Author: FSL News

* Established in 2014 © 2021 FSL MediaFootball Sierra Leone - all you need to know about the game in Sierra Leone and Sierra Leonean footballers at home and abroad.Founded by Alie Ahmed Bittar in 2014, Bittar is one of the leading journalists from Sierra Leone with over 25 years covering football.The award-winning website also covers football from across the continent.We aim to continue pursuing up-to-date reports for our readers in Sierra Leone and across the globe.FSL Media is always informative, accurate and consistent. Make Football Sierra Leone Your daily news feed.Follow our social media pages on Twitter @football_sierra, Instagram, Linkedin and Facebook. Permission to use our content is granted subject to crediting our website as the source.Contact: Managing Editor Alie Ahmed Bittar - Email: bittar@footballsierraleone.net - Tel: +44 (0) 7861141119
Morocco's head coach Walid Regragui names squad, no Ziyech
by FSL News

Morocco’s head coach Walid Regragui names squad, no Ziyech

Morocco’s head coach, Walid Regragui, has selected a 26-man squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Niger and Tanzania on March 21 and 25. However, Hakim Ziyech is not included.

The squad includes four new players: Bilal Nadir, Chemsedine Taibi, Hamza Igamane, and Omar El Hilali. This shows that the Atlas Lions are bringing in young talent to the team.

Two key players are missing from the squad due to injuries: Hakim Ziyech, a top playmaker, and Ayoub El Kaabi, a strong goal-scorer. Their absence will create challenges for Regragui as he adjusts his attack.

Returning to the squad are Jawad El Yamiq and goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid, who missed previous international matches. Their return adds strength to the defense and goalkeeping.

Morocco leads Group E in the qualifiers and wants to build on that success. They will play both matches in Oujda, where home support could help them earn six points.

With Ziyech and El Kaabi out, Youssef En-Nesyri, Soufiane Rahimi, Brahim Diaz, and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli will take on more attacking responsibilities. After Morocco’s impressive run to the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, there are high expectations for the team.

Key players like Achraf Hakimi, Sofyan Amrabat, Azzedine Ounahi, and Nayef Aguerd remain important to the team’s goals. With a strong squad and home advantage, Morocco aims to win both matches and strengthen their reputation as one of Africa’s top football teams.

Morocco’s 26-Man Squad for World Cup Qualifiers

Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal), Munir El Kajoui (Al Wehda), El Mehdi Benabid (FUS Rabat).

Defenders: Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), Noussair Mazraoui (Bayern Munich), Nayef Aguerd (West Ham United), Jawad El Yamiq (Al-Wahda), Abdel Abqar (Deportivo Alavés), Jamal Harkass (AS FAR), Omar El Hilali (Espanyol), Adam Aznou (Bayern Munich U19).

Midfielders: Sofyan Amrabat (Manchester United), Azzedine Ounahi (Marseille), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven), Bilal El Khannouss (Genk), Oussama Targhalline (Le Havre), Bilal Nadir (Nice).

Forwards: Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla), Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid), Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Real Betis), Amine Adli (Bayer Leverkusen), Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain), Eliesse Ben Seghir (AS Monaco), Osame Sahraoui (Heerenveen), Hamza Igamane (Wydad AC), Chemsedine Taibi (FUS Rabat).

Sierra Leone U17 gear up for Guinea Women’s World Cup African Qualifiers
by FSL News

Sierra Leone U17 gear up for Guinea Women’s World Cup African Qualifiers

The Sierra Leone National U-17 Women’s Team has conducted its initial training session at the Southern Arena in Bo City as they ramp up preparations for their forthcoming match against Guinea in the Second Preliminary Round of the U-17 Women’s World Cup African Qualifiers.

Following a strong victory over the Central African Republic in the first preliminary round, our players are now concentrating on achieving another win.

The opening leg is scheduled for March 8, 2025, at the Southern Arena in Bo City, while the return leg will occur on March 15 at Stade Mamadou Konaté in Bamako, Mali.

With dedication, effort, and a strong sense of teamwork, both the players and coaching staff are entirely focused on earning a place in the final tournament.

The winner of this matchup will proceed to compete against the team that comes out on top between Ivory Coast and Burundi in the concluding round of the qualifiers.

The Sierra Leone Women’s U-17 team will play against Guinea in the second round of the African Qualifiers for the U-17 Women’s World Cup
The Sierra Leone Women’s U-17 team will play against Guinea in the second round of the African Qualifiers for the U-17 Women’s World Cup
Victor Osimhen nets as Galatasaray bow out of Euroepa League
by FSL News

Victor Osimhen nets as Galatasaray bow out of Europa League

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen found the back of the net for Galatasaray in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League matchup against AZ Alkmaar.

However, his effort was not enough to secure advancement, as the match concluded in a 2-2 draw, resulting in a 6-3 aggregate defeat that eliminated Galatasaray from the tournament.

The match, held at the vibrant RAMS Park on Thursday evening, showcased a gripping contest. AZ Alkmaar, guided by coach Maarten Martens, sealed their place in the Round of 16 after their earlier 4-1 victory in the first leg in Alkmaar.

In the second leg, Seiya Maikuma opened the scoring for AZ, followed by Denso Kasius, who extended their lead. Galatasaray fought back with goals from Victor Osimhen and Roland Sallai, but despite their resilience, they couldn’t overturn the deficit.

The draw meant that AZ Alkmaar advanced to the next stage of the competition, much to the disappointment of the home crowd.

Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini blasts Africa's best player Lookman
by FSL News

Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini unhappy with Africa’s best player Lookman

Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini commented on striker Ademola Lookman’s performance following the team’s 3-1 defeat to Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League, resulting in a 5-2 aggregate loss.

Lookman scored early in the second half, but he was unable to convert his second chance after a penalty attempt was saved by Brugge goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.

Gasperini expressed concerns about Lookman’s ability as a penalty taker, stating he is “one of the least effective” he has seen. He suggested that offensive midfielder Charles De Ketelaere or striker Mateo Retegui should have taken the penalty instead.

“Lookman was not intended to take that penalty; he has a notably poor record in both games and training. He seized the opportunity after scoring, but I did not find that decision appropriate,” Gasperini noted.

He also addressed the conduct of Atalanta captain Rafael Tolói, who received a red card for an incident with Maxim De Cuyper. “This was an unfortunate occurrence, and we must maintain composure at all times,” he emphasized.

Atalanta, currently third in Serie A, became the second Italian team to exit the Champions League, following AC Milan, who lost 2-1 on aggregate to Feyenoord.

Ivory Coast forward Amad Diallo out for the rest of the season
by FSL News

Ivory Coast forward Amad Diallo out for the rest of the season with ankle injury

Ivory Coast and Manchester United forward Amad Diallo will miss the rest of the season because of ankle ligament damage, according to Manchester United’s manager Ruben Amorim.

The 22-year-old player from Ivory Coast posted on Instagram on Saturday to confirm his injury.

“I’m extremely disappointed to write this message at such an important time in the season,” Diallo said.

“Unfortunately, I will be out for some time due to this injury. I will come back stronger than ever! Now it’s time to support the boys from the sidelines. There is still a lot to play for.”

After Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Tottenham, Amorim said, “Amad is definitely out for the rest of the season.

“Amad was alone when he got injured. He was making a tackle, and his foot got stuck in the grass. Some players felt unwell during training too, so it’s been a tough situation. Sometimes, everything seems to go wrong, but we need to face this challenge and focus on the next game. That’s all we can do.”

Diallo has been a standout player for United this season, scoring six goals in his last 14 games.

https://twitter.com/Amaddiallo_19/status/1890827336171335967

Egypt's Omar Marmoush nets first City's hat-trick as climb back into top four
by FSL News

Egypt’s Omar Marmoush nets first hat-trick as City climb back into top four

Omar Marmoush significantly impacted Manchester City’s recent match against Newcastle, scoring a first-half hat-trick that helped secure a 4-0 victory. This win allowed City to ascend back into the Premier League’s top four.

Marmoush, an Egyptian forward who was acquired for £59 million from Eintracht Frankfurt last month, displayed exceptional skill by netting his first two goals within a brief five-minute span and completing his hat-trick before halftime.

James McAtee further contributed to the scoreline by volleying home City’s fourth goal from close range. This victory marked a strong response from Pep Guardiola’s side following their midweek Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, representing their largest home league win.

In parallel, Arsenal achieved a 2-0 victory over Leicester City, with substitute Mikel Merino scoring two crucial goals in the 81st and 87th minutes. Despite their efforts, Leicester remains in the bottom three of the league, having fought diligently for their first clean sheet in 21 games across all competitions.

Additionally, Calvin Bassey’s first goal of the season secured Fulham’s 2-1 win at home against Nottingham Forest. Forest striker Chris Wood equalized just before halftime with his 18th league goal after Emile Smith Rowe initially put Fulham ahead. Bassey then secured the victory by scoring the decisive goal shortly after the hour mark.

Abu Kamara's Hull City away to Burnley in the English Championship
by FSL News

Abu Kamara’s Hull City travel to face Burnley in the English Championship

Abu Kamara has not scored since his two goals against Leeds United and will look to change that in the match against Burnley on Wednesday night.

Kamara joined Hull City from Norwich City on the summer deadline day in 2024 and has been important for the team this season.

High flying Burnley unbeaten in their last six league games against Hull City, with two wins and four draws, and they have conceded one goal or fewer in each of those matches.

Hull City has lost 10 of their last 14 away games against Burnley, though their last two visits to Turf Moor ended in 1-1 draws. Burnley has kept nine consecutive clean sheets in the Championship, with no team ever achieving 10 in a row.

Hull City has won their last three away games without conceding, following five straight losses. They have never won four away games in a row while keeping a clean sheet.

In the 2024-25 season, Burnley has scored 37 goals and allowed only 9 in 31 games, averaging 1.48 goals per game, the lowest in Football League history.

Striker Amadou Bakayoko looking forward to new J League 2 campaign
by FSL News

Striker Amadou Bakayoko looking forward to new JLeague 2 campaign

Sierra Leone striker Amadou Bakayoko is excited about the upcoming season in JLeague 2.

On July 28, 2024, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo announced they signed Bakayoko. He made his debut on August 16 and scored his first goal from a penalty in a 5–3 win over Sagan Tosu. Unfortunately, the team was relegated to JLeague 2 last season.

Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo will start their campaign away against Oita Trinita next Sunday, and Bakayoko is looking forward to it.

He is counting down the days until the season starts again. Bakayoko told FSL News, “I can’t wait for the new season to start.

With the new manager, we have a new style of play that suits me well, and I hope the team has a strong season. Our first game is on February 16, but because of the cold and snowy weather in Sapporo, we will play our first three games in Kumamoto. We will return for our first home game on March 9.

I’m happy with my preseason form, having scored three goals in three games, which is good preparation for the start of the season.”

Midfielder Yayah Kallon signs for Serie C club Casertana on loan
by FSL News

Midfielder Yayah Kallon signs for Serie C club Casertana on loan

Casertana officially announced the loan signing of Sierra Leone’s Yayah, following the approval of Hellas Verona, the club that currently holds his registration rights.

Kallon, 23, began his football journey in Italy at Savona, where he quickly showcased his talent. His skills earned him a move to Genoa’s Primavera team, where he continued to develop as a player.

In January 2024, Kallon was loaned to Bari, where he had the opportunity to gain further experience. Last summer, he joined Salernitana, and during the first part of the current season, he appeared in 11 matches in the second division.

His impressive performances caught the attention of scouts, and in the summer of 2022, Kallon was signed by Hellas Verona. He made an instant impact at Verona by scoring his first Serie A goal on his debut against Empoli, showcasing his potential on one of the top stages of Italian football.

On May 22, 2021, he made a significant step in his career by debuting in Serie A with Genoa in a match against Cagliari, marking a milestone achievement for the young athlete.

Just a few months later, on August 13, he scored his first professional goal in the Coppa Italia, helping his team secure a victory against Perugia.

Midfielder Yayah Kallon signs for Serie C club Casertana on loan
Midfielder Yayah Kallon signs for Serie C club Casertana on loan
Burkina Faso international Nasser Djiga ready for Premier League
by FSL News

Burkina Faso international Nasser Djiga ready for Premier League

Wolverhampton Wanderers has strengthened its defense by signing Burkina Faso international Nasser Djiga on a contract that runs until 2030.

Djiga, 22, joined Wolves from Red Star Belgrade, where he spent 18 months in the Serbian SuperLiga. He began his career at Vitesse FC in Burkina Faso and later moved to FC Basel in Switzerland, winning the Swiss Super League.

Djiga had a loan spell at Nîmes in France before a successful loan at Red Star last season, where he helped the team win the Serbian SuperLiga and the Serbian Cup. He also played in the Champions League against Manchester City.

Wolves’ chairman, Jeff Shi, said, “We’re happy to welcome Nasser. Many worked hard to make this happen, and we are excited to see him become part of the Wolves family. This signing is a great investment for the club. Nasser has huge potential, and we look forward to seeing him develop.”

Sporting director Matt Hobbs added, “We wanted to strengthen our central defense, and Nasser can help the squad now and in the future. He is the quick and aggressive center-back we need, and we’re eager to see him compete for his spot.”