Author: Football Sierra Leone

New CAF coaching requirements for National teams and Clubs football
by Football Sierra Leone

FIFA’s Infantino condemns as CAF reviews footage of Senegal players and officials

FIFA president Gianni Infantino condemned the behavior of Senegal players and coaching staff following the chaotic end of the Africa Cup of Nations final.

He emphasised that violence and walk-offs have no place in football and stressed the importance of respecting match officials’ decisions.

The final, in which Senegal won 1-0 against Morocco, was marred by a disputed penalty that led to player protests and halted play.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced it would review footage of the incident and pursue disciplinary actions against those responsible for the unacceptable behaviour.

Sierra Leone's Kallum Cesay nets winner in five-goal thriller
by Football Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone’s Kallum Cesay nets winner in five-goal thriller

Kallum Cesay scored his fourth and the winning goal in a thrilling match, helping Salford equal points with Swindon.

Ryan Graydon nearly scored first with a header, but missed the target from Luke Garbutt’s cross. In the 24th minute, Oliver Turton scored for Salford with a header from Garbutt’s corner.

Seven minutes later, Graydon set up Kelly N’Mai in the box, who scored to make it 2-0. Swindon responded with Joel McGregor heading the ball in at the far post to cut the lead. Salford’s Jorge Grant then hit the crossbar with an inswinging corner.

Graydon missed a chance to score again when Connor Ripley made a mistake while trying to clear the ball. After halftime, Matthew Young saved a shot from Gavin Kilkenny from outside the box.

Salford made it 3-1 in the 72nd minute when Daniel Udoh passed the ball to Cesay, who scored. Aaron Drinan scored a header for Town from a cross by Fletcher Holman, giving them hope, but Salford held on to win.

Striker Daniel Kanu scores as Walsall chase promotion
by Football Sierra Leone

Striker Daniel Kanu scores as Walsall chase promotion

Sierra Leone International Daniel Kanu was among the goals as Walsall kept their hopes for automatic promotion alive with a solid victory over Tranmere on Saturday.

Goals from Priestley Farquharson, Daniel Kanu, and Jamille Matt ended a streak of four straight defeats for Walsall. Meanwhile, Tranmere, who scored a late goal through Joe Ironside, faced their third home loss in a row.

The game started well for Walsall, with Matt’s header from Farquharson’s long throw aimed right at Tranmere’s goalkeeper, Jack Barrett, just two minutes in.

Tranmere’s best chance in the first half came from Ethan Bristow, who shot wide from a tight angle after being set up by Connor Jennings.

Walsall took the lead in the 37th minute when Farquharson outjumped everyone to head in Evan Weir’s corner kick.

They doubled their lead just before halftime when Kanu took advantage of a defensive mistake, rounded Barrett, and easily scored into an empty net.

Walsall secured the win in the 66th minute when Matt headed in a perfect cross from Aden Flint. Ironside scored a consolation goal for Tranmere in the 90th minute.

Midfielder John Bilili Sesay joins Bray Wanderers FC in Ireland
by Football Sierra Leone

Midfielder John Bilili Sesay joins Bray Wanderers FC in Ireland

Sierra Leone Premier League team Bhantal FC has announced that midfielder John Bilili Sesay has joined Bray Wanderers FC in Ireland ahead of the 2026 season. 

“We are excited to share that John Bilili Sesay has officially joined Bray Wanderers FC in Ireland! John is a talented midfielder who will play in the League of Ireland First Division.

Thank you, John, for representing Bhantal FC so well. We wish you the best in this new chapter!”

The 18-year-old, who is highly rated, comes from Bhantal FC and has already played in Sierra Leone’s World Cup qualifying matches.

Nicknamed ‘The Seagulls’, the Irish football team that competes in the League of Ireland First Division. The club, as we know it today, was established in 1942 in Bray and was previously called Bray Wanderers A.F.C. until 2010.

Sadio Mane's powerful strike fires Senegal to AFCON 2025 final
by Football Sierra Leone

Sadio Mane’s powerful strike fires Senegal to AFCON 2025 final

Senegal reached the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations by beating Egypt 1-0 in the semi-final at the Tangier Grand Stadium on Wednesday.

Their strong dominance continues against Egypt, with Sadio Mane scoring the winning goal that sends them to this year’s AFCON final.

This marks the fourth time Senegal has reached the final of this tournament. They are currently on a 17-match unbeaten streak in the Africa Cup of Nations. This is the second-longest streak in the tournament’s history, after Egypt’s 24-match streak from 2004 to 2017.

Sadio Mane has been involved in 11 goals and 9 assists in the Africa Cup of Nations, setting a record for the tournament in the 21st century. Senegal has qualified for the final in 3 of the last 4 editions of the tournament.

In their last 28 matches in the Africa Cup of Nations, Senegal has kept a clean sheet 19 times. The Senegalese team has never lost a game in which Sadio Mane scored, with a record of 38 wins and 6 draws.

Sadio Mané iwas name the TotalEnergies Man of the Match
Sadio Mané iwas name the TotalEnergies Man of the Match
Côte d’Ivoire coach Émerse Faé is disappointed after the defeat to Egypt
by Football Sierra Leone

Côte d’Ivoire coach Émerse Faé is disappointed after the defeat to Egypt

Émerse Fae, the coach of Côte d’Ivoire, expressed his frustration after their 3-2 loss to Egypt in the 2025 Cup of Nations quarter-finals. He lamented the mistakes made at crucial moments and the early goals conceded, which put them at a disadvantage.

Mohamed Salah was pivotal for Egypt, scoring and assisting in their dramatic victory. Omar Marmoush opened the scoring early, and Ramy Rabia doubled the lead with a header from a Salah corner. Côte d’Ivoire managed to pull one back just before halftime with an own goal by Fatouh.

After the break, Salah scored again, extending Egypt’s lead to 3-1. Guéla Doué pulled one back for Côte d’Ivoire, but despite their attacking efforts, they couldn’t find an equaliser.

“We are frustrated by tonight’s result. We prepared well to face the Egyptian team, but we made too many mistakes at crucial moments. Those mistakes hurt us the most.

We took time to get into the match. I regret conceding the first goal so early, and the second one too. We reacted well and got back to 2-1 before halftime, but the third goal put us in trouble. It’s tough to explain these lapses in concentration. We will keep working to prepare for the World Cup.”

Salah, named Man of the Match, praised his teammates and highlighted their determination. Egypt’s coach, Hossam Hassan, emphasised their strategy and preparation against the defending champions, expressing pride in their performance despite some mistakes.

Blockbuster AFCON 2025 quarter-finals line up confirmed
by Football Sierra Leone

High-profile Cup of Nations quarter-finals line-up confirmed

The quarterfinal lineup for the Africa Cup of Nations was finalized on Tuesday. Algeria and the defending champion, Ivory Coast, secured the last spots.

Algeria won 1-0 against Congo thanks to a great goal from Adil Boulbina in extra time. Ivory Coast advanced with a 3-0 victory over Burkina Faso, with both Amad Diallo and Yan Diomande scoring and assisting each other. Bazoumana Touré completed the Elephants’ win.

Next, the Ivory Coast will play Egypt in Agadir on Saturday, while Algeria faces Nigeria in Marrakech.

On Friday, Mali will take on Senegal, the 2021 winner, in the first quarterfinal in Tangier. Meanwhile, host nation Morocco will play five-time winner Cameroon at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, which holds nearly 70,000 fans.

The winner here will also compete in the semifinal and final on January 18 if they advance.

The winner of Morocco’s match against Cameroon will meet the winner of Algeria vs. Nigeria on January 14. The other semifinal will feature the winners of Mali vs. Senegal and Egypt vs. Ivory Coast, and it will take place in Tangier earlier that same day.

Cameroon saw off South Africa to set date with Morocco in quarter-finals
by Football Sierra Leone

Cameroon saw off South Africa to set date with Morocco in quarter-finals

Cameroon faced South Africa in a tense match but managed to secure a 2–1 victory in Rabat. This win means Cameroon moves on to the quarter-finals of the tournament to face host Morocco on Friday.

For the first 30 minutes, South Africa was the stronger team. They pressed hard, created chances, and forced Cameroon’s goalkeeper, Epassy, to make important saves. However, Cameroon stayed composed. In the 33rd minute, Tchamadeu scored the first goal, changing the game.

Feeling energised, Cameroon took charge of the match. Just after halftime, Kofane scored again in the 47th minute with a diving header. This put Cameroon up 2–0, a tough blow for South Africa.

Despite the score, South Africa kept pushing. Makgopa scored in the 87th minute, bringing hope to his team. The crowd in Rabat held their breath as Epassy faced more shots, but he held firm, and Cameroon clung to their lead until the final whistle.

With this win, Cameroon goes on to play Morocco in the quarter-finals on Friday at the Stade Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.

Carlos Baleba – Man of the Match, “We are set to face Morocco, a strong team. We’ve been performing well, and we need to stay calm and keep this up. Our positive mindset is key to our strength.”

Hugo Broos – South Africa Head Coach, “Our team didn’t deserve to lose. This isn’t the result we wanted, but we have to accept it and focus on our future goals, especially the World Cup.”

David Pagou – Cameroon Coach, “We are excited about the win. We’ve faced a tough schedule, but we’ve succeeded. We’re committed to improving and working together, which is essential for our team’s progress.”

Sullay Kaikai shortlisted for Cambridge Player of the Month
by Football Sierra Leone

Sullay Kaikai shortlisted for Cambridge Player of the Month

Sierra Leone's Sullay Kaikai is in the running for the latest December 2025 Player of the Month award for Cambridge United.

Kaikai has been a crucial player for the League Two club, contributing vital goals and assists in recent matches. As a result, he has been shortlisted for this prestigious honour.

Supporters can now cast their votes for the Girton Golf Club Player of the Month for December 2025. United had another impressive month, remaining unbeaten in the league and advancing in the FA Cup with a solid win over Stockport.

This month’s nominees include Sullay Kaikai, Mamadou Jobe, James Gibbons, and George Hoddle.

Player of the Month sponsors, Girton Golf Club, are offering 10% off membership to Season Ticket Holders and Abbey Access members.

Girton Golf Club is within easy reach of Huntingdon Road as well as the A14 and M11. Founded in 1936, they have a beautiful and challenging 18-hole parkland course, a modern clubhouse and extensive practice and coaching facilities. 

Girton Golf Club is a Community Amateur Sports Club, owned by the members, and visitors are welcome. Whether you’re a beginner just picking up the sport or a seasoned player looking to hone your skills, Girton Golf Club caters to all.

South Africa book last 16 spot with a win over Zimbabwe as Egypt and Angola draw
by Football Sierra Leone

South Africa book last-16 spot with a win over Zimbabwe as Egypt and Angola draw

South Africa advanced to the knockout stages of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025, securing a narrow 3–2 victory against a determined Zimbabwe team in a closely contested Group B match on Monday.

The match displayed significant tension, remaining uncertain until the final whistle. Yet, South Africa demonstrated commendable composure under pressure to achieve a result that could be pivotal for their qualification efforts.

Bafana Bafana commenced the match strongly, taking an early lead within the first seven minutes. Tshepang Moremi seized on a deflected effort, skillfully lifting the ball over goalkeeper Arubi to establish an advantage for South Africa.

Buoyed by this initial success, South Africa maintained an aggressive offensive presence, with Thapelo Mbule and Oswin Appollis significantly contributing to the team’s attacking drive.

Zimbabwe displayed resilience as Tawanda Maswanhise equalised in the 19th minute with a powerful strike. However, South Africa regained the lead shortly after the break when Lyle Foster scored with a skilful lob in the 50th minute.

Zimbabwe remained a threat, with Maswanhise hitting the post midway through the second half. The match was ultimately decided in the last fifteen minutes when a VAR review awarded South Africa a penalty for a handball by Marvellous Nakamba. Oswin Appollis converted it in the 82nd minute, extending South Africa’s lead as they held on to win. 

Meanwhile, Angola and already qualified Egypt fought to a tense 0–0 draw in their group stage match at the Stade d’Agadir, with Angola dominating possession but Egypt’s defence securing a hard-earned point.