Category: Football Africa

Morocco beat 10-man Sierra Leone U20 to book Chile U20 World Cup spot
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Morocco beat 10-man Sierra Leone to book Chile U-20 World Cup spot

Morocco defeated 10-man Sierra Leone 1-0 in extra time, advancing to the semi-finals of the CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2025 and securing a spot in the Chile U20 World Cup.

The match concluded with a late own goal scored by Sierra Leone’s Amara Keita at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium in Cairo. Morocco controlled most of the match but found it difficult to break through Sierra Leone’s strong defense.

Sierra Leone, making their tournament debut, fought hard but ended up losing due to a tough break. The turning point came in the 115th minute when Keita accidentally scored an own goal while under pressure, sending Morocco into the semi-finals and qualifying them for the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile later this year.

Sierra Leone played bravely, even after being reduced to ten players during regulation time. Substitute Samba Bah received a red card in the 90th minute after a dangerous challenge, leaving his team short-handed for extra time.

Morocco had a strong chance of winning, having been unbeaten in their last 12 matches in open play at the U20 AFCON. They created several opportunities through players like Jones El Abdellaoui, Ismaël Baouf, and Adam El Mokhtari, but Sierra Leone’s goalkeeper, Mohamed Bai Kamara made several great saves.

Sierra Leone also had chances, especially from their star player Momoh Kamara, whose long shot in the 113th minute was saved well. Despite their earlier surprise victory over Egypt, Sierra Leone could not score this time.

For Morocco, this victory marks their second trip to the semi-finals since 2005 and keeps their unbeaten streak alive at the 2025 tournament. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi’s team displayed patience and skill to overcome a well-organised opponent.

Sierra Leone exits the tournament with pride, having done better than expected in their first U20 AFCON. Key players Kamara and Alpha Turay made a lasting impression. Morocco will now prepare for a semi-final match against either South Africa or DR Congo, confident in their strong defence and tactical skills.

Egypt's Mohamed Salah wins Football Writers' Award
by Football Sierra Leone

Egypt’s Mohamed Salah wins Football Writers’ Award

Egypt and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has won the Football Writers’ Association award for the best men’s  player of the season.

Salah scored 28 goals and assisted 18 times to help Liverpool win the Premier League title. He set a record for the most goal contributions in a single 38-game Premier League season.

Salah also scored three goals and assisted four times as Liverpool reached the last 16 of the Champions League. Last month, the 32-year-old signed a new two-year contract to stay at Anfield until 2027.

Salah received 90% of the votes from over 900 FWA members, the largest margin of victory this century.

His Liverpool teammate Virgil van Dijk came second, Newcastle striker Alexander Isak was third, and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice finished fourth. Salah is now one of only two players, along with Thierry Henry, to win this award three times.

CAF TSG named U20 AFCON Group Stage top scorer Momoh Kamara in the Best XI
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

CAF TSG named U20 AFCON Group Stage top scorer Momoh Kamara in the Best XI

As per the CAF Technical Study Group (TSG), Sierra Leone’s standout performer, Momoh Kamara, has been honoured in the Best XI of the group stage at the TotalEnergies U20 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2025.

In four games, the agile playmaker scored four spectacular goals, helping Sierra Leone make history by reaching the quarter-finals on their first try.

Kamara in photo alongside Walter Steenbok, former Technical Director of the South African Football Association, took all the individual awards, winning both Top Scorer and Best Player. To honour the tournament’s highlight stars, the TSG picked a 1-4-2-3-1 formation. Levison Banda of Zambia was named Best Goalkeeper; his defenders were Nigeria’s Odinaka Okoro, Daniel Bameyi, Ghana’s Dacosta Antwi, and Sierra Leone’s Nathaniel Jalloh.

South Africa’s Lazola Maku and Kenya’s Kevin Wangaya drive the game forward from midfield; Kamara is joined in the attack by Morocco’s Othmane Maamma and Zambia’s Joseph Sabobo. At the head of the line is Samuel Ntanda-Lukisa of DR Congo, whose important contributions guaranteed advancement for his team.

Mohamed Ouahbi of Morocco was chosen Best Coach for leading his team to an unbeaten group stage; Ghana earned the Fair Play Award for their discipline. Along with the recently unveiled Africa’s first FIFA Mini Pitch in Algeria, the knockout phase approaches increase the enthusiasm for these outstanding players and their countries.

CAF U20 AFCON Egypt 2025 – Group Stage Best XI (1-4-2-3-1):

Goalkeeper:

  1. Levison Banda – Zambia

Defenders:

2. Nathaniel Jalloh – Sierra Leone

3. Odinaka Okoro – Nigeria

4. Daniel Bameyi – Nigeria

5. Dacosta Antwi – Ghana

Midfielders:

6. Kevin Wangaya – Kenya

7. Lazola Maku – South Africa

8. Momoh Kamara – Sierra Leone

Forwards:

9. Joseph Sabobo – Zambia

10. Othmane Maamma – Morocco

11. Samuel Ntanda-Lukisa – DR Congo

Individual Awards (Group Stage):

🏆 Best Player: Momoh Kamara (Sierra Leone)

🥅 Best Goalkeeper: Levison Banda (Zambia)

⚽ Top Scorer: Momoh Kamara (4 goals, Sierra Leone)

👔 Best Coach: Mohamed Ouahbi (Morocco)

🏅 Fair Play Team: Ghana

CAF TSG named U20 AFCON Group Stage top scorer Momoh Kamara in the Best XI
CAF TSG named U20 AFCON Group Stage top scorer Momoh Kamara in the Best XI
The inaugural FIFA Mini Pitch in Africa has been launched in Algeria
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

First FIFA Mini Pitch In Africa Inaugurated in Algeria  

Algeria has made history by becoming the first African nation to inaugurate a FIFA Arena mini-pitch, part of FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s initiative to install 1,000 such pitches globally, supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The new facility was officially opened at Collège Malek Haddad in East Algiers, with plans for a second pitch at Ibn Joubair school in West Algiers. Together, these pitches will serve around 1,500 children from local schools and grassroots clubs, providing vital opportunities for youth engagement in sports.

The FIFA Arena project aims to establish a total of 11 mini-pitches, or “Starting Eleven,” across all six confederations. So far, pitches have launched in Georgia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Armenia, making Algeria the first African country and the fifth worldwide to benefit. The project target areas are those lacking access to sports facilities.

Infantino emphasised the project’s mission, stating, “Every child deserves a safe space that allows them to learn, to play, and to grow.” Walid Sadi, president of the Algerian Football Federation (FAF), expressed gratitude for FIFA’s support, highlighting that these mini-pitches advance school football and nurture future football talent.

Gelson Fernandes, FIFA Deputy Chief Member Association Officer, underscored the importance of this milestone for grassroots football in Algeria, stating, “In a football-passionate country like Algeria, this inauguration paves the way toward excellence. These children have the potential to become the next Mahrez or Slimani.”

Nigeria and Senegal set a date as debutant Sierra Leone battle on Morocco
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Nigeria and Senegal set a date as debutant Sierra Leone to battle Morocco

With Nigeria meeting the defending champions, Senegal, at the Suez Canal Stadium on Monday, the U20 Cup of Nations quarterfinals promise to be thrilling and a noted West African rivalry.

At the same time, tournament newcomer Sierra Leone has a difficult assignment against one of the favourites, Morocco.

Eight teams guaranteed their places in the quarterfinals of the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt after a run of exciting games on Friday, May 9.

Emerging talents all throughout the continent are highlighted in this tournament, which acts as a qualifying event for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile later this year. Besides the continental title, these young athletes are also vying for four open World Cup spots for Africa.

Egypt (hosts), DR Congo, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and South Africa are the teams moving on to the knockout stage. Monday, May 12, will see the quarterfinal matches.

With a slim 1-0 win over Tanzania at the Suez Canal Stadium, tournament hosts Egypt advanced to the quarterfinals and guaranteed their place as one of the two finest third-placed teams, alongside DR Congo.

With a 3-1 victory over the Central African Republic and a 1-1 tie against Ghana, DR Congo’s performance was sufficient to see them through.

South Africa ended up at the top in Group A, despite a 1-1 draw with neighbors Zambia. Second in that category was Sierra Leone.

Group B saw Morocco finish first; Nigeria, who came in second, will join Morocco in the knockout stages.

Defending champions Senegal also progressed, finishing second behind group leaders Ghana in Group C but edging out DR Congo on goal difference.

Exciting Quarterfinal Matches:

Promising excitement and unusual pairings, the next quarterfinals In the first quarterfinal confrontation, defending champions Senegal will take on a strong Nigeria. Hosts Egypt face a steep challenge against a sure Ghana. Having shown strong performance in the group stage, Morocco will face a Sierra Leone eager whereas the talented South Africans would have to deal with a tactically savvy DR Congo.

Top Goalscorer: Sierra Leone’s Momoh Kamara leads the scoring charts with 4 goals.

TotalEnergies CAF U-20 AFCON Egypt 2025 Quarter-Finals Fixtures

12h00 GMT | Nigeria vs Senegal

15h00 GMT | Ghana vs Egypt

15h00 GMT | Morocco vs Sierra Leone

18h00 GMT | South Africa vs DR Congo

Ghana U20 beat Central African Republic to top Group A
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ghana U20 beat Central African Republic to top Group A

Ghana U20 won a tough match against the Central African Republic (CAR) 1-0 on Thursday. This victory allowed them to top Group C and secure a spot in the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt 2025.

Joseph Opoku scored the only goal in the 84th minute at the Suez Canal Stadium. Until then, Ghana had controlled the game with most of the possession and chances, but they couldn’t score. With this result, Ghana finished the group with seven points from three matches. Senegal also advanced to the knockout stage after beating DR Congo 2-0 in another match.

CAR needed to win to move on but spent most of the game on the defensive, struggling to create chances. Ghana’s players, like Aziz Issah and Andrews Adjabeng, tried to break the deadlock, but they had trouble finishing.

The winning goal came when Joseph Aidoo made a strong run on a counterattack and passed to Opoku in the box. Opoku scored confidently, sending the Ghana bench into celebration. CAR couldn’t mount a comeback in the final minutes as Ghana controlled the game to secure their second win of the tournament.

Ghana U20 coach Desmond Ofei expressed pride in his team’s patience and tactical discipline following their progression to the knockout stage. Ghana needed only a draw to advance after previously defeating Senegal and drawing with DR Congo, while CAR ended with just one point from three matches, a drop from their 2021 quarter-final performance.

This marks the first time Ghana has gone unbeaten in the group stage since 2013, as they aim for their fifth U20 AFCON title. The final lineup for the knockout stages will be announced after all group matches conclude on Friday.

Morocco Under-20 finished their group stage with an unbeaten record, winning 3-1 against Tunisia at the Suez Canal Stadium. This victory secured the top spot in Group B of the TotalEnergies CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt 2025.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Morocco U-20 pick Cup of Nations quarter final ticket

Morocco Under-20 finished their group stage with an unbeaten record, winning 3-1 against Tunisia at the Suez Canal Stadium. This victory secured the top spot in Group B of the TotalEnergies CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt 2025.

Ayman Arguigue scored the first goal in the first half, setting the pace for Morocco. Late goals from Smail Bakhty and substitute Jones El Abdellaoui clinched the win. Tunisia briefly tied the game with an equalizer from Anis Doubal early in the second half, but they could not keep up and must now wait to see if they advance as one of the best third-placed teams.

The match was crucial for both teams, as they aimed for a knockout spot, depending on the outcome of the Nigeria vs. Kenya game, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Morocco’s victory ensured they finished first with seven points, while Nigeria came in second with five.

Morocco started strongly, putting pressure on Tunisia’s defense. Their efforts paid off just before halftime when Arguigue scored in the 44th minute after a great setup from Zahouani.

After halftime, Tunisia tied the game in the 53rd minute with a long-range goal from Doubal. However, Morocco regained the lead in the 86th minute when Bakhty scored during a goalmouth scramble, and El Abdellaoui sealed the victory with a stoppage time goal from a quick counterattack.

This win solidified Morocco’s unbeaten streak in the group stage, showcasing a strong defense and sharp attack. Tunisia, despite showing some quality, finished third with three points and a negative goal difference, and their hopes of advancing to the quarter-finals as one of the best third-placed teams are dimmed by this heavy loss.

Minnesota United FC sign Sierra Leone U20 star Momoh I Kamara on loan
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Minnesota United sign Sierra Leone U20 star Momoh I Kamara on loan

Minnesota United has confirmed a one-year loan signing of Sierra Leone’s U20 Cup of Nations star Momoh I Kamara from Mattia Football Club through December 2025, with an option to buy. Once Kamara gets his P-1 Visa, he will be joining MNUFC2.

“Momoh is an exciting young player with a natural feel for the game, capable of creating scoring threats,” said Amos Magee, MNUFC’s Head of Development. “We look forward to him joining MNUFC2 and building on his national team succes,” the club said in their statement.

Kamara expressed his excitement about joining, stating, “This is a dream come true and a significant step forward in my career. I’m ready to give my all for the fans and my teammates.”

Khaled El-Ahmad, MNUFC Chief Soccer Officer, praised the recruitment team for successfully adding talent like Kamara, Putt, and Kabia, highlighting the promising future for the club.

Momoh Kamara began his playing career at a young age with Mattia FC, where he played from 2017 to 2022. He briefly played for Diamond Stars Football Club in 2022-2023 before moving to Leixões SC B, competing with the Portuguese team from 2023 to 2024. Following his time at Leixões, he returned to Mattia FC before joining MNUFC2.

Internationally, Kamara has represented Sierra Leone at nearly every level, starting with the U17 team and progressing to the U20 and senior national teams. He is currently competing alongside MNUFC2 teammate Alpha Kabia in the 2025 U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

In the first three matches of the group stage, Kamara has scored three goals, notably a hat trick against Egypt on April 30, helping propel his country to the top of the group and secure a berth in the quarterfinals. 

The 19-year-old also made appearances for the senior team in March 2025 during two FIFA World Cup qualifier games, playing in group stage matches against Guinea-Bissau and Egypt.

VITALS

  • Momoh Kamara
  • Position: Midfielder
  • Height: 5’7”
  • Date of Birth: 5/6/2005 (19 years old)
  • Place of Birth: Kambia Town, Sierra Leone
  • Hometown: East End, Freetown, Sierra Leone
  • Previous Club: Mattia Football Club
Momoh I. Kamara has won back-to-back Man of the Match awards in the ongoing U20 AFCON
Momoh I. Kamara has won back-to-back Man of the Match awards in the ongoing U20 AFCON
Noah Makanza's brace helps DRC's U20 Improve qualification chances
by Football Sierra Leone

Noah Makanza’s brace helps DRC’s U20 Improve qualification chances

DR Congo won 3-1 against the Central African Republic (CAR) in Group C of the TotalEnergies CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations on Monday. This victory helps DR Congo’s chances of reaching the knockout stage.

Noah Makanza scored two goals, and Samuel Ntanda added a late header to secure the win at the New Suez Stadium. With this result, DR Congo now has four points after an opening 1-1 draw with Ghana.

CAR took an early lead with a goal from Raphael Nzabakomada in the 10th minute. However, DR Congo quickly responded. After missing a first-half penalty, Makanza scored to equalize just minutes later, finishing the first half at 1-1.

DR Congo started the second half strong and took the lead five minutes in when Makanza scored his second goal with a close-range shot. Ntanda then closed the match with a goal in the 59th minute, heading in a cross from Messy Manitu after a fast counterattack.

Coach Guy Bukasa had told his team to stay focused and play aggressively to beat a strong team like CAR. The players listened well and played with discipline.

In the final minutes, CAR tried to come back with several shots, but they could not get past DR Congo’s defense. This result leaves CAR with only one point after two matches, having drawn with Senegal in their first game. Their chances of moving forward now depend on their last group match.

DR Congo, however, is in a good position as they prepare for their next match against the defending champions Senegal. The Congolese team remains unbeaten in the tournament and showed better teamwork, taking more shots on target and winning more duels during the game.

Later, Senegal faced Ghana in another important match in Group C.

𝐄𝐠𝐲𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐢-𝐃𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚 𝐋𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐔𝟐𝟎 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

𝐄𝐠𝐲𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐢-𝐃𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐔𝟐𝟎 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫

As part of an instructional outreach for the U20 Cup of Nations, the Egyptian Anti-Doping Organization, EGY-NADO, working in collaboration with the Confederation of African Football, which tests, educate, and support Egyptian athletes in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Agency, recently visited the Sierra Leone and the Egyptian U-20 team.

The EGY-NADO team talked to officials and players from both teams during the visit about the dangers related to taking any kind of forbidden drug as athletes. They offered direction on how to avoid consuming banned substances or employing unauthorized techniques by outlining the rights and responsibilities of athletes.

Fair play in sports means competing based on skill and training, not using performance-enhancing drugs. Speakers warned that banned substances can cause lasting harm and stressed that strict rules are essential to maintain fairness in sports.

EGY-NADO officials cautioned medical personnel and athletes alike regarding their right to know what they were putting into their bodies. They went on to detail a few of the prohibited drugs and techniques physicians and athletes must be aware of in order to safeguard the players’ welfare.

Among the prohibited drugs are steroids, EPO/blood doping agents, stimulants, diuretics, masking agents, and Beta-2 agonists. The presentation also addressed what qualifies as a Doping Violation (ADRVs), the procedures used in doping control, and who is qualified for testing.