Category: Football Africa

Victor Osimhen nets as Galatasaray bow out of Euroepa League
by FSL News

Victor Osimhen nets as Galatasaray bow out of Europa League

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen found the back of the net for Galatasaray in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League matchup against AZ Alkmaar.

However, his effort was not enough to secure advancement, as the match concluded in a 2-2 draw, resulting in a 6-3 aggregate defeat that eliminated Galatasaray from the tournament.

The match, held at the vibrant RAMS Park on Thursday evening, showcased a gripping contest. AZ Alkmaar, guided by coach Maarten Martens, sealed their place in the Round of 16 after their earlier 4-1 victory in the first leg in Alkmaar.

In the second leg, Seiya Maikuma opened the scoring for AZ, followed by Denso Kasius, who extended their lead. Galatasaray fought back with goals from Victor Osimhen and Roland Sallai, but despite their resilience, they couldn’t overturn the deficit.

The draw meant that AZ Alkmaar advanced to the next stage of the competition, much to the disappointment of the home crowd.

Benin with first-leg advantage against Sierra Leone in WAFCON qualifiers
by Football Sierra Leone

Benin beat Sierra Leone in first-leg WAFCON qualifiers

The Sierra Queens of Sierra Leone suffered a 2-1 defeat to Benin at the Kégué Stadium on Thursday in the first leg of the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations 2026 qualifiers.

Benin’s captain Aude Gbedjissi scored a brace, with her first goal coming in the 23rd minute after receiving a solid pass from the left. She skilfully manoeuvred past the Sierra Leone goalkeeper to open the scoring.

Benin started brightly and could have scored more in the first 15 minutes, but they missed a couple of chances.

The Sierra Queens equalized in the 35th minute when Kadiatu Kamara capitalized on a corner play, striking the ball long over the Benin goalkeeper.

However, the home side quickly responded and regained their one-goal lead after being awarded a penalty in the 44th minute. The Benin captain converted the penalty for her second goal, ending the first half with a 2-1 advantage for her team.

After the recess, both teams struggled to take control of the tie with scrappy football, as there were no goals in the second forty minutes.

Sierra Queens will host their counterparts on Monday at the Liberian Capital for a place in the second round. The overall winner between Benin and Sierra Leone in this first round of matches will advance to face Nigeria’s Super Falcons in the second round.

The final phase of the competition is divided into three groups, each consisting of four teams. The top two teams from each group will directly qualify for the quarter-finals, along with the two best third-placed teams.

From this stage onward, the competition follows a knockout format leading up to the final, where the winner will be crowned.

The 2026 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations is the 16th edition of this tournament, bringing together the best women’s football teams in Africa.

Second Round

● M33 & M34: Angola – Zimbabwe vs. Malawi 

● M35 & M36: Botswana – DR Congo vs. South Africa

● M37 & M38: Tanzania – Equatorial Guinea vs. Uganda – Ethiopia

● M39 & M40: Eswatini – Namibia vs. Zambia

● M41 & M42: Burundi – Burkina Faso vs. Djibouti – Togo

● M43 & M44: South Sudan – Algeria vs. Cameroon

● M45 & M46: Rwanda – Egypt vs. Ghana

● M47 & M48: Kenya – Tunisia vs. Niger – Gambia

● M49 & M50: Benin – Sierra Leone vs. Nigeria

● M51 & M52: Guinea – Cape Verde vs. Gabon – Mali

● M53 & M54: Chad – Senegal vs. Ivory Coast

Osman Kakay trains with new Boavista teammates
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Osman Kakay trains with new Boavista teammates

Sierra Leone International Osman Kakay completed his first training session with new Boavista teammates after he joined the club as a free agent. He joined the team last week and is excited to get started.

Boavista suffered a 1-0 defeat to Estrela da Amadora on Friday but the Sierra Leone International was on the stands watching his new teammates.

“I can’t wait to get started and enjoy playing football again.” Boavista is a well-known club, and even though it’s been a long time since I last played, I’ve had the chance to reflect and train I believe now is the right time to return,” Kakay noted.

Meanwhile, Abdoulay Diaby has signed with Boavista until the end of this season.

The 33-year-old forward from Mali has a strong background in European football. He has played for clubs like Lille in France, Sporting in Portugal, Besiktas in Turkey, Getafe in Spain, and Anderlecht in Belgium. Last season, he was with Pendikspor in Turkey, making 28 appearances.

Diaby has also played for the Mali national team, scoring six goals in 24 games.

Osman Kakay was in training with his new Boavista teammates
Osman Kakay was in training with his new Boavista teammates
Discussing tactics with new teammates after joining the Portuguese top-flight side
Discussing tactics with new teammates after joining the Portuguese top-flight side
Guinea's Guirassy misses penalty in Champions League Sporting stalemate
by Football Sierra Leone

Guinea’s Guirassy Misses Penalty in Champions League Sporting Stalemate | African Football News

Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy, who is the top scorer in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League with ten goals, missed a penalty as they shared spoils with Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday evening.

Borussia Dortmund advanced to the last 16 of the Champions League after a 0-0 draw with Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday, winning 3-0 on aggregate.

Serhou Guirassy missed a second-half penalty, but it did not affect the outcome, as Dortmund faced little challenge from Sporting.

Dortmund will face either Aston Villa or Lille next. Coach Niko Kovac said, “It was a controlled performance,” noting the missed penalty and a shot that hit the post from Giovanni Reyna.

Sporting struggled to recover from their loss in the first leg, where Guirassy, Pascal Gross, and Karim Adeyemi scored.

Dortmund dominated much of the match in cold weather. Sabitzer nearly opened the scoring with a long-range shot, but Sporting goalkeeper Rui Silva made a great save.

In the second half, a penalty was awarded to Dortmund after Adeyemi was fouled, but Guirassy’s shot was saved again by Silva.

Reyna hit the post shortly after coming on, but Dortmund created few chances, and Sporting had no shots on target. Ultimately, Sporting lacked the drive to turn the tie around, allowing Dortmund to progress easily.

Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini blasts Africa's best player Lookman
by FSL News

Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini unhappy with Africa’s best player Lookman

Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini commented on striker Ademola Lookman’s performance following the team’s 3-1 defeat to Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League, resulting in a 5-2 aggregate loss.

Lookman scored early in the second half, but he was unable to convert his second chance after a penalty attempt was saved by Brugge goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.

Gasperini expressed concerns about Lookman’s ability as a penalty taker, stating he is “one of the least effective” he has seen. He suggested that offensive midfielder Charles De Ketelaere or striker Mateo Retegui should have taken the penalty instead.

“Lookman was not intended to take that penalty; he has a notably poor record in both games and training. He seized the opportunity after scoring, but I did not find that decision appropriate,” Gasperini noted.

He also addressed the conduct of Atalanta captain Rafael Tolói, who received a red card for an incident with Maxim De Cuyper. “This was an unfortunate occurrence, and we must maintain composure at all times,” he emphasized.

Atalanta, currently third in Serie A, became the second Italian team to exit the Champions League, following AC Milan, who lost 2-1 on aggregate to Feyenoord.

Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban to Warriors of Zimbabwe v Benin
by Football Sierra Leone

Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban to host Warriors of Zimbabwe v Benin  

Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has not met its goals after announcing that the Moses Mabhida Stadium will host the national team’s 2026 World Cup qualifier against Benin.

As a result, ZIFA confirmed that coach Michael Nees’ team will play against the Cheetahs at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on March 20. They hope to secure their first win in Group C of the qualifiers for the World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States in 2026.

ZIFA’s new president, Nqobile Magwizi, had promised that the National Sports Stadium would be the home venue for the Warriors’ matches this year. However, the Harare stadium is still being renovated to meet FIFA’s requirements. This includes adding electronic turnstiles, bucket seats, standard changing rooms, and electronic screens.

Since the FIFA ban on ZIFA was lifted in July 2023, Zimbabwe has had to play its international matches outside the country. The team has used venues in Malawi, South Africa, and Uganda.

ZIFA stated, “The Zimbabwe Senior Men’s National Team, the Warriors, will play their Matchday 5, Group C, FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Benin at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africa.”

The organization added, “ZIFA had originally planned to hold this match in Polokwane, but after it was allocated to Bafana Bafana in January, we had to look for other venues.”

Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned Adel Amrouche's CAF suspension
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Court of Arbitration for Sport overturns Adel Amrouche’s CAF suspension

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has removed the suspension that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) placed on Algerian coach Adel Amrouche during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

At the time, Amrouche coached Tanzania and made public claims against the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) during the tournament in Côte d’Ivoire. His comments followed Tanzania’s 3-0 loss to Morocco, where he criticized Morocco’s influence on CAF’s decisions.

“The Moroccan Federation is a strong power in African football. In our last match against Morocco, they forced us to play in the evening when we wanted to play in the early afternoon,” Amrouche said. He also stated, “Morocco currently controls African football. They choose the referees, and we are just spectators,” the 55-year-old coach added.

After his remarks, CAF suspended Amrouche for eight matches, and the Tanzanian Football Federation fired him. This decision caused controversy, with many people questioning whether the punishment was too harsh.

More than a year later, CAS ruled in favor of Amrouche, cancelling the suspension and awarding him $3,336.45 in compensation from CAF.

This ruling is a big win for the Algerian coach, who feels relieved to have his reputation restored. The decision helps him close a difficult chapter in his career, allowing him to move on without the weight of the suspension.

For Amrouche, this ruling is not just about the money; it is also about regaining his place in the football world.

Ivory Coast forward Amad Diallo out for the rest of the season
by FSL News

Ivory Coast forward Amad Diallo out for the rest of the season with ankle injury

Ivory Coast and Manchester United forward Amad Diallo will miss the rest of the season because of ankle ligament damage, according to Manchester United’s manager Ruben Amorim.

The 22-year-old player from Ivory Coast posted on Instagram on Saturday to confirm his injury.

“I’m extremely disappointed to write this message at such an important time in the season,” Diallo said.

“Unfortunately, I will be out for some time due to this injury. I will come back stronger than ever! Now it’s time to support the boys from the sidelines. There is still a lot to play for.”

After Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Tottenham, Amorim said, “Amad is definitely out for the rest of the season.

“Amad was alone when he got injured. He was making a tackle, and his foot got stuck in the grass. Some players felt unwell during training too, so it’s been a tough situation. Sometimes, everything seems to go wrong, but we need to face this challenge and focus on the next game. That’s all we can do.”

Diallo has been a standout player for United this season, scoring six goals in his last 14 games.

https://twitter.com/Amaddiallo_19/status/1890827336171335967

Chinese side Chengdu Rongcheng unveil Sierra Leone winger Issa Kallon
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Chinese side Chengdu Rongcheng unveil Sierra Leone winger Issa Kallon

Chinese Super League last season’s third-place side Chengdu Rongcheng has unveiled Sierra Leone winger Issa Kallon.

Kallon confirmed that he has reached an agreement for a two-year contract with Chengdu Rongcheng and is prepared for the upcoming Chinese Super League campaign.

The 29-year-old, who joined Shanghai Port from the Dutch club Cambuur in 2022, is embarking on a new chapter in his career after departing Nantong Zhiyun.

The Chinse Super League is set to kick start this week as Chengdu Rongcheng open its campaign against Wuhan Three Towns on Saturday.

The Sierra Leone International recorded seven goals and eight assists in 45 appearances for Shanghai Port when they won the title before moving to join Nantong Zhiyun in 2024, scoring five goals & two assists in 22 matches.

He scored on his debut for Nantong Zhiyun in the Chinese Super League opening game of the 2024/2025 season. Nantong Zhiyun played away from Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw in March last year.

He equalizer for Nantong Zhiyun in the 67th minute. He received a pass and slotted the ball at the bottom right of the net.

Kallon had joined Nantong Zhiyun after winning the title of last season with Shanghai Port. 

He started his football career as a youth exponent from FC Utrecht and made his Eredivisie debut on 24th August 2014 in a 1-2 away win against Feyenoord on 24 August 2014 in a 1–2 away win against Feyenoord.

Burkinabé winger Dango Ouattara records his ninth goal of the season
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Burkinabé winger Dango Ouattara records his ninth goal of the season

Burkinabé winger Dango Ouattara recorded his night of the Premier League season as Bournemouth reached another significant milestone in their commendable 2024/25 campaign by completing their first league double over local rivals Southampton on Saturday.

Dango Ouattara, who previously scored in the 3-1 victory against Southampton at the Vitality Stadium in September, initiated the scoring with a glancing header in the 14th minute.

Barely two minutes later, the passionate away supporters witnessed a second goal as Ryan Christie expertly placed a remarkable 25-yard shot beyond former Bournemouth goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

Although Kamaldeen Sulemana managed to reduce the deficit in the 72nd minute, Marcus Tavernier, who came off the bench, concluded the match with an impressive strike seven minutes before the final whistle.

This victory has elevated Andoni Iraola’s team to fifth place in the league standings and has further extended their club-record unbeaten streak in away Premier League matches to seven.

During this impressive run, they have secured victories against Wolves, Ipswich, Manchester United, and Newcastle, in addition to drawing with Fulham and Chelsea.