Category: Football Africa

Young prospect Mohamed Kader Meïté pens first pro contract
by Football Sierra Leone

Young prospect Mohamed Kader Meïté pens first pro contract

Seventeen-year-old Mohamed Kader Meïté has signed his first professional contract with Ligue 1 club Stade Rennais, marking an important step in his career.

Meïté, who also plays for France’s U17 team, will stay with the club until 2028. This move reflects the club’s belief in his talent and commitment to developing young players.

After signing, Meïté expressed his happiness, saying, “I feel a lot of joy; it’s a childhood dream come true. I will work hard to repay the trust placed in me. My goals are to improve and score goals.”

Meïté has impressed the youth teams with his skills and ambition. Stade Rennais is excited to see how he performs in professional football.

The club is exploring changes to its coaching staff and may consider Senegalese manager Habib Beye, who recently led Red Star FC to promotion.

With his contract secure, Meïté aims to contribute to the club’s success, working hard to help Rennes achieve its goals. Supporters and club officials will watch his progress closely, hoping he follows in the footsteps of successful players.

Malawi sacked head coach Patrick Mabedi after a poor run
by FSL News

Malawi sacked head coach Patrick Mabedi after poor qualifying results

Patrick Mabedi has been removed from his position as coach of the Malawi national team. This decision was reached after failing to win any of his last four Afcon qualifying matches.

The final straw was a recent 0-1 loss at home to Senegal, which ended the Flames’ chances of qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals.

The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) announced Mabedi’s departure following five straight losses in all competitions. They made this decision based on recommendations from the Technical Committee due to the poor performance of the Flames team and their failure to qualify for the Afcon 2025.

FAM had hired Mabedi as the Flames coach last October on a two-year contract. He had performed well in a caretaker role, with three wins, two draws, and two losses after taking over from Mario Marinica, whose contract was not renewed in April 2023.

Under Mabedi’s leadership, the team struggled, recording two wins, one draw, and eight losses in 11 matches.

He lost support after dropping experienced players and left the Flames at the bottom of Group L in the AFCON qualifiers, having earned no points in four matches. Senegal has already secured a spot in the upcoming AFCON finals after defeating the Flames.

The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has appointed Kalisto Pasuwa as the Malawi national football team’s interim head coach with immediate effect.

Guinea's Syli National ready for DRC and Tanzania deciders
by Football Sierra Leone

Guinea’s Syli National ready for DRC and Tanzania deciders

Guinea’s national football team, known as Syli National, is currently in second place in Group H after four qualifying matches.

After defeating Ethiopia 4-1 and Guinea 3-0 at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan, the Syli National team looks set to qualify for Morocco 2025.

Coach Michel Dussuyer has called up 23 players for the upcoming matches on the 5th and 6th days of the TotalEnergies Maroc 2025 qualifiers.

The team will host the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on November 16, 2024, at the Stade Alhassane Ouattara Ebimpe for the fifth qualifying match.

Then, they will travel to Dar es Salaam to face Tanzania on November 19, 2024, for the sixth and final match of this qualifying campaign.

In Group H, Guinea sits in second place with six points, while Tanzania is in third place with four points. Ethiopia is at the bottom of the table with just one point, and the DRC is leading with twelve points.

CHAN: South Sudan, Sudan, Togo and Eswatini secure progress
by Football Sierra Leone

CHAN: South Sudan, Sudan, Togo and Eswatini secure progress

The first round of the 2024 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers concluded this weekend, with several teams progressing to the next stage, according to CAF.

South Sudan v Kenya – South Sudan qualified after a 1-1 draw with Kenya, finishing the tie with an aggregate score of 3-1 following a 2-0 victory in the first leg. They will face Rwanda in December.

Sudan v Tanzania – Sudan progressed after a tense penalty shootout against Tanzania. They won the first leg 1-0 but conceded in the second leg, levelling the aggregate score. Sudan won the shootout 6-5 to advance.

Eswatini Dominates Zimbabwe

Eswatini eliminated Zimbabwe with a 4-0 aggregate score. After a 3-0 win in the first leg, they secured a 1-0 victory in the return leg.

Togo Survives Against Benin  

Togo advanced after a 1-1 draw with Benin, finishing with a 3-1 aggregate following a 2-0 first-leg victory.

Namibia vs. Lesotho

In a tied aggregate of 1-1, Namibia was eliminated by Lesotho after a 4-3 penalty shootout loss.

Second Round Qualifying Dates

The second qualifying round is scheduled for December 20-22 and December 27-29, with the tournament hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from February 1-28, 2025.

Cape Town to host South Africa AFCON qualifier against South Sudan
by Football Sierra Leone

Cape Town to host South Africa AFCON qualifier against South Sudan

Bafana Bafana will return to Cape Town for the first time in nine years, as South Africa’s final qualifier for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals is set to take place there.

The crucial match will take place on Tuesday, November 19, at Cape Town Stadium, coinciding with the final day of qualifiers for the 2025 finals.

South Africa has not yet qualified for the finals in Morocco but is in a good position with two matches left in Group K. A win against Uganda on Friday, November 15, in Kampala would secure their spot. If they lose, they can still qualify by facing South Sudan in Cape Town.

This match will mark South Africa’s twelfth international game in Cape Town and only the third qualifying match. They previously won a World Cup qualifier against the Central African Republic in 2013 but lost 3-1 to Zambia in a Cup of Nations qualifier in 2007.

Countries that cannot host matches will use South African stadiums for qualifiers. Namibia and Zimbabwe will play at Orlando Stadium in Soweto, and Lesotho has moved its match against the Central African Republic to Bloemfontein.

Madagascar will host Tunisia at Johannesburg Stadium, while Eswatini will face Guinea-Bissau at Mbombela Stadium on November 15.

Ghana's Antoine Semenyo helps Bournemouth stun City
by FSL News

Ghana’s Antoine Semenyo helps Bournemouth stun City

Ghana International Bournemouth Antoine Semenyo scored against Manchester City as Bournemouth registered its fourth Premier League win. Goals from Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson gave the club their first victory over the Premier League champions.

Manchester City’s unbeaten streak of 32 games in the competition, which started on December 6, 2023, ended with this result.

This defeat was also City’s second in four days, following their loss to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup. Bournemouth played well, picking up four points from their last two games against Aston Villa and Arsenal. They began the match quickly and positively.

Goalkeeper Ederson made a double save within just two minutes, stopping shots from Semenyo and Justin Kluivert.

Bournemouth kept pressing and scored in the ninth minute when Milos Kerkez cut the ball back from the byline and Semenyo scored.

City struggled to create chances and did not have a single shot on target in the first half.

Bournemouth returned for the second half with confidence and doubled their lead through Evanilson before City pulled a goal back through Joško Gvardiol in the 82nd minute. However, the home held onto their fourth win of the season.

Trevoh Chalobah scores first Crystal Palace goal against Wolves
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Trevoh Chalobah scores first Crystal Palace goal against Wolves

Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers played a 2-2 draw at Molineux. Trevoh Chalobah, on loan from Chelsea, scored his first goal for Crystal Palace in the 60th minute.

After a dull first half with few chances, the game picked up when Trevoh Chalobah scored in the 60th minute. He took advantage of a mistake by the Wolves’ defence with a low strike.

Jorgen Strand Larsen equalized by pushing the ball through Dean Henderson’s legs. Joao Gomes then scored again for Wolves, finishing well from a low cross by Goncalo Gomes.

Marc Guéhi tied the game for Palace when he tapped in a corner kick from the back post.

In the 96th minute, Jean-Philippe Mateta thought he had scored the winning goal with a loose ball. However, the referee disallowed it because of a foul on Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa during the play.

Nigerian defender Ola Aina nets stunner as Forest down West Ham
by Football Sierra Leone

Nigerian defender Ola Aina nets stunner as Forest down West Ham

Nigerian defender Ola Aina scored as Nottingham Forest achieved their third consecutive win in the Premier League, triumphing 3-0 over West Ham United at The City Ground.

Aina, 28, netted an impressive goal, marking his first of the season in ten appearances. Manager Nuno Espírito Santo made one change from the previous match, bringing back Morgan Gibbs-White from injury to replace Elliot Anderson.

Gibbs-White was key to the first goal in the 27th minute. He passed the ball to Alex Moreno, who crossed it for Chris Wood to score with a header. This was Wood’s eighth goal of the season.

Before halftime, West Ham lost a player when Edson Álvarez received a second yellow card for fouling Anthony Elanga.

In the second half, Forest took advantage of playing with one extra player and scored again. Callum Hudson-Odoi curled a shot into the far corner after a quick free-kick, making it 2-0.

Forest then scored a third goal with a stunning shot. Ola Aina struck a left-footed half-volley from the edge of the area into the top corner.

Ramón Sosa had a chance to score in added time, but his shot was saved. Despite that, it was a great day for Nottingham Forest.

Michael Essien Completes Uefa Licence in Football Management
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Michael Essien Completes Uefa Licence in Football Management

Ghanaian football legend Michael Essien has completed a UEFA Certificate in Football Management and has received his certificate.

He is now working as an assistant manager at FC Nordsjaelland, a Danish club. Essien had a great playing career, especially at Chelsea, and he wants to succeed as a manager.

Essien shared his achievement on Twitter: “Finally done with my UEFA certificate in football management journey. Thanks to all for the help. I keep learning about the beautiful game.”

The former football star, known for playing at Chelsea and Real Madrid, has earned a football management certificate while pursuing coaching qualifications.

Essien is now a talent coach for FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark’s top league, where he helps young players with his experience and knowledge.

Nigerian defender Semi Ajayi set for a long spell on the sideline
by FSL News

Nigerian defender Semi Ajayi set for long spell on the sideline

Nigerian defender Semi Ajayi injured his hamstring during the second half of West Bromwich Albion’s match against Cardiff City last weekend. Manager Carlos Corberán announced that Ajayi will be sidelined for a long time.

Ajayi will have surgery in the coming days. Corberán said, “Unfortunately, Semi has a serious injury. He has torn his muscles in two places. The club has said Semi will require surgery and is expected to be missing for around 16 weeks, while Paddy will be out for approximately eight weeks.”

He added, “The best way to treat this injury is through surgery, which will lower the risk of it happening again. Some injuries affect the tendon, and surgery is necessary. While surgery may delay recovery by about two weeks, it will also reduce the chances of re-injury.”

Players can return in around 16 weeks after this kind of surgery. Because of this injury, Ajayi will miss Nigeria’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda in November.