Day: October 13, 2023

2023 Cup of Nations final draw produced intriguing contest

2023 Cup of Nations final draw produced intriguing contest

The groups for the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire 2023, were confirmed on Thursday in Abidjan, with some intriguing contests awaiting exciting fans.

Brand-new Parc Des Expositions venue in Abidjan hosted the event on Wednesday with hosts Ivory Coast among 24 nations – including Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Cameroon, Algeria, South Africa and holders Senegal – who have qualified.

Hosts Cote d’Ivoire to face regional rivals Nigeria as defending champions Senegal drew African giant Cameroon. Record winners Egypt renewed hostilities with Ghana. 

“It’s a really difficult group,” Senegal’s Mane said at the end of the presentation.

“Cameroon is going to be really tough but we will give our best to go through in the first round.”

Africa’s World Cup semi-finalists and 2025 hosts Morocco will face DR Congo, Zambia and Tanzania.

The continent’s showpiece event is set to run from 13 January to 11 February 2023.

Despite now being played in 2024, it has kept 2023 as part of its official title. The Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan will host the final on 11 February.

Groups:

Group A: Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau

Group B: Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde Islands, Mozambique

Group C: Senegal, Cameroon, Guinea, Gambia

Group D: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Angola

Group E: Tunisia, Mali, South Africa, Namibia

Group F: Morocco, DR Congo, Zambia, Tanzania

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Curtis Davies first Leone Stars training session in Casablanca, Morocco

Work underway for Amidu Karim with International friendlies

Images of Sierra Leone as they continue groundwork ahead of friendlies against Benin and Somalia as part of their 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Sierra Leone to face Benin on Saturday before tackling Somalia on Tuesday in Casablanca, Morocco.

Head Coach Amidu Karim has described his first training as “vibrant, exciting, reassuring and most importantly full-blown”. It gives the team a clear and positive vision of what lies ahead.

Israeli-based defender Abdulai Jajue Kabia is the only absentee from the squad named by coach Karim due to the availability of flights from his location.

The Leone Stars journey to qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the USA, Mexico and Canada will begin in November 2023.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone – Players Abroad News  & National News on Leone Stars. 

Head Coach Amidu Karim focus on duty in Casablanca
Head Coach Amidu Karim focus on duty in Casablanca
Curtis Davies's first Leone Stars training session in Casablanca, Morocco along side Queens Park Rangers Osman Kakay
Curtis Davies's first Leone Stars training session in Casablanca, Morocco along side Queens Park Rangers Osman Kakay
First-time call-up for former Dutch U20 defender now playing for HSV Hoek in the Netherlands Derde Divisie, the fourth tier of Dutch football
First-time call-up for former Dutch U20 defender now playing for HSV Hoek in the Netherlands Derde Divisie, the fourth tier of Dutch football
Sullay Kaikai from English League One side Cambridge United working hard in this session
Sullay Kaikai from English League One side Cambridge United working hard in this session
Alpha Bedor Conteh from Lokomotiv Plovdiv in the Bulgarian efbet Liga works on his pace
Alpha Bedor Conteh from Lokomotiv Plovdiv in the Bulgarian efbet Liga works on his pace
Attackers: Amadou Bakayoko and Mohamed Buya Turay go up against each other in training
Attackers: Amadou Bakayoko and Mohamed Buya Turay go up against each other in training