Category: Africa

Orlando Pride slam ‘unacceptable’ Zambia treatment of Chanda after injury

Pride GM Haley Carter said Zambia forced the midfielder to play through injury at the Olympics

Grace Chanda was expected to be a key midseason acquisition for the Orlando Pride, but the midfielder was instead ruled out for the season on Wednesday due to a ruptured quadriceps tendon.

According to Pride VP of soccer operations and general manager Haley Carter, the injury was caused by some serious mismanagement from the Zambia women’s national team.

After the Pride announced Chanda’s injury, Carter posted a fiery message on X accusing Zambia of “unacceptable” treatment of the 27-year-old midfielder at the recently completed Olympics.

“So disappointed for Grace,” Carter said. “Inadequate medical and performance resources, mismanaged loads, day-long travel in economy to the Olympics, and asks of her to continue training and play in the opening match post-injury. Totally unacceptable.”

Chanda came off injured in the first half of Zambia’s opening defeat against the U.S. women’s national team, and wouldn’t play in either of the team’s final two matches against Australia and Germany.

Zambia exited the Olympics after losing all three of its group-stage games.

Chanda initially signed with the Pride in May after spending two seasons with Madrid CFF in Spain’s Liga F. She was set to debut for the NWSL leaders upon completion of the Olympics.

The controversy over Chanda’s injury will cast a further shadow over Zambia’s women’s program, which has been dealing with allegations of sexual misconduct against head coach Bruce Mwape.

Though Mwape was allowed to coach Zambia at the Olympics, he was banned from any private contact with his players amid an ongoing investigation.

Mwape, 64, has denied the allegations against him.

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Hayes: USWNT Olympic opponent Banda ‘best striker in the world right now’

The Orlando Pride star has 12 goals in just 12 games in her first NWSL season

U.S. women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes knows what kind of challenge her side will face in Zambia striker Barbra Banda.

Banda has taken the NWSL by storm in her first season in the league, as the Orlando Pride star is currently tied for the league’s Golden Boot lead with 12 goals in just 12 games.

The Pride, who finished outside of the playoffs last season, are currently unbeaten and atop the league table with 11 wins and five draws in 16 games.

The NWSL will now go on hiatus with the Olympics coming up, with the USWNT set to open the tournament with a match against Banda’s Zambia side on July 25.

Speaking to ex-USWNT star Sam Mewis on stage for an interview with The Women’s Game on Monday, Hayes said Banda is the best striker in the world right now — making sure to add that last caveat in deference to her former star player at Chelsea.

“Zambia on form probably have the best striker in the world right now, banging in the goals — I say on form because I never want Sammy Kerr to phone me up later and remind me, which she will I might add, no matter the hour,” Hayes said with a laugh.

“With Zambia, you have a team that will play less progressive passes, i.e.  control the game in a certain way. But if you play man for man all over the pitch against them, it’s going to be a difficult game,” the coach added.

“Their ability to transition is better than any team I’ve seen in world football. We’ve been watching them, unbelievable their ability to go from back to front. So for us, structure becomes essential. That becomes the bedrock, what we do in possession and how we’re thinking about what happens when there is a turnover to be able to get those things right.”

Following the game against Zambia, the USWNT will close out group play with matches against Germany and Australia.

Hayes will be spared a meeting with Kerr in the group finale, as the Matildas striker was left off her country’s Olympic roster due to a torn ACL.

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Morocco star Mrabet responds after sucker punch from DR Congo player

This was one of the uglier incidents we’ve seen on a soccer field

Morocco star Yasmine Mrabet has responded after being victimized by a sucker punch from DR Congo‘s Ruth Kipoyi during a friendly on Monday.

Midway through the second half of the match in Berkane, Morocco, the referee showed Kipoyi a straight red card for a reckless challenge on a Morocco player.

Morocco took exception to Kipoyi’s challenge, with defender Zineb Redouani immediately getting in the face of the Congo player.

Mrabet also got involved with a shove on Kipoyi, but would have never anticipated the Galatasaray player’s response: a quick sucker punch to the face that floored the Morocco midfielder.

With Kipoyi likely facing a lengthy suspension, Mrabet released a statement on the incident on her Instagram account.

First of all, I would like to thank everybody for the kind messages I have been receiving after yesterday’s match.

This violent behavior should not be accepted. During competition, disagreements can occur, tensions are bound to build up, but there are lines that must never be crossed.

Furthermore, not only players but, officials and all the professionals involved in women’s football need to take responsibility for the development of the game and the safety and well-being of the players. This situation should have been calmed down in the early stages of the first game.

African football has incredible potential and still a great margin for improvement in all areas of the game. This incident should not overshadow the exponential growth of our football in the last couple of years. African teams are showing up on the world stage, and for a good reason.

The appropriate procedures are underway to report the past events and from now on I’m only looking forward.

Mrabet was part of the Morocco side that made history last summer, becoming the first Arab or North African nation to qualify for the Women’s World Cup, and then the first to advance beyond the group stage.

Morocco edged out second-ranked Germany for a spot in the round of 16, where it fell to France.

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South Africa defender Fleurs killed in carjacking in Johannesburg

The 24-year-old represented his country at the Olympics in Japan in 2021

Luke Fleurs, a defender for South African power Kaizer Chiefs, was killed in a carjacking in Johannesburg, the club announced in a statement on Thursday.

“We are profoundly shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic and untimely passing of one of our players, Luke Fleurs,” the club said.

“The 24-year-old former youth international lost his life after being shot during a hijacking on Wednesday evening in Johannesburg. He was rushed to hospital where he succumbed to gunshot wounds.”

Police said the incident took place at a gas station, and no arrests had yet been made.

“While waiting to be served by the petrol attendant, he was confronted by two armed males,” police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo told reporters.

“The suspects pointed him with a firearm and took him out of his vehicle, then shot him once on the upper body.”

Fleurs moved to Kaizer Chiefs as a free agent in October, joining from SuperSport United. He had yet to make an appearance for the Premier Soccer League club.

He represented South Africa at various youth levels, and played for the country’s U-23 team at the Olympics in Japan in 2021. The defender also received one senior national team call-up in 2021, but did not make an appearance.

Ivory Coast vs. Uruguay: How to watch international friendly, live stream

The African and South American powers face off in a friendly in France

Ivory Coast will face Uruguay on Tuesday in a friendly at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, France.

The recently crowed African champions began the international window with a 2-2 draw against Benin on Saturday, extending their unbeaten run to five matches.

Uruguay, meanwhile, was held to a 1-1 draw by the Basque Country in a friendly on Saturday.

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch Ivory Coast vs. Uruguay on Fanatiz” link=”https://fanatiz.jbbfvx.net/y2KNQ2″]

While Ivory Coast has just won its continental championship, Uruguay will aim to do the same on U.S. soil this summer at the Copa América.

Uruguay has been drawn into Group C of the competition, where it will face the United States, Panama and Bolivia.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Ivory Coast vs. Uruguay (international friendly)

  • When: Tuesday, March 26
  • Where: Stade Bollaert-Delelis (Lens, France)
  • Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: Fanatiz (Watch LIVE)

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Morocco vs. Liberia African Cup of Nations qualifier postponed following massive earthquake

It is not clear when Morocco and Liberia will play, but Gambia vs. Congo is still scheduled for Sunday in Marrakech

An African Cup of Nations qualifier between Morocco and Liberia has been postponed in the aftermath of a horrific earthquake on Friday night.

The 6.8-magnitude quake’s epicenter was 47 miles from Marrakech, in the High Atlas mountain range. A 4.9-magnitude aftershock was recorded around 20 minutes later.

Morocco’s Interior Ministry told the Washington Post that over 1,000 people are dead, with thousands more injured. A preliminary report from the U.S. Geological Survey said that it had been over 100 years since a quake of this strength had occurred in the region.

Morocco’s qualifier against Liberia, the final game in Group J, was set for Adrar Stadium in Agadir, a city on the Atlantic coast a little over 100 miles southeast of the earthquake’s epicenter.

“Following the earthquake that struck some areas in Morocco, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation announces the postponement of the match that was scheduled to take place on Saturday evening, September 9, 2023,” read a statement from the Moroccan federation. “After this great injury, the national football family extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims, and wishes a speedy recovery to all those injured.”

The statement said that the qualifier would be played “at a later date” once the federation and Moroccan authorities could work out a suitable option with the African Football Confederation (AFC).

Gambia vs. Congo match in Marrakech to go ahead

The match between Morocco and Liberia was not the only game impacted by the earthquake. Gambia, obliged to play its home qualifiers in Morocco and Senegal after the AFC determined that no Gambian stadium was suitable to host, is due to take on Congo in Marrakech on Sunday in Group G’s final game.

Reuters reported on Saturday that both teams spent the night sleeping outdoors after evacuating their hotels, and that the AFC had confirmed that the game would go ahead as planned.

“We have been told our match on Sunday must go ahead. It’s quite strange that the Morocco game is off but ours is not… we think it is best this game is postponed because the mood among the players is understandably somber and everyone is a little scared.” said Gambia manager Tom Saintfiet.

“We are okay but still in shock,” added Paul Put, Congo’s manager. “Mentally it’s difficult to keep up the concentration. We had to sleep outside, near the swimming pool. It was very scary and even now a complicated situation for the players.”

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FIFA to investigate Zambia coach Mwape over sexual misconduct claims

Mwape is accused of inappropriately touching one of his players during the World Cup

FIFA has confirmed it received a complaint over Zambia women’s national team head coach Bruce Mwape, who has been accused of inappropriately touching one of his players at the World Cup.

The Guardian reported that several Zambia players saw Mwape rubbing his hands over the chest of a player at training last Friday.

In a statement to multiple media outlets, FIFA confirmed it will investigate the claims.

“We can confirm that a complaint has been received in relation to the Zambian women’s national team and this is currently being investigated,” FIFA said. “We cannot provide further details regarding an ongoing investigation for obvious confidentiality reasons.”

In response, Zambia’s FA released a defiant statement, claiming no players had raised any issues over Mwape’s behavior and that the coach would be exonerated by video evidence.

“We wish to state the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has not received any such complaint from any of the players or officials in the delegation that travelled to the World Cup. It has therefore come as a surprise for us to hear of such alleged misconduct by the coach as reported in the said online publication (The Guardian),” said FAZ general secretary Reuben Kamanga.

“As a matter of fact, all the training sessions for the Copper Queens were filmed by the FAZ media team and offers no such footage as envisioned by The Guardian. Additionally, a FIFA film crew attached to the Zambian team at the World Cup was present at all training sessions.”

In its first ever World Cup, Zambia was eliminated after the group stage, which saw the team lose to Spain and Japan before notching its first ever World Cup win in its finale against Costa Rica.

Mwape entered the World Cup already carrying allegations of sexual misconduct, which The Guardian reported on last month.

“If he [Mwape] wants to sleep with someone, you have to say yes,” one player who did not want to be named told The Guardian. “It’s normal that the coach sleeps with the players in our team.”

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Morocco’s Benzina becomes first player to wear hijab at World Cup

The defender made history when she played the full match in a win over South Korea

Morocco made history in more ways than one in its 1-0 win over South Korea at the Women’s World Cup.

Playing at their first Women’s World Cup, the Atlas Lionesses scored their first goal and won their first game at the tournament in Adelaide. The win over South Korea came after they fell 6-0 to Germany in their opener.

Morocco defender Nouhaila Benzina, who didn’t play against Germany, also made some history of her own, becoming the first player to wear a hijab while competing at a senior-level World Cup.

FIFA allowed religious head coverings to be worn in sanctioned matches for the first time in 2014, which led to Benzina making history when she started and went the full match in Morocco’s vital win.

Morocco, the first team from an Arab country to play at a Women’s World Cup, got a goal in the sixth minute from Ibtissam Jraïdi and held on to keep its hopes alive in Group H.

The Atlas Lionesses are in third place, level with Germany on three points but well behind on goal differential after their heavy defeat to the European power to kick off the tournament. They’ll need at least a draw, and most likely a win, in their finale against Colombia to advance to the knockout round.

“We are just so pleased our efforts have paid off. This victory is for Morocco and Arabs — it’s the fruit of our hard work,” Jraïdi said after the game.

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Please enjoy this spectacularly dumb red card from Martin Caceres

It’s important to remember that video reviews are for referees, not for players

In the pantheon of dumb red cards, the second yellow for taking one’s jersey off after scoring is usually top of the list.

But on Saturday night, LA Galaxy defender Martin Cáceres introduced a new, possibly even dumber category: the second yellow for interfering with a referee during a VAR review.

It’s important to remember that video reviews are for referees, not for players. The referee, not the player, is called over to the monitor to review a play. Players don’t get to watch the replay and tell the referee what they think. The video control room is staffed with referees, not with players.

Cáceres is a veteran, and probably knew all of this. And yet, the Uruguayan defender still managed to earn one of the all-time dumbest (and funniest) red cards in MLS history in a 3-0 away defeat to the Houston Dynamo.

With LA down 1-0 in the second half, referee Alex Chilowicz was called over to the monitor to check out a potential penalty against the Galaxy.

Cáceres, who, it should be emphasized, has 116 caps for Uruguay and has featured in four World Cups, decided that Chilowicz needed a little help.

As it turned out, Chilowicz did not need a little help.

The Galaxy went down a man and two goals after the penalty was awarded and Houston converted. From there it was simply damage control for the visitors, who also saw Douglas Costa sent off in stoppage time for slamming Brooklyn Raines to the turf with the ball out of play.

Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney, as you might imagine, was not enthused with the unforced errors from two of his most experienced players.

“Yeah, it’s unacceptable. They know it’s unacceptable,” Vanney said in his post-game press conference. “They apologized to the group, but it’s not acceptable. It can’t happen. These guys are veterans in our team. They’re supposed to be leaders in our team. They need to set examples. They need to, again, control their emotions, and we need them available always, and they understand that, and it’s not acceptable.”

Vanney is right to be upset but for the neutrals, discovering a new category of dumb red card is nothing short of a resounding success.

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Kudus pays tribute to Atsu — and referee lets him off without a yellow

“This is beyond football. We are talking about life and death”

Mohammed Kudus scored a free kick for Ajax against Sparta Rotterdam on Sunday, and proceeded to celebrate by lifting his jersey over his head.

According to the laws of the game, that would necessitate an automatic yellow card. But this wasn’t an ordinary celebration, and referee Pol van Boekel knew it.

Kudus scored late in Ajax’s 4-0 win and revealed a shirt with the message “R.I.P. Atsu” — a tribute to Christian Atsu, who was found dead under the rubble in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria earlier this month.

After a 12-day search, Atsu’s body was finally found on Saturday, the day before Ajax took the pitch.

Speaking to ESPN after the game, Kudus said that Van Boekel allowed his tribute to go unpunished because the message went beyond sport.

“We all know what’s going on in Turkey and that part of the world,” the 22-year-old said. “Atsu was the one close to me but I dedicate that goal to him and everyone who had families and all the people involved in the Turkey earthquakes.

“We are footballers but this is beyond football. We are talking about life and death. The ref told me this is not allowed but he understands because this is a bigger situation than just playing football.

“A big respect from me to the referee for understanding the whole situation.”

Kudus said that his fellow Ghanaian had served as a mentor to him.

“I learned a lot from watching him, he also regularly gave me advice. Everything I gave today was for him.

“If I hadn’t have scored, I would have shown the shirt after the game.”

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