SPORT - The African Mirror

Mar

18

2023

Five duels that could decide ElClasico

SPORT

IN the big game between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, there will be a young battle for control of the midfield as well as duels in the dugouts and between the posts. This Sunday’s ElClasico will pit FC Barcelona and Real Madrid against each other once again at the Spotify Camp Nou. It’ll be a decisive match for both clubs and it will produce many individual duels worth paying attention to, both on the pitch and in the dugouts. From the contests in midfield to the tactical chess match on the benches, several of the most important figures at both…

Mar

18

2023

By The African Mirror

Araújo vs Vinícius: The rivalry set to dominate ElClasico for years to come

SPORT

THE Uruguayan has helped FC Barcelona to slow down Vinícius and win all three of the ElClasico match-ups in which he has started at right-back. In recent years, ElClasico has produced some epic individual battles, from Lionel Messi’s clashes with Sergio Ramos to Cristiano Ronaldo’s sprints against Gerard Piqué to Andrés Iniesta’s chess matches against Luka Modrić. Now, there is a new rivalry that is set to dominate ElClasico for many years to come: FC Barcelona’s Ronald Araújo vs Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior. Given that the Brazilian left winger is one of the most dangerous dribblers in all of world…

Mar

18

2023

By The African Mirror

All you need to know about La Masia: FC Barcelona’s famous football academy

SPORT

LA Masia de Can Planes, more commonly known simply as La Masia (‘The Farmhouse’), is FC Barcelona’s world-class youth academy. Known as the academy which gifted world football the likes of Pep Guardiola and Lionel Messi, it houses and trains over 700 boys and girls aged 11-18 at any one time. Its primary aim is to produce professional footballers, and its track record is enviable. In addition to Guardiola and Messi, the likes of Xavi, Andrés Iniesta and Sergio Busquets have all passed through its doors, making it a key factor in the club’s unprecedented success both in LaLiga Santander…

Mar

18

2023

By The African Mirror

Karim Benzema vs Robert Lewandowski: two contemporary strikers leading Real Madrid and FC Barcelona

SPORT

KARIM Benzema and Robert Lewandowski have had parallel sporting careers but from a distance. The Frenchman, born in 1987, is only a year older than the Pole, and both have earned the reputation as two of the greatest strikers of their generation. Both right-footers, both 1.85m tall and with the number 9 on their backs as their trademark, will face each other for the first time in the national championship and lead the two candidates to win the LaLiga Santander title at the end of the season. Karim Benzema currently wears the captain's armband at Real Madrid. Since his arrival…

Mar

17

2023

By The African Mirror

West African footballers battle to fit in while making it in Europe – two share their ups and downs

SPORT

GROWING up, many young Africans nurse the ambition of playing football professionally in Europe and becoming superstars. The BBC reports that about 260 million people in Africa follow the English Premier League. Dreams, for some, do come true, and a few have succeeded in making the journey to Europe. According to Football Benchmark, African players – most of them from west Africa – make up about 6% of the total player base of the 11 most prominent leagues in Europe. But it’s a difficult road, with ups and downs. Author IKECHUKWU EJEKWUMADU, Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute of Sports Science, University of…

Mar

17

2023

By The African Mirror

Infantino re-elected FIFA president, telling critics ‘I love you all’

SPORT

PHILBERT GIRINEMA GIANNI Infantino was re-elected as FIFA president during the 73rd Congress in Kigali, promising record revenues in the next four-year cycle of $11 billion as he called for more football to be played around the world. Infantino stood unopposed, making his re-election as head of football's governing body a formality, even if he is not universally popular among member associations amid controversies including the treatment of migrant workers in the run-up to last year's World Cup in Qatar and a failed plan to play the tournament every two years. "It is an incredible honour and privilege, and a…

Mar

17

2023

By The African Mirror

Leclerc set for 10 place grid penalty in Saudi Arabia

SPORT

FERRARI'S Charles Leclerc is set for a 10-place grid penalty in Saudi Arabia this weekend for exceeding his allocation of power unit control electronics, team boss Fred Vasseur said. The Monegasque retired from the season-opening race in Bahrain on March 5 with a loss of power, a failure blamed on the control electronics that had already been replaced on Sunday morning. Drivers are allowed two control units to last the entire season. "Unfortunately, it was two times the control electronics box and it's something that we never experienced in the past," Vasseur told reporters ahead of Sunday's second race of…

Feb

20

2023

By The African Mirror

Red-hot Rashford nets double as Man United outclass Leicester

SPORT

MANCHESTER United striker Marcus Rashford's superb run of form continued as he netted a goal in each half of his side's 3-0 Premier League win over Leicester City to extend his scoring streak to five games. It was exactly what his side needed as they weathered an early storm from the visitors, with keeper David De Gea pulling off a superb save to deny Harvey Barnes in the eighth minute and topping that with an even better effort to keep out a Kelechi Iheanacho header. Leicester was left to rue those near misses when Rashford latched onto a pass down…

Mar

16

2023

By The African Mirror

FIFA approves 2026 World Cup format with record 104 matches

SPORT

ROHITH NAIR THE 2026 World Cup will have 104 matches instead of the traditional 64 games due to the expanded format with 48 teams taking part, global soccer governing body FIFA said ahead of its Congress in Kigali, Rwanda. The 2026 edition, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will be the first edition of the quadrennial tournament where 48 teams are taking part. The final will be held on July 19. The new format will also stick to drawing four teams in a group after a proposal for 16 groups of three was shot down…

Mar

16

2023

By The African Mirror

Infantino to lay out plans for new term at FIFA Congress in Kigali

SPORT

THE major discussion points have already been settled before delegates gather for the 73rd FIFA Congress in the Rwandan capital of Kigali, including the format for the 2026 Soccer World Cup and Gianni Infantino’s next term as president. Incumbent Infantino will stand unopposed making his re-election a formality, even if he is not universally popular among member associations for a range of reasons, including pushing for a failed plan to play the World Cup every two years. Instead, there will be an expanded final that will feature 48 teams at the 2026 event co-hosted by the United States, Canada and…