Category: Players Abroad News

Sierra Leone fasting growing digital football website is passionately on all topics of National and International news, identifying our soccer stars.

Striker Abu Kamara helps Portsmouth win over Fleetwood
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Striker Abu Kamara helps Portsmouth win over Fleetwood

Abu Kamara’s goal proved enough for Portsmouth as they see off struggling Sky Bet League One side 1-0 thanks to Kamara’s 25th-minute strike.

Sierra Leone native Abu Kamara scored midway through the first half after beating two men before firing the ball home as Pompey bounced back to winning ways.

The hard-fought 1-0 win on the Fylde coast ensured Pompey kept their position at the summit.

The forward, on loan from Norwich, turned Josh Earl and ran unchallenged at the heart of the defence before curling a fine finish beyond Jay Lynch.

Kamara, 20. Since his loan move has scored seven goals in twenty-nine appearances.

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Sierra Leone International Alpha Conteh pens Neftchi Baku deal
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone International Alpha Conteh pens Neftchi Baku deal

 Azerbaijani professional football club Neftchi Baku have confirmed the signing of Sierra Leone International Alpha Bedo Conteh on a two-and-a-half deal with a year additional option.

The 23-year-old left winger will wear jersey number 20 in our team.

Based in Baku, they compete in the Azerbaijan Premier League, the highest tier of Azerbaijan football. 

Last season, Conteh was a pivotal attacking option for Bulgarian top-flight side PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv, where he made over twenty appearances and scored four goals.

“Before signing the contract, Alfa Conte underwent a general annual examination at Liv Bona Dea Hospital and no health problems were detected,” the club said in their statement.

Josh Koroma nets in Huddersfield's draw against Plymouth
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Josh Koroma nets in Huddersfield’s draw against Plymouth

Huddersfield Town played to a 1-1 draw with Plymouth Argyle in their English Championship encounter on Saturday at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Ian Foster’s first league game in charge of Plymouth ended in a draw with fellow strugglers Huddersfield Town. 

Morgan Whittaker’s seventh goal of the season for the Pilgrims was cancelled out by Sierra Leone’s native Josh Koroma before the break.

Darren Moore’s Terriers have now failed to win at home for the 11th time this season.

Koroma, who was making his 24th appearance, recorded his second of the campaign – assisted by Sorba Thomas in the 38th minute after M. Whittaker gave the visitors the opener in the 16th minute.

Plymouth Argyle‘s Sierra Leone International Mustapha Bundu was an unused substitute on Saturday.

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Brilliant SSC Bari's debut for attacker Yayah Kallon
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Brilliant SSC Bari’s debut for midfielder Yayah Kallon

Sierra Leone-born Yayyah Kallon, who joined Italian Serie B side SSC Bari on loan from Hellas Verona, made his debut in their 3-1 win over Ternana Calcio on Saturday.

It was the first over 60-minute action for the former Genoa player, who has been handed a lifeline to revamp his career after a long spell out. 

He was immediately selected by Bari’s coach Marino for their home tie in week twenty of the campaign.

The home side got off the mark with a 41st-minute goal from Giacomo Ricci before Yayah Kallon assisted Marco Nasti to double their lead in the 43rd minute. 

Ismail Achik replaced Kallon in the 68th minute of the match. 

Mehdi Dorval assisted by I. Achik to score Baris’s third before a consolation for the visitors through Salim Diakite in the 86th minute.

Kallon Recap before his loan move

Kallon featured for 3 minutes for parent club Hellas Verona in their 2-1 defeat to Inter last weekend after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in July 2023 before the season commenced.

The attacker was an unused substitute for the Hellas Verona as they suffered 1-0 Fiorentina in the Serie A round of sixteen.

Kallon, who scored his first goal for Genoa in a 3–2 Coppa Italia win over Perugia, joined Hellas Verona initially on loan with an option to buy.

He completed his Verona move in the summer but has yet to future for the club this season. Kallon featured in 22 games last season while on loan for The Yellow and Blues.

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Midfielder Yayah Kallon pens SSC Bari loan deal
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Midfielder Yayah Kallon pens SSC Bari loan deal

Italian Serie B side SSC Bari has confirmed the signing of Sierra Leone-born Yayah Kallon on a loan deal from Hellas Verona. Kallon, 22, will wear the number 91 shirt.

The former Genoa player has been handed a lifeline to revamp his career after a long spell out. He is immediately available to Bari’s coach, Marino, for selection. 

Kallon featured for 3 minutes for parent club Hellas Verona in their 2-1 defeat to Inter last weekend after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in July 2023 before the season commenced.

The attacker was an unused substitute for the Hellas Verona as they suffered 1-0 Fiorentina in the Serie A round of sixteen.

Kallon, who scored his first goal for Genoa in a 3–2 Coppa Italia win over Perugia, joined Hellas Verona initially on loan with an option to buy.

He completed his Verona move in the summer but has yet to future for the club this season. Kallon featured in 22 games last season while on loan for The Yellow and Blues.

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Alex Bangura suffers hamstring in Boro win over Chelsea
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Alex Bangura suffers hamstring injury in Boro win

Sierra Leone’s right-back Alex Bangura lasted only 19 minutes in the Middlesbrough Carabao Cup first-leg semi-final 1-0 victory due to a hamstring injury.

The Teessiders were forced to another alteration when Alex Bangura pulled up with a hamstring issue.

Bangura, 24, was making his sixteen appearances since joining the club in September 2023 on a four-year deal on Teesside.

However, they will head into the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final with a goal advantage thanks to Hayden Hackney’s deft finish.

It was an outstanding, battling performance from the threadbare Teessiders, who emerged from the contest fully deserving of the lead – having also been forced into two first-half substitutions.

Bangura will have to undergo further checks to see how long he will be out ahead of the second leg on Tuesday, 23 January, at 19:45 GMT.

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Bittersweet Sierra Leone full debut for Rodney Michael
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Bittersweet Sierra Leone full debut for Rodney Michael

Sierra Leone-born attacker Rodney Michael would have liked his full International debut to come in more positive circumstances but was  nonetheless proud to be on the scorecard against the Ivory Coast.

On Saturday, the 24-year-old midfielder recorded his first Sierra Leone goal against a difficult Ivorian side at the Laurent Pokou Stadium. He gives the Leone Stars a consolation in the 5-1 defeat against the Elephant of Côte d’Ivoire.

“I’m delighted to get the opportunity to make my full debut and score my first international goal for Sierra Leone. It was even more special, that I was able to do it against such a huge footballing nation like Ivory Coast,” the attacker told Football Sierra Leone. 

 “Unfortunately, the result was disappointing, but we will continue working to turn things around and hopefully make Sierra Leone in the near future.”

Rodney was introduced against Guinea-Bissua in match day six of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in the final minutes of the game. 

Sierra Leone’s next friendly is against Morocco behind closed doors.

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Sierra Leone International Daniel Kanu was on target in Charlton Athletics' 3-3 draw in their League contest at Vale Park.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Striker Daniel Kanu scores in Charlton Athletic’s six-goal thriller 

Sierra Leone International Daniel Kanu was on target in Charlton Athletic’s 3-3 draw in their League contest at Vale Park.

Kanu, who recently returned to the Addicks from a loan spell, scored in the 59th minute to put his side ahead.

Charlton went ahead three times through Corey Blackett-Taylor, Daniel Kanu and Tyreece Campbell. However, Ethan Chislett’s successfully converted penalty and goals from Uche Ikpeazu and Gavin Massey earned Vale a point.

Kanu took to Instagram to express his bittersweet moment. He posted, Tough result to take, but we keep pushing. Happy to be back on the scoresheet.”

As a result, the draw leaves Port Vale and Charlton remain separated only by goal difference in the League One table. 

https://twitter.com/bittar32/status/1744058811793477972

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Boxing Day defeat for Alex Bangura's Middlesbrough
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Boxing Day defeat for Alex Bangura’s Middlesbrough

Cohen Bramall’s mishit cross looped in to give bottom-of-the-table Rotherham a priceless Championship win over Middlesbrough, BBC Sport reports

Sierra Leone International was making his fifteen appearances for Boro as he started the tie at AESSEAL New York Stadium on Tuesday.

It was the hosts’ only shot on target in a game which was dominated by Michael Carrick’s Boro, who paid the price through being wasteful in front of goal.

Rotherham goalkeeper Viktor Johansson, who looked close to coming off through injury in the first half, made some crucial saves – Sam Greenwood’s first-half swerving shot in particular – to help keep the Millers level.

But Greenwood and Sammy Silvera wasted further good chances for Boro before Bramall’s cross-shot went over visiting keeper Tom Glover and in, with Leam Richardson’s side able to hang on for their first points since he took charge.

Full-time: Rotherham United 1 Middlesbrough 0

Rotherham United 1

Middlesbrough 0

Teams: Rotherham- Johansson, Lembikisa (Appiah 66), Bramall, Hugill (Cafu 90+2), Lindsay (Clucas 83), Rathbone, Odoffin, Morrison, Tiehi, Revan, Nombe (Eaves 66). Unused- Phillips, Kelly, McGuckin.

Middlesbrough- Glover, Barlaser, Clarke, Fry, Rogers, I Jones, Dijksteel (Coburn 77), Howson (Crooks 90+1), Silvera (Kavanagh 90+2), Bangura (Engel 77), Greenwood (McGree 70). Unused- J Jones, Van den Berg, Gilbert, Bridge.

Referee- A Kitchen

Attendance- 11487 (2404)

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New York City select Sierra Leone-born Malachi Jones.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

New York City select Sierra Leone-born Malachi Jones

Forward Malachi Jones has been selected as the eighth overall pick in the first round of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft from Lipscomb University. 

The 20-year-old made 35 appearances, scoring 12 goals and providing 15 assists over two seasons for the Bisons. 

 He entered college after being named the 2022 Tennessee Soccer Player of the Year. In total, during his college years, he has scored 12 goals and tallied 15 assists in 35 appearances for Lipscomb.

Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Jones was adopted alongside his seven siblings from an orphanage at a young age and moved to Nashville, Tenn., in 2013, where he grew up.

Jones marks the fourth player to be picked in the top 10 by the Club and the first since the 2017 SuperDraft. 

The ‘Boys in Blue’ have selected Forwards Jack Harrison, Khiry Shelton and Jonathan Lewis with the first, second and third overall picks, respectively, In previous drafts, with all of them making appearances for the First Team throughout their time in New York.