Category: Sport News

SWASAL North, Makeni Council gear up to revive Mayor Trophy
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

SWASAL North, Makeni Council to revive Mayor Trophy

Representatives from the Sports Writers Association of Sierra Leone (SWASAL) – Northern Region Branch and the Mayor of the Makeni City Council, Abubakar Lamtales Kamara, recently held a meeting to discuss the revival of the Sports Writers Makeni Mayoral Trophy. –  By: Alusine Rehme Wilson 

In the photo, Mayor Abubakarr Lamtales of Makeni and his IEC Edward Gbukumu are pictured with SWASAL North representatives during a meeting at the Mayor’s Palace in Makeni City, Northern Province, Sierra Leone on Tuesday.

During the meeting, Abubakarr Lamtales Kamara expressed his excitement about SWASAL’s work and promised to fully cooperate in the revamp and sustainability of the Sports Writers Makeni Mayoral Trophy, which has been on hiatus for the past five years. 

He also affirmed the Council’s commitment to the initiative and promised to inform other staff about the meeting over the trophy’s second edition.

According to Alfred Zico Kabia, the Acting Organizing Secretary of SWASL North, the Sports Writers Makeni Mayoral Trophy is an annual championship that is free from political influences. 

This tournament has the potential to unite communities and has previously produced players who now compete in top leagues,  national and international.

The inaugural edition of the tournament took place in 2018. However, due to challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the former mayor’s extensive medical and work-related travels – there were no subsequent editions. 

For the second edition and beyond, SWASAL North hopes to promote soccer, showcase talent, empower sports enthusiasts, enhance community compliance, and boost revenue generation for Makeni City Council through the Sports Writers Makeni Mayoral Trophy.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alusine Rehme Wilson – National News SWASAL North News.

Mali's Mamadou Doumbia pens Watford long-term deal
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mali’s Mamadou Doumbia pens Watford’s long-term deal 

Watford FC has signed Mali youth international striker Mamadou Doumbia on a five-year contract. 

The 18-year-old left-footed player will join the Hornets from the Malian side, Black Stars FC, on July 1, 2024.

Doumbia stands at 6ft 3in and has a combination of impressive ball control, flair, and natural finishing instincts.

The Striker made his international debut was marked by his performances at the 2023 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations, where he scored four goals in five games, helping Mali to finish fourth. 

He continued his excellent form at the Under-17 World Cup, scoring four more goals, including a hat-trick against Uzbekistan in the team’s opening fixture. 

Mali went on to win the third-place play-off against Argentina, with Doumbia scoring the third goal.

The Hornets are in their second season back in the second tier, having last been relegated from the Premier League in 2022.

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

Medeama SC face gigantic Al Ahly test in CAF Champion League
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Medeama SC face gigantic Al Ahly test in CAF Champion League

Moses Parker, the President of Medeama SC, has stated that the club is determined to secure victory against Al Ahly in the upcoming CAF Champions League encounter. 

Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi to host the highly anticipated between Medeama SC and Al Ahly on Friday and is of significant importance to Medeama SC.

Speaking to Akoma FM, Moses Parker expressed his confidence in Medeama’s ability to emerge victorious, citing their previous triumph over TP Mazembe in 2015. 

“Medeama is going all out – this game means a lot to us. We did it in 2015 against TP Mazembe at Essipong, so repeating it won’t be difficult. This Friday, we will shock Ghanaians by defeating Al Ahly and secure qualification in Algeria,” Parker said.

Al Ahly of Egypt, record 11-time title-holders, leads the Group standings with six points, followed by Young Africans and CR Belouizdad with five points each, while Medeama remains at the bottom with four points.

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

ASEC Mimosas eye win over Simba in CAF Champions League
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

ASEC Mimosas, Simba set for Champions League showdown

This weekend, the CAF Champions League resumes with Ivorian side Asec Mimosas, who are top of Group B, set to play against Tanzanian side Simba SC in Abidjan. 

Asec Mimosas presently standing fourth in the Ivorian top tier – knows that they must avoid defeat to keep their momentum going after three wins in their last four Champions League matches.

Simba SC will be tough competition as they aim to maintain their composure in the group stages, having won their last two league matches. 

The first meeting between the two teams at Mkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam, they played to a 1-1 draw. 

In the first leg, Saidi Ntibazonkiza put Simba SC ahead with a penalty in the 44th minute, but after the break, ASEC Mimosas secured a point with a goal from Serge N’guessan Archange Pokou in the 77th minute in Group B action.

The other teams in the group are Wydad AC, who are struggling for form in the competition this season. 

They will travel down south to face Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy, who stunned them in their backyard in the opening group match. 

The former champions are at the bottom of the Group with a single win from four outings and know that anything less than a victory could spell the end of their campaign.

  • TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Match Day 5 Fixtures:

 

  • Friday, 23 February
  • 16h00 GMT | Al-Hilal – Petro de Luanda
  • 16h00 GMT | Medeama – Al Ahly SC
  • 19h00 GMT | Asec Mimosas – Simba SC

 

  • Saturday, 24 February

 

  • 13h00 GMT | Jwaneng Galaxy – Wydad AC
  • 13h00 GMT | TP Mazembe – Pyramids FC
  • 16h00 GMT | Nouadhibou – Mamelodi Sundowns FC
  • 16h00 GMT | Young Africans – CR Belouizdad
  • 19h00 GMT | ES Sahel – ES Tunis

 

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

The Road to AFCON 2025 in Morocco Begins in March
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

The Road to AFCON 2025 in Morocco to start in March

Between March 20-26, eight teams will play home and away ties to determine the final four teams to advance to the qualifier proper joining 44 other nations.

The four preliminary round winners will join the 44 exempted teams in the group stage following the draw on Tuesday at the CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.

The qualifiers will be played on home and away fixtures during the next FIFA International Break between 20 – 26 March 2024.

CAF say the dates, venues, and kick-off times for the matches will be announced at a later date.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has tentatively agreed to hold the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Morocco during July and August of next year, according to a CAF official who spoke to AFP.

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Here are the results of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Preliminary Draw:
Here are the results of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Preliminary Draw:
Augustus Kargbo takes Serie C tally to six with Cesena
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Augustus Kargbo takes Serie C tally to six with Cesena

On Monday, Sierra Leone international Augustus Kargbo recorded his sixth of the season as Cesena defeated Sestri Levante 3-1 in week 27 of their Italian Serie C.

Kargbo, who was making his twenty-first appearance – goal came in the 68th minute and helped his team to take a 2-1 lead. 

Donnarumma scored another goal in the 89th minute to secure a 3-1 victory for Cesena FC. 

With 68 points from 27 games, Cesena FC currently sits at the top of the Serie C standings with a 12-point lead over the second-placed team, Torres – with eleven games left to play before the season ends.

Liberia unveils former Malawi coach Mario Marinica
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Liberia unveils former Malawi coach Mario Marinică

The Liberia Football Association has unveiled Mario Marinica, a Romanian, as the new head coach of Liberia’s senior men’s national football team, the Lone Star.

Marinica’s first match as head coach will be in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 preliminary round. 

Liberia will learn her opponent on Tuesday, 20 February, from the draw that will take place in Cairo, Egypt. 

Marinica, a UEFA Pro Licence coach with over 28 years of experience in coaching at both club and national team levels, signed a two-year contract with the task of qualifying the Lone Star for the 2025 AFCON final tournament. 

He will also work with the technical department to identify and develop young potential talents domestically and internationally.

Marinica, along with his two foreign assistant coaches, Clwyd Jones and Ronald D. Moroka, as well as a physical therapist, Chikondi Mandalasi, were unveiled at the association’s headquarters on Monday, 19 February. He will later choose two local coaches, including a goalkeeper trainer, to work with.

Marinica declared that his philosophy is centred on winning, and he will consistently work with flexible plans and strategies to achieve the desired outcome. He acknowledged that Liberians and supporters are dissatisfied with the team’s lack of victories in recent years, and it’s crucial to secure a win and qualify for the 2025 Nations Cup.

In November 2021, Marinica was appointed as the Technical Director of the Football Association of Malawi on a three-year contract. He led the Malawi team to the last sixteen of the Cameroon 2021 AFCON, but unfortunately, they were eliminated by Morocco at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaoundé.

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

CAF of Nations Morocco 2025 Preliminary draw set for Tuesday
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Preliminary draw set for Tuesday

After the conclusion of the 34th edition of TotalEnergies CAF AFCON, preparations have begun for the next edition.

The preliminary draw for TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 is scheduled for Tuesday, 20th February 2024, in Cairo, Egypt at 2:00 PM local time (noon GMT).

The preliminary round of CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 will feature the eight (8) lowest-ranked teams according to the FIFA ranking: Somalia, Djibouti, Sao Tome, Chad, Mauritius, South Sudan, Liberia, and Eswatini.

These matches will be played on a home and away basis during the FIFA Window of 18th-26th March 2024. The four (4) preliminary round winners will then join the 44 exempted teams for the group stage.

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Liberia & Sierra Leone share points in U20 Opening match
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Liberia & Sierra Leone share points in U20 Opening match

The U-20 teams of Sierra Leone (Shooting Stars) and Liberia (Lone Stars U20) got off to a stuttering start with a 0-0 at the Samuel K. Doe Stadium on Sunday.

The Zonal U20 opening contest ended in a goalless draw as both teams displayed strong performances but failed to convert their attacking opportunities.

After the match, the head coach of Shooting Stars, Mohamed Lamin Kamara, expressed optimism about his team’s chances in the remaining three against Lone Stars.

He emphasized that they will work on improving their goal-scoring chances and set pieces during training sessions.

At the end of the match, Mohammed Fofanah, also known as “Fastest” of Diamond Stars, won the Man of the Match Award for his outstanding performance.

The tournament continues on Tuesday as Sierra Leone hosts Liberia in search of their first win.

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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.