SPORT - The African Mirror

Nov

12

2023

Wolves stun Spurs 2-1 with stoppage-time goals

FOOTBALL

WOLVERHAMPTON Wanderers stunned Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 with stoppage-time goals from Pablo Sarabia and Mario Lemina on Saturday, thwarting the visitors in their bid to reclaim top spot in the Premier League table. Gary O'Neil's decision to bring on Sarabia as a late substitute paid off handsomely as the Spaniard scored the equaliser in the 91st minute and provided the pass for the 97th-minute winner. The result left Spurs second in the standings behind Manchester City, while Wolves climbed to 12th ahead of the weekend's other fixtures. "It is an amazing feeling, we've been pushing so hard. We deserve this game,"…

Nov

11

2023

By The African Mirror

Cricket World Cup 2023: what it’ll take for South Africa to win

SPORT

SECOND-RANKED South Africa is the only African team to make it to the semi-finals at the 2023 Cricket World Cup. After being banished from the international game in 1970 because of apartheid policies, the country began playing in the tournament in 1992 once democracy was on the cards. Since then South Africa have been semi-finalists often. But what are their chances of winning in 2023 and how does the country’s history live on today? We asked cricket expert Mogammad Sharhidd Taliep five questions. MOGAMMAD SHARHIDD TALIEP, Associate Professor, Cape Peninsula University of Technology How have South Africa performed in 2023?…

Nov

10

2023

By The African Mirror

Supporter handed three-year ban for racist gesture towards Tottenham’s Son

FOOTBALL

A visiting supporter was given a three-year football ban for making a racist gesture towards Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min, the club said. The incident occurred during Tottenham's 1-0 home win over Crystal Palace in May. The offending fan was arrested and charged with a racially aggravated public order offence. The spectator, who pleaded guilty, was originally sentenced to 60 hours of community service and fined. But police appealed the original sentence after Tottenham raised leniency concerns, leading to the banning order. "The club does not tolerate discrimination of any kind and will always seek for the strongest possible action…

Nov

10

2023

By The African Mirror

Man United boss Ten Hag laments ‘harsh’ Rashford red card

FOOTBALL

MARCUS Rashford's red card that caused a massive momentum shift in Manchester United's 4-3 Champions League loss to FC Copenhagen was "harsh," a shell-shocked Erik ten Hag said as his team's early-season calamity continued. Rasmus Hojlund's brace fired United to a brilliant start but Ten Hag's 10-man side gave up their two-goal lead after Rashford's dismissal in the 42nd minute -- and now United, who have already been eliminated from the League Cup and are a lowly eighth in the Premier League, are on a Champions League knife edge with two group games left to play. "Do you have one…

Nov

10

2023

By The African Mirror

Marseille v Lyon rescheduled game returns to Marseille, no disciplinary action

FOOTBALL

THE Ligue 1 clash between Olympique de Marseille and Olympique Lyonnais, rescheduled for December 6 after being postponed due to an attack on the Lyon team bus, will be played at Marseille's Stade Velodrome, the French League (LFP) said. The disciplinary commission said it would not take any action following the incident. The ruling has annoyed Lyon, who said they would appeal the decision. The original fixture, scheduled for October 29, was called off after Lyon's team bus was pelted with bottles and stones, injuring coach Fabio Grosso, as the players made their way to the Stade Velodrome. On November 2, the LFP…

Nov

08

2023

By The African Mirror

Basketball Africa League expands to South Africa for fourth season tipping off in March 2024

BASKETBALL

THE Basketball Africa League (BAL) today announced that the league’s expanded fourth season will tip off in March 2024 in South Africa. The 2024 BALseason will feature the top 12 club teams from 12 African countries playing a record 48 games across four African countries – South Africa, Egypt, Senegal and Rwanda – over four months, marking the first BAL games in South Africa and the first time the league will play in four different countries. Also, for the first time, the 12 teams will be divided into three conferences of four teams each. Each conference will play a 12-game…

Nov

08

2023

By MARTYN HERMAN

Nine-man Spurs miss out on top spot in chaotic 4-1 loss to Chelsea

FOOTBALL

TOTTENHAM Hotspur's hopes of returning to the top of the Premier League were dashed in extraordinary fashion as they lost 4-1 at home to Chelsea after a Nicolas Jackson hat-trick in a chaotic London derby that they finished with nine men. It was a triumphant return to Spurs for Mauricio Pochettino who got the biggest win of his short Chelsea tenure, though few could have imagined how it would be achieved on a mind-boggling night of VAR calls, hot tempers, disallowed goals and injuries. Previously unbeaten Tottenham went ahead after six minutes thanks to Dejan Kulusevski's deflected shot and minutes…

Nov

07

2023

By BONFACE ORUCHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

CAF Women’s Champions League sees surge in debutant clubs

FOOTBALL

THE upcoming CAF Women’s Champions League will feature an impressive five debutant clubs out of the eight competing, underscoring its growing nature and the dynamic opportunity it is availing to women footballers on the continent. The tournament, which is Africa’s premier women’s club competition, will be held in Ivory Coast between November 5 and 19, in the cities of Korhogo and San Pedro, and will feature five first-time participating teams and only three returning teams. It is a critical moment for women’s football with this competition being held in sub-Saharan Africa for the first time, the past two editions having…

Nov

07

2023

By The African Mirror

Premier League talking points

FOOTBALL

TALKING points from the 11th round of the Premier League season: MAGUIRE AND FERNANDES ANSWER CRITICS Manchester United's Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes have come in for more than their fair share of criticism this season but both stood up to be counted in a vital 1-0 win at Fulham on Saturday. Maguire, who has been given a first-team reprieve largely because of injuries to Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane, was a rock at the heart of United's defence, repelling numerous Fulham attacks and showing composure on the ball. Manager Erik Ten Hag described Maguire's display as massive but the…

Nov

06

2023

By NICK SAID

Erasmus to coach South Africa at start of new World Cup cycle

SPORT

RASSIE Erasmus is to return as head coach of South Africa for the foreseeable future, he confirmed to local media on Sunday, reprising the position he held when the side lifted the World Cup in 2019. Jacques Nienaber guided the Springboks to their second successive World Cup triumph this year but had announced in April that he would be taking a new role at Irish side Leinster after the tournament in France. Assistant coach Felix Jones, meanwhile, will be joining Steve Borthwick’s England set-up. After lifting the World Cup as coach four years ago, Erasmus took the reins as South…