Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Nigeria final list for Russia friendly at the iconic Luzhniki Stadium
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Nigeria final list for Russia friendly at the iconic Luzhniki Stadium

The Super Eagles have made several changes to their squad for the upcoming match against Russia in Moscow on Friday June 6, at Moscow’s iconic Luzhniki Stadium.

The match will be the first senior-level encounter between Nigeria and Russia. After winning the 2025 Unity Cup in London against Jamaica in a dramatic penalty shootout, Chelle is now focusing on Nigeria’s next game.

Football Sierra Leone has learned that Brentford youngster Benjamin Fredrick secured his spot on the squad after a strong debut performance for the Super Eagles in the London Unity Cup.  

Additionally, three players from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) have been included in the travelling party: Isaac Saviour from Enugu Rangers and Sodiq Ismail and Sikiru Alimi from Remo Stars.

Originally, Niger Tornadoes midfielder Papa Daniel was the only player from the domestic league selected for the trip to Russia. Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface will also join the squad from Nigeria.

Nigeria final list for Russia friendly at the iconic Luzhniki Stadium on June 6th
Nigeria final list for Russia friendly at the iconic Luzhniki Stadium on June 6th
Tunisia overcomes Burkina Faso in friendly test
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Tunisia overcomes Burkina Faso in friendly test

Tunisia defeated Burkina Faso 2-0 in an international friendly match on Monday at Hammadi Agrebi Olympic Stadium, scoring both goals in the final moments.

Edmond Tapsoba’s own goal and Hazem Mastouri’s (Tunisia) right-footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal were enough for the Eagles of Carthage of Tunisia.

Tapsoba’s own goal came in the 60th minute and Mastouri scored the second in the 91st minute as Tunisia emerged victorious.

This friendly match is the first of three practice games for Tunisia in eight days, with upcoming matches against Morocco and Zambia. These games will help the team prepare for key qualifying matches.

In September, the Carthage Eagles will play Liberia again and then face Equatorial Guinea. In October, they will compete against Sao Tome and Principe and have a final match against Namibia.

Tunisia’s recent wins have helped them move up three spots in the FIFA rankings, now sitting at 49th place. These friendly matches will be important in shaping their ranking for the next update in July.

Pyramids beat Sundowns to win maiden CAF Champions League title
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Pyramids beat Sundowns to win maiden CAF Champions League title

On Sunday, Pyramids FC won their first TotalEnergies CAF Champions League title with a 2-1 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium in Cairo.

After the first leg ended in a 1-1 draw in Pretoria, Pyramids secured a 3-2 win on aggregate. They became the fourth Egyptian club to win Africa’s top club competition, joining Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Ismaily.

Pyramids started strong in front of their enthusiastic home fans. In the 23rd minute, striker Fiston Mayele scored the first goal with a low shot into the corner, marking his ninth goal in the tournament.

The team doubled their lead shortly after halftime. In the 56th minute, defender Ahmed Samy scored with a header from a cross by Mohamed Chibi. This goal sent the Cairo crowd into a frenzy.

In the 75th minute, Iqraam Rayners scored for Sundowns, making the score 2-1 and setting up a tense finish. Sundowns pressed for another goal, with key shots from Peter Shalulile and Lebo Mothiba blocked during 10 minutes of added time.

Pyramids defended well, thanks to goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy’s key saves, securing their first continental title 10 years after the club’s founding. Egypt continues to dominate African football, winning the title for three consecutive years after Al Ahly’s successes in 2023 and 2024.

Sundowns aimed for their second CAF title but instead lost their second Champions League final, 24 years after their defeat to Al Ahly in 2001.

President Julius Maada Bio joins Sierra Queens Women's Cup celebrations
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

President Julius Maada Bio joins Sierra Queens Women’s Cup celebrations

President Maada Bio, the first gentleman of Sierra Leone, expressed his joy following Sierra Queens’ victory in Mauritania.

They triumphed over a strong Senegalese side with a score of 1-0, securing their first-ever Women’s title in history. The president was thrilled with this achievement.

“In an electrifying moment at the WAFU A Women’s Cup 2025 in Mauritania, our Queens have truly made history by clinching Sierra Leone’s very first international trophy in women’s football! We are bursting with pride! This monumental achievement is a triumph for every single team member and for all of Sierra Leone.

This incredible victory reignites my passion for football and strengthens my dedication to empowering women, as I wholeheartedly believe in their remarkable potential. Let’s celebrate this win and look forward to even greater strides ahead,” he vehemently expressed.

This monumental achievement is a triumph for every single team member and for all of Sierra Leone.
This monumental achievement is a triumph for every single team member and for all of Sierra Leone.
SLFA's President Brima hails Sierra Queens' achievement in Mauritania
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

SLFA’s President Brima hails Sierra Queens’ achievement in Mauritania

After the Sierra Queens won the Women’s Cup, beating Senegal 1-0 at the Olympic Stadium in Nouakchott, Sierra Leone Football Association President Thomas Daddy Brima hailed the notable development achieved.

For the first time in history, Sierra Leone’s National Senior Women’s Team, Sierra Queens, made history by winning their first-ever WAFU A Women’s Championship title.

The nation celebrated as Captain Salamatu Kamara scored the winning penalty in the 68th minute, giving Sierra Leone an impressive victory over Senegal. Her calmness under pressure made a significant impact, and she secured her place in Sierra Leonean football history.

While Kamara won the match, goalkeeper Hannah Juana stood out as the tournament’s star. Juana had another outstanding performance, earning her fourth Woman of the Match award. This achievement also gave her the title of Best Player of the Tournament, a rare honour for a goalkeeper in Africa.

“History has been made for our football ecosystem. This is the first time our women’s senior team has won an international trophy — a massive achievement,” acknowledged the SLFA president.

“Congratulations to everyone for believing in the dream of making Sierra Leone football an environment for all. We not only won as champions, but we also took home the awards for best player, best goalkeeper, and player of the match. We made a significant statement to the West African region: we are champions.”

For the first time in history, Sierra Leone's National Senior Women's Team, Sierra Queens, made history by winning their first-ever WAFU A Women’s Championship title.
For the first time in history, Sierra Leone's National Senior Women's Team, Sierra Queens, made history by winning their first-ever WAFU A Women’s Championship title.
Striker Amadou Bakayoko nets to help Consadole Sapporo triumph
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Striker Amadou Bakayoko to rescues point for Consadole Sapporo

Sierra Leonean international Amadou Bakayoko showcased his scoring prowess once again for Japanese club Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo in their tightly contested 1-1 draw against Vegalta Sendai on Saturday.

Bakayoko found the back of the net in the 85th minute, equalising the match at Q&A Stadium in Miyagi.

His late goal not only salvaged a point for Sapporo but also demonstrated his increasing significance within the team and the league overall. This performance highlights Bakayoko’s consistent ability to come through for his side in critical moments of the game.

Yuta GOKE opened the scoring for the home team in the 45th minute just before the break, giving his side a 1-0 lead at halftime.

The visitors came out strong and held on to the scoreline before Bakayoko’s late header brought parity for Consadole Sapporo.

Sapporo’s boss Daiki Iwamasa, “Overall, the players fought as hard as they could and carried out tactical preparations well, so although we didn’t play well overall, I think we played a solid game. However, we felt that we needed to improve to get three points, so we’d like to make up for that during the two-week break and give it our all.”

Challenging assignment for Africa's four representatives in the U20 Chile World Cup
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Challenging assignment for Africa’s representatives in U20 Chile World Cup

After the draw in Santiago, Africa’s four teams for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile 2025 have learned their group matches. The tournament will take place in 2025 and will be the 24th FIFA U-20 World Cup.

From September 27 until October 19, 2025, the contest will take place in Chile. To take place in four cities: Valparaiso, Talca, Rancagua, and Santiago. The knockout stage will begin with the top two teams from every group and the four best third-placed sides.

Having just won the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, South Africa has tough competition. The Amajita will face France, the United States, and New Caledonia in Group E.

With 14 outings, Nigeria—the most experienced team in this tournament—is in Group F. They will be rivals with Colombia, Norway, and Saudi Arabia. Hoping to go far in the competition, the Flying Eagles would want to regain their past splendour.

This competition also sees Africa represented by Egypt and Morocco. In Group A, Egypt joins Chile, Japan, and New Zealand as hosts. The Pharaohs hope to leave a lasting mark against the Chilean side, which has home support.

In Group C, Morocco will play Brazil, Mexico, and Spain. This will be a difficult group for Morocco, which will depend on its strong defence and offensive approach that carried them to the U-20 AFCON final.

Africa’s young stars, who are trying to shine on the global platform, will have all eyes on them as the teams get ready.

Senegal's Nicolas Jackson helps Chelsea lift the Uefa Conference League
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Senegal’s Nicolas Jackson helps Chelsea lift Uefa Conference League

Senegalese player Nicolas Jackson helped Chelsea make history by scoring in their victory against Real Betis. With this win, Chelsea became the first club to earn all five major European trophies, claiming the Conference League title.

The match took place at Stadion Wroclaw, and Chelsea had to fight back from a goal down to win 2-1. They fell behind just nine minutes into the game when Abde Ezzalzouli scored after a pass from Isco. The first half was tough for Chelsea fans to watch.

In the second half, Cole Palmer changed the game. He crossed the ball for Enzo Fernandez, who headed it in to equalize in the 65th minute. Soon after, Palmer delivered another cross that Jackson scored from.

Chelsea continued to press forward. With seven minutes left, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall made a strong run and passed to Jadon Sancho, who scored with a brilliant shot into the far corner.

There was still time for a fourth goal. Chelsea’s Player of the Year, Moises Caicedo, scored with a precise shot from 20 yards.

The Chelsea fans celebrated, chanting, “We’ve won it all!” This victory in Poland means Chelsea brings home the Conference League trophy, adding to their collection, which includes the Champions League, Europa League, Super Cup, and Cup Winners’ Cup.

Crystal Palace U21 Young Player of the Season delight for Hindolo Mustapha
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Crystal Palace U21 Young Player of the Season delight for Hindolo Mustapha

Crystal Palace Under-21s midfielder Hindolo Mustapha has won the U21s Player of the Season award. The Sierra Leone International was a key player for Darren Powell, appearing in 29 of the U21s’ 30 matches in the 2024/25 season.

The 18-year-old scored 11 goals and provided seven assists. He had some amazing goals, including a half-volley against Brighton & Hove Albion and a long-range shot against Chelsea—both were nominated for Goal of the Season.

His impressive play earned him a spot in the first-team squad for a friendly match in Marbella against Hamarkameratene in March.

Mustapha also received international attention. He was called up to the Sierra Leone senior team in September 2024. He made his debut in a 0-0 draw against Chad and later scored his first international goal against Zambia.

In October 2024, he was selected again to play for Sierra Leone in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Ivory Coast. He also captained the Sierra Leone Under-20 team in a match against Morocco.

When he received the award, Mustapha said, “I’m so happy to have won this award, it’s a good feeling to win it after a strong season.”

Pape Thiaw on Malick Thiaw’s absence from Senegal squad
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Pape Thiaw on Malick Thiaw’s absence from Senegal squad

Malick Thiaw will not play for Senegal’s national team in the friendlies against Ireland and England in next month’s International window. 

Coach Pape Thiaw confirmed his omission, despite ongoing talks with the Senegalese Football Federation, surprising many fans who view him as a potential defender.

Coach Thiaw explained that Thiaw is in discussions with his club and hasn’t played much lately, which affects his national team chances. Thiaw, born in Germany and playing for AC Milan, has struggled this season with limited playing time.

Fans may be disappointed, but the door remains open for Thiaw if he improves his form and maintains good discussions with the federation. His situation highlights the challenges of including dual-nationality players in African teams.

For now, Senegal will move on without him, but if his situation at AC Milan improves, he could receive a call-up soon. Both Thiaw and the federation are waiting for the right time to strengthen Senegal’s defense.