Category: Sport News

Sierra Leone's Mustapha Bundu wins 2024/25 Argyle Goal of the Season
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone’s Mustapha Bundu wins 2024/25 Argyle Goal of the Season

In a breath-taking display of skill, Mustapha Bundu’s mesmerizing free-kick against Derby County at Home Park has been crowned the 2024/25 Argyle Goal of the Season.

The talented forward triumphed in a heated ten-way poll, outshining Andre Gray’s sensational double against Watford, which secured a tie for second and third place among the voters.

With the Greens trailing 2-0 in the first half, Ryan Hardie earned a free-kick from a challenging position, about 20 yards out and at a tight angle.

Instead of opting for a routine cross, Bundu unleashed a magnificent shot, curling the ball with precision and flair into the far corner of the net. This stunning strike ignited the crowd and breathed new life into Argyle’s hopes for the match.

RESULTS:  

1. MUSTAPHA BUNDU v Derby County – 32% 

2. ANDRE GRAY (1) v Watford – 15%

3. ANDRE GRAY (2) v Watford – 12%

Sierra Leone native Bangura-Williams pens long-term deal with Millwall
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone native Bangura-Williams pens long-term deal with Millwall

Sierra Leone native Raees Bangura-Williams has signed a new long-term contract with The Den. The 20-year-old will continue with The Lions following his impressive start.

Bangura-Williams made his debut in January during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round, scoring just 10 minutes after coming on against Dagenham & Redbridge.

His father is an amateur football manager originally from Sierra Leone, currently based in Park Langley.

“I’m grateful for all the support and have more to give. It’s an honour to be here,” he said, noting the season has been life-changing and that Millwall is the right place for him to develop.

In 13 appearances, he has impressed fans with several assists, including key plays against Cardiff City and Portsmouth. His performance earned him a call-up to England’s Elite League Squad.

Despite missing the end of the 2024/25 season due to injury, he is determined to earn a place in Alex Neil’s starting lineup for the 2025/26 season.

Millwall’s Director of Football, Steve Gallen, praised Ra’ees’ inspiring journey to the first team and expressed excitement about his contract signing as a reward for his hard work. Gallen noted that Ra’ees represents the club’s future and thanked James Berylson and Alex Neil for their support in finalizing the deal.

Four African places in the U20 FIFA World Cup in Chile confirmed
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Four African places in the U20 FIFA World Cup in Chile confirmed

Africa has four teams going to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile 2025. These teams qualified by reaching the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations. The qualified teams are Morocco, Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa.

Every team triumphed in tense, thrilling, hard quarter-final matches. First to qualify, Morocco narrowly defeated Sierra Leone 1-0 after extra time due to a late own goal. This game ended Sierra Leone’s spectacular first showing in the competition.

The host country, Egypt, joined Morocco in achieving an exciting comeback against Ghana. Trailing 2-0, they last-minute equalised and won the 5-4 penalty shootout, securing their spot at the World Cup.

Africa’s most prosperous U20 team, Nigeria, advanced by beating Senegal, the defending champions, in a penalty shootout. To secure their 14th entry in the U20 World Cup, the Flying Eagles maintained their coolness.

Thanks to a last-minute goal from Thabang Mahlangu, South Africa finished the group with a 1-0 victory over DR Congo in extra time.

These four teams’ qualification keeps Africa’s excellent record in the U20 World Cup. Each squad will now hone in on the semi-finals and the continental title challenge. From September 27 to October 19, the FIFA U-20 World Cup will be held in Chile.

The qualified teams are Morocco, Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa
The qualified teams are Morocco, Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa
Kei Kamara to continue illustrious MLS career with FC Cincinnati
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Kei Kamara to continue illustrious MLS career with FC Cincinnati

Kei Kamara will continue his historic soccer career with FC Cincinnati. The team announced on Monday that they have signed the well-known striker through 2025, with an option for 2026. He will take a Supplemental Roster spot at his record 12th MLS club.

At 40 years old, Kamara ranks second all-time in goals scored in the league with 147 regular-season matches. With 445 regular-season games, he ranks fourth all-time in MLS.

Last season, Kamara was a free agent after scoring 8 goals and providing 5 assists in 40 appearances for LAFC. He helped the team win their first US Open Cup title.

“We’re excited to add a player of Kei’s quality, experience, and leadership to FC Cincinnati,” said general manager Chris Albright. “He’s one of the best goal scorers in league history, and his skills will bring a new element to our attack. We welcome him and his family to Cincinnati.”

Kamara began his iconic career in 2006 when the Columbus Crew picked him in the first round of the SuperDraft (No. 9 overall). He has also played for Chicago Fire FC, Colorado Rapids, Houston Dynamo FC, Minnesota United FC, CF Montréal, New England Revolution, San Jose Earthquakes, Sporting Kansas City, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The Sierra Leone international recently captained his national team during FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers and has also played in England for Middlesbrough and Norwich City, as well as HIFK Fotboll in Finland.

In Cincinnati, Kamara brings proven goal-scoring ability to the team, joining club-record signing Kévin Denkey and Sergio Santos as strikers. Key attacking players for Cincinnati also include playmaker Evander and Luca Orellano.

As of now, Cincinnati is at the top of the Eastern Conference with 25 points, holding an 8-win, 3-loss, and 1-draw record through 12 matches.

Morocco beat 10-man Sierra Leone U20 to book Chile U20 World Cup spot
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Morocco beat 10-man Sierra Leone to book Chile U-20 World Cup spot

Morocco defeated 10-man Sierra Leone 1-0 in extra time, advancing to the semi-finals of the CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2025 and securing a spot in the Chile U20 World Cup.

The match concluded with a late own goal scored by Sierra Leone’s Amara Keita at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium in Cairo. Morocco controlled most of the match but found it difficult to break through Sierra Leone’s strong defense.

Sierra Leone, making their tournament debut, fought hard but ended up losing due to a tough break. The turning point came in the 115th minute when Keita accidentally scored an own goal while under pressure, sending Morocco into the semi-finals and qualifying them for the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile later this year.

Sierra Leone played bravely, even after being reduced to ten players during regulation time. Substitute Samba Bah received a red card in the 90th minute after a dangerous challenge, leaving his team short-handed for extra time.

Morocco had a strong chance of winning, having been unbeaten in their last 12 matches in open play at the U20 AFCON. They created several opportunities through players like Jones El Abdellaoui, Ismaël Baouf, and Adam El Mokhtari, but Sierra Leone’s goalkeeper, Mohamed Bai Kamara made several great saves.

Sierra Leone also had chances, especially from their star player Momoh Kamara, whose long shot in the 113th minute was saved well. Despite their earlier surprise victory over Egypt, Sierra Leone could not score this time.

For Morocco, this victory marks their second trip to the semi-finals since 2005 and keeps their unbeaten streak alive at the 2025 tournament. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi’s team displayed patience and skill to overcome a well-organised opponent.

Sierra Leone exits the tournament with pride, having done better than expected in their first U20 AFCON. Key players Kamara and Alpha Turay made a lasting impression. Morocco will now prepare for a semi-final match against either South Africa or DR Congo, confident in their strong defence and tactical skills.

Nigeria pick Chile U20 World Cup ticket after defeating Senegal
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Nigeria pick Chile U20 World Cup ticket after defeating Senegal

Nigeria beat Senegal 3-1 on penalties to secure a spot in the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2025. The match, held at the Suez Canal Stadium on Monday, ended 0-0 after both regulation and extra time.

With this win, Nigeria qualified for U20 World Cup in Chile and they moved closer to their eighth U20 AFCON title, while Senegal reflects on their strong campaign.

In this intense quarter-final match, both teams had chances to score but could not find the net after 120 minutes. Nigeria, unbeaten in the group stage, stayed composed during the shootout.

Precious Benjamin, Emmanuel Chukwu, and Israel Ayuma scored their penalties, while Senegal struggled, with Pierre Dorival’s shot saved, Mame Mor Faye’s attempt stopped, and Ousmane Konaté hitting the crossbar. Seydi Diouck scored Senegal’s only penalty, but it wasn’t enough.

Nigeria’s victory marks their eighth consecutive quarter-final win at the U20 AFCON. They will advance to the semi-finals, maintaining their perfect record in quarter-finals.

Both teams had opportunities in open play, with Nigeria’s Kparobo Arierhi and Divine Oliseh forcing saves from Senegal’s goalkeeper, Mouhamed Sissokho. Senegal’s Cheikh Thiam nearly scored, hitting the post in the 42nd minute.

During extra time, Nigeria pushed hard, but despite several attempts, the score remained tied. Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Ebenezer Harcourt, made a crucial save against Mame Mor Faye’s penalty kick.

After the game, Nigeria’s head coach, Ladan Bosso, praised his team’s resilience, saying, “We prepared for all scenarios, including penalties. I’m proud of the boys for executing under pressure.”

Egypt's Mohamed Salah wins Football Writers' Award
by Football Sierra Leone

Egypt’s Mohamed Salah wins Football Writers’ Award

Egypt and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has won the Football Writers’ Association award for the best men’s  player of the season.

Salah scored 28 goals and assisted 18 times to help Liverpool win the Premier League title. He set a record for the most goal contributions in a single 38-game Premier League season.

Salah also scored three goals and assisted four times as Liverpool reached the last 16 of the Champions League. Last month, the 32-year-old signed a new two-year contract to stay at Anfield until 2027.

Salah received 90% of the votes from over 900 FWA members, the largest margin of victory this century.

His Liverpool teammate Virgil van Dijk came second, Newcastle striker Alexander Isak was third, and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice finished fourth. Salah is now one of only two players, along with Thierry Henry, to win this award three times.

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu set to leave Luton Town
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

DRC’s Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu set to leave Luton Town after eleven years

Luton Town will release Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu this summer after he spent over 11 years at the club.

The 31-year-old midfielder is considered a “club legend” for his contributions to Luton’s rise from the National League to the Premier League.

He joined the team as a teenager in 2013 and made a total of 412 appearances, although he spent the second half of last season on loan at Rotherham United.

The club announced that Mpanzu is leaving after playing a key role in four promotions, making him an important part of their history.

In addition to Mpanzu, goalkeeper Tim Krul, defender Amari’i Bell, and Nigeria international Victor Moses will also leave Luton after their relegation from the Championship. Bell, who spent four years with the club, was part of the team that achieved promotion in the 2022-23 season.

Jameson Horlick, another first-team player, will also leave Kenilworth Road. However, club captain Tom Lockyer, who is out of contract, will remain with the team to continue his recovery from ankle surgery.

CAF TSG named U20 AFCON Group Stage top scorer Momoh Kamara in the Best XI
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

CAF TSG named U20 AFCON Group Stage top scorer Momoh Kamara in the Best XI

As per the CAF Technical Study Group (TSG), Sierra Leone’s standout performer, Momoh Kamara, has been honoured in the Best XI of the group stage at the TotalEnergies U20 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2025.

In four games, the agile playmaker scored four spectacular goals, helping Sierra Leone make history by reaching the quarter-finals on their first try.

Kamara in photo alongside Walter Steenbok, former Technical Director of the South African Football Association, took all the individual awards, winning both Top Scorer and Best Player. To honour the tournament’s highlight stars, the TSG picked a 1-4-2-3-1 formation. Levison Banda of Zambia was named Best Goalkeeper; his defenders were Nigeria’s Odinaka Okoro, Daniel Bameyi, Ghana’s Dacosta Antwi, and Sierra Leone’s Nathaniel Jalloh.

South Africa’s Lazola Maku and Kenya’s Kevin Wangaya drive the game forward from midfield; Kamara is joined in the attack by Morocco’s Othmane Maamma and Zambia’s Joseph Sabobo. At the head of the line is Samuel Ntanda-Lukisa of DR Congo, whose important contributions guaranteed advancement for his team.

Mohamed Ouahbi of Morocco was chosen Best Coach for leading his team to an unbeaten group stage; Ghana earned the Fair Play Award for their discipline. Along with the recently unveiled Africa’s first FIFA Mini Pitch in Algeria, the knockout phase approaches increase the enthusiasm for these outstanding players and their countries.

CAF U20 AFCON Egypt 2025 – Group Stage Best XI (1-4-2-3-1):

Goalkeeper:

  1. Levison Banda – Zambia

Defenders:

2. Nathaniel Jalloh – Sierra Leone

3. Odinaka Okoro – Nigeria

4. Daniel Bameyi – Nigeria

5. Dacosta Antwi – Ghana

Midfielders:

6. Kevin Wangaya – Kenya

7. Lazola Maku – South Africa

8. Momoh Kamara – Sierra Leone

Forwards:

9. Joseph Sabobo – Zambia

10. Othmane Maamma – Morocco

11. Samuel Ntanda-Lukisa – DR Congo

Individual Awards (Group Stage):

🏆 Best Player: Momoh Kamara (Sierra Leone)

🥅 Best Goalkeeper: Levison Banda (Zambia)

⚽ Top Scorer: Momoh Kamara (4 goals, Sierra Leone)

👔 Best Coach: Mohamed Ouahbi (Morocco)

🏅 Fair Play Team: Ghana

CAF TSG named U20 AFCON Group Stage top scorer Momoh Kamara in the Best XI
CAF TSG named U20 AFCON Group Stage top scorer Momoh Kamara in the Best XI
The inaugural FIFA Mini Pitch in Africa has been launched in Algeria
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

First FIFA Mini Pitch In Africa Inaugurated in Algeria  

Algeria has made history by becoming the first African nation to inaugurate a FIFA Arena mini-pitch, part of FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s initiative to install 1,000 such pitches globally, supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The new facility was officially opened at Collège Malek Haddad in East Algiers, with plans for a second pitch at Ibn Joubair school in West Algiers. Together, these pitches will serve around 1,500 children from local schools and grassroots clubs, providing vital opportunities for youth engagement in sports.

The FIFA Arena project aims to establish a total of 11 mini-pitches, or “Starting Eleven,” across all six confederations. So far, pitches have launched in Georgia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Armenia, making Algeria the first African country and the fifth worldwide to benefit. The project target areas are those lacking access to sports facilities.

Infantino emphasised the project’s mission, stating, “Every child deserves a safe space that allows them to learn, to play, and to grow.” Walid Sadi, president of the Algerian Football Federation (FAF), expressed gratitude for FIFA’s support, highlighting that these mini-pitches advance school football and nurture future football talent.

Gelson Fernandes, FIFA Deputy Chief Member Association Officer, underscored the importance of this milestone for grassroots football in Algeria, stating, “In a football-passionate country like Algeria, this inauguration paves the way toward excellence. These children have the potential to become the next Mahrez or Slimani.”