Month: January 2024

Guinea face a tricky Cameroon AFCON opener
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Guinea face a tricky Cameroon AFCON opener

Syli National of Guinea to face a tricky Group C opener in the Africa Cup of Nations against five-time winners Cameroon on Monday.

Kaba Diawara will be at the dugout when his side opens their AFCON campaign at the Stade Charles Konan Banny de Yamoussoukro. 

Monday’s encounter is the third between the two sides at the Cup of Nations – Both nations have met in previous group stages that ended in draws: 2-2 in 1998 and 1-1 in 2015.

Cameroon, under the supervision of Rigobert Song, will be hoping to start on a positive footing as they were eliminated by Egypt in the semi-finals as hosts nation in the 2021 AFCON but won against Burkina Faso 5-3 on aggregate to lift the third spot. 

Syli National head coach Kaba Diawara has been working on instilling a winning mentality in his side as they prepare to face the Indomitable Lions.

“We have a strong group, with great teams so we must start the competition well to secure a chance of qualifying for the next neround,” he told CAFOnline.

“My personal ambition is to win. When we start a job we have to do it well. We have a young team and we are in a group that has previous champions. We hope to be at the level and give everything on the pitch. I want to urge our fans to encourage us and believe in us.”

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Josh Koroma nets in Huddersfield's draw against Plymouth
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Josh Koroma nets in Huddersfield’s draw against Plymouth

Huddersfield Town played to a 1-1 draw with Plymouth Argyle in their English Championship encounter on Saturday at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Ian Foster’s first league game in charge of Plymouth ended in a draw with fellow strugglers Huddersfield Town. 

Morgan Whittaker’s seventh goal of the season for the Pilgrims was cancelled out by Sierra Leone’s native Josh Koroma before the break.

Darren Moore’s Terriers have now failed to win at home for the 11th time this season.

Koroma, who was making his 24th appearance, recorded his second of the campaign – assisted by Sorba Thomas in the 38th minute after M. Whittaker gave the visitors the opener in the 16th minute.

Plymouth Argyle‘s Sierra Leone International Mustapha Bundu was an unused substitute on Saturday.

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Mo Salah rescues Egypt as Cape Verde stunned Ghana with Rodrigues' goal
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mo Salah rescues Egypt as Cape Verde stun Ghana

Egypt captain Mohammed Salah converted a late penalty kick to rescue Egypt from a 2-2 draw against Mozambique in their opening group B game of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023.

The Pharaohs started brightly with an early goal through Mohamed Mostafa’s strike, but the Mambas came into the second half much stronger with determination. 

They rallied in the second half with goals from Witness João Quembo and Clésio Baúque in the 55th and 58th minutes, respectively. 

However, deep into the extra time, Domingos Macandza’s missed kick brought down Mostafa Mohammed – a VAR review confirmed Egypt deserved a penalty.

Salah made no mistake to slot in his spot kick for his first goal of the tournament as he helped the Phaphroahs nick a point.

In Group B’s other encounter, Garry Rodrigues’ late goal handed Cape Verde a 2-1 victory as they secured maximum points against the Black Stars of Ghana.

Cape Verde took a deserved lead in the 17th minute through Jamiro Monteiro. The former Philadelphia Union midfielder tapped home from a loose ball from goalkeeper Richard Ofori. 

Alexander Djiku levelled the scoreline for the Black Stars. However, his goal was not enough – after Garry Rodrigues scored late in stoppage time.

As a result, Cape Verde tops Group B on three points, followed by Egypt, Mozambique and Ghana, respectively. 

Egypt will play Ghana on Thursday, January 18, at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium – whilst Cape Verde takes on Mozambique on Friday at the same venue. 

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Victor Osimhen's quick-fire equaliser spared Nigeria a shock defeat against Equatorial Guinea
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Disappointing AFCON start for Nigeria’s Super Eagles

Three-time African Champiosn Nigeria’s Super Eagles shared the spoils with Equatorial Guinea 1-1 in the African Cup of Nations Group A opener at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé, northern Abidjan on Sunday.

As a result, host Ivory Coast top Group A with three points after their 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau on Saturday. 

Iban Salvador’s fine first-half finish put the Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea ahead in the 36th minute. However, his goal was cancelled by the African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen in the 38th minute.

Victor Osimhen once again proved he is a key player in the Super Eagles side after his equaliser spared Nigeria a shock defeat against Equatorial Guinea in their opening game of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Italy & Napoli Player of the Year nodded in a minute after Iban Salvador’s opener for the underdogs. 

Nigeria manager Jose Peseiro heads into the tournament under some pressure, having drawn with Lesotho and Zimbabwe in World Cup qualifying before losing to Guinea in a friendly.

Jesus Owono made several second-half saves to deny the Super Eagles, while Osimhen missed after breaking clear.

Jesus Lazaro was named TotalEnergies Man of the Match award after a breathtaking performance.

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Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea Share Spoils in Group A Opener
Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea Share Spoils in Group A Opener
Brilliant SSC Bari's debut for attacker Yayah Kallon
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Brilliant SSC Bari’s debut for midfielder Yayah Kallon

Sierra Leone-born Yayyah Kallon, who joined Italian Serie B side SSC Bari on loan from Hellas Verona, made his debut in their 3-1 win over Ternana Calcio on Saturday.

It was the first over 60-minute action for the former Genoa player, who has been handed a lifeline to revamp his career after a long spell out. 

He was immediately selected by Bari’s coach Marino for their home tie in week twenty of the campaign.

The home side got off the mark with a 41st-minute goal from Giacomo Ricci before Yayah Kallon assisted Marco Nasti to double their lead in the 43rd minute. 

Ismail Achik replaced Kallon in the 68th minute of the match. 

Mehdi Dorval assisted by I. Achik to score Baris’s third before a consolation for the visitors through Salim Diakite in the 86th minute.

Kallon Recap before his loan move

Kallon featured for 3 minutes for parent club Hellas Verona in their 2-1 defeat to Inter last weekend after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in July 2023 before the season commenced.

The attacker was an unused substitute for the Hellas Verona as they suffered 1-0 Fiorentina in the Serie A round of sixteen.

Kallon, who scored his first goal for Genoa in a 3–2 Coppa Italia win over Perugia, joined Hellas Verona initially on loan with an option to buy.

He completed his Verona move in the summer but has yet to future for the club this season. Kallon featured in 22 games last season while on loan for The Yellow and Blues.

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Ivory Coast triumph over Guinea Bissau in AFCON opener
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ivory Coast triumph over Guinea-Bissau in AFCON opener 

Hosts Ivory Coast opened the 34th edition of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé.

Seko Fofana’s early goal was the perfect start for the Elephants in front of an exciting packed house in their Group A clash in Abidjan when he struck home from just inside the area in the fourth minute.

The Al Nassr midfielder capitalised on a loose ball outside when he unleashed a superb strike beyond goalkeeper Ouparine Djoco.

Ivory Coast’s superior talent shone through in short bursts, Fofana rattling the crossbar as goalkeeper Ouparine Djoco produced a superb fingertip stop to deny a carbon copy of the first goal.

Despite a few threats from the Djurtus of Guinea Bissau – However, the hosts doubled their advantage just before the hour mark when substitute Jean-Philippe Krasso stylishly fired home from a Jonathan Bamba assist.

It was Krasso’s goal-fine finish that put the result beyond the Djurtus as Cote d’Ivoire confidently opened the tournament with a convincing victory.

Group A continues on Sunday with Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea facing off before the Super Eagles meet Ivory Coast on Thursday in arguably the most-anticipated game of the group stage.

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Seko Fofana, who fired the hosts into the lead, was named Man of the Match
Seko Fofana, who fired the hosts into the lead, was named Man of the Match
AFCON 2023: Ivory Coast eye positive start against Guinea Bissau
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

AFCON 2023: Ivory Coast eye positive start against Guinea Bissau

On Saturday, the Elephant of Côte d’Ivoire set their sight to kick off their 25th appearance as host of the Africa Cup of Nations in four decades on a positive footing.

Ivory Coast have been African champions twice before, most recently in 2015 with a team captained by Yaya Toure, but this time, they’ll be hoping to thrive under the pressure of playing at home.

Saturday’s encounter will be the first encounter between Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations.

Elephants coach Jean-Louis Gasset will rely on their star forward Sebastien Haller against minnows Guinea-Bissau at the newly-built Ebimpe Olympic Stadium at kickoff 20:00 hrs.

“We feel the expectation every day but we just need to live with it,” Elephants coach Jean-Louis Gasset, the 70-year-old Frenchman, told reporters in the country’s economic capital Abidjan on Friday.

“My job is to transform the pressure into something positive, to make sure that gives the players strength and confidence.”

The Djurtus of Guinea-Bissau are ready for their fourth continental showpiece after making their debut in 2017, six years as they finished bottom of their group in each of their three previous participations, with a total of three draws and six defeats.

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Terem Moffi replaces Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Terem Moffi replaces Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface

Ligue 1 club Nice Terem Igobor Moffi has been named to the Nigeria Cup of Nations squad instead of Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface.

Striker Terem Moffi has scored six goals in Ligue 1 this season.

Boniface was ruled out of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) through injury, in another blow to the Nigeria head coach Portuguese, José Peseiro.

The Nigerian Federation confirmed his replacement, Igobor via their Facebook page.

Boniface picked up the injury in Nigeria training camp in Abu Dhabi and was absent from the Super Eagles’ 2-0 Pre-Afcon friendly defeat to Guinea.

A few days ago, Wilfred Ndidi was replaced with Royal Antwerp midfielder Alhassan Yusuf.

Nigeria to start their Group A campaign against Equatorial Guinea on 14 January before taking hosts Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau in the group stage.

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Nigeria to start their Goup A campaign against Equatorial Guinea on 14 January, before taking hosts Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau in the group stage
Nigeria to start their Goup A campaign against Equatorial Guinea on 14 January, before taking hosts Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau in the group stage.
SuperSport make Africa Cup of Nations U-turn to broadcast showpiece tournament
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

SuperSport make Cup of Nations U-turn to broadcast showpiece

SuperSport TV has announced they will broadcast all 52 matches of the TotalEnergies AFCON 2023 Ivory Coast 2023 live after MultiChoice secured the rights to broadcast the continent’s showpiece tournament.

Following their initial announcement of not broadcasting the event, they have made a U-turn after securing broadcasting rights for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finals set to take place in Ivory Coast, commencing in two days.

The 34th edition is set to kick off on 13 January 2024 until 11 February 2024 as hosts Ivory Coast take on Guinea-Bissau at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara.

“MultiChoice reached a commercially viable agreement with rightsholders, New World TV (NWTV), to broadcast the 34th edition of Africa’s premier men’s football competition taking place in Ivory Coast,” Super Sport confirmed.

Rendani Ramovha, SuperSport CEO, said: “We are delighted to be able to showcase the best of African football live to our viewers.”

As part of this agreement, Nimonka Kolani, Managing Director of NWTV, declared: “By securing the rights to CAN 2023 under the leadership of Dr Patrice Motsepe, SuperSport and NWTV prove that nothing is more important than the happiness of Africans who wish to follow the exploits of their favourite team during the biggest football competition in Africa.”

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Midfielder Yayah Kallon pens SSC Bari loan deal
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Midfielder Yayah Kallon pens SSC Bari loan deal

Italian Serie B side SSC Bari has confirmed the signing of Sierra Leone-born Yayah Kallon on a loan deal from Hellas Verona. Kallon, 22, will wear the number 91 shirt.

The former Genoa player has been handed a lifeline to revamp his career after a long spell out. He is immediately available to Bari’s coach, Marino, for selection. 

Kallon featured for 3 minutes for parent club Hellas Verona in their 2-1 defeat to Inter last weekend after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in July 2023 before the season commenced.

The attacker was an unused substitute for the Hellas Verona as they suffered 1-0 Fiorentina in the Serie A round of sixteen.

Kallon, who scored his first goal for Genoa in a 3–2 Coppa Italia win over Perugia, joined Hellas Verona initially on loan with an option to buy.

He completed his Verona move in the summer but has yet to future for the club this season. Kallon featured in 22 games last season while on loan for The Yellow and Blues.

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