SPORT - The African Mirror

Nov

17

2023

South Africa to host ‘Kalahari Conference’ of the BAL – African basketball round-up

BASKETBALL

FOR the first time in its history, Central African basketball team Bangui Sporting Club has qualified for the Basketball Africa League after playing a series of back-to-back narrowly won games at the West Division Elite 16 BAL qualifiers in Cameroon from October 31 to November 5. Led by trailblazing Australian coach Liz Mills and defensive specialist Jeff Sparrow, Bangui took down FUS Rabat in the last two seconds of the final game, 93-90. Less than 24 hours before they squeezed past Al Ahly Benghazi 87-85, also in the final seconds of that game, the two wins came off the back…

Nov

16

2023

By MARK GLEESON

Gruelling African World Cup qualifying gets underway

FOOTBALL

MORE places for Africa at the next World Cup finals has not lessened the intensity of the qualifying process, often described as the toughest in world football, which kicks off this week. Qualification for the 2026 tournament has begun in Asia and South America, and Africa starts its two-year qualifying campaign on Wednesday to determine who will fill the nine automatic places for the continent at the event co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the U.S. The expansion of the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams means Africa’s quota of finalists is increased from five to nine, with the possibility…

Nov

16

2023

By The African Mirror

Liverpool’s Diaz meets father first time since latter’s kidnapping

FOOTBALL

LIVERPOOL and Colombia winger Luis Diaz has reunited with his father for the first time since the latter's kidnapping ordeal, the Colombian football federation said on Tuesday. Luis Manuel Diaz, 58, was released on Thursday by the leftist National Liberation Army (ELN) 12 days after he was taken hostage on Oct. 28 in Barrancas, a rural municipality where he lives in the northern province of La Guajira. The winger remained with Liverpool through this period up to Sunday's Premier League win over Brentford, before returning to Colombia ahead of Thursday's World Cup qualifier against Brazil. The Colombian FA shared pictures of the father and…

Nov

16

2023

By The African Mirror

PGMOL chief Webb stands by VAR decision on Gordon goal

FOOTBALL

REFEREES body (PGMOL) chief Howard Webb said there was no conclusive evidence available for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to disallow Anthony Gordon's goal for Newcastle United against Arsenal earlier this month. Gordon's goal at St James' Park on November 4 was allowed to stand following a lengthy VAR review to check if the ball went out of play, and whether there was a foul in the build-up and for offside. Arteta gave a scathing assessment of the match officials after the 1-0 defeat ended their unbeaten run in the league, with Arsenal backing the Spaniard's stance. "We know the ball is curved, so…

Nov

14

2023

By MICHAEL CHURCH

The week in Asian football

FOOTBALL

TALING points from the week in Asian football: OSAKO STRIKES DEEP IN INJURY TIME TO KEEP KOBE ON TRACK Vissel Kobe's Yuya Osako scored six minutes into added time to snatch a 2-1 win over Urawa Red Diamonds on Sunday and keep Takayuki Yoshida's side on track for a first J. League title. Osako fired into an empty net after Urawa goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa went forward for a late corner in an attempt to claim the winner, only for the move to backfire as the former Japan international struck at the other end. That late strike means Kobe led defending…

Nov

13

2023

By LORI EWING

Salah brace leads Liverpool to 3-0 win over Brentford at Anfield

FOOTBALL

MOHAMED Salah scored twice as Liverpool maintained their 100% winning record at Anfield this season with a 3-0 victory over Brentford, their sixth successive Premier League win at home. Salah - who now has 200 goals in English football - became the first player in history to score in each of Liverpool's first six home league games of a season as Juergen Klopp's side climbed over Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal into second in the table on 27 points after 12 games. "(Salah) is always there, is a goal threat, creates chances and is really important for us like everyone knows.…

Nov

13

2023

By The African Mirror

Lewandowski double gives Barca comeback win over Alaves

FOOTBALL

ROBERT Lewandowski scored twice as Barcelona fought back after conceding an early goal to beat lowly Alaves 2-1 in LaLiga, rescuing the Spanish giants after two losses in their last three games in all competitions. Barca are in third place on 30 points, two behind Real Madrid in second and four off surprise leaders Girona. Alaves' 19-year-old striker Samu Omorodion shocked Barca when he opened the scoring 18 seconds after kickoff with a close-range strike following a quick counter-attack. The goal came after a mistake by Ilkay Gundogan who lost the ball in the midfield and the hosts were lucky…

Nov

13

2023

By The African Mirror

Ghanaian striker Dwamena dies during game in Albania

FOOTBALL

FORMER Ghana forward Raphael Dwamena, 28, died on the pitch while playing for a local team in Albania, the Albanian Football Federation said in a statement. Dwamena lost consciousness and after doctors gave him first aid he was sent to a hospital. "Despite the immediate intervention of specialist doctors and all efforts to bring him back to life, the footballer unfortunately passed away," the federation said in a statement. The federation has postponed all games scheduled in Albania this week. Dwamena was diagnosed with a heart condition in 2017 and during a game in Austria in 2021 he collapsed on…

Nov

13

2023

By The African Mirror

South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns win Africa’s new super league

FOOTBALL

SOUTH Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns won the inaugural African Football League, beating Wydad Casablanca of Morocco 2-0 in the second leg of the final at Loftus Versfeld. It gave them a 3-2 aggregate win in the first edition of Africa’s effort at launching a super league, which was reduced from a planned 24-club league to a six-week, eight-team knockout tournament. Trailing 2-1 from last weekend's first leg in Casablanca, Sundowns evened the aggregate score in stoppage time at the end of the first half through Peter Shalulile. They added a second goal seven minutes into the second half when Aubrey Modhiba…

Nov

12

2023

By The African Mirror

South Africa omit Foster due to mental health issues

FOOTBALL

SOUTH Africa omitted striker Lyle Foster from their squad for their opening two World Cup qualifiers this month, a day after his club Burnley said he was struggling with mental problems. Foster's participation in January’s African Cup of Nations finals is now in doubt, even if South Africa coach Hugo Broos said on Friday he hoped to see the 23-year-old back in action soon. "I made contact with the Burnley coach (Vincent Kompany), who I know very well, and also the medical staff," Broos said. "Lyle for the moment has a serious medical problem. The team asked us not to…