Category: Sport News

Striker Amadou Bakayoko's last-gasp header helps Sierra Leone to victory
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Amadou Bakayoko’s last-gasp header helps Sierra Leone to victory

Sierra Leone secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against the African Champions Ivory Coast in their round four Group G qualifiers at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.

Amadou Bakayoko, a striker based in Japan, scored a last-minute header to secure the win for the West African team, marking their first victory in the qualifiers and against Ivory Coast.

Sierra Leone aimed to bounce back from their previous two defeats and they demonstrated resilience to keep their qualification hopes alive.

The match remained level until the 85th minute when Sierra Leone won a free-kick, which was successfully converted by Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo striker, resulting in their first win in the qualifiers and moving them above Chad with four points from four matches.

Meanwhile, Zambia also claimed a 1-0 victory in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium on Tuesday afternoon. The win placed them just two points behind Group G leaders Ivory Coast, who have a game in hand.

Zambia initially struggled in the match, with Chad having more shots on goal in the first 20 minutes.

However, Zambia found their rhythm by the half-hour mark and began to dominate possession. Kennedy Musonda scored the only goal in the 70th minute, and despite a late scare with a penalty awarded to Chad, Zambia held on to secure all three points in Cameroon.

As it stands in Group G,  Ivory Coast on nine points, Zambia on seven, Sierra Leone amassed four points and Chad on two points ahead of the final two matches. 

Sierra Leone brace for vital win or face shaky path to Morocco
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone brace for vital win or face shaky path to Morocco

The Leone Stars have never beaten Les Elephants in nine attempts. Sierra Leone will host defending champions Ivory Coast in the fourth round of the AFCON qualifiers at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium on Tuesday evening.

They aim to bounce back to winning ways after only securing one point from their first three matches, which currently places them at the bottom of the table. The three-time Cup of Nations representatives must demonstrate their hunger and resilience as they confront the African Champions for the second time in five days in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The second leg of the doubleheader is scheduled for October 15 at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in Monrovia, Liberia at 16-hour GMT. Following their 4-1 defeat against Côte d’Ivoire at the Stade de San Pédro, the Leone Stars are focused on revitalizing their chances on Tuesday.

Sierra Leone’s Coach Amidu Karim may consider making several changes to the team that suffered a heavy defeat in Ivory Coast against the African Champions. In his pre-match conference, he noted that both matches are not the same. My team captain and I have observed that Tuesday’s match will be different. We are aiming to get a positive result on our side. We have analysed our mistakes and are not ready to repeat those mistakes on Tuesday.”

Skipper Steven Caulker also mentioned that they are aware of the current standings and that the Leone Stars must achieve a positive result.

Emerse Faé, the coach of Cote d’Ivoire, is fully aware of the task ahead. “The main goal will be to win again. I already mentioned before the first game that it was going to be tough because it’s a good team. This team has made the best impression on me in our group. It was confirmed in the first match, even though we won 4-1.

This is a team that has caused us some problems, so we are expecting a tough game tomorrow. The synthetic playing surface suits them better than us because they are more used to it. We play on this type of surface less often.”

A third consecutive loss for Sierra Leone in the group will certainly make it difficult to qualify for the tournament in Morocco next year. Côte d’Ivoire is determined to uphold its perfect record as it gears up for another strong match against its West African opponents. With nine points from three games, the Elephants are well on their way to securing an early qualification. But even with a defeat against Ivory, Leone Stars can still qualify with wins against difficult Chad and Zambia in their final matches depending on Zambia draw with Chad and lost to Ivory Coast. 

Coach Avram Grant’s team faces a tough challenge against Chad at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Chad is still looking for their first win, while Zambia, currently in second place with 4 points, is eager to secure a win to stay in contention.

Ivory Coast has enjoyed a perfect start in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers, securing victories against Zambia, Chad, and Sierra Leone, and claiming the top position in Group G with nine points. Zambia has four points, Chad has two, and Sierra Leone has one point.

Algeria beat Togo to seal Cup of Nations 2025 spot
by FSL News

Algeria beat Togo to seal Cup of Nations 2025 spot

Algeria confidently secured their place in next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco by defeating Togo at the Kégué Stadium in Lomé during Monday’s Group E qualifier. They have previously won the AFCON tournament twice.

This victory brings the total number of qualified teams to four. Algeria’s Ramy Bensebaini scored the only goal for the North Africans, maintaining their 100% record in the qualifiers.

They have secured 12 points from four matches. Bensebaini converted a penalty in the 18th minute to give Algeria the lead. Despite facing heavy pressure from the hosts, Algeria managed to hold on to their lead. Hosts Morocco, Cameroon and Burkina Faso have also qualified for the finals.

In another match, Zimbabwe defeated Namibia 3-1 in Johannesburg, bringing them in a strong position in their pool. With two matches remaining, they are eight points ahead of the third-placed Kenya.

Gambia moved into the second place in their pool, ahead of Comoros, based on head-to-head records, despite playing one more game.

Mozambique secured a 3-0 win over Eswatini in Nelspruit, taking them to the top of their pool. They are five points clear of third-placed Guinea Bissau, who will host Mali on Tuesday.

First win for Gambia in the race to Morocco AFCON 2025
by FSL News

First win for Gambia in race to Morocco AFCON 2025

Gambia defeated Madagascar 1-0 in their 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Stade Ben Ahmed El Abdi, securing their first victory and boosting their chances of qualifying for the competition.

Musa Barrow scored a crucial goal in the 62nd minute, helping the Gambian national football team to win and improving their chances of qualifying for the tournament in Morocco next year.

His goal came after sustained pressure from the Gambian side, as Yankuba Minteh’s pass found him unmarked inside the box. Although his first shot was blocked, Barrow quickly scored on the rebound, prompting celebrations among Gambian fans.

This win places the Scorpions in second place in Group A with five points after four matches, just one point behind leaders Tunisia. Comoros also have five points but a lower goal difference, putting them in third place.

Madagascar has only two points from four games and is at the bottom of the group. The Gambia performed well, with key contributions from Ebrima Jarju and Ebou Adams in midfield.

Despite missing a penalty, Gambia maintained pressure and eventually broke through. Madagascar had a few chances, but goalkeeper Baboucarr Gaye kept a clean sheet. Gambia aims to sustain their momentum in the qualifiers, while Madagascar’s chances of qualifying remain uncert

Cameroon complete AFCON qualifying double over Kenya
by Football Sierra Leone

Cameroon complete AFCON qualifying double over Kenya

Cameroon clinched another 1-0 victory over Kenya in their 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier at the Nelson Mandela National Stadium on Monday.

It’s a back-to-back win for the Indomitable Lions as they maintained a leading position in Group J with 10 points, presenting the Harambee Stars with a significant challenge in the remaining qualifiers.

The pivotal moment occurred in the 63rd minute when Boris Enow executed a low free-kick from the edge of the box, breaching the Kenyan defence and placing the ball into the bottom right corner.

Despite Kenya’s persistent efforts to equalize, including a missed header from Alphonce Omija in stoppage time, they were unable to find the back of the net. With this victory, Cameroon fortifies its standing in Group J with 10 points, while Kenya remains in third place with four points.

Zimbabwe, currently in second place with seven points, will face Namibia later on Monday in the other Group J fixture. Kenya had several opportunities to tie the match, with Michael Olunga notably having his shots blocked multiple times by a well-organized Cameroonian defense.

Under the leadership of captain Vincent Aboubakar, Cameroon showed resilience, although Aboubakar himself failed to convert a couple of clear-cut chances. Kenya now faces a tough task to revive their AFCON qualification hopes, while Cameroon seems increasingly likely to secure early qualification for the tournament scheduled to be held in Morocco next year.

Group D AFCON qualification twist after Super Eagles left stranded
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Group D AFCON qualifier twist after Nigeria left stranded

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has withdrawn the Super Eagles from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya.

Nigeria won 1-0 in Uyo on Friday, topping Group D with seven points, while Libya remained at the bottom with one point and faced elimination.

This decision follows a 12-hour delay at Libya’s Al Abraq International Airport, where the team was left stranded. The players have decided not to play the match due to frustration and fatigue. The NFF is arranging the team’s return to Nigeria.

“We maintained a positive outlook, but the circumstances we are encountering are unacceptable and seem deliberate. Travelling by road poses a significant danger, and we have serious concerns about our treatment at the hotel along with the quality of food provided. What was once amusing has turned into a serious matter. As a team, we pride ourselves on mutual respect, and given these hostile conditions, we have decided to refrain from participating in the match,” Troost-Ekong stated, tagging @caf_online for wider attention.

As confirmation of the dire situation, the NFF’s statement continued: “Players have resolved not to proceed with the match, and officials are now arranging for the team to return home.” The match was meant to be the fourth in their campaign to secure a spot in the next AFCON tournament set to take place in Morocco in the upcoming year.

The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) expressed concern over the situation experienced by the visiting team but denied any foul play. They reassured their Nigerian counterparts that the flight diversion was unintentional.

Burkina Faso secure 2025 Cup of Nations spot with victory over Burundi
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Burkina Faso secure 2025 Cup of Nations spot with victory over Burundi

Burkina Faso clinched their place in the 2025 African Cup of Nations after a 2-0 victory over Burundi at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium on Sunday.

With this victory, they have earned 10 points from four matches in Group L, securing their spot in the 24-team tournament. The goals were netted by Mohamed Konate and Bertrand Traore.

Senegal is currently in second place with seven points from three matches and can qualify by winning against Malawi. Burundi has three points from four games, while Malawi has none from three.

The top two teams from each of the 12 qualification pools will advance to the finals, which will take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

In addition, Morocco have already secured their place in the tournament as hosts. 

Morocco's Atlas Lions thrash Central African Republic
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Morocco’s Atlas Lions thrash Central African Republic

Morocco continued to show its strength in Group B of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 Qualifiers on Saturday, October 12th, by defeating the Central African Republic.

The host of the 2025 AFCON has won three consecutive games as they prepare for the continental showpiece. They are leading with five points, ahead of Gabon, who had a goalless draw with Lesotho on Friday.

The Atlas Lions won 5-0 and are building momentum as they get ready to host next year’s Cup of Nations.  Assedine Ounahi scored two goals in the first half, and Adbe Essalzouli, Achraf Hakimi, and Soufiane Rahimi also scored.

The competition in Group B remains exciting as Gabon will play Lesotho again on Tuesday, and the Central African Republic will have another chance to play Morocco on the same evening.

Striker Serhou Guirassy nets hat-trick as Guinea thrash Ethiopia
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Striker Serhou Guirassy nets hat-trick as Guinea thrash Ethiopia

Striker Serhou Guirassy scored an impressive hat trick in the first half, leading Guinea to a resounding 4-1 victory over Ethiopia in their 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

The match, held at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan, showcased Syli National’s dominance from the outset. Guinea secured their lead in the 18th minute when Guirassy successfully converted a penalty after Birhanu Bekele’s foul inside the box.

The Germany-based attacker extended his lead in the 37th minute, finishing from close range after a well-timed pass from Seydouba Cissé. Just before half-time, Guirassy completed his hat-trick by slotting home in stoppage time from a François Kamano assist, securing a 3-0 lead at the break.

Guinea continued their dominance in the second half, with Seydouba Cissé adding a fourth goal in the 48th minute, finishing a through ball from Mady Camara.

After Matchday Three, DR Congo leads Group H with nine points, followed by Tanzania with four points and Guinea with three points. Ethiopia remains at the bottom with just one point.

Ethiopia scored a goal in the 53rd minute through Kenean Markneh, but Guinea’s victory renewed their prospects for qualification, while Ethiopia faces a challenging path to keep their hopes alive.

Senegal comfortably thrashed 10-man Malawi in AFCON Qualifier
by Football Sierra Leone

Senegal comfortably thrashed 10-man Malawi in AFCON Qualifier

At the Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade, the Senegalese national football team put on a dominant performance, securing a convincing 4-0 victory over Malawi.

The match took a dramatic turn in the 16th minute when Brighton Munthali was shown a red card for a foul on the talented Sadio Mané.

Senegal’s Pape Guèye ignited the scoreboard with a spectacular long-range shot in the 35th minute, setting the tone for the Lions’ commanding display.

Sadio Mané, a key figure for Senegal, showcased his skill once again by notching his 45th goal for his national team in the 69th minute. The momentum continued as Boulaya Dia swiftly added another goal just two minutes later.

The Senegalese team’s triumph was sealed in the 77th minute when Nicolas Jackson, after earning 17 caps, celebrated his first goal for the national team, concluding the match with a resounding victory for Senegal.

Malawi will attempt to avenge their defeat as they host Senegal at the Bingu National Stadium on Tuesday.