Day: May 25, 2024

Al Ahly win a record 12th African Champions League
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Al Ahly win a record 12th African Champions League 

Egyptian team Al Ahly won their 12th African Champions League title by defeating Esperance 1-0 in the second leg of the final in Cairo. 

The first leg ended in a goalless draw in Tunisia. Al Ahly took the lead early in the second leg when Rami Rabia’s header from Hussein El Shahat’s corner deflected off Esperance midfielder Roger Aholou and into the bottom right-hand corner.

Al Ahly had several chances to extend their lead before halftime, with Wessam Abou Ali striking the side-netting and Percy Tau firing narrowly wide. However, Esperance’s goalkeeper Amanallah Memmiche denied El Shahat. Esperance struggled to create chances against Al Ahly’s solid defence, with Yan Sasse curling off target just after the hour mark.

In the final moments, substitute Afsha nearly doubled Al Ahly’s lead with a free-kick that hit the crossbar. Al Ahly won 1-0 overall, securing their fourth Champions League title in five years. Al Ahly’s unbeaten streak in continental competition now stands at 22 games. 

They have also secured qualification for FIFA’s Club World Cup, alongside Esperance, Wydad Casablanca, and Mamelodi Sundowns, which will take place in the United States next year.

Mohamed Conteh shines for Al Ain in the International U16 Cup
by FSL News

Mohamed Conteh shines for Al Ain in International Cup

In April of this year, 15-year-old Mohamed Jay Jay Conteh, a former FC Kallon and Duada Bangs FC midfielder, won his first silverware with the Al Ain U16 team in the United Arab Emirates. 

Conteh left Sierra Leone in September 2022 and played a crucial role in the third edition of the Al Ain tournament held from March to April 2024.

Despite facing setbacks due to injuries, he made significant contributions as his team competed against renowned clubs such as Chelsea FC, RS Kerkane, Kashiwa Reysol Club, SK Slavia Prague from the Czech Republic, and Sporting SC from Portugal in the International Youth Cup.

“I was happy to help the team win the third edition of the Al Ain International Cup. It was a great experience for me as a young player,” Conteh told this medium.

Despite joining the team in the second half of the league after recovering from a hand injury, I was pleased with my contribution.”

The former Sierra Leone U15 attacking midfielder hopes the new season will further propel him to greater heights.

“I’m looking forward to the upcoming season and hopefully playing with the Al Ain U17 side. Since joining the team after the injury, I have played 19 games, scored six goals, and provided seven assists.”

I was happy to help the team win the third edition of the Al Ain International Cup.
I was happy to help the team win the third edition of the Al Ain International Cup.
Fifa bans 2023 AFCON top scorer Emilio Nsue over ineligibility
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Fifa bans 2023 AFCON top scorer Emilio Nsue over ineligibility

African Cup of Nations golden boot winner Emilio Nsue has been banned by the world governing body, FIFA, for six months. 

This decision comes after FIFA ruled that the Equatorial Guinea striker was ineligible to play in his country’s first two qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. 

Last November, the 34-year-old scored the winning goal in both games in question, against Namibia and Liberia.

The Equatorial Guinea Football Association has also been sanctioned by FIFA, resulting in the country forfeiting its first two qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, in which Nsue participated.

A Fifa disciplinary committee was “comfortably satisfied” that Nsue was ineligible for “several” international matches and has ruled that both World Cup preliminaries will be forfeited 3-0 by the Central Africans. 

It has also fined the Equatoguinean federation (Feguifut) 150,000 Swiss francs ($164,000, £129,000) and banned Nsue – a former youth international for Spain – from playing for any national side for six months. 

FIFA has not provided further details on the ruling for a player who won the Golden Boot at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. An official from Feguifut said they are investigating the case and have not received official notification from FIFA. 

Nsue was previously ruled ineligible by FIFA in 2013. Equatorial Guinea faces a potential six-point deduction, which would impact their chances of reaching the 2026 World Cup finals. 

They currently hold the second position in their group, but if the deduction is upheld, they will drop to fifth. The team is scheduled to face Tunisia and Malawi in qualifiers next month.