Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Right-back Osman Kakay's Košice suffer Niké league home defeat

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

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

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

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

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

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.

First leg UEFA Champions League defeat for Juma Bah's OGC Nice

First leg UEFA Champions League defeat for Juma Bah’s OGC Nice

In their first leg UEFA Champions League preliminary qualifying round, Juma Bah of Sierra Leone and OGC Nice fell 2-0 to Benfica.

With a sellout crowd, the game was held at Allianz Riviera, creating a vibrant environment. Despite a competitive first half and a few good opportunities, Nice battled to close.

Franjo Ivanovic scored first for Benfica in the 53rd minute; Florentino then added a long-range goal in the 88th minute.

Bah started his first UEFA Champions League qualifying first leg and played the full throttle of the contest as Benfica lived up to their reputation as a traditional giant of continental football by overcoming their hosts in a superb atmosphere at the Allianz Riviera on Wednesday night.

Cheering their team on from first minute to last, the sellout crowd—present for the first competitive match of the 2025/26 season—cheered their team.

Though not expected to triumph against the European superpower, Les Aiglons brought the enthusiasm of their fans onto the field during an extremely competitive first half.

From set pieces, Franck Haise’s team also threatened; Melvin Bard’s shot went off target at 10 minutes, and on the counterattack, Terem Moffi wasted a great opportunity at 16 minutes.

Nice has to make up a two-goal loss in the second leg next week at Estádio da Luz in Lisbon.

No financial indiscipline under my watch - Babadi Kamara

No financial indiscipline under my watch – Babadi Kamara

Among other things, President Babadi Kamara of the Sierra Leone Football Association has vowed to work in the best interest of the country and to partner with all significant stakeholders to create a better future. Under his leadership, he says there would be no financial indiscipline.

In an exclusive interview with AYV News Live, he emphasised his commitment to development across the board. Here is a breakdown of pivotal answers during his first public appearnce since the elective congress Interview!!!

On revamping the secretariat of the SLFA, Babadi confirmed that the FA’s secretariat would undergo a significant transformation. “When you travel to the secretariats of other member associations and return home to see the current state of affairs, you have to ask yourself, ‘What have we been doing as a nation?’ The present condition of the FA’s compound is extremely poor, raising many questions about the previous leadership.

However, we need to move forward and explore ways to improve. I, along with my executive team, will work to give the FA a face that reflects the dignity of Sierra Leoneans. I believe we will collaborate with stakeholders to achieve this.”

On Election Day, reported allegations of malpractice. When asked about alleged malpractices surrounding the elections, he addressed the issue succinctly. “Elections worldwide face challenges, so the SLFA is no exception. However, one good thing is that we all went through the same process in terms of nominations. Speaking about voting was done openly in front of everyone.

On playing the First and Second Division Leagues – He was confident about the possibility of playing both the National Senior League and Division One football simultaneously. “Some nations are entering a new season, while Sierra Leone still plays; that is not something we can settle for anymore. We have to play football in line with international best practices and in line with the International transfer market.

On Academies Development – He emphasised the importance of developing football academies across Sierra Leone and stated he will personally look into this area. He also encouraged other passionate Sierra Leoneans to contribute to football development through academies.

Issues on Women’s League Upgrading  – One of the biggest gaps between male and female leagues is financial equity. And I am very sure that when they give seed money to teams before this time, the Premier League teams get more than what they gave to female teams and for me, the process of playing football is the same.

On Accountability and Financial Discipline When Asked – Financial discipline is my strength of competence when it comes to money. I did not come to become SLFA’s president for a living – when you go as a worker making a living from football, then there is going to be a serious challenge.

My main objective for becoming the president of the SLFA is not for personal gain, but to serve my nation. Therefore, regarding the issue of integrity in financial matters, you can judge me by my words: there will be no financial malpractices during my time in office.

Cyriel Dessers nets Rangers UEFA Champions League triumph

Cyriel Dessers nets in Rangers UEFA Champions League triumph

In the UEFA Champions League qualifiers, Scottish powerhouse Rangers quickly dispatched Viktoria Plzen and Nigerian forward Cyriel Dessers was on the score sheet at Ibrox Stadium.

With a great finish in only 15 minutes at the Ibrox Stadium on Tuesday, France Youth international Djeidi Hamara Gassama fired Rangers ahead.

Dessers placed Gassama in Viktoria’s penalty area, and the 21-year-old winger curled in exquisitely to defeat Florian Wiegele, the visiting goalie.

In the 42nd minute, after Lukáš Hejda of Rangers was knocked down in the box, Cyriel Dessers doubled the advantage from the penalty spot without hesitation.

Viktoria had difficulty saying the Teddy Bears in the second part of the game, which brought pain in her side.

In the 51st minute, Rangers finished the game when Oliver Antman swept in a lovely cross for the unmarked Djeidi Gassama to head in from close range.

With the return leg in the Czech Republic on Tuesday, August 12, Rangers’ 30 triumph over Viktoria Plzen pulls them closer to the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.

Defending Champions Senegal beat Nigeria in Group D Opener

Defending Champions Senegal beat Nigeria in Group D Opener

Beginning their title defence in the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024, defending champions Senegal narrowly defeated Nigeria 1-0 at Amaan Stadium on Tuesday.

After a fast counterattack in the 75th minute, Christian Gomis scored the winning goal and delighted the Senegalese supporters.

Though Nigeria pushed hard, with Nduka Junior and Raymond Tochukwu getting early yellow cards, the game showed a tense first half with few chances.

Marc Diouf, the goalie for Senegal, made critical saves while both sides battled to capitalise on chances.

Nigeria pressed for an equaliser in the second half, but Senegal’s defence, spearheaded by Seyni Ndiaye and Joseph Layousse, held firm despite Nigeria’s late attacks, including a near miss from Vincent Temitope.

Coach Souleymane Diallo of Senegal claimed his players felt no pressure in defending their title, a sentiment reflected in their excellent showing.

Senegal leads Group D with this victory; Nigeria hopes to rebound in their next games.