Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone to face Neighbours Liberia in qualifying for CHAN 2024
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone to face Neighbours Liberia in qualifying for CHAN 2024

The Sierra Leone national home-based team has been drawn to face neighbouring Liberia in the first-round qualifiers for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

The draw, conducted in Cairo on Wednesday, 09 October, involved 40 nations in determining the two rounds of qualifiers, which will be played on a home and away basis.

The tournament will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from 01 to 28 February 2025. This marks the first occasion in CAF history that the tournament will be jointly hosted by three nations.

The tournament qualifiers are set for October 25-27 and November 1-3, 2024, with the final round scheduled for December 20-22 and December 27-29, 2024.

Nineteen African nations will compete, including the host nations (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania) and three qualified nations from each of CAF’s six Zonal Unions.

The tournament is exclusive to players competing in their local leagues and offers a prize money of $2 million. The last edition was won by Senegal, defeating the hosts, Algeria, in the finals.

WAFU A ROUND 1

Sierra Leone vs Liberia

1st Leg: 25 – 27 October | 2nd Leg: 01 – 03 November

ROUND 2

Sierra Leone / Liberia v Senegal

Mauritania v Mali

Guinea v Guinea-Bissau

1st Leg: 20 – 22 December | 2nd Leg 27 – 29 November

Striker Augustine Williams named in USL Team of the Week
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Striker Augustine Williams named in USL Team of the Week

Indy Eleven forward Augi Williams has been recognized as part of the USL Championship Team of the Week for the second consecutive week.

During the recent match against Louisville City FC, Williams displayed exceptional performance by scoring two goals, thus achieving a remarkable feat of five goals in consecutive matches.

This accomplishment makes him the first player in franchise history to achieve such a milestone. Additionally, Williams has entered the record books as the fifth player in USL Championship history to score double-digit goals in three consecutive regular seasons, with 10 goals in 2024.

One of Williams’ goals, scored in stoppage time of the first half, has earned him a nomination for USL Championship Goal of the Week.

His second goal of the match contributed to the team securing a 2-2 draw. This recognition marks Augi’s third Team of the Week honour this season, placing him on par with Aedan Stanley for the second-most honours on the Indy Eleven team, following Jack Blake who has received seven.

At 27 years of age, Williams has accumulated a total of 76 career goals in 220 regular-season league games, positioning him fifth on the USL Championship all-time list. Notably, among active players, Williams and teammate Sebastian Guenzatti rank second and third in career goals.

Striker Augustine Williams named in USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 31
Accra Sports Stadium to host Ghana v Sudan after CAF's approval
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Accra Sports Stadium to host Ghana v Sudan after CAF’s approval

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has approved Ghana to host their upcoming home game against Sudan in the 2025 AFCON Qualifiers at the newly renovated Accra Sports Stadium.

This decision follows a thorough inspection confirming that the stadium is in satisfactory condition. The match is set to take place at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday, October 11. Following this, Ghana will travel to Libya for the return fixture on Monday.

Sudan and Ghana currently hold the second and third positions in Group F. They are scheduled to face each other twice in the tournament qualifiers, which will be held in Morocco next year.

Sudan arrived in Ghana on Monday, October 7, to commence their preparations for the two upcoming games. The Black Stars will play at home on Thurs

Sierra Leone's Augustine Williams nets brace in Indy's draw
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone’s Augustine Williams nets brace in Indy’s draw

Sierra Leone International Augustine Williams extended his impressive scoring form with two goals, leading the host Boys in Blue to a 2-2 draw against Louisville City FC on Saturday night at Carroll Stadium.

Augi made history as the first Indy Eleven player to score five goals in consecutive matches, following his hat trick against Miami FC on September 28.

He currently leads the Eleven with 10 goals this season, marking his third consecutive campaign with double-digit goals. The 27-year-old Williams surpassed teammate Sebastian Guenzatti to claim fifth place on the USL Championship all-time list with 76 career goals in league history.

The Boys in Blue took a 2-1 lead in the 68th minute with Augi’s second goal of the night. Captain Aodhan Quinn initiated the scoring sequence with a long ball up the left side to Douglas Martinez, who promptly headed it to Jack Blake.

Blake then delivered a left-footed cross that Williams converted with a sliding touch. Blake now has four assists this season. Louisville levelled the score in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time when substitute Jake Morris scored.

Goalkeeper Hunter Sulte made five crucial saves, bringing his season total to 62. The Boys in Blue currently hold a 12-10-8 record with 44 points, placing them sixth in the Eastern Conference with four regular-season games remaining.

Richard Mbulu out of Malawi's AFCON qualifiers against Senegal
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Richard Mbulu out of Malawi’s AFCON qualifiers against Senegal

Malawi is gearing up for an important 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Senegal, but striker Richard Mbulu’s injury is a major setback for the team.

Coach Patrick Mabedi has called up Isaac Kaliati from Mighty Mukuru Wanderers to replace Mbulu for the matches against Senegal.

The squad includes local and international players, with notable additions being Kaliati and Timothy Silwamba from Mighty Mukuru Wanderers, and the return of goalkeeper Brighton Munthali from Blue Eagles. Not having Mbulu will be a big challenge when facing Senegal in Dakar.

Despite the obstacles, Coach Mabedi’s team has shown resilience before, and they will try to contain Senegal’s strong attack while taking advantage of any chances to counter.

The team will travel to Senegal via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Foreign-based players will join the team directly from their clubs in Europe and Africa. This adds complexity to Malawi’s preparations, as there will be limited time for the full squad to train together before the matches.

After playing in Dakar, Malawi will return home to play the second leg at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on October 15. Squad depth and fitness will be crucial for the team’s success with two matches in a short time.

Despite Mbulu’s absence, the inclusion of Kaliati offers the team a chance to try something different up front. Coach Patrick Mabedi will be hoping his side can rise to the challenge against the formidable Senegalese team and keep their AFCON 2025 qualification hopes alive.

Otto Addo picks Ghana Black Stars squad for Sudan qualifying ties
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Otto Addo picks Ghana squad for Sudan qualifying ties

Ghana’s coach, Otto Addo, has named a 25-man squad for the upcoming matches against Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. The Black Stars are set to commence training on Monday.

Defenders Alexander Djiku and Gideon Mensah are back in the squad after missing the last qualifiers against Angola and Niger.

Isaac Afful, a left-back from FC Samartex, has been chosen for his debut after performing well in the CAF Champions League preliminary round and the ongoing Premier League.

Olympique Lyon forward Ernest Nuamah and Ibrahim Sulemana of Atalanta have also returned to the squad after recovering from injuries that kept them out of the last qualifiers.

Ghana will play Sudan at the Accra Sports Stadium on Thursday, October 10, before travelling to Libya for the reverse fixture at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benina, Libya, on Monday, October 14, 2024.

The Black Stars aim to win against the Falcons after a tough start to the qualifiers against Angola and Niger, with a 1-0 loss to Angola and a 1-1 draw against Niger.

Issa Kallon, Fornah and Bakayoko return for Ivory Coast crucial qualifiers
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Issa Kallon, Fornah and Bakayoko return for Ivory Coast crucial qualifiers

Sierra Leone coach Amidu Karim has announced his final 25-man squad for the AFCON qualifiers against the reigning African Champions, Ivory Coast.

Notable absentees include Bristol Rovers midfielder Kamil Conteh, and defender Osman Kakay. And, still no place for Inform striker Augustine Williams under coach Amidu Karim.

The squad sees the return of China-based winger Issa Kallon, who last appeared in Turkey in 2022 during the international matches. Salford City midfielder Tyrese Fornah has also been named, following his first international breakaway with Sierra Leone, which ended poorly after he was given a red card.

Fornah was dismissed in the 39th minute in the 2-0 defeat to Egypt, having picked up a first yellow card a minute earlier for a bad tackle, before being given a second yellow a minute later for dissent.

Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo striker Amadou Bakayoko makes his return after missing matches against Chad and Zambia in the two African Cup of Nations qualifiers last month.

Ivory Coast will host Sierra Leone on October 11 at the Laurent Pokou Stadium. This game is crucial for coach Karim’s side in their pursuit of qualifying for the Morocco 2025 AFCON.

The Leone Stars will aim to bounce back from their recent loss to Zambia and revive their hopes of qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

  • Complex Situation

Currently standing third from bottom with only one point from their first two matches, the Leone Stars must show composure and resilience. They need to win at least one of the doubleheaders and hope that Zambia fails to win against Chad.

Coach Avram Grant’s side will target maximum results against Chad, Sierra Leone will need to secure at least three points against Ivory Coast in either of the match day three or four qualifiers. Otherwise, depending on other results, the situation will be more complex for the Leone Stars on the road to Morocco.

The second leg of the doubleheader will take place on October 15 at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in Monrovia, Liberia.

Ivory Coast has had a perfect start in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers, winning their matches against Zambia and Chad, and securing the top position in Group G with six points. Zambia has three points, Sierra Leone has one point, and Chad has yet to earn a point.

https://twitter.com/bittar32/status/1842428138757755053

Sierra Leone standing third from bottom with only one point from their first two matches.
Sierra Leone standing third from bottom with only one point from their first two matches.
Young prospect Joshua Sesay joins Arsenal from Milwall
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Young prospect Joshua Sesay joins Arsenal from Millwall

Youngster Joshua Sesay from Millwall has officially signed with the Arsenal academy, as reported by trusted youth outlet The Secret Scout.

The under-15 attacking midfielder is an up-and-coming talent with a skill set that allows him to excel as a winger on both the left and right sides of the field.

Millwall has been successful in developing young players in recent years. They are not afraid to give their top young players a chance in the first team at The Den, and some academy talents are also sought after by other clubs.

In addition to developing their own talent, Millwall also recruits players from other teams, such as Daniel Kelly, who appears to be a promising signing from the Celtic setup.

Arsenal is eyeing 17-year-old Cerro Porteno left-back Diego Leon, but faces competition from Manchester City and Manchester United. They recently signed former West Ham United under-15 midfielder Kyran Thompson, beating out several other clubs.

Coach Hossam Hassan ready Egypt squad for AFCON qualifying matches
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Egypt could secure AFCON 2025 spot with wins over Mauritania

Coach Hossam Hassan has confirmed a 24-man squad for Group C double fixture against Mauritania, with the exclusion of the trio of Emam Ashour, Ahmed Hegazi, and Mohamed Elneny from Egypt’s squad for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Mauritania.

The Pharaohs have a chance to secure their place in the next AFCON by getting six points from the next two matches against Mauritania.

The Pharaohs will play against Mauritania in Cairo on 11 October 2024 before playing the return leg in Mauritania on 15 October 2024.

Egypt currently tops the group with six points from two wins over Cape Verde and Botswana and they hope to maintain their winning run in the qualifiers against the Lions of Chinguetti, who are second in the group with three points.

The Zamalek duo of Mohamed Awwad and Nabil Emad have returned after their standout performance in the CAF Super Cup match against Al Ahly.

Hossam has also selected six foreign-based players, five players from Al Ahly, five players from Zamalek, and eight players from other domestic league teams.

The top two teams in the group will secure direct qualification for the 2025 AFCON, scheduled to be held in Morocco.

The Full Squad Listed

Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy (Al Ahly), Mohamed Awad (Zamalek), El Mahdy Soliman (Al Ittihad), Mostafa Shobeir (Al Ahly).

Defense: Mohamed Abdelmonem (Nice), Rami Rabia (Al Ahly), Ahmed Ramadan (Ceramica Cleopatra), Khaled Sobhy (Al Masry), Mohamed Hamdi (Pyramids), Mohamed Shehata (Zamalek), Ahmed Nabil Kouka (Al Ahly), Ahmed Eid (Al Masry).

Midfield: Hamdy Fathy (Al Wakrah), Marwan Ateya (Al Ahly), Nasser Maher (Zamalek), Ahmed Sayed Zizo (Zamalek), Nabil Emad (Zamalek), Mahmoud Trezeguet (Al Rayyan), Omar Marmoush (Eintracht Frankfurt), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Mostafa Fathy (Pyramids), Ibrahim Adel (Pyramids).

Attack: Mostafa Mohamed (Nantes), Osama Faisal (Bank Al Ahly).

Mohamed Salah becomes top Africa's scorer in Champions League history
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mohamed Salah becomes top Africa’s scorer in Champions League history

Mohamed Salah has become the top scorer in Champions League history from Africa with 45 goals, surpassing Ivorian Didier Drogba and Cameroonian Samuel Eto’o, who have 44 and 30 goals, respectively.

Salah scored a perfect curler into the top corner at the Kop end, helping Liverpool secure a 2-0 victory against Bologna at Anfield during the league phase. This finish earned Salah a spot on the shortlist for Goal of the Day, alongside goals from Jhon Duran (Aston Villa), Christos Tzolis (Club Brugge), and Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus).

Despite Bologna’s strong performance, Liverpool maintained their 100% record in the competition. Liverpool continued their winning start with Alexis Mac Allister scoring from close range and Mohamed Salah finishing with a sublime strike in Arne Slot’s first European night at Anfield.

The hosts took the lead 11 minutes into the game when Mac Allister connected with a cross from Salah. Bologna had their chances, with Dan Ndoye hitting the woodwork and Alisson Becker denying Kacper Urbański and Riccardo Orsolini.

However, Salah secured the win with a stylish left-footed shot into the far corner 15 minutes from time.

Mohamed Salah has become the top African scorer in the history of the Champions League.
Mohamed Salah has become the top African scorer in the history of the Champions League.