Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Egypt's U23 national team won their final friendly match against Iraq 2-1 before the 2024 Paris Olympics, which will begin on July 24th.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Egypt gear up for Olympics opener with a win over Iraq

Egypt’s U23 national team won their final friendly match against Iraq 2-1 before the 2024 Paris Olympics, which will begin on July 24th.

The Pharaohs drew 1-1 with Ukraine earlier this week and then secured a 2-1 victory over Iraq to complete their preparation.

Ibrahim Adel from Pyramids FC scored both goals for Egypt. Adel’s performance is crucial for Egypt in the upcoming Olympics, where he will have support from Ahmed Sayed Zizo and Mohamed Elneny, a former Arsenal midfielder.

Despite the win, the team still struggles to keep a clean sheet. Coach Roger Micale hopes the players will gain experience from these matches before the Olympic games.

The win over Iraq has boosted confidence within the team ahead of the Olympics.

Egypt will start their Olympic campaign against the Dominican Republic on July 24, followed by a match against Uzbekistan three days later.

They will finish the group stages with a challenging game against Spain on July 30.

The Egypt XI lineup for the match against Iraq was: Hamzaa Alaa, Omar Fayed, Hossam Abdelmeguid, Ahmed Eid, Kareem El-Debes; Mohamed Elneny, Mohamed Sheata, Ahmed Atef; Ibrahim Adel, Ahmed Sayed Zizo, Osama Faisal.

The selected 22 players are ready for 2024 Paris Olympics
The selected 22 players are ready for 2024 Paris Olympics
Sierra Leone Interclub representatives await CAF clearance to host matches
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone await clearance to host CAF Interclub matches

Sorie Ibrahim Sesay, the Director of Competitions and a CAF-certified stadium Inspector for the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), diligently inspected the Southern Arena on Saturday, July 20th, to ensure it meets the standards required for CAF approval.

Sierra Leone stadiums were not included in the initial list of approved stadiums by CAF for the 2024/25 Inter-Club competitions.

In August, Champions Bo Rangers FC and East End Lions Football Club are scheduled to participate in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup, respectively.

There is a chance that these matches could occur in Sierra Leone. This will depend on the review of the pre-inspection report by CAF in the coming days, which will determine the eligibility of the Southern Arena stadium for these important matches.

In the preliminary stages of the 2024/2025 CAF Confederation Cup, East End Lions will play against ASC Jaraaf from Senegal, and Bo Rangers will play against San-Pédro from Ivory Coast in the 2024/2025 CAF Champions League.

The first leg matches are scheduled for August 16th-18th – with the return fixtures taking place the following weekend.

Sullay Kaikai's Cambridge United end pre-season in Portugal
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sullay Kaikai’s Cambridge United end pre-season in Portugal

Cambridge United played against League Two newcomers Bromley in the second of their two pre-season friendly matches in Portugal.

Stevens, Digby, Rossi, Andrew, Brophy, Gibbons, Hoddle, Kachunga, Kaikai, Lavery, and Munday played the first hour.

In the first game – George Munday and Shayne Lavery scored, resulting in a 2-2 draw. In the second game, featuring a younger U’s side, Cambridge United lost 2-0.

The U’s fell behind after just a minute but quickly equalized and then missed some good chances. Just before the first break, Bromley almost scored.

The 28-year-old Sierra Leonean attacker joined the U’s last summer on an initial one-year deal and was a consistent performer in his first year with the Club, making 47 appearances across all competitions.

Kaikai signed a new one-year contract ahead of the new campaign. Their next in the pre-season schedule is a trip to Braintree on Friday and Ebbsfleet on Saturday.

Benin International Andreas Hountondji is delighted to join Burnley
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Benin International Andreas Hountondji is delighted to join Burnley

Benin international Andreas Hountondji has expressed his delight at finalizing his transfer to English Championship side Burnley from French Ligue 2 team Caen, signing a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

The forward joins Burnley after an impressive loan spell with Rodez in Ligue 2 last season, during which he scored 16 goals in all competitions.

Expressing his enthusiasm for the move to Turf Moor, Hountondji stated, “I am excited to be here and decided due to the strong interest shown by the club.” During his loan spell with Rodez, Hountondji scored 16 times in all competitions. “I am drawn to the club’s commitment to providing opportunities for young players, which influenced my decision to join.

Additionally, I have a deep appreciation for English football,” Hountondji conveyed in a statement on the club’s website. Furthermore, he highlighted the fruitful discussion with the management, stating, “We discussed values, principles, and our playing style, and it strongly resonated with me.”

Born in France to a Beninese father and a French mother, Hountondji holds dual nationalities. He commenced his international career with Benin in June 2023 and has secured eight caps for the Cheetahs, although he has yet to register a goal for the West African side.

Serhou Guirassy completes transfer to Borussia Dortmund from Stuttgart
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Guinea’s striker Serhou Guirassy joins Borussia Dortmund

Stuttgart forward Serhou Guirassy has successfully finalized his transfer to Borussia Dortmund. The Guinea international demonstrated his prowess by scoring 28 goals in the Bundesliga last season.

Guirassy is eager to contribute to Borussia Dortmund and help them win titles. Dortmund’s sporting director praised Guirassy as a strong and versatile addition to the team.

He expressed satisfaction that Guirassy will soon be playing for BVB and scoring goals for the team. The Guinean national striker, born in Arles, France, is joining BVB from VfB Stuttgart until June 2028.

The German side noted, “A few days ago, Guirassy underwent another medical examination by a specialist. This showed that the injury he sustained in an international match at the end of the season would not require surgery. Guirassy will now complete an individual rehabilitation program for a few weeks and, according to the doctors’ assessments, will be fit to play in the summer.”

Serhou Guirassy leaves VfB - The 28-year-old striker has completed a transfer to Borussia Dortmund.
Serhou Guirassy leaves VfB -The 28-year-old striker has completed a transfer to Borussia Dortmund.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pens Al Qadsiah deal in Saudi's Pro League
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Emerick Aubameyang pens Al Qadsiah deal in Saudi’s Pro League

Gabonese International Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has officially signed with the Saudi Pro League (SPL) club Al Qadsiah until summer 2026.

The 35-year-old has cut ties with Marseille after just one season with the Ligue 1 side.

Aubameyang, a prominent figure in the English Premier League since joining Arsenal in January 2018, has played for several prestigious clubs across Europe – Including Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, and Arsenal before joining Marseille last summer.

Despite his successful stint in France, Aubameyang’s time with Marseille has come to an end as Al-Qadsiah successfully secured the talisman.

Aubameyang will be linking up with former Real Madrid defender Nacho, who also recently inked a two-year deal with Al Qadsiah.

Reports from Foot Mercato state that Marseille and their new manager, Roberto De Zerbi were unable to convince Aubameyang to fulfil the remainder of his contract.

Gambia's Ebou Adams re-joins Derby from Cardiff City
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Gambia’s Ebou Adams re-joins Derby from Cardiff City

Derby County has re-signed Ebou Adams from Cardiff City. The midfielder assisted the Rams in achieving promotion from League One last season following his loan move on 31 January 2024 until the end of the 2023–24 season.

Adams, who was born in England to Gambian parents, made his debut for the Gambia in November 2017. He also played in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, where Gambia reached the quarter-finals.

The 28-year-old has signed a three-year deal with Derby County. He featured 17 times on loan for Paul Warne’s side last season, helping them secure promotion to the Championship as runners-up in the third tier.

Adams played a crucial role in Derby’s promotion push, contributing to 11 wins and just three losses in the matches he played. He is the fifth player Derby has signed this summer, following the arrivals of Ben Osborn, Kayden Jackson, Jerry Yates, and Kenzo Goudmijn in recent weeks. He has joined the Rams’ squad at their training camp in Spain.

The former Forest Green Rovers player has struggled with injuries, making only 11 appearances in the second tier despite his previous experience at non-league and League Two levels.

He was previously at Norwich but mostly played on loan. Paul Warne has shown interest in Adams following Derby’s return to the Championship, and Adams has already joined the team for their pre-season camp in Spain.

The Egyptian Anti-Doping Organization (EGY-NADO) has cleared Pyramids winger Ramadan Sobhi of doping charges
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Pyramids’ Ramadan Sobhi has been cleared of doping charges

The Egyptian Anti-Doping Organization (EGY-NADO) has cleared Pyramids winger Ramadan Sobhi of doping charges.

Sobhi, 27, was suspended on 26th May after a Barcelona laboratory reported “atypical findings” in a doping test. EGY-NADO investigated and held a hearing where Sobhi denied any wrongdoing.

The committee determined that there was insufficient evidence to support a violation of the Egyptian Anti-Doping Rules. Consequently, Sobhi’s suspension has been lifted.

This decision means Sobhi can rejoin his club after missing seven matches and Egypt’s national team camp for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Sobhi’s return is good news for Pyramids as they compete with Ahly on 22nd July for the Egyptian Premier League title. This is a relief for Sobhi, who has maintained his innocence throughout the process.

Background!

Ramadan Sobhi Ahmed, born on January 23, 1997, is a winger for Pyramids FC and the Egypt national team. He started his career with Al Ahly and later played for English clubs Stoke City and Huddersfield Town.

He also represented Egypt in the 2018 World Cup and participated in the Tokyo Olympics.

Youssef Aymen has become Al Ahly's first summer signing, joining the team on a season-long loan with an option to make the deal permanent.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Defender Youssef Aymen pens Al Ahly loan deal from Al-Duhail

Youssef Aymen has become Al Ahly’s first summer signing, joining the team on a season-long loan with an option to make the deal permanent.

At 25 years old, this talented individual, who honed their skills at the prestigious Aspire Academy in Qatar, made a significant move to join Al-Duhail’s youth teams in 2017.

Marcel Koller, the coach, has been looking for a new defender for some time. After losing Zineddine Belaid to Sint-Truidense, the club chose Aymen instead.

Aymen, who holds Egyptian citizenship, does not occupy a foreign player spot in the squad. He has played for Al-Duhail, with 59 appearances and five goals, and has earned eight caps with Qatar.

Aymen will become the second Qatari to play for Al Ahly after Hussein Yasser.

He missed out on the 2023 Asian Cup squad but returned to the team in the latest World Cup qualifiers, scoring against India in a 2-1 victory.

Steven Caulker confirms deal with Turkish side Ankara Keçiörengücü
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Steven Caulker confirms deal with Turkish side Keçiörengücü

Sierra Leone captain Steven Caulker has confirmed that he is returning to Turkey to play for Ankara Keçiörengücü, a second-tier side in the TFF First League, after signing a one-year deal with an option for another year.

In December last year, Spanish club FC Malaga City announced a player/coach deal with Steven Caulker, a former defender for Tottenham and Liverpool. However, the deal was cut short due to work permit issues.

Ankara Keçiörengücü Sports Club is a Turkish sports club located in the Keçiören district of Ankara. The football club competes in the TFF First League.

On 15 January 2019, Caulker joined Alanyaspor in the Turkish Süper Lig. He later signed with Fenerbahçe in June 2021 and spent the 2021–22 season on loan at Gaziantep.

In August 2022, he joined Fatih Karagümrük but left in December 2022. In January 2023, Caulker joined Wigan Athletic.

Caulker, aged 32, represented Sierra Leone in AFCON 2021 and aims to continue supporting the national side in the World Cup and 2025 AFCON qualifiers.