Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Bo Ranger suffer first home & league defeat
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Bo Rangers suffer first home defeat of the season

On Sunday, East End Lions defeated the league leaders Bo Rangers 1-0 at the Southern Arena in Bo City to stop the Elephants’ unbeaten record at home.

Despite the defeat, the Southern Province and reigning champions still top the summit with 29 points from 13 matches played in this campaign.

They suffered their second defeat of the season – having lost 1-0 to Bai Bureh Warriors in December 2023.

Yakuba Koroma scored the only goal for the Killers, securing their third win of the season. As a result, EE Lions moved up three places to eleventh in the Premier League with 16 points.

The last time Bo Rangers lost a home match was on March 5th 2022, when Ports Authority defeated the defending champions 1-0. Mohamed Bangura scored for the Water Front Boys.

On the same day, there were several football matches played in Sierra Leone. Freetonians SLIFA defeated Kahunla Rangers 1-0, Bai Bureh Warriors and Luawa FC drew 0-0, Bhantal FC won 1-0 against FC Kallon, and Kholifa Stars won 3-0 against Ports Authority.

DR Congo advanced to the quarter-finals to face Guinea
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

DR Congo advance to the quarter-finals to face Guinea

The Democratic Republic of Congo has eliminated Egypt from the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023 tournament by winning 8-7 on penalties in the round of 16 at Stade Laurent Pokou.

The match was intense and went on for 120 minutes of mouthwatering contest. 

Sebastien Desabre’s team will face Guinea in the next round after Guinea eliminated Equatorial Guinea in the quarter-finals.

Meschack Elia scored in the 37th minute, giving DR Congo the lead with a header from the six-yard box. The Pharaohs responded to Les Léopards ‘s lead in the first half.

Egypt was awarded a penalty after a VAR review, and attacker Mostafa Mohamed converted it into the top right corner, beating goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi-Nzau.

Although the seven-time champions dominated the second half, they were unable to break through the resilient Les Léopards defence. The match eventually went into extra time, marking the first time in the tournament in Côte D’Ivoire.

The game travelled to a shootout, and Egypt missed twice from the penalty spot. Mostafa Mohamed and goalkeeper Gabaski both missed their kicks, while Arthur Masuaku missed his earlier for Les Léopards.

DR Congo has advanced to the quarter-finals after winning 8-7 on penalties. Egypt has attempted to advance from the last 16 three times in the past but has failed to do so twice. D.R. Congo has been eliminated in their first knockout game in their two previous appearances in 2019 and 2017.

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

Nigeria beat Cameroon to set Angola's quarter-final date
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Nigeria beat Cameroon to set Angola’s quarter-final date

On Saturday, Ademola Lookman was the hero as Nigeria defeated Cameroon 2-0 in their Round of 16 of CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023 as the continent’s football heavyweights battle at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny.

As a result, the Supers Eagles will face Angola, who brushed aside Namibia 3-0 in the quarter-finals, while Cameroon exited the competition. 

Cameroon started the game brightly after Zambo Anguissa found Karl Toko Ekambi, but William Ekong blocked the striker’s shot. 

Nigeria appeared to score early on through Ajayi, but VAR disallowed the goal for offside after Lookman’s corner.

However, the Super Eagles did manage to break through in the 36th minute. Victor Osimhen capitalized on a defensive mistake and set up Lookman, who finished the move calmly past Onana. 

Cameroon was unable to deal with Nigeria’s intensity and conceded again just before full-time. Lookman latched onto his own through ball before slotting it home to make it 2-0.

With their clinical victory, Nigeria has demonstrated that they have the quality and experience to end their long wait for a fourth continental title in CAF AFCON.

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

Kamil Conteh has a successful Bristol Rovers debut
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Kamil Conteh had a successful Bristol Rovers debut

Sierra Leone International Kamil Conteh made a successful debut for Bristol Rovers, helping them to end their four-match losing streak in League One.

The team secured a 3-1 victory against Oxford at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, with goals from Chris Martin, Thomas, and Harvey Vale.

Kamil, who is 21 years old and recently signed a new three-and-a-half-year deal with the club after moving from Grimsby Town, played the full match and contributed to their win.

Martin, who extended his contract with the Gas earlier this week, met Antony Evans’ flick from a Jack Hunt cross to plant a left-foot shot low past goalkeeper Jamie Cumming in the 16th minute.

The home team extended their lead by two goals just six minutes after the first goal. Luke Thomas received a pass from Sam Finley and danced his way past multiple defenders before shooting from the edge of the box into the bottom corner. Despite the goalkeeper getting a hand to the ball, the shot was too powerful to stop.

Jed Ward made a crucial save when he denied Ruben Rodrigues on the 52nd minute. However, Oxford managed to score a goal when Cameron Branagan’s shot from outside the box was deflected off Mark Harris and went in six minutes later.

With 13 minutes remaining, Rovers sealed the victory when Cummings saved Finley’s low shot, but Harvey Vale was quick to pounce on the rebound and scored.

Kamil Conteh pens Bristol Rovers League One deal
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Kamil Conteh pens Bristol Rovers League One deal 

The club is thrilled to announce that Kamil Conteh has signed a contract which runs until June 2027. The 21-year-old midfielder has joined Rovers from League Two side Grimsby Town for an undisclosed fee.

Conteh made 29 appearances in all competitions this season for Grimsby Town. He has eight international caps with Sierra Leone and also has experience with Championship clubs Middlesbrough and Watford.

Conteh spent much of his youth career with Watford before joining Boro in May 2022, following a successful trial period. He started the 2022/23 season with five Premier League 2 appearances before moving out on loan to National League side Gateshead.

During his time at Gateshead, he played 34 times, scoring three goals, including in their FA Cup first-round match against Stevenage. His impressive form in the fifth tier attracted interest from several EFL clubs including the Mariners, who gave him a three-year deal in Lincolnshire.

Conteh was delighted to join Rovers and said: “I’m excited to be here and am looking forward to cracking on and getting playing. In terms of the size of the club, where they are in the table, and the manager’s plans for me, I just really wanted to be a part of it.”

Rovers boss Matt Taylor said, “I’m really pleased. It’s been in the pipeline for a little while, so I’m thrilled to get it over the line and get him down here and have him available for Saturday’s game. He’s a player we’ve admired for a while now. I think he adds something to our midfield. Obviously, on the back of Grant Ward’s injury, and the loan lads going back to their parent clubs, we’ve been a little bit light in that department. So, it’s important we have him here and that we keep adding to it.”

Overall, Kamil Conteh’s addition to the team is expected to improve Rovers’ midfield and contribute positively to the team’s performance.

Tunisia coach Jalel Kadri leaves post after AFCON exit
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Tunisia coach Jalel Kadri leaves post after AFCON exit

Jalel Kadri has resigned as coach of the Tunisian national football team. The team finished bottom of Group E with only two points and failed to progress to the knockout stage of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Kadri, who led Tunisia to victory against France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, announced his resignation in a post-match television interview. 

He stated that his mission with the national team had come to an end. 

Tunisia had a disappointing performance in the AFCON, losing their opening match to Namibia and only managing a draw with Mali before being eliminated following a goalless draw with South Africa.

Tunisia failed to secure any victories in their matches against Ivory Coast, ending up last in Group E. This is quite a contrast to their performance 13 months ago when they beat France 1-0 at the World Cup in Qatar.

Hamza Rafia managed to score Tunisia’s 100th goal in the competition during their 1-1 draw with Mali. However, this was their only goal of the AFCON tournament.

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

Ivory Coast face holders Senegal in Mouthwatering duel
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ivory Coast face holders Senegal in a gripping duel 

The Ivory Coast, hosts of the 2023 Cup of Nations, will face off against in-form holders Senegal in an exciting last-sixteen duel at the Stade Charles Konan Banny de Yamoussoukro on Monday. 

Morocco’s 1-0 triumph over Zambia in Group F on Wednesday ensured Ivory Coast finished as the fourth-best third-place team for the knockout stage.

Les Éléphants, who have won the tournament twice before, will be eagerly desperate to improve their performance in front of their home fans. 

A great opportunity awaits the Ivory Coast national football team to showcase their fantastic players. However, they must now display more class after barely making it to the last sixteen.

In their final group game, Ivory Coast suffered a shocking 4-0 defeat by Equatorial Guinea, which led to the sacking of coach Jean-Louis Gasset and his assistant Ghislain Printant due to their unsatisfactory results in the tournament. 

But despite being the underdogs, the host nation should not be ruled out easily in a knockout encounter.

The last time they played was in an international friendly in March 2017 which ended in a 1-1 draw at Stade Charlety in Paris.

Aliou Cissé’s side has progressed to this stage with maximum points by defeating Cameroon, the Gambia, and Guinea, making them the favourites on paper.

Morocco and South Africa will face each other in the Round of 16 of the CAF AFCON Côte d’Ivoire 2023. Morocco, who were semifinalists in the World Cup, are the favourites to win the tournament, but they must first defeat Bafana Bafana on January 30 at the Laurent Pokou Stadium.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will take on the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon on Saturday, January 27, at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan. Despite Cameroon’s shaky start, they will be confident of their chances against an unpredictable Nigerian side.

Nigeria is hoping to win the AFCON trophy after a decade, and Rigobert Song’s side is determined to make it their sixth AFCON title.

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

Sierra Leone striker Augustine Williams joins Indy Eleven
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone striker Augustine Williams joins Indy Eleven

Indy Eleven has announced that they have signed Sierra Leonean striker, Augustine Williams, for the upcoming 2024 USL Championship season.

Williams had an impressive performance last season, scoring sixteen goals for Charleston Battery in the USL Championship.

This will be the 26-year-old’s seventh professional club in the United States since he began his career with Portland Timbers 2 in 2016.

Indy Eleven has not disclosed the terms of the deal, and it is subject to league and federation approval as per club policy. Williams, who scored fifteen goals in 2022 with Charleston, is now embarking on a new adventure.

He was also named in the second-team All-USL honours for his performance last season, which is the second time in his career he has received this recognition.

He spent three seasons (2019-21) as part of the LA Galaxy and In 51 matches as part of the USL Championship’s Galaxy II squad, Williams tallied 20 goals and four assists.

Cup of Nations Ivory Coast hosts Sack Coach Gasset
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Cup of Nations hosts Ivory Coast Sack Coach Gasset 

The Ivory Coast, who are hosting the 2023 Cup of Nations, have announced that they have parted ways with their coach, Jean-Louis Gasset, and his assistant, Ghislain Printant, after failing to achieve satisfactory results in the tournament. 

This announcement was made by the country’s football federation (FIF) on Wednesday. “The contracts of coach Jean-Louis Gasset and his assistant Ghislain Printant are terminated due to insufficient results,” the FIF said in a statement.”

The team was defeated 4-0 by Equatorial Guinea in their last Group A match on Monday, which leaves them on the brink of elimination from the tournament. 

Ivory Coast needed favourable results in Wednesday’s final group matches to reach the knock-out phase as one of the four best third-placed teams.

 The team has only failed to progress from the group phase once in the previous nine editions of the tournament, in 2017.

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Chris Hughton has been sacked as head coach of Ghana following their exit from the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Chris Hughton sacked as Ghana head coach after AFCON exit

Chris Hughton has been sacked as head coach of Ghana following their exit from the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.  

“The Executive Council has also decided to dissolve the technical team of the Black Stars,” Ghana FA said in their statement.

“The GFA will in the coming days provide a roadmap on the future direction of the Black Stars.”

The Black Stars embarrassingly finished on two points in Group B, drawing 2-2 with both Egypt and Mozambique following a 2-1 defeat by Cape Verde in their opener.

On Tuesday, despite all hopes of progressing as one of the four best-ranked third-placed sides, two late goals from Mozambique stunned Hughtons’ side. 

The former Newcastle United boss, who was appointed in February last year, had failed to guide his team to a single victory in Ivory Coast.

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