Category: Sport News

New Roma acquisition Anass Salah-Eddine left of Europa League
by Football Sierra Leone

Moroccan descent Anass Salah-Eddine left out of Roma Europa League squad

Moroccan descent, Salah-Eddine, the ninth Dutch footballer to join AS Roma, has been left out of the club’s squad for the Europa League knockout stage.

He recently transferred from FC Twente to Roma for a fee reported to be up to €10 million. Despite this high price, Salah-Eddine is not included in Roma’s squad for the Round of 16.

This means the Dutch-Moroccan defender will miss Roma’s important match against FC Porto. If Roma advances further, they might face his former team, FC Twente, who are set to play against FK Bodø/Glimt.

Born on January 18, 2002, Salah-Eddine grew up in the youth programs at AZ Alkmaar and Ajax. He made his senior debut for Ajax in 2022. He later established himself at Twente, first on loan in the 2022-23 season and then by joining the club permanently in 2024.

Zimbabwe International Tawanda Chirewa on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Zimbabwe’s Tawanda Chirewa pens loan deal with Huddersfield Town from Wolverhampton

English League One side Huddersfield Town have confirmed the signing of Tawanda Chirewa on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers. He will play for the team until the end of the 2024/25 season.

Tawanda Chirewa, 21, is a full international player for Zimbabwe. He was loaned to Derby County in the Sky Bet Championship for the first half of the 2024/25 season before returning to Wolves earlier this month.

Wolves value Chirewa highly. He has already played in eight Premier League games and two Emirates FA Cup matches, including the derby against West Bromwich Albion. He was last on the bench for Wolves during their victory over Aston Villa last Saturday.

Chirewa was born in Chelmsford and began his youth career at Ipswich Town. He joined Wolves in September 2023 and made his international debut for Zimbabwe in March 2024.

He is the fourth player to join Huddersfield Town during the January 2025 transfer window, following Ruben Roosken, Joe Taylor, and Dion Charles. Chirewa will wear the number 27 shirt.

Tawanda Chirewa, the new signing, expressed his excitement about joining the club: “I’m really happy to be here and grateful for this opportunity during an important time in the season.

“I’ve heard great things from Nigel and Joe about the club, the coaches, and the fans. I can’t wait to experience it myself. I had other options, but Huddersfield Town felt right. After speaking with Mark and Michael, I’m eager to start as soon as possible.”

Ex-Super Eagles defender Taye Taiwo inducted into Marseille Hall of Fame
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ex-Nigeria defender Taye Taiwo inducted into Marseille Hall of Fame

The former Super Eagles defender, Taye Taiwo, has been given a special recognition by the French Ligue 1 team Olympique Marseille. He’s now a part of their esteemed Club of Legends.

Taiwo, who played for Marseille from 2005 to 2011, made a significant impact during his six-year tenure, scoring 25 goals and providing 23 assists in 271 appearances. He was a key member of the team that won the Ligue 1 title, the League Cup, and the French Super Cup.

At 39 years old, the Nigerian international, who also had stints at AC Milan and QPR, retired from professional football in 2019 and has been residing in France since then. Marseille’s Club of Legends serves as a hall of fame, recognizing players who have made notable contributions to the club’s history.

With this induction, Taiwo joins an elite group of players, including Samir Nasri, Lorik Cana, and Mamadou Niang. His recognition is a testament to his outstanding achievements and contributions to the club. Taiwo is one of only four Nigerians to have played for Marseille, alongside Wilson Oruma, Joseph Yobo, and Victor Agali.

https://twitter.com/OM_English/status/1886133115275317587

Tunisian defender Mathlouthi surgery on anterior cruciate ligament was successful
by Football Sierra Leone

Tunisian defender Mathlouthi surgery on anterior cruciate ligament was successful

Zamalek defender Hamza Mathlouthi had successful surgery in Germany to fix a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the team announced on Wednesday.

The Tunisian international injured his right knee on January 23 during a Premier League match against Modern Sport FC, which Zamalek lost 1-0. He was diagnosed with the injury the following day.

“Mathlouthi had successful ACL surgery in Germany and is doing well,” said Mohamed Osama, the team doctor. “He will start his rehabilitation program soon,” he added. Mathlouthi’s injury is a big loss for the White Knights, as they will be missing one of their key defenders for a long time.

Since joining Zamalek in 2020 from CS Sfaxien in Tunisia, the 32-year-old has scored five goals in 152 games. He played 13 times this season before the injury.

Currently, Zamalek SC is in third place in the Egyptian League with 20 points from 11 games, four points behind the leaders, Pyramids FC.

CAF confirm dates for Inter-Club quarterfinals draw
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

CAF confirm dates for Inter-Club quarterfinals draw

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has revealed when and where the quarter-final fixtures for the 2024/25 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup will be decided.

The draw is set to take place on Thursday, February 20, 2025, in Doha, Qatar, in collaboration with beIN Sports. During this event, CAF will determine the quarter-final pairings for both competitions.

The CAF Confederation Cup draw is scheduled for 14:00 GMT (16:00 Cairo time), with the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League draw following at 15:00 GMT (17:00 Cairo time).

Both tournaments will feature quarter-finals played over two legs. The first leg of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League is slated for April 1-2 and April 8-9. The quarter-final matches for the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup will occur on April 2 and April 9, 2025.

The reigning champions will be part of both draws: Al Ahly SC for the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and Zamalek SC for the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.

TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Quarter-Final Stage Qualified Teams:

Al Ahly SC (Egypt), Al Hilal (Sudan), AS FAR (Morocco), Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia), Mamelodi Sundowns,  Orlando Pirates (South Africa), Pyramids (Egypt), MC Alger (Algeria).

TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup Quarter-Final Stage Qualified Teams:

Zamalek SC (Egypt), Asec Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire), Al Masry (Egypt), CS Constantine (Algeria), RS Berkane (Morocco),  Simba SC (Tanzania), Stellenbosch FC (South Africa), USM Alger (Algeria).

For more on the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, visit www.cafonline.com

Ivorian striker Emmanuel Latte Lath move to Atlanta United completed
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ivorian striker Emmanuel Latte Lath move to Atlanta United completed

Middlesbrough has formally announced the transfer of striker Emmanuel Latte Lath to Atlanta United for a fee of £22.5 million.

The Major League Soccer side confirmed that the contract for the Ivory Coast international is through the 2028 MLS season with an option for 2029.

This transaction represents a record sum received by Middlesbrough and is noted as the highest fee ever paid in Major League Soccer (MLS) history, successfully completed just prior to the transfer deadline on Monday.

Emmanuel Latte Lath, a 26-year-old international from Ivory Coast, has made a significant impact at Middlesbrough since joining from Swiss club St. Gallen in August 2023, scoring 27 goals in 59 Championship appearances.

His standout season was 2023-24, where he netted 16 goals and two in the EFL Cup. In April, he scored eight goals in six games, earning Player of the Month honors. He ranks among the top six center forwards in several categories since the start of last season.

Midfielder Yayah Kallon signs for Serie C club Casertana on loan
by FSL News

Midfielder Yayah Kallon signs for Serie C club Casertana on loan

Casertana officially announced the loan signing of Sierra Leone’s Yayah, following the approval of Hellas Verona, the club that currently holds his registration rights.

Kallon, 23, began his football journey in Italy at Savona, where he quickly showcased his talent. His skills earned him a move to Genoa’s Primavera team, where he continued to develop as a player.

In January 2024, Kallon was loaned to Bari, where he had the opportunity to gain further experience. Last summer, he joined Salernitana, and during the first part of the current season, he appeared in 11 matches in the second division.

His impressive performances caught the attention of scouts, and in the summer of 2022, Kallon was signed by Hellas Verona. He made an instant impact at Verona by scoring his first Serie A goal on his debut against Empoli, showcasing his potential on one of the top stages of Italian football.

On May 22, 2021, he made a significant step in his career by debuting in Serie A with Genoa in a match against Cagliari, marking a milestone achievement for the young athlete.

Just a few months later, on August 13, he scored his first professional goal in the Coppa Italia, helping his team secure a victory against Perugia.

Midfielder Yayah Kallon signs for Serie C club Casertana on loan
Midfielder Yayah Kallon signs for Serie C club Casertana on loan
Nigerian striker Emmanuel Dennis joins Blackburn on loan from Forest
by Football Sierra Leone

Nigerian striker Emmanuel Dennis joins Blackburn on loan from Forest

Blackburn Rovers have completed the loan signing of striker Emmanuel Dennis from Nottingham Forest on transfer deadline day.

Dennis, 27, is their third signing of the day, joining Yuri Ribeiro from Braga and Cauley Woodrow from Luton Town.

Dennis began his career with Zorya Luhansk in Ukraine, where he made a strong debut by scoring in a 3-0 victory and gained valuable experience in the Europa League. He later moved to Club Brugge, scoring 19 league goals in 85 appearances.

After a loan spell with FC Cologne, Dennis joined Watford in June 2021, where he netted 10 Premier League goals and made a notable debut against Aston Villa.

His performances attracted Nottingham Forest’s attention, leading to a £20 million transfer in August 2022. He continued to perform well in the Premier League, scoring against teams like Aston Villa and Newcastle United.

Dennis has also had loan spells with Istanbul Basaksehir and his former club, Watford, and has earned eight caps for the Nigerian national team.

Burkina Faso international Nasser Djiga ready for Premier League
by FSL News

Burkina Faso international Nasser Djiga ready for Premier League

Wolverhampton Wanderers has strengthened its defense by signing Burkina Faso international Nasser Djiga on a contract that runs until 2030.

Djiga, 22, joined Wolves from Red Star Belgrade, where he spent 18 months in the Serbian SuperLiga. He began his career at Vitesse FC in Burkina Faso and later moved to FC Basel in Switzerland, winning the Swiss Super League.

Djiga had a loan spell at Nîmes in France before a successful loan at Red Star last season, where he helped the team win the Serbian SuperLiga and the Serbian Cup. He also played in the Champions League against Manchester City.

Wolves’ chairman, Jeff Shi, said, “We’re happy to welcome Nasser. Many worked hard to make this happen, and we are excited to see him become part of the Wolves family. This signing is a great investment for the club. Nasser has huge potential, and we look forward to seeing him develop.”

Sporting director Matt Hobbs added, “We wanted to strengthen our central defense, and Nasser can help the squad now and in the future. He is the quick and aggressive center-back we need, and we’re eager to see him compete for his spot.”

Zimbabwe's Marshall Munetsi is raring to go after joining Wolves
by Football Sierra Leone

Zimbabwe’s Marshall Munetsi is raring to go after joining Wolves

Marshall Munetsi has expressed his delight after he joined Wolves on transfer deadline day from Reims in France on a three-and-a-half-year deal. He has played at Reims since 2019 and became a leader there.

Before deciding to move, he talked to former teammate Emmanuel Agbadou and fellow Zimbabwean Tawanda Chirewa, who both gave him positive feedback.

Speaking to the club’s website on joining Wolves: “I’m delighted. This is a dream come true. I’ve always wanted to be part of something big, and joining Wolves is significant for me and my family. The Premier League is the best place to be, and I’m thrilled to join the team.

“I’m excited because this is my first chance to represent a bigger club. There is also a larger Zimbabwean community in England, which will help me feel more at home.”

On his time in France: “When I first arrived, I didn’t expect to stay long, but I really enjoyed my time there. The league is tough, and I gained valuable experience that will help me at Wolves.”

On talking to Chirewa and Agbadou: “Tawanda was excited to hear I’m joining him. Agbadou contacted me too; he was welcomed by me at Reims, so now he gets to welcome me to Wolves.

Wolves recognize Agbadou’s impact—his energy and strength are vital for any top team. He’s been a good friend for three years, so I look forward to playing together.”

On bringing leadership skills:

“Being a leader is challenging, but I believe in supporting and guiding others. I aim to lead by example, both on and off the pitch, and bring these qualities to Wolves based on what I learned at Reims.”