Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone U20 set for Zonal tournament in Liberia
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone U20 set for Zonal tournament in Liberia

Sierra Leone’s National Under-20 Football Team, Shooting Stars, has begun training for the U20 Zonal Tournament in Monrovia, Liberia.

With a 26-man squad, the team is focused on showcasing their talent on the regional stage. The tournament is scheduled from February 17th to February 25th, 2024.

The young talents are undergoing intensive training sessions on a state-of-the-art artificial turf pitch. Experienced coach Mohamed Lamin Kamara is leading the team with the support of SLFA’s Youth Football Coordinator, Alimamy Kurash Conteh.

The tournament presents an opportunity for players to gain invaluable experience and catch the eye of scouts and talent spotters.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 – National News

The tournament is scheduled from February 17th to February 25th, 2024.
The tournament is scheduled from February 17th to February 25th, 2024.
Emerse Fae pleased with Ivory Coast's AFCON achievement
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Emerse Fae ecstatic with Ivory Coast’s AFCON achievement

Emerse Fae, who took over from Jean-Louis Gasset, led Cote d’Ivoire’s national football team to their third CAF Africa Cup of Nations title is ecstatic.

The Elephants won the title on home soil after beating Nigeria 2-1 in a packed Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpe on Sunday evening.

After the match, Fae spoke to the media and revealed that he was overwhelmed with emotions and couldn’t describe the great feeling of guiding the team to victory.

He said that it was hard to believe that they had come from almost being knocked out to winning the title.

This competition was going to mark his life, he added. Fae also won the Best Coach of the Tournament award for his tactical acumen in guiding the Elephants to the top spot.

He expressed his gratitude to the players for their hard work and to the loyal people of Cote d’Ivoire who supported them throughout the tournament.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 African News.

Sebastien Haller nets winner in Ivory Coast AFCON final win
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sebastien Haller nets winner in Ivory Coast AFCON final win 

Ivory Coast won the Africa Cup of Nations final against Nigeria 2-1 on home soil on Sunday.

Emerse Faé, who played every minute in the Ivory Coast team that finished runners-up to Egypt in 2006, has now won Africa’s biggest prize in just his fourth game as a senior manager.

Sebastien Haller scored the winning goal in the 81st minute, completing a remarkable turnaround for the hosts, who won their third continental title.

Nigeria looked strong in the first half, with captain William Troost-Ekong scoring a goal with a header.

However, Ivory Coast equalised in the second half with a goal from Franck Kessie. The winning goal came from Haller, who turned in Simon Adingra’s cross.

This win sees Ivory Coast joining Nigeria on three Cup of Nations triumphs overall, and they become the first host country to win the AFCON since 2006.

Didier Drogba, who captained the Ivory Coast team that lost to Egypt in 2006, was among the spectators to witness this stunning victory for his country.

Ivory Coast has become the twelfth host nation to win the Nations Cup title. Nigeria will be left to rue their fifth defeat in the showpiece game, and their second in Abidjan after losing to Cameroon in 1984.

Sierra Leone chart football among development objectives
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone chart football among development objectives

During the launch of the FIFA Football for Schools (F4S) program in Makeni, Minister of Sports Madam Augusta James-Teima explained that football is taking the lead in enhancing the Government’s Five Game Changers, including feeding Sierra Leone, human capital development, and youth employment.

The SLFA (Sierra Leone Football Association) has initiated the FIFA Football for School Program. As a part of the program, they have trained 50 Physical Education Teachers.

This program aims to make football more accessible to boys and girls across Sierra Leone by including football activities in the country’s school system. The Minister cited the Sierra Leone Football artificial turf projects as a success.

The Minister mentioned that the government is eager to increase the availability of facilities, particularly job opportunities for young individuals. The experts involved in the program will teach at schools and provide additional training to children during after-school hours.

She firmly believes that the ongoing projects will positively impact Sierra Leone and its people. She thinks that children who participate in football at a tender age will develop physically, mentally, emotionally, economically, and socially. Therefore, it is vital to prioritize football at the school level, where players can be introduced to the sport at a very young age and be inspired to become lifelong players. This will enable them to gain a comprehensive understanding of football and ensure the sustainability of the sport itself.

“The government is committed to the growth of sports and is working on putting modalities in place to enhance football participation in the country. Madam James-Teima believes that sport is life and, if done correctly, can make Sierra Leone a developed nation.”

She ended her speech by promising to continue working with the Minister of Basic Education to train children for the future. The government will ensure that what is given for sport in schools is used for sport exclusively.

The SLFA (Sierra Leone Football Association) has initiated the FIFA Football for School Program. As a part of the program, they have provided training to 50 Physical Education Teachers.
The SLFA (Sierra Leone Football Association) has initiated the FIFA Football for School Program. As a part of the program, they have provided training to 50 Physical Education Teachers.
Ronwen Williams hero as South Africa claim AFCON 2023 bronze
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ronwen Williams hero as South Africa claim AFCON 2023 bronze

South Africa defeated the Democratic Republic of Congo 6-5 in the penalty shootout to clinch third place in the Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday.

Following a goalless draw in Abidjan, Bafana Bafana secured the bronze medal in the Ivory Coast after Williams saved penalty kicks from Chancel Mbemba and Meschack Elia.

South Africa’s goalkeeper Ronwen Williams was the hero of the day once again as Bafana Bafana defeated DR Congo at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Since the game ended goalless, the match went straight to penalties after 90 minutes.

South Africa’s victory at the Nations Cup was their best finish since 2000. During the match, Bafana Bafana’s captain, Ronwen Williams, played a crucial role by saving two spot-kicks during the shootout.

South Africa missed their first penalty kick, causing them to fall behind in the match. However, goalkeeper Williams saved two subsequent penalties, allowing South Africa to secure third place in the competition.

Mbemba had the opportunity to win the match for their team, but Williams made a crucial save, leading to a sudden-death penalty shootout. In the end, Bafana Bafana emerged victorious.

Mustapha Bundu's Plymouth in the hunt for three straight win
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mustapha Bundu’s Plymouth in the hunt for three straight wins

If selected by manager Ian Foster, the Sierra Leone International Mustapha Bundu will be hoping to help his team, Plymouth Argyle, as they take on Sunderland in their Sky Bet Championship fixture at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, February 10th at 3 pm.

Plymouth are targeting to register their first league double over Sunderland since the 1991-92 campaign and their third straight league win.

Bundu, 26, has featured in fifteen matches in all competitions since joining the Pilgrims last September. 

The two sides previously met in November at Home Park, where Argyle managed to take the lead with Morgan Whittaker’s brilliant strike from outside the area, followed by Finn Azaz’s goal before the halftime whistle. The score remained unchanged till the end of the match.

However, Sunderland has won 11 out of their 15 home league games against Plymouth Argyle, with a win ratio of 73%.

Also, Sunderland is the only Championship team yet to see a home league game ending in a draw this season. 

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 – Players Abroad News. 

Baciro Cande is the eighth AFCON managerial casualty
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Baciro Cande is the eighth AFCON managerial casualty

Baciro Cande, who has served as coach for Guinea-Bissau, is set to depart his position when his contract expires next month. 

Cande took over as coach of the national team in 2016 after a previous stint.

The Bissau football federation has announced that they will not be extending the 56-year-old’s contract following the team’s group-stage exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. 

The team, known as the Djurtus (Wild Dogs), finished at the bottom of Group A after losing all their three games. However, Guinea-Bissau has not won in 12 matches at the tournament, which stretches back to their debut in 2017 in Gabon. 

Cande is just one of the many coaches who have parted ways with their teams from the 2023 edition of the finals in Ivory Coast, including Rui Vitoria, Djamel Belmadi, Tom Saintfiet, Chris Hughton, Jean-Louis Gasset, Adel Amrouche (Tanzania) and Jalel Kadri (Tunisia) have recently left their teams.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 – African News.

Nigeria v Ivory Coast: bitter rivals competing for continental glory
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Nigeria v Ivory Coast: bitter rivals competing for continental glory

The Africa Cup of Nations final, which will take place on February 11 at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe, will see tournament favourites Nigeria facing off against hosts Ivory Coast. 

This highly anticipated match between two bitter rivals promises to be a titanic clash, with both teams vying for continental glory in the CAF AFCON 2023 final.

During the group stage of AFCON, Nigeria defeated the hosts with a narrow margin of 1-0. However, in the final, Cote d’Ivoire will be hoping to seek redemption. 

Winning a third AFCON on home soil would be a remarkable achievement, and Nigeria is aware of the fact that they are up against a tough challenge.

For Nigerian manager Jose Peseiro, outwitting his counterpart Emerse Fae will be crucial. Peseiro’s tactical prowess led Nigeria to victory against South Africa in the first semi-final, while Fae’s team overcame DR Congo 1-0. 

Recap Nigeria vs Ivory Coast: Tournament So Far

Nigeria has been performing exceptionally well in the competition – having qualified for the knockout stages as runners-up in Group A. They managed to draw 1-1 with group winners Equatorial Guinea and then secured wins against Guinea-Bissau (1-0) and fellow finalists Ivory Coast (1-0).

The Super Eagles continued their winning streak by knocking out Cameroon in the round of 16, Angola in the quarters and South Africa in the semi-finals. This has led them to their eighth AFCON final in history. Nigeria has won the cup before in 1980, 1994 and 2013, and they are looking to win their fourth championship this time around.

In contrast, Ivory Coast’s journey to the final could be seen as lucky. They won 2-0 against Guinea-Bissau in their opener but then fell 1-0 to Nigeria and were thrashed 4-0 by Equatorial Guinea. As a result, they were placed third in the group and qualified as the worst third-placed team.

However, the Elephants were able to turn their fortunes around by defeating defending champions Senegal in the round of 16 with a 5-4 penalty shootout. They then went on to win against Mali (2-1 a.e.t.) in the quarters and DR Congo (1-0) in the semi-finals to reach their fifth AFCON final in history. 

The Ivorian fans can’t wait to win the championship on home soil in what promises to be an exciting encounter.

  • Nigeria vs Ivory Coast: Head-to-Head Record (Since 2000)

  • Ivory Coast 0-1 Nigeria (01/24)
  • Nigeria 0-1 Ivory Coast (01/15)
  • Ivory Coast 2-0 Nigeria (07/13)
  • Nigeria 4-1 Ivory Coast (07/13)
  • Ivory Coast 1-2 Nigeria (02/13)
  • Ivory Coast 1-0 Nigeria (01/08)
  • Nigeria 0-1 Ivory Coast (02/06)
  • Ivory Coast 1-1 Nigeria (01/02)

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 – African News.

Sebastien Haller's goal set thrilling AFCON final date with Nigeria
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sebastien Haller’s goal set thrilling AFCON final date with Nigeria

The hosts, Cote d’Ivoire, have secured a place in the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations final after defeating DR Congo 1-0 with the help of Sebastien Haller’s goal. 

In the semi-final, Haller brilliantly flicked in Nicolas Pepe’s cross to score the match-winning goal. Cote d’Ivoire to battle Nigeria in a thrilling showdown as they aim to win the AFCON title on their home soil.

The Super Eagles advanced to the final on Wednesday after defeating South Africa 4-2 in a penalty shootout, following a tense 1-1 draw in Bouake.

The cagey contest in Abidjan saw Haller score the only goal in the 65th minute with a bouncing volley that went over Leopards’ goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.

The 29-year-old striker, who battled and recovered from testicular cancer, will lead Cote d’Ivoire’s attack alongside Pepe with a chance to win the trophy.

A win in the final would bring joy to Abidjan, as the tournament is being played on home soil. Despite struggling in their group, the Elephants have gained momentum despite their unconvincing performances.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 – Players African News.

Charlton Athletic striker Daniel Kanu pens new long-term contract
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Charlton Athletic striker Kanu pens new long-term contract 

Daniel Kanu, an academy graduate who joined Charlton Athletic at U11 level, has signed a new long-term contract until 2027. This season, he has scored four goals and provided one assist for the first team.

In November 2023, Kanu made his senior debut for Sierra Leone in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Egypt.

Earlier this term, the striker went on loan to National League side Southend United and made a fantastic home debut, scoring four goals in a 5-0 win against Solihull Moors.

Kanu was named the Valley Gold Young Player of the Year for the 2021/22 season after an impressive first-year scholar campaign that saw him score 41 goals for the academy and make his senior debut.

After signing his new deal, Kanu expressed his excitement and said: “It’s a dream come true – I’m excited for the future. I’ve been at this club since U11s, so it’s been a long journey. I signed my first professional contract two years ago – around this time actually – and I’m just grateful to the academy and everyone else that’s been part of my journey to get me to where I am today.”

Charlton Athletic’s Technical Director, Andy Scott, expressed his delight in tying Kanu down to a long-term contract. “We want to keep our best young players at the football club, and we’re delighted to have secured Daniel for the future.

This season, he has shown that he’s got the quality, and he’s demonstrated that he can score goals. His attitude to working and improving is exceptional, and we believe that we can make him into a player that’s going to have a big, bright future at the club.”

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 – Players Abroad News.