SPORT - The African Mirror

Mar

08

2023

Napoli striker Osimhen ready to become ‘an icon’ with title win

SPORT

ALVISE ARMELLINI IF striker Victor Osimhen manages to lead Napoli to their first Italian Serie A title in more than 30 years, he believes he will become a club "icon". However, the 24-year-old Nigerian said he would not be able to reach the status of late Argentine great Diego Maradona, whom he called a "demi-god". Maradona remains Naples' biggest soccer hero. He led the local team to their only two league titles in 1987 and 1990, and their stadium is named after him. "I don't consider myself as an icon yet until I achieve the objective which the club has…

Feb

08

2023

By The African Mirror

Qatar appoint Queiroz as coach until 2026 World Cup

SPORT

QATAR has appointed Portuguese Carlos Queiroz as manager until the end of the 2026 World Cup, the country's football association (QFA) said. The 69-year-old managed Iran at last year's finals in Qatar but left after the team's group-stage elimination. Queiroz replaces Spaniard Felix Sanchez, who led Qatar through their ill-fated World Cup campaign, in which the hosts lost all three of their group matches and only scored once. "Today, Monday, the Qatar Football Association officially decided to appoint Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz as coach of our first national team until 2026," the QFA said. "Queiroz has a rich biography, great knowledge…

Mar

06

2023

By The African Mirror

Lethal Liverpool smash Manchester United for seven in record win

SPORT

LIVERPOOL brought Manchester United's bandwagon to a shuddering halt as Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah all scored twice in a record 7-0 hammering of their arch-rivals to boost their Premier League top-four hopes at Anfield on Sunday. A week after a resurgent United claimed their first trophy since 2017 by winning the League Cup and amid talk of a late title push they were blown away either side of halftime as Liverpool recorded their biggest ever victory in the fixture. Third-placed United had looked marginally the better side for 43 minutes but it turned into an Anfield horror show for…

Mar

05

2023

By The African Mirror

African Olympic body supports Russian, Belarusian participation as neutrals

SPORT

AFRICAN Olympic committees passed a resolution supporting the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the Paris 2024 summer Olympics as neutrals. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) set out a path in January for Russian and Belarusian athletes to earn Olympic places through Asian qualifying events and to compete as neutrals, with no flags or anthems. Athletes from those countries were banned from many international competitions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but some international federations are now allowing them back following the IOC's guidance. The Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) passed its resolution following a meeting in Nouakchott, Mauritania,…

Feb

14

2023

By BIRD STORY AGENCY

Africa is building its sporting legacy

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THE just-concluded 2023 Club World Cup in Morocco is just one of a series of major regional and international sporting events that have resulted in major upgrades to the continent's sporting facilities - seen as key to ensuring Africa's further success in the international sporting arena. With the semi-finals in Tangier and the finals in Rabat - 217 kilometres apart - Morocco inaugurated a high-speed train connecting the two towns. Down south, South Africa is looking to make history again by becoming the first African country to host a Women's World Cup if its bid for the 2027 event gets…

Mar

03

2023

By The African Mirror

Stroll to race in Bahrain after breaking both wrists

SPORT

ALAN BALDWIN CANADIAN driver Lance Stroll said he was ready to race in Formula One's Bahrain Grand Prix season-opener this weekend despite breaking his wrists in a cycling accident and missing testing. The Canadian told reporters he had screws inserted in his right wrist after minor surgery about 11 days ago as a result of falling off his bike while training in Spain. The left wrist was also "a bit banged up" but he had been cleared by doctors. "It hurts a bit but it feels good, it feels solid and nothing I haven’t had before," the driver said, adding…

Mar

03

2023

By The African Mirror

Formula One statistics for the Bahrain Grand Prix

SPORT

STATISTICS for Sunday's season-opening Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at the Sakhir circuit: Lap distance5.412km. Total distance: 308.238km (57 laps) 2022 winnerCharles Leclerc (Monaco) Ferrari 2022 poleLeclerc. One minute 30.558 seconds 2022 fastest race lapLeclerc, 1:34.570. Lap record1:31.447 seconds, Pedro de la Rosa (Spain), McLaren 2005. Start time1500 GMT (1800 local) BAHRAIN The race, on the site of a former camel farm south of the capital Manama, is now in its 19th edition after starting in 2004 as the first Grand Prix in the Middle East. It was not held in 2011 due to social unrest. The track offers one…

Feb

11

2023

By The African Mirror

Hatayspor withdraw from Turkish league after earthquake – clubs union president

SPORT

HATAYSPOR have withdrawn from the Turkish Super Lig following the devastating earthquake that hit the country this week, the president of the Turkish Union of Clubs Ali Koc said on Thursday. Hatayspor's Ghanaian winger Christian Atsu remains missing despite the club's vice president saying earlier this week that he had been rescued from the rubble with injuries and transported to hospital. Turkey's Anadolu Agency reported the club's sports director Taner Savut is still missing or under the rubble. "Hatayspor sent a letter. They notified us that they will not play this season's games," Koc said at a news conference along with Turkish…

Feb

05

2023

By The African Mirror

‘Tough decision’ to leave Aubameyang out of Champions League squad, Potter says

SPORT

CHELSEA manager Graham Potter said it was a "tough decision" to leave Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of their Champions League squad for the knockout stages but said the Gabon striker still has a role to play at the London club. Aubameyang was absent from the 25-player list named on Friday and there was no place for 35-million-pound ($42-million) January signing Benoit Badiashile, but British record transfer Enzo Fernandez was included. Mykhailo Mudryk, who joined for an initial fee of 70 million euros ($76 million) from Shakhtar Donetsk, and loan signing Joao Felix were also included in the list. "Pierre's a professional…

Feb

05

2023

By The African Mirror

Rashford fires Man Utd to 2-1 win over Palace, Casemiro sees red

SPORT

MARCUS Rashford won a first-half penalty before scoring himself in the second half as Manchester United survived a straight red card for Casemiro to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 in the Premier League at Old Trafford. The visitors found themselves behind early when a VAR check showed Will Hughes had handled a ball from Rashford in the box, and Bruno Fernandes sent Vincent Guaita the wrong way from the spot in the seventh minute. Palace had their best chance just before the break when Jeffrey Schlupp struck a dipping, swerving shot from a distance that David de Gea had to get…