Category: Players Abroad News

Sierra Leone fasting growing digital football website is passionately on all topics of National and International news, identifying our soccer stars.

by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Curtis Davies nets own goal as Cheltenham beat Port Vale 

Sierra Leone’s Curtis Davies was on the score sheet as Cheltenham had to come from behind twice to secure a 3-2 home win against relegation rivals Port Vale.

It was a three-straight win for the home side as Nathan Smith’s header and Curtis Davies’ own goal put Vale ahead, but Matt Taylor, Jack Shepherd and Will Ferry scored to secure the points for Cheltenham against his former club.

Despite a disappointing own goal, Davies was making his 24th appearance of the campaign. 

Vale threatened early on, with Ethan Chislett testing Luke Southwood twice before Smith headed in Conor Grant’s corner in the 25th minute to put the visitors ahead. 

Lewis Freestone almost levelled the score before Vale goalkeeper Connor Ripley blocked George Lloyd’s effort.

Taylor equalized after a free-kick routine involving Tom Pett, scoring his third goal in four appearances since joining the club. Liam Kinsella and Taylor then came close to giving Cheltenham the lead early in the second half.

However, Vale took the lead again when Southwood parried Chislett’s shot, and Davies turned the ball into his net under pressure from James Wilson in the 65th minute. But Cheltenham responded quickly, with Shepherd scoring a superb volley four minutes later.

Ferry then secured the win in the 73rd minute, jinking past several challenges in the box before applying a neat finish for his first Cheltenham goal.

Mustapha Bundu's Plymouth in the hunt for three straight win
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mustapha Bundu’s Plymouth suffer defeat to Leeds United

Leeds United secured a win against Plymouth Argyle, reclaiming the second spot in the league.

The Sierra Leone International was subbed on in the last five minutes for his sixteenth appearance since joining the club.

Willy Gnonto’s goal set them on their way to a dominant victory, although they could have been 2-0 ahead by the break if Georginio Rutter’s deflected shot had not come back off the post.

Although Plymouth Argyle improved in the second half, they were unable to score. Leeds defended with great resilience in the atrocious conditions, keeping the hosts at arm’s length.

Rutter’s powerful low strike made it 2-0 with just under 20 minutes left, and Leeds secured their seventh clean sheet in an eight-game winning run.

Sky Bet Championship

Plymouth Argyle 0

Leeds United 2 (Gnonto 10’, Georginio 72’)

Argyle: Hazard (GK), Houghton (C) (Bundu 84’), Pleguezuelo, Whittaker, Miller (Sousa 81’), Devine, Gibson (Galloway 81’), Randell, Waine (Hardie 60’), Phillips, Sorinola (Mumba 81’). Subs not used: Burton (GK), Scarr, Edwards, Issaka.  

Leeds: Meslier (GK), Firpo, Ampadu (C), Piroe (Gelhardt 90’), Kamara, Summerville (Roberts 83’), Rodon, Gray, Georginio (Joseph 90’), Gnonto (James 76’), Gruev. Subs not used: Klaesson (GK), van den Heuvel (GK), Cresswell, Cooper, Shackleton.

Referee: Matthew Donohue 

Booked: Randell, Gibson (Plymouth) Rodon (Leeds) 

Venue: Home Park

Attendance: 16,818

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32, Players Abroad News.

Abu Kamara seals Portsmouth's win over Cambridge United
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Abu Kamara seals Portsmouth’s win over Cambridge United

Sierra Leone native Abu Kamara scored again as Portsmouth maintained their lead at the top of League One with a come-from-behind victory over Cambridge United.

The team’s 3-1 victory kept the six-point gap to second place in the League One standings unchanged.

The visiting team unexpectedly took the lead just before half-time when Danny Andrew headed in Sullay Kaikai’s corner kick, which was deemed to have crossed the line at the near post.

However, on 44 minutes, Kusini Yengi, who had returned to the starting line-up, was fouled in the box. The Australian striker picked himself up and converted from the penalty spot, sending the U’s goalkeeper Jack Stevens the wrong way.

Just before the hour mark, the game was turned around when Yengi and Paddy Lane combined down the left to set up Myles Peart-Harris, on loan from Brentford, to score his first goal for the Pompey club, with a low finish.

In the dying minutes of the game, Lane’s charge-down found Abu Kamara in space on the right side of the field, and the Norwich City loanee curled in a superb angled shot that went past Stevens and hit the underside of the crossbar before going in. This was Kamara’s sixth goal of the season.

Pompey’s fifth victory in six games was their first consecutive home win since October. However, the only concern for boss John Mousinho was midfielder Tom Lowery’s apparent hamstring injury in the first half.

The U’s have only won one of their last five games and are currently four points above the relegation zone.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 – Players Abroad News.

Isaac Babadi nets first-ever Eredivisie goal in PSV win
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Isaac Babadi nets first-ever Eredivisie goal in PSV win

Attacking winger, Isaac Babadi scored his first-ever Eredivisie goal in PSV’s 5-1 win over Volendam on Sunday. 

As a result, they strengthened their grip at the top of the table, ten points ahead of Feyenoord. 

Jordan Teze’s own goal had given the visitors the lead in the opening minute, but 12 minutes later, Ismael Saibari equalized before goals from J. Schouten, Jordan Teze, Ricardo Pepi, and Isaac Babadi wrapped up the big away win.

The young sensation joined PSV’s first team for this campaign and made his debut on August 4, 2023, as a starter in the 2023 Johan Cruyff Shield, which PSV won 1-0, giving Babadi his first trophy in his first game. 

Four days later, he made his European debut in a Champions League qualifier against Sturm Graz. Babadi opened the scoring in the 4th minute for his first goal for PSV, and the game ended with PSV’s 4-1 victory.

Mustapha Bundu's Plymouth in the hunt for three straight win
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mustapha Bundu’s Plymouth in the hunt for three straight wins

If selected by manager Ian Foster, the Sierra Leone International Mustapha Bundu will be hoping to help his team, Plymouth Argyle, as they take on Sunderland in their Sky Bet Championship fixture at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, February 10th at 3 pm.

Plymouth are targeting to register their first league double over Sunderland since the 1991-92 campaign and their third straight league win.

Bundu, 26, has featured in fifteen matches in all competitions since joining the Pilgrims last September. 

The two sides previously met in November at Home Park, where Argyle managed to take the lead with Morgan Whittaker’s brilliant strike from outside the area, followed by Finn Azaz’s goal before the halftime whistle. The score remained unchanged till the end of the match.

However, Sunderland has won 11 out of their 15 home league games against Plymouth Argyle, with a win ratio of 73%.

Also, Sunderland is the only Championship team yet to see a home league game ending in a draw this season. 

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 – Players Abroad News. 

Charlton Athletic striker Daniel Kanu pens new long-term contract
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Charlton Athletic striker Kanu pens new long-term contract 

Daniel Kanu, an academy graduate who joined Charlton Athletic at U11 level, has signed a new long-term contract until 2027. This season, he has scored four goals and provided one assist for the first team.

In November 2023, Kanu made his senior debut for Sierra Leone in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Egypt.

Earlier this term, the striker went on loan to National League side Southend United and made a fantastic home debut, scoring four goals in a 5-0 win against Solihull Moors.

Kanu was named the Valley Gold Young Player of the Year for the 2021/22 season after an impressive first-year scholar campaign that saw him score 41 goals for the academy and make his senior debut.

After signing his new deal, Kanu expressed his excitement and said: “It’s a dream come true – I’m excited for the future. I’ve been at this club since U11s, so it’s been a long journey. I signed my first professional contract two years ago – around this time actually – and I’m just grateful to the academy and everyone else that’s been part of my journey to get me to where I am today.”

Charlton Athletic’s Technical Director, Andy Scott, expressed his delight in tying Kanu down to a long-term contract. “We want to keep our best young players at the football club, and we’re delighted to have secured Daniel for the future.

This season, he has shown that he’s got the quality, and he’s demonstrated that he can score goals. His attitude to working and improving is exceptional, and we believe that we can make him into a player that’s going to have a big, bright future at the club.”

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 – Players Abroad News.

Chinese side Nantong Zhiyun set to unveil New Acquisition Issa Kallon
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Nantong Zhiyun set to unveil New Acquisition Issa Kallon

Chinese professional football club Nantong Zhiyun, based in Rugao, Jiangsu, is set to unveil its new acquisition Issa Kallon.

Sierra Leone’s winger Issa Kallon has safely arrived on Monday after he penned a two-year deal with Nantong Zhiyun.

Kallon, 28, has been handed a fresh start in the Chinese Super League, the top tier of Chinese football after he won the 2023 title with Shanghai Port.

Nantong Zhiyun plays its home matches at the Rugao Olympic Sports Center, and the former Cambuur attacker can’t wait to meet the fans.

The former Cambuur winger moved to Shanghai Port in the Chinese Super League on July 28, 2022. Kallon, born in the Netherlands, has played as a former youth international for the Netherlands.

Kallon, 28, was part of the Sierra Leone 2021 Africa Cup of Nations squad. In the Cup of Nations, he played in Sierra Leone’s 2-2 draw against the Ivory Coast on January 16, 2022. 

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 – Players Abroad News.

Center-back Amara Nallo Impressive with Liverpool U21
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Center-back Amara Nallo Impressive with Liverpool U21

In the Premier League 2 Division One season, Amara Nallo made twelve appearances for Liverpool and helped them convincingly defeat Fulham.

Jayden Danns scored his 20th goal of the season, leading Liverpool U21s to a 2-0 win against Fulham in the Premier League 2 on Sunday.

Despite only turning 17 in mid-November, Nallo, who arrived at Liverpool in the same summer, has become a regular part of the U21s defence.

He typically plays on the left side of the central pairing and has demonstrated both physical strength and technical ability, even against senior sides in the EFL Trophy.

Although it may be some time before he is considered for the first team, Nallo is expected to continue his progress with the U21s in 2024.

Amara Nallo, a strong left-sided defender, signed for Liverpool FC from West Ham United in September 2023. He’s comfortable bringing the ball out from the back as a centre-half.

Sierra Leone's Issa Kallon set to join Nantong Zhiyun
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone’s Issa Kallon set to join Nantong Zhiyun

Sierra Leone’s winger Issa Kallon has confirmed joining Chinese Super League side Nantong Zhiyun on a two-year deal.

The former Shanghai Port winger will travel to China from Holland in the coming days. He won the 2023 title with Shanghai Port in October.

The former Cambuur winger moved to Shanghai Port in the Chinese Super League on July 28, 2022. Kallon, who was born in the Netherlands, has played as a former youth international for the Netherlands.

Kallon, 28, was part of the Sierra Leone 2021 Africa Cup of Nations squad. He played in Sierra Leone’s 2-2 draw against the Ivory Coast on January 16, 2022, in the Cup of Nations. 

Midfielder Alusine Koroma joins Spanish side Orihuela CF
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Midfielder Alusine Koroma joins Spanish side Orihuela CF

Midfielder Alusine Koroma has signed a two-year contract with Orihuela CF in the Segunda Federation, in the fourth level of the Spanish football league system.

In the first half of this campaign, Koroma made sixteen appearances for Vélez CF before joining rivals Orihuela CF.

“I am delighted to be part of Orihuela CF, and I am looking forward to helping the team as much as possible,” Koroma told Football Sierra Leone Media. 

“As I step into a new football adventure, my heart swells with gratitude for each one of you. My time at Velez has been nothing short of incredible, brimming with unforgettable memories and the unwavering support of the staff, management, especially Coach Magnus – a true father figure to me – the board, and the passionate fans. You’ve made Velez feel like home,” Koroma noted. 

In 2019, Koroma was a member of the East End Lions team that emerged victorious in the Sierra Leone National Premier League. Later that same year, he underwent a trial with Real Balompédica Linense, a Spanish club where his twin brother, Alhassan, had already signed.

Koroma eventually signed for the club, and in February 2021, he made his debut for the reserve team against CD Alcalá Del Valle.

In June 2021, both Koroma brothers extended their contract with Linense for three more years.