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
. Alhassan Koroma's Al Shahaniya promoted to Qatar's Super League
by FSL News

Alhassan Koroma’s Al Shahaniya promoted to Qatar’s Super League

Al Shahaniya has been promoted to the Qatar Super League with the help of Sierra Leone International Alhassan Koroma’s outstanding performance.

Al Shahaniya, featuring Koroma, was promoted to the Qatar top-tier league after their 3-1 victory over Al Markhiya at the Al Thumama Stadium on Sunday. 

They secured their place in the 2024-2025 season league’s First Division in style as the Play-Off pitted the 11th-placed team (Al Markhiya) in the final standings of the 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League against the second-placed team (Al Shahaniya) in the Second Division championship.

Al Shahania started the match strong, with their 19-year-old left-winger Rubio scoring off a rebound. 

Al Markhiya missed a chance to equalize soon after. While Al Markhiya did rally to bounce back from being a goal down and equalize, Al Shahania hit back with two more late goals to ensure their First Division berth. 

The scorers for Al Shahania were Jaime Rubio (17th minute), Mohammed Abu Shanab (83rd minute) and Mohammed Ibrahim (90+6 minute). Al Markhiya’s only goal came in the 75th minute through Driss Fettouhi. 

Koroma was instrumental in the campaign, scoring seven league goals and providing five assists in his first season at the club.

Al Shahaniya, featuring Koroma, was promoted to the Qatar top-tier league after their 3-1 victory over Al Markhiya at the Al Thumama Stadium on Sunday. 
Al Shahaniya, featuring Koroma, was promoted to the Qatar top-tier league after their 3-1 victory over Al Markhiya at the Al Thumama Stadium on Sunday. 
Sierra Leone FA Cup final abandoned as rival fans clash
by FSL News

Sierra Leone FA Cup final abandoned as rival fans clash

On Saturday, at the newly renovated Port Loko field, the Sierra Leone FA Cup final was marred by unruly fan behaviour, leading to chaos and the match being abandoned. 

The Bo Rangers, the defending champions and East End Lions were set to compete in this year’s FA Cup tournament. However, even before the game could commence, fans from both sides started fighting. Law enforcement officials had to intervene by using tear gas to restore order.

The violence began while the FA President, Thomas Brima, was delivering his pre-match speech. Stones were thrown from one side of the stadium to the other. It was unclear who started it, but the police had to intervene to quell the violence. Fortunately, the FA President was unharmed.

Despite fans’ disturbance, the FA Cup final was allowed to proceed until it was halted midway through the second half due to a stone that hit East End Lions player Abdul Nymekye, causing injury. The score was 0-0 at the time. But before the incident, the referee disallowed Bo Rangers’ goal for offside, accumulating more fans’ dissatisfaction.

The Sierra Leone Football Association asks for calm and patience as they await match officials’ reports ahead of the pending Investigation. 

The National Sports Authority has condemned all forms of violence in sports and urges authorities to investigate the violent incident during the final. 

‘Sports should unite people, not incite violence. The game should be won on the pitch, not through violent means. Therefore, the SLFA should find a neutral venue to conclude this year’s FA Cup.’

Dreams FC's remarkable journey in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup ended as they lost 3-0 to Zamalek in Kumasi.
by FSL News

Zamalek beat Dreams to end Confederation Cup run in Kumasi

Zamalek has successfully made it to the CAF Confederation Cup final after defeating Dreams FC from Ghana 3-0 on Sunday. 

The first leg held in Cairo was goalless, but the Dreams FC’s impressive run in the Confederation Cup has ended as they lost 3-0 to Zamalek in Kumasi.

Zamalek’s Hamza Mathlouthi scored early in the game, followed by Samson Akinyoola and Mustafa Shalaby, who sealed the win with a late strike. 

Dreams FC had already defeated Stade Malien to reach the semi-finals and had hoped to cause another upset, but the Tunisian defender’s header silenced the Kumasi crowd. 

The Ghanaian side missed chances to score while Zamalek’s Omar Gaber and Hossam Abdelmaguid almost increased their lead. 

Shalaby’s goal after an hour mark sealed Dreams FC’s fate. Zamalek won with their trademark mix of power and guile and advanced to the final.

Curtis Davies' Cheltenham Town relegated to English League Two
by FSL News

Curtis Davies’ Cheltenham relegated to English League Two 

Curtis Davies’ Cheltenham Town has been relegated from League One after a three-season stint in the third tier. They suffered a 2-1 defeat away to Stevenage on the final day of the season.

Cheltenham Town’s football team, The Robins, have been struggling since August, with a disastrous start to the campaign that’s left them in the bottom four. They made an English Football League record by not scoring a goal in their first 11 games. 

Curtis Davies, an experienced defender, played the entire 90 minutes but could not help his team secure maximum points, leading to a defeat. 

He joined Cheltenham Town at the beginning of the pre-season for the 2023/24 campaign.

Cheltenham won 2-0 against Peterborough on Tuesday, giving them hope to stay in the division. They needed to beat Stevenage and hope for Burton or Cambridge to drop points to avoid relegation.

They failed to secure three needed points, while Burton lost 3-0 to Fleetwood. Nick Freeman scored the winner for the hosts in the 90th minute.

Goalkeeper Luke Southwood has been a steady presence in goal for Cheltenham this season. He did well to keep his side in the match during the first 20 minutes, producing back-to-back saves to keep out Elliot List’s strike and Nesta Guinness-Walker’s rebound.

Cheltenham suffered a big blow when Southwood, who has played every minute in the league, was stretchered off less than 10 minutes later after a lengthy stoppage.

Cheltenham had more shots and possession, but Stevenage scored a penalty in stoppage time of the first half. Matty Taylor drew Cheltenham level early in the second half. Freeman scored the decisive goal for Stevenage in the 90th minute.

Dreams hopeful to reach first Continental final after draw in Cairo
by FSL News

Dreams hopeful to reach first Continental final after draw in Cairo

On April 28th, Dreams FC will host Zamalek in Kumasi for the second-leg semi-final of the CAF Confederation Cup, hoping to clinch their first-ever spot in the tournament’s semi-finals after a spirited performance against the Egyptian giants in Cairo.

The Dreams football team, who are participating in the competition for the first time, will try to defeat the Egyptian team in the next match, which will be held at the Baba Yara Stadium.

Karim Zito’s team has not lost any matches at home since the beginning of the competition.

Zamalek dominated the game in Cairo but failed to score due to Dreams’ strong defence. The White Knights had several chances to score, but their attacks lacked precision in the final third.

At the beginning of the match, Zamalek put pressure on Dreams with Shikabala, Mostafa Shalaby and Ahmed Hamdi all coming close to scoring before the midway point of the first half.

Despite their continued efforts, Dreams goalkeeper Solomon Agbasi was able to keep out shots from Shikabala and Travis Mutyaba.

Zamalek struggled to create clear-cut opportunities as they failed to convert their chances into goals, resulting in a goalless draw against the visitors.

Barnsley will host Sullay Kaikai's Cambridge United in week forty-one of the English League on Friday at Oakwell Stadium.
by FSL News

Sullay Kaikai’s Cambridge v Barnsley League One preview

Barnsley will host Sullay Kaikai’s Cambridge United in week forty-one of the English League on Friday at Oakwell Stadium.

Sierra Leone International Sullay Kaikai, who won the Player of the Month award for February, last scored against Carlisle United in their 4-0 win in week 34. 

Cambridge United, also known as the U’s, is in the hunt to improve their season with a strong performance against Barnsley, who are currently fifth in the table and looking to strengthen their position.

Cambridge United has lost their last two games and hasn’t won in their last four matches. Therefore, they must avoid defeat in their upcoming game as it will further dampen their supporters’ morale.

In contrast, Barnsley has won their last five league games against Cambridge United, keeping a clean sheet in each of the previous four matches. 

Furthermore, Cambridge United has only won one of their ten away league games against Barnsley. 

Abu Kamara's Portsmouth ready for trip to Wycombe Wanderers
by FSL News

Kamara’s Portsmouth ready for trip to Wycombe Wanderers 

Abu Kamara, a native of Sierra Leone, is set to help his team Portsmouth against Wycombe Wanderers in week forty-one of the English League on Friday. 

John Mousinho’s squad will visit Wycombe on Good Friday for a 3 pm kick-off. If they can secure 13 points from the seven remaining fixtures, Portsmouth will guarantee themselves a place in the Championship. 

Abu Kamara, on loan from Norwich, has done exceptionally well in his first full season in senior football with the league leaders. 

He has scored eight goals and played in every League One match for Pompey this season. 

Wycombe Wanderers have only won 1 of their last six games against Portsmouth, failing to score in 3 matches. Portsmouth has lost 3 of their last five games at Wycombe, failing to score in those defeats. 

The home side have lost just 1 of their last ten home games, keeping four clean sheets in their last five matches at Adams Park. 

Portsmouth has not lost any of their last eight games on Good Friday, scoring 16 goals overall.

Chad, Eswatini, Liberia, and South Sudan progress to AFCON 2025 group stage
by FSL News

Chad, Eswatini, Liberia & South Sudan progress to group stage 

Chad, Eswatini, Liberia, and South Sudan progressed to the group stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after achieving successful results in the second legs on Tuesday.

Chad, Eswatini, Liberia, and South Sudan will now join the 44 exempted countries for the group stage of the qualifiers. The quartet will be eager to continue their journey towards securing a spot in the prestigious tournament in Morocco.

Eswatini drew 2-2 with Somalia in a crucial match but still advanced with a 5-2 aggregate score thanks to their 3-0 victory in the first leg.

Mauritius 1-2 Chad

In a tense football match at the National Sports Complex Pitch 1 in Saint Pierre, Mauritius faced Chad. Jeremy Villeneuve scored a goal in the 45th minute, giving Mauritius hope, but Chad responded fiercely. Charles Tchouplaou levelled the score in the 74th minute, and Ousmane Hassan sealed Chad’s victory with a goal deep into stoppage time, securing their advancement with a 3-1 aggregate score.

In Monrovia’s Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium, Liberia and Djibouti played a goalless draw. Despite failing to score in the second leg, Liberia advanced to the next round with a 2-0 aggregate score, thanks to their victory in the first leg.

In Berkane, Morocco, South Sudan and their opponent battled to a goalless draw at the Stade Municipal de Berkane. 

As the aggregate score was tied at 1-1, South Sudan advanced to the next round based on the away goals rule. They had secured a crucial away goal in the first leg, which ultimately made the difference.

Bhantal strengthen grip in League race after Samura's brace
by FSL News

Bhantal strengthen grip in League race after Samura’s brace

On Sunday, Abubakarr Samura played a key role in Bhantal FC’s impressive 2-1 victory over Diamond Stars at the SLFA Academy Field in Kingtom. 

Their win has cemented their position as title contenders in the Leone Rock Premier League.

The player who stood out during the match was Abubakarr Samura, whose exceptional skills and determination resulted in a brace that helped Bhantal FC win. 

Samura’s exceptional display of talent also earned him the well-deserved Man of the Match award, highlighting his importance to the team’s success.

The victory has boosted the morale of the league newcomers. With consistent performances like this, Bhantal FC is proving to be a formidable team in their fruits campaign in the top-tier of Sierra Leone football.

The result moves Bhantal temporarily into second spot, a point behind leaders and reigning defending champions Bo Rangers.

Rangers, with a game on hand, will battle it out on Wednesday against Kholifa Stars as they bid to extend their lead to four points with a win at the Southern Arena.

Meanwhile, FC Kallon will be in the hunt for maximum points over Wilberforce Strikers to regain the second spot on Monday.

𝗕𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 stun Lions as Kallon thrash Ports Authority
by FSL News

Bhantal stun Lions as Kallon thrash Ports Authority

Bhantal FC and FC Kallon secured wins in the eighteenth week of the Sierra Leone Premier League at the newly renovated Sierra Leone Football Association playing field in Kingtom, Freetown.

Kallon moved to the second spot a point ahead of Bhantal, whose last-gasp winner stunned East End Lions. 

On Friday, Bhantal FC made an impressive comeback to secure a crucial 2-1 victory against East End Lions FC. Mohamed Bangura and Mohamed A. Kamara were the standout performers for the visiting team.

East End Lions FC took the lead in the 59th minute, putting Bhantal FC on the back foot. However, Bhantal FC rallied strongly in the second half, showing resilience and determination.

Mohamed Bangura scored for Bhantal in the 80th minute, leading to an intense finish. In the 94th minute, Mohamed A. Kamara secured three vital points for Bhantal FC with a winning goal.

On Saturday, FC Kallon proved too strong for the Ports Authority, scoring five goals against their opponent. Goals from Momoh Lapo Dumbuya, Abu Bakarr Aziz Jalloh, Mamoud Fofanah, Julius Goba, and Yakuba Koroma were more than enough for the Cavaliers as they recorded a 5-0 win. 

Both wins underlined Bhantal and Kallon’s determination in the chase for the Leone Rock Premier League title.

Luawa played to a 1-1 draw with Real Republicans as Bai Bureh Warriors share a goalless draw with Kholifa Stars at the Magburaka playing venue. 

Saturday's Sierra Leone Premier League results
Saturday's Sierra Leone Premier League results