Day: January 24, 2024

Sierra Leone striker Augustine Williams joins Indy Eleven
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone striker Augustine Williams joins Indy Eleven

Indy Eleven has announced that they have signed Sierra Leonean striker, Augustine Williams, for the upcoming 2024 USL Championship season.

Williams had an impressive performance last season, scoring sixteen goals for Charleston Battery in the USL Championship.

This will be the 26-year-old’s seventh professional club in the United States since he began his career with Portland Timbers 2 in 2016.

Indy Eleven has not disclosed the terms of the deal, and it is subject to league and federation approval as per club policy. Williams, who scored fifteen goals in 2022 with Charleston, is now embarking on a new adventure.

He was also named in the second-team All-USL honours for his performance last season, which is the second time in his career he has received this recognition.

He spent three seasons (2019-21) as part of the LA Galaxy and In 51 matches as part of the USL Championship’s Galaxy II squad, Williams tallied 20 goals and four assists.

Cup of Nations Ivory Coast hosts Sack Coach Gasset
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Cup of Nations hosts Ivory Coast Sack Coach Gasset 

The Ivory Coast, who are hosting the 2023 Cup of Nations, have announced that they have parted ways with their coach, Jean-Louis Gasset, and his assistant, Ghislain Printant, after failing to achieve satisfactory results in the tournament. 

This announcement was made by the country’s football federation (FIF) on Wednesday. “The contracts of coach Jean-Louis Gasset and his assistant Ghislain Printant are terminated due to insufficient results,” the FIF said in a statement.”

The team was defeated 4-0 by Equatorial Guinea in their last Group A match on Monday, which leaves them on the brink of elimination from the tournament. 

Ivory Coast needed favourable results in Wednesday’s final group matches to reach the knock-out phase as one of the four best third-placed teams.

 The team has only failed to progress from the group phase once in the previous nine editions of the tournament, in 2017.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 African News.

Chris Hughton has been sacked as head coach of Ghana following their exit from the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Chris Hughton sacked as Ghana head coach after AFCON exit

Chris Hughton has been sacked as head coach of Ghana following their exit from the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.  

“The Executive Council has also decided to dissolve the technical team of the Black Stars,” Ghana FA said in their statement.

“The GFA will in the coming days provide a roadmap on the future direction of the Black Stars.”

The Black Stars embarrassingly finished on two points in Group B, drawing 2-2 with both Egypt and Mozambique following a 2-1 defeat by Cape Verde in their opener.

On Tuesday, despite all hopes of progressing as one of the four best-ranked third-placed sides, two late goals from Mozambique stunned Hughtons’ side. 

The former Newcastle United boss, who was appointed in February last year, had failed to guide his team to a single victory in Ivory Coast.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 African News.

Mauritania stun Algeria as Angola beat Burkina Faso to reach last 16
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mauritania stun Algeria as Angola beat Burkina Faso to qualify

Lions of Chinguetti of Mauritania and Palancas Negras of Angola have progressed to the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023 knockout stages following wins against Algeria and Burkina Faso, respectively, on Tuesday.

Despite Burkina Faso’s defeat, they qualified automatically as second-best in the group.

Minnows Mauritania stunned Algeria 1-0 at the Stade de la Paixin Bouake in the Group D final match, whilst Angola was through after a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Burkina Faso.

Against all the odds towards Algeria to pick their first win in the, but Mauritania came to play with as determination as they sent the North Africans packing.

Mohamed Yali Dellahi accounted for Muaritania’s only goal to down the 2019 Cup of Nations holders Algeria after his strike deflected to put Mauritania ahead.

Angola – on the other hand, scored through a goal apiece from in each half by Cristovao Paciencia and Ambrosini Salvador on the stroke of full-time, as the Antelopes qualify for the first time since 2010 as hosts.

Mauritania will face surprise Group B winners Cape Verde in the last 16 at Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on Monday as Angola set to battle a third-placed side from Group E or F in the last 16 on Saturday, while Burkina Faso will take on the Group E winners next Tuesday.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 African News.

Group D final Standings -Angola, Burkina Faso and Mauritania qualified from Group D
Group D final Standings -Angola, Burkina Faso and Mauritania qualified from Group D