Month: September 2023

Shanghai Port FC has been impressive this season after a nervy 2022 campaign. Shanghai Port beat Nantong Zhiyun 1-0 in Friday's 27th round of the Chinese Super League (CSL).
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Issa Kallon’s Shanghai Port a win away from Chinese title

Shanghai Port FC has been impressive this season after a nervy 2022 campaign. Port beat Nantong Zhiyun 1-0 in Friday’s 27th Chinese Super League (CSL) round.

Their recent 1-0 win over Nantong Zhiyun away from home only means t that they are one win away from winning the Chinese Super League title.

They have an eight-point lead at the top of their standing ahead of second-placed team Shandong Taishan, who also registered A 2-1 win over Wuhan Three Towns on Friday.

Sierra Leone International Issa Kallon started the match against Nantong Zhiyun but was substituted in the 87th minute for Lü Wenjun.

Kallon, 27, and his side can lift the Chinese Super League title if they can secure a win next match against Beijing Guoan at home.

On 28 July 2022, Kallon joined the Chinese Super League club Shanghai Port.

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Tricky away Champions League contest for Bo Rangers
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Tricky away Champions League contest for Bo Rangers

Having suffered a heavy first leg 3-1 defeat to their Algerian counterparts, Bo Rangers travelled to face Chabab Riadhi Belouizdad for a place in the competition group stages.

Sierra Leone Champions Bo Rangers went down 3-1 at home to CR Belouizdad in the first leg of the second preliminary round of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League on Sunday, September 17 2023, at the Southern Arena.

As a result, Bo Rangers face a giant second-leg task as the return fixture is set to be played at the Oran Olympic Stadium in Algeria on September 30 2023.

Saturday’s meeting will be their fourth after both teams wrestled in this competition last season, but the Algerians again came off top with a 3-0 aggregate over two legs.

In the first leg at the Southern Arena, Sierra Leone back-back Champions started well when they capitalised on the 11-minute chance through Abu Komeh.

This will be the kind of start coach Alhaji Foray will be hoping for if they are to survive the wave in the Algerian city.

The Southern Province outfit departed Sierra Leone with a 23-man sqaud on Wednesday, September 27th, en route to Guinea for Algeria, highly motivated and determined to deliver a respectable result.

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Chabab Riadhi Belouizdad in Algeria training ahead of Bo Rangers tie on Saturday
Chabab Riadhi Belouizdad in Algeria training ahead of Bo Rangers tie on Saturday
FC Kallon eye CAF Confederation group stage ticket
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

FC Kallon eye CAF Confederation group stage ticket

Sierra Leone CAF Confederation Cup representative FC Kallon is in search of their first Inter-club group stage when they host Dreams FC on Saturday.

The Ghanain side won the first leg 2-1 at the Accra Sports Stadium, but with a narrow margin, Kallon as the host team at the Liberia Capital with genuine hope of reaching the competition group stage.

No Sierra Leonean club has reached the group stage of the second-tier competition of African club football since it was introduced in 2004.

In 2004, CAF merged the African Cup Winners’ Cup created in 1975 with the CAF Cup introduced in 1992 to form a new competition called the Confederation Cup, which has since been considered the second African club competition.

Dreams reached this competition stage after a 3-2 aggregate victory over Milo FC of Guinea.

Coach Karim Zito’s side came into the contest knowing their opponent was capable of goals. However, the coach is confident they can complete the job in Liberia.

“For us, reaching the next stage of the compoetition is our target- we are step closer of the two-sided game. Our obejective is to make sure we and qualify,” Zito was quoted as saying. 

The former Inter Milan and Monaco was the coach of his club (FC Kallon) in the CAF inter-clubs Confederation Cup last September when they progressed to the second qualifying stage of the competition. 

Under his guidance, they eliminated Buffles de Borgou of Benin 4-0 on aggregate – but they suffered a heavy defeat to the Egyptian side FC Future over the two legs in the second preliminary round.

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FC Kallon v Dreams CAF Confederation Second Round Second Leg
Official: Morocco to host 2025 AFCON
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Morocco awarded 2025 Afcon while joint bid gets 2027

Morocco was awarded the hosting right for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals on Wednesday whilst joint bids from East African nations were awarded the 2027 AFCON.

The North African nations set to host the 35th edition and the second time, 35 years after the North African country staged the competition in 1988.

Morocco replacing Guinea, who was stripped of the right to host the tournament last year. Algeria withdrew their bid to host one of two finals on the eve of the vote on Tuesday.

The 2027 rights were awarded to a joint bid from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The long-awaited decision to host the 2025 and 2027 finals has been sorted after almost a year since Caf stripped Guinea last October of the right to host the 2025 finals.

Morocco won by default after Algeria, Zambia, and a joint bid from Benin and Nigeria all withdrew before the vote of the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee in Cairo on Wednesday.

The North African country was a runaway favourite and will see the decision as a boost to their hopes of co-hosting the 2030 World Cup with Portugal and Spain.

Morocco set to host 2025 AFCON
Morocco set to host 2025 AFCON
East Africa Nations to host 2027 AFCON
East Africa Nations to host 2027 AFCON
Attacker Idris Kanu is on target as Barnet thumps York City
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Attacker Idris Kanu on target as Barnet thump York City

On Tuesday, Sierra Leone International Idriss Kanu was on target as his National League side Barnet turned on the style in the second half to crush York 4-2 at the LNER Community Stadium.

As a result, Barnet sits third on their table as they focus on promotion this season. 

The home opened the scoring in the ninth minute as they started the better. Dipo Akinyemi’s lobbed opener sent the fans into ecstasy stay.

However, the visitors hit back despite Idris Kanu’s goal being ruled out for offside, but Harry Pritchard levelled for the Bees from the edge of the box.

Kanu, who made his eleventh appearance of the season, gave his side a 2-1 lead ad from close range and the result was secured three minutes later when Reece Hall-Johnson headed in at the back post.

Zak Brunt nodded in a fourth with eight minutes to go as Barnet rubbed salt into the wound before Akinyemi’s last-minute consolation.

YORK CITY: Whitley, Fallowfield, Akinyemi, Kouhyar, Howe, Batty, Marsh (66’ Harriott), Siziba (46’ Dyson), Woodyard (80’ McLaughlin), Latty-Fairweather, Smith.

UNUSED SUBS: Watson, Kennedy.

BARNET: Walker, Hall-Johnson, Collinge, Okimo, Kabamba (86’ Barratt), Stead (80’ Armstrong), Kanu, Pritchard © (82’ Gorman), Hartigan, Oluwo, Brunt.

UNUSED SUBS: Gillmore, Potter.

ATTENDANCE: 4,065 (163 Barnet supporters)

Winger David Kalokoh extends Ajax contract with
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Winger David Kalokoh extends Ajax contract

Ajax winger David Kalokoh has signed an extended contract with the club.

The 18-year-old was born in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone (KONO). The youngster’s old deal ran until mid-2024.

“Ajax and David Kalokoh have reached an agreement on a new contract. The 18-year-old left winger’s new contract runs from September 1, 2023, to June 30, 2027. His old contract ran until mid-2024,” Ajax announced on Tuesday.

Kalokoh was born on April 21, 2005, in Kono, Sierra Leone and switched from the youth academy of VVV-Venlo to Ajax in 2018.

On April 28 this year, Kalokoh made his debut in professional football during Jong Ajax’s away match against his old club VVV-Venlo: 0-1.

He has played nine games for the reserves so far, scoring once.

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Winger David Kalokoh extends Ajax's contract with
Winger David Kalokoh extends Ajax's contract with
Outgoing Sierra Leone coach John Keister bids emotional farewell
by FSL News

John Keister bids emotional farewell as Leone Stars coach

John Keister has bid an emotional farewell to Sierra Leone’s national coaching job, “calling his three years as head coach of the national football team a “beautiful experience which I will never forget.”

Appointed in August 2020, succeeding Ghanaian-born Sellas Tetteh, he guided the national team to the Cameroon African Cup of Nations after almost three decades of absence – his highest achievement as a football coach thus far.

“This journey has been immensely wonderful – an extraordinary journey filled with unforgettable moments, remarkable achievements, and invaluable lessons, each of which has left an indelible mark on my coaching career.

I am proud to say that we have built a culture of unity, discipline, and sportsmanship, setting a solid foundation for future achievements.

The Manchester-born highlight of his Leone Stars career was when he defeated Benin at the Stade du 28 Septembre, Conakry in June 2021.

Striker Kei Kamara scored a first-half penalty for Keister’s side to secure a place at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) for the first time since 1996, following a 1-0 victory over Benin in Conakry.

His reign finally came to an end after his term of contract expired this August and was not renewed by the football authorities. 

His final Leone Stars game ended in a 2-1 defeat to Guinea-Bissua at the Estádio 24 de Setembro on Monday, 11th September 2023.

Keister had previously served as head coach of the Leone Stars home-based team as well as the Sierra Leone under-17 and under-23 national teams.

The former Leone Stars midfielder was born in Manchester and played for several lower-league clubs in England, including Walsall, Chester City, Shrewsbury Town and Stevenage Borough.

He was capped 16 times by Sierra Leone between 1997 and 2003.

Read Coach John Keister’s Emotional Goodbye in Full .pdf

Egypt Line up friendlies ahead of Sierra Leone World Cup qualifier
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Egypt line up friendlies ahead of Sierra Leone qualifier

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced two International friendlies in October before starting their World Cup campaign in November against Sierra Leone.

The Pharaohs will face Algeria and Zambia next month in the United Arab Emirates. The EFA say both matches are part of the Egyptian national team’s preparation program for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and African Cup 2024 in Côte d’Ivoire next January.

On October 12, the African powerhouse will battle Zambia four days before Egypt takes on Algeria on October 16, with both games taking place at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.

This will mark Egypt’s first clash with Algeria since the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup when both teams played out a 1-1 draw in the group stages.

Egypt, Zambia’s last meeting was in October 2015, when Egypt won 3-0 in an international friendly, thanks to Ahmed Hassan Kouka’s brace and a late goal from Amr Gamal.

The draw for the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup finals placed Sierra Leone in Group A with five teams: Egypt, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, and Djibouti.

 

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EFA lined-up two friendlies ahead of Sierra Leone qualifier in November
EFA lined-up two friendlies ahead of Sierra Leone qualifier in November
Meet Groningen's Sierra Leonean sensation Fofin Turay
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Meet Groningen’s Sierra Leonean sensation Fofin Turay 

This year couldn’t have started much better for young FC Groningen academy graduate Fofin Turay. Six appearances for the youngster this campaign as they compete in the Eerste Divisie, the second tier of Dutch football.

He was 18 when he signed his first professional contract at FC Groningen after his impress at youth level. His pace and athleticism with under-21 prompted a contract until 2025 with an option for an additional year.

The attacker started playing football at GVAV and switched to the FC Groningen academy in 2015.

Hailing from Sierra Leonean parents, born and born and raised in Groningen, the winger has developed well within the training in recent years and passed all selections. 

“Fofin is a player who has a lot of threat in his one-on-one situations. In addition, Fofin’s speed allows him to take advantage of the spaces in the opponent’s back. He is a boy who always works hard. A neat boy who always has everything neatly in order, even outside of football,” Head of Youth scouting Arno de Jong explains the attacker’s progress.

“Fofin has developed so well in recent years that he can see this contract as a reward and incentive to continue growing in the coming years,” De Jong continues. “Our trainers and other specialists within the training will help him as best as possible.”

The main character himself told his club website he was pleased to be considered for a senior team deal. “I’m naturally happy and proud – a special moment. It is a first step towards more, it is great that the club sees potential in me and I will do everything I can to realize what the FC sees in me.”

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The Sierra Leonean sensation Fofin Turay celebrated with teammates
The Sierra Leonean sensation Fofin Turay celebrated with teammates
British-born Harry Varley set for SFEF's coaching program
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

British-born Harry Varley set for SFEF’s coaching program

British-born Harry Varley has agreed to be a special coaching educator in partnering with the Sports for Empowerment Foundation (SFEF) in Sierra Leone. 

Varley, 33, is a coach educator with 15 years of experience developing elite and grassroots youth development programs around the world. 

The African Football Recruitment specialist is a Leeds University graduate who has worked for several International organisations like the Right to Dream Academy in Ghana and Heads of Women’s Football in Grenada.

“Our role as a coach is to create problem solvers. The players should leave our program with the technical skills and decision making ability to allow them to independently find solutions to the complex problems that make up a 90 minute game of football,” Varley explained while speaking to SFEF media. 

The SFEF Grassroots coaches and management training will be rolled out from the 14th of October 2023 across Sierra Leone for up to three weeks.

SFEF tutoring will cut across the West African state areas like Lungi Port Loko District, Makeni in the Northern Province, Moyamba, Bo Southern Province, Kenema, Kailuhun, Kono Eastern Province of Sierra Leone., Kamakwei Karene District in Chiefdom Sella Limba.

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Sport For Empowerment Foundation Sierra Leone to kick start coaching tutoring and management training in October.
Sport For Empowerment Foundation Sierra Leone to kick start coaching tutoring and management training in October.