Category: African News

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AS Pikine Ligue 1 challenge excites midfielder Saidu Fofanah
by Football Sierra Leone

AS Pikine Ligue 1 challenge excites midfielder Saidu Fofanah

Saidu Fofanah, one of the top midfielders in the Sierra Leone Premier League, has signed with AS Pikine – Ligue 1 (Senegal) for two seasons and has described his move as an exciting challenge.

He expressed his excitement about joining the Association Sportive de Pikine based in Pikine – their home venue is the Stade Alassane Djigo, with a capacity of 5,000.

Saidu, 27, made his international debut with the Sierra Leone national team in a 1–0 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification win over Benin on 15 June 2021.

He stated that his decision to move to Senegal was to try a new challenge in his football career and experience a different style of football in one of the best countries in West Africa and the continent.

He expressed his eagerness to compete in a new league outside Sierra Leone and help his new teammates, just as he did with FC Kallon.

“The season will start next month on 19th October, but there will be a four-team tournament starting on Friday. I’m looking forward to showing what I can do on the pitch.”

Saidu was part of the Sierra Leone squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

Saidu Fofanah was playing for the Senegalese team in a warm-up friendly.
Saidu Fofanah was playing for the Senegalese team in a warm-up friendly.
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to co-host Africa Nations Championship
by Football Sierra Leone

Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to co-host Africa Nations Championship

The Confederation of African Football (“CAF”) has confirmed that Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania will co-host the TotalEnergies Africa Nations Championship (“CHAN”).The tournament will take place from 01-28 February 2025.

Senegal is the current CHAN champion, having defeated hosts Algeria two years ago in Algiers. The competition is for players in their country’s domestic leagues.

The qualification process will begin with the first round of qualifiers on the weekends of 25-27 October 2024 and 01-03 November 2024.

The second round of qualifiers will be played on 20-22 December and 27-29 December 2024.

The tournament slots have been allocated as follows: WAFU A, WAFU B, UNAF, UNIFFAC, and COSAFA will each have three qualifying teams.

The CECAFA zone, which includes the three host countries, will receive an additional slot due to their automatic qualification as hosts. This increases the total number of teams qualifying for the final tournament to 19.

Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania will participate in the qualifiers and, in addition to their automatic qualification as hosts, the team with the best result in the CECAFA qualifiers will also advance to the final tournament.

Ghana's Richard Ofori in talks to join AmaZulu
by Football Sierra Leone

Ghana’s Richard Ofori in talks to join AmaZulu

Ghana vice-captain Richard Ofori is set to join AmaZulu FC after leaving South African giants Orlando Pirates.

The experienced goalkeeper parted ways with the Pirates at the end of last season after his contract expired. He is now expected to join their Betway Premiership rivals AmaZulu on a short-term deal.

Ofori won four major trophies with the Buccaneers, including three MTN8 titles and the Nedbank Cup during his four-year stint with the club.

He expressed his gratitude and fondness for his time at Orlando Pirates on his official Instagram page, thanking the staff, technical team, medical staff, board members, management, players, and fans for their support.

Ofori, who has 33 caps for Ghana, was the Black Stars’ first-choice keeper at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Ivory Coast.

Laurent Pokou Stadium to host Ivory Coast's crucial AFCON qualifier against Sierra Leone
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Laurent Pokou Stadium to host Ivory Coast’s crucial AFCON qualifier against Sierra Leone

The Laurent Pokou Stadium has been confirmed as the venue for the upcoming match between the African Champions Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone for the crucial match day three 2025 qualifier.

The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) announced on Tuesday that the first leg of the double header will be held on October 11 at the Laurent Pokou Stadium in San Pedro, Côte d’Ivoire.

In January this year, Ivory Coast defeated a local stars team from Sierra Leone 5-1 in a friendly match. The two teams will face each other again in a doubleheader that could prove decisive in their quest for a spot in the tournament, this time with a much stronger Leone Stars team.

The return leg between Côte d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone is scheduled for four days later, on October 15, at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in Monrovia, Liberia. 

Côte d’Ivoire – led by head coach Emerse Faé, has had a flawless start in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers, collecting maximum points by defeating Zambia 2-0 and Chad 2-0, placing them at the top of Group G with six points.

After a disappointing draw with Chad, the Leone Stars suffered a defeat in Zambia due to Kings Kangwa’s superb free kick. They must avoid consecutive losses to revive hopes of reaching Morocco in 2025.

Three more teams progress to the CAF Confederation Cup group stage
by FSL News

Three more teams progress to the CAF Confederation Cup group stage

On Saturday, three additional teams advanced to the group stage of the 2024-25 CAF Confederation Cup. Angolan top-tier side Lunda Sul, Tunisian side CS Sfaxien, and Algeria’s CS Constantine secured their spots after winning their second-round, second-leg qualifying matches.

In Angola, Lunda Sul lost 2-1 against South African team Sekhukhune United in Polokwane. However, Guilherme’s 36th-minute goal helped Lunda Sul advance on the away goal rule.

In Tunisia, CS Sfaxien defeated Rukinzo from Burundi with a 1-0 victory, securing a 2-0 aggregate win. Firas Sekkouhi scored the only goal in the second half.

Meanwhile, CS Constantine of Algeria also won 1-0 at home against Nsoatreman of Ghana, securing a 3-0 aggregate triumph. Ben Shaa scored an early goal for CS Constantine.

The Confederation Cup continues today, Sunday, September 22, with 10 matches scheduled across the continent. Notable teams in action include Enyimba, ASEC Mimosas, AS Vita, Simba SC, and USM Alger.

CAF Confederation Cup results, Saturday 21 September

Sekhukhune United 2-1 CD Lunda Sul – 2-2on aggregate, Lunda Sul won on away goals

CS Constantine 1-0 Nsoatreman – Constantine won 3-0 on aggregate

CS Sfaxien 1-0 Rukinzo – Sfaxien won 2-0 on aggregate

Confederation Cup: Stade Malien, Zamalek and Berkane progress
by FSL News

Confederation Cup: Stade Malien, Zamalek and Berkane progress

On Friday, three clubs – Stade Malien, Zamalek, and RS Berkane – became the first trio of clubs to advance into the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup after winning their second-round qualifying ties.

Stade Malien won 3-1 against Paynesville in Bamako, overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit with goals from Moctar Cisse, Soumaila Magassouba, and Souleymane Drame.

Despite a goal from Mark Paye for the visitors, Stade Malien advanced 3-2 on aggregate. Zamalek beat Police FC 2-1 in Cairo, adding to their 1-0 first-leg advantage.

Goals from Zizo and Nasser Maher secured a 3-1 aggregate victory for Zamalek, with Jesse Was scoring a consolation goal for Police FC. RS Berkane secured a commanding 5-0 victory over Dadje, adding to their 2-0 first-leg triumph.

Haytam Manaout, Mateus Criciuma, Ayoub Khairi, and Issoufou Dayo all scored for RS Berkane, who won 7-0 on aggregate.

The Confederation Cup continues today with three matches: Sekhukhune United v CD Lunda Sul, CS Constantine v Nsoatreman, and CS Afaxien v Rukinzo.

CAF Confederation Cup results from Friday’s 20 September:

Stade Malien 3-1 Paynesville – Stade Malien won 3-2 on aggregate

Zamalek 2-1 Police FC – Zamalek won 3-1 on aggregate

RS Berkane 5-0 Dadje – RS Berkane won 7-0 on aggregate

Young Africans thrash Ethiopia's Ethiopia Nigd Bank.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Young Africans thrash Ethiopia’s Commercial Bank

Young Africans SC thrashed Commercial Bank of Ethiopia FC 6-0, advancing to the group stage of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

In the first leg of the second preliminary round, the Tanzania Premier League champions won 1-0 against Commercial Bank of Ethiopia FC (CBE). They continued their success with a 7-0 aggregate win at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar.

On Friday, CR Belouizdad of Algeria became the first team to secure a spot in the group stage of the 2024-25 CAF Champions League by defeating AS Douanes of Burkina Faso.

The second-round return leg match took place at the Miloud Hadefi Stadium in Oran, and the hosts, CR Belouizdad, managed to level the tie at 1-1 with a goal from Abderrahmane Meziane in the 35th minute.

Despite being reduced to 10 men late in regulation time, CR Belouizdad managed to take the tie to penalties.

Libya sack Ex-Orlando Pirates coach Milutin Sredojević
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Libya sack Ex-Orlando Pirates coach Milutin Sredojević

Former Orlando Pirates head coach Milutin Sredojević has been removed from his position as the coach of the Libyan national team.

The 55-year-old Serbian coach took charge of the Libyan team in October 2023. Despite a successful start, winning six of his first eight games with mostly local players, the Libyan national team struggled in the 2025 AFCON Qualifiers, losing 2-1 to Benin and drawing 1-1 with Rwanda.

As a result, they currently sit at the bottom of Group D with just one point from their first two games. Sredojević is reportedly set to join Al Ahli Tripoli for the CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary leg against Simba SC in Dar es Salaam.

He has previously managed several clubs in Africa, including SC Villa, Al Hilal in Sudan, Yanga Africans in Tanzania, Saint George in Ethiopia, Zamalek in Egypt, and Orlando Pirates in South Africa, among others.

Trevoh Chalobah doubtful for Manchester United clash this weekend
by FSL News

Trevoh Chalobah doubtful for Manchester United clash this weekend

Crystal Palace’s new loan signing from Chelsea, Trevoh Chalobah, will have to wait for his debut due to an injury. This means he won’t be able to play in the upcoming Premier League game against Manchester United.

The team made some new signings on deadline day, including Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah and Chelsea’s Chalobah on loan without an option to buy.

Unfortunately, Chalobah got injured during one of his first training sessions, so he won’t be able to make his debut. Chalobah injured his abdominal muscle during his first training session with the team, and it’s an unusual injury.

He won’t be available for the next game, and it’s uncertain whether he’ll be able to play against Everton the following weekend .

Crystal Palace advanced to the last 16 of the Carabao Cup with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road on Tuesday.

Guinea's Syli Junior register first WAFU U20 win
by @football_sierra

Guinea’s Syli Juniors register first WAFU U20 win

On Wednesday, Guinea’s U20 team, the Syli Juniors, defeated Guinea Bissau 3-1 in the WAFU A U20 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tournament, showing their determination from the start.

After the Syli Juniors’ goalless draw against Sierra Leone last Sunday, today’s victory is crucial in their quest to advance to the knockout stages.

They have earned four points, while Liberia has three points and Sierra Leone has one point. Liberia will face Sierra Leone at 4 p.m. GMT today.

In Group B, defending champions Senegal defeated Mali 2-0 at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex on Monday.

The Senegalese team, which includes U17 African champions Yaya Diémé and Serigne Fallou Diouf, is aiming to defend their title in a challenging group that also includes Mauritania and Gambia.

The WAFU B U20 tournament will take place from September 15 to 30, 2024, and the two finalists will earn a spot in the 2025 TotalEnergies U20 Africa Cup of Nations.