2022 FIFA World Cup - The African Mirror

Nov

2022

Can an African team win the World Cup? New football study crunches the numbers

MANY football lovers hope an African team will finally win the men’s 2022 Fifa World Cup. The world has been waiting for this since the great Brazilian player Pelé predicted (in the 1970s) that an African country would win before the year 2000. That didn’t happen, but it didn’t stop Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football, from saying (in 2021): An African team must win the World Cup in the near future. But is it realistic to keep hoping? Are African teams doing what they need to compete with the world’s best, making it just a matter…

Nov

2022

By The African Mirror

Mane named in Senegal squad for World Cup

SPORT

SADIO Mane has been named in Senegal's squad for the World Cup in Qatar despite suffering an injury playing for Bayern Munich. The 30-year-old striker, whose decisive penalty kicks won both the Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup qualification for his country this year, suffered an injury to his right fibula in Bayern's 6-1 win against Werder Bremen and misses this weekend’s clash against Schalke 04. But coach Aliou Cisse included the team’s talisman when he named his 26-man squad at a news conference in Dakar on Friday, saying he was confident Mane could recover in time to play…

Nov

2022

By The African Mirror

Costa Rica head to World Cup after home victory over Nigeria

SPORT

WORLD Cup-bound Costa Rica bid farewell to home fans with a 2-0 victory over Nigeria in a friendly international on Wednesday. Oscar Duarte’s seventh-minute goal was followed by a second from Kendall Waston in the 73rd minute against a Nigerian team without any of their overseas-based regulars and made up mainly of members of their Under-23 team. Costa Rica had several other chances to add to their tally as supporters at the National Stadium provided a carnival atmosphere ahead of the team's departure for the World Cup in Qatar. Costa Rica will compete against Germany, Japan and Spain in Group…

Oct

2022

By The African Mirror

Messi names France and Brazil as favourites to win World Cup

SPORT

ARGENTINA captain Lionel Messi has said defending champions France and Brazil are the favourites to win the World Cup in Qatar as they have a core group of players who have played together for a long time. Messi said Brazil, Germany, France, England and Spain are always labelled favourites to win but the 35-year-old forward feels France and Brazil are the best two teams going into the November 20 - December 18 tournament. "We always say the same great teams ... but, if I have to choose, Brazil and France are the two great candidates to win the World Cup,"…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

First-ever Bafana and Banyana Supporters Club in the Middle East launched

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER THE South African Football Association (SAFA) and the South Africans in Qatar (SAIQ) community group today officially launched and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the first Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana Supporters’ Club in the Middle East. The announcement made in Johannesburg and Doha today – exactly two years to the day before the kickoff of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar – was attended by SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan, Qatar Football Association General Secretary, Mansoor Al Ansari, and South Africa’s Ambassador to Qatar, HE Faizel Moosa. The MoU is part of…