Author: Football Sierra Leone

Sulaiman Momoh Conteh is on the verge of a major career leap as he undergoes a medical at Qabala FC’s facilities in Azerbaijan.
by Football Sierra Leone

Mighty Blackpool Striker Conteh undergoes Medical at Qabala SC

Sulaiman Momoh Conteh is on the verge of a major career leap as he undergoes a medical at Qabala FC’s facilities in Azerbaijan.

The 22-year-old striker is poised to complete a transfer from Sierra Leonean giants Mighty Blackpool FC to Qabala FC, who recently secured promotion to the Azerbaijan Premier League.

Conteh’s journey to the European stage comes after an eventful season in the Sierra Leone Premier League. Despite playing just over 15 matches, the forward found the net nine times for Mighty Blackpool.

However, critics argue that his tally should have been significantly higher, pointing to several missed chances, particularly in high-stakes goalless draws against East End Lions and Bhantal FC, where he spurned over eight clear-cut opportunities.

Still, Conteh’s reputation remains intact. He finished second in the league’s goal-scoring charts the previous season while leading the line for Bau Bureh Warriors.

And even with his conversion woes, he currently tops the SLPL scoring list with nine goals, a testament to his positioning, persistence, and promise.

Should the transfer be finalised, Conteh will be the latest Sierra Leonean talent to break into the European football scene, a move that could redefine both his career and the ambitions of Qabala FC.

The newly renovated Burkina Faso's August 4th Stadium
by Football Sierra Leone

CAF green light Burkina Faso’s August 4th Stadium

After years under suspension, the Confederation of African Football, CAF, has let the August 4 Stadium in Ouagadougou once again host international events.

A significant milestone is being celebrated by Burkinabè football as the Stallions, the national team of Burkina Faso, could be ready to play at home once again.

Due to inadequate amenities, CAF banned the stadium in March 2021. But following extensive rehabilitation by the national football federation (FBF) and the Burkinabè government, the stadium now satisfies CAF’s stringent requirements.

Praising Burkina Faso’s attempts to renovate the August 4 Stadium, Samson Adamu, CAF’s Director of Tournaments and Events, signalled a fresh start for the Stallions.

After three years playing their home games overseas, they will come back to a newly refurbished stadium in September, which should spark an emotional and historical atmosphere with local fan support.

The stadium has become a symbol of national pride, and this reopening shows Burkina Faso’s rising ambition in African football.

As the nation gets ready to greet the Stallions back home, enthusiasm is rising.

The newly renovated Burkina Faso's August 4th Stadium
The newly renovated Burkina Faso's August 4th Stadium
CAF green light Burkina Faso's August 4th Stadium after four-year ban
CAF green light Burkina Faso's August 4th Stadium after four-year ban
Senegal international Habib Diarra on Sunderland's' Radar
by Football Sierra Leone

Senegal international Habib Diarra on Sunderland’s’ Radar

Senegal international Habib Diarra is about to close a transfer to recently promoted English Premier League team Sunderland. Following a strong four-season tenure, he is expected to leave French Ligue 1 team RC Strasbourg.

Because of his strong performances with Strasbourg over the past three seasons, the midfielder attracted notice from many clubs across Europe. Negotiations broke down a few days ago even though Diarra was close to joining Leeds United.

Additionally intrigued in him was Spanish La Liga club Atlético Madrid, but according to Italian writer Fabrizio Romano, Sunderland is about to grab Diarra in a €35.5 million deal.

After a difficult eight-year absence, Sunderland is rejoining the Premier League. Diarr is known to head coach Régis Le Bris from their association in Lorient, France. Diarra will add fresh energy and tactical dynamism to Sunderland’s midfield.

Although Diarra played for France at several junior levels, Senegal welcomed his senior debut in 2024.

Wydad Athletic Club to wrap up Club World Cup Group G against Al Ain
by Football Sierra Leone

Wydad Athletic eye first Club World Cup win against Al Ain

Wydad Athletic Club will conclude their final Group G match in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup against Al Ain FC on Thursday at Audi Field, located in Washington, DC, the capital of the United States.

In their second Group G match on June 22, Wydad suffered a 4-1 defeat to the Italian football powerhouse Juventus FC, extending their winless streak across all competitions to three matches.

As a result, the Moroccan football heavyweights currently sit in third place in the group standings. A win against Al Ain would allow Wydad to finish third, behind Manchester City and Juventus.

“We want to win for our fans and for our coach,” said Nordin Amrabat, Wydad’s midfielder. The team’s head coach, Mohamed Amine Benhachem, and the team doctor were involved in a traffic accident in the USA. Amrabat added, “We want to leave America with a good feeling. If you don’t win, you don’t have a good feeling; that means you’ve played three games and lost all three. For us as a club, winning is important, God willing.”

Al Ain has not won in their last two matches, including a heavy 6-0 loss to Manchester City on June 22. They currently sit in fourth place in Group G, but a win over Wydad could move them up to third.

“Our goal is to earn three points. We have the same aim for every game,” said Vladimir Ivic, Al Ain’s head coach. “We know we are a big club, the biggest in Asia. We strive to win every game in our championships, both cups, and the Asian Champions League. This match will be no different. We want to show our best in the final game. Overall, this tournament has been a great experience with everything well organized.”

This match will be the first time Wydad faces Al Ain in any competition. Canadian referee Drew Fischer will officiate the game on Thursday.

Juma Bah joins OGC Nice on loan after a six-month loan spell with RC Lens
by Football Sierra Leone

Juma Bah joins Nice on loan after a six-month spell with RC Lens

Sierra Leonean international Juma Bah has switched from RC Lens to OGC Nice on loan from Manchester City.

The 19-year-old has been a revelation since he entered professional football in Spain.

Following the signing of Gabin Bernardeau, OGC Nice has made a second acquisition at the start of the transfer window.

Bah, a 1.95m defensive player well-known to Ligue 1 fans, has played in France for the past six months.

“We have been following his progress collectively for a while and found him to be very effective during his time at Lens,” explains Florian Maurice, Sporting Director of Le Gym.

This is confirmed by the statistics. Juma is a young player with great potential, and importantly, we believe he can quickly adapt to the coach’s ideas.

He is coming to reinforce a sector that faced two significant injuries at the end of last season,” emphasises President Rivère. “There is a strong alignment between our project and his ambitions. Juma is joining the team at the beginning of the preparation, which is ideal for his quick integration and ability to perform effectively.”

Juma Bah in stats

Here are Juma Bah’s Ligue 1 stats for the second half of the 2024/25 season: 

  • 8 starts, 2 substitute appearances, 685 minutes of playing time
  •  1st in xDef (our in-house defensive indicator)
  • 4th in % of successful passes under pressure
  •  1st in % of successful long passes
  • 1st in % aerial duels won
  • 2nd best performer in duels overall
  • 1st who allows his team to recover the most balls per 90 minutes, thanks to his pressing
  • 5th with the most interceptions per 90 minutes
  • 4th with the most defensive clearances per 90 minutes

 

 

https://twitter.com/bittar32/status/1937946705044885591

Nigerian International Moses Simon joins French side Paris FC
by Football Sierra Leone

Nigerian International Moses Simon joins French side Paris FC

Moses Simon, 29, has joined Paris FC in the French Ligue 1 from FC Nantes in a contract until June 2028.

The winger is known for his speed and strong crossing ability. He has a lot of experience in top-level football, both in clubs and national teams.

Simon started his career at AS Trenčín in Slovakia after training at the GBS Academy in Nigeria. He then played for La Gantoise in Belgium and Levante UD in Spain.

In 2019, he joined FC Nantes and quickly became an important player. He played almost 180 matches in Ligue 1 and won the Coupe de France in 2022.

As a player with over 70 caps for the Nigerian Super Eagles, Moses Simon is well-prepared for major competitions. His experience will help strengthen Paris FC’s team as they move into Ligue 1 McDonald’s next season.

Horoya AC crowned champions of Guinea Ligue 1 Pro
by Football Sierra Leone

Horoya AC crowned champions of Guinea Ligue 1 Pro

Horoya AC secured the Guinea Ligue 1 Pro championship for the 2024/25 season, marking the end of their two-year wait for a league title.

Horoya rebuilt their team with both experienced players and new talent after missing out on the title for two seasons.

On Sunday, they secured the championship with a 1-1 draw against Flamme Olympique. Last year’s champions, Hafia, drew 0-0 with Renaissance, which meant Horoya could not be caught with three games left to play.

Under coach Soufiane Souaré, Horoya finished with 52 points. Renaissance and Hafia are in second and third place with 39 and 38 points, respectively, as they compete for second place in the final matches.

Horoya will now prepare for the 2025/26 CAF Champions League. They have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League two times, in 2018 and 2019.

MC Alger lift their ninth Algerian Ligue 1 title after goalless draw
by Football Sierra Leone

MC Alger lift their ninth Algerian Ligue 1 title after goalless draw

MC Alger secured their ninth Algerian Ligue 1 title, their second consecutive championship, with a goalless draw against Nadjem Magra, who were already relegated, on the final day of the 2024-25 season at the 5 July Stadium in Algiers.

The single point earned lifted Khaled Ben Yahia’s team to 58 points, placing them two points ahead of fierce rivals JS Kabylie, who secured second place by winning their match elsewhere.

With this achievement, MC Alger stands as the third-most decorated club in the league’s history, trailing only Kabylie with 14 titles and Belouizdad with 10.

Knowing that a draw would secure their championship, the capital club controlled possession from the beginning but faced a stubborn defense from Nadjem Magra. Early chances for Guinean forward Mohamed Salio Bangura were turned away.

Nadjem Magra, having already been relegated with a 15th-place finish and just 31 points, rarely pushed forward but nearly stunned the home crowd when forward Amrane sent a half-volley past the post midway through the first half.

At halftime, Ben Yahia made substitutions, bringing on Mohamed Zograna, Mehdi Boucharit, and Sofiane Bayezid to improve scoring, but the team struggled to create significant chances. A close attempt came from Bangura in the 78th minute, but the goalkeeper, Imad Benchlef, saved it.

The match concluded with celebrations from over 45,000 fans honoring the club’s 1976 African Cup win. After being eliminated by Orlando Pirates in the previous CAF Champions League, MC Alger plans to strengthen its squad for the next season.

Meanwhile, Nadjem Magra faces relegation, marking the end of their top-flight stay, while Belouizdad qualifies for CAF inter-club competition for the sixth consecutive season.

CAF named Kenya as host of CHAN 2024 final match
by Football Sierra Leone

CAF named Kenya as host of CHAN 2024 final match

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced that Kenya would serve as the host nation for the final match.

The grand finale of the tournament will be held at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi on August 30. The match for third place will take place at Uganda’s Mandela Stadium in Kampala, and the tournament will start at Tanzania’s Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on August 2.

The eagerly awaited tournament is set to unfold during the summer months in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Originally slated for February 2025, the event has been pushed back to August due to issues with infrastructure readiness, stadium availability, and ensuring adequate team participation.

Zanzibar has been selected as a host venue for the upcoming 2024 CHAN tournament, reflecting CAF’s commitment to expanding African football.

Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar previously hosted the CAF Confederation Cup 2024/25 Final, enhancing its reputation.

The tournament marks a return to East Africa, following the 2016 edition in Rwanda, and will take place from August 2 to August 30, 2025, across three host nations.

Somalia's Sak Hassan joins Wealdstone FC
by Football Sierra Leone

Somalia’s Sak Hassan joins Wealdstone FC

Wealdstone FC has announced the signing of winger Sak Hassan from Isthmian League Premier Division club Hashtag United.

The 24-year-old has had two standout seasons with Hashtag United, where he became one of the most exciting attacking players outside the National League.

In the 2023/24 season, Hassan achieved 17 assists and 7 goals, and he followed that with 16 assists and 17 goals in the 2024/25 campaign, helping his team secure an 8th place finish.

Hassan’s explosive pace, clever footwork, and creativity make him a crucial asset in the final third. He also brings international experience, having earned 10 caps for Somalia since his debut in 2022.

Manager Sam Cox expressed his enthusiasm about the signing:

“I’m delighted to bring in Sak Hassan. He’s a fantastic young man and a player I’ve followed for years. I believe fans will enjoy watching him; he’s exciting, creative, and a significant attacking threat.

His journey from non-league football to this level is impressive, and I’m excited to help him develop further.

He reminds me of Abo Eisa, who had a successful career here. This signing is another step in the right direction as we prepare for the season.”