SPORT - The African Mirror

Mar

23

2023

The NBA’s development league and South Sudan’s incredible feat; the latest in African basketball

BASKETBALL

SILALEI SHANI, BIRD STORY AGENCY WHEN NBA Academy Africa point guard Thierry Darlan recently revealed he would be joining the NBA developmental team G League Ignite, over a host of college offers, he finally put to rest concerns over his 2023 career plans. Despite scholarship offers from top basketball colleges like Arizona, Kansas, and Santa Clara and being NBA draft eligible this year, Darlan chose to go the route of the NBA development league. The league was previously named the NBA Development League, or D League until a Gatorade sponsorship, starting in the 2017-2018 season. "Many NCAA programs called me.…

Mar

28

2023

By MARK GLEESON

Daka double puts Zambia on brink of Cup of Nations qualification

FOOTBALL

PATSON Daka scored a double to guide Zambia to a 2-0 away win over Lesotho in Africa Cup of Nations qualification and strengthen their chances of qualifying for next year’s finals. The Leicester City attacker played a centre-forward role for his country and tucked away opportunities in the 14th and 69th minute, both set up by Scottish-based Fashion Sakala. It was a second successive win since Avram Grant took over as coach and puts Zambia top of Group H, from which only one team qualifies. The group also includes the Ivory Coast, who are participating in the qualifiers but already…

Mar

21

2023

By The African Mirror

What time’s kickoff? Four hour delay baffles Libya’s Al-Akhdar

SPORT

LIBYAN club Al-Akhdar were baffled when they arrived at their Benghazi stadium for an African Confederations Cup clash with Marumo Gallants afternoon to find no referee, no officials and no opposition. The group match in the second-tier continental club competition had been postponed by the African Football Confederation (CAF) by four hours because the visitors had a problem with their flight up from South Africa. Unfortunately, according to Al-Akhdar assistant coach Ahmed Saleh, CAF forgot to inform the home team. "The match against Marumo was supposed to be at 3 p.m. (1300 GMT) (but) the referees, officials, and the visiting…

Mar

01

2023

By The African Mirror

Messi named FIFA player of 2022, England women rewarded for Euro campaign

SPORT

LIONEL Messi was named FIFA player of the year 2022 as Argentina scooped all major men's awards after winning a vintage World Cup final last December. The 35-year-old forward scored two goals in the final against France, with the South Americans emerging triumphant on penalties following a 3-3 draw after extra time in Qatar. "It's amazing. It was a tremendous year and it is an honour for me to be here tonight and win this award", said Messi, who sat next to France forward and Paris St Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe throughout the ceremony at Paris's Salle Pleyel. Mbappe, also…

Feb

24

2023

By The African Mirror

Rivals Real and Atleti lock horns

SPORT

Friends, neighbours and rivals: The story of the Madrid Derby through the years Although the city of Madrid currently boasts several LaLiga teams, Real Madrid vs Atlético de Madrid is the big one for many natives of the city, known as madrileños. After Real Madrid was officially established in 1902, and then Atlético the following year, the two sides faced off in various friendlies and unofficial meetings before the first recorded official meeting in the Campeonato Regional Centro, a 1-1 draw on 2nd December 1906. The rivalry continued through different regional and national championships, until 1928/29 when LaLiga began with…

Feb

24

2023

By The African Mirror

Atletico striker Morata calls for life bans for racist chants

SPORT

ATLETICO Madrid striker Alvaro Morata says fans who chant racist insults should be banned for life, in light of multiple incidents of racism against players in the top flight this season, including repeated abuse directed at Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr. "The first time a person does that in a stadium he should be banned for life," Morata told ESPN on Wednesday before Real host Atletico at the weekend. "It's unacceptable and inexplicable. It should never have a place in football... I think it should be a reason to expel them. "We need to take the Premier League as an example.…

Feb

23

2023

By The African Mirror

Afrobeats and the lure of Cape Town: Basketball’s spotlight on the continent returns

SPORT, BASKETBALL

SILALEI SHANI, BIRD STORY AGENCY THE early February announcement by Zaire Wade, the son of NBA Legend Dwayne Wade, that he had signed to play for the Basketball Africa League's (BAL) team, the Cape Town Tigers, in the 2023 season, has made waves in both basketball and sporting circles, across Africa. The 6'1 guard, who has been plying his trade with the NBA's G-League team, the Salt Lake City Stars, participated in the BAL Combine in Paris. The 2-day scouting event, which took place in January, drew 30 players from Africa, Europe, and the U.S., aspiring to play in Africa's…

Mar

18

2023

By The African Mirror

It’s ElClasico time! Five reasons why you can’t miss FC Barcelona and Real Madrid this Sunday

SPORT

THIS is always an interesting fixture because of what it means in and of itself, but there are five specific reasons to pay close attention to this Sunday's encounter (9 pm CET). ElClasico is the football match that always attracts the whole world’s attention. FC Barcelona and Real Madrid will meet at the Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday, March 19th for their latest duel, with the title race reaching the final stretch and with extra focus on certain players, such as Pedri or Éder Militão. Here are five reasons why you just can’t miss this weekend’s blockbuster match between FC…

Mar

18

2023

By The African Mirror

Xavi’s new approach: How he managed to adapt to his players and embrace the pragmatism of a 1-0

SPORT

FC Barcelona just won by this scoreline for the ninth time this league season, while they remain the team with the best goals-against record (just eight goals conceded). FC Barcelona is well out in front as league leaders as they have amassed 65 points, giving them a nine-point lead over their closest challengers, Real Madrid. Impressively, Xavi Hernández’s team have conceded just eight goals in 25 league games, a record in the competition as this surpasses the 10 goals conceded at this stage by Atlético de Madrid in the 1990/91 season or by Deportivo de la Coruña in 1993/94. They…

Mar

18

2023

By The African Mirror

The city of Barcelona lives and breathes football

FOOTBALL

THERE is so much for football fans to see in the Catalan capital, and not just at the Camp Nou or RCDE Stadium. While the whole world looks to the Catalan capital every time it hosts an ElClásico match, the city lives and breathes football 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, even if you don't play football. However, there is much more football than living in Barcelona. Most of the most popular tourist attractions have links to FC Barcelona or other football clubs in the city (RCD Espanyol, for example). The focal point of most football fans' visit…