Category: Sport News

Alhassan Koroma's Al-Shahaniya suffer defeat to Al-Duhail
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Alhassan Koroma’s Al-Shahaniya suffer defeat to Al-Duhail

In an intense match at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Al Shahaniya faced a tough defeat against Al-Duhail, finishing with a score of 1-2 after Week 17 of the Ooredoo Stars League.

On Friday, the Sierra Leone International, who scored in their 3-2 win over Umm Salal last Sunday, played the full throttle of the tie in the Qatari Stars Super League.  

Despite a spirited effort, Al-Shahaniya’s performance saw them unable to secure the win, which left their total points stagnant at 23, causing them to slip to seventh place in the league standings.

They now find themselves tied on points with Al-Rayyan and Al-Shamal, who occupy fifth and sixth places, respectively. Meanwhile, Al-Duhail’s victory allowed them to regain the top position in the league, boosting their points to 38.

The first half of the match was particularly noteworthy, as Al-Shahaniya successfully held Al-Duhail—currently leading the standings—scoreless through 45 minutes. However, the tide turned just after the break when Michael Olunga netted Al-Duhail’s first goal in the 46th minute, placing pressure on Al-Shahaniya to respond.

The home team equalized in the 65th minute with a penalty conversion from Petrus Amersfoort, showcasing their resilience and determination.

Unfortunately for Al-Shahaniya, just five minutes later, Karim Boudiaf scored again for Al-Duhail, reclaiming the lead with a well-timed goal in the 70th minute. The match turned contentious as tensions rose, culminating in the ejection of substitute referee Francesco Antonucci in the 90+9 minute.

Al-Shahaniya’s starting formation for the match featured Shahab Al-Laithi in goal, supported by a defensive line consisting of Mohamed Ibrahim, Mohamed Badr Sayyar, Mark Martinez, and Lotfi Madjer.

In the midfield, they lined up Petrus Amersfoort alongside Youssef Hani and Andreas van Beek, while their attacking front comprised Moaz Al-Wadiya, Ali Al-Omari, and Al-Hassan Koroma. Despite their efforts, the team’s inability to convert opportunities into goals ultimately led to their defeat on this occasion.

Sierra Leone U-17 set for Guinea in Women’s World Cup qualifiers
by Football Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone U17 set for Guinea in Women’s World Cup qualifiers

Following their remarkable triumph over the Central African Republic in the first preliminary round, the Sierra Leone Women’s U-17 team is now poised to take on Guinea in the highly anticipated second preliminary round of the U-17 Women’s World Cup African Qualifiers.

A pivotal encounter looms as these young athletes continue their quest to qualify for the prestigious 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, showcasing their skills on an international stage.

The stakes are raised even further, as the winner of this tightly contested fixture will advance to face the victor of the match between Ivory Coast and Burundi in the third and final round of the qualifiers, making every moment of this series critical in their journey toward World Cup aspirations.

The 2025 African U-17 Women’s World Cup qualification is the 10th edition of this tournament, open to players born on or after January 1, 2008. The four teams that win in the third round will qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

First-Leg: March 8, 2025, at Southern Arena, Bo City, a venue known for its vibrant atmosphere and passionate local supporters.

Second-Leg: March 15, 2025, at Stade Mamadou Konaté, Bamako, Mali, offering a competitive setting for this crucial match-up.  

Ex-Nigerian Midfielder Obi Mikel blasts Jamie Carragher over AFCON comments
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ex-Nigerian Midfielder Obi Mikel blasts Jamie Carragher over AFCON remarks

Former Chelsea and Nigeria midfielder John Obi-Mikel offered a strong perspective in response to Jamie Carragher’s recent comments about the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where Carragher suggested that the tournament lacks the same weight as the European Championship or the FIFA World Cup.

During a discussion about English football, Carragher mentioned that Mohamed Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or could be impacted by the perception of AFCON.

In a thoughtful reply on the Obi One Podcast, Mikel emphasized the significance of the AFCON, stating, “The Africa Cup of Nations is just as important as the Euros; I’ve participated in it and even won it.” He expressed his belief that everyone should appreciate the value of the tournament.

Mikel pointed out that while Carragher provides insights on winning in the Premier League, he has not personally experienced that triumph himself. He remarked, “It’s essential to recognize the prestige of AFCON, and it’s important to respect the achievements of players in that competition.”

His comments encourage a broader understanding of global football competitions and highlight the accomplishments of players representing their countries on the international stage.

Listen to more of Mikel Obi’s reaction via the Obi One Podcast!

Women's 2026 Cup of Nations first round qualifiers wrap-up
by Football Sierra Leone

Women’s 2026 Cup of Nations first round qualfiers wrap-up

Equatorial Guinea, former champions, will miss the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) after a surprising loss in the first round of qualifying on Wednesday.

In the second leg of their match against Tanzania, Equatorial Guinea was down 3-1. They could only manage a 1-1 draw at home, despite Tanzania being ranked 63 places lower.

Equatorial Guinea won the tournament in 2008 and 2012 but has not reached a Wafcon since 2018 when they finished last in their group.

In another surprising result, Kenya’s goalkeeper Lilian Awuor saved two penalties, helping her team eliminate Tunisia with a 1-0 win in North Africa. The Harambee Starlets scored early with a goal from Tereza Engesha, despite being ranked 71 places lower than Tunisia.

Botswana has been eliminated from the 2024 tournament without playing. They drew 0-0 away against DR Congo, who will participate in the finals, and ended up losing 2-0 on aggregate.

Togo and Mali were strong winners. Togo defeated Djibouti 10-0 on aggregate, while Mali beat Gabon 10-1 overall.

The second round of qualifiers will take place in October and will decide which 11 teams will join Morocco, the host, at the 2026 tournament. The reigning champions South Africa, along with Zambia and Nigeria, received a bye to the second round because of their high rankings.

The Confederation of African Football has not yet announced the dates for the 2026 Wafcon finals.

In other first-round matches, Ethiopia came back from a 2-0 deficit against Uganda, winning 2-0 on Wednesday and then 5-4 on penalties. Namibia also moved on after defeating Eswatini 1-0 for a 4-0 aggregate victory.

Burkina Faso will play Togo after winning against Burundi 5-1. DR Congo will face Wafcon holders South Africa after beating Botswana.

Kenya’s win over Tunisia means they will play The Gambia, who is ranked 23 places higher and won 4-1 on aggregate against Niger.

Mali will face Cape Verde, who won convincingly against Guinea with a 4-1 score, ttotalling6-3 on aggregate.

Benin will compete against 11-time champions Nigeria after beating Sierra Leone 5-2.

Egypt, trying to qualify for the finals for the first time since 2016, progressed after drawing 2-2 with Rwanda and winning 3-2 overall. They will play Ghana next.

Algeria will face Cameroon after defeating South Sudan 8-0 on aggregate.

Malawi received a bye since Congo-Brazzaville was suspended from international football. Senegal also moved on after Chad withdrew from qualifying.

In the second round, Senegal will play Ivory Coast, and Malawi will face Angola, who advanced by beating Zimbabwe 5-4 on penalties after a 3-3 aggregate tie.

Wafcon 2026 qualifying first-round results

  • Zimbabwe 2-1 Angola (3-3 agg) – Angola win 5-4 on penalties
  • Congo-Brazzaville P-P Malawi – Malawi progress via walkover
  • DR Congo 0-0 Botswana (2-0 agg)
  • Equatorial Guinea 1-1 Tanzania (2-4 agg)
  • Ethiopia 2-0 Uganda (2-2 agg) – Ethiopia win 5-4 on penalties
  • Namibia 1-0 Eswatini (4-0 agg)
  • Burkina Faso 4-1 Burundi (5-1 agg)
  • Togo 5-0 Djibouti (10-0 agg)
  • Algeria 3-0 South Sudan (8-0 agg)
  • Egypt 2-2 Rwanda (3-2 agg)
  • Kenya 1-0 Tunisia (1-0 agg)
  • The Gambia 2-1 Niger (4-1 agg)
  • Sierra Leone 1-3 Benin (2-5 agg)
  • Cape Verde 4-1 Guinea (6-3 agg)
  • Mali 4-1 Gabon (10-1 agg)
  • Senegal P-P Chad – Senegal progress after Chad withdrew
DRC International Yoane Wissa nets in Brentford draw with Everton
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

DRC International Yoane Wissa nets in Brentford draw with Everton

DRC international Yoane Wissa was on target as Everton managed to come back to secure a 1-1 draw against Brentford, stretching their unbeaten streak in the Premier League to seven games.

Yoane Wissa scored his 13th goal of the season, giving the home team the lead just before halftime, but David Moyes’ squad equalized with a header from Jake O’Brien in West London.

The Toffees gradually found their footing after Brentford’s quick start, although they squandered two prime scoring opportunities in the first half, with Beto being particularly unproductive on both chances.

The in-form striker could not get past Mark Flekken when he had a one-on-one opportunity in the 39th minute, and shortly after, Flekken came off his line to thwart him again.

Those missed chances cost Everton dearly as Brentford took the lead deep into stoppage time, where Kevin Schade’s long throw was headed onto the crossbar by Bryan Mbeumo before Wissa tapped in the rebound from close range.

Flekken did well to deny Jack Harrison’s corner, which nearly snuck in at his near post soon after the second half began, and Carlos Alcaraz later shot just wide from the edge of the box.

Wissa had another goal disallowed for offside before the visitors eventually broke through the Bees’ defence, with O’Brien heading Vitalii Mykolenko’s cross low past Flekken with 13 minutes left.

Following this match, Brentford stayed in 11th place in the Premier League rankings. Brentford has not secured a victory in a home game for six matches, despite starting the season unbeaten in eight games at home.

Mohamed Kallon unveiled as Sierra Leone head coach
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mohamed Kallon unveiled as Sierra Leone head coach

  • A kiss for the Sierra Leone jersey he once donned as captain following his unveiling ceremony.
  • His first task as head coach will be against the Djurtus of Guinea-Bissau Next Month
  • The former Inter Milan and Monaco striker Mohamed Kallon is ready to lead the Leone Stars from the sidelines.

Mohamed Kallon, a Uefa Pro Licence holder, is the new head coach of the Sierra Leone men’s national team and will begin his new role with a home match against Guinea-Bissau, followed by a challenging encounter against the African powerhouse, Egypt.

Kallon has officially embraced the prestigious role of head coach for the Sierra Leone national team, heralding the dawn of a new and exciting chapter in the nation’s football history. He will commence his duties as the senior men’s coach in March, focusing on the crucial preparations for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

In a heartfelt statement following the announcement, Kallon conveyed a profound sense of duty and patriotism. “I accept this job because it is for my country. It was not an easy decision; there were many factors to consider. However, here we are. I am honoured to serve Sierra Leone. My love for my country drives me to take on this important responsibility,” Kallon expressed with conviction.

Kallon’s appointment is a key component of the ‘Concept 2027’ initiative—a visionary, long-term strategy designed to assess and elevate football standards in Sierra Leone. This initiative aims to nurture budding talent while striving to forge a competitive national team capable of making a significant impact on the international stage.

The decision has been met with overwhelming enthusiasm from the football community, government officials, and passionate fans, all of whom are rallying behind Kallon as he embarks on the challenging journey to lead the national team toward success. Additional details regarding his technical staff and forthcoming plans are anticipated to be unveiled shortly, as shared by the media department of the Football Association.

With an abundance of passion, rich experience, and an unwavering commitment to enhancing Sierra Leonean football, Mohamed Kallon stands ready to guide his country to new heights, much like he did during his illustrious playing career.

Mohamed Kallon has been appointed as the head coach of the Sierra Leone national team
Mohamed Kallon has been appointed as the head coach of the Sierra Leone national team
Mauritania FA launch FIFA Talent Academy in Nouakchott
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mauritania FA launches FIFA Talent Academy in Nouakchott

On February 25th, a momentous event in the realm of football development unfold in Mauritania with the inauguration of the FIFA Talent Academy. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Nouakchott, this landmark occasion will not only commemorate the strides made by the country under the FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS) but also establish Mauritania as a trailblazer in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) region.

This academy aims to nurture young talent and enhance the nation’s footballing prowess, signaling a bright future for the sport in the country.

The TDS, initiated in 2022 by Arsène Wenger, aims to help member associations fulfill their potential by identifying and developing talented players, addressing competitive imbalances in global football. The main goal is to raise national team standards for both men and women and to create a sustainable legacy for talent development. So far, 200 FIFA Member Associations have benefited from this innovative initiative.

FIFA will allocate a funding of USD 200 million to support participating associations for the 2023-2026 operational cycle. The Academies Programme is a key component of TDS, and Mauritania will officially recognize its first talent academy. Each academy employs FIFA-trained coaches to create high-quality training environments for developing the nation’s most talented players.

The initiative focuses on identifying talent, training players effectively, and providing opportunities to apply their skills in matches. Each academy also prioritizes safeguarding and education, ensuring a safe and holistic environment for all players. FIFA aims to establish 75 elite Talent Academies by 2027, with 24 already in place globally.

The objectives of the Mauritania Talent Academy mirror those of all FIFA-recognized academies: to develop top players, be a role model for the Federation, create a sustainable football ecosystem, and foster social growth.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized the significance of this launch for Mauritania, a country dedicated to football development. FFRIM President Ahmed Yahya noted that this academy reflects FIFA’s confidence in their commitment and marks a crucial step toward a brighter future for Mauritanian football.

FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, Arsene Wenger, highlighted the goal of providing young players with exceptional training and development to help them realize their potential in serving the country’s football growth.

Oumar Ndiaye, Director of the FFRIM Academy, said that this FIFA certification is a pivotal moment for Mauritanian youth, facilitating the enhancement of training programs. Thanks to FIFA’s support, they now have the tools to elevate their ambitions.

FFRIM President Ahmed Yahya expressed his satisfaction with the initiative designed to identify talent.
FFRIM President Ahmed Yahya expressed his satisfaction with the initiative designed to identify talent.
The Fifa talent Academy initiative aimed at identifying talent across Mauritania
The Fifa talent Academy initiative aimed at identifying talent across Mauritania
Senegal's Ismaila Sarr's double helps Crystal Palace thrash Aston Villa
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr’s double helps Crystal Palace thrash Aston Villa

Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr netted two goals to help a sharp Crystal Palace overcome Aston Villa 4-1 at Selhurst Park, continuing their march toward the upper half of the Premier League standings.

Manager Oliver Glasner had expressed worries about the Eagles’ performance at home. Prior to Tuesday night’s fixture, they had secured only two league victories on their own ground.

It seemed that trend would persist when Jacob Ramsey found the back of the net with a tidy finish, but the goal was disallowed for offside.

In the 29th minute, Palace forward Ismaila Sarr opened the scoring when Chris Richards’ header was deflected by Emi Martinez, allowing Sarr to tap the ball in from close range.

Villa improved after conceding and believed they had equalized just before halftime when Morgan Rogers partnered with Ollie Watkins and scored from within the penalty area, only for the goal to be overturned by the video assistant referee (VAR).

Rogers did manage to score early in the second half after again combining with Watkins, bringing Villa level, but Jean-Philippe Mateta then put Palace back in front with a superb curled shot past substitute goalkeeper Robin Olsen, who stepped in after Martinez did not reappear for the second half.

Sarr secured his second goal of the match when Daniel Munoz made a low cross into the box, which the Senegal striker directed into the far corner, and late on, substitute Eddie Nketiah added a fourth for Palace.

This result places Glasner’s team in 12th place, after suffering just three losses in their last 15 league matches.

Striker Victor Osimhen doubtful for Nigeria World Cup qualifiers
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Striker Victor Osimhen doubtful for Nigeria World Cup qualifiers

Nigerian soccer star Victor Osimhen has injured himself before next month’s qualifying matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup next month.

The Super Eagles will play against Rwanda’s Wasps away and Zimbabwe’s Warriors at home, with Eric Chelle as the new head coach.

Osimhen, Nigeria’s top striker, was taken off the field in the 89th minute of Galatasaray’s goalless draw with Fenerbahce on Monday night.

Galatasaray’s team doctor, Yener İnce, confirmed that the substitution was due to an injury.

“We will see; it will be clear tomorrow,” the doctor said on habersarikirmizi.com.

Osimhen, 26, is now the joint second-highest goalscorer for the Super Eagles, with 23 goals in 39 games. Only Rashidi Yekini has scored more for Nigeria, with 37 goals in 62 matches.

Sierra Leone Coaching Education continuous challenges
by Kendol Decker

Sierra Leone Coaching education facing continuous challenges

For almost a decade, there has been a lack of access to formal football coaching education curricula in Sierra Leone. The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) must urgently address this significant crisis. The last time the SLFA hosted a CAF-accreted coaching course was in 2016, before the launch of the CAF Coaching Convention, which made it more difficult for member associations (MAs) to host CAF-accredited coaching courses.

In 2019, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) launched its coaching convention. The convention aims to standardize coaching education and licensing across Africa, ensuring consistent coaching quality. Member associations who wish to issue CAF A, B, C, or D coaching diplomas must design a syllabus for each category based on the guidelines provided in the convention and submit it to CAF for approval.

The SLFA has failed to create a syllabus that meets the convention’s standard and is the only English-speaking MA in West Africa that hasn’t formally trained coaches in recent years since the launching of the CAF Coaching Convention. The SLFA’s failure to design a syllabus that meets the CAF Coaching Convention standard has resulted in most coaches coaching in the top-tier leagues not having the appropriate training to coach at such a level. Some of those coaches are coaching the female and youth national teams.

Before launching the CAF Coaching Convention, over 50 coaches were issued CAF Licenses, and about two dozen coaches obtained the CAF A License. Many of those coaches have either died or are no longer actively coaching. The curriculum those coaches undergo to get their CAF Licenses has significantly improved since the launching of the CAF Coaching Convention in 2019. According to the coaching convention, CAF diploma holders must renew their licenses every two years by participating in a refresher course.

The active coaches in Sierra Leone who obtained CAF Diplomas in 2016 and earlier haven’t been able to renew their licenses as the SLFA hasn’t hosted a CAF Refresher course in recent years. If CAF enforces its coaching license requirement, our coaches cannot coach in CAF Club competitions. The CAF refresher requirements are similar to those of UEFA and US Soccer coach license holders, who must attend 15 hours of continuous professional development (CPD) every three years.

Recently, one of the world’s most successful coaches, Carlo Ancelotti, almost got his license suspended by the Italian Federation for delaying completing his CPD. In recent years, SLFA launched its branded SLFA B Diploma to compensate for the lack of access to the CAF Diplomas. Over the past three years, over 100 coaches have participated in two SLFA B diploma cohorts. The SLFA informed recipients of the course that they could coach second- and lower-level men’s and top-female leagues with the diploma. The issue with the SLFA B Diploma is that it doesn’t meet the standard of a B-level course.

The curriculum is, at best, an introduction to coaching or a grassroots-level D coaching curriculum that is insufficient to coach any team over the age of 13. This dilemma has resulted in an influx of untrained coaches in our football system, from the grassroots to the professional level. Coaches rely solely on their raw football knowledge, playing experience, and intuition to coach.

The Importance of Coaching Education

  • Coaching education equips coaches with the foundations of the principles and phases of play.
  • Coaching education equips coaches with the basic concepts to structure their training sessions with a session objective, linking each drill/activity with the session objective from the warm-up to the game.
  • Coaching education equips coaches to periodize their training sessions and understand the workload during the various stages of the season, which limits the risk of injury.
  • Coaching education equips coaches with the knowledge to plan and design practice sessions using the 5Ws (What, When, Where, Who, and Why), practice objectives, main and sub-principles, area of the field, key players, player actions, etc.
  • Coaching education equips coaches with the tools to guide players at various ages and developmental stages.
  • Coaches education equips coaches with the tools to design and implement a game model.

 

The above are just some of the key benefits of coaching education. There is also child protection, sexual abuse prevention, and safeguarding training that our coaches are lacking. This is very important to create a safe environment for children and women in football. Although coaching education is still very underdeveloped in almost all of Africa, Sierra Leone is far behind most African countries. The Gambian Football (GFF) currently hosts the CAF B Diploma course, while the Liberian Football Association (LFA) hosts the CAF A Diploma course. The GFF sponsored three coaches to participate in LFA’s ongoing CAF A Diploma course. Over the past few years, the LFA has hosted two cohorts of CAF B Licences and refresher courses. I find it difficult to understand why the SLFA hasn’t collaborated with the LFA in coaching education.

  • Striving The Way Forward

The SLFA must address this matter urgently by hiring or collaborating with coaches and educators who can design syllabi that meet CAF Convention standards. The first step to developing a coaching education curriculum is knowing what you want to teach coaches. The SLFA must establish and publish a coaching education pathway, a national coaching methodology, and a football philosophy or DNA. Various SLFA technical officials have publicly claimed to have made significant progress in coaching education and stated publicly that the  SLFA has developed a coaching education pathway and player development strategic plan accessible to anyone who requests the documents. Unfortunately, my colleagues and I have reached out to those same officials for those documents with no success.

About the Author

Kendal Decker is a youth football coach and administrator based in Maryland, USA with 15 years of experience.

Summary of Coach Decker’s Coaching Education Accomplishments:

* UEFA A License Candidate (2026)

* MSc Performance Analysis in Football Candidate (2025)

* Barca Innovation Hub Professional Diploma in Football Tactical Analysis (2025)

* USSF Club Technical Leadership Level 1 Diploma (2024)

* USSF B License (2023)

* USC Premier Coaching Diploma (2016)

* USC Director of Coaching Diploma (2015)