Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

ACV Assen midfielder Ibrahim Sillah reflects after Sierra Leone duty
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Assen midfielder Ibrahim Sillah reflects after Sierra Leone duty 

ACV Assen midfielder Ibrahim Sillah, who made his Sierra Leone debut against Togo on 24 March 2022 in an International friendly in Turkey, has been speaking out about the recent International call-up.

He was named in coach Amidu Karim’s squad for International matches in the 1-1 draw against Benin and the 2-0 triumph of Somalia in Morocco earlier this month.

The Kickers Emden player, who has won five caps with Sierra Leone, was pleased as he sat with Dutch media dvhn.nl sport to give an account. 

“Eight million people are living in Sierra Leone. Of these, Twenty players (25) have been selected for the national football team during the Fifa calender in October,” he told DVHN.nl sport.

“I am one of them. I’m proud of that. I dreamed of this as a child but never expected to achieve this, my parents would have been proud of me, but they’re gone.”

Since his return to the Dutch side, Sillah, 28, has been pivotal in making eight appearances in this campaign. 

The midfielder is hoping he has impressed enough to be selected for World Cup qualifying matches against Ethiopia and Egypt on November 15 and 19, respectively. 

The Leone Stars’ journey to qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the USA, Mexico and Canada will begin in November 2023.

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2026 World Cup Qualifying Groups Africa Zone Opponents Group A Sierra Leone, Egypt, Burkina-Faso Guinea-Bissau, Ethiopia, Djibouti
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

World Cup Q: Ethiopia to host Sierra Leone in Morocco

The Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca will host Sierra Leone’s 2026 World Cup opening qualifier against the Walia Ibex of Ethiopia on Wednesday, 15th of November 2023, the SLFA have announced.

The Leone Stars’ second match in the race to the USA, Mexico and Canada is against the Pharaohs of Egypt. The tie is set to be played in the Liberian Capital, Monrovia, on Sunday, 19th November 2023.

Group A comprised of Egypt, Burkina-Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. 

During the 2022 World Cup preliminary, Liberia eliminated Sierra Leone 3-2 on aggregate after the Lone Star won the first leg 3-1 and suffered a 1-0 defeat in Freetown, both matches played in September 2019.

Sierra Leone played to a 1-1 draw against Benin on October 14th before defeating Somalia 2-0 in a recent training camp in Morocco three days later.

However, with the latest format of 48 teams competing with a minimum of nine African sides guaranteed places for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, many Sierra Leoneans believe this is Leone Stars’ best chance ever.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the 23rd FIFA World Cup to be co-hosted in three countries, Canada, Mexico and the United States. 

The nine groups will play a home and away, starting in November this year. They will take place over ten matchdays during the next two years: 13-21 November 2023 – 3-11 June 2024; 17-25 March 2025; 1-9 September 2025; 6-14 October 2025; 10-18 November 2025 (Playoffs).

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, the writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32, Contact Bi****@*****************ne.net. National News.

Sierra Leone confirm 2026 World Qualifying dates and venues
Sierra Leone confirm 2026 World Qualifying dates and venues
Mustapha Bundu opens Plymouth Argyle Championship account
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mustapha Bundu opens Plymouth Argyle Championship account

Sierra Leone International Mustapha Bundu opened his English Championship account in Plymouth Argyle 3-0 over Sheffield Wednesday.

Argyle manager Steven Schumacher handed Bundu his first start after he made just two changes from the weekend draw at West Brom, captain Joe Edwards returning for Mickel Miller and a first start for Bundu in place of Hardie.

Mustapha Bundu accounted for their first in the 44th minute as Argyle returned to winning ways. Morgan Whittaker doubled the host lead in first-half stoppage time.

“It’s up there in the top two or top three,” Bundu told BBC Sport.“It was an amazing feeling, the whole situation, my first start at home in front of the fans, in a game where we weren’t really on top.

“To get that free-kick and to score and give everyone a breather was nice.”

Ryan Hardie scored the highest third as he completed the win with a low right-footed finish in the second half after Finn Azaz had dispossessed George Byers and played the Scottish striker in.

The win is Argyle’s first in five games to lift them to 18th place in the Championship table as winless Wednesday remain bottom with three points from their first 13 games.

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Tonight's player of the match as selected by match sponsors Adrenalin Leisure, is Mustapha Bundu.
Tonight's player of the match as selected by match sponsors Adrenalin Leisure, is Mustapha Bundu.
Foreign scouts visit Sierra Leone football chief Daddy Brima.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Foreign scouts visit Sierra Leone football chief Daddy Brima

On Tuesday, International football scouts who were in Sierra Leone to witness the U17 and U19 talent Detection tournament organised by Star Sports Academy paid a courtesy call to the Sierra Leone football chief, Thomas Daddy Brima.

In a bid to expand the International football relationship, the Sierra Leone Football Association President, Daddy Brima, engaged the scouts from Türkiye, Slovakia, Sudan and Bulgaria at the FA secretariat.

President Brima was pleased and described their visit as ” timely and impactful towards the growth and development of players in the country.”

He further assured them of the Sierra Leone Football Association’s unreserved support and cooperation throughout their scouting activities within the country.

Meanwhile, Eight of the sixteen teams that participated were from outside Sierra Leone. Academy GFI from Guinea emerged as the Detection tournament champions held at the Southern Arena in Bo following a 5-3 penalty shootout victory over Star Sports Academy of Sierra Leone.

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Academy GFI from Guinea emerged as the Detection tournament champions held at the Southern Arena in Bo following a 5-3 penalty shootout victory over Star Sports Academy of Sierra Leone.
Academy GFI from Guinea emerged as the Detection tournament champions held at the Southern Arena in Bo following a 5-3 penalty shootout victory over Star Sports Academy of Sierra Leone.
Al Ahly beat Simba to set Sundowns African Football League date
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Al Ahly eliminate Simba to set Sundowns African Football League date

On Tuesday, Al Ahly eliminated Tanzania Simba to set a date with South African Mamelodi Sundowns in the semifinals of the African Champions League.

After a 2-2 draw in Tanzania, the Egyptian giants emerged victorious on an away goal rule as they booked their place in the inaugural African Football League (AFL) semifinals. The first leg match had ended 1-1 at Cairo International.

Sundowns of South Africa, on the other hand, confirmed their semifinal spot with a goalless draw after they played most of the tie with a man down against th Petro Atletico on Tuesday.

They won the first leg 2-0 away and will play Egyptian side Al-Ahly in Sunday’s first-leg semis match. 

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CAF & Puma unveil AFCON 2023 Match Ball 'Pokou'
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

CAF & Puma unveil AFCON 2023 Match Ball ‘Pokou’

The Confederation of African Football, CAF and German multinational corporation PUMA have unveiled “POKOU” – the official match ball for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023.

CAF say the Official match ball, POKOU, is named after Ivorian legendary forward Laurent Pokou, a doyen of African football whose five goals in the 6-1 victory over Ethiopia at the 1970 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations remains a record during the Final competition.

The continental tournament is set to run from 13 January to 11 February 2024 in the cities of Abidjan, Bouake, Korhogo, San Pedro and Yamoussoukro.

Erwan, a son of the late Pokou, presented the iconic and beautifully designed match ball to the audience during the Final Draw.

The 34th edition match ball features the three colours of the Cote d’Ivoire flag – white, orange and green, whilst incorporating the latest technology that will revolutionize the game on the continent and beyond.

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In Uyo, Nigeria, Wydad Casablanca of Morocco secured narrow victory over their rival in the first leg.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

TP Mazembe, Wydad register AFL quarterfinal first leg wins

TP Mazembe of DR Congo and Wydad Casablanca of Morocco registered wins over their rivals in the first leg of the African Football League quarter-finals on Sunday.

Cheick Oumar Fofana’s first-leg goal was enough as TP Mazembe registered a hard-fought 1-0 win over Tunisian side Esperance.

Fofana. 19, 11th-minute head put Mazembe in front at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Tanzania to give the DR Congo club a slender advantage.

Mazembe gave a good account of themselves as they controlled the early exchanges before Fofana connected with Phillipe Kinzumbi’s pinpoint delivery to score what proved the winner.

Despite all efforts from the Tunisian side, Mazembe held on to secure a vital away goal and advantage ahead of the second leg in Tunisia this Wednesday.

In Uyo Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, Wydad Casablanca of Morocco secured a narrow victory over their Nigerian counterpart in the first leg.

The Moroccan side defeated Enyimba 1-0. The match-winning goal was scored by Wydad’s skipper Yahya Jabrane in the 39th minute from the penalty spot at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

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Augustine Williams nets as Charleston Battery progress
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Augustine Williams scores as Battery progress to USL Semis

Augustine Williams recorded his fifteen of the campaign as Charleston Battery progressed after they wallopped Indy Eleven  5-0 at Patriots Point on Sunday.

A 5-0 triumph for Battery saw them progress to the USL Championship Eastern Conference Semifinal on Sunday at Patriots Point. 

Emilio Ycaza, Augi Williams, Arturo Rodriguez, Fidel Barajas and Nick Markanich were all on the score sheet. 

A bright start for Battery as Emilio Ycaza scored their opener in the 12th minute, assisted by Arturo Rodriguez, before Augustine Williams powered in from the edge of the box to beat goalkeeper Tim Trilk.

The Sierra Leone International took his tally to fifteen with the strike. 

Rodriguez, fresh off providing an assist, etched his name into the scoresheet in the 40th minute with an exclamation mark before halftime. 

Fidel Barajas and Nick Markanich were the other scorers of the day as they proved too strong for their visitors.

Williams’ Battery will face Birmingham Legion in the Semifinals to host Birmingham Legion FC on Sat, Oct. 28, at 7 PM.

Scoring Summary

CHS – Emilio Ycaza 12’ (Arturo Rodriguez) 

CHS – Augi Williams 37’ (Nick Markanich) 

CHS – Arturo Rodriguez 40’ (Fidel Barajas) 

CHS – Fidel Barajas 47’ (Arturo Rodriguez) 

CHS – Nick Markanich 63’ (Augustine Williams)

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, the writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32, Contact Bi****@*****************ne.net. Players Abroad – Charleston Battery USL

Idris Kanu on target for Barnet
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Idris Kanu helps Barnet in win over Maidenhead United

Idris Kanu registered his fourth of the season as Barnet defeated Maidenhead United 3-2 at the Hive.

The Sierra Leone International was making his sixteen appearances and scored in the fourth minute. Kanu struck a superb finish into the top corner to give Barnet the lead.

But Kanu’s goal did not last long as the visitors scored through Jayden Mitchell-Lawson fired home to level the scoring in the 11th minute before Bradley Keetch gave the struggling visitors a surprise half-time lead.

Callum Stead headed the hosts level after 51 minutes before Gorman won it for the Bees in the 91st minute, with Maidenhead’s Sam Beckwith and two backroom staff being sent off in the chaotic scenes that followed.

Barnet’s winner came from substitute Dale Gorman, who scored a stoppage-time winner as the home side left it late to beat Maidenhead United.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, the writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32, Contact Bi****@*****************ne.net. Players Abroad Barnet FC

Issa Kallon's Shanghai Port made to wait for the CSL title
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Issa Kallon’s Shanghai Port made to wait for the CSL title

On Friday, Shanghai Port suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Beijing Guoan to miss an early chance of securing the 2023 Chinese Super League title.

Sierra Leone International Issa Kallon, who started on the bench, was subbed on in the 32nd minute to bookmark his 24th appearance for the Chinese side as he replace Lucas João.

Guoan’s Wang Gang opened the scoring for the visitors in the 24th minute as Zhang Linpeng’s foul in the area gave the visitors another chance in the 52nd minute.

Beijing striker Fabio Abreu scored from the penalty spot to double the lead. Wu Lei’s header gave Shanghai a consolation goal in the 89th minute.

With two matches left in the 2023 CSL, Shanghai Port is on top of the table with 59 points, with Shandong Taishan five points adrift in second place after they beat Changchun Yatai 3-0.

In Friday’s other CSL match, Wuhan Three Towns beat Dalian Pro 3-1. 

Shanghái Port to host Shandong Taishan on Sunday as they look to seal the title this campaign.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, the writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32, Contact Bi****@*****************ne.net. Players Abroad Shanghái Port