Month: December 2023

Algeria eye third continental title after naming squad
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Algeria eye third continental title after naming squad

Algeria won the tournament in 2019 and has set their sights on their third title after head coach Djamel Belmadi announced his final 26-man squad for the upcoming AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast next month.

The Desert Warriors set to compete against Angola, Burkina Faso and Mauritania in Group D for a place in the knockout stages.

In Cameroon, for the Africa Cup of Nations, they were knocked out of the group stage despite coming into the competition as the favourites. 

Riyad Mahrez is one of their biggest threat. He won the treble with Man City before moving to Saudi Arabia in the summer. West Ham winger Said Benrahma is the only big name missing.

Youcef Atal, presently on trial in France accused of inciting hatred, has been selected in Algeria’s Africa Cup of Nations squad by head coach Djamel Belmadi.

The 27-year-old defender has not played for his Ligue 1 side Nice since mid-October after he caused a furore by posting a video in which a Palestinian preacher purportedly threatened Israel with a “black day”.

Sierra Leone suffer third straight defeat to Liberia in U17 MRU Cup
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone suffer third straight defeat to Liberia in U17 MRU Cup

Sierra Leone suffered a third-straight defeat after another 3-2 scoreline to Liberia at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium.

On Saturday, Liberia defeated their Sierra Leonean counterpart 3-2 in the 2023 Mano River Union Men’s Under-17 Peace Cup encounter. 

It was a third straight defeat for the Sierra Leone U17 side following a 6-2 thrashing on Wednesday and a 3-2 defeat on Thursday in the opening two matches, respectively.

Emmanuel Sieh’s brace and Alhaji Samukai scored another to give the host a 3 -1 lead into the break at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium.

Sierra Leone Idrissa Swarray pulled one back late in the 88th minute, but was not enough to get at least a draw.

On Sunday, Sierra Leone to host Liberia in the final match at the Tusa Field. In this tie, they will be playing for pride after losing all three matches in the competition.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, African News, Mano River Union Men’s and U17 Sierra Leone News. 

Wilfred Zaha out, Pepe & Sebastien Haller recall to Ivory Coast squad
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Wilfred Zaha out, Pepe & Haller recall to Ivory Coast squad

Ex-Cyrstal Palace winger Wilfred Zaha and Hamed Junior Traore have been left out of Ivory Coast Africa Cup of Nations sqaud as former Arsenal player Nicolas Pepe makes his return. 

French manager Jean-Louis Gasse listed two surprises with Idrissa Doumbia and Lazare Amani in his 27-man squad.

According to the Ivorian Federation, this selection will test against Sierra Leone in a friendly match on January 6, 2024, at the Laurent Pokou stadium before they take Guinea-Bissau in the tournament’s opener on January 13.

The Ivory Coast are set to compete against Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea in Group A next month. 

French manager Jean-Louis Gasset has named Borussia Dortmund striker Sebastien Haller, Monaco defender Wilfried Singo, and midfielders Ibrahim Sangare of Premier League side Nottingham Forest, Seko Fofana (Al Nassr) and Franck Kesslie (Al Ahli).

Zaha, 31, made his Ivory Coast debut against Sweden in a friendly in Abu Dhabi on 8 January 2017 and was part of the squad in Cameroon 2021 AFCON.

The full final list of Côte d’Ivoire AFCON 2023 Squad

Goalkeepers: Fofana Yahia, Charles Folly, Badra Ali

Defenders: Serge Aurier, Willy Boly, Chester Diallo, Ousmane Diomandé, Odilon Kossounou, Evan Ndicka, Ghislain Konan, Wilfried Singo

Midfielders: Ibrahim Sangaré, Doumbia Idrissa, Franck Kessié, Jean Michael Seri, Seko Fofana, Lazare Amani

Attackers: Sébastien Haller, Karim Konaté, Max-Alain Gradel, Jean-Philippe Krasso, Christian Kouamé, Jonathan Bamba, Oumar Diakité, Jérémie Boga, Nicolas Pépé, Simon Adingra.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, the writer Alie Bittar, On Twitter @bittar32, AFCON News Ivory Coast.

Liberia beat Sierra Leone 2-1 in MRU Peace U17 Cup opener
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Liberia thrash Sierra Leone in U17 MRU Peace Cup opener

Host Liberia thrased Sierra Leone in the 2023 Mano River Union Men’s Under-17 Peace Cup 6-2 in the opening match on Wednesday.

 A brace from Emmanuel Sieh and Jerius Holmes and a goal apiece from Fallah Johnson, Jr and Kindness Cole saw Liberia U17 thrash their counterparts.

 The visitors scored in the 43rd and 84th minutes but were not enough to change the scoreline. 

 Kindness Cole was named Man of the Match Award after Liberia’s heavy victory over their neighbours at the TUSA FIELD.

The Mighty Barrole wonder kid was at his best with his exceptional skills displayed in match day one of the Mano River U17 hosted in Liberia.

 The tournament which is to run from 27-31 December at the Samuel Kanyon Doe sports complex in Paynesville, was expected to see three countries, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

 Guinea pulled out as a result, and Liberia and Sierra Leone will play four matches in five days.

At the Antoinette Tubman Stadium on 28 December, Sierra Leone will have the chance to avenge the first result when both sides lock horns again in the 2023 Mano River Union (MRU) men’s Under-17 Peace Cup – kickoff at 4:00 PM.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, African News, Mano River Union Men’s and U17 Sierra Leone News. 

Liberia kickoff the 2023 Mano River Union men's under-17 Peace Cup with a win over Sierra Leone at Tusa field.
Liberia kickoff the 2023 Mano River Union men's under-17 Peace Cup with a win over Sierra Leone at Tusa field.
Laurent Pokou Stadium to host Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone friendly
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Laurent Pokou Stadium to host Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone friendly 

The newly built 20,000-seater Laurent Pokou Stadium will host an Ivory Coast friendly match against Sierra Leone on January 6 ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Sierra Leone Football Association announced the friendly on Wednesday.

Ivory Coast initially arranged to face the Mambas of Mozambique, but the Mozambicans withdrew in November.

Sierra Leone will travel with a 21-man sqaud predominately home-based players for the duel.

The host will test against Sierra Leone as they prepare for the 34th edition of AFCON to run from 13 January to 11 February 2024 in Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Bouake, San Pedro, and Korhogo.

Both sides played to a 2-2 draw in the last Cup of Nations in Cameroon at the Stade de Japoma, Douala 16, January 2022, but they thrashed Sierra Leone 5-1 during the Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying Group D at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan in 2014.

In Group A, the Ivorians are to start their Afcon campaign against  Guinea-Bissau at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan, on January 13 before facing the Super Eagles of Nigeria in their second match.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, African News, Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone. 

Sierra Leone will travel with a 21-man squad predominately home-based players for the duel.
Sierra Leone will travel with a 21-man squad predominately home-based players for the duel.
Mauritania to test with Tunisia ahead of AFCON opener
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mauritania to face Tunisia ahead of AFCON opener

Mauritania to kick off their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations preparations with an international friendly against Tunisia on Jan 6 before heading to the Ivory Coast for the

Mauritania gears up for their third CAF Africa Cup of Nations as Coach Amir Abdou named a 27-man provisional squad. 

The Lions of Chinguetti to begin their Nations Cup campaign against Burkina Faso in Bouake on Jan 16 before taking on Algeria and Angola in Group D.

Coach Abdou has recalled former Ligue 1 midfielder El-Hadji Ba and handed a first call-up to teenager Oumar Ngom.

It was 18 months ago Ba, 30, formerly with Racing Lens and Sunderland, last played for his country. Ba, who recently signed for Mauritanian champions FC Nouadhibou, earned him an international recall.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Namori Diaw (Tevragh Zeina), Babacar Diop (FC Nouadhibou), Babacar Niasse (En Avant Guingamp)

Defenders: Aly Abeid (UTA Arad), Lamine Ba (NK Varazdin), Khadim Diaw (Al Hilal), Nouh Mohamed El Abd (FC Nouadhibou), El Hassen Houeibib (Al Zawraa), Ibrahima Keita (TP Mazembe), Bakary Ndiaye (Al Quwa Al Jawiya), Mohamed Dellah Yali (Al Hedod)

Midfielders: El Hadji Ba, Mouhsine Bodda (both FC Nouadhibou), Bakari Camara (Villefranche-Beaujolais), Sidi Ahmed Mohamed El Abd (Nouakchott Kings), Guessouma Fofana (Doxa Katokopias), Omare Gassama (Chateauroux), Abdallahi Mahmoud (Bellinzona), Oumar Ngom (Pau). 

Forwards: Souleymane Anne (KMSK Deinze), Pape Ibnou Ba (Concarneau), Amar Sidi Bouna (FC Nouadhibou), Souleymane Doukara (Magusa Turk Gucu), Aboubakar Kamara (Al Jazira), Aboubakaray Koita (St Truiden), Hemeya Tanji (Ai Ittihad Tripoli), Idrissa Thiam (Al Mesaimeer).

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, African News, Mauritania and AFCON News. 

Boxing Day defeat for Alex Bangura's Middlesbrough
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Boxing Day defeat for Alex Bangura’s Middlesbrough

Cohen Bramall’s mishit cross looped in to give bottom-of-the-table Rotherham a priceless Championship win over Middlesbrough, BBC Sport reports

Sierra Leone International was making his fifteen appearances for Boro as he started the tie at AESSEAL New York Stadium on Tuesday.

It was the hosts’ only shot on target in a game which was dominated by Michael Carrick’s Boro, who paid the price through being wasteful in front of goal.

Rotherham goalkeeper Viktor Johansson, who looked close to coming off through injury in the first half, made some crucial saves – Sam Greenwood’s first-half swerving shot in particular – to help keep the Millers level.

But Greenwood and Sammy Silvera wasted further good chances for Boro before Bramall’s cross-shot went over visiting keeper Tom Glover and in, with Leam Richardson’s side able to hang on for their first points since he took charge.

Full-time: Rotherham United 1 Middlesbrough 0

Rotherham United 1

Middlesbrough 0

Teams: Rotherham- Johansson, Lembikisa (Appiah 66), Bramall, Hugill (Cafu 90+2), Lindsay (Clucas 83), Rathbone, Odoffin, Morrison, Tiehi, Revan, Nombe (Eaves 66). Unused- Phillips, Kelly, McGuckin.

Middlesbrough- Glover, Barlaser, Clarke, Fry, Rogers, I Jones, Dijksteel (Coburn 77), Howson (Crooks 90+1), Silvera (Kavanagh 90+2), Bangura (Engel 77), Greenwood (McGree 70). Unused- J Jones, Van den Berg, Gilbert, Bridge.

Referee- A Kitchen

Attendance- 11487 (2404)

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, English Championship and Middlesborough. 

Al Ahly, Zamalek & three other Egyptian clubs eye Sierra Leone's Mohamed Kabia
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Al Ahly, Zamalek & others eye Sierra Leone’s Mohamed Kabia 

About five Egyptian clubs are interested in Sierra Leone International Mohamed Kabia, who is presently in Cairo, Egypt. 

Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Pyramid are all eyeing the service of the midfielder because of his potential. The other clubs are ZED FC and Ceramica Cleopatra Club.

Kabia. 20, who can play midfield and defence, arrived in Egypt on Sunday evening and will try with all five clubs in the Egyptian top tier and possibly sign by the end of next week, Football Sierra Leone understands.

The versatile player made his Sierra Leone debut in the 1-1 draw against Benin during the International friendly played in Khouribga, Morocco, in October. 

He played a pivotal role in the goalless draw against Ethiopia in the opening 2026 World Cup Group A qualifier at the Stade El Abdi last Month.

The former Mbabane Swallow and Denver Sundowns player must impress in Egypt as he will train with these clubs in an attempt for a deal.

Kabia, who has won four caps with the Sierra Leone senior national team, scored eight goals and eleven assists for Mbabane Swallow in Eswatini’s top-tier league.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, the writer Alie Bittar, On Twitter @bittar32, Players Abroad News. 

Mogbwemo Queens begin the title defence with a 1-0 win
by David Lebbie

Mogbwemo Queens begin title defence with a 1-0 win 

Mogbwemo Queens defeated Ram Kamara 1-0 as they began their title defence in the Sierra Leone Women’s Premier League on Saturday.

Kadiatu M Kamara’s 25th-minute goal secured all three points for Champions Mogbwemo Queens as they continued dominance over Ram Kamara Female.

Mabinty Sesay (Ram K) was awarded Woman of the Match. Mogbwemo Queens FC’s next match will be at home against the Correctional Sports Club.

Speaking to Football Sierra Leone, head Coach Adama Polina Suma of Mogbwemo Queens described the win as vital. 

“To open with maximum points is very important. I give credit to my team and they are top of their game and are set for the next game”.

“We always respect our opponent playing away to Ram Kamara whom have the home support and everything we have to expect the resistance from them and infact we were expecting much more from them, playing against us the Champions you may want to prove all best,” Coach Musa Stated. 

However, she stated that although they have other players on the sideline, they remain focused on defending their title.

On her part, Coach Fatmata Turay of Ram Kamara said the result was not a good one for them based on what they did in training and on the pitch, they deserved more.

“We went wrong in the preparation for this match moreover, we never trained on the pitch all that affected us. Our next game is against Kahunla Queens let’s see what will happen there but the competition is still open and I am confident of winning.” she noted.

Meanwhile, Mogbwemo Queens are unbeaten in three meetings with Ram Kamara (Two wins and a draw).

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, Womens Premier News, Mogbwemo Queens and  Ram Kamara.

Steven Caulker pens player-manager deal with FC Malaga City
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Steven Caulker pens player/coach deal with FC Malaga City

Spanish side FC Malaga City has confirmed a player/coach deal agreed with former Tottenham and Liverpool defender Steven Caulker.

Caulker, 31, who was part of the Sierra Leone AFCON 2021 campaign in Cameroon, has been handed a boost as he pursues his managerial career.

 “After a long job search and many sleepless nights, I am happy to announce that I have now found my path,” Caulker broke the news to Football Sierra Leone. 

Starting in January, I will become joint player-manager of FC Malaga City Academy in the 5th tier of Spanish Football.

I have expressed my desire to become a manager for a while now and have just recently completed my UEFA B license.”

“On a historic day for FC Malaga City, we are beyond proud to announce the signing of former Premier League player as well as England and Sierra Leone international Steven Caulker!,” the club posted.

“Following an illustrious playing career including the likes of Tottenham, Liverpool, and Fenerbahce. he Premier League veteran has been signed to a Player/Joint Head Coach role and has already met and begun to integrate his influence into the, first team squad and will be a huge mentor across the academy from 2024. “

We could not be more excited to have a player/coach of his calibre and experience here with us in Spain. This incredible coup is a statement of what the club has achieved and our ambitious plans as we move into our 10th anniversary!

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, the writer Alie Bittar, On Twitter @bittar32, FC Malaga City News.