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
DRC, Uganda and Senegal book 2025 Africa Cup of Nations spot
by FSL News

DRC, Uganda and Senegal book 2025 Africa Cup of Nations spot

DR Congo, Uganda, and Senegal confidently secured their spots in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco after clinching crucial victories in their qualifying matches on Tuesday.

DR Congo defeated Tanzania 2-0, with Meschack Elia scoring both goals in the 87th and 93rd minutes. This victory secured DR Congo’s place in the tournament in Morocco, as they now sit at the top of their group with 12 points.

Senegal secured a late 1-0 victory over Malawi with a stoppage-time free-kick from Sadio Mane. This win moved Senegal level with Burkina Faso at the top of their group, both on 10 points, ensuring their qualification for the tournament.

Sudan secured a 2-0 win over Ghana, breathing new life into their AFCON qualification campaign. This victory moved Sudan to second place in their group with 7 points, while Ghana’s qualification hopes are in jeopardy as they sit in third place with 2 points.

Uganda edged South Sudan 2-1, with an own goal from Alfred Leku proving decisive. This win placed Uganda at the top of their group with 10 points, while South Sudan remains at the bottom with 0 points from four games.

Zambia secured a crucial 1-0 win over Chad, with Kennedy Musonda scoring the game’s only goal in the 70th minute.

Despite a penalty save from Toaster Nsabata in the 85th minute to deny Chad a late equalizer, Chipolopolo held firm to clinch all three points. Zambia now sits second in the group with seven points, while Chad remains winless and at the bottom of the table with two points.

Gabon moved second in their group after a 2-0 win over Lesotho. Shavy Babicka opened the scoring in the 55th minute before Rody Effaghe sealed the victory in the 84th minute with a close-range finish. The win moved Gabon to 7 points, while Lesotho remains at the bottom of the group, just one point from four games.

Algeria beat Togo to seal Cup of Nations 2025 spot
by FSL News

Algeria beat Togo to seal Cup of Nations 2025 spot

Algeria confidently secured their place in next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco by defeating Togo at the Kégué Stadium in Lomé during Monday’s Group E qualifier. They have previously won the AFCON tournament twice.

This victory brings the total number of qualified teams to four. Algeria’s Ramy Bensebaini scored the only goal for the North Africans, maintaining their 100% record in the qualifiers.

They have secured 12 points from four matches. Bensebaini converted a penalty in the 18th minute to give Algeria the lead. Despite facing heavy pressure from the hosts, Algeria managed to hold on to their lead. Hosts Morocco, Cameroon and Burkina Faso have also qualified for the finals.

In another match, Zimbabwe defeated Namibia 3-1 in Johannesburg, bringing them in a strong position in their pool. With two matches remaining, they are eight points ahead of the third-placed Kenya.

Gambia moved into the second place in their pool, ahead of Comoros, based on head-to-head records, despite playing one more game.

Mozambique secured a 3-0 win over Eswatini in Nelspruit, taking them to the top of their pool. They are five points clear of third-placed Guinea Bissau, who will host Mali on Tuesday.

First win for Gambia in the race to Morocco AFCON 2025
by FSL News

First win for Gambia in race to Morocco AFCON 2025

Gambia defeated Madagascar 1-0 in their 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Stade Ben Ahmed El Abdi, securing their first victory and boosting their chances of qualifying for the competition.

Musa Barrow scored a crucial goal in the 62nd minute, helping the Gambian national football team to win and improving their chances of qualifying for the tournament in Morocco next year.

His goal came after sustained pressure from the Gambian side, as Yankuba Minteh’s pass found him unmarked inside the box. Although his first shot was blocked, Barrow quickly scored on the rebound, prompting celebrations among Gambian fans.

This win places the Scorpions in second place in Group A with five points after four matches, just one point behind leaders Tunisia. Comoros also have five points but a lower goal difference, putting them in third place.

Madagascar has only two points from four games and is at the bottom of the group. The Gambia performed well, with key contributions from Ebrima Jarju and Ebou Adams in midfield.

Despite missing a penalty, Gambia maintained pressure and eventually broke through. Madagascar had a few chances, but goalkeeper Baboucarr Gaye kept a clean sheet. Gambia aims to sustain their momentum in the qualifiers, while Madagascar’s chances of qualifying remain uncert

Champions Al Ahly, CRB, Pirates, and Stade D’Abidjan in Group C
by FSL News

Champions Al Ahly, CRB, Pirates and Stade D’Abidjan in Group C

The official draw for the Group Stages of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League for the 2024/25 season has set up what promises to be an exciting phase of Africa’s top club competition.

Al Ahly SC of Egypt, the most successful club with 12 titles, will headline Group C, which includes CR Belouizdad of Algeria, former champions Orlando Pirates, and Stade D’Abidjan, who are making their first group stage appearance.

All six of CAF’s Zonal Unions will be represented in this season’s edition of the Group Stages, showing the continued growth of African football across the continent.

TP Mazembe, five-time champions, will headline Group A and will face off against Young Africans, Al Hilal, and MC Alger of Algeria.

Group B will feature 2016 champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who will compete against three-time champions Raja Casablanca and AS FAR, both from Morocco, along with DR Congo outfit Maniema Union FC.

Group C will be led by the reigning champions, Al Ahly SC. The last group of the competition will see last season’s runners-up, ES Tunis, competing against Pyramids FC, GD Sagrada Esperanca, and Djoliba AC of Mali.

The group stages will be played between November 2024 and January 2025.

•⁠  ⁠Match Day 1: November 26-27, 2024  – ⁠Match Day 2: December 6-8, 2024 – Match Day 3: December 13-15, 2024 

•⁠  ⁠Match Day 4: January 3-5, 2025 – Match Day 5: January 10-12, 2025 – Match Day 6: January 17-19, 2025

Click HERE for a list of fixtures.

TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Group Stage Draw Results: 

GROUP A: TP Mazembe (RDC), Young Africans SC (TAN), Al Hilal (SUD), MC Alger (ALG)

GROUP B: Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA), Raja CA (MAR), AS FAR (MAR) Maniema Union (RDC)

GROUP C: Al Ahly SC (EGY), CR Belouizdad (ALG), Orlando Pirates (RSA) ,Stade D ‘Abidjan (CIV)

GROUP D: ES Tunis (TUN), Pyramids FC (EGY), GD Sagrada Esperanca (ANG), Djoliba AC (MLI)

CAF will soon announce details of the fixtures, venues and dates in due course.

Zamalek win the CAF Super Cup after penalty shootout in Riyard
by FSL News

Zamalek win CAF Super Cup after penalty shootout in Riyard

On Friday night, Zamalek won the 2024 TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup in a thrilling penalty shootout against their rivals Al Ahly. The match ended in a 1-1 draw at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Zamalek clinched the victory by winning 4-3 in the penalty shootout, securing their fifth Super Cup title. The win is a significant achievement for Zamalek, as it marks their fifth CAF Super Cup title.

The game started with Al Ahly taking the lead in the 44th minute through Wessam Abou Ali’s penalty. This was confirmed after a VAR review identified a foul on Akram Tawfik by Zamalek’s Hamza Mathlouthi.

Zamalek responded in the second half, with substitute Naser Mansy scoring the equalizer in the 77th minute from a well-delivered cross by Omar Gaber.

The match remained intense, with both teams seeking a winning goal, but ultimately went to a penalty shootout.

In the shootout, Al Ahly’s Yahia Attiyat Allah missed a crucial penalty, and Wessam Abou Ali’s shot hit the post, giving Zamalek the advantage.

Zamalek capitalized on this advantage, converting four of their five attempts, with Hossam Abdelmaguid securing the victory with a well-placed shot into the bottom left corner.

CAF confirms date for Inter-club group stage draw
by FSL News

CAF confirms date for Inter-club group stage draw

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released the schedule for the 2024/25 CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup Group Stage Draw.

Both draws are scheduled to take place on Monday, 07 October 2024.

The CAF Confederation Cup Group Stage Draw is set to commence at 13:00 local time in Cairo (11:00 GMT), followed by the CAF Champions League draw at 14:00 local time (11:00 GMT).

The complete list of qualified teams will be announced on the evening of Sunday, 22 September 2024.

In the latest matches, FAR Rabat and Djoliba AC of Mali secured spots in the group stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League. FAR Rabat won 2-0 against Sudan’s Al Merreikh with goals from Hammoudan and Joël Beya.

Meanwhile, Stade d’Abidjan advanced despite a 2-1 defeat against Milo FC, and San Pedro fell 1-0 to Al-Hilal. Djoliba AC sealed their spot with a 1-0 victory over ASKO in Lomé.

These results complete the line-up for the CAF Champions League group stage.

Midfielder Rodney Michael opens Safa SC account in Lebanon
by FSL News

Midfielder Rodney Michael opens Safa SC account in Lebanon

Sierra Leone International Rodney Michael scored his first goal for the Lebanese Pro side Safa SC in their 4-1 victory over Racing Beirut on Saturday.

It was an impressive start for the midfielder, who was awarded the Man of the Match on his debut after a goal and assist.

In the previous season, he played for PO Xylotymbou in Cyprus. On March 22, 2022, Michael moved from Tormenta to the USL Championship side Indy Eleven.

He later left Indy Eleven after the 2022 season. In February 2023, Michael signed with FK Mornar of the Montenegrin First League.

Three more teams progress to the CAF Confederation Cup group stage
by FSL News

Three more teams progress to the CAF Confederation Cup group stage

On Saturday, three additional teams advanced to the group stage of the 2024-25 CAF Confederation Cup. Angolan top-tier side Lunda Sul, Tunisian side CS Sfaxien, and Algeria’s CS Constantine secured their spots after winning their second-round, second-leg qualifying matches.

In Angola, Lunda Sul lost 2-1 against South African team Sekhukhune United in Polokwane. However, Guilherme’s 36th-minute goal helped Lunda Sul advance on the away goal rule.

In Tunisia, CS Sfaxien defeated Rukinzo from Burundi with a 1-0 victory, securing a 2-0 aggregate win. Firas Sekkouhi scored the only goal in the second half.

Meanwhile, CS Constantine of Algeria also won 1-0 at home against Nsoatreman of Ghana, securing a 3-0 aggregate triumph. Ben Shaa scored an early goal for CS Constantine.

The Confederation Cup continues today, Sunday, September 22, with 10 matches scheduled across the continent. Notable teams in action include Enyimba, ASEC Mimosas, AS Vita, Simba SC, and USM Alger.

CAF Confederation Cup results, Saturday 21 September

Sekhukhune United 2-1 CD Lunda Sul – 2-2on aggregate, Lunda Sul won on away goals

CS Constantine 1-0 Nsoatreman – Constantine won 3-0 on aggregate

CS Sfaxien 1-0 Rukinzo – Sfaxien won 2-0 on aggregate

Confederation Cup: Stade Malien, Zamalek and Berkane progress
by FSL News

Confederation Cup: Stade Malien, Zamalek and Berkane progress

On Friday, three clubs – Stade Malien, Zamalek, and RS Berkane – became the first trio of clubs to advance into the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup after winning their second-round qualifying ties.

Stade Malien won 3-1 against Paynesville in Bamako, overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit with goals from Moctar Cisse, Soumaila Magassouba, and Souleymane Drame.

Despite a goal from Mark Paye for the visitors, Stade Malien advanced 3-2 on aggregate. Zamalek beat Police FC 2-1 in Cairo, adding to their 1-0 first-leg advantage.

Goals from Zizo and Nasser Maher secured a 3-1 aggregate victory for Zamalek, with Jesse Was scoring a consolation goal for Police FC. RS Berkane secured a commanding 5-0 victory over Dadje, adding to their 2-0 first-leg triumph.

Haytam Manaout, Mateus Criciuma, Ayoub Khairi, and Issoufou Dayo all scored for RS Berkane, who won 7-0 on aggregate.

The Confederation Cup continues today with three matches: Sekhukhune United v CD Lunda Sul, CS Constantine v Nsoatreman, and CS Afaxien v Rukinzo.

CAF Confederation Cup results from Friday’s 20 September:

Stade Malien 3-1 Paynesville – Stade Malien won 3-2 on aggregate

Zamalek 2-1 Police FC – Zamalek won 3-1 on aggregate

RS Berkane 5-0 Dadje – RS Berkane won 7-0 on aggregate

Trevoh Chalobah doubtful for Manchester United clash this weekend
by FSL News

Trevoh Chalobah doubtful for Manchester United clash this weekend

Crystal Palace’s new loan signing from Chelsea, Trevoh Chalobah, will have to wait for his debut due to an injury. This means he won’t be able to play in the upcoming Premier League game against Manchester United.

The team made some new signings on deadline day, including Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah and Chelsea’s Chalobah on loan without an option to buy.

Unfortunately, Chalobah got injured during one of his first training sessions, so he won’t be able to make his debut. Chalobah injured his abdominal muscle during his first training session with the team, and it’s an unusual injury.

He won’t be available for the next game, and it’s uncertain whether he’ll be able to play against Everton the following weekend .

Crystal Palace advanced to the last 16 of the Carabao Cup with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road on Tuesday.