Portugal - The African Mirror

Apr

2024

Portugal must ‘pay costs’ of slavery and colonial crimes, president says

PRESIDENT Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said that Portugal was responsible for crimes committed during transatlantic slavery and the colonial era, and suggested there was a need for reparations. For over four centuries, at least 12.5 million Africans were kidnapped, forcibly transported long distances by mainly European ships and merchants, and sold into slavery. Those who survived the voyage ended up toiling on plantations in the Americas, mostly in Brazil and the Caribbean, while others profited from their labour. Portugal trafficked nearly 6 million Africans, more than any other European nation, but has failed so far to confront its past and…

Mar

2024

By The African Mirror

Camorra fugitive arrested in Portugal after 20 years

WORLD

PORTUGAL'S criminal police agency PJ said on Saturday it arrested a member of Italy's Camorra crime group who has been on the run for two decades. PJ said in a statement it made the arrest in the country's northern region and that the member of the Camorra, as the Naples version of the mafia is known, was the target of a European arrest warrant. Twenty years ago, the 69-year-old male was sentenced to 15 years behind bars for drug trafficking but absconded and has been wanted by Italian authorities ever since PJ said. He has appeared before a Portuguese judge…

Oct

2023

By The African Mirror

Morocco will co-host the 2030 World Cup – Palestine and Western Sahara will be burning issues

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

THE 2030 men’s football World Cup will be co-hosted by three countries across two continents after Morocco, Spain and Portugal’s successful bid was selected by Fifa, the sport’s world governing body. For the north African country of Morocco, this represents a milestone after five unsuccessful bids. It becomes just the second African and second Arab country to host the prestigious tournament – after South Africa in 2010 and Qatar in 2022. MAHFOUD AMARA, Associate Professor in Sport Policy & Management, Qatar University But there’s a bigger picture. The news can be celebrated as a symbol of reconciliation among three historically…

Oct

2023

By ROHITH NAIR and DANIELA DESANTIS

FIFA WORLD CUP IN AFRICA: Morocco, Spain and Portugal to host 2030 World Cup

FOOTBALL

IN a surprise announcement a year earlier than planned FIFA allocated the 2030 World Cup to Morocco, Spain and Portugal but also said Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will host three matches to mark the tournament's centenary. FIFA said the joint bid from Morocco, Portugal and Spain was the sole candidate to host the tournament. The inaugural World Cup in 1930 was held in Uruguay and won by the hosts after they defeated Argentina in the final in Montevideo. Spain was awarded the World Cup weeks after their disgraced former chief Luis Rubiales was forced to step down following his allegedly unsolicited…

Oct

2023

By AHMED ELJECHTIMI

Moroccans ‘honoured’ to co-host soccer 2030 World Cup

FOOTBALL

MOROCCANS welcomed the announcement that their country would co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, after years of failed attempts. FIFA on Wednesday made a surprise announcement confirming Spain, Portugal and Morocco as hosts after another bid dropped out, but said the three opening matches would be played in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. After five failed attempts to become World Cup hosts, the announcement that Morocco will share the honours will lift spirits in the north African country, a month after a devastating earthquake that killed nearly 3,000 people. Soccer is a big part of Moroccan life, with…

May

2023

By The African Mirror

Four people shot dead in Portugal, CNN Portugal says

WORLD

A man shot three people dead and then committed suicide in the Portuguese city of Setubal, about 45 km (28 miles) south of the capital, CNN Portugal said. PSP police commissioner Joao Freire told Reuters that "there are four bodies, which were supposedly the result of a shooting, but the causes and details are not yet known". The police criminal cases agency PJ was at the scene investigating, Freire said. CNN Portugal said the shooting took place at around 8 a.m. in a poor neighbourhood of Setubal called Bairro Azul, and that the gunman committed suicide when police officers arrived…

Mar

2023

By The African Mirror

Women sports leaders celebrated

SPORT

LORI EWING FIFA General Secretary Fatma Samoura has applauded the eight nations who are debuting at the Women's World Cup, urging the players to take pride in their ability to inspire. Haiti, Morocco, Panama, Philippines, Portugal, Ireland, Vietnam and Zambia will debut at the global women's soccer showcase that runs from July 20-August 20 in Australia and New Zealand. "Seeing you ladies who are mothers, sisters, students and athletes. Women they identify with, excelling on the pitch," Samoura said in a statement. "This will encourage a generation of young girls and women to aim high, to aim big. To advocate…

Feb

2023

By The African Mirror

Take a bow-wow! Meet Bobi, the world’s oldest dog on record

WORLD

CATARINA DEMONY and MIGUEL PEREIRA WHEN his dog was born three decades ago in a tiny village in central Portugal, Leonel Costa was only eight years old. Little did he know that his beloved Bobi would one day be recorded as the world's oldest dog. When Bobi, a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, celebrated its 30th birthday last year, Costa knew he had broken an almost century-old record held by an Australian cattle dog that died at 29 years and five months in 1939. Costa got in touch with the Guinness World of Records, submitted all the paperwork and a year…

Dec

2022

By The African Mirror

Morocco makes history, carries hopes of Africa, Arab world

SPORT

MOROCCO rode a wave of passionate support and kept the World Cup dreams of the Arab world alive as they eliminated fancied Spain in a penalty shootout on Tuesday to reach the quarter-finals. In doing so, they became the first Arab nation to advance to the last eight, ensuring a breakthrough for the region in the first global tournament in the Middle East, and also became the fourth African side to go this far in World Cup history. Their victory will be seen as not only a triumph for Morocco but vindication of the controversial FIFA decision to hand Qatar the hosting…

Jun

2021

By The African Mirror

UEFA drop Neuer armband investigation

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER FOOTBALL body UEFA have confirmed that it has dropped their investigation into Germany captain Manuel Neuer’s use of a rainbow armband during pride month. The Germany FA (DFB) made the announcement on Twitter, stating that UEFA determined the armband to be a team symbol for diversity and therefore was for a "good cause." “UEFA have today shared with the DFB that they have stopped the review of the rainbow captain's armband worn by @Manuel_Neuer," Germany's football team said in posts on Twitter and Facebook. “In a letter, the armband has been assessed as a team symbol for…