FIFA - The African Mirror

Apr

2024

Cameroon government defends imposition of coach on national football team

CAMEROON'S sports minister has written to the National Football Federation (FECAFOOT) to defend the appointment of a new national soccer team coach after FECAFOOT expressed surprise the decision was taken without its input. In the letter seen by Reuters, minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombi said the ministry had acted in accordance with national and international regulations when it appointed Belgian Marc Brys to take over as coach of the Indomitable Lions after the dismissal of Rigobert Song in February. FECAFOOT on Wednesday said the ministry had appointed Brys unilaterally and vowed to seek an explanation for this "regrettable situation". Any dispute between the government and…

Mar

2024

By HATEM MAHER

Croatia beat Tunisia on penalties after 0-0 friendly draw

FOOTBALL

WORLD Cup semi-finalists Croatia needed a penalty shootout to beat Tunisia following a 0-0 draw in a friendly. Keeper Ivica Ivusic, who replaced Dominik Livakovic in the second half, came to Croatia's rescue with three penalty saves as his side prevailed 5-4 after the game went to a shootout. Seifeddine Jaziri had a chance to win it for Tunisia in sudden death but Ivusic blocked his tame effort. The Cypriot-based keeper saved the decisive penalty from Oussama Haddadi. Croatia will face Egypt in the final of the four-team tournament on Tuesday after the hosts defeated New Zealand 1-0 on Friday.…

Mar

2024

By The African Mirror

Egypt becomes latest host of FIFA’s new friendly series

FOOTBALL

EGYPT became the fifth country to be selected as host of a new series of friendly games introduced by FIFA to allow teams from different confederations to play each other, the world soccer governing body said. The pilot phase was expanded to feature 24 national teams, who will play across three continents, FIFA said in a statement. The Egypt edition -- which will take place from March 22-26 -- will also include Croatia, Tunisia and New Zealand. Egypt will host New Zealand in the opening game on Friday, which will also mark the inauguration of a new 92,000-capacity stadium that…

Mar

2024

By The African Mirror

Former German FA bosses go on trial over 2006 World Cup payment

FOOTBALL

FORMER German Football Association (DFB) presidents Theo Zwanziger and Wolfgang Niersbach went on trial along with a former secretary general on Monday, accused of tax evasion in connection with the 2006 World Cup hosted by Germany. At the heart of this case which has dragged on through the legal system for years and has also included several other separate investigations, including a DFB-commissioned one, is a payment of 6.7 million euros ($7.27 million) linked to a 2006 World Cup-related event that never took place. Niersbach, who resigned as DFB president in 2015 as a result of the affair, his predecessor…

Feb

2024

By BONFACE ORUCHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

International clubs look to Africa for female football talent

FOOTBALL

AFRICA is growing into a critical supplier of professional female football talent to international clubs outside the continent, according to a new FIFA report. The ‘Global Transfer Report 2023’ released on January 30 by the international football governing body, FIFA, shows that Nigeria and Ghana produced among the highest number (in the top ten globally) of women players in the international transfer market last year. The FIFA report assesses and aggregates the market dynamics of professional and amateur footballers globally. “An all-time record of 74,836 cross-border transfers were made in 2023. Some 23,689 (31.7%) of these moves involved professionals (men…

Jan

2024

By The African Mirror

Afcon’s decision to allow 24 countries to play is paying off – and having dramatic repercussions

AFCON 2023

BY the end of the group stage, the 34th Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) was one of the most exciting and memorable Afcon tournaments in recent memory. This was particularly true of the performances of the continent’s best players on the field. As a scholar of sports communication with a focus on African football, I’ve followed developments with interest, notably the 2019 decision to increase the number of national teams in the final stage from 16 to 24. CHUKA ONWUMECHILI, Professor of Communications, Howard University There were several critics of the expansion of the tournament. They argued that Afcon was…

Dec

2023

By The African Mirror

Morocco’s fabulous football year – what’s behind their success on and off the field

AFCON 2023

IN 2022 Morocco became the first African and Arab national football team to reach a Fifa World Cup men’s semi-final, and Wydad AC won the Africa Champions League. The good news continued in 2023 with the women’s team making history by reaching the final 16 at the World Cup and the news that Morocco will host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournament and co-host the 2030 men’s World Cup. Mahfoud Amara is an Arab world sport specialist. We asked him what’s behind Morocco’s success. MAHFOUD AMARA, Associate Professor in Sport Policy & Management, Qatar University How has the…

Dec

2023

By The African Mirror

Clubs spent record $888 million in agent service fees in 2023 – FIFA

FOOTBALL

SOCCER clubs paid a record $888.1 million in agent service fees in 2023, an increase of 42.5% on the previous year, world governing body FIFA said in its annual "Football Agents in International Transfers" report. The previous record was in 2019 when worldwide spending on commissions to agents involved in the international transfer of players was $654.7 million. The 2022 amount was $623.2 million. English clubs were the biggest spenders by far this year with a total outlay of more than $280 million, while 86.6% of the worldwide expenditure came from European clubs, FIFA added. Saudi Arabian clubs went on…

Dec

2023

By The African Mirror

One in five players at 2023 Women’s World Cup got abusive messages – FIFA

FOOTBALL

ONE in five players were the target of online abuse during the 2023 Women's World Cup, FIFA said as a package of social media protection tools hid nearly 117,000 comments. The Social Media Protection Service (SMPS), developed by the world governing body with the players' union FIFPRO and launched at the 2022 men's World Cup, was offered to teams at the women's finals in Australia and New Zealand, FIFA said in June. The tool, which has been used at eight FIFA tournaments in the last 12 months, monitors and moderates hate speech on social media, hiding harmful content from the players. Players…

Nov

2023

By The African Mirror

Brazil submits letter of intent to host 2027 Women’s World Cup

FOOTBALL

BRAZIL has submitted a letter of intent to soccer's governing body FIFA to host the 2027 Women's World Cup, the South American country's Minister of Sports Andre Fufuca said. Fufuca presented the documents to FIFA President Gianni Infantino while he was in Rio de Janeiro for the Copa Libertadores final, which was won by Brazilian club Fluminense for the first time. "I delivered it to FIFA and Brazilian Football Confederation on behalf of President Lula," Fufuca said on X, formerly known as Twitter. "The Government Declaration formalising Brazil's intention to host the 2027 Women's Football World Cup and the government…