Category: African News

Our African football page passionately on all continental topics of all National and International football news, Identifying football heroes on our continent.

Al Ahly beat Simba to set Sundowns African Football League date
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Al Ahly eliminate Simba to set Sundowns African Football League date

On Tuesday, Al Ahly eliminated Tanzania Simba to set a date with South African Mamelodi Sundowns in the semifinals of the African Champions League.

After a 2-2 draw in Tanzania, the Egyptian giants emerged victorious on an away goal rule as they booked their place in the inaugural African Football League (AFL) semifinals. The first leg match had ended 1-1 at Cairo International.

Sundowns of South Africa, on the other hand, confirmed their semifinal spot with a goalless draw after they played most of the tie with a man down against th Petro Atletico on Tuesday.

They won the first leg 2-0 away and will play Egyptian side Al-Ahly in Sunday’s first-leg semis match. 

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CAF & Puma unveil AFCON 2023 Match Ball 'Pokou'
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

CAF & Puma unveil AFCON 2023 Match Ball ‘Pokou’

The Confederation of African Football, CAF and German multinational corporation PUMA have unveiled “POKOU” – the official match ball for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023.

CAF say the Official match ball, POKOU, is named after Ivorian legendary forward Laurent Pokou, a doyen of African football whose five goals in the 6-1 victory over Ethiopia at the 1970 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations remains a record during the Final competition.

The continental tournament is set to run from 13 January to 11 February 2024 in the cities of Abidjan, Bouake, Korhogo, San Pedro and Yamoussoukro.

Erwan, a son of the late Pokou, presented the iconic and beautifully designed match ball to the audience during the Final Draw.

The 34th edition match ball features the three colours of the Cote d’Ivoire flag – white, orange and green, whilst incorporating the latest technology that will revolutionize the game on the continent and beyond.

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In Uyo, Nigeria, Wydad Casablanca of Morocco secured narrow victory over their rival in the first leg.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

TP Mazembe, Wydad register AFL quarterfinal first leg wins

TP Mazembe of DR Congo and Wydad Casablanca of Morocco registered wins over their rivals in the first leg of the African Football League quarter-finals on Sunday.

Cheick Oumar Fofana’s first-leg goal was enough as TP Mazembe registered a hard-fought 1-0 win over Tunisian side Esperance.

Fofana. 19, 11th-minute head put Mazembe in front at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Tanzania to give the DR Congo club a slender advantage.

Mazembe gave a good account of themselves as they controlled the early exchanges before Fofana connected with Phillipe Kinzumbi’s pinpoint delivery to score what proved the winner.

Despite all efforts from the Tunisian side, Mazembe held on to secure a vital away goal and advantage ahead of the second leg in Tunisia this Wednesday.

In Uyo Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, Wydad Casablanca of Morocco secured a narrow victory over their Nigerian counterpart in the first leg.

The Moroccan side defeated Enyimba 1-0. The match-winning goal was scored by Wydad’s skipper Yahya Jabrane in the 39th minute from the penalty spot at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

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2023 Cup of Nations final draw produced intriguing contest
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

2023 Cup of Nations final draw produced intriguing contest

The groups for the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire 2023, were confirmed on Thursday in Abidjan, with some intriguing contests awaiting exciting fans.

Brand-new Parc Des Expositions venue in Abidjan hosted the event on Wednesday with hosts Ivory Coast among 24 nations – including Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Cameroon, Algeria, South Africa and holders Senegal – who have qualified.

Hosts Cote d’Ivoire to face regional rivals Nigeria as defending champions Senegal drew African giant Cameroon. Record winners Egypt renewed hostilities with Ghana. 

“It’s a really difficult group,” Senegal’s Mane said at the end of the presentation.

“Cameroon is going to be really tough but we will give our best to go through in the first round.”

Africa’s World Cup semi-finalists and 2025 hosts Morocco will face DR Congo, Zambia and Tanzania.

The continent’s showpiece event is set to run from 13 January to 11 February 2023.

Despite now being played in 2024, it has kept 2023 as part of its official title. The Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan will host the final on 11 February.

Groups:

Group A: Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau

Group B: Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde Islands, Mozambique

Group C: Senegal, Cameroon, Guinea, Gambia

Group D: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Angola

Group E: Tunisia, Mali, South Africa, Namibia

Group F: Morocco, DR Congo, Zambia, Tanzania

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Curtis Davies first Leone Stars training session in Casablanca, Morocco
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Work underway for Amidu Karim with International friendlies

Images of Sierra Leone as they continue groundwork ahead of friendlies against Benin and Somalia as part of their 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Sierra Leone to face Benin on Saturday before tackling Somalia on Tuesday in Casablanca, Morocco.

Head Coach Amidu Karim has described his first training as “vibrant, exciting, reassuring and most importantly full-blown”. It gives the team a clear and positive vision of what lies ahead.

Israeli-based defender Abdulai Jajue Kabia is the only absentee from the squad named by coach Karim due to the availability of flights from his location.

The Leone Stars journey to qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the USA, Mexico and Canada will begin in November 2023.

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Head Coach Amidu Karim focus on duty in Casablanca
Head Coach Amidu Karim focus on duty in Casablanca
Curtis Davies's first Leone Stars training session in Casablanca, Morocco along side Queens Park Rangers Osman Kakay
Curtis Davies's first Leone Stars training session in Casablanca, Morocco along side Queens Park Rangers Osman Kakay
First-time call-up for former Dutch U20 defender now playing for HSV Hoek in the Netherlands Derde Divisie, the fourth tier of Dutch football
First-time call-up for former Dutch U20 defender now playing for HSV Hoek in the Netherlands Derde Divisie, the fourth tier of Dutch football
Sullay Kaikai from English League One side Cambridge United working hard in this session
Sullay Kaikai from English League One side Cambridge United working hard in this session
Alpha Bedor Conteh from Lokomotiv Plovdiv in the Bulgarian efbet Liga works on his pace
Alpha Bedor Conteh from Lokomotiv Plovdiv in the Bulgarian efbet Liga works on his pace
Attackers: Amadou Bakayoko and Mohamed Buya Turay go up against each other in training
Attackers: Amadou Bakayoko and Mohamed Buya Turay go up against each other in training
Sierra Leone to start World Cup prep with Niger, Benin friendlies
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Benin confirm World Cup qualifying prep Sierra Leone friendly

Beninese Football Association (BFA) have confirmed a friendly with Sierra Leone in Casablanca as part of their World Cup preparation this month.

Provisional boss Amidu Karim to start his groundwork against Benin in Casablanca, Morocco.

A second friendly is expected to be announced by the Sierra Leone Football Association. Niger was supposed to face Leone Stars, but they have rescheduled to play Somalia and Libya instead.

The Leone Stars defeated Benin 1-0 in their last meeting through a Kei Kamara spot kick during the AFCON race to Cameroon in Guinea in June 2021 as Sierra Leone secured a place at the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 1996.

Ranked 124 in the global standings, Leone Stars’ journey to qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the USA, Mexico and Canada will begin in November 2023. 

Coach Karim and the technical team will use these friendlies in the North African region to assess his squad ahead of his first major task against Ethiopia and powerhouse Egypt in November.

The others in Group A are Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau and Djibouti in the race to the 2026 World Cup.

Benin is in Group C against Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Lesotho in the race to the 2026 World Cup. 

Leone Stars last outing in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying, Group Stage A final match ended in 2-1 defeat to Guinea-Bissua at the Estádio 24 de Setembro in September.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, the writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32, Contact Bi****@*****************ne.net. National News.

Sierra Leone's opponent Egypt eyes 2026 World Cup spot.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Egypt’s coach Rui Vitoria eyes 2026 World Cup spot

The Pharaohs of Egypt’s head coach, Rui Vitoria, has hinted at his ambition for the 2026 FIFA World Cup spot.

The draw for the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup finals placed Egypt in Group A with five teams: Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, and Djibouti.

The Pharaohs’ boss, Vitoria, 53, who was named head coach of the national team in July 2022, has been speaking ahead of friendly matches this month.

After he named his final squad for the training camp in the UAE friendlies against Zambia and Algeria, he said, “My goal, with my current contract expiring in 2026, is to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.” 

Egypt will participate in two friendly matches, the first against Zambia on 12 October and the second against Algeria on 16 October.

“Playing against Algeria and Zambia provides strong tests for the players, with two significant games scheduled within a 72-hour period,” Vitoria added.

“We always seek challenging matches during preparations for the African Cup of Nations finals and the World Cup qualifiers,” the Portuguese coach emphasized.

Under Vitoria’s guidance, the Pharaohs secured their place in the 2023 African Cup of Nations and will commence their 2026 World Cup qualifiers campaign in November.

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TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup Group Stage Draw to be conducted in Johannesburg, South Africa on Friday
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

CAF to conduct Inter-club draw in South Africa on Friday

The Confederation of African Football (CAF), have confirmed that the official draw for the Group Stages of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup is set to be held on Friday, 06 October 2023, in Johannesburg, South Africa.  

CAF say the draw will start at 12h00 GMT (14h00 Johannesburg), with the CAF Confederation Cup draw before the elite inter-club Champions League at 13h00 GMT (15h00 Johannesburg).  

It will be live on the CAF Official website, CAFONLINE.com and CAF YouTube (CAFTV).  

Thirty-two (32) teams await their fate, and sixteen (16) from each competition have now secured their respective places in the group stages.  

The draw procedure is expected to be communicated soon by CAF. 

TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Qualified Clubs 

Al Ahly SC (Egypt) Al Hilal (Sudan), Asec Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire) CR Belouizdad (Algeria), ES Sahel (Tunisia), Esperance (Tunisia), FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania), Jwaneng Galaxy (Botswana), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Medeama SC (Ghana), Petro de Luanda (Angola), Pyramids (Egypt), Simba SC (Tanzania), TP Mazembe (DR Congo), Wydad AC (Morocco), Young Africans (Tanzania). 

TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup Qualified Clubs 

Abo Selim (Libya), Al Hilal Benghazi (Libya), APC Lobito (Angola), Club Africain (Tunisia), Diables Noirs (Congo), Dreams FC (Ghana), Future FC (Egypt), RS Berkane (Morocco), Sagrada Esperanca (Angola), Sekhukhune United (South Africa), Stade Malien (Mali), SuperSport United (South Africa), SOAR (Guinea), Rivers United (Nigeria) USM Alger (Algeria), Zamalek (Egypt). 

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Young defender Amara Nallo impressive for Liverpool U21
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Young defender Amara Nallo impressive for Liverpool U21

West Ham academy graduate Amara Nallo, who joined Liverpool last month, has been a pivotal player for the Red’s U21. 

The youngster signed a five-year deal and was integrated straight into Liveropool’s Premier League 2 side.

Since his move to Liverpool, he has already featured in all the U21 matches this campaign.

Football Sierra Leone understands that Liverpool has paid a significant transfer fee to complete the move of the 16-year-old centre-back. 

Liverpool wrote on their website, “Amara Nallo is a centre-half who signed for Liverpool FC from West Ham United in September 2023. He is a strong left-sided defender who is comfortable bringing the ball out from the back. Nallo started Academy life with the U18s.”

He is expected to sign a professional contract upon turning 17 in November this year, a move that Liverpool could capitalize on, adding another gem to their youth ranks.

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Continental giants Wydad Casablanca down Hafia to reach group stage
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Wydad Casablanca beat Hafia to progress

Continental giants Wydad Casablanca walloped Guinean side Hafia 3-0 in their second round second leg CAF Champions League tie to progress at the Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca on Saturday. 

Following their 1-1 draw in the Guinean capital, Wydad knew they had to do the needful if they are to join other continental giants in the group stage draw.

Wydad Casablanca thrased Hafia’s 3-0 second leg win to progress on a 4-1 aggregate success.

Yahia Attiyat Allah and Hamdou Elhouni struck in the first half before Abdellah Haimoud completed the job after the break.

Wydad extends their remarkable run of reaching the group stage to nine consecutive seasons as they chase a third Champions League title.

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