Author: Football Sierra Leone

Nigerian striker Emmanuel Dennis joins Blackburn on loan from Forest
by Football Sierra Leone

Nigerian striker Emmanuel Dennis joins Blackburn on loan from Forest

Blackburn Rovers have completed the loan signing of striker Emmanuel Dennis from Nottingham Forest on transfer deadline day.

Dennis, 27, is their third signing of the day, joining Yuri Ribeiro from Braga and Cauley Woodrow from Luton Town.

Dennis began his career with Zorya Luhansk in Ukraine, where he made a strong debut by scoring in a 3-0 victory and gained valuable experience in the Europa League. He later moved to Club Brugge, scoring 19 league goals in 85 appearances.

After a loan spell with FC Cologne, Dennis joined Watford in June 2021, where he netted 10 Premier League goals and made a notable debut against Aston Villa.

His performances attracted Nottingham Forest’s attention, leading to a £20 million transfer in August 2022. He continued to perform well in the Premier League, scoring against teams like Aston Villa and Newcastle United.

Dennis has also had loan spells with Istanbul Basaksehir and his former club, Watford, and has earned eight caps for the Nigerian national team.

Zimbabwe's Marshall Munetsi is raring to go after joining Wolves
by Football Sierra Leone

Zimbabwe’s Marshall Munetsi is raring to go after joining Wolves

Marshall Munetsi has expressed his delight after he joined Wolves on transfer deadline day from Reims in France on a three-and-a-half-year deal. He has played at Reims since 2019 and became a leader there.

Before deciding to move, he talked to former teammate Emmanuel Agbadou and fellow Zimbabwean Tawanda Chirewa, who both gave him positive feedback.

Speaking to the club’s website on joining Wolves: “I’m delighted. This is a dream come true. I’ve always wanted to be part of something big, and joining Wolves is significant for me and my family. The Premier League is the best place to be, and I’m thrilled to join the team.

“I’m excited because this is my first chance to represent a bigger club. There is also a larger Zimbabwean community in England, which will help me feel more at home.”

On his time in France: “When I first arrived, I didn’t expect to stay long, but I really enjoyed my time there. The league is tough, and I gained valuable experience that will help me at Wolves.”

On talking to Chirewa and Agbadou: “Tawanda was excited to hear I’m joining him. Agbadou contacted me too; he was welcomed by me at Reims, so now he gets to welcome me to Wolves.

Wolves recognize Agbadou’s impact—his energy and strength are vital for any top team. He’s been a good friend for three years, so I look forward to playing together.”

On bringing leadership skills:

“Being a leader is challenging, but I believe in supporting and guiding others. I aim to lead by example, both on and off the pitch, and bring these qualities to Wolves based on what I learned at Reims.”

Striker Kelechi Iheanacho could return to English football
by Football Sierra Leone

Kelechi Iheanacho signs for Middlesbrough on loan from Sevilla

Middlesbrough is in talks to sign former Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho on loan until the end of the season.

Iheanacho, 28, left Leicester City in the summer to join Sevilla in Spain. However, he has not made an impact there and has not scored in La Liga.

Kelechi Iheanacho and Leicester City began the 2021–22 season with the FA Community Shield match against Manchester City. Iheanacho came on as a substitute in the 79th minute and scored the winning goal with an 89th-minute penalty against his former club.

In the 2022–23 Season, Iheanacho was named Leicester’s Player of the Year after a season that ultimately led to the club’s relegation from the Premier League.

In the 2023–24 Season, Iheanacho scored six goals in 26 matches across all competitions as Leicester City secured promotion back to the Premier League by winning the EFL Championship. However, on June 7, Leicester City announced that he would be released and would not sign a new contract with the club.

Iheanacho and Leicester started the 2021–22 season with the 2021 FA Community Shield against Manchester City. Iheanacho was substituted on during the 79th minute and scored the winning goal, an 89th-minute penalty against his former club.

Six Days to the 35th edition AFCON 2025 draw in Morocco
by Football Sierra Leone

The schedule for Africa Cup of Nations 2025 confirmed

  • Morocco and Comoros will start the tournament on December 21, 2025. The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations will take place in six cities with nine stadiums. The final match will be held at the 69,500-seat Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat on January 18, 2026.

The Confederation African Football (CAF) has released the match schedule for this major football event. Nine venues in six cities will host the tournament.

The opening game between Morocco and Comoros will take place at the new Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.

Rabat will feature four venues for the matches. The other host cities include Casablanca, Agadir, Marrakech, Fes, and Tangier, each with one venue.

Quarter-final matches will happen in Rabat, Tangier, Marrakech, and Agadir. The semi-finals will be in Rabat and Tangier, while the third-place play-off will take place at Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca.

A total of 52 matches will occur over 29 days, showcasing the talent and excitement of African football.

Click here to download the full match schedule 

The draw for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 is scheduled for Monday night, 27 January 2025.
by Football Sierra Leone

AFCON 2025 draw is scheduled for today in Morocco

The draw for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 is scheduled for Monday night, 27 January 2025.

According to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the highly anticipated event will be watched by millions across over 90 countries in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and North and South America.

The ceremony will occur at the Mohammed V National Theatre in Rabat, Morocco, beginning at 6:00 PM local time.

Leading international broadcasters, including CAF’s key partners like beIN Sports (covering the MENA region, Europe, America, and the South Pacific), Canal+, SABC, Azam Media, AfroSport, Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation, SNRT, DAZN, and others, will also air the event live

Additionally, the draw will be accessible on Free-to-Air platforms in 46 African countries, ensuring all 24 participating teams and fans across the continent can tune in.

The 24 teams qualified for the tournament, including hosts Morocco, defending champions Côte d’Ivoire, and other strong contenders Algeria, Egypt, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Tunisia.

However, the draw is bittersweet for Ghana, a four-time AFCON champion. The Black Stars failed to qualify for the 2025 edition, missing the opportunity to vie for their fifth title.

This marks a major disappointment for a nation with such a rich legacy in African football. The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 is set to kick off on 21 December 2025 and will conclude on 18 January 2026.

Key Details

  • Host Nation: Morocco
  • Host City: Rabat
  • Date: Monday, 27 January 2025
  • Time: 19:00 local time (18:00 GMT / 20:00 Cairo time)
  • Venue: Mohammed V National Theatre, a historic and cultural landmark in the heart of Rabat.
  • Edition: 35th
  • Competition Dates: 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026
Sierra Leone defender Demba Kamara joins SP Tre Penne in San Marino
by Football Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone defender Demba Kamara joins SP Tre Penne in San Marino

Sierra Leone defender Damba Kamara has joined the San Marino club S.P. Tre Penne on a short-term deal, with an option for an additional year.

In August 2021, Kamara, 21, who previously joined Serie D side Rimini, made his international debut for Sierra Leone in a 1–0 win over Liberia in March 2022.

Tre Penne’s winter transfer activity continues flourishing, with sporting director Maurizio Di Giuli making another move to strengthen coach Nicola Berardi’s squad.

“The 2003 midfielder Demba Kamara is finalizing his transfer to the white and blue team, representing Città. Kamara has previously played for Rimini and Victor San Marino, and he is eager to compete in the top San Marino league,” the club noted on the website.

For Tre Penne, this signing adds a player with impressive physical qualities, enhancing the team’s competitiveness as they approach the second half of the season.

S.P. Tre Penne is a football club in San Marino, founded in 1956 and known as “Three Feathers.” The team competes in the Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio, wearing blue and white at home and red away.

On July 9, 2013, Tre Penne became the first Sammarinese team to win a match in a European competition, beating Shirak 1–0 in the 2013–14 UEFA Champions League qualifiers.


Kamara last played for Victor San Marino, a Sammarinese professional football club based in Acquaviva. The club competes in Serie D, the fourth tier of Italian football, since its promotion in 2023.

Ivorian Maxwell Cornet trains with Genoa after loan move
by Football Sierra Leone

Ivorian Maxwell Cornet trains with Genoa after loan move

Ivorian international Maxwel Cornet has joined Italian club Genoa on loan until the end of the 2024/25 season from West Ham United. He has completed his first training session with the team at the Centro Sportivo Gianluca Signorini.

Cornet’s loan spell at Premier League side Southampton was terminated by mutual consent, allowing him to move to Serie A.

The 28-year-old player had only made four appearances for the Saints and will now look for more regular playing time under Genoa manager and former Arsenal and France midfielder Patrick Vieira.

Cornet signed with West Ham from Burnley in August 2022, where he scored one goal in 37 appearances over two seasons. He was also part of the squad that won the UEFA Europa Conference League in Prague in June 2023.

The Ivorian has completed his first training session with the team at the Centro Sportivo Gianluca Signorini.
The Ivorian has completed his first training session with the team at the Centro Sportivo Gianluca Signorini.
Six Days to the 35th edition AFCON 2025 draw in Morocco
by Football Sierra Leone

Six Days to the 35th edition AFCON 2025 draw in Morocco

The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 Final Draw is set to happen in Rabat on January 27, 2025. This event will reveal the opponents for the 24 competing teams.

The draw kicks off at 19:00 local time (18:00 GMT/20:00 Cairo time) with delegates from all 24 AFCON 2025 qualifiers in attendance.

Teams will get a chance to check out Morocco’s game locations, practice spots, and hotels during this gathering.

Organizers will split the 24 teams into six groups of four. The top two from each group, plus the four best third-place finishers, will advance to the Round of 16.

Morocco hosts the finals for the first time since 1988. This marks a big moment for Morocco, as it gears up to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal.

This marks the 35th time the AFCON has taken place, with its origins dating back to 1957. Among continental soccer tournaments, it ranks as the third oldest coming after those in South America (1916) and Asia (1956).

The 24 teams that will be in the draw for the 2025 finals are as follows, with their previous appearances and best finish included:

Algeria (21st appearance, champions in 1990, 2019)

Angola (10th appearance, quarter-finalists in 2008, 2010, 2023)

Benin (5th appearance, quarter-finalists in 2019)

Botswana (2nd appearance, group stages in 2012)

Burkina Faso (14th appearance, runners-up in 2013)

Cameroon (22nd appearance, champions in 1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017)

Comoros (2nd appearance, round of 16 in 2021)

Cote d’Ivoire (26th appearance, champions in 1992, 2015, 2023)

Democratic Republic of Congo (21st appearance, champions in 1968, 1974)

Egypt (27th appearance, champions in 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010)

Equatorial Guinea (5th appearance, fourth place in 2015)

Gabon (9th appearance, quarter-finalists in 1996, 2012)

Mali (14th appearance, runners-up in 1972)

Morocco (20th appearances, champions in 1976)

Mozambique (6th appearance, group stages in 1986, 1996, 1998, 2010, 2023)

Nigeria (21st appearance, champions in 1980, 1994, 2013)

Senegal (18th appearance, champions in 2021)

South Africa (12th appearance, champions in 1996)

Sudan (10th appearance, champions in 1970)

Tanzania (4th appearance, group stage in 1980, 2019, 2023)

Tunisia (22nd appearance, champions in 2004)

Uganda (8th appearance, runners-up in 1978)

Zambia (19th appearance, champions in 2012)

Zimbabwe (6th appearance, group stage in 2004, 2006, 2017, 2019, 2021)

CF Group in discussions to acquire Sierra Leone teenager Juma Bah
by Football Sierra Leone

CF Group in discussions to acquire Sierra Leone teenager Juma Bah

City Football Group (CFG) is in talks to sign young African center-back Juma Bah, sources have informed ESPN.

CFG, the parent company of Manchester City, also owns several top-flight football clubs in countries such as Australia and the United States.

Juma, an 18-year-old defender born in Sierra Leone, joined Real Valladolid on loan last summer from AIK Freetong, which competes in his country’s top division.

The Spanish club initially planned for him to progress through the youth ranks before moving up to the first team. However, this plan changed after he made an impressive LA Liga debut against Real Sociedad In September. Since then, Juma has made 13 additional first-team appearances, catching the attention of several European clubs.

Valladolid recently exercised their option to sign him on a permanent basis, and sources have indicated that CFG is working diligently to add him to their roster during the January transfer window.

Inter Milan has also shown interest, but a source informed ESPN that CFG is currently in the best position to secure his signature. However, it remains to be seen whether Bah would stay on loan at Valladolid or continue his career at one of CFG’s clubs.

Sierra Leone beat CAR to progress in Women's U17 World Cup qualifiers
by Football Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone beat CAR to progress in Women’s U17 World Cup qualifiers

The Sierra Leone U17 women’s team won 2-0 against the Central African Republic in Cameroon at the Multi-Purpose Japoma Stadium. They will now play the winner of the match between Guinea and Togo in the second round of the Women’s World Qualifier.

Aminat Kamara and Maseray Turay scored the goals that helped the team move forward in their quest for a spot in the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Morocco.

Coach Fatmata Turay’s team knew they could advance with just a scoreline draw, but they aimed higher and secured a two-goal victory after playing to a goalless draw in their first match in Sierra Leone.

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.

In the first leg of the CAF World Cup qualifier, the Sierra Leone U17 Girls finished their match at the Southern Arena in a goalless draw.