Category: Football Africa

Ivory Coast ease past Sierra Leone ahead of AFCON opener
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ivory Coast ease past Sierra Leone ahead of AFCON opener

Jean-Louis Gasset‘s Elephant eased to a 5-1 victory over their visitors, Sierra Leone, at Laurent Pokou Stadium with three first-half goals on Saturday.

Diomand Othman opened the 2023 Cup of Nations host in the 18 minutes when headed home a Jeremie Boga cross before Franck Kessie doubled their lead just after the half-hour mark.

Three more goals were scored from Jonathan Bamba, Jeremie Boga and Amani Lazare in the 38, 48 and 84th minutes, respectively, which were enough for the home team.

Sierra Leone’s only goal came through Rodney Michael’s fine finish assisted by Abu Komeh in the 86th minute as consolation.

The tie was part of the Ivorian’s preparation for the 34th edition of the continent’s biggest footballing event to run from 13 January to 11 February 2024 in Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Bouake, San Pedro, and Korhogo.

Sierra Leone’s next friendly is against Morocco next Thursday at the same venue. 

Jean-Louis Gasset's Elephant eased to a 5-1 victory over their visitors, Sierra Leone, at Laurent Pokou Stadium
Jean-Louis Gasset's Elephant eased to a 5-1 victory over their visitors, Sierra Leone, at Laurent Pokou Stadium
Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi ruled out of AFCON
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi ruled out of AFCON

Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has been ruled out of Nigeria’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations campaign due to injury.

Ndidi, 27, suffered the setback during Leicester City’s 2-0 win at Cardiff City on December 29.

The three-time African champions begin their Group A campaign against Equatorial Guinea on 14 January before taking on their West African counterpart hosts Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau in the group stage.

The midfielder was named in the Super Eagles’ 25-man squad on 29 December but was absent from his club side’s win over Huddersfield Town on Monday.

The Nigeria Football Federation has announced Royal Antwerp midfielder Alhassan Yusuf as Ndidi’d replacement.

Nigeria are still hopeful Ndidi’s Leicester team-mate Kelechi Iheanacho will be able to join the squad.

Forward Iheanacho, 27, has missed the Foxes’ past two games in the Championship with a muscle problem.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, AFCON News and African News Nigeria. 

New Africa Cup of Nations Winner Price Money is $7m
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

New Africa Cup of Nations Winner Price Money is $7m

The Confederation of African Football has today announced a 40% increase in the Prize Money for the Winner of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.

Afcon’s winning price is now $7m as the continent’s biggest football event set to kick off on Saturday, January 13, with host Ivory Coast taking on Equatorial Guinea at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan.

CAF also stated that the runner-up of AFCON Côte d’Ivoire 2023 will now get $4 million. Each semi-finalist will receive $2.5 million, and each of the four quarter-finalists will receive $1.3 million.

CAF President Patrice Motzepe said he’s confident that the increase will help the development of football on the continent.

“CAF has made significant progress over the past two years in increasing the Prize Money of the AFCON and all its other major competitions. We have increased the Prize Money of the AFCON Winner to USD 7 000 000 which is a 40% increase from the previous AFCON Prize Money.”

“I am confident that a portion of the Prize Money will contribute to developing football and also benefit all the football stakeholders, as well as assist our Member Associations with their administrations.”

Senegal's Pape Matar Sarr extends Tottenham contract
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Senegal’s Pape Matar Sarr extends Tottenham contract

Tottenham Hotspur and Senegal midfielder Pape Matar Sarr has signed a new six-and-a-half-year contract until the summer of 2030.

The Senegal international, 21, has established himself as a pivotal first-team player under new manager Ange Postecoglou.

Sarr, who made his debut for the Senegal national team on 26 March 2021 in an AFCON 2021 qualifier against Congo, has been to the Senegal AFCON 2023 squad.

However, his participation may be in doubt after he went off injured in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth.

On 6 February 2022, he won the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal. He made one appearance at the tournament, appearing as a substitute in the 3–1 semi-final win over Burkina Faso.

Sarr joined Tottenham from Metz in 2021 but spent the 2021-22 season back on loan with the French side.

Since making his Spurs debut in January 2023, Sarr has made 33 appearances in all competitions, scoring twice.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, African News, Senegal. 

Bo Rangers thrash Mighty Blackpool to maintain lead at the top
by David Lebbie

Bo Rangers thrash Mighty Blackpool to maintain top spot

Reigning Champions Bo Rangers inflicted a 3-0 defeat on Blackpool to maintain their Leone Rock Premier League Lead at the Southern Arena in match-day nine of the season.

Former Blackpool winger Yusuf Santigie Sesay opened the scoring 20 minutes into the first half when he volleyed Amadu Mansaray’s cross into the back of the net.

He then doubled the Invincible Champions lead from a set piece at the edge of the penalty box 24th-minute as they held on to their lead into halftime.

Substitute Suffian Kalokoh was on the score sheet, scoring Ibrahim Turay’s cross after replacing Abu Komeh.

Speaking to Football Sierra Leone, Bo Rangers Head Coach John Edward Keister said they are pleased to bounce back after a horrible and difficult moment (Bai Bureh Warriors defeat) from Port Loko. We are just happy to win here.

“We play the way we train and we are just trying to win Matches, every football Match we are going to is not different so this is not different as well.”

“People sometimes talk about Bo Rangers which they don’t know, I was Born in Bo and I happy to play my own part in the development of the team and am here to make my own contribution,” He noted.

Mighty Blackpool are on a six-game run without a win, securing only a point. However, Tis Tas Boys head coach Alusine Bala Kargbo referred to it as unfortunate and promised to turn things around in the not-too-distant future.

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Senegal to start AFCON title defence against the Gambia
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Senegal to start AFCON title defence against the Gambia

Senegal has rallied their troops as they set to compete in their 17th Africa Cup of Nations – head Coach Aliou Cisse’s squad ready to defend the title in Cote d’Ivoire.

The Teranga Lions must overcome competition in Group C with Gambia, Guinea, and Cameroon for a place in the knockout stages. 

They will kick off their title defence against The Gambia on Monday, 15 January, before the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. Their final group tie is against Guinea’s Syli National 1976 runners-up on January 23rd at the Stade Charles Konan Banny de Yamoussoukro.

Aliou Cisse, the coach of Senegal, has named his 27-man squad to defend the title in Cote d’Ivoire 2023, which they won in Cameroon 2021.

However, key striker Sadio Mane believes that the Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire 2023, will be the toughest compared to previous editions.

“We know it won’t be easy but we will be there to do our best and try to go through every round. We are expecting a tough competition,” Mane said.

“This competition will be one of the strongest since I started playing in it because all the big countries are here and they all have their targets, but we will see what will happen,” the former Liverpool star noted.

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Algeria eye third continental title after naming squad
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Algeria eye third continental title after naming squad

Algeria won the tournament in 2019 and has set their sights on their third title after head coach Djamel Belmadi announced his final 26-man squad for the upcoming AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast next month.

The Desert Warriors set to compete against Angola, Burkina Faso and Mauritania in Group D for a place in the knockout stages.

In Cameroon, for the Africa Cup of Nations, they were knocked out of the group stage despite coming into the competition as the favourites. 

Riyad Mahrez is one of their biggest threat. He won the treble with Man City before moving to Saudi Arabia in the summer. West Ham winger Said Benrahma is the only big name missing.

Youcef Atal, presently on trial in France accused of inciting hatred, has been selected in Algeria’s Africa Cup of Nations squad by head coach Djamel Belmadi.

The 27-year-old defender has not played for his Ligue 1 side Nice since mid-October after he caused a furore by posting a video in which a Palestinian preacher purportedly threatened Israel with a “black day”.

Wilfred Zaha out, Pepe & Sebastien Haller recall to Ivory Coast squad
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Wilfred Zaha out, Pepe & Haller recall to Ivory Coast squad

Ex-Cyrstal Palace winger Wilfred Zaha and Hamed Junior Traore have been left out of Ivory Coast Africa Cup of Nations sqaud as former Arsenal player Nicolas Pepe makes his return. 

French manager Jean-Louis Gasse listed two surprises with Idrissa Doumbia and Lazare Amani in his 27-man squad.

According to the Ivorian Federation, this selection will test against Sierra Leone in a friendly match on January 6, 2024, at the Laurent Pokou stadium before they take Guinea-Bissau in the tournament’s opener on January 13.

The Ivory Coast are set to compete against Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea in Group A next month. 

French manager Jean-Louis Gasset has named Borussia Dortmund striker Sebastien Haller, Monaco defender Wilfried Singo, and midfielders Ibrahim Sangare of Premier League side Nottingham Forest, Seko Fofana (Al Nassr) and Franck Kesslie (Al Ahli).

Zaha, 31, made his Ivory Coast debut against Sweden in a friendly in Abu Dhabi on 8 January 2017 and was part of the squad in Cameroon 2021 AFCON.

The full final list of Côte d’Ivoire AFCON 2023 Squad

Goalkeepers: Fofana Yahia, Charles Folly, Badra Ali

Defenders: Serge Aurier, Willy Boly, Chester Diallo, Ousmane Diomandé, Odilon Kossounou, Evan Ndicka, Ghislain Konan, Wilfried Singo

Midfielders: Ibrahim Sangaré, Doumbia Idrissa, Franck Kessié, Jean Michael Seri, Seko Fofana, Lazare Amani

Attackers: Sébastien Haller, Karim Konaté, Max-Alain Gradel, Jean-Philippe Krasso, Christian Kouamé, Jonathan Bamba, Oumar Diakité, Jérémie Boga, Nicolas Pépé, Simon Adingra.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, the writer Alie Bittar, On Twitter @bittar32, AFCON News Ivory Coast.

Mauritania to test with Tunisia ahead of AFCON opener
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mauritania to face Tunisia ahead of AFCON opener

Mauritania to kick off their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations preparations with an international friendly against Tunisia on Jan 6 before heading to the Ivory Coast for the

Mauritania gears up for their third CAF Africa Cup of Nations as Coach Amir Abdou named a 27-man provisional squad. 

The Lions of Chinguetti to begin their Nations Cup campaign against Burkina Faso in Bouake on Jan 16 before taking on Algeria and Angola in Group D.

Coach Abdou has recalled former Ligue 1 midfielder El-Hadji Ba and handed a first call-up to teenager Oumar Ngom.

It was 18 months ago Ba, 30, formerly with Racing Lens and Sunderland, last played for his country. Ba, who recently signed for Mauritanian champions FC Nouadhibou, earned him an international recall.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Namori Diaw (Tevragh Zeina), Babacar Diop (FC Nouadhibou), Babacar Niasse (En Avant Guingamp)

Defenders: Aly Abeid (UTA Arad), Lamine Ba (NK Varazdin), Khadim Diaw (Al Hilal), Nouh Mohamed El Abd (FC Nouadhibou), El Hassen Houeibib (Al Zawraa), Ibrahima Keita (TP Mazembe), Bakary Ndiaye (Al Quwa Al Jawiya), Mohamed Dellah Yali (Al Hedod)

Midfielders: El Hadji Ba, Mouhsine Bodda (both FC Nouadhibou), Bakari Camara (Villefranche-Beaujolais), Sidi Ahmed Mohamed El Abd (Nouakchott Kings), Guessouma Fofana (Doxa Katokopias), Omare Gassama (Chateauroux), Abdallahi Mahmoud (Bellinzona), Oumar Ngom (Pau). 

Forwards: Souleymane Anne (KMSK Deinze), Pape Ibnou Ba (Concarneau), Amar Sidi Bouna (FC Nouadhibou), Souleymane Doukara (Magusa Turk Gucu), Aboubakar Kamara (Al Jazira), Aboubakaray Koita (St Truiden), Hemeya Tanji (Ai Ittihad Tripoli), Idrissa Thiam (Al Mesaimeer).

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, African News, Mauritania and AFCON News. 

Al Ahly, Zamalek & three other Egyptian clubs eye Sierra Leone's Mohamed Kabia
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Al Ahly, Zamalek & others eye Sierra Leone’s Mohamed Kabia 

About five Egyptian clubs are interested in Sierra Leone International Mohamed Kabia, who is presently in Cairo, Egypt. 

Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Pyramid are all eyeing the service of the midfielder because of his potential. The other clubs are ZED FC and Ceramica Cleopatra Club.

Kabia. 20, who can play midfield and defence, arrived in Egypt on Sunday evening and will try with all five clubs in the Egyptian top tier and possibly sign by the end of next week, Football Sierra Leone understands.

The versatile player made his Sierra Leone debut in the 1-1 draw against Benin during the International friendly played in Khouribga, Morocco, in October. 

He played a pivotal role in the goalless draw against Ethiopia in the opening 2026 World Cup Group A qualifier at the Stade El Abdi last Month.

The former Mbabane Swallow and Denver Sundowns player must impress in Egypt as he will train with these clubs in an attempt for a deal.

Kabia, who has won four caps with the Sierra Leone senior national team, scored eight goals and eleven assists for Mbabane Swallow in Eswatini’s top-tier league.

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