Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Malian midfielder Yves Bissouma hails boss Postecoglou after Europa League success
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Malian midfielder Yves Bissouma hails boss Postecoglou after Europa League success

Malian midfielder Yves Bissouma thanked Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou for his support during a tough season. Bissouma described Postecoglou as “a dad or uncle” to the players.

Tottenham is currently in 17th place in the Premier League, with one game left to play. They have lost 25 matches this season, which is the highest number they’ve had since the 1991-92 season.

However, they have a chance to turn things around in the Europa League final against Manchester United on Wednesday. Bissouma said the relationship between the players and Postecoglou has stayed strong, even in hard times.

“It’s never changed. We have a good relationship,” Bissouma, 28, said about Postecoglou. “He’s like a dad or uncle to us. He’s always trying to help us understand what he wants. For us, he’s just Ange. He has his ideas and always protects us.”

Bissouma received a rating of 7 for his solid performance. He won the second-most duels of any Tottenham player in the match, just behind Cristian Romero, and had the second-most tackles, after Destiny Udogie. He is expected to be one of the more underrated players in the team’s success.

Senegal's Pape Matar Sarr fit to face Manchester United in Europa final
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Senegal’s Pape Matar Sarr fit to face Manchester United in Europa final

Tottenham Hotspur coach Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that Senegalese midfielder Pape Matar Sarr is fit to play against Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League final on Wednesday.

Sarr was unsure for the match after getting injured during Spurs’ 2-0 loss to Aston Villa last Friday. Postecoglou explained that Sarr left the game as a precaution because he “felt something in his back.”

According to the London Evening Standard, Sarr is likely to start in midfield against United in Bilbao. Even though Postecoglou used a 4-4-2 formation against Villa Park, he may change his strategy for the final.

Sarr will face fellow Africans Andre Onana, Noussair Mazraoui, and Amad Diallo, who are in Manchester United’s squad for the match. Both teams are looking to improve after disappointing Premier League seasons, with United in 16th place and Spurs just one point behind in 17th.

Semi Ajayi and Grady Diangana released by West Bromwich Albion
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Semi Ajayi and Grady Diangana released by West Bromwich Albion

West Bromwich Albion has announced the release of Nigeria player Semi Ajayi and DR Congo midfielder Grady Diangana after the 2024/25 season.

Ajayi and Diangana joined West Bromwich Albion in the summer of 2019 and were instrumental in the team’s promotion to the Premier League in their first season.

A club statement confirmed that defender Semi Ajayi and midfielders Grady Diangana and John Swift will leave the club at the end of June.

Ajayi, who joined from Rotherham United, made 177 appearances and scored 13 goals, including key strikes against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Liverpool, and a last-minute winner against Peterborough United in August 2021.

Diangana initially joined on a season-long loan from West Ham United before making the move permanent in summer 2020.

He scored on his league debut for the Baggies and went on to make 202 appearances, netting 26 goals. His final goals for the club came in a 5-1 victory over Portsmouth in January 2025, where he scored twice.

Dream Portland Hearts of Pine debut for Jay Tee Kamara
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Dream Portland Hearts of Pine debut for Jay Tee Kamara

Jay Tee Kamara quickly made an impact during his debut for the Hearts in their US League One tie, and Walter Varela also shined in a thrilling 2-1 victory over FC Naples at Fitzpatrick Stadium on Saturday night.

“I arrived in the U.S. on Monday, started training on Tuesday, and made my debut on Saturday to help the team win,” Kamara said.

Kamara entered the match in the 26th minute after an injury to Mikey Lopez. Just days after arriving from Sierra Leone, he put pressure on the Naples defense with his impressive footwork. His efforts paid off in the 43rd minute when he scored after collecting a rebound from Varela’s deflected shot.

Naples equalized early in the second half with a goal from Luke Prpa in the 56th minute. However, in the 75th minute, Varela took advantage of a setup from Nathan Messer. After a quick exchange, Varela dribbled past a defender and shot towards the far post, finding the net. This goal secured the victory for the Hearts and marked a highlight in Varela’s season.

New Bromley deal for Sierra Leone native Nathan Paul Lavaly
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

New Bromley deal for Sierra Leone native Nathan Paul Lavaly

Bromley Football Club has confirmed new deal for full-back Nathan Paul-Lavaly and several others.

Lavaly, a native from Sierra Leone made six senior appearances last season following his debut in their first home EFL game against AFC Wimbledon.

The Academy graduate also assisted in a recent match against Barrow and received a Special Achievement Award at our 2024/25 Awards Evening.

Paul-Lavaly played the full 90 minutes in our first home EFL game against AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup. He has also made two more senior appearances against Chelsea U21s and Charlton Athletic in the EFL Trophy.

He was sent on loan to joined Isthmian League Premier Division side Carshalton Athletic on a one-month loan.

Egypt's Al Ahly close in on record 45th Premier League title
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Egypt’s Al Ahly close in on record 45th Premier League title

Africa — Al-Ahly are closig in on another title with just a win away from winning a record 45th Egyptian Premier League title after a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory against NBE Club.

This win in the seventh round keeps the championship race exciting and sets up an important final match.

Rivals Pyramids FC also stay in the title hunt with a strong 2-0 win over Petrojet. Meanwhile, Ceramica Cleopatra had a convincing 4-0 victory over Al-Masry, ensuring the title remains in contention until the end.

Al-Ahly leads the table with 55 points and will play Pharco FC on Wednesday, May 28, in a winner-takes-all match for the championship.

A win will give Al-Ahly 58 points, sealing the title regardless of the result between Pyramids FC and Ceramica Cleopatra. 

In their recent match, Al-Ahly beat NBE Club 2-1 at Cairo International Stadium. Midfielder Emam Ashour scored first for Al-Ahly in the 21st minute with a powerful shot from outside the box. NBE Club’s Yao Anwar equalized in stoppage time at the end of the first half, surprising the home fans.

Just when it looked like they would share the points, Wessam Abou Ali scored a last-minute goal for Al-Ahly, igniting celebrations among their supporters.

This win puts Al-Ahly at 55 points, keeping them two points ahead of Pyramids, fourteen points ahead of Zamalek while NBE Club stays fourth with 37 points.

South Africa's U20 defender Tylon Smith named Player of Tournament
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

South Africa’s U20 defender Tylon Smith named Player of Tournament

South Africa defender Tylon Smith has been named Player of the Tournament at the 2025 CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The strong centre-back played regularly for the Amajitas, delivering great performances in every match to help his team advance through the tournament.

In the semi-finals, he scored an equaliser against Nigeria, which allowed South Africa to reach the final and compete for the championship.

In the final match against Morocco, held at Cairo International Stadium, Smith played a key role in defense, helping his team shut out the North African side.

In the final, both teams delivered an exciting match but ended the first half goalless. Gomolemo Kekana scored the only goal in the 70th minute, assisted by Fletcher Smythe-Lowe. Despite Morocco’s efforts in the last 20 minutes, they couldn’t overcome South Africa’s solid defense.

In the end, Gomolemo Kekana’s goal secured the win for South Africa, making the Amajitas Champions of the 2025 U20 AFCON in Egypt.

The strong centre-back consistently played for the Amajitas, delivering excellent performances in every match to help his team progress through the tournament.
The strong centre-back consistently played for the Amajitas, delivering excellent performances in every match to help his team progress through the tournament.
South Africa lift U-20 AFCON champions for the first time in their history
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

South Africa lift U-20 AFCON title for the first time in their history

South Africa claimed their first TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Morocco in the final held at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo on Sunday night.

The decisive moment came from Gomolemo Kekana, who scored a stunning goal in the second half. His powerful right-footed shot from outside the box bent into the top corner in the 70th minute, breaking the deadlock in a tense match characterised by tactical discipline and strong defensive play. The goal was awarded after a VAR review.

This win marked a historic achievement for South Africa, as they had never reached a U-20 AFCON final since 1997, when they lost to Morocco. This time, they turned the tables, avenging that earlier defeat to lift the trophy and become the twelfth different nation to win the title.

Both teams entered the final unbeaten, with impressive defensive records. Morocco appeared more fluid in the first half, creating better chances through Jones El Abdellaoui and Ilias Boumassaoudi. However, South African goalkeeper Fletcher Lowe was in excellent form, keeping the game scoreless.

South Africa, which improved steadily after losing their opening match to Egypt, demonstrated resilience and patience. Although Shakeel April and Mfundo Vilakazi had opportunities, neither side could score before halftime.

The second half began with Morocco pressing forward, with Othmane Maamma and Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal coming close to scoring. However, the North Africans could not convert, and South Africa’s high pressure eventually paid off. Following Kekana’s spectacular goal, South Africa maintained their composure under pressure. Despite Morocco’s attempts to equalise, South Africa’s defence, led by Tylon Smith and Sfiso Timba, held strong.

This victory signifies South Africa’s first-ever youth continental triumph and adds them to a growing list of recent debut winners, following Senegal’s success in 2023. It also ended their troubling history against North African teams, breaking a streak of five previous defeats, all by a single goal margin.

Fletcher Lowe finished the tournament with a standout 24 saves, highlighting South Africa’s defensive strength. Kekana’s crucial goal marked their ninth of the tournament, helping them overcome DR Congo, Nigeria, and Morocco in the knockout rounds.

For Morocco, the defeat in the final represented a missed chance for a second title, ending their 14-match unbeaten run in the U-20 AFCON. Despite their strong performances, they are still in search of another crown.

South Africa vs Morocco
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

South Africa and Morocco set for intriguing U20 AFCON final

South Africa vs Morocco are set to battle in the highly anticipated CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations final this Sunday at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo — a repeat of their iconic 1997 encounter.

Back then, Morocco U20 edged past South Africa 1-0 to clinch the title. Now, history is on the line once again. Morocco eyes its second championship, while South Africa U20 is chasing its first-ever continental crown.

This marks South Africa’s fifth appearance in a CAF tournament final, yet they’ve never beaten a North African team in such high-stakes matches — each loss by a single goal. Morocco U20, meanwhile, boasts a perfect record against Southern African teams in this tournament, defeating both Lesotho and Angola during the group stage.

Road to the CAF U-20 AFCON Final: South Africa vs Morocco

Both teams took similar routes to reach the final:

  • South Africa overcame DR Congo and Nigeria

  • Morocco dispatched Sierra Leone and hosts Egypt

This is the fifth time the U-20 AFCON is being held in North Africa — with history favoring North African teams when playing on home turf.

South Africa started slowly but has grown stronger, scoring eight goals in four wins. Goalkeeper Fletcher Lowe leads the tournament with 24 crucial saves.

Morocco enters the final unbeaten in 14 matches, scoring eight goals shared among top talents like Jones El Abdellaoui and Yassir Zabiri.

🥉 Third Place Play Off: Nigeria vs Egypt

Before the final, Nigeria and Egypt will meet in the third-place play-off at the same venue on Sunday at 18:00 local time (15:00 GMT). This will be their sixth clash in U-20 AFCON history.

Nigeria holds the edge, with three wins — including victories in 2005 (final), 2009, and 2023 group stages. Egypt’s lone win came in 2013’s semi-final. Their 2007 encounter ended in a draw.

Notably, Nigeria has performed well against host nations, boasting six wins and only two losses. Their most dominant win was a 4-0 demolition of Tunisia in the 2023 third-place match.

Amadou bakayoko
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Striker Amadou Bakayoko nets to help Consadole Sapporo triumph

Sierra Leone international Amadou Bakayoko made a significant impact during his team’s 2-1 win against Kataller Toyama on Saturday by scoring the equalizing goal after coming off the bench. Amadou Bakayoko Sapporo goal seals comeback victory in J2 League clash. This marked another standout Amadou Bakayoko Sapporo goal, contributing to his growing influence in the league.

This thrilling encounter occurred during Round 16 of the Japanese Premier League 2 (J2 League) at the Sapporo Dome, where Consadole Sapporo faced off against Toyama. It was another big moment for the Sierra Leone footballer in Japan, continuing to impress in his debut season.

Consadole Sapporo initially found themselves trailing 1-0 after Toyama opened the scoring. However, Amadou Bakayoko entered the match in the 68th minute and quickly changed the dynamics with a crucial equalizer — a textbook example of how vital he has become in the Amadou Bakayoko J2 League journey.

His skillful finish leveled the score and set the stage for an exciting finale. The momentum continued in the dying moments of the game when Ryota Aoki netted the dramatic winner in the 90+2nd minute, securing a comeback victory for Sapporo.

In a post-match interview, Amadou Bakayoko shared his reaction:

“Coming off the bench with the team down 1-0 and being able to make an impact by scoring a goal was incredibly fulfilling. It feels great to contribute to the team’s success and to see us secure the win in the end. I’m delighted to add another goal to my tally and help my team continue on the path to victory.”

Meanwhile, in another J2 League clash that day, Tosu edged past Akita 2-1 with goals from Nagasawa Sivatafari and Vikintas Slivka, highlighting the competitiveness across the league.

📊 Meiji Yasuda J2 League Standings