Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Young defender Amara Nallo impressive for Liverpool U21
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Young defender Amara Nallo impressive for Liverpool U21

West Ham academy graduate Amara Nallo, who joined Liverpool last month, has been a pivotal player for the Red’s U21. 

The youngster signed a five-year deal and was integrated straight into Liveropool’s Premier League 2 side.

Since his move to Liverpool, he has already featured in all the U21 matches this campaign.

Football Sierra Leone understands that Liverpool has paid a significant transfer fee to complete the move of the 16-year-old centre-back. 

Liverpool wrote on their website, “Amara Nallo is a centre-half who signed for Liverpool FC from West Ham United in September 2023. He is a strong left-sided defender who is comfortable bringing the ball out from the back. Nallo started Academy life with the U18s.”

He is expected to sign a professional contract upon turning 17 in November this year, a move that Liverpool could capitalize on, adding another gem to their youth ranks.

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Defender Alex Bangura makes Boro return in win over Cardiff
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Defender Alex Bangura makes Boro return in win over Cardiff

Defender Alex Bangura started on the bench for Middlesbrough in their 2-0 win over Cardiff City on Tuesday.

He’s been out of action since suffering a hamstring injury on his debut at Blackburn but was subbed on in the 90th minute for Lukas Ahlefeld Engel.

At the Riverside, Boro made it four wins in a row from second-half goals from Isaiah Jones and Emmanuel Latte Lath secured Michael Carrick’s side another impressive win. 

Bangura, who was forced in the 68th minute in a defeat to Blackburn Rovers due to hamstring injury, was subbed on late in their win. 

Alex Bangura Middlesbrough FC English Championship

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Ex-International Amidu Karim lands a Sierra Leone coaching job
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ex-International Amidu Karim lands Sierra Leone coaching job

Former Sierra Leone attacking midfielder Amidu Karim, who was part of the Leone Stars 1994 and 1996 African Cup of Nations squad, has been appointed provisional head coach of the national team.

The former U23 technician will be assisted By former homebased coach Francis Zappa Koroma and Bo Rangers Alhaji Foray as they start their groundwork ahead of the World Cup 2026 qualifiers.

The SLFA say Karim and his team will take charge of the World Cup 2026 qualifiers starting in November. Karim, 49, who has been assistant under John Keister during the AFCON in Cameroon and the 2023 AFCON qualifiers, will start a new journey in his coaching career.

His Leone Stars’ journey to qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the USA, Mexico and Canada will begin in November 2023. His first task will be a doubleheader against  Walia Ibex of Ethiopia before hosting the African powerhouse Egypt.

The draw for the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup finals placed Sierra Leone in Group A with five teams: Egypt, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, and Djibouti.

About the World Cup qualifiers Nine (9) Groups Fifty-four (54) Teams 

The Africa Zone (CAF) qualifiers for the 26 FIFA World Cup will begin on 13 November 2023 and end in November 2025.

Qualification process – The African teams will play across two rounds – the first contest of the group stage, with nine groups of six teams each. 

Each team will play ten home and away matches -the top finisher in each group will qualify for World Cup 26.

The second round will pit the four best runners-up in two one-off semi-finals, followed by a final. The winner of this second round will participate in the FIFA Play-off Tournament.

https://twitter.com/football_sierra/status/1709297482469949711

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The draw for the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup finals placed Sierra Leone in Group A with five teams: Egypt, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, and Djibouti.
The draw for the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup finals placed Sierra Leone in Group A with five teams: Egypt, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, and Djibouti.
Continental giants Wydad Casablanca down Hafia to reach group stage
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Wydad Casablanca beat Hafia to progress

Continental giants Wydad Casablanca walloped Guinean side Hafia 3-0 in their second round second leg CAF Champions League tie to progress at the Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca on Saturday. 

Following their 1-1 draw in the Guinean capital, Wydad knew they had to do the needful if they are to join other continental giants in the group stage draw.

Wydad Casablanca thrased Hafia’s 3-0 second leg win to progress on a 4-1 aggregate success.

Yahia Attiyat Allah and Hamdou Elhouni struck in the first half before Abdellah Haimoud completed the job after the break.

Wydad extends their remarkable run of reaching the group stage to nine consecutive seasons as they chase a third Champions League title.

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CR Belouizdad puts Sierra Leone side Rangers to the sword
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

CR Belouizdad puts Sierra Leone side Rangers to the sword

CR Belouizdad Cameroonian striker Leonel Wanda scored a hattrick as the Algerian side defeated Sierra Leone Champions Bo Rangers 3-1 in Algeria on Monday.

The visitors came out of the blocks early with a 9-minute goal from Ibrahim Turay’s superb strike from the edge of the box at the Stade Olympique d’Oran.

Rangers took their lead to the 78th minute before the home side was awarded a spot kick converted by Leonel Wanda after Azzi was fouled in the area.

Two minutes later, Wanda doubled their lead through a one-to-one pass before slotting past the Rangers keeper. Wand’s hattrick was completed in the 89th minute after he collected a pass from the right.

As a result, the Algerian side qualified for the Champions League Group stage with a 6-2 aggregate scoreline from both legs. 

Sierra Leone Champions Bo Rangers suffered a 3-1 home defeat to  Algerian side CR Belouizdad in the first leg of the second preliminary round of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League at the Southern Arena.

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The Algerian side qualified for the Champions League Group stage with a 6-2 aggregate scoreline in both legs.
The Algerian side qualified for the Champions League Group stage with a 6-2 aggregate scoreline in both legs.
Cyprus League leaders defeated AEL Limassol 3-1 in round six of the Cypriot First Division league on Sunday.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Jonathan Morsay nets in AEL Limassol’s defeat to Anorthosis

On Sunday, Cyprus League leaders Anorthosis defeated AEL Limassol 3-1 in the sixth round of the Cypriot First Division league at the Alfamega Stadium.

Sierra Leone winger Jonathan Morsay scored the only goal for the home side, his second of the campaign, but was not enough as the visitors took home maximum points.

The visitors took the lead in the 24th minute through Miguel Ángel Guerrero Martín from the penalty spot before Sergio Castel Martínez doubled their lead two minutes later.

Morsay, 25, reduced the deficit in the 52nd minute to lift his side. However, Anorthosis showed more composure to score their third in the 92nd minute via Ousseynou Thioune as they wrapped up the victory.

As a result, the home team succumbed to back-to-back defeats and sat eighth on the league standings.

APOEL vs. Ethnikos Achnas and AEZ hosting Paphos FC. will end matchday six of the Cyprus first league on October 2nd.

AEL Limassol’s next outing is away to Ethnikos Achnas on Sunday, 13 October, 2023.

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Jonathan Morsay nets in AEL Limassol defeat to Anorthosis
Rodney Michael set for Xylotymbou debut in Cyprus
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Rodney Michael set for Xylotymbou debut in Cyprus

Former Craig Bellamy Academy graduate Rodney Michael is set to make his debut with Cyprus’ second-tier side Podosfairikos Omilos Xylotymbou on Sunday.

On Friday, Xylotymbou announced his signing on their official Instagram page, welcoming Sierra Leone International.

P.O Xylotymbou will host Akritas Chlorakas in round three of the Cypriot Second Division at the Achna Stadium. 

Michael, 24, who started his professional career in 2021 with South Georgia Tormenta FC, signed on a year deal with an option for another year.

Last season, the attacker made 14 league appearances with FK Mornar in the Montenegrin First League, scoring one goal and four assists.

Michael made his professional debut on 19 June 2021, appearing as a 56th-minute substitute during a 3–1 win over Greenville Triumph. He netted his first professional goal on 30 June 2021, scoring Tormenta’s lone goal in a 2–1 loss to Toronto FC II.

The attacker has had spells with Tormenta in the USL Championship, Indy Eleven, and FK Mornar in the Montenegrin First League.

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Ghanaians dash FC Kallon Confederation Cup group stage dreams
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ghanaians dash Kallon Confederation Cup group stage dreams

Sierra Leone CAF Confederation Cup representative FC Kallon has been eliminated by Ghanaian side Dreams FC after a 1-1 full-time scoreline at the SKD stadium in Liberia On Saturday.

Dreams took an early lead through Agyenim Boateng in the 3rd minute from the penalty spot. Kallon, who was on the verge of making history, rallied for an equaliser late on to make it 1-1 but was a little too late.

The Ghanain side won the first leg 2-1 at the Accra Sports Stadium. As a result, they made history of their own by reaching the competition group stage for the first time with a 3-2 aggregate over two legs.

They become the second Ghanaian side to have reached this stage of the competition since Asante Kotoko in 2019.

Dreams went on to qualify unbeaten against Guinean side Milo FC and FC Kallon in both preliminary matches.

 No Sierra Leonean club have reached the group stage of the second-tier competition of African club football since it was introduced in 2004.

In 2004, CAF merged the African Cup Winners’ Cup created in 1975 with the CAF Cup introduced in 1992 to form a new competition called the Confederation Cup, which has since been considered the second African club competition.

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Shanghai Port FC has been impressive this season after a nervy 2022 campaign. Shanghai Port beat Nantong Zhiyun 1-0 in Friday's 27th round of the Chinese Super League (CSL).
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Issa Kallon’s Shanghai Port a win away from Chinese title

Shanghai Port FC has been impressive this season after a nervy 2022 campaign. Port beat Nantong Zhiyun 1-0 in Friday’s 27th Chinese Super League (CSL) round.

Their recent 1-0 win over Nantong Zhiyun away from home only means t that they are one win away from winning the Chinese Super League title.

They have an eight-point lead at the top of their standing ahead of second-placed team Shandong Taishan, who also registered A 2-1 win over Wuhan Three Towns on Friday.

Sierra Leone International Issa Kallon started the match against Nantong Zhiyun but was substituted in the 87th minute for Lü Wenjun.

Kallon, 27, and his side can lift the Chinese Super League title if they can secure a win next match against Beijing Guoan at home.

On 28 July 2022, Kallon joined the Chinese Super League club Shanghai Port.

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Tricky away Champions League contest for Bo Rangers
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Tricky away Champions League contest for Bo Rangers

Having suffered a heavy first leg 3-1 defeat to their Algerian counterparts, Bo Rangers travelled to face Chabab Riadhi Belouizdad for a place in the competition group stages.

Sierra Leone Champions Bo Rangers went down 3-1 at home to CR Belouizdad in the first leg of the second preliminary round of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League on Sunday, September 17 2023, at the Southern Arena.

As a result, Bo Rangers face a giant second-leg task as the return fixture is set to be played at the Oran Olympic Stadium in Algeria on September 30 2023.

Saturday’s meeting will be their fourth after both teams wrestled in this competition last season, but the Algerians again came off top with a 3-0 aggregate over two legs.

In the first leg at the Southern Arena, Sierra Leone back-back Champions started well when they capitalised on the 11-minute chance through Abu Komeh.

This will be the kind of start coach Alhaji Foray will be hoping for if they are to survive the wave in the Algerian city.

The Southern Province outfit departed Sierra Leone with a 23-man sqaud on Wednesday, September 27th, en route to Guinea for Algeria, highly motivated and determined to deliver a respectable result.

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Chabab Riadhi Belouizdad in Algeria training ahead of Bo Rangers tie on Saturday
Chabab Riadhi Belouizdad in Algeria training ahead of Bo Rangers tie on Saturday