SPORT - The African Mirror

Dec

22

2025

Díaz, El Kaabi strike as Morocco grind past stubborn Comoros

FOOTBALL

MOROCCO launched their TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations title challenge with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Comoros on Sunday night, but the tournament favorites were made to work far harder than expected against opponents who defended with discipline and threatened on the counter. Second-half goals from Brahim Díaz and Ayoub El Kaabi ultimately settled a contest that exposed both Morocco's overwhelming territorial dominance and their occasional vulnerability to well-organized opposition. While the result delivers three crucial points and top spot in Group A, the performance raised questions about cutting edge and composure that Walid Regragui will need to address…

Dec

19

2025

By SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

The AFCON Hall of Fame: where legends are made and records go to die

FOOTBALL

LISTEN, we need to talk about the weight of history. Not the boring kind they teach in school, but the kind that sits on your chest at 2-0 down in a quarterfinal, when 40,000 people are screaming, and you remember that Samuel Eto'o once did this eight times across a decade and still came out smiling. The Africa Cup of Nations doesn't just crown champions. It creates mythology. And in three days, when Morocco and Comoros walk onto that Rabat pitch, 24 nations will begin their pilgrimage toward football immortality - or at least a decent run before going viral…

Dec

20

2025

By SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

Africa takes centre stage as World Basketball Day celebrates global game

BASKETBALL

AFRICAN basketball is set for a major boost this World Basketball Day as 19 coaches from the prestigious Africa Coaches Program prepare to conduct coaching clinics across 13 countries, reaching over 600 coaches throughout the continent. The initiative, part of NBA Africa and the Basketball Africa League's commitment to developing coaching talent, will see clinics held in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Eritrea, Gabon, Libya, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tunisia and Senegal on December 21.World Basketball Day, established by the United Nations in 2023, commemorates the day Dr James Naismith introduced basketball at a YMCA in Massachusetts in 1891. The…

Dec

18

2025

By The African Mirror

TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations in numbers

FOOTBALL

Ahead of the draw for the 35th edition of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 that will be staged in Rabat on January 27, Cafonline.com has rounded up the numbers on the continent’s greatest footballing show. 0 – There will be no debut nation at these finals in Morocco. All 24 teams have competed at least once before in the continental showpiece, though Botswana and Comoros will be making a second appearance. 1 – Former Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene is the only gloveman to score at the AFCON when he netted a penalty in a 1-1…

Dec

16

2025

By SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

The Eagles have landed: Africa’s finest prepare for continental glory

FOOTBALL

FOUR days. That's all that stands between the football-mad continent and its most beloved sporting obsession. The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations - AFCON, to its friends, the tournament that makes grown men weep and entire nations grind to a halt - is about to kick off in Morocco. And if recent squad announcements are anything to go by, we're in for another rollercoaster of drama, redemption, and the kind of chaos only African football can conjure. From Cairo to Cape Town, Dakar to Dar es Salaam, the conversation is singular: who will add their name to a roll…

Dec

16

2025

By The African Mirror

Exclusive: FIM Africa president backs South Africa to host major international motorsport events

MOTORSPORT

SOUTH Africa’s growing reputation as a global motorsport destination received a major boost following a successful World Supercross Championship finale held in Cape Town this past weekend. FIM Africa President Marco Comana praised the event and confirmed his support for the country hosting more international motorsport competitions in the future. The historic race weekend marked the first time the World Supercross Championship was staged on African soil, a milestone moment for motorsport on the continent. According to Comana, the occasion was long overdue. “For us at FIM Africa, it is a dream come true. We waited a long time to…

Dec

09

2025

By The African Mirror

The Pharaoh’s fury: Has Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool love story turned to ashes?

FOOTBALL

WELL, well, well. If this isn't the most spectacular falling-out since your favourite soap opera's Christmas special, then call me a Spurs supporter and be done with it. Mohamed Salah - the man who's scored more goals for Liverpool than most of us have had hot dinners, the Egyptian King who turned Anfield into his personal palace, the forward who made defending against Liverpool about as enjoyable as a root canal - is now warming the bench like it's a five-star Egyptian resort in Sharm el-Sheikh. Except there's no sun, no sea, and absolutely no smiles. The Fall from Grace…

Dec

06

2025

By Jovial Rantao

Africa’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Draw: A continent’s date with destiny

SPORT

WHEN the small white draw balls were opened in Washington D.C. on Friday, the football gods revealed their plans for Africa's nine warriors - potentially ten, if DRC can navigate their intercontinental obstacle course. What emerged was a tapestry of revenge matches, baptisms by fire, and just enough breathing room to keep hope alive. The Heavyweight Bouts Morocco vs. Brazil: When Atlas Met the Samba Kings The Atlas Lions, fresh off their swashbuckling semi-final run in Qatar that had the entire Arab world dancing in the streets, have been handed the ultimate litmus test. Group C pairs them with Brazil…

Dec

03

2025

By Jovial Rantao

Special Olympics lights flame of hope for inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities

SPORT

SOUTH AFRICAN government officials, law enforcement, and disability advocates gathered Monday to advance efforts supporting citizens with intellectual and developmental disabilities through a symbolic ceremony transferring responsibility for the 2026 Special Olympics National Games. The Flame of Hope Handover Ceremony at Carousel Casino marked the official transition of hosting duties from Limpopo Province to North West Province, bringing together representatives from the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, the South African Police Service, and traditional leaders. The event centered on the Flame of Hope, a global Special Olympics symbol representing the organization’s commitment to inclusion for people with…

Dec

04

2025

By SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

South Africa and Uganda claim historic spots at Women’s Softball World Cup after thrilling Nairobi showdown

SPORT

IN a tournament that crackled with intensity at Nairobi's Field of Dreams, South Africa and Uganda have punched their tickets to the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup 2026/2027, cementing eastern and southern Africa's presence on softball's biggest stage. World No. 37 South Africa blazed through the WBSC Africa Women's Softball Continental Championship undefeated, crushing all four opponents to claim the continent's premier qualification spot. But it was Uganda's dramatic 14-3 victory over host nation Kenya in a nail-biting playoff that provided the tournament's defining moment - and earned the East African nation its first-ever legitimate World Cup berth. The double…