Category: Sport News

Rangers, Ports, Lions & Kallon battle for a CAF Confed Cup spot
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Rangers, Ports, Lions & Kallon battle for Confed Cup spot

This will be intriguing as the winner of this year’s Sierra Leone FA Cup will represent the West African nation in the next CAF Confederation Cup. (Photo Credit Kemokai Sportgraphy)

On Friday, Sierra Leone’s League Leaders, Bo Rangers, will play against the Water Front Boys Ports Authority in the first FA Cup semi-final at the SLFA’s academy turf. 

The semi-finals are expected to be fascinating as all four teams compete for a spot in the next CAF Confederation, making a place in the final crucial.

Coach John Keister will be desperate to overcome Ports in the showpiece encounter for a place in the final.

The WaterFront boys have not won any of their last three matches, including a goalless draw in the league on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Rangers have scored eight goals in their previous three league matches and have nine maximum points.

On Saturday, one of Sierra Leone’s most decorated football clubs, East End Lions, will face off against FC Kallon.

The last Sierra Leone’s representative in the CAF Confederation Cup, FC Kallon, will surely face a stiff test against East End Lions in the second semis at the same venue.

This game promises to be a thrilling encounter as both teams seek to secure a spot in this year’s final. 

In the first round of the league, both teams played to a goalless draw. However, FC Kallon has been in good form lately, winning their last three games and accumulating nine points.  They have scored six goals and conceded only one against Real Republicans.

East End Lions, on the other hand, have shown improvement under their Ghanaian coach and are unbeaten in their last three league games.

The semi-finals are expected to be a fascinating contest as all four teams compete for a spot in the next CAF Confederation, making a place in the final crucial.
The semi-finals are expected to be a fascinating contest as all four teams compete for a spot in the next CAF Confederation, making a place in the final crucial.
Midfielder Yayah Kallon returns to full SSC Bari training
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Midfielder Yayah Kallon returns to full SSC Bari training

Sierra Leonean footballer Yayah Kallon has returned to full training with the Italian Serie B team SSC Bari after recovering from his latest injury.

Kallon, 22, played his last competitive match for Bari on March 16th in a 1-0 defeat to Sampdoria. 

Unfortunately, he could only feature for two minutes before being replaced due to an injury. 

However, he has since recovered from his knee problem and has returned to training with his teammates this week.

The club confirmed that Kallon had joined first-team training for the second day of the week as they prepare to face Pisa led by Mr Aquilani at San Nicola. 

During their training session, the players were divided into two groups, with one group focusing on gym exercises such as joint mobility, core stability and muscle strengthening. In contrast, the other group worked on tactical exercises specific to their departments. 

The final 30 minutes of the session were dedicated to a mixed ranks challenge on half of the field.

On 10 January 2024, Kallon moved on loan to Bari from  Hellas Verona.

The first leg semi-finals of the 2023/24 CAF Champions League campaign will take place on Saturday, April 20th.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Fascinating first-leg CAF Champions League Semis this weekend

The first leg semi-finals of the 2023/24 CAF Champions League campaign will take place on Saturday, April 20th.

The remaining four African football clubs, Al Ahly (Egypt), TP Mazembe (DR Congo), Espérance Sportive Tunis (Tunisia) and Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) are all vying for the highly-coveted African club football title.

The first leg semi-finals are scheduled for 20th April, while the return leg will be played on 25th and 26th April 2024.

TP Mazembe, a former FIFA Club World Cup finalist from the Democratic Republic of Congo, hasn’t made it to the finals of the CAF Champions League in the last decade. 

This weekend, they will face a challenging match against the current champions, Al Ahly from Egypt, in Lubumbashi.

Four clubs have won 21 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League titles. Al Ahly leads with 11 titles, followed by Mazembe with 5, ES Tunis with 4, and Mamelodi Sundowns with 1. 

ES Tunis seeks their 5th title in Tunis after winning in 2019. They’ll play Mamelodi Sundowns, who won in 2016 and recently triumphed in the African Football League. 

All four clubs have proven their championship mettle and have an equal chance of winning this season.

 

All four football clubs will be competing for a spot in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Final.

The first leg of the final is scheduled for Saturday, May 18th, 2024, with the second leg taking place on Saturday, May 25th, 2024.

Sullay Kaikai's Cambridge suffer a defeat to Conteh's Bristol Rovers
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sullay Kaikai’s Cambridge suffer defeat to Conteh’s Rovers 

Chris Martin scored the only goal of the match for Bristol Rovers against Cambridge United at the Memorial Stadium on Tuesday evening, securing a 1-0 victory in the 87th minute.

The goal was set up by Luke Thomas, who provided the cross that Martin converted. This was Rovers’ first home win in five games.

Sierra Leone internationals Sullay Kaikai in Photo and Kamil Conteh both featured in the game. Kaikai started for Cambridge while Conteh came on as a substitute for Rovers in the 50th minute. 

Chris Martin had a chance to score earlier in the match when he was awarded a penalty in the 33rd minute. However, his poorly placed shot was stopped by Cambridge goalkeeper Will Mannion.

Cambridge had several opportunities to score, particularly from set pieces. Paul Digby and Macauley Bonne both headed corners over the crossbar in the first half, while Mamadou Jobe’s header hit the woodwork in the 60th minute. 

In the last minute of stoppage time, Luca Hoole cleared a shot from Liam Bennett off the line to preserve Rovers’ win.

That goal made up for Martin’s earlier gilt-edged miss – the 35-year-old former Norwich and Derby forward was unable to convert a 33nd-minute penalty.

https://twitter.com/bittar32/status/1780465646586773564

Portsmouth secured promotion to the Championship after coming from behind to beat Barnsley 3-2.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Abu Kamara’s Portsmouth seal title and Championship promotion

Portsmouth secured promotion to the Championship after coming from behind to beat Barnsley 3-2. 

Conor Shaughnessy scored the winning goal in the 89th minute, securing their return to the Championship for the first time since 2012.

Sierra Leonean striker Abu Kamara, who was on loan from Norwich City, played a vital role in the team’s success, recording ten goals and 11 assists throughout the season.

Barnsley’s Devante Cole opened the scoring in the sixth minute, but Portsmouth responded quickly, with Kusini Yengi equalizing three minutes later. 

John McAtee put Barnsley back in front in the 59th minute, but two late goals from Colby Bishop and Conor Shaughnessy sealed the win for Portsmouth.

This victory marks Portsmouth’s return to the Championship after nine years. The team only needed a point to secure promotion, but the win also earned them the League One title. 

The Fratton Park crowd went wild as the home fans celebrated on the pitch at the final whistle.

Kamara’s background 

The versatile forward joined Portsmouth (Pompey) on a season-long loan deal from Norwich in July 2023. 

He joined the Canaries when he was 10 years old and progressed through their academy, eventually signing his first professional deal in January 2021. 

A couple of years later, he replaced Teemu Pukki in the 70th minute of a Championship defeat to Sheffield United, making his senior debut. 

Kamara went on to make three appearances for the Canaries at the end of the 2022/23 campaign, featuring in matches against Rotherham and Blackpool as well.

Abu Kamara's Portsmouth seal title and Championship promotion
Abu Kamara's Portsmouth seal title and Championship promotion
Jasmine Hamid ready for BK Häcken's adventure in Sweden
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Jasmine Hamid ready for BK Häcken’s adventure in Sweden 

BK Häcken has confirmed the signing of Jasmine Hamid, a 23-year-old outfielder from Towson University in the USA. 

Yesterday, the offensive female star was cleared to pen her first professional contract on the deadline day.

Hamid is a talented player who is known for her one-on-one skills, courage on the field, and excellent finishing abilities. 

She is excited to join the team and start working towards winning matches and scoring goals. 

Christian Lundström, the team’s manager, looks forward to seeing what Hamid can bring to the team. 

Hamid was cleared to play on deadline day and has been welcomed warmly by the rest of the team., says Christian Lundström.

“All the players and managers have very well received me and I am very keen to start the work, play and win matches and score a lot of goals,” she told the clubs’ website.

Hamid is the younger sister of Bill Hamid. She previously played on the varsity team of Bishop Ireton for four years and received two WCAC Player of the Week awards.

In 2022, she started and played in 16 games, despite battling an injury late in the season.

She scored six goals and provided six assists, making a total of 18 points. Three of her six goals came as game-winners.

Defender Antonio Rudiger to help create jobs in Sierra Leone
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Defender Antonio Rudiger to help create jobs in Sierra Leone

During an interview with Real Madrid, Antonio Rudiger, a Sierra Leonean-German defender, shared his aspirations. 

He dreams of creating several job opportunities in Sierra Leone, which is his mother’s homeland. He plans to achieve this goal in the next ten years.

The Antonio Rudiger Foundation – which supports underprivileged individuals – has been engaged in philanthropic work in the West African nation. 

Rudiger’s foundation aims to improve education, infrastructure, inclusivity in sports, and literacy in a country with a population of 8 million.

The ex-Chelsea player donated over USD 100,000 to fund free quality education and used his World Cup earnings to sponsor life-changing surgeries for physically challenged children in 2022.

Rudiger's foundation aims to improve education, infrastructure, inclusivity in sports, and literacy in a country with a population of 8 million.
Rudiger's foundation aims to improve education, infrastructure, inclusivity in sports, and literacy in a country with a population of 8 million.
Kamil Conteh's Rovers were brilliant against Cheltenham Town
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Kamil Conteh’s Rovers were brilliant against Cheltenham Town

Bristol Rovers broke their seven-match scoring drought in style with a comfortable 3-1 win against relegation-threatened Cheltenham. 

Sierra Leone International Kamil Conteh, who joined the club in January on a three-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee, was named on the bench but was introduced for his fourteen appearances for the club.

Scott Sinclair opened the scoring in the 12th-minute first half, followed by Brandon Aguilera and Elkan Baggott in the 56th and 77th minutes, respectively.

Liam Sercombe scored a stoppage-time consolation goal for Cheltenham.

Rovers skipper Antony Evan had a chance to increase the lead with a first-half penalty, but Cheltenham goalkeeper Luke Southwood saved it with a diving effort to his left. 

Cheltenham offered very little in the game as their survival chances took a significant blow.

Cheltenham made two changes at half-time but could not find a way back into the game. 

In the 56th minute, Thomas found substitute Aguilera, who scored a goal, followed by the third goal from Baggott in the 77th minute. 

Cheltenham scored a goal in the 94th minute, but it was too late.

Abu Kamara on target in Portsmouth & Bolton's 1-all draw
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Abu Kamara on target in Portsmouth & Bolton’s 1-all draw 

Sierra Leone native Abu Kamara recorded his tenth of the season as Portsmouth and Bolton shared English League One spoils 1-1 at the Toughsheet Stadium in a tense match that prevented the Blues from celebrating their promotion.

Portsmouth needed a win to secure the League One title and promotion to the Championship, and they started well after Abu Kamara scored within the first seven minutes of the game.

However, Bolton responded with Aaron Collins scoring a header to equalize in the first half.

In the second half, both teams had opportunities to score a winner, but neither could convert, meaning that Bolton fell four points behind Derby and their automatic promotion hopes are now out of their hands.

Pompey’s next action will be against Barnsley on Tuesday night at Fratton Park.

by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Alex Bangura returns to Middlesbrough squad for Ipswich

On Saturday, Alex Bangura, an international player from Sierra Leone, was listed on the bench for Middlesbrough’s away game against Ipswich Town in week 43 of the English Championship. 

Bangura, 24, who has been out of action since January due to an injury he sustained while playing against Chelsea in January – made his debut for Boro in their 2-1 loss against Blackburn Rovers at Edwood Park in September 2023. 

The team’s manager, Michael Carrick, expressed his satisfaction with the performance of Alex and a few other players, including Hackney, Van den Berg, Fry, McNair, and Coburn.

Boro has only four games left in the season, and their chances of making it to the playoffs are slim. 

However, they are still in contention for a playoff spot, with Norwich City just six points ahead of them in sixth place. 

Therefore, it is beneficial to have a large pool of players to choose from, especially players as significant as Hackney and Van den Berg.