Category: Sport News

Egypt edge Sierra Leone in close contest in Cairo
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Egypt edge Sierra Leone in close Cairo contest

Egypt emerged victorious against Sierra Leone with a score of 1-0 in Cairo. The winning goal was scored by Ahmed Sayed, better known as Zizo, during stoppage time in the first half at the Cairo Stadium. This win strengthened Egypt’s position in World Cup qualifiers Group A.

Consequently, they have opened a five-point gap at the top of Group A in the race to qualify for the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

Egypt, the leaders of Group A, controlled the first half, but Sierra Leone held strong under pressure for a full 45 minutes during their match on Tuesday, which was part of matchday six of the World Cup qualifiers.

Omar Mamoush and Mohamed Salah had slim opportunities in the first 30 minutes, but the Sierra Leone defense and goalkeeper Alhaji Sesay kept them at bay, sticking to their tactical approach.

MLS veteran Kei Kamara also had a half chance in the 40th minute when a long cross from Emmanuel Samadia was diverted by a defender just before he could reach it.

Marmoush had a shot that missed the target before Zamalek’s Ahmed Sayed, known as Zizo, found the net during first-half stoppage time, scoring at the near post after receiving a brilliant through ball from Trezeguet.

Following the break, Egypt nearly doubled their advantage when Attia struck a powerful shot that hit the post. Soon after, Sierra Leone had a chance when Nathaniel Jalloh mishandled his shot inside the box, but substitute striker Alie Conteh managed to intercept a deflected ball and sent another powerful shot just wide of the post.

Sierra Leone made a strong effort to equalize, as both teams played actively throughout the match. However, no goals were scored in the second half, although Sierra Leone showed significant improvement during this period.

Currently, Sierra Leone is in third place in the group, with eight points after playing six matches.

90+3 Substitution: Egypt’s Mahmoud Saber replaced Omar Marmoush.

90+3 Substitution, Egypt: Mostafa Fathi replaced Trézéguet.

88′ Substitution, Sierra Leone. Momoh Dumbuya replaced Nathaniel Jalloh.

84′ Substitution, Sierra Leone. Mohamed Bangura replaced Abu Dumbuya.

74′ Substitution, Egypt. Mohamed Shehata replaces Zizo.

74′ Substitution, Sierra Leone. Musa Kamara replaced Kei Kamara.

58 a substitution, Egypt. Hamdi Fathy replaced Mostafa Mohamed.

Substitution

46′ Substitution, Sierra Leone. Alie Conteh replaced Momoh Kamara.

Sierra Leone Coach Kallon Makes Three Changes For Egypt crucial Tie
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone Coach Kallon Makes Three Changes For Egypt crucial Tie

Sierra Leone’s coach, Mohamed Kallon, implemented three changes for the sixth matchday of the World Cup qualifier against Egypt, introducing MLS icon Kei Kamara, Momoh Kamara, and Emmanuel Samadia, who plays in the USA, into the starting eleven.  

This new trio took the places of injured player Mustapha Bundu, Mohamed Bangura, who made his debut in the victory over Guinea Bissau, and Musa Noah Kamara, who scored the second goal for the Leone Stars against Guinea Bissau.  

Coach Kallon, making his second appearance in charge for Sierra Leone at the Cairo International Stadium, retained the same defensive line along with Tyrese Foirnah and Abu Dumbiuya in their defensive positions.Sierra Leone coach makes three changes for Egypt contest.

Like their hosts, the Leone Stars enter this match after a solid 3-1 win over Guinea-Bissau, marking a strong debut for head coach Mohamed Kallon. Sierra Leone has achieved two wins in three matches, with captain Mustapha Bundu scoring first and Ibrahim Turray sealing the victory in stoppage time.

They currently sit third in the table with eight points, just five behind leaders Egypt. Egypt extended their lead at the top of Group A to 13 points after a 2-0 victory over Ethiopia, nearing their first World Cup appearance since 2018.

Sierra Leone Coach Kallon Makes Three Changes For Egypt crucial Tie
Sierra Leone Coach Kallon Makes Three Changes For Egypt crucial Tie
Tunisia maintain Group H lead in FIFA World Cup African qualifiers
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Tunisia maintain Group H lead in FIFA World Cup African qualifiers

Tunisia triumphed over Malawi with a 2-0 victory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup African qualifiers, keeping them at the top of Group H. Seifeddine Jaziri scored in the 86th minute after coming off the bench, and Elias Achouri secured the win with a stoppage-time penalty.

Malawi’s solid defence made the match challenging for Tunisia, who needed the late goals to secure the win. Aymen Dahmen saved a late penalty from Malawi’s Richard Mbulu, ensuring the clean sheet.

With this win, Tunisia has 13 points from five matches, four points ahead of Namibia, who drew 1-1 with Equatorial Guinea.

In Group A, Ethiopia celebrated their first victory of the qualifiers with a 6-1 win against Djibouti. Bereka Desta and Abubeker Nassir both scored three goals, while Djibouti managed a consolation goal from Samuel Akinbinu.

Ethiopia now sits fourth in Group A, seven points behind leaders Egypt. As both teams head into the final two matchdays, Tunisia aims for World Cup qualification, while Ethiopia hopes to improve their standing.

Cairo braces for nail-biting Sierra Leone v Egypt Group A contest
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Cairo braces for nail-biting Sierra Leone v Egypt Group A contest

The fight for a direct slot at next year’s 2026 World Cup could get fiercer from Group A as Sierra Leone ready for red-hot favourite Egypt in Cairo.

Since the arrival of the new coach Mohamed Kallon, there is renewed energy in the Leone Stars after they recorded a 3-1 win over Guinea Bissau in the Liberian Capital last Thursday.

The Guinea Bissau victory was the first time Sierra Leone recorded a win with such margins since 2000 with new faces largely local stars.

A turn of event that would probably get the Egyptian team led by Mohamed Salah to sit up and get ready for war. Egypt and Sierra Leone will both bid for back-to-back wins in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers at the Cairo International Stadium on Tuesday for their matchday six encounters.

Sierra Leone have been resilient in their campaign, recovering from a poor start when they failed to win their first two games in November 2023. They have since turned their fortunes around with a sequence of good results to remain in contention for qualification.

Like their hosts, the Leone Stars enter this match after a solid 3-1 win over Guinea-Bissau, marking a strong debut for head coach Mohamed Kallon leadership. Sierra Leone has achieved two wins in five matches, with captain Mustapha Bundu scoring first and Ibrahim Turay sealing the victory in stoppage time.

They currently sit third in the table with eight points, just five behind leaders Egypt. Egypt extended their lead at the top of Group A to 13 points after a 2-0 victory over Ethiopia, nearing their first World Cup appearance since 2018.

Mohamed Salah scored the opening goal and assisted for the second, while Trezeguet, despite good chances, couldn’t add to his tally. Egypt boasts the joint-highest goals scored in the qualifiers with 13 and has conceded only two, making them formidable opponents.

Elsewhere, Lassina Traoré scored a brace that helped the Stallions of Burkina Faso secure back-to-back World Cup qualifying victories, defeating Guinea-Bissau 2-1 at the Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro on Monday.

As a result, they closed the gap on Egypt to two points ahead of Sierra Leone’s matchday six encounter today.

Egypt extended their lead at the top of Group A to 13 points after a 2-0 victory over Ethiopia, nearing their first World Cup appearance since 2018.
Egypt extended their lead at the top of Group A to 13 points after a 2-0 victory over Ethiopia, nearing their first World Cup appearance since 2018.
Thomas Partey scores brace as Ghana go top of Group I
by Football Sierra Leone

Thomas Partey scores brace as Ghana go top of Group I

Thomas Partey scored two goals to help the Black Stars win 3-0 against Madagascar in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Monday evening at the Grand Stade Al-Hoceima stadium.

Ghana took the lead early, with Partey netting the first goal in the 11th minute. He scored again in the 58th minute while Madagascar struggled to find rhythm.

Just minutes after Partey’s second goal, Mohamed Kudus added another goal to make it 3-0. This result gives the Black Stars their fifth win and increases their lead over Madagascar to five points.

Ghana is now well-positioned for a place in the FIFA World Cup, leading Group I with four matches left. Madagascar will be disappointed with this result.

In another match, reigning African champions Côte d’Ivoire won 1-0 against The Gambia. Sébastien Haller scored in the 15th minute, helping The Elephants maintain their lead and keep The Gambia from scoring.

This victory puts Côte d’Ivoire one point ahead of Gabon, who briefly led Group F following their 2-1 win over Kenya on Monday.

Burkina Faso beat Guinea-Bissau to close gap on Egypt in World Cup qualifiers
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Burkina Faso beat Guinea-Bissau to close gap on Egypt in World Cup qualifiers

Lassina Traoré scored a brace that helped the Stallions of Burkina Faso secure back-to-back World Cup qualifying victories, defeating Guinea-Bissau 2-1 at the Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro on Monday.

Burkina Faso was determined to overcome their opponents after their previous matchday five victory, which saw them thrash Djibouti 4-1. They knew that a win would help them close the gap on leaders Egypt in Group A.

An early goal from Lassina Traoré in the 6th minute was equalized by a long-range shot from Zidane Banjaqui in the 36th minute, bringing the score to 1-1 at halftime.

In the second half, after absorbing pressure from the hosts, Burkina Faso capitalized on a defensive mistake, and Traoré restored their lead in the 73rd minute, completing his brace.

The visitors held on to win for the second consecutive time, narrowing the gap two points behind Egypt, who will face Sierra Leone in Cairo on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Namibia and Equatorial Guinea played to a 1-1 draw in Johannesburg on Matchday 6 of the African qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Namibia, coming off a narrow win over Malawi, aimed to keep pace with Group H leaders Tunisia. Equatorial Guinea, fresh from a 2-0 victory against São Tomé and Príncipe, struggled to find quality finishing in the first half, which ended goalless.

In the second half, Namibia took the lead in the 51st minute with a goal from Peter Shalulile, assisted by Deon Hotto’s free kick. Equatorial Guinea equalized just three minutes later with Saúl Coco’s goal from Esteban Orozco’s pass.

Both teams pushed for a winner, but the match ended in a draw. Namibia is second in Group H with 12 points, behind Tunisia, while Equatorial Guinea is fourth with seven points, needing to win their remaining matches to stay in contention.

CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025
by Football Sierra Leone

Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco schedule confirmed

The Confederation African Football (CAF) has shared important details about the CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025. The tournament will take place from March 30 to April 19, 2025, with 16 countries participating.

Four stadiums will be used for the matches: the El Bachir Stadium in Mohammedia, the Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Berrechid Stadium, both in Casablanca, and the El Abdi Stadium in El Jadida.

The tournament starts on March 30 at the El Bachir Stadium with the opening match featuring Morocco against Uganda, the East African champions, at 22:00 local time (GMT).

On March 31, Tanzania will play against Southern African champions Zambia at 14:00. Later that day, Burkina Faso, last edition’s bronze medallists, will face two-time champions Cameroon in a Group B match at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium at 17:00.

The last match of the day, also at Larbi Zaouli Stadium, will see 2015 runners-up South Africa play against 1997 champions Egypt at 20:00.

On April 1, matches for Groups C and D will begin, featuring the defending champions, Senegal. Senegal will play The Gambia at the El Abdi Stadium at 14:00, while Somalia, in their second finals appearance, will compete against Tunisia at 17:00.

In Group D, Mali, who finished fourth in the last edition, will face tournament newcomers Angola at 17:00. Former champions Côte d’Ivoire will aim for an opening win against the Central African Republic at 20:00.

The TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON Morocco 2025 will also determine which teams qualify for the FIFA World Cup. Africa will have 10 representatives at the World Cup in Qatar later this year.

For a full list of TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 Fixtures, Times and Venues – CLICK HERE 

To download a graphic of the fixtures for editorial use only, CLICK HERE 

TotalEnergies CAF U-17 CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 Groups: 

  • GROUP A: Morocco (Hosts), Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia
  • GROUP B: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, South Africa, Egypt
  • GROUP C: Senegal, Gambia, Somalia, Tunisia
  • GROUP D: Mali, Angola, Cote d’Ivoire, Central African Republic
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang nets brace as Gabon go top of Group F
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang nets brace as Gabon go top of Group F

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice, helping Gabon win 2-1 against Kenya and reach the top of Group F. In another World Cup 2026 qualifying match, Eswatini and Mauritius ended in a dramatic 3-3 draw on Sunday.

Aubameyang gave Gabon an early lead in Nairobi. He scored a second goal from a penalty in the second half.

Kenya answered with a goal from Michael Olunga around the 60-minute mark, but Gabon held on to win and earn three important points.

This victory puts Gabon at the top of Group F with 15 points, ahead of Côte d’Ivoire, increasing their chances of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time.

Kenya now faces a tough road ahead, as this loss sets them back in the qualifying campaign.

In Group B, Eswatini and Mauritius played an exciting match with six goals. Thabo Mkhonto scored twice for Eswatini in the first 16 minutes.

Mauritius came back in the second half, with goals from Linsley Rose and Yven Aristide leveling the score just three minutes apart.

Eswatini seemed to secure the win when Mabuza scored in the 75th minute. However, Jean scored in stoppage time for Mauritius, earning them a draw.

Both Eswatini and Mauritius now sit near the bottom of Group B, with their chances of qualifying looking slim as the final rounds approach.

Bilili Sesay's debut delight after World Cup qualifying win with Sierra Leone
by Football Sierra Leone

Bilili Sesay’s debut delight after World Cup qualifying win with Sierra Leone

Seventeen-year-old John Bilili Sesay, a player for local Sierra Leone Premier League club Bhantal FC, made his international debut during a 3-1 win against Guinea-Bissau in World Cup qualifying on Thursday in Liberia’s capital.

Sesay made a strong impression after being substituted on for Salford City midfielder Tyrese Fornah in the 72nd minute during his debut for Sierra Leone.

This performance was the perfect boost for Sesay, who has been impressive for Bhantal this season. “I’m delighted to have finally made my Sierra Leone debut,” Sesay said. “I felt good, I felt comfortable, and it’s a really happy moment for me.”

“A debut and a victory in a World Cup qualifier is a huge bonus for the entire Bhantal management.”

Next up for Sesay and his team is a trip to Cairo, Egypt, where they will face Mohamed Salah’s Pharaohs on matchday six of the qualifiers for the World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.

Coach Mohamed Kallon’s team will be up against the Group A leaders on Tuesday, following their recent victory against Guinea-Bissau in Liberia’s capital.

Seventeen-year-old John Bilili Sesay has been pivotal for local Bhantal FC this campaign in the Sierra Leone top-flight
Seventeen-year-old John Bilili Sesay has been pivotal for local Bhantal FC this campaign in the Sierra Leone top-flight
Sesay's teammate, Mohamed Bangura was handed his Sierra Leone debut for matchday five of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, CAF Group A
Sesay's teammate, Mohamed Bangura was handed his Sierra Leone debut for matchday five of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, CAF Group A
Sesay made a strong impression after being substituted on for Salford City midfielder Tyrese Fornah in the 72nd minute during his debut for Sierra Leone
Sesay made a strong impression after being substituted on for Salford City midfielder Tyrese Fornah in the 72nd minute during his debut for Sierra Leone
Striker Amadou Bakayoko records first Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo goal of the season
by Football Sierra Leone

Striker Amadou Bakayoko records first Hokkaido Sapporo goal of the season

Sierra Leone International Amadou Bakayoko recorded his first goal of the season in Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo’s 2-1 win over Ehime FC at the Ningineer Stadium in week six of the JLeague 2.

It’s a back-to-back win for the first time for Bakoyok’s side in the Japanese second-tier league. As a result, they continue to move up the table to fifteen after a poor start to the season.

Japanese footballer Kimiya Moriyama had opened the scoring for the host team in the 9th minute, but the visitors held to level the scoring through Bakayoko in the 36th minute.

Bakoyoko was substituted in the 56th minute and replaced by Gun-Hee Kim as the team searched for the winning goal.

The South Korean player Kim Gun-Hee, who left Suwon to join Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo in the J1 League, scored the decisive goal in the 82nd minute.