Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Guinea and Algeria battle in an exciting Group C contest in Kampala
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Guinea and Algeria to battle in an exciting Group C contest in Kampala

On Friday at 17:00 local time, Guinea after two defeats from three matches take on Algeria at Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, Uganda.

Guinea must win to keep their hopes of advancing in CHAN 2024 alive. In contrast, Algeria can secure their spot in the quarter-finals with a victory, demonstrating their strength in the tournament.

Algeria, led by coach Majid Bougherra, has performed well so far, earning four points from a win against Congo and a draw with South Africa. They sit atop Group C without conceding a goal. Bougherra stated, “Tomorrow, we face Guinea, who still believe in their chances. It will be tough, but we are prepared.”

Guinea started strong with a win over Congo but lost to South Africa. Coach Souleymane Camara is optimistic, saying, “We still have our destiny in our hands. We must fight from start to finish and secure the three points.”

Guinea’s attack needs improvement, and striker Moussa Moïse Camara acknowledged past issues. He stated, “We’ve worked on our efficiency and are ready for Algeria, a strong team.”

Guinea must play aggressively to win, while Algeria aims to maintain their defense. Both teams understand the stakes: win or go home for Guinea, and secure a spot in the last eight for Algeria.

The Kampala crowd anticipates an exciting match filled with drama and crucial moments for Group C.

Morocco wallop resilient Zambia in CHAN Group A duel
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Morocco wallop resilient Zambia in CHAN Group A duel

On Thursday, Morocco’s home-based national team won 3-1 against Zambia in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) taking place in Nairobi as they had to battle against a stiff Zambian defensive wall.

Rabie Hrimat opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time as they Morocco battled to win convincingly. Ossama Lamlioui increased the lead in the 67th minute, but Zambia answered just three minutes thereafter to reduce the gap.

Any comeback ambitions for Zambia were short lived as Sabir Bougrine brought Morocco’s two goal lead back, therefore sealing the victory.

Morocco’s dominated possession and developed several chances. From the touchline, head coach Tarik Sektioui could be heard encouraging his team to press higher and contain the opponent.

Morocco has raised their point count to six, putting them second in Group A, behind Kenya, with this win. Zambia meanwhile ends the competition without a point at the bottom of the group exiting the competition. 

Sunday at 1:00 PM the North Africans next plays DR Congo as they look to wrap up their quarter-final spot.

YYoussef Mehri pulled the strings with two assists, earning him the TotalEnergies Man of the Match award for his commanding performance!
Youssef Mehri pulled the strings with two assists, earning him the TotalEnergies Man of the Match award for his commanding performance!
Midfielder Ibrahim Turay pens deal with Iceland top-tier side Stjarnan
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Midfielder Ibrahim Turay pens deal with Iceland top-tier side Stjarnan

Sierra Leone duo Bo Rangers midfielder Ibrahim Turay and Alpha Conteh have joined Iceland’s top-tier side Stjarnan on a two-year deals. 

Rangers have expressed gratitude for Turay’s dedication and professionalism, stating he was a key figure in their success. They wish him success in his new chapter.

Ibrahim is 24 years old and joins us from Bo Rangers FC, one of the leading teams in Sierra Leone. He is a powerful midfielder who has played for the Sierra Leone national team and scored a goal in the World Cup qualifiers.

With a fighting spirit, power and good technique, Ibrahim is a player who will strengthen our midfield and give the team increased width and stability,” the club noted on Facebook.

Another Sierra Leone International, Alpha Conteh, has also penned a deal with the Garðabær-based outfit on similar terms of a two-half-year contract.

The club wrote, “Alpha is a 24-year-old winger who comes to us from Neftçi PFK in Azerbaijan, where he played in the Premier League. He has also played in Bulgaria with Lokomotiv Plovdiv and in Israel, as well as having games for the Sierra Leone national team.
 
Alpha is fast, powerful and not afraid to attack defenders – qualities that will undoubtedly strengthen the Star’s offensive game!” 

After making several appearances on various national teams, Turay scored his first goal for Leone Stars against Guinea-Bissau in the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers when Sierra Leone defeated their visitors 3-1 in the Liberian capital, March 2025.

Both will join former skipper Steven Caulker at the club – Caulker took on a dual role as player-assistant coach for the men’s first team in June.

Alpha Conteh has also penned a deal with the Garðabær-based outfit on a similar terms of two-half year contract.
Alpha Conteh has also penned a deal with the Garðabær-based outfit on a similar terms of two-half year contract.
Midfielder Ibrahim Turay pens deal with Iceland top-tier side Stjarnan
Midfielder Ibrahim Turay pens deal with Iceland top-tier side Stjarnan
Sierra Leone's Ibrahim Fullah nets first professional goal
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone’s Ibrahim Fullah nets first proffessional goal

Ibrahim Fullah scored his first professional goal, while Miles Leaburn and Luke Berry also found the net, leading the Addicks to a 3-1 victory over Stevenage in the Carabao Cup at The Valley.

Nathan Jones made a whopping 11 changes from the squad that triumphed over Watford in Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship opener. Among the fresh faces were summer signings Joe Rankin-Costello, Tanto Olaofe, Harvey Knibbs, and academy standout Fullah, all making their full debuts.

After a few early threats, the Addicks took the lead in the 27th minute thanks to Leaburn. The lively Olaofe pounced on a loose ball and skillfully threaded a pass to his strike partner, who took a moment to steady himself before slotting it past Taye Ashby-Hammond.

Following the first goal from a Charlton academy graduate, the second came just eight minutes later, also from the academy. Henry Rylah delivered a low, powerful cross from the right that found Fullah at the back post. He outmuscled his defender and finished confidently across the goal.

Charlton had a strong shout for a penalty shortly after their second goal when Olaofe, with his back to goal, seemed to be clipped by a Stevenage defender, but referee Craig Hicks waved away their appeals.

In the second half, Stevenage tried to claw their way back into the match but struggled to trouble Will Mannion in the Charlton goal. For the Addicks, substitute Berry managed to sneak a touch on Rankin-Costello’s shot, but Ashby-Hammond was quick to react and gathered the ball safely.

The visitors made four substitutions in the 60th minute and began to gain some momentum, but it was Berry who sealed the deal with a goal 13 minutes from time.

Daniel Kanu delivered a fantastic cross from the left, and the substitute expertly got in front of his defender to head the ball beautifully into the bottom corner.

Right-back Osman Kakay's Košice suffer Niké league home defeat
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Right-back Osman Kakay’s Košice suffer Niké League home defeat

In the third round of the Niké league, Sierra Leone International Osman Kakay’s team, Košice FC, lost 1:0 at home versus Trenčín.

Injuries forced two major adjustments for coach Roman Skuhravý; captain Krivák and midfielder Gallovič were left out of the team. Though the team introduced fresh jerseys, they found it difficult to perform.

Early on, Košice created opportunities, but Košice failed to turn them into targets. At the 46th minute, right-back Kakay replaced Milan Dimun in their Slovak top-tier league match.

In the 49th minute via Khan, Trenčín got the only goal of the game.

Despite more pressure from Košice and several missed opportunities, including Jakúbek’s closerange volley and tries from Miljanić and Goljan, they were unable to equalise.

Košice could not break their home scoring curse against Trenčín, and thus the game concluded. Their next, they will face Ružomberok at home on August 23, 2025.

Angola defeat Zambia and moved to second place in Group A
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Angola beat Zambia to keep Group A qualifying hopes alive

Coming off the bench to score twice in the last eleven minutes, substitute Kaporal led Angola to a remarkable comeback victory over Zambia, winning 2-1 and earning second place in Group A at the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024.

This result revitalizes the Palancas Negras’ campaign, elevating their point total to four after three matches—three points behind leaders Kenya while Zambia stays at the bottom of the group without a point after two games.

Earlier that day, co-hosts Kenya defeated Morocco 1-0 at Nyayo National Stadium, hence bringing the team heading into the evening game really level.

Both teams battled to turn possession into obvious scoring chances during a careful opening 45 minutes.Kelvin Kampamba of Zambia threatened early, forcing Angola’s goalkeeper, Neblú, to make two saves within the opening minute, while Andenson Cruz and Vidinho saw their attempts barely miss the mark.

Dominic Chanda fired Zambia into the lead in the 73rd minute by taking advantage of a loose ball in the area following a setpiece.Following a subpar 31 defeat to DR Congo in their opener, this seemed to fuel the Chipolopolo’s hopes for recovery as well as their first goal of the tournament.

A decision that would prove to be quite successful, Pedro Gonçalves rapidly called on Kaporal to lend urgency to Angola’s attack.Kaporal calmly finished a Gogoró pass in the 79th minute to level for Angola.Just seven minutes later, he hit again, fast reacting in a busy box to smash home the game winning goal.

Shocked by the abrupt reversal, Zambia pressed on in search of an equaliser but was met with stubborn Angolan defence and erratic concluding.In the 76th minute, Chanda’s stoppagetime header failed to threaten Neblú; Jackson Kampamba shot wild from close range.

Angola’s win not only keeps their hopes alive in the tournament but also dramatically reshapes the landscape of Group A.

Updated Group A standings after today’s matches:

  1. Kenya – 7 points (3 matches)
  2. Angola – 4 points (3 matches)
  3. Morocco – 3 points (2 matches)
  4. DR Congo – 3 points (2 matches)
  5. Zambia – 0 points (2 matches)

With two games remaining for most sides, Angola are now in a strong position to push for a quarter-final berth, while Zambia must win both of their remaining matches to stand any chance of progressing.

East End Lions return to CAF Champions League against US Monastir
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

East End Lions return to CAF Champions League against US Monastir

Scheduled for September, East End Lions — the representative from Sierra Leone for this year’s CAF Champions League- is to meet the Tunisian team US Monastir in the preliminary round.

The draw was carried out at the Azam Media Studios in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, and was broadcast live on CAF’s official YouTube channel, CAF TV, last Saturday.

Asante Kotoko won on a walkover after East End Lions withdrew ahead of the 2015 CAF Champions League competition.

They’ll start the preliminary round hosting the first leg during the weekend of September 19-21 before they travel to Tunisia for the return leg planned between September 26-28.

The teams that come out on top from this first round will move on to the Second Preliminary Round, set for October 17–19, with the return fixtures scheduled from October 24–26. The stakes are great, and as spectators eagerly wait to see how this chapter develops in the renowned continental contest, excitement grows.

Guinea ready for co-hosts Uganda African Nations Championship cracker
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Guinea ready for co-hosts Uganda African Nations Championship cracker

In a Group C match in Kampala on Friday, Guinea and Uganda will face one another for the first time in the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN).

Uganda, having lost their opening game to Algeria 3-0, must rally for a positive result against the local Syli National on Friday. A win for Guinea will almost ensure they reach the tournament knockout stages after their 1-0 win over Niger in the opener.

Guinea will play their 17th CHAN game and their 15th different opponent. Losing to Morocco in 2018 and then defeating Cameroon in the 2020 third-place playoff, they have previously played tournament hosts twice.

For Guinea, this game also marks their fourth against East African opponents. Among their earlier accomplishments are a 1-0 victory over Rwanda in the 2020 quarterfinals, a 2-2 tie with Tanzania in the group stage same year, and a 10 defeat against Sudan in 2018.

Uganda is playing a West African side for the seventh time. They have defeated Senegal in 2022 and Burkina Faso in 2014. In their most recent games, they have lost to Togo and Côte d’Ivoire and drawn with Mali and Côte d’Ivoire.

East End Lions and Bhantal FC to know continental opponent on Saturday
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

East End Lions and Bhantal FC to know continental opponents on Saturday

Sierra Leone’s East End Lions and Bhantal FC will learn their CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup rivals during the Preliminary Draw in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

One of Sierra Leone’s most decorated clubs, East End Lions, is not a stranger to inter-club competition, but Bhantal will be making their debut on the continental stage after two season of gaining promotion to the top-flight.

The draw is set for Saturday, August 9, at 1:00 p.m. local time (10:00 a.m. GMT) and will be streamed live on CAF’s YouTube channel.

“From our first steps in the Sierra Leone Premier League to securing a coveted spot in the CAF Inter Clubs Competitions, the journey of Bhantal FC is nothing short of inspirational,” Bhantal FC noted.

This occasion ushers in what promises to be another thrilling season of Africa’s top club tournaments—the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.

The Preliminary Round is scheduled to kick off on 19 September 2025, followed by the Second Preliminary Round starting on 17 October 2025.

The Group Stage of both the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup will begin on 21 November 2025, with the knockout phase set to commence on 13 March 2026.

Continuing the success of prior draws conducted in television studios, CAF’s strategic partner in the area, Azam Media, will host the Draw in its facilities.

Along Canal+, CAF has held draws at SuperSport and beIN Sports studios, two of the important allies in advancing the growth of interclub events.

East Africa is still showing strong increases in the total viewership for both the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup and the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

Burkina Faso wallop CAR in Nations Championship six-goal thriller
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Burkina Faso wallop CAR in Nations Championship six-goal thriller

Burkina Faso beat first-timer Central African Republic (CAR) 4-2 in an enthralling match at the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 on August 6, 2025, in Dar es Salaam.

Burkina Faso displayed a powerful second-half reaction after losing 2-0 to Tanzania in their first game.

Key performances from Abdoul Baguian and Patrick Malo enabled them to grab the victory by scoring two penalties against a resilient CAR team.

Papus Ouattara scored for Burkina Faso in the 11th minute, therefore leading. In the 15th minute, CAR equalised with a free kick by Sydney Tchibinda, their first-ever goal at the CHAN finals.

Burkina Faso retook the lead in the 57th minute with a penalty by Abdoul Abass Guiro after an 11 halftime score. Although CAR neared equalising once more, Burkina Faso scored more goals via another penalty from Malo and a strike from Baguian.

Late goal scored by Ange Zoumara but not enough by CAR. While CAR’s debut reveals their potential, this victory increases Burkina Faso’s prospects of qualifying from Group B.

Next, Burkina Faso will play Mauritania; CAR has to defeat Madagascar if it is to remain in the race.