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Sierra Leone Shooting Stars to adopt new tactic against Liberia U20
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone U20 to adopt new tactic against Liberia

The head coach of Sierra Leone U-20 (Shooting Stars), Mohamed Lamin Kamara, will set his team to use different tactics and approaches in their match day three against the Liberia U-20 in the ongoing Zonal Tournament in Monrovia, Liberia. 

After their two opening draws against Liberia, Kamara is confident his team has demonstrated their potential to achieve better results in the remaining encounters. He is optimistic that their performances will lead to more goals and better outcomes.

In today’s tie, he wants his team to focus on attacking and effectively converting chances into goals, as they have been practising during their training sessions.

Despite acknowledging the strength and coordination of the Liberia U-20 side, Kamara is confident that his team will get a good result in the upcoming matches on Saturday and Sunday.

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

SWASAL North, Makeni Council gear up to revive Mayor Trophy
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

SWASAL North, Makeni Council to revive Mayor Trophy

Representatives from the Sports Writers Association of Sierra Leone (SWASAL) – Northern Region Branch and the Mayor of the Makeni City Council, Abubakar Lamtales Kamara, recently held a meeting to discuss the revival of the Sports Writers Makeni Mayoral Trophy. –  By: Alusine Rehme Wilson 

In the photo, Mayor Abubakarr Lamtales of Makeni and his IEC Edward Gbukumu are pictured with SWASAL North representatives during a meeting at the Mayor’s Palace in Makeni City, Northern Province, Sierra Leone on Tuesday.

During the meeting, Abubakarr Lamtales Kamara expressed his excitement about SWASAL’s work and promised to fully cooperate in the revamp and sustainability of the Sports Writers Makeni Mayoral Trophy, which has been on hiatus for the past five years. 

He also affirmed the Council’s commitment to the initiative and promised to inform other staff about the meeting over the trophy’s second edition.

According to Alfred Zico Kabia, the Acting Organizing Secretary of SWASL North, the Sports Writers Makeni Mayoral Trophy is an annual championship that is free from political influences. 

This tournament has the potential to unite communities and has previously produced players who now compete in top leagues,  national and international.

The inaugural edition of the tournament took place in 2018. However, due to challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the former mayor’s extensive medical and work-related travels – there were no subsequent editions. 

For the second edition and beyond, SWASAL North hopes to promote soccer, showcase talent, empower sports enthusiasts, enhance community compliance, and boost revenue generation for Makeni City Council through the Sports Writers Makeni Mayoral Trophy.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alusine Rehme Wilson – National News SWASAL North News.

Liberia & Sierra Leone share points in U20 Opening match
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Liberia & Sierra Leone share points in U20 Opening match

The U-20 teams of Sierra Leone (Shooting Stars) and Liberia (Lone Stars U20) got off to a stuttering start with a 0-0 at the Samuel K. Doe Stadium on Sunday.

The Zonal U20 opening contest ended in a goalless draw as both teams displayed strong performances but failed to convert their attacking opportunities.

After the match, the head coach of Shooting Stars, Mohamed Lamin Kamara, expressed optimism about his team’s chances in the remaining three against Lone Stars.

He emphasized that they will work on improving their goal-scoring chances and set pieces during training sessions.

At the end of the match, Mohammed Fofanah, also known as “Fastest” of Diamond Stars, won the Man of the Match Award for his outstanding performance.

The tournament continues on Tuesday as Sierra Leone hosts Liberia in search of their first win.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, U20 Zonal News and African News.

Sierra Leone U20 Ready for Liberia Opener at the SKD
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone U20 Ready for Liberia Opener at the SKD

Sierra Leone’s U-20 Shooting Stars completed their first training session in preparation for their upcoming friendly against Liberia, which will take place on Sunday, February 18th, at the SKD Stadium.

The coach, Mohammed Lamin Kamara, expressed satisfaction with his team’s condition, stating that there were no injuries to worry about.

Despite their positive results in previous Sierra Leone friendlies, Kamara emphasized the importance of not underestimating their Liberian counterparts, as the Liberian U-20 squad is a worthy opponent.

Kamara expressed confidence in his team’s performance and acknowledged the high expectations of the country. Kelvin Sebwe,

The coach of Liberia’s U-20 team expressed his excitement about the upcoming international friendly match with their neighbouring country.

Sebwe mentioned that he is confident both teams will play an attractive football game. 

Sierra Leone v Liberia U20 Zonal Tournament Schedules
Sierra Leone v Liberia U20 Zonal Tournament Schedules
The Sierra Leone men’s national football team has climbed up one position in the latest FIFA rankings and now stands at 126th place, up from 127th.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone move a place in latest Fifa ranking

The Sierra Leone men’s national football team has climbed up one position in the latest FIFA rankings and now stands at 126th place, up from 127th.

In Africa, the team holds the 35th spot and trails behind strong contenders such as Morocco, Senegal, and Nigeria.

The team began their qualifying journey for the 2026 World Cup in November 2023, securing a goalless draw against Ethiopia under the guidance of Coach Amidu Karim.

In Africa, Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae praised his team as “miracle survivors” after they won the Africa Cup of Nations by defeating Nigeria 2-1 in the final. T

The Ivory Coast team completed one of the greatest turnarounds in major tournament history. They are the first host country to win the Cup of Nations since Egypt in 2006, despite almost going out in the group stage.

As a result, the Elephants have climbed ten places in the new FIFA ranking and are now ranked 39th globally.

After reaching the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria has moved up 14 places in the ranking and now holds the 28th spot.

Angola has climbed higher than any other team, moving up 24 places in the ranking and now holds the 93rd spot. They are the biggest climbers in the world ranking.

In the World, Argentina still holds the top spot after winning the World Cup in Qatar, while France and England are in second and third place, respectively.

Bo District Football Academy Owners Hold Dialogue meeting
by David Lebbie

Bo District Academy Owners Hold Dialogue Meeting

Over the weekend, owners of football academies in Bo District held a day-long consultative meeting at Box Point on Fenton Road. 

The purpose of the meeting was to strategize and find ways to foster the development of football, especially at the grassroots level in Bo and Sierra Leone as a whole.

Alhaji Mustapha Shariff, the visionary initiator and CEO of Kortugboma Academy, emphasized the importance of the meeting, stating that they are working on a plan to reform their operations and existence so that there will be continuity regardless of what happens in the future. 

He further explained that football in Sierra Leone has taken different dimensions, and for Bo to succeed, it has to seize the opportunity by laying the foundation for grassroots football. The success in that area will be an indicator of their future.

Mark 10, who also spoke at the meeting, revealed that they have recently completed the U-12 & U-14 league within Bo District, where numerous academies participated. They are now working on ways to bring all of them under a single body. Alhaji noted that in the not-too-distant future, they will set up their association to regulate their affairs. He refused to confirm the name of the association but promised to do so after the next meeting.

Chrenoh Van Bah, the Coordinator of the Southern Region Football Association, expressed his enthusiasm, saying that this is the first time in the history of Bo football to see the formation of a grassroots football association. 

With the help of Alhaji Mustapha Shariff, the district and regional football associations are poised to develop grassroots football. He continued that many have put their time and resources into this game, and with the collaborative effort of all, they will take this dream to every corner of the Southern Region.

The newly appointed Technical Director of football in the Southern Region, Patrick Uzoh, applauded the academy owners and promised to cascade it to other areas within the region.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone and National News. 

Sierra Leone U20 set for Zonal tournament in Liberia
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone U20 set for Zonal tournament in Liberia

Sierra Leone’s National Under-20 Football Team, Shooting Stars, has begun training for the U20 Zonal Tournament in Monrovia, Liberia.

With a 26-man squad, the team is focused on showcasing their talent on the regional stage. The tournament is scheduled from February 17th to February 25th, 2024.

The young talents are undergoing intensive training sessions on a state-of-the-art artificial turf pitch. Experienced coach Mohamed Lamin Kamara is leading the team with the support of SLFA’s Youth Football Coordinator, Alimamy Kurash Conteh.

The tournament presents an opportunity for players to gain invaluable experience and catch the eye of scouts and talent spotters.

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

The tournament is scheduled from February 17th to February 25th, 2024.
The tournament is scheduled from February 17th to February 25th, 2024.
Sierra Leone chart football among development objectives
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone chart football among development objectives

During the launch of the FIFA Football for Schools (F4S) program in Makeni, Minister of Sports Madam Augusta James-Teima explained that football is taking the lead in enhancing the Government’s Five Game Changers, including feeding Sierra Leone, human capital development, and youth employment.

The SLFA (Sierra Leone Football Association) has initiated the FIFA Football for School Program. As a part of the program, they have trained 50 Physical Education Teachers.

This program aims to make football more accessible to boys and girls across Sierra Leone by including football activities in the country’s school system. The Minister cited the Sierra Leone Football artificial turf projects as a success.

The Minister mentioned that the government is eager to increase the availability of facilities, particularly job opportunities for young individuals. The experts involved in the program will teach at schools and provide additional training to children during after-school hours.

She firmly believes that the ongoing projects will positively impact Sierra Leone and its people. She thinks that children who participate in football at a tender age will develop physically, mentally, emotionally, economically, and socially. Therefore, it is vital to prioritize football at the school level, where players can be introduced to the sport at a very young age and be inspired to become lifelong players. This will enable them to gain a comprehensive understanding of football and ensure the sustainability of the sport itself.

“The government is committed to the growth of sports and is working on putting modalities in place to enhance football participation in the country. Madam James-Teima believes that sport is life and, if done correctly, can make Sierra Leone a developed nation.”

She ended her speech by promising to continue working with the Minister of Basic Education to train children for the future. The government will ensure that what is given for sport in schools is used for sport exclusively.

The SLFA (Sierra Leone Football Association) has initiated the FIFA Football for School Program. As a part of the program, they have provided training to 50 Physical Education Teachers.
The SLFA (Sierra Leone Football Association) has initiated the FIFA Football for School Program. As a part of the program, they have provided training to 50 Physical Education Teachers.
Bo Ranger suffer first home & league defeat
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Bo Rangers suffer first home defeat of the season

On Sunday, East End Lions defeated the league leaders Bo Rangers 1-0 at the Southern Arena in Bo City to stop the Elephants’ unbeaten record at home.

Despite the defeat, the Southern Province and reigning champions still top the summit with 29 points from 13 matches played in this campaign.

They suffered their second defeat of the season – having lost 1-0 to Bai Bureh Warriors in December 2023.

Yakuba Koroma scored the only goal for the Killers, securing their third win of the season. As a result, EE Lions moved up three places to eleventh in the Premier League with 16 points.

The last time Bo Rangers lost a home match was on March 5th 2022, when Ports Authority defeated the defending champions 1-0. Mohamed Bangura scored for the Water Front Boys.

On the same day, there were several football matches played in Sierra Leone. Freetonians SLIFA defeated Kahunla Rangers 1-0, Bai Bureh Warriors and Luawa FC drew 0-0, Bhantal FC won 1-0 against FC Kallon, and Kholifa Stars won 3-0 against Ports Authority.

Ibrahim Turay scores brace in Rangers triumphs over Luawa
by David Lebbie

Ibrahim Turay scores brace in Rangers triumph over Luawa

Ibrahim Turay (IB Computer) scored twice in either half of the game as Bo Rangers extended their lead in the ongoing Leone Rock Premier League.

The reigning champions and league leaders defeated Luawa FC 3-1 at the Southern Arena on Saturday evening. Ibrahim Turay’s close-range finish gave Rangers the lead in the six-yard box through Abu Komeh’s assist before halftime.

After the recess, Amadu Mansaray doubled the home side’s advantage from a counterattack before Ibrahim Turay fired home his brace and the Rangers third of the day.

Luawa pulled back one as Mohamed Kargbo scored from the spot after they were awarded a penalty for handball by Lamin Kargbo. 

The coaching staff of Bo Rangers were in a joyous mood after winning on home ground following two weeks away from action. 

Speaking to Football Sierra Leone, Sebastian Bowles Luawa FC head Coach said, “I’m pretty ok with the effort of the boys today this is the third match in seven days lots of travelling and it’s been a hard way for us.”

He revealed, “The lack of concentration at the beginning of the second half caused them two goals- if not, the match should have ended 1-1. I am a little bit disappointed in the lack of concentration.

“Congratulations to Bo Rangers – a wonderful team and good stadium -not many teams will take a point away from Bo.”

Rangers have won two and drawn one of their last three matches (WDW) and are 1st on the log with 26 points, whilst Luawa won one and two defeats LWL) and 5th with 20 points.

Elsewhere in the league, newcomers Kholifa Star were defeated at home by Wilberforce Strikers Santawaj Bangura (60) and John Kargbo(73) scored the goals, Whilst Kabba Timbo’s goal secured a victory for Lamboi FC over Ports Authority.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, National News and Bo Rangers News.