Football Africa Archives - Football Sierra Leone

Coventry City confirm Fankaty Dabo’s release

by FSL News | 30 May, 2023 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sport News

Sierra Leone native Fankaty Dabo has been released by championship side Coventry City a few after they failed to qualify to the Premier League.

The news comes just three days after he missed the deciding penalty in their Championship play-off final defeat to Luton on Saturday.

“Fankaty Dabo, Julien Dacosta, Todd Kane, Sean Maguire, Michael Rose, Martyn Waghorn and Tyler Walker will all leave the Sky Blues following the conclusion of their contracts,” the club said in a statement.

He joined the Sky Blues in June 2019 and would be a key part of the side that won the 2019/20 League One title, earning the Player of the Year award in the campaign too. Moving with the Club up to the Championship, Dabo remained a popular figure with fans, players and staff alike and would go on to make a total of 131 appearances for Coventry City.

After a 1-1 draw in normal and extra-time at Wembley on Saturday, it was down to penalties to settle the winner to gain Premier League promotion.

Each side’s first five spot-kicks were all converted, with Luton’s Dan Potts scoring at the start of sudden death.

Dabo stepped up for Coventry to keep their promotion hopes alive. But he sent his effort high and wide of the goal.

Following his penalty miss, Dabo was, unfortunately, the subject of racist abuse on social media.

A statement from Coventry said: “Coventry City is sickened and saddened following the racist messages sent to Fankaty Dabo on social media following Saturday’s Play-Off Final.

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Senegal crowned WAFU A U20 Women’s champions

by FSL News | 30 May, 2023 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

West African giant Senegal U20 women’s clinched the first-ever WAFU U20 A Women’s Champions after successfully defeating host Sierra Leone at the Southern Arena in Bo City on Monday, CAF reports.

The high-profile encounter, which served as the third and final round of matches of the maiden age-grade women’s championship in the region, witnessed a convincing display from the Senegalese to silence the home fans.

Having won 4-0 over Guinea Bissau and a 3-1 victory over Guinea in their opening two matches, Senegal went into the contest only needing a draw to lift the title, whilst the hosts’ Sierra Leone must win following a 1-1 draw with Guinea before their matchday two 2-1 victory over Guinea Bissau to snatch the coveted trophy.

However, DSenegal proved to string for the host as they went ahead in the opening 60 seconds of the tie through taliswoman Hapsatou Diallo before Coumba Sylla Mbodji doubled the advantage in the 18th-minute to hand the visitors a two-goal at the break.

Senegal’s Hapsatou Diallo won the Player of the Match award after her early opener stirred the Terranga Lionesses to success.

After the resumption, Sierra Leone gave their best but could not find a breakthrough until the 83rd minute when Sagidatou Diallo compounded the woes of the hosts to seal the coveted crown.

In the early kickoff, Guinea defeated Guinea Bissau 2-0 to end their campaign on a winning note and emerged as vice-champions.

After a barren first half, Nana Camara gave the Guineans the long-sought lead in the 80th minute before Aminita Bangoura completed the win with her last-gasp finish in additional time.

Guinea’s Nana Camara was named the Woman-of-the-Match after she inspired the Guineans to victory over Guinea Bissau.

On individual awards, Hapsatou Diallo of Senegal claimed a double prize as she won the Best Player of the Tournament and Highest goal scorer gong with five goals in three matches.

Senegal’s Khady Faye was also named the Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament, having conceded only one goal in three games, while hosts Sierra Leone got the Fair Play award.

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Senegal Crowned WAFU U20 Women's Champions

Sierra Leone’s winger Kallon nets in Shanghai Port’s win

by FSL News | 29 May, 2023 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sport News

Sierra Leone’s winger Issa Kallon was on target as Shanghái Port recorded their fifth straight victory in the Chinese Super League Changchun Sports Center in the 10th round of the Super League.

Kallon, 27, scored his first of the season and Shanghái Port‘s opener in the 11th minute in their 3-0 victory over Changchun Yata on Monday.

Midfielder Paulinho Soares Dos Santos and former Chelsea attacker Oscar Dos Emboaba Júnior completed the victory with all goals scored in the first half.

The win means they continue their lead on the Chinese Super League table with 26 points from their opening ten games.

Kallon, who was making his eighth appearance of the season, was substituted in the 73rd minute, making way for Argentine’s Matías Vargas.

Ports’ winner came from another impressive performance in their recent match against Henan FC at home, which saw goals from Wang Shenchao, Oscar, and Wu Lei eke out a 3:2 victory to bag all three points. With this win, they extended their unbeaten run at home to four matches.

They’ll host will host Chengdu Rongcheng in week eleven of the CSL on June 3rd.

Sierra Leone’s winger Issa Kallon was on target as Shanghai Port recorded the fifth straight victory in the Chinese Super League.

Kallon, 27, scored the opener in their 3-0 victory over Changchun Yatai on Monday. #SierraLeone @football_sierra #FSLNEWS pic.twitter.com/830HbU6Gzm

— Alie Bittar (@bittar32) May 29, 2023

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Gambia top FIFA U20 World Cup Group F unbeaten

by FSL News | 29 May, 2023 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

Adama Bojang missed the best chances in a goalless draw dominated by the table-topping Young Scorpions.

Korea Republic 0-0 The Gambia

The Gambia maintained their unbeaten run at this FIFA U-20 World Cup™ with a draw against Korea Republic as they secured the first position in Group F.

By topping the section, the Africans set up a last-16 duel with Uruguay, while their Asian opponents – who finished second – will take on Ecuador.

On chances created, the Gambians should be advancing on the back of a third straight win after dominating an at-times dreary encounter.

Adama Bojang alone could easily have scored a hat-trick, with the best chance of the first half wasted when the unmarked striker mistimed a header and sent the ball high and wide via his left shoulder.

Then, after the same player had made a better connection early in the second period, only to find Moon Hyuno equal to his header, he fired home off the underside of the bar with 20 minutes remaining and turned in agony to see the assistant referee’s flag raised for offside.

Substitute Sallifah Colley also saw a goal-bound effort tipped onto the post and back into the arms of the grateful Moon, leaving The Gambia to conclude that this wasn’t to be their night in front of goal.

The Young Scorpions can nonetheless reflect on an outstanding Group F campaign and will be looking forward with confidence to their last-16 date with La Celeste.

The Stat

6

Korean Republic have now qualified from the group stage at each of their last six appearances at the U-20 World Cup.

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Host Sierra Leone beat Bissau to keep WAFU title hopes alive

by FSL News | 27 May, 2023 | Football Africa, International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News

Sierra Leone’s Shooting Starlets registered their first win in the ongoing WAFU Zone A Women’s Cup on Friday at the Southern Arena.

The win means Shooting Starlets are unbeaten in the WAFU Zone A Women’s Cup as host and can win the competition with a win over Senegal on Monday.

After a goalless opening 45th-minute, Sallya Turay and Juliet Brima accounted for the home side two goals in the 57th and 75th minutes, respectively.

Guinea got a late consolation through Jessica Dacosta in the 94th minute. As a result, Sierra Leone is now within touching distance to lift the trophy if they can defeat leaders Senegal.

Meanwhile, Senegal came from behind to beat Guinea in their second encounter of the competition with goals from Aminat Samba, Hapsatou Diallo and Khadija Badio in the 71st, 76th and 78th minutes, respectively.

Fatoumata Dede Diallo had scored Guinea’s opener in the 32 minutes, but Aminata Samba’s equaliser cancelled her goal.

Senegal topped the women’s tourney with six points, Sierra Leone on four points after a win 2-1 over Guinea-Bissau.

Ahead of the final matches, Guinea with one point, and Guinea-Bissau is pointless. The competition continues on Monday, with Guinea-Bissau taking on Guinea and Senegal’s battle with Sierra Leone for supremacy. The competition format the highest points to be crowned as champions after three matches.

Photo -Juliet Brima, named Woman of the Match, was speaking to Journalist Esther Marie.

Senegal 🇸🇳 top @Zoneouesta women's tourney with six points, Sierra Leone 🇸🇱 on four points after a win 2-1 over Guinea-Bissau 🇬🇼

Guinea 🇬🇳 one point – Guinea-Bissau pointless after two matches.

The competition continues on Sunday. #SierraLeone #WAFUU20 #SaloneTwitter pic.twitter.com/lVgxR2511w

— Alie Bittar (@bittar32) May 26, 2023

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Host Sierra Leone beat Guinea-Bissau in Wafu U20 Women's Cup

WAFU U 20 Women's CUP Full Fixtures Confirmed

Dutch-Sierra Leonean Roij Paine pens Academy contract

by FSL News | 26 May, 2023 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sport News

Dutch-Sierra Leonean Roij Paine pens Nac Breda Academy contract

At aged 10, the Dutch-Sierra Leonean prospect Roij Paine has officially signed his first pre-development academy contract with Dutch side NAC Breda.

Before the youngster put pen to paper, Paine Junior had previously been scouted by Feyenoord through his parent club Oranje Wit.

The young talent started playing at V.V. Dubbbeldam before he was scouted by Feyenoord, where he made it to the final stage of trials before he was dropped.

A year later, he joined Oranje Wit before attracting interest from NAC Breda. During his trial with NAC, Junior Paine was impressive over four. On Wednesday, he officially signed and presented to the club before meeting up with the coach.

A week from now, Paine Junior will be competing in an international tournament organized in Holland with teams like AC Milan, Manchester City, Feyenoord, and some other big EU nations.

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