Category: Sport News

Huddersfield Town's Josh Koroma could make Sierra Leone's debut in Bamako
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Josh Koroma could make Sierra Leone debut in Bamako

The English League One attacking player is on the verge of making his debut with the Sierra Leone National team in Bamako, marking a significant moment in his career.

Koroma, with Sierra Leonean heritage, hails from Peckham, South London, and has been honing his football skills since the tender age of 3. His inclusion is set to provide a vital lift for coach Amidu Karim’s squad as they prepare for a challenging match against Burkina Faso.

This follows Sierra Leone’s recent victory in Group A, where they secured a win against Djibouti with notable goals from Curtis Davies and Augustus Kargbo.

Mon June 10th 2024

  • Burkina Faso v Sierra Leone (Group A) | 1900 | Bamako, Mali

Background

Huddersfield Town signed forward Josh Koroma from Leyton Orient ahead of the 2019/20 campaign. Born on 9 November 1998, Josh joined the Leyton Orient Academy at 15 years old.

He made his First Team debut for Orient in April 2016 and signed his first professional contract five months later.

Koroma played a key role in Orient’s championship-winning campaign and later moved to Rotherham United on loan.

The former Leyton Orient attacker scored important goals upon his return to Huddersfield Town, securing their place in the Sky Bet Championship. With Neil Warnock’s return, re-signing Josh became a top priority for the team.

Nine goals were scored as African teams resumed their CAF FIFA World Cup African qualifiers on Wednesday,
by FSL News

Recap of Wednesday’s Africa World Cup qualifiers

On Wednesday, June 5th, African teams returned to the CAF FIFA World Cup 2026 African qualifiers to secure a spot at the global event. A total of nine goals were scored in the intense matches.

Togo and South Sudan shared the spoils in Lome, while the Central African Republic defeated Chad 1-0 in Morocco. Namibia played a 1-1 draw against Liberia in Johannesburg, while Tunisia narrowly defeated Equatorial Guinea 1-0 and Sierra Leone rallied to a 2-1 victory over Djobouti’s Sharks.

Sierra Leone 2-1 Djibouti

Goals: C. Davies 12’, Augustus. Kargbo 51’ / G. Dadzie (penalty) 35’

Sierra Leone faced a tough match against Djibouti, ultimately securing a 2-1 victory. The game saw goals from Curtis Davies and Augustus Kargbo for Sierra Leone and a penalty goal by Guirehanta Dadzie for Djibouti.

Togo 1-1 South Sudan

Goals: K. Narey 61’ / R. Aholou (own goal) 68’

Togo was held to a 1-1 draw at home by South Sudan. Khaled Narey gave Togo the lead in the 61st minute, but Roger Aholou’s own goal in the 68th minute levelled the score, earning South Sudan a point. With this result, Togo is fourth in Group B, with South Sudan in fifth.

Central African Republic 1-0 Chad

Goal: V. Baboula 29’

Geoffrey Kondogbia’s goal in the 29th minute secured a 1-0 victory for the Central African Republic over Chad, moving them to third place in the group, while Chad remains at the bottom.

Namibia 1-1 Liberia

Goals: T. Karuuombe 8’ / T. Sackor 65’

Namibia’s early lead, courtesy of Tijpe Karuuombe’s goal in the 8th minute, was cancelled out by Tonia Tisdell Sackor’s goal in the 65th minute, resulting in a 1-1 draw between Namibia and Liberia.

Tunisia 1-0 Equatorial Guinea

On Wednesday, Tunisia continued their perfect start to the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea in Tunis

In a closely contested Group H match at the Hammadi Al-Aqrabi Stadium, Mohamed Ali Ben Ramadan’s 82nd-minute penalty made the difference as the Carthage Eagles secured their third consecutive win.

Debutant Curtis Davies nets as Sierra Leone register first win In Group A
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Curtis Davies nets as Sierra Leone register first win

Curtis Davies made history as the oldest international debutant to score for a national team in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. This happened after a tense 2-1 victory against Djibouti at Stade El Abdi on Wednesday night.

The Leone Stars started the brightest as they took the lead in the 12th minute, capitalizing on their early pressure with a goal scored by 39-year-old Curtis Davies, marking his competitive national team debut.

Following a defensive blunder by coach Amidu Karim’s side, Djibouti was awarded a penalty just after the half-hour mark when Emmanuel Samadia was handballed inside his penalty area. Gabriel Dadzie stepped up to take the penalty and successfully sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.

The game entered a scrappy period towards the end of the first half, with neither side creating clear goal-scoring chances.

In the 51st minute of the match, the Leone Stars increased their lead when Augustus Kargbo successfully found the back of the net.

Despite this, Djibouti persisted in their efforts to score a second goal, while Sierra Leone responded by making defensive substitutions in an attempt to control the game.

Sierra Leone managed to maintain their lead and achieved a much-needed 2-1 victory in Morocco, confidently navigating the remaining minutes of the game.

Sierra Leone: Kamara, Davies, Kabia, Kakay, Alusine Koroma, Samadia, Kaikai (D Kanu 67’), Bakayoko (A Conteh 67’), Bundu (Dumbuya 79’), Alhassan Koroma (Sillah 88’), Kargbo (Michael 79’)

Djibouti: Luyima, Farada, Siad, Abdi (Omar 72’), Hamadou, Mohamed, Elabeh (Elmi 90’), Aden (Ramadan Abillahi 73’), Akinbinu, Dadzie, Abdillahi

Sierra Leone managed to maintain their lead and achieved a much-needed 2-1 victory in Morocco, confidently navigating the remaining minutes of the game.
Sierra Leone managed to maintain their lead and achieved a much-needed 2-1 victory in Morocco, confidently navigating the remaining minutes of the game.
Debut for Curtis Davies, Bakayoko, Kaikai leads the attack against Djibouti
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Debut for Curtis Davies as Bakayoko & Kaikai lead attack


Curtis Davies, a seasoned player who first represented the England under-21 team in 2006, is on the brink of making his official international debut for Sierra Leone, where he is expected to showcase his skills and experience as a central defender.

“If I make my international debut for the team, it will be a great honour. My father will fly out for the games, and he is as excited as I am. If I am selected, it will be a significant moment for my family,” Davies stated confidently to Football Sierra Leone a few days ago.

Sierra Leone’s head coach, Amidu Karim, is confident about his team’s chances for today’s World Cup qualifier against Djibouti.

Forest Green striker Amadou Bakayoko and Cambridge United attacker Sullay Kaikai will lead the Leone Stars.

Augustus Kargbo, a key player in Cesena’s successful Serie B promotion campaign, and Mustapha Bundu from Plymouth Argyle are set to take the field at the El Hadija Stadium this afternoon.

Coach Karim has underlined the crucial importance of securing a victory for qualification and has spoken highly of the players’ preparedness to showcase their best performance.

Sierra Leone’s Last three Games L-L-L

Djibouti’s Last Three Games D-L-D

Wednesday – 05 June 2024

  • Sierra Leone v Djibouti (Group A) | 1600 | El Jadida, Morocco
Sierra Leone first team for Djibouti's Sharks
Sierra Leone first team for Djibouti's Sharks
Malawi referee Godfrey Nkhakananga will officiate Sierra Leone & Djibouti
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Malawi’s Godfrey Nkhakananga will officiate Sierra Leone & Djibouti

Malawi referee Godfrey Nkhakananga has been appointed to officiate the upcoming match between Sierra Leone and Djibouti’s Sharks at El Jadida, Morocco.

He will be supported by fellow Malawian Clemence Kanduku and Lucky Kegakologetswe from Botswana as Referee One and Referee Two, respectively, for Group A matchday three.

The match commissioner will be Sekou Konneh from Liberia, with Dintaw Keabetswe from Botswana as the fourth official and Bimbyo Patrick James from Gabon as the referee assessor.

Nkhakananga gained attention when he controversially allowed a goal for Silver Strikers against Mighty Mukuru Wanderers on 23rd September 2023, despite blowing his whistle before the goal.

As a result, he received a four-month ban but returned to officiate matches in the Four Nations tournament, including a game between Kenya and Zimbabwe.

Coach Amidu Karim speaks on Sierra Leone and Djibouti qualifier
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Coach Karim speaks on Sierra Leone and Djibouti qualifier

Sierra Leone’s head coach, Amidu Karim, is confident about his team’s chances as they gear up for the World Cup qualifier against Djibouti.

Karim’s 24-man team is currently in Morocco, undergoing intensive training and preparation for their crucial match on June 5th against Djibouti. This match holds immense significance as it is a crucial step in their journey to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Their ambition is to secure a spot in this prestigious global tournament, and they are leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to achieve this goal.

Karim has opted for consistency by maintaining the same squad for the upcoming matches against Djibouti and Burkina Faso. He is relying on the experience of players like Steven Caulker and Curtis Davies to guide the younger members of the team.

Expressing his optimism, Karim stated, “I am confident that we will achieve the desired results. The players are highly motivated and ready to give their best on the field.”

“We need their experience and expertise in guiding the younger players because they have gone through that stage at some point in their career.”

He emphasized the importance of winning for qualification and highlighted the players’ readiness to deliver their best performance.

The coach also noted that many players have had a successful season with their respective clubs, which adds to the team’s strength from a technical standpoint.

In the latest standings, Egypt is leading Group A, followed by Burkina Faso and Guinea-Bissau. Both Sierra Leone and Ethiopia have managed to secure one point each. Regrettably, Djibouti hasn’t yet earned any points after losing their first two games.

Sierra Leone World Cup Match Day Three Opponent

Group A – Djibouti is ranked 192, 66 places below the Leone Stars. After losing their first two Group A matches, Djibouti is currently at the bottom of the standings.

They suffered a 6-1 defeat to Egypt and a 1-0 home loss to Guinea-Bissau in November 2023.

In their preliminary AFCON qualifier against Liberia in March, Lone Star captain Murphy Dorley scored one of two first-half goals as the Lone Stars defeated hosts Djibouti 2-0 in the opening leg in Marrakech.

Mohammed Sangare opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute, followed by Dorley calmly converting Sebastian Teclar’s cross 12 minutes later. The match ended in a goalless draw in Liberia, leading to their elimination.

Sierra Leone’s Last three Games L-L-L

Djibouti’s Last Three Games D-L-D

Wednesday – 05 June 2024

  • Sierra Leone v Djibouti (Group A) | 1600 | El Jadida, Morocco 
Sierra Leone during their third training session in Morocco ahead of taking on Djibouti's Shoremen of the Red Sea clash.
Sierra Leone during their third training session in Morocco ahead of taking on Djibouti's Shoremen of the Red Sea clash.
In the current standings, Egypt leads Group A, followed by Burkina Faso and Guinea-Bissau. Sierra Leone and Ethiopia are tied with one point each, while Djibouti has no points after losing their first two games.
In the current standings, Egypt leads Group A, followed by Burkina Faso and Guinea-Bissau. Sierra Leone and Ethiopia are tied with one point each, while Djibouti has no points after losing their first two games.
SLFA and CAF come together to Empower Women in Football
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

SLFA and CAF come together to Empower Women in Football

The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), with support from CAF, is organizing a week-long training program for female football administrators and coaches at the Police Hall in Kingston.

This ground-breaking initiative encompasses an administrative training course and a License D Coaching course designed to empower women in football.

The event’s opening was graced by distinguished personalities including Acting General Secretary Mohamed Benson Bawoh, CAF Female Coaching Instructor Mrs. Majidah Nantanda from Uganda, Female Administrative Instructor Thubaelihle Bridgette Sibanda from Zimbabwe, SLFA Technical Director Ibrahim Bah, and other esteemed individuals.

This program marks a significant milestone for CAF in Sierra Leone, achieved through the dedicated efforts of SLFA President Thomas Daddy Brima and his Executive Committee. It represents a pivotal moment for women involved in football administration and coaching.

The enthusiasm demonstrated by both CAF experts and SLFA leaders underscores the importance of this initiative in enhancing the confidence and skills of women in football.

Collectively, there is a steadfast commitment to ensuring that women have a prominent role in the development of football in Sierra Leone.

This groundbreaking initiative encompasses an administrative training course and a License D Coaching course designed to empower women in football.
This groundbreaking initiative encompasses an administrative training course and a License D Coaching course designed to empower women in football.
AFCON top scorer Emilio Nsue was Ineligible for Equatorial Guinea
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

AFCON top scorer Emilio Nsue was Ineligible for Equatorial Guinea

FIFA has determined that Equatorial Guinea captain Emilio Nsue was never eligible to represent the African nation during his 11-year international career.

Nsue won the Golden Boot as the top goalscorer at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) earlier this year, scoring five goals in four appearances, but has been banned by FIFA for six months from national team games.

In December 2013, FIFA ruled that Nsue was not eligible to play for Equatorial Guinea after he had made several appearances for Spain’s youth teams. Despite this ruling, he continued to represent Equatorial Guinea.

FIFA has published a detailed verdict explaining its decision to strip two wins from Equatorial Guinea in the 2026 World Cup qualifying games played in November.

In March, FIFA opened a new investigation into Nsue’s eligibility. Despite being given a six-day deadline to respond, no response from Nsue arrived.

A 15-page FIFA document from May 10, 2024, detailed the difficulties faced by the Equatoguinean federation in attempting to get Nsue approved a decade earlier.

As a result of his ineligibility, Emilio Nsue will not be able to retain the 2023 AFCON Golden Boot. Additionally, Equatorial Guinea was ineligible to participate in the last AFCON, and therefore, they are no longer entitled to maintain their appearance fee.

The versatile forward holds the record for most international goals for Equatorial Guinea, with 22 goals in 43 appearances. FIFA has acknowledged this feat as a significant achievement.

Otto Addo’s face the Eagles of Mali test in Group I
by FSL News

Otto Addo’s Ghana face tricky Eagles of Mali test

In November 2023, Ghana Black Stars kicked off their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Madagascar. However, their unexpected loss to Comoros has increased the pressure on them as they prepare to face Mali in Bamako.

The Black Stars currently hold the fourth spot in World Cup 2026 qualifying Group I, which includes Mali, Chad, and the Central African Republic.

On Thursday, Otto Addo’s team will face Mali in what is expected to be a challenging match. Four days later – they’ll host the Central African Republic at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

Key players to watch include Tariq Lamptey in defence, Mohammed Kudus and Thomas Partey in midfield and Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth in the attack.

Kudus is expected to play a crucial role. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder has provided six assists and scored eight goals for West Ham in the league this season.

The team will introduce two new players: Thomas-Asante from West Brom and Sulemana from Cagliari. Both players have yet to make an appearance for the national team.

Comoros led Group I with six points, followed by Mali with four, Madagascar and Ghana with three each, and Central African Republic and Chad at the bottom with two points after playing two matches.

Ghana’s Black Stars Scheduled matches

  • Mali v Ghana (Group I) | 1900 | Bamako, Mali
  • Ghana  v Central African Republic  (Group I) | 1900 | Kumasi, Ghana
Defender Leon Balogun pens Rangers contract extension
by FSL News

Nigeria’s Leon Balogun pens Rangers contract extension

Nigerian defender Leon Balogun has committed to another year with Rangers, extending his contract until the 2024/25 season ahead of his second stint with the Scottish club.

Balogun first joined Rangers in 2020 and played a pivotal role in their title-winning season in 2020/21 and their Scottish Cup triumph in 2021/22.

After leaving for English club Queen’s Park Rangers in 2022, he returned to Rangers last summer.

He expressed his happiness and privilege to extend his contract with Rangers, stating his desire to win more trophies and titles with the club.

“In my time here so far, I have witnessed first-hand the impact he has not only on the pitch but off the pitch as well, with his valuable experience. He is a talented defender who brings a lot of qualities to the group, and I look forward to continuing to work with him next season.”

The Director of Football Recruitment, Nils Koppen, commented, “Leon has been an important player for this club and knows what it is like to represent Rangers. At a time of change within the squad, a player with Leon’s experience is vital, and it is fantastic we have been able to secure him.” him for another season.”

With 46 caps for Nigeria, Balogun scored his only goal for the national team against Central African Republic in October 2021.