FSL News, Author at Football Sierra Leone

Bakayoko’s Wanderers to start pre-season against Longbridge Town

by FSL News | 28 Jun, 2022 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sport News

Just back from Portugal, Bolton Wanders to start new season preparation with an eye-catching away trip to Longbridge on Tuesday, June 28th.

The home side is no stranger to their visitors as it’s expected to be a mouth-watering game to open the 2022/23 campaign.

Sierra Leone International was part of the 23-man squad boss Ian Evatt named for pre-season training in Algarve, Portugal.

The Wanderers camp lasted for a week as they get ready for the new English League One campaign.

Bakayoko, who started for Sierra Leone in a 2-2 draw against Guinea-Bissau at General Lansana Conté stadium looking sharp and fully fit.

Wanderers’ EFL League One campaign is set to start on Saturday, 30 July.

The Wanderers will kick off their 2022/23 League One campaign with a trip to Ipswich Town. The Whites will then face Wycombe Wanderers – beaten in last season’s play-off final – in their first home game of the new season.

Bolton Wanderers 2022/23 pre-season fixture schedule

– Longridge Town (A), 7.45 pm, Tuesday, June 28

– Chorley (A), 2 pm, Saturday, July 2

– Stockport County (behind closed doors), Tuesday, July 5

– Watford (A, behind closed doors at London Colney). 3 pm, Tuesday, July 12

– Atherton Collieries (A), 7.30 pm, Wednesday, July 13

– Carlisle United (A), 3 pm, Saturday, July 16

– Bamber Bridge (A), 7.30 pm, Tuesday, July 19

– Huddersfield Town (H), 3 pm, Saturday, July 23

– Southport (A), 7.30 pm, Tuesday, July 26

@bakayoko_a looking sharp https://t.co/7wtMmBwca3

— FSL News website (@football_sierra) June 28, 2022

Follow us on Twitter @football_sierra, On Facebook/Instagram, Football Sierra Leone. The writer Alie Bittar on Twitter, @bittar32/Contact bittar@footballsierraleone.net

Idris Kanu returns to Peterborough for pre-season

by FSL News | 27 Jun, 2022 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sport News

Sierra Leone International Idris Kanu has returned to English League One side Peterborough United for pre-season ahead of the new season.

Last season, Kanu, 22, was sent on loan to Northampton Town, where he featured in seven matches.

Kanu, who can play as a striker or wide player, made five Championship appearances before joining Sierra Leone for the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon last January.

The club announced their squad numbers for the 2022-2023 campaign with Kanu set to don the No 34 jersey on Wednesday.

The Posh says all numbers are subject to change, but the players have their new numbers on the training wear, which will be worn for the first time at the opening session of pre-season.

He played 17 times and scored twice in League 1 in 2020/21 as Peterborough won promotion to the Championship.

Kanu will be looking to impress new manager Grant McCann during their first three pre-season test matches against Leyton orient, Stevenage, and Barnet.

Peterborough United will kick off their Sky Bet League One campaign with a trip to the Jonny-Rocks Stadium to face Cheltenham Town on Saturday 30th July before welcoming Morecambe to the Weston Homes Stadium on Saturday 6th August.

Photo credit Joe Dent

Nigeria attacker Taiwo Awoniyi joins Nottingham Forest

by FSL News | 26 Jun, 2022 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

Newly promoted Premier League side Nottingham Forest have confirmed the signing of Nigerian international forward Taiwo Awoniyi for a club-record fee.

Forest says the 24-year-old joins The Reds from Bundesliga club Union Berlin, signing a five-year deal at The City Ground.

“I’m very excited to be here at Nottingham Forest,” said Awoniyi following his move to The City Ground, he told the club’s website.

“It’s always been my dream to play in the Premier League and having spoken to Steve Cooper about our ambitions and looking at Forest, with its great history, it’s a club that I want to be part of.

Awoniyi scored 20 goals in 43 games across all competitions last season and becomes Forest’s first signing since gaining promotion back to the Premier League.

“It’s always been my dream to play in the Premier League,” said Awoniyi.

The new Forest acquisition started his professional career at Liverpool, signing for the Merseyside club in 2015 before having loan spells at FSV Frankfurt, NEC, Mouscron, Gent and Mainz 05. He subsequently joined Union Berlin on loan during the 2020-21 season and made the move permanent last July.

Having represented Nigeria at U17s, U20s and U23s level, Awoniyi won the first of his three caps for the Nigeria national team against the Central African Republic in October 2021 and scored his first goal against Sudan in January at the Africa Cup of Nations.

A fan of the new @premierleague matchball 😍

🌳🔴 #NFFC #PL pic.twitter.com/9sk3GsqyQO

— Nottingham Forest FC (@NFFC) June 25, 2022

Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone, Nigerian Taiwo Awoniyi FSL News – African Football News

Konyaspor renew interest in attacker Issa Kallon

by FSL News | 25 Jun, 2022 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sierra Leone Soccer team Profile

Turkish Süper Lig Konyaspor have reignited their interest in Sierra Leone Dutch-born winger Isaa Kallon.

The 26-year-old contract with Dutch top-tier side SC Cambuur-Leeuwarden expires on June 30th. The versatile winger had previously expressed interest in joining Konyaspor.

Turkish media Haberdairesi reported that the green-white management is in talks with the player.

Kallon, who has been at Cambbur since 2017, was disappointed after the Dutch side refused to let him go in February this year.

The left-winger wanted a move to Konyaspor, but the Dutch club did not accept the offer Konyaspor reportedly agreed with the winger.

Kallon featured in 33 Dutch topflight matches for Cambuur scoring five goals last season.

Meanwhile, on Friday, the club continue its preparations for the 2022-2023 season with the first stage of preparation camp at our Koyuncu Group Kayacık Facilities.

The technical team led by İlhan Palut evaluated the day after activating the CORE warm-up.

Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram FootballSierraLeone.Net, Transfer news PlayersAbroad

TM Bah, coordinator Lewis shift focus on CHAN qualifiers in Morocco

by FSL News | 25 Jun, 2022 | Football Africa, International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News

The newly appointed Team Manager of the Sierra Leone homebased national team, Alhaji Umar Bah, and team coordinator Victor Lewis are both optimistic about ensuring Chan’s qualification.

Bah’s first mission is to see Leone Stars B side overcome Cape Verbe when the two sides meet in July in the Morrocan capital.

The winner of the two-legged matches will face Mali in the next stage. Sierra Leone has never qualified for the African Nations Championship exclusively for local stars from the respective national leagues.

The Business tycoon, who was unveiled by the Sierra Leone Football Association, SLFA, at their secretariat on Friday, has hailed the FA for their trust in him.

“Firstly, let me take this opportunity to appreciate the SLFA for their confidence in me with the National home-based team,” Chairman of Real Republicans Football Club and the CEO of Sierramin Bauxite Mining Company told footballsierraleone.net.

Assuring football enthusiasts, Bah, whose leadership has revamped Republicans Football Club to a Premier League playoff spot, started a relentless work ahead of next month’s qualifiers.

“I am here to work relentlessly. I am around people who are ready to let us all succeed. The aim is taking the home-based national side to another level.”

Team coordination (In the photo with TM Bah) and owner of Premier League side East End Tigers, Victor Lewis, is bullish over Bah’s appointment but admitted their task is immense but one that can be accomplished.

“It’s a task, but one that for the first time we have to accomplish for Sierra Leone,” He told this medium. We must try our best to qualify for Algeria.”

Coach Francis Zappa Koroma’s side has been in training since the beginning of June ahead of their doubleheader.

Sierra Leone was eliminated by Senegal 4-2 on aggregate during the 2018 African Nations Championship qualifiers.

The country was ineligible for the 2020 tournament due to a FIFA sanction.

All ties are slated to be played over two legs, with the winners on aggregate reaching the next stage of the qualifiers. First-round first-leg matches will be played between 22 and 24 July, with the return legs a week later.

Algeria, already qualified as the host nation, the final tournament is scheduled to be played in Algeria from 8–31 January 2023.

Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone, CHAN Qualifiers – Football News African.