Category: Football Africa

Neighbours Guinea knock Sierra Leone out of WAFU U20 in Senegal
by FSL News

Guinea knock Sierra Leone out of WAFU U20 in Senegal

Sierra Leone has been eliminated from the 2024 WAFU U20 Tournament after losing to Guinea at the Stade Maniang Soumare on Saturday. They conceded nine goals in total after three Group B games.

They started strong with a 2-0 win against Mauritania at the Stade Lat Dior. However, their subsequent 7-0 loss to Liberia and 2-0 defeat to Guinea led to their exit from the tournament. 

The match against Guinea was crucial for Sierra Leone’s hopes of advancing. Despite their best efforts, they were unable to secure the needed victory.

The team demonstrated skill and determination throughout the tournament but ultimately failed to advance to the next stage.

Meanwhile, After an exciting first round, the tournament is ready for the semi-final match-up as Senegal will face Guinea, while Liberia will take on Guinea Bissau.

Senegal’s team, the Lioncelles, finished at the top of Group A with 9 points. They are eager to win in the semi-finals and defend their title, which they won in 2023 in Sierra Leone.

The Group B standings after Saturday's final round of matches
After an exciting first round, the tournament is ready for the semi-final match-up as Senegal will face Guinea, while Liberia will take on Guinea Bissau.
After an exciting first round, the tournament is ready for the semi-final match-up as Senegal will face Guinea, while Liberia will take on Guinea Bissau.
Esperance's head coach Miguel Cardoso on defeat to Al Ahly
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Esperance’s head coach Miguel Cardoso on defeat to Al Ahly 

Esperance’s head coach, Miguel Cardoso, expressed pride in his players despite their 1-0 defeat to Al Ahly in the second leg of Saturday’s CAF Champions League final. He insisted that they gave their all in a losing cause.

An early own goal by Roger Aholo at the Cairo International Stadium was enough to hand the Egyptian giants a record-extending 12th CAF Champions League crown after the first leg in Tunisia had finished 0-0.

 For Cardoso and his Esperance side, it marked the end of their bid to be crowned African club champions for the first time since 2019.

However, the Portuguese coach was defiant when reflecting on their narrow aggregate loss to the continent’s most decorated side.

“I am certainly not happy about losing the title, but I am proud of what my team presented and of reaching the final,” Cardoso told reporters.

“We fought until the end and showed great character, even though conceding an early goal against a big team like Al Ahly is not easy.”

The Blood and Gold had given themselves a mountain to climb when going behind with just four minutes on the clock, as Aholo inadvertently turned the ball into his net under pressure.

But Cardoso felt there was no shame in coming up short against the competition’s most successful-ever club, particularly given Esperance’s exploits in reaching successive TotalEnergies CAF Champions League finals.

“We have a young team, and we succeeded in qualifying for the Club World Cup, and we must support this team during the coming period,” the 47-year-old added.

“I have only been with Esperance for four months, and we managed to build many things that were missing. During the last period, we gave our all, but luck was not on our side.”

Cardoso mentioned finding comfort in the progress made under his guidance as he aims to develop a team capable of achieving better results next season. 

In front of over 70,000 passionate home supporters on Saturday, the Tunisian team displayed resilience and organization that got them to the final, despite ultimately being defeated.

Fifa bans 2023 AFCON top scorer Emilio Nsue over ineligibility
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Fifa bans 2023 AFCON top scorer Emilio Nsue over ineligibility

African Cup of Nations golden boot winner Emilio Nsue has been banned by the world governing body, FIFA, for six months. 

This decision comes after FIFA ruled that the Equatorial Guinea striker was ineligible to play in his country’s first two qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. 

Last November, the 34-year-old scored the winning goal in both games in question, against Namibia and Liberia.

The Equatorial Guinea Football Association has also been sanctioned by FIFA, resulting in the country forfeiting its first two qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, in which Nsue participated.

A Fifa disciplinary committee was “comfortably satisfied” that Nsue was ineligible for “several” international matches and has ruled that both World Cup preliminaries will be forfeited 3-0 by the Central Africans. 

It has also fined the Equatoguinean federation (Feguifut) 150,000 Swiss francs ($164,000, £129,000) and banned Nsue – a former youth international for Spain – from playing for any national side for six months. 

FIFA has not provided further details on the ruling for a player who won the Golden Boot at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. An official from Feguifut said they are investigating the case and have not received official notification from FIFA. 

Nsue was previously ruled ineligible by FIFA in 2013. Equatorial Guinea faces a potential six-point deduction, which would impact their chances of reaching the 2026 World Cup finals. 

They currently hold the second position in their group, but if the deduction is upheld, they will drop to fifth. The team is scheduled to face Tunisia and Malawi in qualifiers next month.

Liberia brush aside Sierra Leone in U20 WAFU tourney in Senegal
by FSL News

Liberia brush aside Sierra Leone in U20 WAFU tourney in Senegal 

Liberia’s U20 team proved too strong for their Sierra Leonean counterparts, securing a spot in the semifinals of the WAFU A U-20 Women’s Tournament with a decisive 7-0 victory. 

It was the Liberian’s second win from Group B following their opening 2-0 w=victory over Guinea in the tournament opener. 

Edwardline Jackson’s hat trick – along with goals from Louise Brown, Jessica Quachie, and Anita Tarpeh, contributed to the win.

Edwardline Jackson was awarded Woman of the Match for outstanding performance in the 7-0 victory over Sierra Leone’s U-20 team. 

Sierra Leone suffered a setback when Fatmata Turay was sent off with a red card in the 41st minute, leaving them with one player down for the rest of the match.

Despite their best efforts, playing with a player down proved a significant disadvantage as they couldn’t cope with Liberia’s attacking prowess.

Following their 2-0 victory against Mauritania in their opening match, Liberia’s U20 team will face Guinea in their final group B match and must win to avoid elimination.

Results for matches played yesterday at the Stade Lat Dior
Results for matches played yesterday at the Stade Lat Dior
Abdourahman Okieh picks 23-man squad for Sierra Leone and Ethiopia
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Abdourahman Okieh picks 23-man squad for Sierra Leone and Ethiopia 

Abdourahman Okieh has selected a 23-man squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Sierra Leone and Ethiopia. 

The Djibouti men’s senior national team will play against Sierra Leone on June 5th at Stade El Abdi in El Jadida, Morocco, and will face Ethiopia on June 9th for matchday four.

After losing their opening two Group A matches, Djibouti is currently at the bottom of the standings. They suffered a 6-1 defeat to Egypt and a 1-0 home loss to Guinea-Bissau in November 2023.

In the current standings, Egypt leads Group A with six points, followed by Burkina Faso and Guinea-Bissau with four points each. Sierra Leone and Ethiopia are tied on one point each, while Djibouti has no points after losing their first two games.

In their preliminary AFCON qualifier against Liberia in March, Lone Star captain Murphy Dorley scored one of two first-half goals as the Lone Stars defeated hosts Djibouti 2-0 in the opening leg in Marrakech. 

Mohammed Sangare opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute, followed by Dorley calmly converting Sebastian Teclar’s cross 12 minutes later. The match ended in a goalless draw in Liberia, leading to their elimination.

Abdourahman Okieh has selected a 23-man squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Sierra Leone and Ethiopia.
Abdourahman Okieh has selected a 23-man squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Sierra Leone and Ethiopia.
Lookman hattrick hero in Europa final to end Leverkusen’s unbeaten run
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Lookman shines in Europa final to end Leverkusen’s unbeaten run

Ademola Lookman made history with a hat trick in the Europa League final for Atalanta as they dismantled Bayern Leverkusen 3-0 on Wednesday, surprising even his coach, Gian Piero Gasperini. 

The Nigerian international became the first player to score a hat-trick in a Europa League final. He had never scored double figures in a season for any of his previous clubs. However, his performance significantly improved after moving to Atalanta, where he scored 15 goals in each of his two seasons with the club.

Gasperini credited a senior manager at Atalanta for spotting Lookman’s potential and bringing him to the club. Following the match, Lookman expressed his confidence in his abilities and his gratitude for the support he received from Atalanta and his coach. 

Additionally, his mentor and former youth coach spoke highly of him, emphasizing Lookman’s hard work and determination to succeed.

He also mentioned that his time in Bergamo had been instrumental in his development as a player. 

The recent final might be remembered as the Lookman final, but Atalanta’s success is equally remarkable. This is only their second trophy in their 116-year history, the first being the 1963 Coppa Italia. 

Last week, they lost the Coppa Italia final to Juventus, so this victory is an impressive comeback. Gasperini’s team made history by becoming the first Italian team to win this tournament since 1999.

“I am hugely proud for all of Italy because it was a cursed trophy,” said the 66-year-old, who took charge of the club in 2016. “Having won it with Atalanta is perhaps one of those footballing fairytales that rarely crop up.”

The Nigerian international became the first player to score a hat-trick in a Europa League final.
The Nigerian international became the first player to score a hat-trick in a Europa League final.
Gasperini's team also made history by becoming the first Italian team to win this tournament since 1999.
Gasperini's team also made history by becoming the first Italian team to win this tournament since 1999.
Ex-Sierra Leone coach Jonathan McKinstry appointed as new Gambia boss
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Coach Jonathan McKinstry appointed as new Gambia boss

The Gambia Football Federation has confirmed the appointment of Jonathan McKinstry as their new head coach of the national team. 

The UEFA PRO License holder, who has previously led Gor Mahia to clinch the Kenyan Premier League title, is set to take over from Tom Saintfiet after Gambia’s exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournament. 

Jonathan, aged 38, has previously coached Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Rwanda. He is currently the manager of Gor Mahia FC in Kenya and will assume the role with the Scorpions from June 1, 2024.

In the August 2014 FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, the Leone Stars ranked 50th in the world and also broken into the top 10 teams on the continent. They were in seventh place under the management of the Irish coach.

The Northern Irish coach has signed a two-year contract and has been tasked with qualifying The Gambia for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Jonathan previously coached the Uganda national team, Saif SC in Bangladesh, and the Lithuanian club Kauno Zalgiris, with early career roles in youth development at Newcastle United, New York Red Bulls, the Right to Dream Academy, and the Craig Bellamy Foundation.

Zamalek upset Berkane to capture the CAF Confederation Cup crown
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Zamalek upset Berkane to capture the CAF Confederation Cup

Zamalek clinched the African club football’s secondary competition with a thrilling 1-0 victory over RS Berkane in the second leg of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup final, securing the trophy on aggregate on Sunday.

The Egyptian giants entered the second leg at the Cairo International Stadium behind 2-1 from the first leg in Morocco a week ago.

The Zamalek team, backed by their passionate home crowd, made a remarkable comeback to win the continent’s title for the second time. Striker Ahmed Hamdi scored the winning goal in the 23rd minute, levelling the aggregate score. 

However, Hamdi had to leave the game due to an injury just before halftime. The second half saw Zamalek defending fiercely against Berkane’s attacks. 

Senegalese midfielder Ibrahima Ndiaye played a crucial role in Zamalek’s strong defence. Berkane’s frustration resulted in a red card for one of their players, leaving them with 10 men. Despite the pressure, Zamalek’s defence remained solid, securing a 2-1 aggregate victory.

This win represents a remarkable comeback for the Cairo-based club, which previously claimed the title in the 2018/19 season. On the other hand, Berkane came very close to winning the CAF Confederation Cup for the third time in four years but fell short in the end.

https://twitter.com/bittar32/status/1792484721861005680

Al Ahly, Espérance set for an intriguing second-leg
by FSL News

Al Ahly, Espérance set for an intriguing second-leg

Both prominent North African clubs are eager for a victory as they face off in the thrilling second leg of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League final in Cairo on Saturday, May 25, 2024.

Following a goalless first leg, an intense match is anticipated as Al Ahly, the host, seeks to maintain their dominance in continental football.

The first leg took place in Rades, with Espérance aiming to secure an advantage before the challenging return leg in Cairo the following Saturday.

Despite having more possession, the hosts struggled to create clear chances against the resilient defence of the reigning champions. Rodrigues Silver nearly scored early on, with a header that narrowly missed the target.

Al Shahat also came close to scoring for Al Ahly with a long-range shot just before halftime. However, the first half ended with few chances for both teams.

In the second half, Espérance continued to press for a goal. Al Ahly’s Afsha injected energy into the attack. Emam Abdelghany almost caught the goalkeeper off guard with a long-range strike.  As the match concluded, Al Ahly maintained possession to secure the draw. 

TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Final

Saturday, 18 May 2024 | Tunis 

Espérance Sportive de Tunis 0-0 Al Ahly SC

Saturday, 25 May 2024 | Cairo 

17h00 GMT | Al Ahly SC vs Espérance Sportive de Tunis

Sierra Leone U20 to kickoff tourney against Mauritania
by FSL News

Sierra Leone U20 to kickoff tourney against Mauritania

The Sierra Leone national female U20 team, known as the Shooting Starlets, is set to kick off the 2024 WAFU Tournament in Thiès, Senegal, against Mauritania on Tuesday.

Mali and Guinea-Bissau will kick off the tournament, followed by Senegal hosting Gambia at Stade Lat Dior on Monday.

The Shooting Starlets, drawn in Group B against Mauritania, Guinea, and Liberia, aim to showcase their talent and gain valuable international experience.

The team, which consists of 20 players and eight technical staff, is ready to compete in the tournament scheduled from Monday, May 20th to Tuesday, May 30th, 2024. They have arrived in Senegal with high expectations.

The tournament promises to be competitive, with teams from across West Africa (Zone A) vying for the championship. As the Shooting Starlets embark on this significant journey, they carry the hopes and support of the nation.

Their involvement represents a significant milestone in the advancement and acknowledgement of women’s soccer in Sierra Leone, under the guidance of FA President Thomas Daddy Brima and his Executives.

Senegal U20 Girls Tournament 2024: May 20-30 in Thiès - Matches Schedule:
Senegal U20 Girls Tournament 2024: May 20-30 in Thiès - Matches Schedule: