Category: Football Africa

CAF unveil seedings for Cote d’Ivoire 2023 draw
by FSL News

CAF unveil seedings for Cote d’Ivoire 2023 draw

The Confederation of African Football, CAF, has unveiled seedings for the Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire 2023 official Draw set for Abidjan on 12 October 2023.

The seedings were based on the latest FIFA Rankings – as all 24 qualified teams were allocated to four pots. CAF noted that four points will be used for the draw.

Pot 1 – as expected, hosts Cote d’Ivoire together with the continent’s highest ranked nations: Morocco, who were semi-finalists at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar 2022; current African Champions Senegal, 2004 champions Tunisia – 2019 champions Algeria – and record-time champions Egypt.

Second best-ranked teams are in Pot 2 – Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, Democratic Republic of Congo and Burkina Faso.

Pot 3 includes South Africa, Cape Verde, Guinea, Zambia, Equatorial Guinea and Mauritania.

Pot 4 has Guinea Bissau, Namibia, Mozambique, Angola, Gambia and Tanzania.

Cote d’Ivoire to host the 34th edition of the biennial competition from January 13 to February 11.

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CAF unveil seedings for Ivory Coast 2023 draw next month
CAF unveil seedings for Ivory Coast 2023 draw next month
Hafia prepares for Wydad's Champions League away cracker
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Hafia prepares for Wydad’s Champions League away cracker

Guinean side Hafia FC continues their preparation for the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League second round second leg in Morocco next Saturday.

The North Africans have dominated the Inter-club competition in the last decade. Having won it in 2022, Wydad will make it a cracking showdown for the West African side.

Hafia FC came from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw in their first leg against Wydad Casablanca at the General Lansana Conté de Nongo Stadium on Sunday.

Wydad took the lead after Bouly Junior’s header from a free kick in the 8th minute. The home side levelled the scoreline through Mohamed Damaro Camara just before the break. 

In the second half, both teams were unable to find the winner to set up a very tough second-leg cracker.

Last season’s runners-up, Wydad Casablanca, to host the return fixture in Morocco on the 30th for a place in the group stages.

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First-leg scoreline between Hafia and Wydad Athletic Club
First-leg scoreline between Hafia and Wydad Athletic Club
Sierra Leone hit new low in latest Fifa ranking
by FSL News

Sierra Leone hit new low in latest Fifa ranking

Sierra Leone’s Leone Stars have plummeted four places from 120 in July to 124 in the latest Fifa men’s ranking for September released on Thursday.

John Keister’s side suffered a 2-1 defeat to Guinea-Bissau as they wrapped up the African Cup Nations qualifiers.

Despite Sierra Leone’s early goal, the Djurtus Wild Dogs of Bissau defeated Sierra Leone 2-1 at the Estádio 24 de Setembro to defeat their visitors as they wrap up the AFCON 2023 qualifiers.

Sierra Leone’s best rank was when they moved to 50th place in the FIFA World Rankings and 7th in Africa – their highest ever placing on 14 Aug 2014 under the supervision of Irish coach Jonny Mckinstry.

In Africa, The Carthage Eagles of Morocco are the best-ranked team. Senegal’s Terangha Lions of Senegal, Carthage Eagles of Tunisia, D

The foxes of Algeria and the Pharaohs of Egypt make the top five.

World champions Argentina retained their number one position on the ranking. France, Brazil, England and Belgium complete the top five teams in the world.

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Sierra Leone hit new low in latest Fifa ranking after Guinea-Bissau defeat
Sierra Leone hit new low in latest Fifa ranking after Guinea-Bissau defeat
Middlesbrough confirm Alex Bangura's hamstring injury
by FSL News

Middlesbrough confirm Alex Bangura’s hamstring injury

Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick has revealed new acquisition Alex Bangura suffered a hamstring injury on his debut. (Alex Bangura of Middlesbrough (Image: Gareth Evans/News Images)

On Saturday, Sierra Leone International Alex Bangura made his Middlesbrough debut in their 2-1 defeat against Blackburn Rovers at Edwood Park.

The left-back was forced in the 68th minute in Saturday’s defeat as he missed the Middlesbrough Championship 1-1 draw against Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday.

Carrick said after Tuesday’s draw, “It is a hamstring injury that Alex has picked up. We’re still assessing that one in terms of how bad it is, but obviously he wasn’t right for tonight.”

After his Boro debut, his manager Carrick had said that he hoped it would just be a cramp as they were waiting for test results when he last spoke to the media ahead of Tuesday evening’s trip to Hillsborough.

Alex Bangura Middlesbrough FC English Championship

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Alex Bangura suffers debut injury
Alex Bangura suffers debut injury
No Werder Bremen deal for Kallum Cesay after trials
by FSL News

No Werder Bremen’s deal for Kallum Cesay after trial

Werder Bremen chief Clemens Fritz has revealed to Kallum Cesay‘s agent that the club will not sign the player after trials last week. (Photo: nordphoto GmbH / Kokenge)

The German club want to strengthen their right-back position as the former Tottenham youth defender Kallum Cesay was on test.

Cesay, 21, was released by the London club at the end of the season, still in search of a new destination in club football. 

On Tuesday, Bremen informed the player and his agent that they were not planning to work with him.

Professional boss Clemens Fritz told BILD: “After long considerations, we decided against a commitment. Kallum made a good contribution to the days, both physically and personally, and gave his all. But he is still a long way from the Bundesliga. 

He added, “Using him primarily in the U23 would have made no sense. We didn’t want to harm any of our boys who we want to develop.”

The Sierra Leone national player with four caps has now left Bremen.

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Head coach Peter Bosz named Isaac Babadi in his 22-man PSV squad for Group B match in the UEFA Champions League.
by FSL News

Isaac Babadi in PSV squad for Arsenal Champions League opener

Head coach Peter Bosz named Isaac Babadi in his 22-man PSV squad for the Group B match in the UEFA Champions League.

Babadi, 18, could feature against Arsenal as PSV Eindhoven takes on the London Club in their Champions League Group B at the Emirates Stadium this evening. 

The youngster trained with the PSV 22-man squad at the Emirates ahead of their first group-stage game of the campaign. On the 8th of August, he scored his first PSV Champions League goal in their 4-1 win over Sturm Graz.

For the first time in five years, PSV will play in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. Last year, both clubs also played against each other, when the English came out on top. 

Today’s tie will be the fifth meeting between Arsenal FC and PSV in a European competition. It has been a while since the last time PSV won an away match against an English club in the UEFA Champions League. 

Visiting Newcastle United in the 1997-1998 season, PSV took the three points back to Eindhoven after a 2-0 win. Luc Nilis and Gilles de Bilde were responsible for the goals. 

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Isaac Babadi trains with PSV squad at the Emirates in London on Tuesday
Isaac Babadi trains with PSV squad at the Emirates in London on Tuesday
Attacker Augustus Kargbo was delighted to open his Cesena account
by FSL News

Augustus Kargbo was delighted to open his Cesena account

Sierra Leone International Augustus Kargbo was delighted to get off the mark after opening his account for Serie C side Cesena FC.

The attacker, who signed for The White and Blacks a few days ago on a three-year deal, scored the third goal in their 3-1 win on Friday.

Kargbo scored his first as Cesena registered a 3-1 win over Pontedera on Friday in the Lepro League round three.

“I’m happy to have been able to lend a hand to the team. I don’t know how many times I’ve thanked Cristian Shpendi for the assist, he’s a golden boy and he made himself available to the group,” Kargbo said in his post-match Interview.

“I’m happy with our perfomance.” Kargbo underlines the importance of the group: “We are a family – I found wonderful guys and I get along well with everyone.”

He added, “Roberto and I have established a good relationship. We were in the room together, and we talked about the match. I get along well with everyone.”

He was part of the Sierra Leone side that suffered a 2-1 defeat against Guinea-Bissau in the African Cup of Nations final Group A qualifier on Monday in Bissau.

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Forest Green suffer Fankaty Dabo's injury blow
by FSL News

Forest Green suffer Fankaty Dabo’s injury blow

Forest Green suffered Fankaty Dabo’s injury blow on Saturday during their League Two match. 

Rovers suffered a double blow after they fell to an unfortunate 2-1 defeat at home to Doncaster Rovers at The New Lawn. 

In addition, new acquisition Dabo’s afternoon was cut short, with the defender forced off with an injury after just eight minutes – and replaced by Dom Bernard.

The former Coventry defender joined Forest Green Rovers and has signed former Coventry City full-back Fankaty Dabo.

The 27-year-old made 131 appearances for the Sky Blues in four years before leaving the Championship club earlier this summer.

He came through Chelsea’s youth ranks and had stints on loan at Swindon Town, Vitesse Arnhem and Sparta Rotterdam during his time with the Blues.

The club will wait to know the extent of his injury as they prepare for Notts Country away trip this weekend.

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Josh Koroma opens season's account in win over Rotherham
by FSL News

Josh Koroma opens season’s account in win over Rotherham

Sierra Leone native Josh Koroma was on target as Huddersfield Town defeated Rotherham United 2-0 at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Josh Koroma, who was making his sixth appearance, recorded his first of the new campaign in the 18th minute before Sorba Thomas scored the second as Huddersfield made it back-to-back Sky Bet Championship victories with a 2-0 Yorkshire derby win over Rotherham.

Thomas made the first goal for Koroma before capping an inspirational display with a goal of his own to put the game to bed 20 minutes from the end.

The Millers are still searching for a first away win this season as Neil Warnock got the better of his former employers at John Smith’s Stadium.

They’ll host Stoke City at the John Smith’s Stadium for the second time this week, in match day seven of the Sky Bet Championship.

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CAF Confed Cup first leg narrow defeat for FC Kallon
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

CAF Confed Cup first leg narrow defeat for FC Kallon 

On Friday, Sierra Leone CAF Confederation Cup representative FC Kallon suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Dreams FC at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The host Dreams FC took the lead in the 11th minute through Atuaheme Godfred in the Second round first leg, but after half an hour, the visitors drew parity through Daniel Karim just before the break.

After an hour of the restart, Dreams took the lead through a penalty kick that was awarded and converted by John Antwi Duku in the 70th minute as they edged their visitors.

It’s all to play for in the second round second leg as Kallon will look to surpass last season when they were eliminated in this stage by FC Future of Egypt.

Ex-Sierra Leone skipper Umaru Bangura made his FC Kallon debut in the CAF Confederation Cup against Dreams FC at the Accra Sports Stadium. 

Bangura skippered the Kallon side, probing to make the competition group stage for the first time in their history.

Dreams reached this competition stage after a 3-2 aggregate victory over Milo Fc of Guinea.

The former Inter Milan and Monaco was the coach of his club (FC Kallon) in the CAF inter-clubs Confederation Cup last September when they progressed to the second qualifying stage of the competition. 

Under his guidance, they eliminated Buffles de Borgou of Benin 4-0 on aggregate – but they suffered a heavy defeat to the Egyptian side FC Future over the two legs in the second preliminary round.

The second preliminary round of return fixtures is on 29 September 2023, as Karim Zito’s side face an uphill task away from home.

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