Author: Football Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone's Mohamed Kabia set to join Serbian side Borac Čačak

Sierra Leone’s Mohamed Kabia set to join Serbian side Borac Čačak

Sierra Leone midfielder Mohamed Kabia is set to join FC Borac Čačak in Serbia’s First League for the remainder of the season. The Serbian First League, sponsored by Mozzart Bet, is the second tier of professional football in Serbia.

As excitement builds around his arrival, Borac Čačak is expected to conduct an official unveiling ceremony soon, where they will confirm the specifics of his contract, outline expectations, and discuss his potential role within the squad moving forward.

The 21-year-old player, known for his robust style of play and versatility, is also capable of operating effectively as a centre-back. A close source has disclosed that the midfielder finalized his transfer yesterday, and an official announcement from the club is anticipated shortly, detailing the terms of his contract.

This transfer marks an important milestone in Kabia’s career. He has previously gained recognition for his impressive performances in both domestic leagues and international competitions, showcasing his defensive prowess and ability to adapt to different playing styles.

By joining FC Borac Čačak, Kabia seeks to advance his career in European football. The club, known for its competitiveness in the Serbian first division, will benefit from his physical presence and tactical insight.

Sierra Leone U-17 set for Guinea in Women’s World Cup qualifiers

Sierra Leone U17 set for Guinea in Women’s World Cup qualifiers

Following their remarkable triumph over the Central African Republic in the first preliminary round, the Sierra Leone Women’s U-17 team is now poised to take on Guinea in the highly anticipated second preliminary round of the U-17 Women’s World Cup African Qualifiers.

A pivotal encounter looms as these young athletes continue their quest to qualify for the prestigious 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, showcasing their skills on an international stage.

The stakes are raised even further, as the winner of this tightly contested fixture will advance to face the victor of the match between Ivory Coast and Burundi in the third and final round of the qualifiers, making every moment of this series critical in their journey toward World Cup aspirations.

The 2025 African U-17 Women’s World Cup qualification is the 10th edition of this tournament, open to players born on or after January 1, 2008. The four teams that win in the third round will qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

First-Leg: March 8, 2025, at Southern Arena, Bo City, a venue known for its vibrant atmosphere and passionate local supporters.

Second-Leg: March 15, 2025, at Stade Mamadou Konaté, Bamako, Mali, offering a competitive setting for this crucial match-up.  

Women's 2026 Cup of Nations first round qualifiers wrap-up

Women’s 2026 Cup of Nations first round qualfiers wrap-up

Equatorial Guinea, former champions, will miss the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) after a surprising loss in the first round of qualifying on Wednesday.

In the second leg of their match against Tanzania, Equatorial Guinea was down 3-1. They could only manage a 1-1 draw at home, despite Tanzania being ranked 63 places lower.

Equatorial Guinea won the tournament in 2008 and 2012 but has not reached a Wafcon since 2018 when they finished last in their group.

In another surprising result, Kenya’s goalkeeper Lilian Awuor saved two penalties, helping her team eliminate Tunisia with a 1-0 win in North Africa. The Harambee Starlets scored early with a goal from Tereza Engesha, despite being ranked 71 places lower than Tunisia.

Botswana has been eliminated from the 2024 tournament without playing. They drew 0-0 away against DR Congo, who will participate in the finals, and ended up losing 2-0 on aggregate.

Togo and Mali were strong winners. Togo defeated Djibouti 10-0 on aggregate, while Mali beat Gabon 10-1 overall.

The second round of qualifiers will take place in October and will decide which 11 teams will join Morocco, the host, at the 2026 tournament. The reigning champions South Africa, along with Zambia and Nigeria, received a bye to the second round because of their high rankings.

The Confederation of African Football has not yet announced the dates for the 2026 Wafcon finals.

In other first-round matches, Ethiopia came back from a 2-0 deficit against Uganda, winning 2-0 on Wednesday and then 5-4 on penalties. Namibia also moved on after defeating Eswatini 1-0 for a 4-0 aggregate victory.

Burkina Faso will play Togo after winning against Burundi 5-1. DR Congo will face Wafcon holders South Africa after beating Botswana.

Kenya’s win over Tunisia means they will play The Gambia, who is ranked 23 places higher and won 4-1 on aggregate against Niger.

Mali will face Cape Verde, who won convincingly against Guinea with a 4-1 score, ttotalling6-3 on aggregate.

Benin will compete against 11-time champions Nigeria after beating Sierra Leone 5-2.

Egypt, trying to qualify for the finals for the first time since 2016, progressed after drawing 2-2 with Rwanda and winning 3-2 overall. They will play Ghana next.

Algeria will face Cameroon after defeating South Sudan 8-0 on aggregate.

Malawi received a bye since Congo-Brazzaville was suspended from international football. Senegal also moved on after Chad withdrew from qualifying.

In the second round, Senegal will play Ivory Coast, and Malawi will face Angola, who advanced by beating Zimbabwe 5-4 on penalties after a 3-3 aggregate tie.

Wafcon 2026 qualifying first-round results

  • Zimbabwe 2-1 Angola (3-3 agg) – Angola win 5-4 on penalties
  • Congo-Brazzaville P-P Malawi – Malawi progress via walkover
  • DR Congo 0-0 Botswana (2-0 agg)
  • Equatorial Guinea 1-1 Tanzania (2-4 agg)
  • Ethiopia 2-0 Uganda (2-2 agg) – Ethiopia win 5-4 on penalties
  • Namibia 1-0 Eswatini (4-0 agg)
  • Burkina Faso 4-1 Burundi (5-1 agg)
  • Togo 5-0 Djibouti (10-0 agg)
  • Algeria 3-0 South Sudan (8-0 agg)
  • Egypt 2-2 Rwanda (3-2 agg)
  • Kenya 1-0 Tunisia (1-0 agg)
  • The Gambia 2-1 Niger (4-1 agg)
  • Sierra Leone 1-3 Benin (2-5 agg)
  • Cape Verde 4-1 Guinea (6-3 agg)
  • Mali 4-1 Gabon (10-1 agg)
  • Senegal P-P Chad – Senegal progress after Chad withdrew
Guinean striker Serhou Guirassy nets four against Union Berlin

Guinean striker Serhou Guirassy nets four against Union Berlin

Inform Guinean International Serhou Guirassy scored four goals to lead Borussia Dortmund to a 6-1 victory over Union Berlin, giving Niko Kovac his first win as head coach.

Dortmund went ahead in the 25th minute when Union’s Diogo Leite deflected a shot from Julian Ryerson into his own net. Guirassy scored his first goal in the 40th minute with a header from Pascal Gross’s cross and added another in the 75th minute, also set up by Gross.

Maximilian Beier assisted Guirassy’s hat-trick goal five minutes later, and Guirassy completed his scoring with a header in the 83rd minute, bringing his season total to 13 league goals.

Beier finished the scoring in the 89th minute. Gross’s four assists marked the first time in five years that a player achieved this feat in the Bundesliga. Nico Kovac, who took over as coach in January, has Dortmund in 10th place with 32 points as they prepare to face Lille in the Champions League next month.

Sierra Queen's coach Hassan Malik Mansaray optimistic ahead of Benin's second leg

Sierra Queen’s coach Hassan Malik Mansaray optimistic ahead of second leg

Sierra Leone’s national women’s head coach, Hassan Malik Mansaray, remains hopeful after his team lost 2-1 to Benin in the first leg of the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) women’s qualifiers.

The match on February 20 at the Kégué Stadium gave Benin a first-leg advantage, but Mansaray believes his team can win the return leg on February 24 in Monrovia.

Coach Mansaray, in his post-match interview, has emphasized the importance of their away goal, stating, “We will try to make the most of it. It was challenging for our players on natural grass, but at home – we will aim for victory.”

Despite the loss, Mansaray sees the away goal as a key advantage. He recalled past encounters with Benin in men’s football where Sierra Leone successfully turned around losses. “We can do the same here,” he said.

As they prepare for the return leg, Sierra Leone is eager to use their home support and refine their tactics. Mansaray’s comments reflect the team’s determination to secure qualification for AFCON 2026. With an away goal already scored, they hope to overcome the deficit and keep their hopes alive.

Meanwhile, his team has safely arrived in Monrovia, Liberia, in preparation for their crucial second-leg match in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers for Morocco 2026. The second leg is scheduled for Monday, February 24, 2026, at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville, Liberia.

Read Related Benin beat Sierra Leone in first-leg WAFCON qualifiers.

Benin with first-leg advantage against Sierra Leone in WAFCON qualifiers

Benin beat Sierra Leone in first-leg WAFCON qualifiers

The Sierra Queens of Sierra Leone suffered a 2-1 defeat to Benin at the Kégué Stadium on Thursday in the first leg of the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations 2026 qualifiers.

Benin’s captain Aude Gbedjissi scored a brace, with her first goal coming in the 23rd minute after receiving a solid pass from the left. She skilfully manoeuvred past the Sierra Leone goalkeeper to open the scoring.

Benin started brightly and could have scored more in the first 15 minutes, but they missed a couple of chances.

The Sierra Queens equalized in the 35th minute when Kadiatu Kamara capitalized on a corner play, striking the ball long over the Benin goalkeeper.

However, the home side quickly responded and regained their one-goal lead after being awarded a penalty in the 44th minute. The Benin captain converted the penalty for her second goal, ending the first half with a 2-1 advantage for her team.

After the recess, both teams struggled to take control of the tie with scrappy football, as there were no goals in the second forty minutes.

Sierra Queens will host their counterparts on Monday at the Liberian Capital for a place in the second round. The overall winner between Benin and Sierra Leone in this first round of matches will advance to face Nigeria’s Super Falcons in the second round.

The final phase of the competition is divided into three groups, each consisting of four teams. The top two teams from each group will directly qualify for the quarter-finals, along with the two best third-placed teams.

From this stage onward, the competition follows a knockout format leading up to the final, where the winner will be crowned.

The 2026 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations is the 16th edition of this tournament, bringing together the best women’s football teams in Africa.

Second Round

● M33 & M34: Angola – Zimbabwe vs. Malawi 

● M35 & M36: Botswana – DR Congo vs. South Africa

● M37 & M38: Tanzania – Equatorial Guinea vs. Uganda – Ethiopia

● M39 & M40: Eswatini – Namibia vs. Zambia

● M41 & M42: Burundi – Burkina Faso vs. Djibouti – Togo

● M43 & M44: South Sudan – Algeria vs. Cameroon

● M45 & M46: Rwanda – Egypt vs. Ghana

● M47 & M48: Kenya – Tunisia vs. Niger – Gambia

● M49 & M50: Benin – Sierra Leone vs. Nigeria

● M51 & M52: Guinea – Cape Verde vs. Gabon – Mali

● M53 & M54: Chad – Senegal vs. Ivory Coast

Guinea's Guirassy misses penalty in Champions League Sporting stalemate

Guinea’s Guirassy Misses Penalty in Champions League Sporting Stalemate | African Football News

Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy, who is the top scorer in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League with ten goals, missed a penalty as they shared spoils with Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday evening.

Borussia Dortmund advanced to the last 16 of the Champions League after a 0-0 draw with Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday, winning 3-0 on aggregate.

Serhou Guirassy missed a second-half penalty, but it did not affect the outcome, as Dortmund faced little challenge from Sporting.

Dortmund will face either Aston Villa or Lille next. Coach Niko Kovac said, “It was a controlled performance,” noting the missed penalty and a shot that hit the post from Giovanni Reyna.

Sporting struggled to recover from their loss in the first leg, where Guirassy, Pascal Gross, and Karim Adeyemi scored.

Dortmund dominated much of the match in cold weather. Sabitzer nearly opened the scoring with a long-range shot, but Sporting goalkeeper Rui Silva made a great save.

In the second half, a penalty was awarded to Dortmund after Adeyemi was fouled, but Guirassy’s shot was saved again by Silva.

Reyna hit the post shortly after coming on, but Dortmund created few chances, and Sporting had no shots on target. Ultimately, Sporting lacked the drive to turn the tie around, allowing Dortmund to progress easily.

Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban to Warriors of Zimbabwe v Benin

Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban to host Warriors of Zimbabwe v Benin  

Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has not met its goals after announcing that the Moses Mabhida Stadium will host the national team’s 2026 World Cup qualifier against Benin.

As a result, ZIFA confirmed that coach Michael Nees’ team will play against the Cheetahs at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on March 20. They hope to secure their first win in Group C of the qualifiers for the World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States in 2026.

ZIFA’s new president, Nqobile Magwizi, had promised that the National Sports Stadium would be the home venue for the Warriors’ matches this year. However, the Harare stadium is still being renovated to meet FIFA’s requirements. This includes adding electronic turnstiles, bucket seats, standard changing rooms, and electronic screens.

Since the FIFA ban on ZIFA was lifted in July 2023, Zimbabwe has had to play its international matches outside the country. The team has used venues in Malawi, South Africa, and Uganda.

ZIFA stated, “The Zimbabwe Senior Men’s National Team, the Warriors, will play their Matchday 5, Group C, FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Benin at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africa.”

The organization added, “ZIFA had originally planned to hold this match in Polokwane, but after it was allocated to Bafana Bafana in January, we had to look for other venues.”

The Sierra Queens ready for WAFCON 2026 first leg qualifier against Benin

Sierra Queens ready for WAFCON 2026 first leg qualifier against Benin

The Sierra Leone Women’s National Team, called the Sierra Queens, has left for Togo for their important first match against Benin. This game is part of the qualifiers for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

This match is a big chance for the team to qualify for the tournament, which will take place in Morocco.

Haja Ramatulai Kamara, a member of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), leads the group. Her guidance, along with the support of the coaching and administrative staff, will be important for a successful campaign.

On Monday, Coach Hassan Malik Mansaray announced an 18-player squad for Sierra Leone’s important qualifiers for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 against Benin.

Sierra Leone is striving to qualify for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the first time. A strong performance against Benin will bring them closer to this goal. If they advance, they will face the formidable Super Falcons of Nigeria in the second round.

Format

The final phase of the competition has three groups, each with four teams. The top two teams from each group will move on to the quarter-finals, along with the two best third-placed teams.

After this, the competition will use a knockout format until the final, where the winner will be announced.

Match Schedule:

– First Leg: Benin vs. Sierra Queens – February 20, 2025 (Togo)

– Second Leg: Sierra Queens vs. Benin – February 24, 2025 (Monrovia, Liberia)

  • Second Round Matches

● M33 & M34: Angola – Zimbabwe vs. Malawi 
● M35 & M36: Botswana – DR Congo vs. South Africa
● M37 & M38: Tanzania – Equatorial Guinea vs. Uganda – Ethiopia
● M39 & M40: Eswatini – Namibia vs. Zambia
● M41 & M42: Burundi – Burkina Faso vs. Djibouti – Togo
● M43 & M44: South Sudan – Algeria vs. Cameroon
● M45 & M46: Rwanda – Egypt vs. Ghana
● M47 & M48: Kenya – Tunisia vs. Niger – Gambia
● M49 & M50: Benin – Sierra Leone vs. Nigeria
● M51 & M52: Guinea – Cape Verde vs. Gabon – Mali
● M53 & M54: Chad – Senegal vs. Ivory Coast

On Monday, coach Hassan Malik Mansaray announced an 18-player squad for Sierra Leone’s crucial qualifiers for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 against Benin.
On Monday, coach Hassan Malik Mansaray announced an 18-player squad for Sierra Leone’s crucial qualifiers for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 against Benin.
Gambia’s Yankuba Minteh’s brace helps Brighton stun Chelsea

Gambia’s Yankuba Minteh’s brace helps Brighton stun Chelsea

Gambian International scored his fifth goal of the Premier League season with two goals against Chelsea on Friday night at the American Express Stadium. This helped Brighton win 3-0.

Kaoru Mitoma started the scoring with a fantastic goal, and Yankuba Minteh added two more goals. This victory ended Brighton’s two-game losing streak.

Mitoma’s great opener and Minteh’s double led Brighton to a strong win over a weak Chelsea team. Head coach Enzo Maresca faced a tough night.

Maresca disappointed fans by downplaying the importance of the FA Cup after their earlier loss to Brighton. This recent loss will not help his image among fans at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca had to play without a recognized striker, which showed in the game. Chelsea did not have a single shot on target in the league for the first time since September 2021. Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku took turns playing as a false nine but could not make an impact.

“Tonight was the worst performance since I arrived, but we are still in the race to finish in the top four,” Maresca said to Sky Sports after the match. He added, “I always feel pressure, not just now.”