining Club World Cup third-place playoff to secure a top three finish in the tournament for the fourth time, despite losing a two-goal lead and missing a penalty. The Egyptian side, appearing in their fourth consecutive third-place playoff, finished third in 2006, 2020 and 2021, while Japan's Urawa came third in 2007. Al-Ahly took the lead in the 19th minute when a short corner move found Mohamed Hany well outside the box and his fierce strike was parried by the keeper and Yasser Ibrahim pounced from close range. Six minutes later Al-Ahly…

Dec

22

2023

By The African Mirror

Morocco’s fabulous football year – what’s behind their success on and off the field

AFCON 2023

IN 2022 Morocco became the first African and Arab national football team to reach a Fifa World Cup men’s semi-final, and Wydad AC won the Africa Champions League. The good news continued in 2023 with the women’s team making history by reaching the final 16 at the World Cup and the news that Morocco will host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournament and co-host the 2030 men’s World Cup. Mahfoud Amara is an Arab world sport specialist. We asked him what’s behind Morocco’s success. MAHFOUD AMARA, Associate Professor in Sport Policy & Management, Qatar University How has the…

Dec

20

2023

By The African Mirror

Bela and Nzola included as Angola name squad for Cup of Nations finals

ATHLETICS

ANGOLA recalled strikers Jeremie Bela and Mbala Nzola to their squad for the African Cup of Nations finals as they became the first team to name their selection for next month’s tournament in the Ivory Coast. Coach Pedro Goncalves named 23 players, despite the Confederation of African Football saying last week that the 24 participating countries would be allowed 27-strong squads for the finals, which kick off on Jan. 13. Previously at Birmingham City, Bela last played for Angola two years ago. This is a surprise inclusion considering injuries have restricted his playing time this season for Ligue 1’s bottom…

Dec

20

2023

By The African Mirror

Fluminense beat Al-Ahly 2-0 to reach Club World Cup final

FOOTBALL

Jhon Arias and John Kennedy scored in the second half to give Brazilian side Fluminense a hard-fought 2-0 win over Egypt's Al-Ahly in their Club World Cup semi-final at King Abdullah Sports City. The Copa Libertadores champions will face the winners of Manchester City's semi-final against Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds on Tuesday in Friday's final in Jeddah. It was a compelling encounter, with an aggressive Fluminense dominating possession, but often being exposed by Al-Ahly's counterattacks. Colombia winger Arias was a constant menace, running up and down the right channel and hitting the post twice in the first half. However, Africa's…

Dec

18

2023

By The African Mirror

Osimhen back on target as Napoli beat Cagliari to go fourth

FOOTBALL

VICTOR Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored in the second half as Napoli eventually broke down Cagliari 2-1 at home in Serie A and moved provisionally up to fourth in the standings. Champions Napoli, who have struggled at home this season having gained just one point in their previous four league games at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, rose two places to fourth on 27 points from 16 games. They are 11 points behind leaders Inter Milan and two above fifth-placed AS Roma, who visit Lazio and Bologna respectively on Sunday. "It was a very important victory for us, we needed…

Dec

17

2023

By The African Mirror

Squad size at next Africa Cup of Nations finals will be 27 per team

AFCON 2023

TEAMS at next month's Africa Cup of Nations finals will be able to select 27 players for the tournament in the Ivory Coast, the Confederation of African Football said. It is a cut of one player from the last finals in Cameroon in 2022 where countries were allowed a 28-man squad. The numbers that year were increased from 23 at previous tournaments because of the COVID-19 pandemic. CAF said only 23 of the 27 players could be selected for each match at the finals, which kick off on Jan. 13. Africa’s decision contrasts with that of European soccer’s governing body…

Dec

17

2023

By The African Mirror

Luton’s Lockyer collapses on pitch, match v Bournemouth abandoned

FOOTBALL

THE Premier League match between Bournemouth and visitors Luton Town was abandoned in the 65th minute after Luton captain Tom Lockyer collapsed on the pitch. The score was 1-1 when the 29-year-old fell to the ground with no other player near him, and players and Luton manager Rob Edwards reacted immediately to get medical attention. Lockyer was carried off on a stretcher to applause from the crowd after the players had left the field, and the stadium announcer later informed the crowd that the match had been abandoned. "All our thoughts are with Tom Lockyer at this time," Luton posted…

Dec

16

2023

By The African Mirror

Cameroon’s Mbeumo to miss Africa Cup of Nations after ankle surgery

AFCON 2023

BRENTFORD forward Bryan Mbeumo will be sidelined for three months and miss the Africa Cup of Nations for Cameroon after having an operation on his ankle, the Premier League club's manager Thomas Frank said. Mbeumo had stepped up in the absence of banned striker Ivan Toney to top the scoring charts for Brentford with seven goals and three assists in the league this season. But the Cameroon international limped off the pitch after rolling his ankle against Brighton & Hove Albion earlier this month, adding to a long list of injuries at Brentford. "(Mbeumo) will not participate in the Africa…