Category: Football Africa

Steven Caulker eyes Sierra Leone job after obtaining Uefa license
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Steven Caulker eyes Sierra Leone job after obtaining Uefa license

Sierra Leone defender and ex-England International Steven Caulker has secured his Uefa B coaching Badge with the English FA.

The former Liverpool and Tottenham defender, who was a pivotal player for Sierra Leone during the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon, says he will pursue Uefa A next year.

The one-time England defender, who is presently transforming his playing career to coaching, has admitted coaching is the way forward.

“In terms of my aspiration, my ambition is to be a manager. Maybe, one day, to be a Sierra Leone manager. I would love that. I would love the oppurtunity too bring in young Sierra Leaoneans in to play attractive style of football,” Caulker told Football Sierra Leone.

“Next year, I will start my Uefa A – this is something I am working towards. Right now, I kind of going into the transition from playing into management role.”

On his present playing career

“The option in January is a player-manager role. I want to solicit playing football, maybe, for another year or two. I feel my passion is in coaching – player-manager. I’m finding the right path, the right setup and the right ambition.”

The UEFA B Licence is to help coaches understand the demands of the game and how to meet the needs of players as they build a deeper understanding of their various roles and responsibilities within the team.

This course has replaced The FA Level 3 in Coaching Football.

Caulker joined EFL Championship side Wigan Athletic in January on a contract until the end of the season.

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Victor Osimhen named Africa Player of the Year Award
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Victor Osimhen named Africa’s Player of the Year

Napoli and Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen has been named as the CAF Men’s Player of the Year for 2023.

Osimhen scored 26 Serie A goals and was crowned the Italian Footballers’ Association Player of the Year for his Napoli performances last season.

The Nigerian International fought off competition from Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi to the title on Monday night. 

He becomes the first Nigerian player to win the award since Arsenal’s Nwankwo Kanu in 1999 and is also the first active Serie A player to be crowned Africa’s Player of the Year since Samuel Eto’o when he was at Inter in 2010. 

Meanwhile, Nigerian Asisat Oshoala extended her record sixth CAF African Women’s Player of the Year Award.

  • Full List of Award Winners:

Player of the Year (Men): Victor Osimhen (Nigeria, Napoli)

Player of the Year (Women): Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria, Barcelona)

Interclub Player of the Year (Men): Percy Tau (South Africa, Al Ahly)

Interclub Player of the Year (Women): Fatima Tagnaout (Morocco, AS FAR)

Coach of the Year (Men): Walid Regragui (Morocco)

Coach of the Year (Women): Desiree Ellis (South Africa)

Goalkeeper of the Year (Men): Yassine Bounou (Morocco, Al Hilal)

Goalkeeper of the Year (Women): Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria, Paris FC)

Young Player of the Year (Men): Lamine Camara (Senegal, Metz)

Young Player of the Year (Women): Nesryne El Chad (Morocco, Lille)

National Team of the Year (Men): Morocco

National Team of the Year (Women): Nigeria

Club of the Year (Men): Al Ahly (Egypt)

Club of the Year (Women): Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

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Nigeria’s Oshoala and Osimhen win African footballer of the year awards
Nigeria’s Oshoala and Osimhen win African footballer of the year awards
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Osimhen, Salah, Hakimi named in final three for CAF Award

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah, and Moroccan International Achraf Hakimi are the final three for the CAF 2023 Player of the Year Award. The current holder is Senegal’s Sadio Mane.

The Confederation of African Football has unveiled the final three players for the CAF Men’s Player of the Year Award.

After he scored 26 Serie A goals, Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen has been crowned the Italian Footballers’ Association Player of the Year for his Napoli performances last season.

He was presented with the award on Monday night after helping his side win their first league title in 33 years.

Osimhen scored 26 Serie A goals in 2022-23, breaking former World Best George Weah’s record as the highest-scoring African in the Italian top flight in the process.

Mohamed Salah leads the way for top Premier League African goal scorer with 149 goals, 243 matches and 65 assists since joining Liverpool in 2017.

He won the African Award back to back in 2017 and 2018 and was runners-up in 2019 and 2022 behind former team mates Sado Mane. 

Achraf Hakimi made headlines after he was named to Morocco’s 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

His winning penalty with a panenka-style shot in a shoot-out against Spain in the round of 16 helped secure a place for his country in the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, Yassine Bounou is one of the finalists for the Best Goalkeeper category, alongside Cameroon’s Andre Onana and Egypt’s Mohamed El Shenawy.

On Monday, 11 December 2023, the award ceremony will be held at the Palais des Congrès, Movenpick, Marrakech, Morocco, 19H00 local time (18H00 GMT).

The ultimate winner of each category is decided following votes from a panel consisting of the CAF Technical Committee, media professionals from Member Associations, Head Coaches and captains of Member Associations and clubs involved in the group stages of the Interclub competitions.

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Defending Champions South Africa beat Burkina Faso to book AFCON ticket
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

South Africa beat Burkina Faso to book AFCON ticket

South Africa has qualified for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations to be played in Morocco next year after their 2-0 win over Burkina Faso.

On Monday, Linda Mothlalo and Nicole Michael scored the goals as Banyana_Banyana overcame Burkina Faso in a return leg played at the nation’s capital on Monday afternoon.

After a 1-1 draw in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire, a few days ago, the defending champions dug deep to secure their ticket to Morocco next year.

At Pretoria’s Lucas Moripe Stadium, Motlhalo’s 55th-minute strike, followed by Michael’s 63rd-minute goal, ensured the defending champions book their spot in Africa’s most prestigious national women’s competition next year.

Meanwhile, in Burundi, Algeria completed the job with a 1-0 win over the East African nation to make a return to the competition after missing out on the 2022 edition in Morocco.

Following their comfortable 5-1 lead at home, the North Africans were assured of a place with an easy return leg against Burundi.

Ines Boutaleb scored as Algeria sealed a 6-1 aggregate two-legged victory and booked a place in Morocco next year.

The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, Morocco 2024 qualifiers continue on Tuesday to determine who will advance to the prestigious women’s national team competition.

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Defending Champions South Africa beat Burkina Faso to book AFCON ticket
Defending Champions South Africa beat Burkina Faso to book AFCON ticket
Ines Boutaleb scored as Algeria sealed a 6-1 aggregate two-legged victory and booked a place in Morocco next year.
Ines Boutaleb scored as Algeria sealed a 6-1 aggregate two-legged victory and booked a place in Morocco next year.
Benchikha appointed Simba coach after Oliveira exit
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Simba appoint Algerian Abdelhak Benchikha as head coach

Tanzanian giants Simba SC have confirmed the appointment of Algerian Abdelhak Benchikha as their new head coach.

The Reds of Msimbazi announced their new boss via Facebook with a welcoming message, “Welcome to our new coach, Abdelhak Benchikha.”

Benchikha will kick start his Simba reign after the dismissal of Brazilian Roberto Oliveira. Last season, Benchikha guided Algerian club USM Alger to TotalEnergies Confederation Cup glory. 

Simba ended Oliveira’s 18-month tenure after a disappointing African Super League elimination by Al Ahly last month.

The Algerian first task ended in a 1-1 draw against ASEC Mimosa

in the TotalEnergies Champions League encounter on Saturday. 

Benchikha had a success story with USM Alger after he delivered a continental trophy. 

Hopefully, their new technician can replicate USM Alger’s success after recent setbacks.

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Burkina Faso wallop Ethiopia to go second behind Egypt
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Burkina Faso wallop Ethiopia to go second behind Egypt

The Les Étalons of Burkina Faso recorded their first win in the 2026 World Cup qualifier over Ethiopia Walias on Tuesday in Morocco.

All three goals were scored in the second half at El Jadida, Morocco, to claim up to second behind Egypt.

The Burkinabess opened the scoring in the 69th minute through a Blati Touré (Burkina Faso) right-footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal, assisted by Bertrand Traoré.

Ten minutes later, Bertrand Traoré (Burkina Faso) converted a penalty with a left-footed shot to the high centre of the goal.

Their third came in the 90th minute from Dango Ouattara’s right-footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.

Having opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Guinea Bissau third on Friday, they now secured four points from their opening two matches ahead of Bissua on goal difference. 

Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and Djibouti are fourth, fifth and sixth on the table, respectively, following matchday two.

Elsewhere, South Africa suffered a serious setback in Group C after losing to Rwanda in Butare. Rwanda won 2-0 both goals in the first half, while the South Africans battled to create attacking opportunities for themselves.

Rwanda tops the group with four points, followed by South Africa with three, Nigeria, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe with two apiece and Benin with a point – precisely on the table.

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Côte d’Ivoire beat The Gambia 2-0 to make it two in two in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Cote d’Ivoire’s perfect start as Liberia suffer second defeat

2023 Africa Cup of Nations host Cote d’Ivoire recorded a second straight win in their 2026 World Cup qualifying after beating the Gambia 2-0 on Monday to maintain their 100 per cent record.

Christian Kouame and Seko Fofana scored the goals for the Elephant in Dar es Salaam at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium, where Gambia played their home Group F tie.

As a result, Jean-Louis Gasset’s side topped Group H with six points and eleven goals in favour. 

Elsewhere in Group H, Ten-man Liberia suffered a second straight defeat in the qualifiers after Equatorial Guinea defeated the Lone Star 1-0 courtesy of captain Emilio Nsue’s early goal. 

Emilio Nsue was the scorer for Equatorial Guinea in their opening win against Namibia on Wednesday. 

In th day’s other matches, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya and Madagascar recorded emphatic away victories over Djibouti, Seychelles and Chad, respectively.

The qualifiers take place on Tuesday as teams aim to gain early advantages.

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FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifying matches and results on Monday
FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifying matches and results on Monday
A brace from striker Mahmoud Trezeguet gave Egypt a 2-0 win over a 9-man Sierra Leone at the Samuel K. Doe stadium in Monrovia on Sunday (19th November 2023)
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Nine-man Sierra Leone suffer 2-0 defeat to Egypt

Mahmoud Trezeguet scored a brace as Egypt dislodged nine-man Sierra Leone in match day two of the 2026 World Cup qualifier in Liberia on Sunday.

Coach Amidu Karim started brightly but was unable to take advantage of half-cut chances in the opening minutes of the game at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Stadium.

The visitors took the lead in the 18-minute after a decent finish as Egypt maintained their perfect start to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with a 2-0 away win against Sierra Leone in Liberia on Sunday.

His second came in the 62-second minute from a clever pass from Liverpool’s striker Mohamed Salah, who fines Trezequet to double the visitors lead.

Sierra Leone frustratedly finished the match with nine players on the field, as Tyrese Fornah and Abdul Jarju Kabia were sent off – with only a point from their opening two games. 

The victory bookmarked Egypt’s first victory over Leone Stars in three meetings as Leone Stars played two games in the qualifiers with no goals, one draw and a loss and two goals conceded,

Egypt sits atop Group A with an impeccable six points from two games, leading ahead of Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Ethiopia, and Sierra Leone, each having amassed only one point after one game.

How qualifying works

The nine group winners will qualify automatically for the FIFA World Cup 26™. The four best runners-up will compete for one place at the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.

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Sierra Leone with a chance to shine and make world headlines
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone with a chance to shine and make world headlines

On Sunday, a win for Sierra Leone will surely make global news as they welcome African giant Egypt for their third meeting in match day two of their 2026 World Cup Group A qualifier in the Liberia capital, Monrovia.

Maximum points for the host will be significant as Egypt and Sierra Leone gear up for a pivotal World Cup qualifying match.

Coach Amidu Karim opened the 2026 World Cup qualifier with a draw against Ethiopia in Morocco under difficult circumstances. 

Coming from a comfortable 6-0 thrashing over Djibouti, Sierra Leone must dig deep to get anything against the seven-time African champions. 

Mohamed Salah and Mohamed Elneny made their International debut when Sierra Leone first defeated Egypt 2-1 in September 2011 in the 2012 African Cup of Nations Group G qualifier. 

Portuguese coach Rui Vitoria will count on the Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, Nantes Striker Mostafa Mohamed, Zamalek’s Ahmed Mostafa Sayed & Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny, to name a few, if they are to register two straight wins. 

Sierra Leone does not have the big pedigree superstars like their opposition. However, team spirit can be vital, like when they stage a four-goal comeback against the Super Eagles of Nigeria at the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, Edo State, during the AFCON qualifier in November 2020.

The Sierra Leone coach remains optimistic about their prospects against Egypt, a team with seven African Cup of Nations titles under its belt. 

Mo Salah, who becomes the Pharoahs’ all-time top scorer in World Cup qualifiers after his four goals against Djibouti, is without a doubt – one of the weapons to defuse by the Leone Stars left-back Emmanuel Samadia, supported by his left winger. 

The significance of this encounter is immense for both teams, with the Pharaohs aiming to maintain their dominance and Sierra Leone wanting to stay on course for their first World Cup appearance.

Sierra Leone coach Karim holds fond memories of his time in the Egyptian league during the 1990s and hopes to steer his team towards their maiden World Cup appearance.

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Blackpool to represent Sierra Leone in ACA Inaugural meeting in Cairo
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Blackpool to represent Sierra Leone in ACA Inaugural meeting in Cairo

MIGHTY BLACKPOOL FC Chairman Rodney Michael and Vice Chairman Theophilus Sho Cole will be representing Sierra Leone’s Premier League clubs amongst 54 others from Africa in the newly established African Clubs Association (ACA) in Cairo on the 30th of November, 2023.

The invitation from the CAF GENERAL SECRETARY addressed to the Chairman was sent on the 1st of November, 2023.

In his letter, the General Secretary clarified that it was agreed that only ‘the Chairmen and Presidents of highest ranked and most popular clubs.’ would be invited.

The essence of the meeting is for the founding members invited to elect the first Executive and approve the new statutes.

The initiative of establishing the African Clubs Association, as a replica of the European Clubs Association (ECA), is the initiative of CAF President Motsepe, who has suggested the newly elected President should be part of the CAF EXCO deliberations in the future.

It is a step in the right direction and a recognition by the CAF PRESIDENT of the significant role the African clubs play in the promotion of football in the continent and within their respective countries under tremendous challenges and huge costs. 

It’s worth commending the CAF PRESIDENT AND CAF AS A WHOLE for football, as it is in Africa, is pure sacrifice and not yet of full commercial benefit.

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