Category: African News

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Napoli confirm Victor Osimhen's omission from Nigeria's friendlies
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Napoli confirm Victor Osimhen’s omission from Nigeria’s friendlies

Napoli has confirmed that Victor Osimhen will not be playing in Nigeria’s upcoming friendlies against Ghana’s Black Stars and the Eagles of Mali. 

This is because Napoli, the club he plays for, has confirmed that he is not yet fully fit to play. Osimhen has been dealing with fitness issues and started on the bench during a crucial Serie A match against Inter Milan on Sunday.

According to Napoli coach Francesco Calzona, Osimhen has an inflammation of the scar from an old injury, and he hasn’t been given a clean bill of health to start playing football. 

As a result, Napoli won’t release him for Nigeria’s next friendly matches. The club is taking precautionary measures to avoid worsening his injury, so Osimhen has missed some training sessions and only participated in partial workouts with his teammates during the week.

The Super Eagles will play Ghana’s Black Stars and the Eagles of Mali in international friendlies in Morocco. 

Meanwhile, Napoli is struggling this season and having Osimhen around for their next matches against Atalanta could make a huge difference in the team’s pursuit of European football next season. However, his involvement in the game was uncertain due to an inflammation of a scar from a previous injury.

SPAIN U17 WOMEN'S WINNERS OF 2022 EDITION
by FSL News

Morocco to Host The Next Five U-17 Women’s World Cup

Morocco has been selected to host the next five editions of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. The FIFA Council made this decision on Thursday, March 14, 2024, after expanding the tournament to 24 teams and making it an annual event. 

Previously held every two years, the tournament will now provide a more frequent platform for young female footballers to display their talents on a global level.

Morocco emerged as the preferred candidate after a worldwide bidding process, thanks to its existing football infrastructure. 

FIFA highlighted the importance of infrastructure and sustainability in the selection process. 

“These two countries were chosen following a worldwide call for bids, one of the key criteria being the use of existing soccer infrastructures for logistical efficiency and sustainability,” the statement read.

The men’s U-17 World Cup will also change, with an expansion to 48 teams and an annual schedule.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32, Players Abroad News and Africa football News. 

Morocco emerged as the preferred candidate after a worldwide bidding process, thanks to its existing football infrastructure.
Morocco emerged as the preferred candidate after a worldwide bidding process, thanks to its existing football infrastructure.
CAF Confederation Cup's last eight fixtures revealed
by FSL News

CAF Confederation Cup’s last eight fixtures revealed

The quarter-final line-up for the CAF Confederation Cup has been confirmed, with matches set to be played in March and April this year.

Egyptian teams Zamalek and Modern Future have made it to the quarter-finals of the 2023 CAF Confederation Cup. 

Zamalek finished top of group B unbeaten, while Modern Future came second in group A. Unfortunately, the draw pitted the two teams against each other. 

The winner will face either Stade Malien or Ghana’s Dreams FC in the semi-finals. In contrast, Libya’s Abu Salim will face RS Berkane and Nigerian side Rivers United will face USM Alger in the other quarter-final ties.

Stade Malien, champions in the 2009 edition, have made it to the competition’s knockout stages once again.

They hope to win their second title and will face Dreams FC from Ghana. Dreams FC will be looking to cause an upset against their more fancied opponent.

TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup Quarter-Final Draw Outcome: 

   29 – 31 March 2024:

  QF 1 | Modern Future (EGY) vs Zamalek (EGY)

  QF 2 | Abu Salem (LBY) vs RS Berkane (MAR) 

  QF 3 | Rivers United (NGR) vs USM Alger (ALG)

  QF 4 | Stade Malien (MLI) vs Dreams FC (GHA)

   05 – 07 April 2024:

  QF 1 | Zamalek (EGY) vs Modern Future (EGY)

  QF 2 | RS Berkane (MAR) vs Abu Salem (LBY)

  QF 3 | USM Alger (ALG) vs Rivers United (NGR)

  QF 4 | Dreams FC (GHA) vs Stade Malien (MLI)

 Semi-Final Draw Outcome: 

  QF 3 Winner vs QF 2 Winner 

  QF 1 Winner vs QF 4 Winner 

  Semi-Finals Dates to be communicated in due course. 

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 African News.

Quarter-finals for CAF Champions League 2024 Confirmed
by FSL News

Quarter-finals for CAF Champions League 2024 Confirmed

The journey for this year’s CAF Champions League quarter-finals has been mapped out as the official draw was held in Cairo, Egypt, on Tuesday.

Simba, the Tanzanian giants, are set to meet Al Ahly in the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League after the latest draw.

The Red Devils advanced to the knockout stages by finishing first in Group D with 12 points from six games.

The defending champions are set to face a challenging journey to the final, beginning with a quarter-final match against Simba.

The first leg is scheduled to take place on March 29th in Tanzania, just eight days before the second leg in Cairo.

If the champions emerge victorious against Simba, they will face the winner between Petro Atletico and TP Mazembe in the next round.

In the meantime, Mamelodi Sundowns will be up against Young Africans, who finished second behind Al Ahly in the group stage.

TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Quarter-Finals Draw Outcome:

First Leg: 29 – 30 March 2024

QF 1 | Simba FC (TAN) vs Al Ahly SC (EGY)

QF 2 | TP Mazembe (DRC) vs Atletico de Petroleos (ANG)

QF 3 | Esperance Sportive de Tunis (TUN) vs Asec Mimosas (CIV)

QF 4 | Young Africans (TAN) vs Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA)

Second Leg: 05 – 06 April 2024

QF 1 | Al Ahly SC (EGY) vs Simba FC (TAN)

QF 2 | Atletico de Petroleos (ANG) vs TP Mazembe (DRC)

QF 3 | vs Asec Mimosas (CIV) vs Esperance Sportive de Tunis (TUN)

QF 4 | Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) vs Young Africans (TAN) 

 Semi-Final Draw Outcome:

SF 1: QF 3 Winner vs QF 4 Winner

SF 2: QF 2 Winner vs QF 1 Winner

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 African News.

Al Ahly beat rivals Zamalek to lift Egyptian Cup in Riyadh
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Al Ahly beat rivals Zamalek to lift Egyptian Cup in Riyadh

In the Egyptian Cup final held in Riyadh, Al Ahly beat Zamalek 2-0 to win the cup for a record 39th time.

The match was tightly contested, with no goals scored until the 84th minute when Imam Ashour scored for Al Ahly. Mohamed Afsha sealed the victory for Al Ahly in stoppage time.

The match was played in front of a capacity crowd at Al Waleed Park Stadium, which highlights African football’s popularity beyond the continent.

Al Ahly’s win continues their period of success, having won 11 of the last 13 domestic cup competitions.

Zamalek has suffered yet another disappointment in their ongoing effort to end Al Ahly’s dominance in football.

They have not won the cup since 2019, and this latest setback is particularly significant because they lost the Egyptian Premier League title to Ahly last season.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 – African Football News.

Dates Confirmed for Champions League, Confederation Cup draw
by FSL News

Dates Confirmed for CAF Interclub quarter-final draw

The Quarter-Final draw for the 2023/24 CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup will take place on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. 

The draw will be held in Cairo, Egypt, starting with the CAF Confederation Cup at 2:00 PM Cairo time (noon GMT), followed by the CAF Champions League at 3:00 PM Cairo time (1:00 PM GMT).

The CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup Quarter-Finals teams have been determined after the group stage ended this weekend.

TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Quarter-Finals Qualified teams:

Al Ahly (Egypt), ASEC Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Atletico Petroleos (Angola), TP Mazembe (DR Congo), Simba SC (Tanzania), Esperance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia), Young Africans (Tanzania).

TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup Quarter-Finals Qualified teams:

USM Alger (Algeria), Zamalek (Egypt), Dreams FC (Ghana), RS Berkane (Morocco), Modern Future (Egypt), Abu Salem (Libya), Rivers United (Nigeria), Stade Malien (Mali).

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 – African News.

CAF Confederation Cup's last eight set for quarter-final draw
by FSL News

Confederation Cup last eight set for quarter-final draw

The final eight teams to compete in the 2023/24 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup were confirmed on Sunday, March 3, after the conclusion of Match Day 6 in the group stages.

Four previous winners will be in the draw – the final list of quarter-finalists includes Rivers United from Nigeria, Dreams FC of Ghana, Abu Salem of Libya, and the Egyptian side Modern Future.

The four former champions are Rivers United, Dreams FC, Abu Salem, and Modern Future, who have all been exceptional in the competition and will be looking to make a name for themselves on the continent.

Last season’s winner of the competition – USM Alger, went on to lift the TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup in a thrilling encounter against record CAF Champions League holders Al Ahly.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone – CAF Confederation Cup

Ex-Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic set for Algeria job
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ex-Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic set for Algeria job

Algeria has hired Vladimir Petkovic as their new coach to lead the team through qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

Petkovic replaces Djamel Belmadi, who resigned earlier this year. Algeria is currently leading its qualifying group for the 2026 World Cup. The immediate task of Petkovic, the team’s coach, will be to continue building on this momentum.

Friendly matches against Bolivia and South Africa are on the horizon, and they will be the first test of his ability to motivate the team and establish his tactical philosophy.

He will arrive in Algiers this weekend, and a news conference is scheduled on Monday, according to a statement by the Algeria Football Federation.

Petkovic coached Switzerland in the 2018 World Cup, where they drew with Brazil and beat Serbia in the group stage before losing to Sweden in the round of 16.

After leaving Switzerland, he coached the French club Bordeaux but was fired in February 2022.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 – African News.

Swedish side AIK Sign FC Kallon striker Emmanuel Gono
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Swedish side AIK Sign FC Kallon striker Emmanuel Gono

AIK Football has signed Liberian Emmanuel Gono from FC Kallon until December 31, 2027, a player with great potential. The club’s sporting director, Thomas Berntsen, welcomes him and asks for patience and trust. 

Gono is excited to join AIK and is confident that he will have good development at the club. He looks forward to helping the team move forward.

He has been testing for AIK since the beginning of the year and was present in both training and practice matches played during the 2024 pre-season.

The Liberian-born Gono, 18, previously played for FC Kallon in Sierra Leone and Muscat FC in Liberia. 

Under FC Kallon, he played a trial game for the Italian club Udinese Calcio in the spring of 2023.

On January 9, 2024, AIK Football announced that Gono would try out for the club during the pre-season, and he took part in the training camps held in Portugal and Spain. 

Gono made his first appearance for AIK on January 27, 2024, replacing Jonah Kusi-Asare in a training match against IF Brommapojkarna. 

He scored his first goal on February 25, 2024, during a training match against Karlbergs BK, with an assist from Abdihakim Ali. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 – African News.

Sundowns, Mazembe seal quarter-final places after wins
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sundowns, Mazembe seal quarter-final spots after wins 

Mamelodi Sundowns and TP Mazembe secured their places in the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League with victories in Group A on Saturday.

Sundowns won 2-0 away at Nouadhibou, thanks to first-half goals from Grant Kekana and Themba Zwane. 

The South African side started strongly and deservedly took the lead midway through the first half when Kekana headed home a free-kick from Marcelo Allende. 

Zwane added a second goal in the 70th minute, courtesy of a fine assist from substitute Lebohang Mokoena. Sundowns peppered the Nouadhibou goal with shots throughout the game, but goalkeeper Babacar Diop kept the scoreline respectable for the visitors. 

Sundowns’ win secured their place in the quarter-finals with one match remaining in the group stage, while Nouadhibou was eliminated.

TP Mazembe also secured their quarter-final place with a 3-0 win over Pyramids of Egypt. The DR Congo club started the match slowly but took the lead through Joel Beya’s goal. 

They extended their lead just before halftime with a skilful exchange inside the penalty area that led to Glody Likonza scoring. 

Mazembe netted a third early in the second half, but it was disallowed for offside.

Pyramids pushed for a comeback, but Mazembe’s defence stood firm and thwarted their attempts. Substitute Patient Mwamba sealed the victory for Mazembe in the dying moments of the game after capitalizing on a mistake by Pyramids’ Blati Toure. 

Mazembe’s win moved them to second place in the group with 10 points, while Pyramids are out of the competition with only four points.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 – African News.