Category: Sport News

Guinea's Serhou Guirassy is on the verge to join Borussia Dortmund
by FSL News

Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy on the verge of joining Borussia Dortmund

Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, the 28-year-old striker for the national team, has agreed to join Borussia Dortmund.

After being considered by several top clubs, including AC Milan, he has decided to join the German side.

Recent reports have revealed that there is now a complete agreement between Guirassy and Borussia Dortmund.

The club is focused on activating Guirassy’s release clause, which stands at €17.5 million.

Guirassy’s impending transfer to Signal Iduna Park comes after an impressive season in the Bundesliga, where he was the second-highest scorer with 28 goals in just 30 appearances across all competitions this season.

The deal, once finalized, will see Guirassy bolstering Borussia Dortmund’s attacking lineup.

Guirassy, a former youth international for France, chose to play for the Republic of Guinea at senior level.

He debuted for Guinea in a 0–0 friendly against South Africa on March 25, 2022, in Kortrijk, Belgium, and was later named in the Guinean squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

Blackburn Rovers eye Sierra Leone's winger Augustus Kargbo
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Blackburn Rovers eye Sierra Leone’s winger Augustus Kargbo

Blackburn Rovers are interested in signing Cesena striker Augustus Kargbo, as reported by Italian news outlet  TuttoMercato.

The club seems to be planning a summer of attacking additions, and Kargbo has been a key player for the Serie B side, helping them to gain promotion from Serie C.

Kargbo, 24, had an impressive last campaign, making 33 appearances in all competitions and contributing 10 goals and 11 assists to help Cesena win promotion. His contract at Stadio Dino Manuzzi expires in 2026, so there’s no rush for his current club to sell him.

Rovers are keen on bringing him to England this summer. They have identified Kargbo as a target as they prepare for their first full term under the guidance of former Birmingham City boss John Eustace.

Tutto Mercato believes Rovers are keen on luring him over to England this summer. They have identified him as a target as they gear up for their first full term under the guidance of former Birmingham City boss John Eustace.

Attacker Sullay Kaikai pleased after pens Cambridge's new deal
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Attacker Sullay Kaikai pleased after pens Cambridge’s new deal

Sierra Leone international Sullay Kaikai has expressed his  delight after signing a new one-year contract with Cambridge United.

The 28-year-old attacker, who joined the U’s last summer on an initial one-year deal, has been a consistent performer, making 47 appearances across all competitions in his first year.

In February, he was named Love Cambridge Player of the Month after a series of outstanding performances, securing four assists and scoring one goal. 

“I am pleased to sign with the club for another year,” said Kaikai. “The club is moving in an exciting direction, and I am eager to contribute. The confidence of the manager, teammates, and fans means a lot to me. It’s about building upon last season, growing within the gaffer’s set-up, and improving as both an individual and a collective.”

“We are delighted that Sullay has decided to rejoins us,” added the management. “He is a player with undoubted qualities and has shown in the past that he can provide match-winning moments. We believe there is more to come from him, and with the hard work we expect from the players this season, Sullay has the opportunity to take his game to new levels.”

After winning the Love Cambridge Player of the Month award for February 2024, he featured in over 40 games for the U’s last season.

"I am pleased to sign with the club for another year," said Kaikai. "The club is moving in an exciting direction, and I am eager to contribute.."
"I am pleased to sign with the club for another year," said Kaikai. "The club is moving in an exciting direction, and I am eager to contribute.."
Ghana's Jerome Opoku pens permanent deal with Başakşehir
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ghana’s Jerome Opoku pens permanent deal with Başakşehir

Jerome Opoku, a talented Ghanaian player, has signed a three-year contract with İstanbul Süper Lig club Başakşehir.

This follows his loan from Portuguese club Arouca at the start of the 2023-2024 season.

Opoku previously showcased his skill by leading Fulham U23s and gaining valuable experience during loan spells at Accrington Stanley, Plymouth Argyle, and Vejle Boldklub.

His dedication and versatility make him a valuable addition to the Başakşehir family.

Opoku, who was born in England and is of Ghanaian descent, made his debut for the Ghana national team on 18 October 2023 in a friendly match against the United States national team, which ended in a loss.

Denis Odoi joins Belgian Pro League team Royal Antwerp
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Denis Odoi joins Belgian Pro League team Royal Antwerp

Belgian team Royal Antwerp has added an experienced Ghanaian player, Denis Odoi (36), to their squad.

Odoi has joined the club on a free transfer from Club Brugge and has signed a two-year contract.

Born in Leuven, Belgium, Odoi is known for his versatility and is expected to bring valuable experience to RAFC’s young dressing room.

He started playing football at the age of five and has had a successful career. Last season, Odoi played 39 games in all competitions, including Brugge’s run to the UEFA Europa Conference League semifinals. He scored three goals in the past season.

Odoi’s international journey saw him switch to represent Ghana in 2022, and he debuted in a 0–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Nigeria on 25 March 2022.

In November 2022, Odoi was named in the Black Stars of Ghana squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Sierra Leone champions to join by Mogbwemo Queens FC by other WAFU-A Zone nations to compete
by FSL News

WAFU to Inspect facilities ahead of Women’s CL Qualifiers

Executive members of the West Africa Football Union have safely arrived in Freetown, Sierra Leone. They are preparing to inspect Southern Arena Stadium for the upcoming CAF Women’s Champions League Qualifiers.

Sierra Leone champions  Mogbwemo Queens FC will be join by other WAFU-A Zone Women’s Champions to compete in this year’s qualifiers, which will be held in from August 2 to 11 at the Southern Arena in Bo City.

In preparation, WAFU Zone-A Executive Director Mapathe Gaye from Senegal and Finance Officer Balamin Ceesay from The Gambia are in Sierra Leone for a facilities inspection.

The SLFA team warmly welcomed the Wafu delegates at the Home Suites Hotel in Freetown. Acting General Secretary Mohamed Benson, Head of Finance Ibrahim Bah, Director of Competitions Sorie Ibrahim Sesay, and a cross-section of the Local Organizing Committee met the delegates as they planned for a successful tournament.

Acting General Secretary Mohamed Benson, stated, “We are committed to hosting a fantastic tournament that will showcase the talent of our women footballers and the capacity of Sierra Leone to host significant regional sporting events.”

Facility inspection is crucial to ensure that all venues and amenities meet the high standards for this international competition. The tournament will feature the top female football clubs for a week of competitive matches.

The SLFA team warmly welcomed the Wafu delegates at the Home Suites Hotel in Freetown. Acting General Secretary Mohamed Benson, Head of Finance Ibrahim Bah, Director of Competitions Sorie Ibrahim Sesay, and a cross-section of the Local Organizing Committee met the delegates as they planned for a successful tournament.
The SLFA team warmly welcomed the Wafu delegates at the Home Suites Hotel in Freetown. Acting General Secretary Mohamed Benson, Head of Finance Ibrahim Bah, Director of Competitions Sorie Ibrahim Sesay, and a cross-section of the Local Organizing Committee met the delegates as they planned for a successful tournament.
Debutant Kenya, Nigeria & Zambia face tricky U17 draw
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Debutant Kenya, Nigeria & Zambia face tricky U17 draw

The draw for the upcoming FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup took place on Saturday. Nigeria, Kenya, and Zambia have learned who they will be competing against in the group stage of the tournament.

Nigeria, a regular participant, will be in Group A with the host countries Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and New Zealand. They hope to perform better than before in the competition.

Kenya, making their debut in the tournament, drawn in a challenging Group C, where they will play against North Korea, Mexico, and England. Despite being newcomers, the Kenyan team is eager to make their mark on the global stage.

Kenya will begin their campaign against England on Thursday, October 17, 2024, marking their debut in the competition.

Zambia, the third African team, is placed in Group D and will face 2014 champions Japan, Poland, and Brazil. They face a tough challenge to progress from this group.

This tournament is a great opportunity for the African teams to showcase their talent and contribute to the growing influence of women’s football on the continent.

The competition begins on 16 October and ends with the final on 3 November in Santo Domingo.

This will be the last time the competition features 16 nations, as the 2025 tournament in Morocco will include 24 teams.

by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Kei Kamara breaks new Major League Soccer ground

On Saturday, Kei Kamara secured his place in MLS history by scoring his 146th goal, surpassing Landon Donovan to become the league’s second-highest goalscorer after tying the record just days earlier.

Kamara’s momentous goal in the 33rd minute propelled LAFC to a 3-0 lead against the San Jose Earthquakes, echoing the style of his record-tying goal with another powerful header at the back post.

This remarkable achievement means that only one player in MLS history has scored as many goals as Kamara.

“I hope it makes a lot of people happy. I know it makes my friends and family happy because they’re the ones that have been counting the goals all these years and they get to text me. I see their texts, how happy they are,” Kamara said of his historic goal.

“But Landon is the greatest American soccer player to ever live, so for my name to be called next to his for this long, it was an honour. It’s still always going to be next to Landon – I mean the [MLS MVP] trophy is named after him. So when I get to be mentioned next to a great soccer player like that, it’s kind of cool and I’m a fan.”

While Kamara currently trails Chris Wondolowski by 25 goals, his resurgence with his 11th MLS team in Los Angeles has ignited hope for the 39-year-old veteran to potentially challenge the record.

Bulgarian club Botev Plovdiv counts on new acquisition Anthony Ujah
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Bulgaria’s Plovdiv counts on new acquisition Anthony Ujah

Bulgarian club Botev Plovdiv believes their new signing, Anthony Ujah, will bring experience and goals for the 2024 First League season.

The team’s sporting director, Arthur Platek, is confident that Ujah will perform at a high level and provide valuable experience for the team.

Botev (Plovdiv) is excited to welcome Anthony Ujah, a Nigerian striker with experience in the Bundesliga and Second Bundesliga. The team’s sporting director, Artur Platek, is confident that Ujah’s goal-scoring ability and experience will help the team improve. Ujah chose to join Botev Plovdiv instead of renewing his contract with German Bundesliga II team Eintracht Braunschweig.

Platek stated that Ujah, along with Ivelin Popov, will help guide the younger players and share their knowledge of what is needed to succeed in top European championships.

The Nigerian striker is the fourth new addition to the team after Alexa Marash, Alain Koroshets and Hans Christian Bernat .

 

Women's Africa Cup of Nations dates set for July next year
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Women’s Africa Cup of Nations dates set for July next year

The Confederation of African Football has announced that the next Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) will occur in July 2025.

The 21-day event will start on July 5 and end on July 26, 2025. This decision comes after a period of uncertainty following the completion of the qualifiers.

The tournament, originally planned for this year in Morocco, has been postponed to the following year. The decision was made at a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee on June 21, 2024.

CAF president Patrice Motsepe expressed his excitement for the growth of women’s football in Africa and hopes for the success of the WAFCON Morocco 2024. He also promised to continue developing African football to become competitive on a global level.

Additionally, CAF expressed gratitude to King Mohamed VI of Morocco and the Moroccan Football Federation for hosting both the AFCON 2025 and WAFCON 2024.

Ghana’s Black Queens, who missed out in 2018, have secured their spot in the upcoming competition.

Banyana Banyana won the last edition in Morocco with a 2-1 victory over the host country at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat in July 2022. Hildah Magaia was the game’s star, scoring two goals to secure South Africa’s win in the final.

The dates of the CAF TotalEnergies WAFCON Morocco 2024 are:

  • Opening Match: Saturday 5 July 2025
  • Final Match: Saturday 26 July 2025
Banyana Banyana won the last edition in Morocco with a 2-1 victory over the host country. Hildah Magaia was the star of the game, scoring two goals to secure South Africa’s win in the final.
Banyana Banyana won the last edition in Morocco with a 2-1 victory over the host country. Hildah Magaia was the star of the game, scoring two goals to secure South Africa’s win in the final.