Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Steven Caulker set to pursue UEFA A badge in England
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Steven Caulker set to pursue UEFA A badge in England

Sierra Leone and former England international is set to start his UEFA A badge this month. Five months after completing his UEFA B badge, Caulker is now embarking on achieving the UEFA A with the English FA.

He confirmed that he will begin his UEFA A course this month and is excited to further develop his coaching skills under the guidance of some of the best teachers in the game.

Caulker, who was a pivotal player for Sierra Leone during the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon, is presently transforming his playing career to coaching. 

He has admitted that coaching is the way forward and aspires to be a manager someday. He would love to be a Sierra Leone manager and bring in young Sierra Leoneans to play an attractive style of football.

The UEFA A Licence is the most advanced practical coaching certification available and it builds upon the technical and tactical knowledge covered in the UEFA B Licence.

 This certification focuses on developing individual players within units and improving understanding of modern trends in the game, strategies and tactics, systems of play in today’s game, and the principles of the England DNA.

Augustus Kargbo's Cesena make Serie C history
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Augustus Kargbo’s Cesena make Serie C history

Sierra Leone International Augustus Kargbo Italian side Cesena made history in Serie C with a total of 96 points, equalling the record set by Catanzaro just a year ago, thanks to their 2-0 victory over Perugia in the final league game of the season.

Kargbo, who started the tie before he was subbed off in the 56th minute, had nine goal contributions that played a pivotal role in their success after joining the team on a three-year contract with Cesena after departing Crotone last summer.

Cesena has secured automatic promotion to the Italian Serie B after finishing first in Serie C Group B. The 2022-23 Serie B season (known as Serie BKT due to sponsorship reasons) marks the 91st season of the league since its establishment in 1929. 

During the match against Perugia, Prestia scored his first goal of the season, and Corazza converted a penalty to secure the win.

“The work with the young players started last season; we believed in them, and they have paid us back extraordinarily. There was the right mix with the more experienced players who took energy from the young ones and vice versa,” head coach Toscano told the club’s website.

Cesena has secured automatic promotion to the Italian Serie B after finishing first in Serie C Group B.
Cesena has secured automatic promotion to the Italian Serie B after finishing first in Serie C Group B.
NFF appointed Finidi George as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Finidi George appointed as new Head Coach of Nigeria

The Nigeria Football Federation Board has given the green light to Finidi George as the new Head Coach of the Senior Men National Football Team, Super Eagles. 

George had previously worked as an assistant to José Santos Peseiro for 20 months before taking over as interim coach for two friendly matches in Morocco last month. 

During his time as interim coach, the team managed to beat Ghana 2-1 but lost 0-2 to Mali. George is a former player who has represented Nigeria in 62 matches and was part of the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations tournament-winning squad.

As the new head coach, George’s immediate task will be to guide the Super Eagles to victory in two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and the Benin Republic. 

The matches are must-win encounters, with the Super Eagles currently in third place in Group C of the African campaign behind Rwanda and South Africa.

https://twitter.com/bittar32/status/1785015390650950031

Sierra Leone International Daniel Kanu has been named the Charlton Athletic Valley Gold Young Player of the Year for the second time.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Striker Daniel Kanu named Valley Gold Young Player of the Year

Sierra Leone International Daniel Kanu has been named the Charlton Athletic Valley Gold Young Player of the Year for the second time. 

Kanu, a graduate of the Addicks Academy, played a key role for the team after returning from a loan spell. 

His impressive performance earned him a contract extension with Charlton Athletic until 2027.

The 19-year-old player previously won the award in the 2021/22 season. He joins the ranks of Scott Minto, Scott Wagstaff, and Callum Harriott as a two-time winner of the accolade.

Kanu started his journey with Charlton Athletic at the U11 level. During the season, he scored seven goals and provided one assist for the Addicks. 

He also made his senior international debut for Sierra Leone against Egypt in the FIFA World Cup African Qualifying First Round, which took place on Sunday, November 19th, 2023, in Liberia.

Kanu, a graduate of the Addicks Academy, played a key role for the team after returning from a loan spell.
Kanu, a graduate of the Addicks Academy, played a key role for the team after returning from a loan spell.
Striker Alie Conteh nets hattrick for Norwegian side Mjøndalen IF
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Striker Alie Conteh nets hattrick for Norwegian side Mjøndalen

Striker Alie Conteh scored his first hat-trick for Mjøndalen IF on Sunday in their Obos Ligaen match against Valerenga IF at Consto Arena. 

With a final score of 5-3, Conteh’s impressive performance contributed greatly to the team’s win, which moved them to eighth in the league standings.

Conteh has scored four goals in his last four matches for the Norwegian side. He entered Sunday’s match ten minutes before halftime, replacing an injured Brinder Singh, and scored twice before the break. 

Throughout the match, the Sierra Leonean proved to be a constant source of trouble for Valerenga’s poorly organized defence. Conteh completed his hat-trick in the 75th minute, and Keerat Singh Mann scored their fifth goal of the game.

Although Valerenga rallied and scored three goals, it wasn’t enough to secure a win. Next, Mjøndalen IF will play at home on Saturday against Aalesunds FK at Consto Arena.

https://twitter.com/bittar32/status/1784593357299163382

Sierra Leone International Tyrese Fornah's Derby County has secured promotion to the Sky Bet Championship for the 2024/25 campaign.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone’s Tyrese Fornah pleased with Derby’s promotion

Sierra Leone International Tyrese Fornah’s Derby County has secured promotion to the Sky Bet Championship for the 2024/25 campaign. 

On Saturday, the team beat Carlisle United 2-0 at Pride Park Stadium, securing automatic promotion from League One.

Fornah, a former Nottingham Forest midfielder who joined the club in August 2023, made nineteen first-team appearances for the Rams. 

He signed a two-year contract that will run until the summer of 2025 and posted a message on social media saying “Glory to God! Grateful to experience this with a great bunch of boys and staff, Promotion & Championship Football secured.”

Derby needed only a draw against the division’s bottom side to end their two-year stay in League One. Max Bird’s fierce swerving shot from outside the box had Rams fans singing and bouncing to the joyous tune of ‘We Are Going Up’ after just five minutes. James Collins got Paul Warne’s Rams over the promotion line with a composed close-range finish on the hour mark to complete the victory.

It’s the fourth time 50-year-old Warne has guided a side to promotion from League One, his three previous successes coming with Rotherham as they yo-yoed between the second and third tiers.

Fornah started at Brighton & Hove Albion before moving to Forest’s Academy in 2018. He debuted for Forest in 2020 and went on to have loan spells at Casa Pia, Plymouth Argyle, and Shrewsbury Town. 

In the 2022/23 season, he played for Reading, making 37 appearances and scoring two goals while also – providing two assists.

Sierra Leone International Tyrese Fornah’s Derby County sealed promotion back to the Sky Bet Championship for the 2024/25 campaign.
Sierra Leone International Tyrese Fornah’s Derby County sealed promotion back to the Sky Bet Championship for the 2024/25 campaign.
The inaugural edition of FIFA's new prime club competition is scheduled to take place in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Esperance, Sundowns join Al Ahly & Wydad in Club World Cup

The inaugural edition of FIFA’s new prime club competition is scheduled to take place in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025. 

Esperance, a Tunisian team, and Mamelodi Sundowns, a South African club, have secured their spots in the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup (Mundial de Clubes FIFA 25™) for next year. 

They have become the third and fourth teams from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to qualify for the competition – following the just-concluded semi-final matches of the CAF Champions League, which took place on Friday.

Esperance defeated Sundowns 2-0 on aggregate and will now play against Al Ahly in the final. 

The winner will qualify as African champions for the new 32-team FIFA Club World Cup. Al Ahly and Wydad Casablanca have already secured their places in the competition.

Even if Esperance fails to win the final, they will still take up one of the two remaining CAF berths. Sundowns will also participate in the competition. 

The new FIFA Club World Cup format aims to feature elite teams from each confederation, with four African sides participating: Wydad (Morocco), Al Ahly (Egypt), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), and ES Tunis (Tunisia).

https://twitter.com/bittar32/status/1784128330926596506

Al Ahly beat Mazembe to set a date with Esperance of Tunisia
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Al Ahly beat Mazembe to set a date with Esperance of Tunisia

On Friday in Cairo, Egypt’s Al Ahly secured TotalEnergies CAF Champions League final spot with a 3-0 win over Mazembe.

As a result, they’ll face Esperance of Tunisia, who defeated Sundowns 2-0 on aggregate to set up this year’s final Al Ahly.

In the first leg of the match played in Lubumbashi, no team managed to score a goal. However, the return fixture in Cairo was full of drama.

In Cairo, Joel Beya’s goal for Mazembe was disallowed early in the second half before Abdelmonem’s powerful header off a corner broke the deadlock on 68 minutes.

Led by South African-born Percy Tau, the 11-time champions displayed tenacity, hunger, and quality to carry Egyptian football’s flag into next month’s final. 

Marcel Koller’s side responded to the threat of the visitors and showed the composure and quality that has made them African club football’s pre-eminent force over the past decade.

Mohamed Abdelmonem’s thumping header put them ahead in the 68th minute before late strikes from Wissam Abu Ali and Akram Tawfik completed the win as Al Ahly seeks to maintain its grip on African club football’s biggest prize.

Al Ahly secured a place in the final against Tunisian heavyweights Esperance after Akram Tawfik scored the third goal in the 12th minute of stoppage time. 

https://twitter.com/bittar32/status/1784105428286132226

Dreams coach Zito relishes chance against Zamalek for final spot
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Dreams coach Zito relishes chance against Zamalek

Dreams FC coach Abdul Karim Zito has stated that his team will not underestimate Zamalek in the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup semi-final match.

Zito’s team held the former champions to a goalless draw at Cairo International Stadium, despite the home team’s dominance.

The Ghanaian team showed great resilience and managed to prevent Zamalek from winning. As a result, they returned home as the happier side and are now looking forward to the second-leg encounter. 

The match is scheduled to take place at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday, April 28, 2024, and Zito, the coach, is well aware of the challenges that lie ahead.

“We’ve put the first leg aside – we know it will be very difficult as it looks very frightening, but it is not impossible,” Karim Zito said, as quoted by Akoma Sports. 

The experienced coach is confident of securing victory, even if the game has to be decided after regulation time.

“We are ready should the game travel to penalties, but we aim to end the game within 90 minutes,” he stated. 

Zamalek arrived in Kumasi on Thursday, April 25 to continue their preparations for the anticipated encounter. 

The reigning defending champions and current league leaders, Bo Rangers, dominated Real Republicans in a spectacular game that saw them move five points clear at the top of the league table.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Bo Rangers thrash Republicans to open a five-point gap

The reigning defending champions and current league leaders, Bo Rangers, dominated Real Republicans in a spectacular game that saw them move five points clear at the top of the league table. 

Bo Rangers have won 15 games this season after the 5-0 hammering of Real Republicans on Wednesday, causing Soccer Ambassadors to fall into the relegation zone. John Keister’s team dominated the struggling visitors, scoring three goals in the first half-hour of the game at Southern Arena.

Mohamadu Lamin and Suffian Kalokoh scored two goals each, while Mohamed Kabba added another goal to the Southern Arena’s tally, igniting a celebratory atmosphere. 

This win highlights their determination to clinch yet another Sierra Leone top-tier title. This season, Real Republicans have won only four matches, lost eleven, and drawn the other nine.

They now find themselves in the relegation zone, with just 21 points after 24 games. 

Elsewhere, Wusum Stars continue their strong form by defeating Freetonians SLIFA 2-0 in Makeni, while Wilberforce Strikers secured a 1-0 away victory over East End Lions.