Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ishmael Kabia named on the bench in Arsenal's defeat to Bournemouth
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ishmael Kabia named on the bench in Arsenal’s defeat to Bournemouth

Sierra Leonean Ishmael Kabia was one of four academy players—along with Tommy Setford, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Ethan Nwaneri—who were included on the bench for Arsenal’s first team in the 2-0 loss against Bournemouth on Saturday.

Arsenal suffered an unexpected 2-0 loss to Bournemouth after William Saliba’s red card marking their first Premier League defeat since April.

Alexei Rojas serves as the third-choice goalkeeper. Setford has returned from injury, and winger Kabia is once again involved with the first team. Midfielders Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri have frequently been called up to the senior squad this season.

Kabia, a Dutch citizen born in the Netherlands to Sierra Leonean parents, has not yet represented any country internationally. He is a right-footed right-winger who typically stays near the touchline on the right, though he has played occasionally on the left as well.

Ishmael Kabia stands out for his speed and crossing ability, excelling at youth levels. His effective partnership with Nwaneri in the under-21 team has caught the club’s attention.

A youth expert from Next Generation Arsenal remarked, “Ishmael Kabia is the quickest wide player I’ve seen recently. His speed disrupts defenders, and his technical skills have improved significantly. If he keeps progressing, he could become a key player.”

In September, he made his first senior appearance for Arsenal’s first team in their 5-1 win over Bolton in the EFL Cup.

Sierra Leone captain Caulker expresses excitement after win over African champions, Ivory Coast
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone captain Caulker expresses pride after win over Ivory Coast

Sierra Leone captain Steven Caulker expressed pride in his Leone Stars teammates after their hard-fought victory over the African champions on Tuesday during their round four Group G qualifiers at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium.

Amadou Bakayoko, a striker based in Japan, scored a last-minute header to secure the win for the West African team, marking their first victory in the qualifiers and against Ivory Coast.

The Sierra Leone skipper remarked, “The beautiful game… On Friday night, we lost 4-1 to the African champions, Ivory Coast. We conceded three penalties and paid the price for lapses in concentration.

I didn’t sleep at all that night; I was fuming. Our chances of qualifying for AFCON 2025 have been severely diminished. We then spent the entire Saturday traveling to Liberia. For those who may not know, many African nations can’t play at home because we don’t meet FIFA requirements.

It’s a real disadvantage not being able to play in front of our home supporters. We also picked up a few injuries to key players, and by Tuesday, everyone had written us off… That’s where the beauty of football comes into play.

Our team rallied together and achieved a historic victory, beating the African giants for the first time ever. What a feeling! We won 1-0 with a clean sheet and a solid team performance.

Although we still have two challenging matches against Chad and Zambia to play in November, our hopes of qualifying are reignited. The highs and lows of football.”

As it stands in Group G,  Ivory Coast on nine points, Zambia on seven, Sierra Leone amassed four points and Chad on two points ahead of the final two matches. 

Serhou Guirassy brace helps Guinea strengthen qualification hopes
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Serhou Guirassy brace helps Guinea stay focus on qualification

Guinea won 3-0 against Ethiopia on Tuesday, 15 October in their 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier, with Serhou Guirassy scoring two goals. The match took place at the Ebimpe Stadium in Abidjan.

With this victory, Guinea secured three crucial points, moving to second place in Group H with six points. Ethiopia remained at the bottom with just one point.

Serhou Guirassy continued his impressive form, scoring two goals in the first half. He found the net in the 16th minute and then converted a penalty in the 23rd minute. Abdoulaye Touré scored a third goal in the 19th minute, sealing the win for Guinea.

Guirassy has now scored five goals in two games against Ethiopia, after having scored a hat-trick against them in the previous match.

Guinea’s next month’s, crucial matches will be held against DR Congo and Tanzania to conclude the race to Morocco.

Striker Amadou Bakayoko's last-gasp header helps Sierra Leone to victory
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Amadou Bakayoko’s last-gasp header helps Sierra Leone to victory

Sierra Leone secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against the African Champions Ivory Coast in their round four Group G qualifiers at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.

Amadou Bakayoko, a striker based in Japan, scored a last-minute header to secure the win for the West African team, marking their first victory in the qualifiers and against Ivory Coast.

Sierra Leone aimed to bounce back from their previous two defeats and they demonstrated resilience to keep their qualification hopes alive.

The match remained level until the 85th minute when Sierra Leone won a free-kick, which was successfully converted by Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo striker, resulting in their first win in the qualifiers and moving them above Chad with four points from four matches.

Meanwhile, Zambia also claimed a 1-0 victory in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium on Tuesday afternoon. The win placed them just two points behind Group G leaders Ivory Coast, who have a game in hand.

Zambia initially struggled in the match, with Chad having more shots on goal in the first 20 minutes.

However, Zambia found their rhythm by the half-hour mark and began to dominate possession. Kennedy Musonda scored the only goal in the 70th minute, and despite a late scare with a penalty awarded to Chad, Zambia held on to secure all three points in Cameroon.

As it stands in Group G,  Ivory Coast on nine points, Zambia on seven, Sierra Leone amassed four points and Chad on two points ahead of the final two matches. 

Sierra Leone brace for vital win or face shaky path to Morocco
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone brace for vital win or face shaky path to Morocco

The Leone Stars have never beaten Les Elephants in nine attempts. Sierra Leone will host defending champions Ivory Coast in the fourth round of the AFCON qualifiers at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium on Tuesday evening.

They aim to bounce back to winning ways after only securing one point from their first three matches, which currently places them at the bottom of the table. The three-time Cup of Nations representatives must demonstrate their hunger and resilience as they confront the African Champions for the second time in five days in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The second leg of the doubleheader is scheduled for October 15 at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in Monrovia, Liberia at 16-hour GMT. Following their 4-1 defeat against Côte d’Ivoire at the Stade de San Pédro, the Leone Stars are focused on revitalizing their chances on Tuesday.

Sierra Leone’s Coach Amidu Karim may consider making several changes to the team that suffered a heavy defeat in Ivory Coast against the African Champions. In his pre-match conference, he noted that both matches are not the same. My team captain and I have observed that Tuesday’s match will be different. We are aiming to get a positive result on our side. We have analysed our mistakes and are not ready to repeat those mistakes on Tuesday.”

Skipper Steven Caulker also mentioned that they are aware of the current standings and that the Leone Stars must achieve a positive result.

Emerse Faé, the coach of Cote d’Ivoire, is fully aware of the task ahead. “The main goal will be to win again. I already mentioned before the first game that it was going to be tough because it’s a good team. This team has made the best impression on me in our group. It was confirmed in the first match, even though we won 4-1.

This is a team that has caused us some problems, so we are expecting a tough game tomorrow. The synthetic playing surface suits them better than us because they are more used to it. We play on this type of surface less often.”

A third consecutive loss for Sierra Leone in the group will certainly make it difficult to qualify for the tournament in Morocco next year. Côte d’Ivoire is determined to uphold its perfect record as it gears up for another strong match against its West African opponents. With nine points from three games, the Elephants are well on their way to securing an early qualification. But even with a defeat against Ivory, Leone Stars can still qualify with wins against difficult Chad and Zambia in their final matches depending on Zambia draw with Chad and lost to Ivory Coast. 

Coach Avram Grant’s team faces a tough challenge against Chad at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Chad is still looking for their first win, while Zambia, currently in second place with 4 points, is eager to secure a win to stay in contention.

Ivory Coast has enjoyed a perfect start in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers, securing victories against Zambia, Chad, and Sierra Leone, and claiming the top position in Group G with nine points. Zambia has four points, Chad has two, and Sierra Leone has one point.

Group D AFCON qualification twist after Super Eagles left stranded
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Group D AFCON qualifier twist after Nigeria left stranded

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has withdrawn the Super Eagles from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya.

Nigeria won 1-0 in Uyo on Friday, topping Group D with seven points, while Libya remained at the bottom with one point and faced elimination.

This decision follows a 12-hour delay at Libya’s Al Abraq International Airport, where the team was left stranded. The players have decided not to play the match due to frustration and fatigue. The NFF is arranging the team’s return to Nigeria.

“We maintained a positive outlook, but the circumstances we are encountering are unacceptable and seem deliberate. Travelling by road poses a significant danger, and we have serious concerns about our treatment at the hotel along with the quality of food provided. What was once amusing has turned into a serious matter. As a team, we pride ourselves on mutual respect, and given these hostile conditions, we have decided to refrain from participating in the match,” Troost-Ekong stated, tagging @caf_online for wider attention.

As confirmation of the dire situation, the NFF’s statement continued: “Players have resolved not to proceed with the match, and officials are now arranging for the team to return home.” The match was meant to be the fourth in their campaign to secure a spot in the next AFCON tournament set to take place in Morocco in the upcoming year.

The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) expressed concern over the situation experienced by the visiting team but denied any foul play. They reassured their Nigerian counterparts that the flight diversion was unintentional.

Burkina Faso secure 2025 Cup of Nations spot with victory over Burundi
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Burkina Faso secure 2025 Cup of Nations spot with victory over Burundi

Burkina Faso clinched their place in the 2025 African Cup of Nations after a 2-0 victory over Burundi at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium on Sunday.

With this victory, they have earned 10 points from four matches in Group L, securing their spot in the 24-team tournament. The goals were netted by Mohamed Konate and Bertrand Traore.

Senegal is currently in second place with seven points from three matches and can qualify by winning against Malawi. Burundi has three points from four games, while Malawi has none from three.

The top two teams from each of the 12 qualification pools will advance to the finals, which will take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

In addition, Morocco have already secured their place in the tournament as hosts. 

Morocco's Atlas Lions thrash Central African Republic
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Morocco’s Atlas Lions thrash Central African Republic

Morocco continued to show its strength in Group B of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 Qualifiers on Saturday, October 12th, by defeating the Central African Republic.

The host of the 2025 AFCON has won three consecutive games as they prepare for the continental showpiece. They are leading with five points, ahead of Gabon, who had a goalless draw with Lesotho on Friday.

The Atlas Lions won 5-0 and are building momentum as they get ready to host next year’s Cup of Nations.  Assedine Ounahi scored two goals in the first half, and Adbe Essalzouli, Achraf Hakimi, and Soufiane Rahimi also scored.

The competition in Group B remains exciting as Gabon will play Lesotho again on Tuesday, and the Central African Republic will have another chance to play Morocco on the same evening.

Striker Serhou Guirassy nets hat-trick as Guinea thrash Ethiopia
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Striker Serhou Guirassy nets hat-trick as Guinea thrash Ethiopia

Striker Serhou Guirassy scored an impressive hat trick in the first half, leading Guinea to a resounding 4-1 victory over Ethiopia in their 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

The match, held at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan, showcased Syli National’s dominance from the outset. Guinea secured their lead in the 18th minute when Guirassy successfully converted a penalty after Birhanu Bekele’s foul inside the box.

The Germany-based attacker extended his lead in the 37th minute, finishing from close range after a well-timed pass from Seydouba Cissé. Just before half-time, Guirassy completed his hat-trick by slotting home in stoppage time from a François Kamano assist, securing a 3-0 lead at the break.

Guinea continued their dominance in the second half, with Seydouba Cissé adding a fourth goal in the 48th minute, finishing a through ball from Mady Camara.

After Matchday Three, DR Congo leads Group H with nine points, followed by Tanzania with four points and Guinea with three points. Ethiopia remains at the bottom with just one point.

Ethiopia scored a goal in the 53rd minute through Kenean Markneh, but Guinea’s victory renewed their prospects for qualification, while Ethiopia faces a challenging path to keep their hopes alive.

Steven Caulker - "Fail to prepare, prepare to fail"
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Steven Caulker on defeat to Ivory Coast – “Fail to prepare, prepare to fail”

Sierra Leone team captain Steven Caulker has admitted that team spirit alone is not enough to win top football matches as they lack organisation.

The West Africa side still searching for a win in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers and they’re currently at the bottom of the group after suffering a 4-1 defeat to the African Champions on Friday at the Laurent Pokou Stadium in San Pedro.

“Team spirit alone will not win matches. The team put up a good fight but fell short in the crucial moments. We need to do better if we’re going to get a result on Tuesday. As players, we take ultimate responsibility for the performance and the result,” Steven Caulker explained.

On Players Responsibilities

It’s important to note that we are not receiving the support we need. The decisions made by those in power are ultimately impacting us on the field.

On Organisation and Planning

Right now, we lack organization. If we fail to prepare, we prepare to fail. However, we still have a chance to qualify, and we will give our all in the next three games to make it happen.

On the Critics – Caulker pointed out…

As for those who are criticizing us, the only one who has performed well in the game is Kallon. The rest should refrain from making comments, as I don’t recall them making significant contributions on or off the pitch for the Leone Stars.

If we are to progress as a top footballing nation in Africa, we need to reset everything after this campaign and start anew. We have the talent, and the government has provided financial support. There is no excuse for us not to succeed.

Coach Amidu Karim’s team must avoid another defeat when they welcome Ivory Coast for the second leg of the doubleheader on October 15 at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in Monrovia, Liberia.