Category: African News

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CR Belouizdad puts Sierra Leone side Rangers to the sword
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

CR Belouizdad puts Sierra Leone side Rangers to the sword

CR Belouizdad Cameroonian striker Leonel Wanda scored a hattrick as the Algerian side defeated Sierra Leone Champions Bo Rangers 3-1 in Algeria on Monday.

The visitors came out of the blocks early with a 9-minute goal from Ibrahim Turay’s superb strike from the edge of the box at the Stade Olympique d’Oran.

Rangers took their lead to the 78th minute before the home side was awarded a spot kick converted by Leonel Wanda after Azzi was fouled in the area.

Two minutes later, Wanda doubled their lead through a one-to-one pass before slotting past the Rangers keeper. Wand’s hattrick was completed in the 89th minute after he collected a pass from the right.

As a result, the Algerian side qualified for the Champions League Group stage with a 6-2 aggregate scoreline from both legs. 

Sierra Leone Champions Bo Rangers suffered a 3-1 home defeat to  Algerian side CR Belouizdad in the first leg of the second preliminary round of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League at the Southern Arena.

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The Algerian side qualified for the Champions League Group stage with a 6-2 aggregate scoreline in both legs.
The Algerian side qualified for the Champions League Group stage with a 6-2 aggregate scoreline in both legs.
Ghanaians dash FC Kallon Confederation Cup group stage dreams
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ghanaians dash Kallon Confederation Cup group stage dreams

Sierra Leone CAF Confederation Cup representative FC Kallon has been eliminated by Ghanaian side Dreams FC after a 1-1 full-time scoreline at the SKD stadium in Liberia On Saturday.

Dreams took an early lead through Agyenim Boateng in the 3rd minute from the penalty spot. Kallon, who was on the verge of making history, rallied for an equaliser late on to make it 1-1 but was a little too late.

The Ghanain side won the first leg 2-1 at the Accra Sports Stadium. As a result, they made history of their own by reaching the competition group stage for the first time with a 3-2 aggregate over two legs.

They become the second Ghanaian side to have reached this stage of the competition since Asante Kotoko in 2019.

Dreams went on to qualify unbeaten against Guinean side Milo FC and FC Kallon in both preliminary matches.

 No Sierra Leonean club have reached the group stage of the second-tier competition of African club football since it was introduced in 2004.

In 2004, CAF merged the African Cup Winners’ Cup created in 1975 with the CAF Cup introduced in 1992 to form a new competition called the Confederation Cup, which has since been considered the second African club competition.

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Official: Morocco to host 2025 AFCON
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Morocco awarded 2025 Afcon while joint bid gets 2027

Morocco was awarded the hosting right for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals on Wednesday whilst joint bids from East African nations were awarded the 2027 AFCON.

The North African nations set to host the 35th edition and the second time, 35 years after the North African country staged the competition in 1988.

Morocco replacing Guinea, who was stripped of the right to host the tournament last year. Algeria withdrew their bid to host one of two finals on the eve of the vote on Tuesday.

The 2027 rights were awarded to a joint bid from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The long-awaited decision to host the 2025 and 2027 finals has been sorted after almost a year since Caf stripped Guinea last October of the right to host the 2025 finals.

Morocco won by default after Algeria, Zambia, and a joint bid from Benin and Nigeria all withdrew before the vote of the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee in Cairo on Wednesday.

The North African country was a runaway favourite and will see the decision as a boost to their hopes of co-hosting the 2030 World Cup with Portugal and Spain.

Morocco set to host 2025 AFCON
Morocco set to host 2025 AFCON
East Africa Nations to host 2027 AFCON
East Africa Nations to host 2027 AFCON
Egypt Line up friendlies ahead of Sierra Leone World Cup qualifier
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Egypt line up friendlies ahead of Sierra Leone qualifier

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced two International friendlies in October before starting their World Cup campaign in November against Sierra Leone.

The Pharaohs will face Algeria and Zambia next month in the United Arab Emirates. The EFA say both matches are part of the Egyptian national team’s preparation program for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and African Cup 2024 in Côte d’Ivoire next January.

On October 12, the African powerhouse will battle Zambia four days before Egypt takes on Algeria on October 16, with both games taking place at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.

This will mark Egypt’s first clash with Algeria since the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup when both teams played out a 1-1 draw in the group stages.

Egypt, Zambia’s last meeting was in October 2015, when Egypt won 3-0 in an international friendly, thanks to Ahmed Hassan Kouka’s brace and a late goal from Amr Gamal.

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

 

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EFA lined-up two friendlies ahead of Sierra Leone qualifier in November
EFA lined-up two friendlies ahead of Sierra Leone qualifier in November
On Saturday, the Rams registered two straight victories in their Sky Bet League One and first away league win at Carlisle since 1957.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Midfielder Tyrese Fornah’s Derby triumph at Carlisle

On Saturday, the Rams registered an away win in the Sky Bet League One, their first away league win at Carlisle since 1957.

James Collins accounted for his 200th goal in club football to help Derby to a first away league win at Carlisle since 1957.

Sierra Leone native Tyrese Fornah has been pivotal for the Rams since joining the club from Nottingham Forest on a two-year deal in August 2023.

It was Fornah’s (In Photo) fifth appearance for Derby in all competitions as one of the holding midfielders this campaign for the Rams.

James Collins got Derby off the mark in the 18 minutes before his second in their 2-0 win for Paul Warne’s men with an 84th-minute penalty at Brunton Park.

Potent striker Collins scored for the second league game in a row as he powered home from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s cutback.

After the goal, Collins was full of confidence and fired over just moments later.

Derby County return to Sky Bet League One action at Pride Park Stadium a week today when they take on Cambridge United in Sky Bet League One (3 pm kick-off).

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CAF unveil seedings for Cote d’Ivoire 2023 draw
by FSL News

CAF unveil seedings for Cote d’Ivoire 2023 draw

The Confederation of African Football, CAF, has unveiled seedings for the Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire 2023 official Draw set for Abidjan on 12 October 2023.

The seedings were based on the latest FIFA Rankings – as all 24 qualified teams were allocated to four pots. CAF noted that four points will be used for the draw.

Pot 1 – as expected, hosts Cote d’Ivoire together with the continent’s highest ranked nations: Morocco, who were semi-finalists at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar 2022; current African Champions Senegal, 2004 champions Tunisia – 2019 champions Algeria – and record-time champions Egypt.

Second best-ranked teams are in Pot 2 – Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, Democratic Republic of Congo and Burkina Faso.

Pot 3 includes South Africa, Cape Verde, Guinea, Zambia, Equatorial Guinea and Mauritania.

Pot 4 has Guinea Bissau, Namibia, Mozambique, Angola, Gambia and Tanzania.

Cote d’Ivoire to host the 34th edition of the biennial competition from January 13 to February 11.

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African News CAF 

CAF unveil seedings for Ivory Coast 2023 draw next month
CAF unveil seedings for Ivory Coast 2023 draw next month
Hafia prepares for Wydad's Champions League away cracker
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Hafia prepares for Wydad’s Champions League away cracker

Guinean side Hafia FC continues their preparation for the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League second round second leg in Morocco next Saturday.

The North Africans have dominated the Inter-club competition in the last decade. Having won it in 2022, Wydad will make it a cracking showdown for the West African side.

Hafia FC came from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw in their first leg against Wydad Casablanca at the General Lansana Conté de Nongo Stadium on Sunday.

Wydad took the lead after Bouly Junior’s header from a free kick in the 8th minute. The home side levelled the scoreline through Mohamed Damaro Camara just before the break. 

In the second half, both teams were unable to find the winner to set up a very tough second-leg cracker.

Last season’s runners-up, Wydad Casablanca, to host the return fixture in Morocco on the 30th for a place in the group stages.

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First-leg scoreline between Hafia and Wydad Athletic Club
First-leg scoreline between Hafia and Wydad Athletic Club
Head coach Peter Bosz named Isaac Babadi in his 22-man PSV squad for Group B match in the UEFA Champions League.
by FSL News

Isaac Babadi in PSV squad for Arsenal Champions League opener

Head coach Peter Bosz named Isaac Babadi in his 22-man PSV squad for the Group B match in the UEFA Champions League.

Babadi, 18, could feature against Arsenal as PSV Eindhoven takes on the London Club in their Champions League Group B at the Emirates Stadium this evening. 

The youngster trained with the PSV 22-man squad at the Emirates ahead of their first group-stage game of the campaign. On the 8th of August, he scored his first PSV Champions League goal in their 4-1 win over Sturm Graz.

For the first time in five years, PSV will play in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. Last year, both clubs also played against each other, when the English came out on top. 

Today’s tie will be the fifth meeting between Arsenal FC and PSV in a European competition. It has been a while since the last time PSV won an away match against an English club in the UEFA Champions League. 

Visiting Newcastle United in the 1997-1998 season, PSV took the three points back to Eindhoven after a 2-0 win. Luc Nilis and Gilles de Bilde were responsible for the goals. 

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Isaac Babadi trains with PSV squad at the Emirates in London on Tuesday
Isaac Babadi trains with PSV squad at the Emirates in London on Tuesday
Forest Green suffer Fankaty Dabo's injury blow
by FSL News

Forest Green suffer Fankaty Dabo’s injury blow

Forest Green suffered Fankaty Dabo’s injury blow on Saturday during their League Two match. 

Rovers suffered a double blow after they fell to an unfortunate 2-1 defeat at home to Doncaster Rovers at The New Lawn. 

In addition, new acquisition Dabo’s afternoon was cut short, with the defender forced off with an injury after just eight minutes – and replaced by Dom Bernard.

The former Coventry defender joined Forest Green Rovers and has signed former Coventry City full-back Fankaty Dabo.

The 27-year-old made 131 appearances for the Sky Blues in four years before leaving the Championship club earlier this summer.

He came through Chelsea’s youth ranks and had stints on loan at Swindon Town, Vitesse Arnhem and Sparta Rotterdam during his time with the Blues.

The club will wait to know the extent of his injury as they prepare for Notts Country away trip this weekend.

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CAF Confed Cup first leg narrow defeat for FC Kallon
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

CAF Confed Cup first leg narrow defeat for FC Kallon 

On Friday, Sierra Leone CAF Confederation Cup representative FC Kallon suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Dreams FC at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The host Dreams FC took the lead in the 11th minute through Atuaheme Godfred in the Second round first leg, but after half an hour, the visitors drew parity through Daniel Karim just before the break.

After an hour of the restart, Dreams took the lead through a penalty kick that was awarded and converted by John Antwi Duku in the 70th minute as they edged their visitors.

It’s all to play for in the second round second leg as Kallon will look to surpass last season when they were eliminated in this stage by FC Future of Egypt.

Ex-Sierra Leone skipper Umaru Bangura made his FC Kallon debut in the CAF Confederation Cup against Dreams FC at the Accra Sports Stadium. 

Bangura skippered the Kallon side, probing to make the competition group stage for the first time in their history.

Dreams reached this competition stage after a 3-2 aggregate victory over Milo Fc of Guinea.

The former Inter Milan and Monaco was the coach of his club (FC Kallon) in the CAF inter-clubs Confederation Cup last September when they progressed to the second qualifying stage of the competition. 

Under his guidance, they eliminated Buffles de Borgou of Benin 4-0 on aggregate – but they suffered a heavy defeat to the Egyptian side FC Future over the two legs in the second preliminary round.

The second preliminary round of return fixtures is on 29 September 2023, as Karim Zito’s side face an uphill task away from home.

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