Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

East End Lions record first League win on Wednesday
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

East End Lions record first win of the season

One of Sierra Leone’s most decorated clubs, East End Lions, secured their first win on Wednesday after five matches, breaking a streak of four consecutive draws.

As a result, they moved up to eight as the victory added three crucial points to their tally of 7 points from 5 matches.

At the Trade Centre playing field, in the 28th minute, Sulaiman Kargbo opened the scoring before Ibrahim Bangura levelled for the visitors just before the break.

After the recess, the homes showed composure and determined to secure their first win with two more goals from Alie Conteh and Kandeh Turay.

Elsewhere, Mighty Blackpool faced a setback, losing to Ports Authority 2-1 at the Attouga Mini stadium. 

The defeat marked Mighty Blackpool’s second consecutive defeat following their 2-0 defeat to Lamboi FC in Lungi over the weekend.

Despite the defeats, they maintain a standing of 9 points from 5 matches.

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, National Premier League and National News. 

Sierra Leone Premier League Week Five Matches, Results and Table
Sierra Leone Premier League Week Five Matches, Results and Table
Fofin Turay all smiles as his Groningen side wrap up preparaation for Telstar
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Fofin Turay trains ahead of Groningen, Telstar Eerste tie

The 19-year-old Sierra Leone native Fofin Turay trained with the first team in their final preparation as In-form Groningen set to face SC Telstar in match day eighten of the Dutch Eerste Divisie on Friday at Euroborg.

After 17 matches, Groningen stood in ninth place on 25 points. They won their last Eerste Divisie match 2-1 at home against VVV, extending their unbeaten streak to five.

Groningen won the last encounter between the teams, triumphing 3-0 in their match against Telstar.

Telstar drew 0-0 against Utrecht II at Sportcomplex Zoudenbalch in their last encounter, leaving them in 18th place on 14 points.

In the final third, Kevin van Veen has been a key player for Groningen this season. The striker is the side’s leading scorer with five goals.

Telstar’s Zakaria Eddahchouri, who has scored on nine occasions, including three match-opening goals, is tied for fourth in the league’s scoring charts in 2023/2024.

On home soil this season, Groningen has secured 15 points (W4 D3 L2) from a possible 27 on offer in nine Eerste Divisie contests. 

Telstar will seek to address a poor run of results on the road this season with two draws, six losses, and just one win in league-away contests.

In their last six league matches, Groningen have won three, drawn two and lost one. Telstar, meanwhile, has won two, drawn one and lost three in their last six.

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, Players Abroad News, and Dutch Eerste Divisie. 

by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Osimhen, Salah, Hakimi named in final three for CAF Award

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah, and Moroccan International Achraf Hakimi are the final three for the CAF 2023 Player of the Year Award. The current holder is Senegal’s Sadio Mane.

The Confederation of African Football has unveiled the final three players for the CAF Men’s Player of the Year Award.

After he scored 26 Serie A goals, Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen has been crowned the Italian Footballers’ Association Player of the Year for his Napoli performances last season.

He was presented with the award on Monday night after helping his side win their first league title in 33 years.

Osimhen scored 26 Serie A goals in 2022-23, breaking former World Best George Weah’s record as the highest-scoring African in the Italian top flight in the process.

Mohamed Salah leads the way for top Premier League African goal scorer with 149 goals, 243 matches and 65 assists since joining Liverpool in 2017.

He won the African Award back to back in 2017 and 2018 and was runners-up in 2019 and 2022 behind former team mates Sado Mane. 

Achraf Hakimi made headlines after he was named to Morocco’s 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

His winning penalty with a panenka-style shot in a shoot-out against Spain in the round of 16 helped secure a place for his country in the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, Yassine Bounou is one of the finalists for the Best Goalkeeper category, alongside Cameroon’s Andre Onana and Egypt’s Mohamed El Shenawy.

On Monday, 11 December 2023, the award ceremony will be held at the Palais des Congrès, Movenpick, Marrakech, Morocco, 19H00 local time (18H00 GMT).

The ultimate winner of each category is decided following votes from a panel consisting of the CAF Technical Committee, media professionals from Member Associations, Head Coaches and captains of Member Associations and clubs involved in the group stages of the Interclub competitions.

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, African News and CAF 2023 Awards.

Josh Koroma returns to Huddersfield's action in Swansea draw
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Josh Koroma features in Huddersfield’s draw with Swansea

Josh Koroma gained valuable minutes in Huddersfield Town’s 1-1 draw at Swansea City, his third match since returning from Injury.

The Sierra Leonean native was making his sixteen appearances for the English Championship side. 

Koroma, 25, was subbed on in the 67th minute to replace Daniel Carl Ward as both teams played to a 1-1 at Swansea City.

Charlie Patino’s stoppage-time goal saw struggling Swansea City salvage a point against Huddersfield Town.

Darren Moore’s Terriers had looked set to hold on for victory after Swansea defender Ben Cabango turned Jaheim Headley’s cross into his net early on, but Patino denied the visitors maximum points.

As a result, they remain 21st in the table, four points clear of the relegation zone, with Swansea a point better off in 18th.

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, Players Abroad News, and Huddersfield Town. 

Defending Champions South Africa beat Burkina Faso to book AFCON ticket
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

South Africa beat Burkina Faso to book AFCON ticket

South Africa has qualified for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations to be played in Morocco next year after their 2-0 win over Burkina Faso.

On Monday, Linda Mothlalo and Nicole Michael scored the goals as Banyana_Banyana overcame Burkina Faso in a return leg played at the nation’s capital on Monday afternoon.

After a 1-1 draw in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire, a few days ago, the defending champions dug deep to secure their ticket to Morocco next year.

At Pretoria’s Lucas Moripe Stadium, Motlhalo’s 55th-minute strike, followed by Michael’s 63rd-minute goal, ensured the defending champions book their spot in Africa’s most prestigious national women’s competition next year.

Meanwhile, in Burundi, Algeria completed the job with a 1-0 win over the East African nation to make a return to the competition after missing out on the 2022 edition in Morocco.

Following their comfortable 5-1 lead at home, the North Africans were assured of a place with an easy return leg against Burundi.

Ines Boutaleb scored as Algeria sealed a 6-1 aggregate two-legged victory and booked a place in Morocco next year.

The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, Morocco 2024 qualifiers continue on Tuesday to determine who will advance to the prestigious women’s national team competition.

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, African News and CAF Africa Women’s Cup of Nations. 

Defending Champions South Africa beat Burkina Faso to book AFCON ticket
Defending Champions South Africa beat Burkina Faso to book AFCON ticket
Ines Boutaleb scored as Algeria sealed a 6-1 aggregate two-legged victory and booked a place in Morocco next year.
Ines Boutaleb scored as Algeria sealed a 6-1 aggregate two-legged victory and booked a place in Morocco next year.
Charlton Athletic recall striker from loan spell at Blues
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Striker Daniel Kanu recall from Southend United loan spell

CHARLTON Athletic have recalled Daniel Kanu from his loan spell at Southend United.

The Sierra Leone International signed a short-term loan from Charlton Athletic on 6 October 2023.

He has scored four goals in six games since signing for the Shrimpers in early October.

Technical Director Andy Scott commented: “With Daniel coming back here, he’s going to be match fit, he’s going to be ready and he’s going to be chomping at the bit to score goals. He did very well for us earlier in the season.”

Kanu, 19, made his international debut for Sierra Leone on 19 November 2023 as a second-half substitute in a 2–0 defeat to the Egypt national team.

The young striker started his career with the club’s U11 level and penned his first professional contract in February 2022.

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, Players Abroad News, and Charlton Athletic News.

Plymouth Argyle attacker Mustapha Bundu made a return from a hamstring injury in the 2-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone’s Mustapha Bundu helps Plymouth beat Stoke

Sierra Leone International Mustapha Bundu scored his second of the season for Plymouth Argyle in their English Championship week fifteen encounter on Saturday.

Tyrese Campbell had capitalised to score the visitor’s opener after a lack of communication in the home defence to ghost in and slot Stoke ahead in the 23rd minute. However, Mustapha Bundu steered the home side leveller from Kaine Kesler-Hayden’s low, fizzed-in cross from deep just before the break.

Adam Randell scored a last-gasp match-winner to record his first goal at Home Park – the substitute kept his cool to score a 97th-minute winner for Plymouth Argyle on his 100th appearance for the club to beat fellow strugglers Stoke City.

Victory moves Plymouth above Stoke into 16th, maintaining their six-point gap over the bottom three, while Alex Neil’s Potters fall to 20th. 

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, Players Abroad News and Plymouth Argyle Championship News. 

Sierra Leone's Mustapha Bundu helps Plymouth beat Stoke City.
Back-to-back wins for Osman Kakay's Queens Park Rangers
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Back-to-back wins for Osman Kakay’s Queens Park Rangers

Under new boss Martí Cifuentes, Queens Park Rangers have registered back-to-back English Championship victories after a 2-0 win in wintry conditions at Deepdale.

The Sierra Leone International started on the bench but was substituted in the 65th minute, replacing Reggie Cannon to bookmark his 20th appearance. 

In a game of few chances, the visitors took the lead ten minutes into the second period through Paul Smyth’s close-range finish before Chris Willock made it two in the closing stages.

On Tuesday, they defeated Stoke City 4-2 in their home win this season, coming from behind to beat 10-man Stoke City.

Marti Cifuentes made four changes from the side that recorded a dramatic 4-2 win over Stoke City in W12 on Tuesday night, with Jake Clarke-Salter, Reggie Cannon, Andre Dozzell and Chris Willock coming in at the expense of Steve Cook, Osman Kakay, Elijah Dixon-Bonner and Ilias Chair.

However, they remain in the Championship bottom three but as a much-improved side under new boss Marti Cifuentes, having lost only one of the Spaniard’s five matches in charge.

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, Players Abroad News, Queens Park Rangers News. 

Amadou Bakayoko's Dundee travel to face Motherwell
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Amadou Bakayoko’s Dundee travel to face Motherwell

On Saturday, Sierra Leone International Amadou Bakayoko’s Dundee set to travel to Motherwell in the cinch Premiership round fifteen.

Their first away match since Saturday, 28th October, when they defeated Livingston 0-2 at the Tony Macaroni Arena as the Dee hunt for another successful away day tomorrow at Fir Park.

Motherwell, standing 9th, will be looking to take maximum points at home after coming from a 1-1 draw at Celtic Park last weekend.

Only four points separated Dundee in 7th place and Motherwell in 9th place with Dundee having played one less game.

The teams last met on the first day of the league season in Dundee and played out an entertaining 1-1 draw.

Theo Bair scored for Motherwell just before half-time, and in the second half, Lyall Cameron scored the equaliser for The Dee in the 68th minute.

Since joining on a season-long deal for the 23/24 season from English League Two side Forest Green Rovers, Bakayoko has scored three times for the Dee.

He made his Dee debut against Inverness CT in the Viaplay Cup on 30th July 2023.

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and Players Abroad News, Cinch Premiership.

Sierra Leone line-up friendlies for World Cup qualifiers
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone nosedive five places in latest Fifa ranking

Sierra Leone has plummeted five places from 122 in October to 127 in November’s FIFA ranking after their two 2026 World Cup opening qualifying matches.

The Leone Stars of Sierra Leone played to a goalless draw against Ethiopia and suffered a 2-0 defeat to Egypt this month – they were ranked 122 before the 2026 World Cup qualification started.

November’s Fifa ranking also affected the West African nation’s place in the continent as they dropped to 36th place from 32nd in October with 1138.53 points scored globally.

In Africa, Morocco ranked as the best football team in the continent after its victory against Tanzania in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, seeing the Atlas Lions maintain the 13th spot globally.

Senegal, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Burkina Faso make the top ten. 

England impressively climbed to third in the Fifa world rankings after completing an unbeaten qualifying campaign for Euro 2024.

Argentina, France, England, Belgium and Brazil sit top of the World.  

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and National News & Fifa Ranking News. 

Sierra Leone nosedived five places from 122 in October to 127 November in the latest Fifa ranking
Sierra Leone nosedived five places from 122 in October to 127 November in the latest Fifa ranking