football - The African Mirror

Jul

13

2024

Stellenbosch United to play in English Next Gen Cup

FOOTBALL

STELLENBOSCH Football Club, based in South Africa’s Western Cape Province, have a golden ticket to participate in England’s Next Generation Cup, alongside seven invited clubs from England and India. This will be the second time the South African club has participated in the tournament; they lost 5-4 in penalties to England’s Wolverhampton Wolves in the 2023 final of the cup when it was hosted in India. Stellenbosch United’s side will represent as the 2023/24 DStv Diski Challenge Champions, which is a youth reserve team league for the top South African football teams in the Premier Soccer League, in the fifth…

Jul

04

2024

By Mpho Rantao

Thembi Kgatlana’s Side Tigres UANL named Super cup Champions

FOOTBALL

Thembi Kgatlana scored a crucial goal that helped her team, Tigres UANL Femenil, defeat Rayadas de Monterrey to win Liga MX's esteemed Super Cup. Mexican side U Tigres UANL Femenil, the 2023 Apertura champions, faced off against the 2023/24 Clausura champions, Rayadas de Monterrey. The women's Liga MX follows a similar schedule to the men's league, with two tournaments each season: the Apertura from July to December and the Clausura from January to May. The champions of each tournament compete in the Super Cup match. This match was the second leg of the Super Cup finals, which in the first…

May

15

2024

By The African Mirror

Varane to leave Man United

FOOTBALL

CENTRAL defender Raphael Varane will leave Manchester United at the end of the season after three years at the Premier League club, the France international said. Varane, 31, joined United in 2021 after 10 years at Real Madrid. He has made 67 league appearances for the English side and helped them win the League Cup in 2023. "It's been an amazing few years to play for this special club and wearing that shirt," Varane said in a video on social media. A muscle injury has kept Varane out of action since April but he hopes to be available again before…

Mar

18

2024

By LORI EWING

Ivory Coast star Diallo scores winner to send Man Utd into FA Cup semis

FOOTBALL

AMAD Diallo scored deep in extra time after Marcus Rashford made amends for a bad miss to lift Manchester United to a breathless 4-3 victory over northwest rivals Liverpool and into the FA Cup semi-finals. United's victory at Old Trafford kept alive their only hope of silverware this season and spoiled Liverpool's dreams of hoisting four trophies in manager Juergen Klopp's final campaign with the team. Erik ten Hag's side will face Championship (second-tier) outfit Coventry City in the semis after they upset Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 on Saturday. "Listen to the noise, you can tell what a big game it…

Mar

01

2024

By The African Mirror

Arsenal’s Partey back for Sheffield United visit, Arteta says

FOOTBALL

THOMAS Partey is set to return to the Arsenal squad after a four-month absence when they visit bottom side Sheffield United, manager Mikel Arteta said. The Ghana international has had multiple injury problems this season and hasn't played since October, with just four Premier League appearances this campaign. "Thomas had a session before the last game and now he's done two consecutive sessions and he should be part of the squad," Arteta told reporters on Thursday. Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu, both out with calf issues, are close to recovery but not certain for Monday, Arteta said. "It's possible but…

Feb

13

2024

By BEATRICE TRIDIMAS

What is football’s carbon footprint?

ENVIRONMENT

WITH a fan base of 3.5 billion – nearly half the global population – football is the world's most popular sport and its carbon footprint is huge. With emissions created by energy use in stadiums, travel by fans and teams, broadcasting, the multibillion-dollar market for kits and other merchandise and even matchday meals, the beautiful game takes a not-so-beautiful toll on the planet's climate. This weekend, thousands of football fans across Britain are being urged to make climate-conscious choices – from opting for plant-based meals to switching to green energy providers – as part of Green Football Weekend, a campaign to engage fans and…

Dec

15

2023

By The African Mirror

Bullet point previews of Premier League matches

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MATCH-BY-MATCH facts and statistics ahead of the next round of Premier League fixtures from December 15-17 (all times GMT): Friday, December 15 Nottingham Forest v Tottenham Hotspur (2000) * Forest have one win in their last 12 league matches (D5 L6) * Spurs forward Son Heung-min has two goals and three assists in his last three games. * Tottenham still have eight players sidelined with injuries, including James Maddison and Micky van de Ven. Saturday, December 16 Newcastle United v Fulham (1500) * Fulham have scored 16 goals in their last four matches, netting at least three times in each…

Nov

28

2023

By The African Mirror

Talking points from European soccer

FOOTBALL

ITALY NAPOLI'S MAZZARRI FACES DEFENSIVE CHALLENGES Walter Mazzarri's spell as Napoli manager got off to a fine start with a 2-1 win at Atalanta on Sunday but he must now address defensive issues ahead of crucial matches. Defender Mathias Olivera was taken off on a stretcher after slipping and is set for an extended period on the sidelines. The injury to the Uruguay international has put Mazzarri in a difficult position as the Napoli squad currently lacks any available left-backs, with Mario Rui also sidelined. First-choice goalkeeper Alex Meret could bring some relief as his recovery from a calf injury…

Nov

13

2023

By The African Mirror

Ghanaian striker Dwamena dies during game in Albania

FOOTBALL

FORMER Ghana forward Raphael Dwamena, 28, died on the pitch while playing for a local team in Albania, the Albanian Football Federation said in a statement. Dwamena lost consciousness and after doctors gave him first aid he was sent to a hospital. "Despite the immediate intervention of specialist doctors and all efforts to bring him back to life, the footballer unfortunately passed away," the federation said in a statement. The federation has postponed all games scheduled in Albania this week. Dwamena was diagnosed with a heart condition in 2017 and during a game in Austria in 2021 he collapsed on…

Nov

13

2023

By The African Mirror

South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns win Africa’s new super league

FOOTBALL

SOUTH Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns won the inaugural African Football League, beating Wydad Casablanca of Morocco 2-0 in the second leg of the final at Loftus Versfeld. It gave them a 3-2 aggregate win in the first edition of Africa’s effort at launching a super league, which was reduced from a planned 24-club league to a six-week, eight-team knockout tournament. Trailing 2-1 from last weekend's first leg in Casablanca, Sundowns evened the aggregate score in stoppage time at the end of the first half through Peter Shalulile. They added a second goal seven minutes into the second half when Aubrey Modhiba…