Month: May 2026

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw remains hopeful about defender Kalidou Koulibaly
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw remains hopeful about defender Kalidou Koulibaly

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw has confirmed that captain Kalidou Koulibaly will be fit for next year’s FIFA World Cup following his squad announcement.

Senegal were drawn into Group I alongside France, Norway, and Iraq

Slated to take place from June 11 to July 19, the global showpiece will be hosted across 16 cities: 11 in the United States, 3 in Mexico, and 2 in Canada.

It will mark the first World Cup to be hosted in three countries and the first tournament to expand from 32 to 48 teams.

Koulibaly is reportedly “coming along nicely.” Despite missing a large chunk of games for his current club, Al-Hilal, Thiaw named Koulibaly on the list of 28 players to represent Senegal at the World Cup. “He is the captain of this team, the one who brings everyone together.

He is evolving very well in his recovery. I think that by three weeks before the World Cup, he will be ready for it. This World Cup is not a 100-meter race, it’s a marathon, and I believe he will be ready on time,” Thiaw told reporters.

Kalidou Koulibaly also missed out on the Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco last year due to injury and has been sidelined since April.

Conversely, Chelsea defender Malang Sarr will not be heading to the World Cup with Senegal. Thiaw explained his reasoning: “Malang is a player I follow up closely. We spoke twice on the phone; the second time was just to congratulate him personally. He’s had a great season, but decisions had to be made.

In football, you never know what can happen. He’s on the standby list. But for now, I want to concentrate on these 28 players on the list.”

Sierra Leone U-17 Girls Eye Historic World Cup Spot
by Alusine Rehme Wilson

Sierra Leone U-17 Girls Eye Historic World Cup Spot

Sierra Leone’s U-17 girls are now just one step away from securing a historic place in the final qualifying phase of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup African qualifiers after edging past Cote D’Ivoire in a tense first-round encounter last month.

The young Sierra Queens advanced with grit and determination, keeping alive the nation’s dream of reaching the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, to be staged in Morocco from October 17 to November 7 this year.

With the first hurdle cleared in April, Sierra Leone is in good sharp ready to handle Benin in the second round of the African qualifiers, a tie that could move them within touching distance of the last eight and closer to an unprecedented World Cup appearance.

The first leg will be played on Monday, May 25, at the Kegue stadium in Lome, before the return leg on May 29, 2026, at the same venue, where Sierra Leone will seek to finish the job and continue their remarkable campaign.

Across the continent, 16 nations, including Sierra Leone, remain in contention, as Africa’s rising stars battle for qualification to the global showpiece. While traditional powerhouses such as Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, and South Africa once again dominate the headlines, Sierra Leone’s emergence has become one of the competition’s most compelling stories.

The West African football-loving nation’s U-17 Women’s team, led by Fatmata “Taribo” Turay as head coach, has so far shown resilience and tactical discipline in the qualifiers, qualities that proved decisive against their Ivorian counterparts last month and could again be crucial against Benin in the coming days.

The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup African Qualifiers second round will begin on Friday, May 22, with an East African derby between Uganda and Kenya in Kampala, while Senegal hosts Cameroon in another crucial tie.

The following day, continental giants Nigeria will travel to Abidjan to face Guinea, while Ghana will welcome Liberia in Accra, and Tanzania hosts South Africa in Zanzibar in another highly anticipated clash. 

For Sierra Leone, however, the spotlight will firmly remain on their showdown with Benin, a contest carrying the weight of national expectation and the possibility of another landmark achievement for women’s football in the country.

FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup African Qualifiers – Full Second Round Fixtures:

First Legs

  • ● Uganda vs. Kenya — 22 May, Kampala
  • ● Senegal vs. Cameroon — 22 May, Dakar
  • ● Tanzania vs. South Africa — 23 May, Zanzibar City
  • ● Zambia vs. DR Congo — 23 May, Ndola
  • ● Ghana vs. Liberia — 23 May, Accra
  • ● Guinea vs. Nigeria — 23 May, Abidjan
  • ● Ethiopia vs Burundi — 24 May, Addis Ababa
  • ● Benin vs. Sierra Leone — 25 May, Lome

Second Legs

  • ●Sierra Leone vs. Benin — 29 May, Lome
  • ●Kenya vs. Uganda — 30 May, Nairobi
  • ● Burundi vs. Ethiopia — 30 May, Bujumbura
  • ● Cameroon vs. Senegal — 30 May, Yaounde
  • ● Liberia vs. Ghana — 30 May, Paynesville
  • ● DR Congo vs. Zambia — 31 May, Lubumbashi
  • ● South Africa vs. Tanzania — 31 May, Tshwane
  • ● Nigeria vs. Guinea — 31 May, Ikenne
Tanzania and Mali reach quarter-finals and the World Cup as Mozambique secure a playoff spot
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Tanzania and Mali reach quarter-finals and the World Cup as Mozambique secure a playoff spot

Following an electrifying final round of matches in Group C, Tanzania and Mali advanced to the quarter-final stages of TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, having both booked their ticket to FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026. Mozambique qualified for the playoff of the global tournament.

Mali 2-1 Tanzania | Goals: bdoulaye Touré (3’, 41’), Hassan Mkindai (82’)

What a finale we witnessed in Group C as play began with the match already underway.

Mali began life of the Final Round in dazzling fashion as league’sstarplayerAbdoulaye Touré found the back of the net in just three minutes.

He doubled his team’s lead just before half-time in the 41st minute. Tanzania came storming back in injury time through Hassan Mkindai which proved fruitless as Mali hung on to win the match. Tanzania topped the group on six points but both sides celebrated progression to the Quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations and qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Angola 1-2 Mozambique | Goals: Francisco Eliseu (27’), Allan Figueiredo (22’), Charif Carlos (55’)

Both Angola and Mozambique needed a win from this match to progress further. Mozambique stunned Angola in the opening minutes of the game through Allan Figueiredo in the 22nd minute.

Angola equalised just five minutes later through Francisco Eliseu, but they seemed to tire off after that goal. Charif Carlos made it two goals apiece in the second half as he scored in the 55th minute to hand the lead back to Mozambique, who held on strongly to the final whistle.

This victory gave Mozambique third place in the competition and a chance for qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup via the playoff, while for Angola, the tournament came to an end.

Super Eagles coach Éric Chelle names squad for Unity Cup
by Football Sierra Leone

Super Eagles coach Éric Chelle names squad for Unity Cup

Super Eagles coach Éric Chelle has named squads for friendly matches against Poland and Portugal as well as for the Unity Cup against Zimbabwe in England at the Valley Charlton stadium. 

Captain Wilfred Ndidi, as well as Bruno Onyemaechi, Igoh Ogbu, Moses Simon, Akor Adams and Terem Moffi have been named in the side that will contest the Unity Cup.

Some players making their debut with the team are goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo and defenders Emmanuel Fernandez and Tochukwu Nnadi. Their opponent in the semi-final will be Zimbabwe on May 26.

For the friendlies, Chelle named a 24-man squad that includes Alex Iwobi, Maduka Okoye, Zaidu Sanusi and Victor Osimhen.

The Super Eagles will take on Poland in Warsaw on June 3 and Portugal in Leiria four days later on June 10.

Unity Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Arthur Okonkwo (Wrexham FC, England); Michael Atata (Ikorodu City)

Defenders: Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Emmanuel Fernandez (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Chibuike Nwaiwu (Trabzonspor AS, Turkey); Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Obinna Igboke (Enugu Rangers); Elias Ochobi (Rivers United); Chibueze Oputa (Enugu Rangers)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Tochukwu Nnadi (Olympic Marseille, France); Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Pisa FC, Italy); Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution, USA); Aderemi Adeoye (Ikorodu City); Samson Tijani (FK Dukla Prague, Czech Republic); Ayobami Junior (Shooting Stars); Tosin Oyedokun (Ikorodu City)

Forwards: Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain); Philip Otele (Hamburger SV, Germany); Owen Oseni (Plymouth FC, England); Zadok Abu Yohanna (AIK, Greece); Terem Moffi (FC Porto, Portugal); Rafiu Durosinmi (Pisa FC, Italy); Femi Azeez (Millwall FC, England)

Friendly squad

Goalkeepers: Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Arthur Okonkwo (Wrexham FC, England); Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus)

Defenders: Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Emmanuel Fernandez (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)

Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Coventry FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (SS Lazio, Italy); Tochukwu Nnadi (Olympique Marseille, France); Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution, USA)

Forwards: A: Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Coventry FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (SS Lazio, Italy); Tochukwu Nnadi (Olympique Marseille, France); Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution, USA)

DR Congo defender Rocky Bushiri ruled out of the World Cup
by Football Sierra Leone

DR Congo defender Rocky Bushiri ruled out of the World Cup

DR Congo squad suffers a blow ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers as Hibernian FC defender Rocky Bushiri pulled out of the squad on Monday.

Rocky Bushiri, who only featured for the first 16 minutes against ten-man Motherwell in Hibs 0-1 loss to Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership, walked off injured, but coach Sebastien Desabre included him in the 26-man FIFA World Cup squad following injury details unknown.

DR Congo Federation confirmed his omission from the squad in a press release on Tuesday morning, May 20. Bushiri has been replaced by Kilmarnock defensive midfielder Aaron Tshibola, who is 31 years old.

Rocky Bushiri featured for the Leopards during last year’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign as they were eliminated by Algeria in the Round of 16. They have since qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

2026 will be Congo’s first appearance at the World Cup finals since 1972, when they became the first sub-Saharan African country to qualify for the competition. At the time, the country was known as Zaire.

Bushir, who played for Belgium at the youth level, has seven caps and one goal for the DR Congo national team,m Leopards.

He will sadly miss his debut at next year’s World Cup taking place in Mexico, Canada and the USA as DR Congo were drawn in Group K with Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia.

Difficult task ahead of East Africa AFCON for Sierra Leone
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone placed in Group E for the race to East Africa

The Leone Stars of Sierra Leone will compete with a stiff contest against African powerhouse DR Congo, stubborn Equatorial Guinea and improving Zimbabwe in Group E as they aim for their fourth appearance in the Cup of Nations in 2027.

This comes after the PAMOJA Qualifiers Draw held in Cairo, Egypt, on 19 May. The Leone Stars of Sierra Leone, who did not qualify for the last tournament in Morocco, are in search of a new head coach.

They participated in the Cameroon 2021 tournament but were eliminated in the group stage. Their last match was a 1-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea on 20 January 2022, finishing third in Group E behind Ivory Coast and Equatorial Guinea.

The road to East Africa will be challenging for whoever takes charge of the Leone Stars. There will be 48 teams divided into 12 groups, with four teams in each group. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Final Tournament.

The Qualifiers will take place during three FIFA International Windows:

– Matchdays 1 and 2: from 21 September to 6 October 2026
– Matchdays 3 and 4: from 9 to 17 November 2026
– Matchdays 5 and 6: from 22 to 30 March 2027

The tournament is scheduled from 19 June to 17 July 2027 and will be held in East Africa for the first time in 51 years, with Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania as co-hosts.

Sierra Leone Last Three and only appearances

3 (first in 1994) Group stage – (1994, 1996, 2021)

Sierra Leone Confirmed in Pot 3 for 2027 AFCON Qualifiers
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone Confirmed in Pot 3 for 2027 AFCON Qualifying draw

Sierra Leone will be in Pot 3 for the draw of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification series on Tuesday.

The Leone Stars, who did not qualify for the last tournament in Morocco, will find out who they will compete against as they work to secure a place in the event. The tournament will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

The country’s football association is seeking a new manager after firing former head coach Mohaed Kallon.

Pot 1 includes some of Africa’s top-ranked teams, such as the current champions Morocco, along with Senegal, Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Cameroon, DR Congo, Mali, South Africa, and Burkina Faso.

A total of 48 teams will compete, organised into 12 groups of four. Each group will have one team from each pot.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the final tournament. Groups with a co-host nation will get an extra spot for qualification.

Cardoso Calls on Sundowns to Stay Hungry Despite First-Leg Advantage
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Miguel Cardoso calls for Sundowns to stay hungry despite first-leg advantage

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach, Miguel Cardoso, has urged his players to remain cautious after their 1-0 win against FAR Rabat in the first leg of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League final. He emphasised that the toughest challenge lies ahead in Morocco.

Aubrey Modiba scored the only goal with a free-kick, but Cardoso felt they should have scored more to secure a better lead. “We needed at least one more goal for a stronger advantage,” he said.

While the fans celebrated, Cardoso maintained that the team must stay focused for the return leg if they want to win Africa’s top club tournament again. He acknowledged their ability to compete with strong opponents and noted that Sundowns controlled much of the match, albeit struggling against Rabat’s tight defence and counter-attacks.

Brian Leon Muniz missed a clear chance, and Teboho Mokoena hit the post with another free-kick. Cardoso stressed the importance of maintaining focus for the trophy.

“We need to keep our energy up and stay sharp for the second leg,” he said, reminding them to ignore the crowd in Rabat.

Defensively, Sundowns did well to limit FAR Rabat’s attacks despite the visitors having more possession at times. Cardoso praised their discipline but pointed out that breaking down Rabat’s defence was challenging.

“We need to manage the ball better and find gaps,” he said. Overall, Cardoso was pleased with his team’s mindset, stating, “We were strong for most of the game. That’s the mentality we need for the second match.”

Mighty Blackpool and East End Lions Storm Into Sierra Leone FA Cup Final
by Alusine Rehme Wilson

Mighty Blackpool and East End Lions Storm Into Sierra Leone FA Cup Final

Sierra Leone’s football season is set for a dramatic climax after traditional giants Mighty Blackpool and East End Lions advanced to the final of the 2026 Orange Sierra Leone FA Cup following a thrilling semifinal weekend in Freetown.

Mighty Blackpool FC sealed their place in the final on Saturday evening after overcoming ambitious newcomers Abacha City FC 4-3 in a penalty shootout at the SLFA Academy Playing Field following a tense goalless draw in regulation time.

The victory kept Blackpool’s hopes alive for another major domestic honour and underlined the club’s resilience in one of the most unpredictable FA-Cup campaigns in recent years.

Twenty-four hours later, East End Lions FC joined their long-time rivals in the grand finale after edging FC Kallon 1-0 at the Approved School Playing Field.

The decisive moment came just before halftime when forward Innocent Emmanuel Uduk struck in the 43rd minute, sending the “Killers” into celebration and crushing FC Kallon’s hopes of reaching the final.

FC Kallon’s exit added another dramatic twist to this year’s tournament since they had emerged as one of the favourites after eliminating defending champions Bo Rangers FC in the quarterfinals, a result that shocked many followers of Sierra Leonean football.

Instead, the competition will now culminate in a blockbuster clash between two of the country’s most successful and passionately supported clubs.

The final is expected to rekindle one of Sierra Leone’s fiercest football rivalries, with Mighty Blackpool nicknamed as the “Tis-Tas Boys” and East End Lions alias “The Killers,” preparing to battle for national supremacy and the right to be crowned 2026 Orange Sierra Leone FA-Cup champions.

As football enthusiasts across the country anticipate a charged atmosphere for the showdown, which promises a fresh chapter in the historic rivalry between the two Freetown-based clubs, the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has confirmed to Football Sierra Leone that an official date for the 2026 Orange Sierra Leone FA-Cup final is yet to be announced, noting that details will be communicated in due course.

Sierra Leone’s Cesay Fires Salford City to Wembley in Extra-Time Thriller
by Abdul Karim Kargbo

Sierra Leone’s Cesay Fires Salford City to Wembley in Extra-Time Thriller

Kallum Cesay etched his name into Salford City folklore with a dramatic extra-time winner that sealed a thrilling 4-3 aggregate victory over Grimsby Town and booked the Ammies a place in the League Two play-off final at Wembley.

In front of a packed Peninsula Stadium, the Sierra Leone forward kept his composure deep into extra time, calmly slotting beyond Jackson Smith to spark wild celebrations among the home supporters.

The victory sends Salford to Wembley for the first time since their 2019 promotion triumph and caps an emotional season filled with highs, heartbreak, and resilience.

After carrying a 2-1 advantage from the first leg, Salford appeared in control when Dan Udoh fired them ahead early in the second half following a dangerous set-piece. Karl Robinson’s side looked destined for a comfortable evening, but Grimsby produced a stunning turnaround in just four minutes.

Captain Kieran Green pulled one back with a glancing header before setting up substitute Jaze Kabia to level the tie on aggregate, although both goals were surrounded by controversy.

Salford struggled to regain momentum as the game drifted into extra time, where tension gripped the stadium, and chances became scarce. With penalties looming, Cesay delivered the decisive moment three minutes from the end of extra time.

Latching onto a loose ball after a tiring Grimsby defence failed to clear, the 23-year-old showed remarkable calm to fire low into the corner and send thousands of Salford fans into delirium.

The emotional scenes were made even more poignant by Cesay’s difficult recent months, having battled injury while mourning the passing of his father.

As the final whistle sounded, supporters flooded the pitch in celebration. At the same time, manager Karl Robinson praised his match-winner’s courage and character, declaring there could have been no more fitting hero on a historic night for the club.