Category: Sport News

RS Berkane edged Zamalek 2-1 to set up a tricky tie in Cairo
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Berkane edged Zamalek 2-1 to set up a tricky tie in Cairo

On Sunday, Renaissance Berkane defeated Zamalek 2-1 in the first leg of the African Confederation Cup final at the Berkane Municipal Stadium.

A second-leg contest is scheduled for Sunday, May 19, at 7:00 PM GMT in Cairo.

Hosts scored twice, with a penalty by skipper Issoufou Dayo in the 13th minute and a header at the back post by Adil Tahif in the 32nd minute, doubling their lead.

After the halftime break, the Egyptian team came back with a more organized strategy and started recovering positions as they reduced the deficit. 

The Egyptians managed to score thanks to Seifeddine Jaziri’s quick thinking in the 46th minute. A momentary lapse of concentration just after the resumption of play resulted in Ahmed Sayed making his fifth assist of the competition. 

He found Seifeddine Jaziri, who scored with a powerful header that hit the bottom left corner of the net.

The return leg in Cairo next Sunday will see Berkane, winners in 2020 and 2022, aiming for a third triumph in the continent’s secondary club competition.

Lineups:

RS Berkane: Hamza Hamiani – Issoufou Dayou, Abdelhak Assal, Hamza El Moussaoui, Adil Tahif – Ayoub Khairi, Mohamed El Mourabit, Yassin Labhiri, Tuisila Kisinda – Youssef Mehri, Youssef Al Fahli, Paul Bassene

Zamalek: Mohamad Awaad – Ahmed Fattouh, Hossam Abdel-Meguid, Omar Gaber, Hamza Mathlouthi – Mohamed Shehata, Nabil Emad, Ahmed Hamdi –  Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed, Samson Akinyoola, Seifeddine Jaziri.

Rangers beat Ports Authority to move Rangers eight points clear
by David Lebbie

Bo Rangers beat Ports Authority to move eight points clear

Bo Rangers secured a last-minute win against Port Authority at the Bo Coronation field to stretch an eight-point advantage over closest rivals FC Kallon at the top Leone Rock Premier League.

The home team scored the first goal after 26 minutes when Suffian Kaloko headed in a corner taken by Paul Kwie. However, the Water Front Boys managed to equalize in the 39th minute through a left-footed shot by former Rangers striker Musa Noah Kamara.

Kamara’s goal helped his team to secure a 1-1 scoreline in the first half of the match.

In the second half, both teams played well, trying to secure a win or at least a draw. Kwame Mketiah replaced Suffian Kaloko in the 60th minute and scored the decisive goal in stoppage time, securing the win for the Elephant. 

Bo Rangers have won six out of their last seven matches, with one draw against Bai Burreh Warriors. In contrast, Port Authority has not won in their previous five games, drawing four and losing to the champions and league leaders. 

The league leaders continue their fine form and are on top of the table with 57 points, while Port Authority is 14th on the log with 26 points and two games in hand. 

In other football news, Wilberforce Strikers secured a 2-0 victory against Wusum Stars at the SLFA field in Freetown Kingtom. Osman Kargbo scored both goals in the 25th and 28th minutes of the game.

Unfortunately, the match between Kholifa Stars and Bhantal FC was abandoned in Makeni, and there is no information on the reason. However, Bhantal was leading by 1-0 at the time. 

Bo Rangers will play against Blackpool in Freetown on Wednesday, while Port Authority will host Luawa FC a day earlier.

El Jadida Stadium to host Sierra Leone v Djibouti WC qualifier
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

El Jadida Stadium to host Sierra Leone v Djibouti WC qualifier

Sierra Leone national football team will play their next World Cup Group A match against Djibouti at the Ben M’Hamed El Abdi Stadium in El Jadida, Morocco, football Sierra Leone understands. 

The match is scheduled for next month as Sierra Leone will be looking to secure their first win in the race to the 2026 World Cup in the USA after earning a point from their previous matches against Ethiopia and Egypt.

Sierra Leone is ranked 126th, which is 66 places ahead of Djibouti. This puts the West African team in a favourable position to win. 

Djibouti previously suffered a 2-0 aggregate defeat to Liberia in the CAF qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. However, it was a positive goalless draw for Djibouti in Liberia during the second leg of the qualifier. 

The Ben M’Hamed El Abdi Stadium is a 15,000-seater multi-use stadium in El Jadida, Morocco. 

It is mainly used for football matches and is home to Difaa El Jadida. Central and East African teams will face a tough contest against Sierra Leone at this stadium.

Egypt topped Group A with six points, followed by Burkina Faso and Guinea-Bissau with four points each. Sierra Leone and Ethiopia are tied on one point each, while Djibouti has no points after losing their opening two games.

Djibouti previously suffered a 2-0 aggregate defeat to Liberia in the CAF qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
SDjibouti previously suffered a 2-0 aggregate defeat to Liberia in the CAF qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
RS Berkane face-off Zamalek in CAF Confederation Cup final
by FSL News

RS Berkane face-off Zamalek in CAF Confederation Cup final first-leg

On Sunday, Moroccos’s Berkane will entertain Egypt’s Zamalek in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup final. Kick-off at the Berkane Municipal Stadium at 19h00 GMT.

Both African giant clubs met in the 2019 final, which Zamalek won 5-3. The winner of this match will be the new champion.

RS Berkane will play the first leg at home and hopes to win their third title. However, Zamalek is in good form, having lost just one of their last 21 games in the competition. 

Both teams have high turnovers and are successful in duels. During the semi-final against Dreams, Samson Akinyoola and Mostafa Shalaby became 9th and 10th different scorers for Zamalek. 

Only two players have created 20+ chances in the competition – Mohamed El Morabito and Zizo.

Senegalese striker Paul Bassène is the joint top scorer of this season’s tournament with four goals and he will be carrying Berkane’s hopes of defeating Zamalek.

After Sunday’s first leg, the return fixture is scheduled for May 19 at the Cairo International Stadium.

Ademola Lookman nets as Atalanta reach the Europa League final
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ademola Lookman nets as Atalanta reach Europa League final

Ademola Lookman was on target as Atalanta secured their spot in the Europa League final with a 4-1 aggregate victory over Marseille at the Gewiss Stadium.

Atalanta, managed by Gian Piero Gasperini, is set to face Bayer Leverkusen, led by Xabi Alonso, in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on May 22nd.

This will be Atalanta’s first final in European competition.

Nigeria International Ademola Lookman scored the first goal for Atalanta in the 30th minute with a deflected strike that went past Marseille’s goalkeeper Pau Lopez and landed in the bottom corner.

Matteo Ruggeri extended Atalanta’s lead at the start of the second half with a right-footed drive into the top corner. El Bilal Toure scored the final goal of the match in injury time with the last kick of the game.

Atalanta had several missed chances to score in the first half, even though they eliminated Liverpool in the previous round.

Ilaix Moriba scored the winning goal from a penalty in the first half. 
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Guinea beat Indonesia to seal Paris 2024 Olympics spot

On Thursday, Guinea secured their place in the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament with a 1-0 win against Indonesia in a play-off match. 

Sixteen teams will compete in the men’s tournament from July 24 to 9 August 2024.

Moriba Kourouma scored the winning goal from a penalty in the first half.

Although Indonesia fought back, Guinea’s defence held firm, and they secured their historic place in the Olympic Age.

During the game, Algassime Bah was fouled by Indonesia’s Witan Sulaeman, leading to a penalty. 

The African team will be making their second appearance in the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament, having previously competed in 1968.

Guinea is in Group A of the 16-team summer event, along with hosts France, USA, and New Zealand. 

Reaction

“We’re qualified, so we’re rewriting history with these young ones. They’ve earned it. This will be the second time that Guinea has taken part in the Olympic Games. We’re going there to try and go as far as possible.” Kaba Diawara, Guinea coach.

Striker Kei Kamara helps Los Angeles secure US Cup last 16 spot
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Striker Kei Kamara helps Los Angeles secure US Cup last 16 spot

Los Angeles secured their place in the Round of 16 in the US Open Cup by defeating Las Vegas Lights 3-1 at Cashman Field on Wednesday night. 

Sierra Leone’s Kei Kamara recorded his first goal for the Black & Gold with a header – just two minutes into the second half. Timothy Tillman crossed the ball from the left wing, and Kamara’s finish found the back of the net.

In the 56th minute, Shawn Smart scored a goal for Las Vegas to level the score. However, LAFC continued to create chances, and in the 70th minute, Cristian Olivera broke the tie by tapping Omar Campos’ deflected cross into the goal.

Olivera then secured LAFC’s win with his second goal in the 91st minute, making it 3-1.

Despite head coach Steve Cherundolo receiving a straight red card in the second minute of first-half stoppage time, LAFC maintained their composure throughout the match.

LAFC will host Loudoun United, a Division II team in the USL Championship, in two weeks at BMO Stadium. 

 

https://twitter.com/LAFC/status/1788430121189384336

Sebastian Bowles departs Luawa FC by mutual consent
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sebastian Bowles departs Luawa FC by mutual consent

Luawa Football Club have announced that they have parted ways with their head coach, British-born Sebastian Bowles, who had been in charge since the start of the Sierra Leone Premier League 2023/24 season.

Luawa has lost three of their last four games, resulting in a drop of 11 points out of a possible 12. They are currently in 9th place with 31 points after winning eight games, drawing nine, and losing nine in the ongoing season.

Coach Sillah, previously the Assistant Coach, will now be the head coach of the club.

They confirmed that Coach Bowles has departed from the club by mutual agreement. “Coach Seb, as he is affectionately known, has been with us for eight months and has made significant contributions to the transformation of the club during his tenure,” the clubs stated.

“Unfortunately, due to safety concerns following an assault he experienced and despite all efforts to reassure his family of his security, Coach Seb and his family feel it is no longer safe for him to remain with the club.”

We would like to express our gratitude to Coach Seb for his time with us and wish him the very best in his future endeavours. Coach Seb will always be a part of our history as we build a unique football development program in Sierra Leone.

Related News… New Boss Excited by Luawa Challenge

Brighton's Carlos Baleba set to boost Cameroon squad
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Brighton’s Carlos Baleba set to boost Cameroon squad

Cameroon’s national football team, the “Indomitable Lions,” is set to add Carlos Baleba to its squad after his recent agreement to represent the team.

Football Sierra Leone understands that the announcement of the squad will provide insight into Brys’s vision for Cameroon’s footballing future.

Baleba is one of Africa’s most promising talents and has emerged as an exceptional midfielder since his transfer to Brighton from Lille last summer.

Baleba, 20, joined Albion in August 2023 from Lille, signing a five-year contract.

Baleba’s absence from Cameroon’s squad during the last Africa Cup of Nations caused controversy, but he has now agreed to play for the team.

Head coach Marc Brys is expected to be named Brighton’s player for the World Cup 2026 upcoming matches against Cape Verde and Angola.Africa’s 

Sébastien Haller eyes in UEFA Champions League final
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ivorian Sébastien Haller could join Uefa Champions League elite

 
The 2023/24 UEFA Champions League final will take place at London’s historic Wembley Stadium. This is the 69th season of Europe’s elite club competition and the 32nd since it was renamed the UEFA Champions League.