Category: African News

Our African football page passionately on all continental topics of all National and International football news, Identifying football heroes on our continent.

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
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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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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CAF unveils 2023 African Cup of Nations logo
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

No debutants as Africa’s giants target Cote d’Ivoire glory

The line-up for next year’s TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire is complete, with no new teams set to make their debut, CAF reports.

The 24 qualified sides feature continental heavyweights like holders Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia.

Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria and DR Congo add further star quality, alongside South Africa, Mali and Burkina Faso.

Less fancied sides such as Equatorial Guinea, Cape Verde and Gambia will look to spring a surprise.

Egypt extended their record number of AFCON appearances to 26 by qualifying again.

The Gambia remain the tournament’s least experienced side following their maiden outing last year.

Mozambique return after a six-edition absence, while Zambia are back following a run of three straight misses.

But there are no newcomers to freshen up the field at the first finals in the Cote d’Ivoire since 1984.

With a host of giants involved, competition for the title promises to be fierce when the tournament starts on 13 January.

Holders Senegal and regional powers Algeria and Nigeria are likely to be among the favourites.

But the expanded 24-team format leaves the door open for a shock winner.

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TotalEnergies AFCON 2023 24-team line-up complete
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Stage set for Cote d’Ivoire Cup of Nations 2023 final draw

All twenty-four nations set to know their group opponents on October 12 after the final draw in the Ivorian Capital of Abidjan.

Continental goliaths like Senegal, Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco and Algeria are among the big guns waiting to know their fate.

The gigantic football events in the continent will kick off in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, on 13 January 2024. CAF noted that the official draw will be held in Abidjan on 12 October 2023.

After the Indomitable Lions picked up their tickets to make it a 19th straight finals by thrashing Burundi 3-0 in Garoua to top Group C on Tuesday, the Confederation of African Football has announced the date for the official draw.

Next year’s (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire will be the 34th edition of the biennial African Association Football Tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football.

It will be hosted by Ivory Coast for the second time, having first hosted it in 1984. Senegal are the defending champions after beating Egypt in a penalty shootout last year.

Fifty-two (52) nations battle in the qualification phase, but only 24 will compete in the finals.

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No debutants as Africa's giants target Cote d'Ivoire glory
Isaac Babadi nets first Champions League goal for PSV
by FSL News

Isaac Babadi nets first Champions League goal for PSV

Sierra Leone native Isaac Babadi scored his first UEFA Champions League goal in PSV’s 4-1 win over Sturm Graz in their Third qualifying round, 1st leg on Tuesday.

The win means PSV Eindhoven is close to reaching the Champions League play-off round after a huge first-leg margin. They could face either or Servette. 

In front of the home fans at the PSV Stadion-Eindhoven, they rushed into a three-goal lead with goals from 18-year-old talent Isaac Babadi, Luuk De Jong brace in the 4th, 22nd and 32nd minutes, respectively.

The visitors pulled one back five minutes before the breakthrough of Jon Stankovic, but PSV retired their three-goal cushion in the 73rd minute through I. Sangaré. 

PSV will travel to SK Sturm Graz for next week’s r third qualifying round, 2nd leg at the Graz Liebenau-Graz Stadium, next week Tuesday. 

PSV EINDHOVEN – UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – SK STURM GRAZ – LUUK DE JONG – NOA LANG

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Mogbwemo Queens suffer Champions League opening defeat
by FSL News

Mogbwemo Queens suffer Champions League opening defeat 

Sierra Leone’s Mogbwemo Queen suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat in their CAF Women’s Champions League opener to Senegal’s AS Dakar Sacré Coeur on Monday, August 7, in the Liberia capital.

Coumba Sylla Mbodji’s late goal sealed a last-gasp victory for AS Dakar Sacré Coure against debutants Mogbwemo Queens.

The Union of West African Federations UFOA zone A tournament kickoff on Monday, August 7, 2023, in Monrovia.

In the opening match, in front of her audience, the Liberian champions Determine Girls fell heavily 3-0 to AS Made of Mali.

In the second tie of the day, AS Sacré-Coeur de Dakar got the better of Sierra Leoneans Mogbewmo Queens by a single goal from Coumba Sylla Mbodji.

Coumba Sylla Mbodji from Sacré Cœur de Dakar and Oumou Koné from AS Mande was elected Woman of the Match “Women Of the Match”.

Pending their second outings, AS Maden and AS Sacré-Coeur de Dakar have 3 points each.

As for Mogbewmo Queens and Determine Girls, they respectively occupy 3rd and 4th place with 0 points on the clock.

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Mogbwemo Queens set for Women's Champions League debut campaign
by FSL News

Mogbwemo Queens set for Women’s Champions League debut campaign

Sierra Leone’s Mogbwemo Queens fully charged to start their CAF Women’s Champions League campaign against Senegal’s AS Dakar Sacré Coeur on Monday, August 7, in the Liberia capital.

The Sierra Leone champions have announced their 22 women’s squad as they set to face Senegal’s AS Dakar Sacré Coeur.

After they won the maiden women’s title in Sierra Leone, they’re raring to show themselves in the continental stage competition against AS Dakar Sacré Coeur, AS Mande and Liberia’s Determine Girls in the qualifying race.

Having won seventeen top-tier matches, four draws, and one defeat as they scored fifty goals, without a doubt, the technical team is confident they can compete against the best in the region.

They also produce the best defensive record in the league conceding only fourteen, finishing six points above second position Kahunla Queens – eight points above third-placed Sierra Leone Police FC.

 

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