SPORT - The African Mirror

Nov

06

2023

Newcastle’s Bruno and Willock racially abused on social media after Arsenal game

FOOTBALL

NEWCASTLE United have condemned racist abuse sent to Bruno Guimaraes and Joe Willock on social media following Saturday's 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the Premier League. "Our message is clear. There is no room for racism in football or society," the club said. "We are providing support to Bruno and Joe and will work with relevant authorities and social media platforms to identify those responsible so that they can be held to account." Bruno escaped a booking for a late elbow on Arsenal midfielder Jorginho in a tense and fractious contest at St James' Park. Willock, a former Arsenal player, was involved…

Nov

06

2023

By The African Mirror

Brazil submits letter of intent to host 2027 Women’s World Cup

FOOTBALL

BRAZIL has submitted a letter of intent to soccer's governing body FIFA to host the 2027 Women's World Cup, the South American country's Minister of Sports Andre Fufuca said. Fufuca presented the documents to FIFA President Gianni Infantino while he was in Rio de Janeiro for the Copa Libertadores final, which was won by Brazilian club Fluminense for the first time. "I delivered it to FIFA and Brazilian Football Confederation on behalf of President Lula," Fufuca said on X, formerly known as Twitter. "The Government Declaration formalising Brazil's intention to host the 2027 Women's Football World Cup and the government…

Nov

05

2023

By The African Mirror

Toure joins Mancini’s Saudi Arabia coaching team

FOOTBALL

YAYA Toure has been named assistant coach of Saudi Arabia's national team and will work alongside manager Roberto Mancini, the Saudi Football Federation said. The former Ivory Coast captain played for Mancini when the Italian was manager of Premier League Manchester City. Toure, 40, began his coaching career four years ago, working at Ukraine’s Donetsk Olympic, Russia’s Grozny, Belgium's Standard Liege and with the Under-16 team at England’s Tottenham Hotspur. He played more than 100 internationals for clubs including City, AS Monaco and Barcelona. Saudi Arabia has lost twice under former Italy coach Mancini who took the job in August,…

Nov

05

2023

By The African Mirror

Invest in Man Utd with Ratcliffe? I support Guardiola, says Wolff

FOOTBALL

MERCEDES Formula One boss Toto Wolff has suggested his support of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola would make it hard to join team co-owner Jim Ratcliffe in buying into rivals Manchester United. Ineos's Manchester-born billionaire chairman Ratcliffe is poised to take a 25% stake in the Premier League side. Asked whether he might be tempted to join the Briton, Austrian Wolff -- also a co-owner of the Mercedes team -- distanced himself from any immediate involvement. "Here we go," he told Sky Sports television when the question was put to him. Wolff said Ratcliffe was "such a clever person" that he would…

Nov

05

2023

By The African Mirror

Former steeplechase world champion Jeruto has provisional suspension lifted

ATHLETICS

FORMER steeplechase world champion Norah Jeruto has had her provisional suspension for an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) lifted with immediate effect after the charge was not proven, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said on Friday. A panel of the Disciplinary Tribunal ruled that the charges were dismissed and no period of ineligibility should be imposed on Jeruto, which means she is free to compete in the Paris Olympics next year. Jeruto, formerly a Kenyan who switched allegiance to Kazakhstan, won the 3,000 metres steeplechase gold at the 2022 world championships in Eugene where she also set a championship record, which…

Nov

04

2023

By The African Mirror

Nigerian radio host brings her native language to sports commentary

SPORT

SPORTS commentator Aderonke Adesola is not the voice most Nigerians expect to hear on the radio. She is 25 years old, a woman and hosts her show in the local language Yoruba instead of English, which dominates most programming in Nigeria. Adesola started her sports programme in 2019 on Splash FM, a popular radio station in the southwestern city of Ibadan that has over 3 million listeners. "There is a high level of illiteracy in Nigeria, where some people don't understand what the commentator is saying in English," Adesola told Reuters. "As a Yoruba commentator, my show comes to fill…

Nov

04

2023

By The African Mirror

Colombia’s ELN guerrillas says kidnapped father of soccer star Luis Diaz will be freed soon

FOOTBALL

A representative of Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas said that the group will free the father of Liverpool football star Luis Diaz "as soon as possible", days after kidnapping him in the country's north. Diaz's mother Cilenis Marulanda and father Luis Manuel Diaz were taken by armed men as they were driving in La Guajira province on Saturday. Marulanda was freed within hours. Liverpool's Luis Diaz during the warm-up before the match. REUTERS/Molly Darlington

Nov

03

2023

By GABRIEL ARAUJO

Hamilton ‘incredibly proud’ of Vinicius after Socrates Award

MOTORSPORT

Lewis Hamilton said he felt "incredibly proud" to see Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior receive this year's Socrates Award at the Ballon d'Or ceremony and vowed to continue speaking out against racism. Brazilian Vinicius, who has been racially abused in LaLiga games in the last two seasons, was recognised for starting a foundation that is building schools in impoverished areas and investing in education in his home country. "It's really remarkable to see people out there who are facing such challenges and are just being brave in the face of it," Hamilton told Reuters on Wednesday in an interview ahead…

Nov

03

2023

By KAROLOS GROHMANN

Mainz surprised by latest El Ghazi statement on Gaza, will make legal checks

FOOTBALL

A new statement by Mainz 05 forward Anwar El Ghazi regarding the Israel-Hamas war has left his Bundesliga club perplexed considering he was sanctioned just days ago after posting another comment about the conflict on social media. The Dutch player, who was handed a warning and suspended following his previous remarks about the war, was cleared to return to training on Monday after showing remorse, the club said in a statement at the time. El Ghazi, however, posted another statement on Wednesday that the club said was 'incomprehensible' and would now examine it from a legal perspective. "For the avoidance…

Nov

03

2023

By MARTYN HERMAN

Beleaguered Ten Hag needs away-day boost at Fulham

FOOTBALL

SO dire has Manchester United's home form been this season that perhaps the only saving grace as they prepare for the next match of a so-far torrid campaign is that it is away at Fulham. Erik Ten Hag's stumbling United side were booed at halftime and full-time on Wednesday as they surrendered the League Cup with a 3-0 home defeat by Newcastle United. It was their second successive 3-0 home loss and they have lost five of their 10 home games in all competitions. They are not exactly pulling up trees away from home either and fans will not have…