Category: Sport News

Official: Morocco to host 2025 AFCON
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Morocco awarded 2025 Afcon while joint bid gets 2027

Morocco was awarded the hosting right for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals on Wednesday whilst joint bids from East African nations were awarded the 2027 AFCON.

The North African nations set to host the 35th edition and the second time, 35 years after the North African country staged the competition in 1988.

Morocco replacing Guinea, who was stripped of the right to host the tournament last year. Algeria withdrew their bid to host one of two finals on the eve of the vote on Tuesday.

The 2027 rights were awarded to a joint bid from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The long-awaited decision to host the 2025 and 2027 finals has been sorted after almost a year since Caf stripped Guinea last October of the right to host the 2025 finals.

Morocco won by default after Algeria, Zambia, and a joint bid from Benin and Nigeria all withdrew before the vote of the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee in Cairo on Wednesday.

The North African country was a runaway favourite and will see the decision as a boost to their hopes of co-hosting the 2030 World Cup with Portugal and Spain.

Morocco set to host 2025 AFCON
Morocco set to host 2025 AFCON
East Africa Nations to host 2027 AFCON
East Africa Nations to host 2027 AFCON
Attacker Idris Kanu is on target as Barnet thumps York City
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Attacker Idris Kanu on target as Barnet thump York City

On Tuesday, Sierra Leone International Idriss Kanu was on target as his National League side Barnet turned on the style in the second half to crush York 4-2 at the LNER Community Stadium.

As a result, Barnet sits third on their table as they focus on promotion this season. 

The home opened the scoring in the ninth minute as they started the better. Dipo Akinyemi’s lobbed opener sent the fans into ecstasy stay.

However, the visitors hit back despite Idris Kanu’s goal being ruled out for offside, but Harry Pritchard levelled for the Bees from the edge of the box.

Kanu, who made his eleventh appearance of the season, gave his side a 2-1 lead ad from close range and the result was secured three minutes later when Reece Hall-Johnson headed in at the back post.

Zak Brunt nodded in a fourth with eight minutes to go as Barnet rubbed salt into the wound before Akinyemi’s last-minute consolation.

YORK CITY: Whitley, Fallowfield, Akinyemi, Kouhyar, Howe, Batty, Marsh (66’ Harriott), Siziba (46’ Dyson), Woodyard (80’ McLaughlin), Latty-Fairweather, Smith.

UNUSED SUBS: Watson, Kennedy.

BARNET: Walker, Hall-Johnson, Collinge, Okimo, Kabamba (86’ Barratt), Stead (80’ Armstrong), Kanu, Pritchard © (82’ Gorman), Hartigan, Oluwo, Brunt.

UNUSED SUBS: Gillmore, Potter.

ATTENDANCE: 4,065 (163 Barnet supporters)

Winger David Kalokoh extends Ajax contract with
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Winger David Kalokoh extends Ajax contract

Ajax winger David Kalokoh has signed an extended contract with the club.

The 18-year-old was born in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone (KONO). The youngster’s old deal ran until mid-2024.

“Ajax and David Kalokoh have reached an agreement on a new contract. The 18-year-old left winger’s new contract runs from September 1, 2023, to June 30, 2027. His old contract ran until mid-2024,” Ajax announced on Tuesday.

Kalokoh was born on April 21, 2005, in Kono, Sierra Leone and switched from the youth academy of VVV-Venlo to Ajax in 2018.

On April 28 this year, Kalokoh made his debut in professional football during Jong Ajax’s away match against his old club VVV-Venlo: 0-1.

He has played nine games for the reserves so far, scoring once.

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Winger David Kalokoh extends Ajax's contract with
Winger David Kalokoh extends Ajax's contract with
Outgoing Sierra Leone coach John Keister bids emotional farewell
by FSL News

John Keister bids emotional farewell as Leone Stars coach

John Keister has bid an emotional farewell to Sierra Leone’s national coaching job, “calling his three years as head coach of the national football team a “beautiful experience which I will never forget.”

Appointed in August 2020, succeeding Ghanaian-born Sellas Tetteh, he guided the national team to the Cameroon African Cup of Nations after almost three decades of absence – his highest achievement as a football coach thus far.

“This journey has been immensely wonderful – an extraordinary journey filled with unforgettable moments, remarkable achievements, and invaluable lessons, each of which has left an indelible mark on my coaching career.

I am proud to say that we have built a culture of unity, discipline, and sportsmanship, setting a solid foundation for future achievements.

The Manchester-born highlight of his Leone Stars career was when he defeated Benin at the Stade du 28 Septembre, Conakry in June 2021.

Striker Kei Kamara scored a first-half penalty for Keister’s side to secure a place at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) for the first time since 1996, following a 1-0 victory over Benin in Conakry.

His reign finally came to an end after his term of contract expired this August and was not renewed by the football authorities. 

His final Leone Stars game ended in a 2-1 defeat to Guinea-Bissua at the Estádio 24 de Setembro on Monday, 11th September 2023.

Keister had previously served as head coach of the Leone Stars home-based team as well as the Sierra Leone under-17 and under-23 national teams.

The former Leone Stars midfielder was born in Manchester and played for several lower-league clubs in England, including Walsall, Chester City, Shrewsbury Town and Stevenage Borough.

He was capped 16 times by Sierra Leone between 1997 and 2003.

Read Coach John Keister’s Emotional Goodbye in Full .pdf

Egypt Line up friendlies ahead of Sierra Leone World Cup qualifier
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Egypt line up friendlies ahead of Sierra Leone qualifier

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced two International friendlies in October before starting their World Cup campaign in November against Sierra Leone.

The Pharaohs will face Algeria and Zambia next month in the United Arab Emirates. The EFA say both matches are part of the Egyptian national team’s preparation program for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and African Cup 2024 in Côte d’Ivoire next January.

On October 12, the African powerhouse will battle Zambia four days before Egypt takes on Algeria on October 16, with both games taking place at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.

This will mark Egypt’s first clash with Algeria since the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup when both teams played out a 1-1 draw in the group stages.

Egypt, Zambia’s last meeting was in October 2015, when Egypt won 3-0 in an international friendly, thanks to Ahmed Hassan Kouka’s brace and a late goal from Amr Gamal.

The draw for the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup finals placed Sierra Leone in Group A with five teams: Egypt, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, and Djibouti.

 

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EFA lined-up two friendlies ahead of Sierra Leone qualifier in November
EFA lined-up two friendlies ahead of Sierra Leone qualifier in November
Meet Groningen's Sierra Leonean sensation Fofin Turay
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Meet Groningen’s Sierra Leonean sensation Fofin Turay 

This year couldn’t have started much better for young FC Groningen academy graduate Fofin Turay. Six appearances for the youngster this campaign as they compete in the Eerste Divisie, the second tier of Dutch football.

He was 18 when he signed his first professional contract at FC Groningen after his impress at youth level. His pace and athleticism with under-21 prompted a contract until 2025 with an option for an additional year.

The attacker started playing football at GVAV and switched to the FC Groningen academy in 2015.

Hailing from Sierra Leonean parents, born and born and raised in Groningen, the winger has developed well within the training in recent years and passed all selections. 

“Fofin is a player who has a lot of threat in his one-on-one situations. In addition, Fofin’s speed allows him to take advantage of the spaces in the opponent’s back. He is a boy who always works hard. A neat boy who always has everything neatly in order, even outside of football,” Head of Youth scouting Arno de Jong explains the attacker’s progress.

“Fofin has developed so well in recent years that he can see this contract as a reward and incentive to continue growing in the coming years,” De Jong continues. “Our trainers and other specialists within the training will help him as best as possible.”

The main character himself told his club website he was pleased to be considered for a senior team deal. “I’m naturally happy and proud – a special moment. It is a first step towards more, it is great that the club sees potential in me and I will do everything I can to realize what the FC sees in me.”

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The Sierra Leonean sensation Fofin Turay celebrated with teammates
The Sierra Leonean sensation Fofin Turay celebrated with teammates
British-born Harry Varley set for SFEF's coaching program
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

British-born Harry Varley set for SFEF’s coaching program

British-born Harry Varley has agreed to be a special coaching educator in partnering with the Sports for Empowerment Foundation (SFEF) in Sierra Leone. 

Varley, 33, is a coach educator with 15 years of experience developing elite and grassroots youth development programs around the world. 

The African Football Recruitment specialist is a Leeds University graduate who has worked for several International organisations like the Right to Dream Academy in Ghana and Heads of Women’s Football in Grenada.

“Our role as a coach is to create problem solvers. The players should leave our program with the technical skills and decision making ability to allow them to independently find solutions to the complex problems that make up a 90 minute game of football,” Varley explained while speaking to SFEF media. 

The SFEF Grassroots coaches and management training will be rolled out from the 14th of October 2023 across Sierra Leone for up to three weeks.

SFEF tutoring will cut across the West African state areas like Lungi Port Loko District, Makeni in the Northern Province, Moyamba, Bo Southern Province, Kenema, Kailuhun, Kono Eastern Province of Sierra Leone., Kamakwei Karene District in Chiefdom Sella Limba.

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Sport For Empowerment Foundation Sierra Leone to kick start coaching tutoring and management training in October.
Sport For Empowerment Foundation Sierra Leone to kick start coaching tutoring and management training in October.
Delights for on-loan striker Abu Kamara after Portsmouth win
by FSL News

Delights for on-loan striker Abu Kamara after Portsmouth win

Attacker Abu Kamara expressed his delight after Portmount’s 2-1 victory over Lincoln City at Fratton Park at the weekend.

Regan Poole recorded the winner against his former club, Lincoln City, to give Portsmouth a deserving 2-1 victory to keep John Mousinho’s side top of League One.

Kamara, who was making his ninth League One appearance since joining the club, took to Instagram to express his delight. “Plus three points,” the 19-year-old posted with images of his actions.

Hakeeb Adelakun scored his first of the season to give Lincoln City, The Imps, their lead in the opening 5th-minutes.

But Portsmouth equalised three minutes later as Abu Kamara collected a poor defensive header from Lasse Sorensen and passed to Alex Robertson, who laid the ball onto Paddy Lane to finish.

Centre-back Poole only scored four goals during his two and a half years at the LNER Stadium, but he completed Pompey’s comeback with a fine header.

Kamara scored his first goal in senior football and saw Pompey complete a first-half turnaround in their 3-1 over Peterborough United at Fratton Park early this month. 

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, Contact fo*****************@******co.uk – Abu Kamara Portsmouth League One. 

Abu Kamar was named in the Portsmouth starting eleven in the win over Lincoln City
Abu Kamara was named in the Portsmouth starting eleven in the win over Lincoln City
On Saturday, the Rams registered two straight victories in their Sky Bet League One and first away league win at Carlisle since 1957.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Midfielder Tyrese Fornah’s Derby triumph at Carlisle

On Saturday, the Rams registered an away win in the Sky Bet League One, their first away league win at Carlisle since 1957.

James Collins accounted for his 200th goal in club football to help Derby to a first away league win at Carlisle since 1957.

Sierra Leone native Tyrese Fornah has been pivotal for the Rams since joining the club from Nottingham Forest on a two-year deal in August 2023.

It was Fornah’s (In Photo) fifth appearance for Derby in all competitions as one of the holding midfielders this campaign for the Rams.

James Collins got Derby off the mark in the 18 minutes before his second in their 2-0 win for Paul Warne’s men with an 84th-minute penalty at Brunton Park.

Potent striker Collins scored for the second league game in a row as he powered home from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s cutback.

After the goal, Collins was full of confidence and fired over just moments later.

Derby County return to Sky Bet League One action at Pride Park Stadium a week today when they take on Cambridge United in Sky Bet League One (3 pm kick-off).

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Alpha Conteh scores brace for Lokomotiv Plovdiv in win over Slavia Sofia
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Alpha Conteh nets brace for Lokomotiv Plovdiv

Sierra Leone midfielder Alpha Cinteh scored a brace for Lokomotiv Plovdiv in their 2-0 win over Slavia Sofia in the Bulgarian professional first league on Saturday.

Following a goalless first half, Conteh’s opened the scoring in the 70th minute before he doubled their lead two minutes later with a composed finish. It was his third goal in the last ten games of the campaign.

Conteh’s first came after Velko Jelenkovic lost the one-on-one battle on the left flank as Conteh entered the Slavia penalty area and shot unsavable diagonally into the bottom corner.

Two minutes later, Conte completed his brace after receiving the ball, running past Jelenkovic again and finishing with his right foot past Vutsov.

As a result, Lokomotiv Plovdiv maintained their lead at the top after winning their last five top-tier matches. 

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