DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes: He ignored a Linkedin message once, but not the second time. When he responded his life changed forever
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

I just thought it was a welcome message … so I ignored it.”Fortunately for Lopes, Cape Verde head coach time Rui Águas messaged the Shamrock Rovers defender again nine months later – this time in English – asking if he had considered his offer. Roberto Lopes, who plays for Cape Verde, was born and raised in Dublin. French forward Just Fontaine (L) scores in France's World Cup 5-2 semifinal defeat to Brazil in 1958. France’s captain at the first ever World Cup in 1930 was Algerian-born Alexandre Villaplane. But having recently reversed that policy, the Taifa Stars will have a number of players born outside the continent in its squad for the 2024 tournament.

Persons: CNN —, Roberto “ Pico ” Lopes, Lopes, “, ” Lopes, Rui Águas, Roberto Lopes, Ulrik Pedersen, Mohamed Salah, Lopes won’t, Alexandre Villaplane, Fontaine, Eusébio, Samuel Eto’o, Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, ” Wissa, Darren Lewis, Benoît Assou, Ekotto, Ryan Byrne, ”, ‘, ’, Abdoulaye Doucouré, Wilfred Zaha, Les, Patrice Beaumelle, I’ve, I’m, ” Carlos ‘ Caluccha ’ Lopes, Roberto’s, Roberto, “ It’s, he’s, hasn’t Organizations: CNN, Shamrock Rovers, Cape, CNN Sport, Africa, of Nations, LinkedIn, AP, Google, Blue Sharks, Rovers, Professional, Association of Ireland’s, body’s, AFP, Getty, France, UEFA, Benfica, English Premier League, Cameroon soccer, Brentford, Ireland, Democratic, Former Cameroon, Tottenham Hotspur, Lions, League of Ireland Premier Division, Everton, Mali, Ivorian national team, Galatasaray, Cape Verde Locations: Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Cape Verde, Lopes , Cape Verde, Ireland, Egypt, Cape Verde’s, Ghana, Mozambique, Brazil, Africa, Algerian, French, Marrakech, Morocco, Mozambican, Angolan, Portuguese, Portugal, Algeria, Tanzania, Cameroon, Europe, Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, France, Poland, you’re, Ivory Coast, Cape Verdean, Verdean

☆ Atlas Lionesses: The Moroccan soccer revolution and the players inspiring a generation of girls
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Alasdair Howorth For Cnn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Morocco players celebrate after advancing to the knock out stage of the Women's World Cup. Her impact on the Moroccan women’s team has been equally dazzling. Chebbak’s legend has only grown this summer in leading the Atlas Lionesses at their first ever World Cup. Frustrated with the lack of women’s soccer, Illa and a few friends set up a team of their own. Nouhaila Benzina, pictured alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, has become a history maker during the Women's World Cup.

Persons: Ghizlane Chebbak, Mohammed VI, King, Chebbak, –, Prince Moulay Abdallah, King Mohammed VI, Cheebak, Khadija Illa, “, Alex Grimm, Larbi Chebbak, Ghizlane, didn’t, Misr El, Paul Kane, ” Chebbak, ”, Hakimi, Hakim Ziyech, Morocco’s, Morocco's, Reynald Pedros, Gary Day, Illa, Colin Murty, Fouzi Lekjaa, Nouhaila, Gianni Infantino, Harold Cunningham Organizations: CNN, of Nations, Morocco women’s, National Women’s Football League, FIFA, Moroccan, Rabat’s AS, AS, CAF Champions League, Confederation of African Football, South, Chebbak, Getty, Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Women’s Football League, CAF Women’s Champions League Locations: Morocco, South Africa, Sahara, Egypt, Germany, South Korea, Colombia, France, Laâyoune, Rabat, soccer, AFP, Moroccan

☆ Banyana Banyana: How South Africa emerged from apartheid to shine on the world stage
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | For Cnn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The team is now making its second appearance at the Women’s World Cup, but 30 years ago, the “Banyana Banyana” was playing its first ever match as a nation emerging from apartheid. Fans have got behind the women's team which has grown from strength to strength. Progress still neededIn 2018, with former captain Ellis now coaching, Banyana Banyana reached the final of WAFCON, only losing to serial winner Nigeria on penalties. That appearance in the final also qualified the team for its first ever World Cup appearance in 2019 in France. Banyana Banyana can now focus fully on the FIFA Women’s World Cup, knowing that their immediate concerns have been addressed.”South African players celebrate after taking the lead in their Women's World Cup Group G soccer match against Sweden, though the Banyana Bayana ultimately lost 2-1.

Persons: ”, –, “, Dara Carroll, Phill Magakoe, Fran Hilton, Smith, White, Alet Pretorius, Desiree Ellis –, Nelson Mandela, Terry Paine, Paine, Ellis, Desiree Ellis, Anesh Debiky, Ellis wasn’t, weren’t, Hilton, Carroll, we’ve, ” Carroll, Banyana Banyana, SAFPU, Culture Zizi, Bayana, Andrew Cornaga Organizations: CNN, South Africa women’s, soccer, Africa, of Nations, South Africa’s, CNN Sport, South, Getty, Springboks, Swaziland, South African Women Association, of African Football, CAF, FIFA, interprovincial, Soweto Ladies Football Club, Hilton, Southampton, Wits University, Sports , Arts, Culture, Sweden, Wellington Regional Locations: South Africa, Morocco, White, Swaziland, Johannesburg, AFP, “, South Africa’s, England, Cape Town, Nigeria, France, Botswana, SAFA, South, New Zealand, Sweden

☆ Pacers vs Warriors: Steph Curry to get an MRI after suffering shoulder injury in Golden State's 125-119 loss to Indiana
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Golden State fans wait anxiously for a verdict on Steph Curry as the superstar guard will get an MRI after he suffered a shoulder injury in the Warriors’ 125-119 loss to the Indiana Pacers. Late in the third quarter, Curry was injured when trying to defend against the Pacers’ Jalen Smith. As the Indiana forward drove to the basket, Curry reached out an arm that was bent backwards. “The trainers told me he was out midway through the fourth quarter. It was a night to forget for Golden State which is already missing Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins to injuries.

☆ Africa’s World Cup: how a continent that usually underperforms finally got it right
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —After the first round of games at the World Cup, an all too familiar script looked to be playing out for African football fans. Zaire was the first sub-Saharan nation to participate at the World Cup. But not only is this the most affordable World Cup for Africans, it is also the most accessible. It was a very big challenge for Brazil [in 2014].”Mohamed Kudus was the breakout star of Ghana's World Cup, scoring a brace against South Korea. That investment, along with a crop of stellar talent and Africa’s best coach, has catapulted Morocco to the World Cup semifinals.

☆ World Cup quarterfinals: Morocco on the verge of history against Portugal as Kylian Mbappé’s France face England
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The Moroccans have become the darlings of the World Cup. At the first “Arab” World Cup, they became the first Arab nation to qualify for the quarterfinals of the World Cup and, as the first African side to qualify for the quarterfinals in over a decade, they represent so much more than just their own nation. Born in Madrid, Achraf Hakimi scored the goal to knock Spain out of the World Cup. No team has scored more than Portugal’s 12 at the World Cup, but will the unstoppable Portugal be able to beat the immovable Morocco? Mbappé has already surpassed Cristiano Ronalo's World Cup goal scoring record and is level with Lionel Messi on nine.

☆ Henry Anderson: Carolina Panthers defensive end reveals he recently had stroke -- but wants to play on Sunday
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +26 min

Tony Gutierrez/AP Buffalo wide receiver Stefon Diggs digs into a turkey leg after the Bills defeated Detroit on Thanksgiving Day. Gary McCullough/AP Green Bay Packers wide receiver Samori Toure is tackled by Detroit Lions safety Will Harris. Norm Hall/Getty Images Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen hurdles Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid as he scrambles for a first down. Gerald Herbert/AP Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. is tripped up by Denver Broncos cornerback K'Waun Williams. Gary A. Vasquez/USA Today Sports/Reuters New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas makes a reception against Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J.

☆ Morocco's round of 16 success is no fluke
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The Atlas Lions had roared to stun 2010 World Cup winner Spain and reach the quarterfinals of Qatar 2022. “Now it is the Africans and Arabs.”For many, it was the shock of the tournament, as the North Africans won their first ever knockout game at a World Cup. Many Moroccans thought that it could be after the World Cup or in a few years, but none were unhappy when it was announced he would take over the national side less than 100 days before their first game at the World Cup. In African football, Regragui has often been compared with José Mourinho thanks to his tactical discipline and stellar man-management skills. Morocco’s success at the World Cup may be best story of the tournament so far, but it is not the not the result of luck and grit, but rather expertise and planning.

☆ World Cup quarterfinals: Qualifying teams, fixtures and schedule
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —We are waiting on two teams to qualify for the World Cup quarterfinals, but six have already booked their places in the last eight. ETWhere: Education City StadiumAccording to Opta, Croatia has a 2.86% chance of winning the World Cup. But this team looks like it could be the first since 2002 to bring the World Cup trophy back to its spiritual home. ETWhere: Al Bayt StadiumAccording to Opta, England has a 18.83% chance of winning the World Cup. Which begs the question: is this the best England team since 1966, when it last won thee World?

☆ NFL Week 13: Ravens do it without Jackson, Burrow and Prescott put in dominant performances as Eagles stay top
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“(It’s) not a season-ending type of knee,” Harbaugh said after the game, according NFL.com “We’ll see if he can go back this week. Katie Stratman/USA TODAY Sports/ReutersThe Bengals were down by seven going into the final quarter but turned it around. Only the Detroit Lions have scored more in the final quarter when they scored 34 against the Bears in 2007. With the win the Cowboys (9-3) maintain their winning form and remain two games behind the Philadelphia Eagles (11-1) in the NFC East. All three of Prescott's thrown touchdowns came in the third quarter before the Cowboys' final quarter onslaught.

☆ Suns vs Bulls: Devin Booker goes for 51 in three quarters as Phoenix cruises to 132-113 win over Chicago
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Phoenix guard Devin Booker scored an astonishing 51 points in just three quarters as the Suns dominated the Chicago Bulls 132-113. In just 31 minutes on the court, the shooting guard shot 20-for-25 from the field and went 6-for-7 from deep, making it one of the most efficient scoring performances in NBA history. “It felt like a double-sized rim out there,” Booker said after the game. In the third, Booker took it to another gear, dropping 26 points to kill the game off – shooting 10-for-11 in the quarter. MVP!” after Booker sunk a three-pointer in the third quarter.

☆ Luka Doncić racks up 41-point triple-double to help the Dallas Mavericks beat the Golden State Warriors, 116-113
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Luka Doncić racked up an incredible 41-point triple-double as his Dallas Mavericks beat Steph Curry’s Golden State Warriors 116-113. Doncić finished with 41 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists – his fifth triple-double of the season – and for good measure, added four steals and a block. Curry has excelled this season and is averaging 31.4 points per game but is struggling to carry the Warriors. Ron Jenkins/Getty ImagesFor all of Doncić’s brilliance, it was another night where Curry was let down by his teammates. After the game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr addressed the team’s poor start to the season, “We have to expect that teams are going to make shots against us.

CNN —Netherlands and Senegal both qualified for the World Cup knockout stages from Group A on Tuesday at Qatar 2022. For the Netherlands, a comfortable 2-0 win against host nation Qatar ensured its progression to the last 16, while Senegal earned a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Ecuador. Ecuador pushed for an equalizer, which would have seen El Tri qualify ahead of Senegal, late on, but Koulibaly’s strike proved decisive, ensuring his side reach the World Cup knockout stages for the first time since 2002. Buda Mendes/Getty Images Europe/Getty ImagesThe result means the Netherlands and Senegal join Brazil, France and Portugal as the first five teams to qualify from the group stages. Qatar, meanwhile, ends its campaign winless – the only side ever to host a World Cup and fail to get a single point from the group stage.

☆ Saudi Arabia’s victory over Argentina is the greatest upset in World Cup history, says data company
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

According to sports data group Gracenote, Argentina’s 2-1 defeat by Saudi Arabia in their Group C match is the biggest upset in World Cup history. All the pre-match talk focused on Messi, one of the world’s greatest ever players who is likely playing his last World Cup. According to Gracenote, the previous most surprising World Cup win was USA’s victory against England in 1950, in which the American team had a 9.5% chance of victory. David Cannon/Getty ImagesDiego Maradona had taken the world by storm at the 1986 World Cup, delivering a succession of spectacular individual performances as Argentina claimed its secondd title. Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesAhead of the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, football had been fully professional in England for decades, though this was the English team’s first appearance at a World Cup having chosen not to appear in the previous three tournaments.

☆ Cristiano Ronaldo: Has Portuguese star ruined his legacy after TV interview slamming Manchester United?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

It is no secret that the Portuguese superstar has not enjoyed a fairytale reunion with Manchester United ever since he returned to Old Trafford last year. Since trying to force a move away from United over the summer, Ronaldo has featured sparingly, only making 16 appearances for the Red Devils. “He thinks he is [bigger than Ten Hag] and in the footballing world he is, but at Manchester United right now he’s not. Manchester United beat Fulham on Sunday, taking the club to fifth place in the Premier League table. In that statement, the club said: “Manchester United notes the media coverage regarding an interview by Cristiano Ronaldo.

☆ Luka Doncić sinks clutch three-pointer to help Mavericks beat the Clippers 103-101 in dramatic fashion
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Luka Doncić scored 35 points, including a clutch three-pointer with less than 30 seconds remaining, to give the Dallas Mavericks a 103-101 win over the LA Clippers despite blowing a 25-point lead. “Luka Magic” also had 11 rebounds, five assists and three steals, making every one of his 11 free throws along the way. Up against an injury-hit Clippers team – including Kawhi Leonard who is managing a knock to his knee – the Mavericks took a 15 point first-quarter lead. Mavs fans will be relieved as they narrowly avoided losing their second game of the season after leading by 22 or more. “We’re giving up a lot of big leads, just like we drew it up,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said after the game.

☆ Remembrance Day: For one dissenting voice, this is his most dangerous day
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

“Most Irish nationalists, most Irish Catholics in Northern Ireland regarded it as being not for them. “[It is a] sort of a badge, an emblem or totem of British imperialism, British colonialism.”‘The Troubles’McClean is one such dissenting voice. He was born and raised in Derry, a small town in Northern Ireland bordering the Republic. "The Troubles" split communities in Northern Ireland who still feel the affects more than 20 years later. At the time, he questioned the Northern Irish football team’s decision to play “God Save the Queen” as its national anthem.

☆ Evander Kane out for 3-4 months after operation on cut wrist
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The Edmonton Oilers have confirmed that forward Evander Kane will be out for 3-4 months after sustaining deep cuts on his wrist in Tuesday night’s 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. While on the deck, Tampa Bay forward Pat Maroon accidentally skated over Kane’s wrist and he immediately went to the bench for assistance before eventually being transported to the hospital where he had an operation. Kane took to social media to say that he was “on the mend” following a procedure on his wrist. Kane wrote on Twitter, “Thank you all for the kind wishes and prayers from over the past several hours. You never wish that upon any player in the League.”After being released by the San Jose Sharks last season, Kane joined the Edmonton Oilers on a four-year deal worth $20.5 million.

☆ Steph Curry drops 47 points against the Sacramento Kings to snap the Golden State Warriors’ 5-game skid
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Steph Curry put on a performance for the ages against the Sacramento Kings to give the Golden State Warriors a much needed 116-113 win to end a five-game losing streak. Andrew Wiggins added 25 points and 10 rebounds and Klay Thompson chipped in with 16 to help the Warriors over the line. That pattern would continue, with the Warriors bench being outscored 49-15 by the Kings. By the end of the third quarter, the Warriors were still down by nine points, but Curry took it to the next level. After the game, Curry said: “That’s the story of this team.

☆ Cleveland Cavaliers win eighth straight, down LeBron James and struggling Los Angeles Lakers, 114-100
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Just a week after Halloween, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers continued their scary start to the season, losing 114-100 to a hot Cleveland Cavaliers team and falling to 2-7 on the year. The Lakers have only won a single third quarter this season, and that poor post-intermission trend came back to haunt them once again. The Cavs blew away the Lakers, starting the half with a 13-4 run and outscoring Los Angeles 29-16 in the quarter. “We were playing catch-up.”James shooting against his former team in what was to be the Lakers' seventh loss of the season. “They did a great job in the offseason of picking up a big-time player,” James said after the game about Mitchell and his former team.

☆ Stormzy: After conquering music world, rapper targets racial inequality in football
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Premier League clubs Manchester United and Fulham are among the organizations that are partnering with rapper Stormzy’s Merky FC to improve diversity and representation at all levels of the football industry. “That statistic is embarrassing,” said the Croydon-born rapper who is set to launch the program next year. Rapper Stormy (C) has also been working in publishing and education to improve diversity and inclusion. “Hopefully with what we’re doing we can drive a change.”This isn’t the first time that Stormzy has worked within an industry to improve representation. The rapper has also provided scholarships for black students attending Cambridge University to improve the number of who attend the university.

☆ Rico Lewis earns rave reviews as 17-year-old breaks Karim Benzema's Champions League record
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The goal also made Lewis the youngest player to score on his first start in the Champions League, taking that crown from Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema. The young defender finished with the confidence of a veteran forward as he rifled his shot home to bring City level in their final group game of the Champions League. The goal also made Lewis the youngest player to score on his first start in the Champions League, taking that crown from Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema. After the game City manager Pep Guardiola said of Lewis: “We don’t give presents here, he had to earn it. Rafa Mir, who had threatened the city goal on a couple of occasions, scored the opener for Sevilla with a powerful header from a corner.

☆ US women’s gymnastics team wins historic gold medal at world championships in Liverpool
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The US women’s gymnastics team has claimed a record-breaking sixth world championships gold medal in a row – even without Simone Biles. The victory automatically qualifies team USA, along with fellow medalists Great Britain (163.363 points) and Canada (160.563 points), for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Despite coming off the beam and failing to complete one her routines, she recovered to score second in the team, only behind Jordan Chiles. Jordan Chiles took center stage as the star of Team USA. Performing in front of a boisterous crowd, the home team put out its best ever team performance at a major gymnastics event.

CNN —England manager Gareth Southgate has a lot on his plate as the World Cup in Qatar grows ever closer. All this as he prepares for the first World Cup held mid-season. Moreover, this is a World Cup – starting on November 20 – which has been dogged by a number of human rights issues. It’s what we’re there to do.”On England’s chances of winning the World Cup, Southgate said: “There are some complications with how regular some of our important players are playing. That’s where you’ll always be judged as an international manager.”On their chances of winning the World Cup, Southgate adds: “There are some complications with how regular some of our important players are playing.

☆ Cristiano Ronaldo snubs Gary Neville following criticism of the Manchester United forward’s behavior
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Cristiano Ronaldo has come under a lot of criticism this season and he’s clearly been listening. On Sunday, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner snubbed former teammate Gary Neville ahead of Manchester United’s Premier League match against West Ham following recent criticism from the television pundit. Neville had criticized Ronaldo’s “unacceptable” behavior in United’s recent league victory over Tottenham Hotspur where the 37-year-old appeared to refuse to come on as substitute before leaving the game early. Neville is not the first pundit to receive the cold shoulder from Ronaldo, who has found himself in and out of the United team this season. Ronaldo has not had a great season for United but could turn around his year with Portugal at the World Cup starting this month.

Search resuls for: "Alasdair Howorth"

25 mentions found