Category: Sport News

Sierra Leone U20 Ready for Liberia Opener at the SKD
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone U20 Ready for Liberia Opener at the SKD

Sierra Leone’s U-20 Shooting Stars completed their first training session in preparation for their upcoming friendly against Liberia, which will take place on Sunday, February 18th, at the SKD Stadium.

The coach, Mohammed Lamin Kamara, expressed satisfaction with his team’s condition, stating that there were no injuries to worry about.

Despite their positive results in previous Sierra Leone friendlies, Kamara emphasized the importance of not underestimating their Liberian counterparts, as the Liberian U-20 squad is a worthy opponent.

Kamara expressed confidence in his team’s performance and acknowledged the high expectations of the country. Kelvin Sebwe,

The coach of Liberia’s U-20 team expressed his excitement about the upcoming international friendly match with their neighbouring country.

Sebwe mentioned that he is confident both teams will play an attractive football game. 

Sierra Leone v Liberia U20 Zonal Tournament Schedules
Sierra Leone v Liberia U20 Zonal Tournament Schedules
Daniel Kanu & Sullay Kaikai on target in English League One
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Daniel Kanu & Sullay Kaikai on target in English League One

On Saturday, Sierra Leone International striker Daniel Kanu and Sullay Kaikai, a winger, scored for their English League clubs.

Kanu scored Charlton Athletic‘s third goal as they played a 3-3 draw against Bolton Wanderers. Kanu restored Charlton’s lead just past the hour.

Sullay Kakai’s Cambridge United thrashed  Carlisle United 4-0 at Brunton Park. 

Kaikai opened the scoring for Cambridge United away to Carlisle United in the 14th minute before his cross came off a Carlisle defender, Samuel Mark Lavelle – for an own goal to put the visitors 2-0 ahead in 69th-minute.

Kaikai got an assist when he fines Ryan Bennett for their fourth goal – Bennett heads home at the back-post to put United in complete command.

Meanwhile, English League One leaders Portsmouth‘s striker Abu Kamara recorded three assists in their 4-1 hammering of Reading.

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

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

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The Sierra Leone men’s national football team has climbed up one position in the latest FIFA rankings and now stands at 126th place, up from 127th.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone move a place in latest Fifa ranking

The Sierra Leone men’s national football team has climbed up one position in the latest FIFA rankings and now stands at 126th place, up from 127th.

In Africa, the team holds the 35th spot and trails behind strong contenders such as Morocco, Senegal, and Nigeria.

The team began their qualifying journey for the 2026 World Cup in November 2023, securing a goalless draw against Ethiopia under the guidance of Coach Amidu Karim.

In Africa, Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae praised his team as “miracle survivors” after they won the Africa Cup of Nations by defeating Nigeria 2-1 in the final. T

The Ivory Coast team completed one of the greatest turnarounds in major tournament history. They are the first host country to win the Cup of Nations since Egypt in 2006, despite almost going out in the group stage.

As a result, the Elephants have climbed ten places in the new FIFA ranking and are now ranked 39th globally.

After reaching the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria has moved up 14 places in the ranking and now holds the 28th spot.

Angola has climbed higher than any other team, moving up 24 places in the ranking and now holds the 93rd spot. They are the biggest climbers in the world ranking.

In the World, Argentina still holds the top spot after winning the World Cup in Qatar, while France and England are in second and third place, respectively.

Bo District Football Academy Owners Hold Dialogue meeting
by David Lebbie

Bo District Academy Owners Hold Dialogue Meeting

Over the weekend, owners of football academies in Bo District held a day-long consultative meeting at Box Point on Fenton Road. 

The purpose of the meeting was to strategize and find ways to foster the development of football, especially at the grassroots level in Bo and Sierra Leone as a whole.

Alhaji Mustapha Shariff, the visionary initiator and CEO of Kortugboma Academy, emphasized the importance of the meeting, stating that they are working on a plan to reform their operations and existence so that there will be continuity regardless of what happens in the future. 

He further explained that football in Sierra Leone has taken different dimensions, and for Bo to succeed, it has to seize the opportunity by laying the foundation for grassroots football. The success in that area will be an indicator of their future.

Mark 10, who also spoke at the meeting, revealed that they have recently completed the U-12 & U-14 league within Bo District, where numerous academies participated. They are now working on ways to bring all of them under a single body. Alhaji noted that in the not-too-distant future, they will set up their association to regulate their affairs. He refused to confirm the name of the association but promised to do so after the next meeting.

Chrenoh Van Bah, the Coordinator of the Southern Region Football Association, expressed his enthusiasm, saying that this is the first time in the history of Bo football to see the formation of a grassroots football association. 

With the help of Alhaji Mustapha Shariff, the district and regional football associations are poised to develop grassroots football. He continued that many have put their time and resources into this game, and with the collaborative effort of all, they will take this dream to every corner of the Southern Region.

The newly appointed Technical Director of football in the Southern Region, Patrick Uzoh, applauded the academy owners and promised to cascade it to other areas within the region.

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AFCON 2023 top scorer Emilio Nsue suspended for 'indiscipline'
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

AFCON top scorer Emilio Nsue suspended for Indiscipline

Equatorial Guinea’s football federation has suspended Emilio Nsue, the country’s striker, indefinitely for his alleged involvement in “several episodes of serious indiscipline” during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

Although Nsue finished as the top scorer at the finals with five goals in four outings, Equatorial Guinea were knocked out in the last 16. In addition to Nsue, midfielder Iban Salvador, who plays for National Thunder, has also been suspended.

The federation (Feguifut) stated that Salvador had been involved in an “unpleasant incident” in Abidjan on 29 January, the day after the team’s 1-0 defeat by Guinea, which saw them exit the tournament. Feguifut added that Ivorian police had to intervene, and the incident delayed the squad’s return to Equatorial Guinea.

Nsue, who is the all-time top international scorer for his country with 22 goals, was in Abidjan on Sunday to collect the golden boot following Ivory Coast’s victory over Nigeria in the Nations Cup final. He currently plays for Intercity and has previously played for Birmingham City and Middlesbrough.

The National Thunder’s next competitive fixtures will be in June, which is when two 2026 World Cup qualifiers are scheduled.

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.

Sierra Leone U20 set for Zonal tournament in Liberia
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone U20 set for Zonal tournament in Liberia

Sierra Leone’s National Under-20 Football Team, Shooting Stars, has begun training for the U20 Zonal Tournament in Monrovia, Liberia.

With a 26-man squad, the team is focused on showcasing their talent on the regional stage. The tournament is scheduled from February 17th to February 25th, 2024.

The young talents are undergoing intensive training sessions on a state-of-the-art artificial turf pitch. Experienced coach Mohamed Lamin Kamara is leading the team with the support of SLFA’s Youth Football Coordinator, Alimamy Kurash Conteh.

The tournament presents an opportunity for players to gain invaluable experience and catch the eye of scouts and talent spotters.

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

The tournament is scheduled from February 17th to February 25th, 2024.
The tournament is scheduled from February 17th to February 25th, 2024.
Emerse Fae pleased with Ivory Coast's AFCON achievement
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Emerse Fae ecstatic with Ivory Coast’s AFCON achievement

Emerse Fae, who took over from Jean-Louis Gasset, led Cote d’Ivoire’s national football team to their third CAF Africa Cup of Nations title is ecstatic.

The Elephants won the title on home soil after beating Nigeria 2-1 in a packed Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpe on Sunday evening.

After the match, Fae spoke to the media and revealed that he was overwhelmed with emotions and couldn’t describe the great feeling of guiding the team to victory.

He said that it was hard to believe that they had come from almost being knocked out to winning the title.

This competition was going to mark his life, he added. Fae also won the Best Coach of the Tournament award for his tactical acumen in guiding the Elephants to the top spot.

He expressed his gratitude to the players for their hard work and to the loyal people of Cote d’Ivoire who supported them throughout the tournament.

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