FSL News, Author at Football Sierra Leone

Augustine Williams was pleased to be named to USL Team of the Week

by FSL News | 2 Jun, 2023 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sport News

The Sierra Leone international scored both goals in Battery’s 2-0 victory at Rio Grande Valley FC, recording four shots overall and completing 16 of 22 passes for the visitors.

He has started brightly in this campaign. The 25-year-old has scored eights goal in his last fourteen USL Championship appearances for Charleston Battery.

‘It was great to be part of the team of the week. The hard work of the team and success translate to individual success. I was fortunate to score a brace, and we had the three points,” a delighted Williams told FSL News.

The informed striker is expected to be part of the Sierra Leone squad for Nigeria’s match day five African Cup of Nations qualifier in Liberia on June 18.

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USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 12

Sierra Leone learn their fate as Women’s Olympic draw confirmed

by FSL News | 1 Jun, 2023 | Football Africa, International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News

Sierra Leone’s Sierra Queens will battle Côte d’Ivoire in the first round of qualifiers for the Women’s Olympic Games in Paris 2024.

Eighteen ( 18) teams will compete in a home-and-away format to progress to the next round from 10–18 July 2023. Two nations from Africa will qualify for Paris 2024 following the conclusion of the tournament.

The first round of the Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament will see nine home and away matchups, with the following teams drawn to play against each other:

With Côte d’Ivoire hosting the first leg, the winner between the West African nations will play Tunisia in the following rounds.

The second round October 23-31, the third round February 19-28 February 2024 and the final round will be staged between April 1-9 2024.

The full first round of matches are below.

Guinea-Bissau vs Benin
Guinea vs Ghana
Burkina Faso vs Mali
Côte d’Ivoire vs Sierra Leone
Namibia vs Equatorial Guinea
Uganda vs Rwanda
Ethiopia vs Chad
Congo vs the United Republic of Tanzania
Mozambique vs DR Congo

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Sierra Leone learn their fate as Women's Olympic draw confirmed

Rodney Michael nets first FK Mornar goal in playoff

by FSL News | 31 May, 2023 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sport News

“Delighted to get my first goal in such a big game. The club president and coaches emphasized how important these last two games are in the clubs’ history,” the attacking midfielder told FSL News.

“To be able to score and assist last night was great, but what I am most happy about – was that we got the win. We now go into the 2nd leg on Saturday with a 2-0 lead as we look to secure our spot in the Montenegrin first league next season.”

Michael, 23, was making his 13th Montenegrin First League appearance since joining in February. His goal came in the 65th minute after assisted Milivoje Raičevič in the opening seven minutes for their first.

It was a crucial victory as they strived to stay in the top flight. The win means Mornar is safe for now as the battle to avoid the drop zone.

They will face FK Berane again in the second lef of the playoff final on Saturday.

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Coventry City confirm Fankaty Dabo’s release

by FSL News | 30 May, 2023 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sport News

Sierra Leone native Fankaty Dabo has been released by championship side Coventry City a few after they failed to qualify to the Premier League.

The news comes just three days after he missed the deciding penalty in their Championship play-off final defeat to Luton on Saturday.

“Fankaty Dabo, Julien Dacosta, Todd Kane, Sean Maguire, Michael Rose, Martyn Waghorn and Tyler Walker will all leave the Sky Blues following the conclusion of their contracts,” the club said in a statement.

He joined the Sky Blues in June 2019 and would be a key part of the side that won the 2019/20 League One title, earning the Player of the Year award in the campaign too. Moving with the Club up to the Championship, Dabo remained a popular figure with fans, players and staff alike and would go on to make a total of 131 appearances for Coventry City.

After a 1-1 draw in normal and extra-time at Wembley on Saturday, it was down to penalties to settle the winner to gain Premier League promotion.

Each side’s first five spot-kicks were all converted, with Luton’s Dan Potts scoring at the start of sudden death.

Dabo stepped up for Coventry to keep their promotion hopes alive. But he sent his effort high and wide of the goal.

Following his penalty miss, Dabo was, unfortunately, the subject of racist abuse on social media.

A statement from Coventry said: “Coventry City is sickened and saddened following the racist messages sent to Fankaty Dabo on social media following Saturday’s Play-Off Final.

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Senegal crowned WAFU A U20 Women’s champions

by FSL News | 30 May, 2023 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

West African giant Senegal U20 women’s clinched the first-ever WAFU U20 A Women’s Champions after successfully defeating host Sierra Leone at the Southern Arena in Bo City on Monday, CAF reports.

The high-profile encounter, which served as the third and final round of matches of the maiden age-grade women’s championship in the region, witnessed a convincing display from the Senegalese to silence the home fans.

Having won 4-0 over Guinea Bissau and a 3-1 victory over Guinea in their opening two matches, Senegal went into the contest only needing a draw to lift the title, whilst the hosts’ Sierra Leone must win following a 1-1 draw with Guinea before their matchday two 2-1 victory over Guinea Bissau to snatch the coveted trophy.

However, DSenegal proved to string for the host as they went ahead in the opening 60 seconds of the tie through taliswoman Hapsatou Diallo before Coumba Sylla Mbodji doubled the advantage in the 18th-minute to hand the visitors a two-goal at the break.

Senegal’s Hapsatou Diallo won the Player of the Match award after her early opener stirred the Terranga Lionesses to success.

After the resumption, Sierra Leone gave their best but could not find a breakthrough until the 83rd minute when Sagidatou Diallo compounded the woes of the hosts to seal the coveted crown.

In the early kickoff, Guinea defeated Guinea Bissau 2-0 to end their campaign on a winning note and emerged as vice-champions.

After a barren first half, Nana Camara gave the Guineans the long-sought lead in the 80th minute before Aminita Bangoura completed the win with her last-gasp finish in additional time.

Guinea’s Nana Camara was named the Woman-of-the-Match after she inspired the Guineans to victory over Guinea Bissau.

On individual awards, Hapsatou Diallo of Senegal claimed a double prize as she won the Best Player of the Tournament and Highest goal scorer gong with five goals in three matches.

Senegal’s Khady Faye was also named the Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament, having conceded only one goal in three games, while hosts Sierra Leone got the Fair Play award.

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