Latest news with #ex-French
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Former Liverpool duo who are cousins have become professionals in hugely popular sport
Ex-Liverpool striker Florent Sinama Pongolle has become a viral sensation after executing an outrageous shot in professional footgolf, where he is also joined by an old team-mate he has close ties to Liverpool fans were left gobsmacked last week when a video went viral, showing former player Florent Sinama Pongolle pulling off an impressive shot in professional footgolf. And it seems he's not the only ex-Reds ace who is using his football skills in a completely different sport. Sinama Pongolle scored nine goals in 65 appearances for Liverpool after being signed from France in 2003, along with his highly-rated cousin Anthony La Tallec, by then-Reds' manager Gerard Houllier. Now aged 40, the striker bagged a Champions League medal in 2005 when Rafa Benitez masterminded a legendary comeback to beat AC Milan despite being 3-0 down at half-time. Although he missed the final due to injury, he did score Liverpool's first goal in the memorable 3-1 victory over Olympiacos, in the group stage, that set the Reds on their path to Istanbul. Sinama Pongolle went on to play for clubs including Atletico Madrid and Saint-Etienne, and even in Scotland, before a brief spell in Thailand towards the end of his career. He has also featured in charity games for the Reds. The ex-French international, who earned one cap, hung up his boots in 2019 and quickly laced them up again as he ventured into the world of professional footgolf, reports The Express. Last week, a clip surfaced on Sinama Pongolle's Instagram story showing him sinking an incredible shot from beyond the green at Golf De Saint Donat on the French Riviera. Sinama Pongolle isn't the only former Liverpool star to have embraced the sport, as he revealed that Le Tallec has also taken up the game. "There are many [footballers] who come to try it," Sinama Pongolle said to L'Union. "After me, there is Ludovic Obraniak, who has practiced a lot, and Camel Meriem, who is the one who has been practicing the most since he started. "We also find Anthony Le Tallec who I got started. There were other ambassadors like Sylvain Wiltord, Jean-Pierre Papin or Youri Djorkaeff, who have already been part of the thing." Sinama Pongolle and Le Tallec, who have been close mates since their youth days, have reunited once more at HAC Footgolf. The Le Havre club is where both players developed their talents in the celebrated academy that launched them towards professional football. Despite spending that campaign out on loan, Le Tallec still earned a Champions League winner's medal from Liverpool's memorable victory in Istanbul. The French striker departed Anfield in 2008 after a six-year spell and concluded his playing days with spells in Romania, Greece, and eventually back in France. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Business Insider
13-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
French ex-soldiers eye Africa return as US billionaire seeks security team for DRC mines
French ex-soldiers may be returning to Africa as part of a private security team put together by US billionaire, Eric Prince to protect mining operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). French ex-soldiers are being considered for recruitment to secure mining operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This initiative is connected to the firm of Erik Prince, indicating a trend towards private security in resource-rich African regions. The DRC's mineral wealth and ongoing instability underlie the necessity for specialized security measures. The recruitment of French ex-soldiers is linked to a security contract with U.S. billionaire Erik Prince's firm, indicating a growing trend of private military contractors securing high-risk, resource-rich areas across Africa. According to a report by Africa Intelligence, a ' mysterious' recruiter has been reaching out to former French servicemen, particularly from the elite French Foreign Legion, to offer them a role in the DRC. The move follows recent peace talks between the DRC and Rwanda, which were part of broader efforts initiated by the United States to address the ongoing regional conflict. In exchange for stability in the region, the U.S. has gained access to the DRC's mineral wealth, which has long been plagued by issues such as smuggling and corruption. In April 2025, Reuters exclusively reported that Erik Prince had secured a deal to assist the DRC in securing and taxing its vast mineral reserves. With the DRC's immense mineral wealth and its ongoing instability, securing mining operations has become increasingly vital. This has led to the involvement of experienced personnel from around the globe, with French ex-soldiers becoming key players in this growing security landscape. Details of the security deal Erik Prince, founder of the infamous private military company Blackwater, has a contentious history in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where his firm has been involved in securing mining logistics since 2015. According to The Africa Report, Prince initiated talks with the DRC government in early January regarding mineral security, prior to the M23 rebels' major offensive that led to the capture of Goma and Bukavu. In April 2025, an agreement was reached to help secure and tax the country's vast mineral wealth, particularly in the copper-rich Katanga province. The deal aims to boost state revenue from mining, which is plagued by smuggling and corruption. The use of ex-French soldiers Erik Prince's preference for hiring ex-French soldiers likely stems from their deep experience in high-risk environments, especially in African conflict zones. With their extensive knowledge of Africa's political and security dynamics, these soldiers bring valuable skills to stabilize volatile regions. However, this reliance on French military personnel faces rejection in many African countries, particularly in French-speaking nations, where such interventions are often seen as neocolonial or undermining local sovereignty. This growing pushback is reflected in the increasing replacement of French forces by Russian military presence. The shift is particularly evident in countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and others led by military juntas.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wenger ‘highly against' Inter penalty kick despite VAR
Wenger 'highly against' Inter penalty kick despite VAR Former Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger believes Inter should not have been given a penalty kick for a Pau Cubarsí foul on Lautaro Martinez: 'I'm highly against using slow motion. At normal pace, this is a great tackle.' The Nerazzurri secured a memorable 4-3 win over Barcelona on Tuesday, qualifying for the Champions League Final for the second time in three years after a 7-6 aggregate win. The Serie A giants had a big start, seeing Lautaro Martinez score the opening goal and earn a penalty kick converted by Hakan Calhanoglu. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Referee Szymon Marciniak gave the penalty kick after a pitchside VAR review, but Wenger argued that the official had taken the wrong decision. 'I'm highly against this kind of penalty, and I'm highly against using slow motion. At normal pace, this is a great tackle, and it's first on the ball,' the ex-French coach told BeInSports. 'Look at what Lautaro Martinez is doing. He leans into him. He looks for the penalty. In this situation, the referee didn't make the right decision. It doesn't matter if there's contact; it's about who plays the ball and who wins the ball. 🚨🇫🇷 Arsene Wenger on Inter's penalty: 'I'm highly AGAINST these kind of penalties. And I'm highly against using slow motion VAR.' ❌🚫 — EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) May 6, 2025 ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Barcelona coach Hansi Flick and his players, especially Pedri, were highly critical of the officiating, somehow suggesting that Marciniak favoured the Serie A giants. 'Some 50-50 decisions all went Inter's way, but that's how it goes. I am proud of the team, I think the result is unfair and that some of the referee's decisions were very good, but not in our favour,' Flick said. 'This is football, they deserved it, and their fans were excellent, but we will be back next season.'
AFP
06-05-2025
- Politics
- AFP
Disinformation fuels support for Burkina Faso's junta leader in Nigeria
"Nigeria needs someone like Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso. He's doing well for his country," Sanni said. His admiration is shaped by a steady stream of viral videos, memes and social media posts -- many misleading or outright false -- portraying Traore as a fearless reformer who defied Western powers and reclaimed his country's dignity. He has the support of fellow ex-French colonies Mali and Niger, which have turned their backs on Paris in favour of closer ties with Moscow. While critics of Traore have blamed his government for clamping down on freedom of expression, others on social media are casting him in a positive light. "Ibrahim Traore is all the proof Nigerians need to know that a country takes the shape of its leadership," Nigerian actress and politician Hilda Dokubo wrote on her X account. Like Sanni, her assessment underscores the growing influence of a coordinated propaganda campaign sweeping across western Africa -- one that frames Traore as a messianic figure. "This growing admiration for Traore in Nigeria poses serious risks to national security and democratic stability," said Malik Samuel, a senior researcher at the pan-African think-tank Good Governance Africa. "It normalises military intervention as a viable political solution and opens the door to foreign ideological interference." 'Russian playbook' For Nigerians weighed down by hardship, claims that Traore is transforming Burkina Faso into an economic powerhouse resonate deeply. "Traore fits the role perfectly -- young, defiant, and open to Russian cooperation, especially through Wagner-linked security outfits now rebranded as the Africa Corps," said Ikemesit Effiong, partner at Lagos-based consultancy firm SBM Intelligence. Recent posts on Facebook purportedly show a massive low-cost high-rise residential block constructed under Traore's leadership. However, the claim is false. The construction site seen in the videos is a national building project in Tizi Ouzou, Algeria. Across Francophone Africa, similar narratives are gaining traction. In Ivory Coast, a video of Traore at the inauguration of a cement plant in Burkina Faso spread alongside false claims he had announced a drop in cement prices. Months before he was ousted in Niger, former Nigerien president Mohamed Bazoum said Russia's Wagner Group had been sponsoring "disinformation campaigns against us" (archived here). Analysts told AFP there are signs of organised, large-scale campaigns using false information to boost the profiles of Sahelian military leaders. The content is produced by "Russian propaganda units and then given to these influencers, through the middlemen, to post on social media," said Philip Obaji, a Nigerian journalist who has analysed Russian influence operations. According to Effiong, this reflects a wider "Russian strategy" in Africa of leveraging social media to influence public opinion, bolster the image of military regimes, and portray Moscow as a more respectful alternative to Western powers. Silencing critics Since the last coup in the region in July 2023 in Niger, Russian flags have become fixtures at pro-junta rallies in the region. At least 90 people flying the same flag were arrested in northern Nigeria during a protest against economic hardship in August 2024 (archived here). Unlike the stable and thriving country portrayed on social media, Burkina Faso has become caught in a spiral of violence that has spilled over from neighbouring Mali and Niger (archived here). Since 2015, regular attacks by armed jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have claimed tens of thousands of lives in Burkina Faso. According to the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025, Burkina Faso is the country most impacted by terrorism -- topping the chart for the second consecutive year (archived here). Dissenting voices like journalists have been regularly silenced, detained, or kidnapped in the name of the war against jihadists. Maixent Some, an exiled Burkinabe financial analyst who tracks Africa-linked disinformation on social media, has accused Traore of failing his country and was declared wanted by the junta in April (archived here).
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New post for Togo leader could see him rule for life
The Togolese leader, Faure Gnassingbé, has been sworn in as "President of the Council of Ministers" - a new post which is the highest office in the government's executive branch and has no official term limits. This follows constitutional reform that ended presidential elections, and introduced a parliamentary system. The opposition said the change was in order to allow President Gnassingbé to stay in power indefinitely. His family has ruled the country for 58 years - Faure Gnassingbé took over in 2005 from his father, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, in 2005, who had ruled for almost four decades. This latest change results from a new constitution approved by lawmakers last year, labelled by critics and opposition figures as an "institutional coup d'état". Gnassingbé's government had paused some of the changes following huge backlash, but has moved ahead with his new role. Togo's municipal elections in July will be the first under the new constitution, which has replaced the presidential system with a parliamentary one. In theory, the role of president of the republic is now only an honorary title, but analysts say Gnassingbé's power is more entrenched than ever with his new post of council president. His party, the Union for the Republic, won a huge majority in last year's parliamentary election, taking of 108 out of 113 seats in the National Assembly. 'Helping a human is better than scoring a goal' - Adebayor Why ex-French colonies are joining the Commonwealth Meet the football grannies of Africa Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
