Category: Football Africa

Salah, Elneny among foreign-based named in Egypt's squad
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Salah, Elneny among foreign-based named in Egypt’s squad

The Pharaohs of Egypt head coach Rui Vitoria listed nine foreign-based players in his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifying camp in November.

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny are among key notable players. 

Eintracht Frankfurt winger Omar Marmoush, Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed, and Pendikspor forward Ahmed ‘Kouka’ Hassan were all named for their opening two World Cup qualifiers.

Al-Wakrah SC midfielder Hamdi Fathi, Ittihad Jeddah midfielder Tarek Hamed, and Khaleej FC striker Mohamed Sherif were all included by the Portuguese coach.

Also leading the list of foreign-based players is Trabzonspor winger Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan.

Coach Vitoria will start his Pharaohs 2026 World Cup campaign against Djibouti on 16 November in Cairo before taking on Sierra Leone on 19 November in Liberia.

Egypt to travel with an 82-man delegation to Liberia on a private jet for the World Cup qualifier against Sierra Leone on 19 November at the SKD.

The delegation includes at least 18 members of the technical staff and 43 players.

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Baciro Candé names Djurtus 23-man sqaud for World Cup 2026 qualifiers
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Baciro Candé names Djurtus squad for World Cup qualifiers

Guinea Bissau head coach Baciro Candé has named a 23-man Djurtus squad for this month’s World 2026 opening two qualifiers.

Coach Baciro Candé announced his sqaud on Friday, 3rd November, as he set sights on preparation for Burkina Faso at the Grand Stadium of Marrakech before taking on Djibouti in Cairo (Egypt) on the 17th and 20th November, respectively.

England’s Bolton midfielder Carlos Mendes Gomes and Spanish forward Marciano Tchami are the latest in the draft, with Moreto Cassama and Mama Balde returning.

Group A consists of Egypt, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and Djibouti in the race to the next World Cup.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be played across three North American nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Here is the roster of the drafted players:

Keepers – Jonas Mendes, Ouparine Djoco and Celton Biai 

Defenders – Opa Sangante, Nanu, Marcelo Djalo, Soriano Mané, Mendes Onion, Fali Cande, Jefferson Encada

Midfielders – Alfa Semedo, Moreto Cassama, Carlos Mané, January afternoon, Fernando de Lacerda Gomes and Quiz time

Strikers – Mama Baldé, Mauro Teixeira, Euciodalcio Gomes, Carlos Mendes Gomes, Franculin Dju, John Pedro Silva and Marciano Sanca Tchami

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Gebremedhin Haile names 30-man squad for Sierra Leone & Burkina Faso
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Gebremedhin Haile names 30-man squad for Sierra Leone & Burkina Faso

Newly appointed Ethiopia head coach Gebremedhin Haile has named a 30-man squad as he starts his preparation for their Opening World Cup Qualifiers this month.

The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) announced the appointment of Gebremedhin on a 250,000 birr a month (net) contract during a joint press briefing on Friday.

Gebremedhin’s first task is against Sierra Leone before taking on Burkina Faso on the 15 and 21st at the Al Abdi stadium, respectively.

The new boss has previously spent a year as the Walias coach in 2016. He is also the head coach for the Ethiopian Premier League side Medhin FC.

Media reports in Ethiopia have confirmed that he will perform his Club duties alongside his new role until the end of the current Premier League season.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, the writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32, Contact Bi****@*****************ne.net, African News. 

Newly appointed Ethiopia head coach Gebremedhin Haile has named a 30-man squad to start the 2026 World Cup qualifying preparations.
Newly appointed Ethiopia head coach Gebremedhin Haile has named a 30-man squad to start the 2026 World Cup qualifying preparations.
Amara Nallo features for Liverpool U21 in a draw with Benfica in the International Cup
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Amara Nallo features in Liverpool’s International Cup draw with Benfica

Liverpool U21s played to a 1-1 with Benfica in the Premier League International Cup group stage. 

A dazzling 30-yarder from Filipe Cruz as the visitors opened the scoring to cap a period of Benfica dominance during the first half, but the Reds swiftly levelled through a clinical James McConnell header.

A Liverpool clearance came out to Cruz, and from fully 30 yards, he lashed an outstanding strike that dipped into the right corner for 1-0.

Amara Nallo, 16, has been a pivotal central defender for Barry Lewtas’s Liverpool U21 young team since he joined from West Ham. 

The young Reds return to Premier League 2 action against Nallo’s former team, West Ham, on Saturday.

Amara Nallo Liverpool U21 – Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, U21 News and Players Abroad. 

Sundowns and Wydad register slender wins in AFL semis
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sundowns & Wydad register slender wins in AFL semis

Mamelodi Sundowns and Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca managed a vital 1-0 home win over Egyptian giant Al Ahly and Tunisian side Esperance in the first leg of their African Football League semi-finals.

Thapelo Maseko sealed victory with his second-half goal for the South Africans at Loftus Versfeld Stadium as Hicham Bousfiane gave Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca a goal advantage over their North African counterparts on Sunday.

On Wednesday, four-time African champions Esperance will still fancy their chances of overcoming their visitors on home soil as African giant Al Ahly plans a pathway to the next stage against Sundowns at their Cairo fortress.

Both return leg matches are expected to be fireworks in Cairo and Tunisia, respectively. 

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Sierra Leone line-up friendlies for World Cup qualifiers
by David Lebbie

Sierra Leone up two places in latest Fifa ranking

The Sierra Leone national team have moved up two places from 124 in September to 122 in October’s Fifa ranking announced on Thursday.

The Leone Stars had a successful trip in Morocco during the Fifa window, having played to a 1-1 draw against Benin on October 14th before defeating Somalia 2-0 in a recent training camp in Morocco three days later.

Coach Amidu Karim’s side will start their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign against Ethiopia at the Mohamed V Sports Complex in Casablanca on 15th November before hosting the Pharoah of Egypt in the Liberian Capital on 19 November 2023.

In Africa, Sierra Leone ranked 32nd best side as Morocco remains Africa’s number one nation, as well as maintaining 13th in the world ranking.

Senegal is second in Africa and occupies the 20th place in the world. Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali, Ivory Coast and Burkina-Faso are the top ten teams.

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Sierra Leone 🇸🇱 up two places from 124 in September to 122 in October’s Fifa ranking
Sierra Leone 🇸🇱 up two places from 124 in September to 122 in October’s Fifa ranking
Global top 10 - Argentina (1st) maintain a healthy lead (8.18 points) over their closest challengers, France
Global top 10 - Argentina (1st) maintain a healthy lead (8.18 points) over their closest challengers, France
Al Ahly beat Simba to set Sundowns African Football League date
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Al Ahly eliminate Simba to set Sundowns African Football League date

On Tuesday, Al Ahly eliminated Tanzania Simba to set a date with South African Mamelodi Sundowns in the semifinals of the African Champions League.

After a 2-2 draw in Tanzania, the Egyptian giants emerged victorious on an away goal rule as they booked their place in the inaugural African Football League (AFL) semifinals. The first leg match had ended 1-1 at Cairo International.

Sundowns of South Africa, on the other hand, confirmed their semifinal spot with a goalless draw after they played most of the tie with a man down against th Petro Atletico on Tuesday.

They won the first leg 2-0 away and will play Egyptian side Al-Ahly in Sunday’s first-leg semis match. 

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In Uyo, Nigeria, Wydad Casablanca of Morocco secured narrow victory over their rival in the first leg.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

TP Mazembe, Wydad register AFL quarterfinal first leg wins

TP Mazembe of DR Congo and Wydad Casablanca of Morocco registered wins over their rivals in the first leg of the African Football League quarter-finals on Sunday.

Cheick Oumar Fofana’s first-leg goal was enough as TP Mazembe registered a hard-fought 1-0 win over Tunisian side Esperance.

Fofana. 19, 11th-minute head put Mazembe in front at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Tanzania to give the DR Congo club a slender advantage.

Mazembe gave a good account of themselves as they controlled the early exchanges before Fofana connected with Phillipe Kinzumbi’s pinpoint delivery to score what proved the winner.

Despite all efforts from the Tunisian side, Mazembe held on to secure a vital away goal and advantage ahead of the second leg in Tunisia this Wednesday.

In Uyo Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, Wydad Casablanca of Morocco secured a narrow victory over their Nigerian counterpart in the first leg.

The Moroccan side defeated Enyimba 1-0. The match-winning goal was scored by Wydad’s skipper Yahya Jabrane in the 39th minute from the penalty spot at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

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Coach Amidu Karim is pleased with Leone Stars' friendly results
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Coach Amidu Karim reflects on first two games in charge

Amidu Karim says he was pleased with his opening two matches as head coach in charge of Sierra Leone’s Leone Stars for friendly games in Morocco.

On Tuesday, his preparation continued following a 2-0 win over Somalia in a tier-two friendly in Casablanca, Morocco. His first task was a 1-1 draw with Benin.

Leone Stars secured a pass mark unbeaten in their Morocco camp, a start to life the coach was pleased about. 

Under Karim’s guidance, Odense Boldklub striker Mohamed Buya Turay scored his first three International goals for Sierra Leone.

“Generally, the experience was a unique one, as a technical team, we are pleased with the outcome of both matches. I am pleased also because it is my first time as head coach – hence, starting well in charge was precisely the target.”

“In the competition proper, two games and four points will be immense for us. However, this is just a start – we remain focused and working on the areas to strengthen ahead of difficult matches in November. 

I was a bit disappointed not to win against Benin as we came very close. I must commend the players for their commitment as well. In Football, it’s not easy to get 100 per cent, but they’ve shown me a lot. We still have to make decisions for the success of Sierra Leone.”

The World Cup 2026 qualifiers will see Sierra Leone battle Ethiopia and Egypt in Group A doubleheader in November – these games will be the ultimate test in Karim’s reign. 

Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, powerhouse Egypt, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau and Djibouti all makeup Group A in the race to the 2026 World Cup.

The continental journey to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the USA, Mexico and Canada will begin in November 2023. 

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, the writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32, Contact Bi****@*****************ne.net. National News.

Sierra Leone ease past Somalia Blue Stars in Morocco
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone ease past Somalia in Morocco

On Tuesday, Sierra Leone continued their World Cup preparation with a pass mark after securing a 2-0 win over Somalia in a tier-two friendly in Casablanca, Morocco.

Cheltenham defender Curtis Davies, 38, and HSV Hoek center-back Augustine Loof, 27, both made their debut for Sierra Leone in the win as they played the full throttle of the contest.

Having secured a 1-1 draw against Benin in coach Amidu Karims’s first outing with the Leone Stars on Saturday, striker Mohamed Buya Turay opened the scoring for Sierra Leone from the spot.

Coach Karim’s side was awarded a penalty after the Somalia keeper Bilaal Njie brought down the Odense Boldklub striker in the box in the 24th minute.

Turay comfortably converted the spot kick for his second Leone Stars goal in Morocco before completing his brace after a scintillating pass from the right wing in the 58th minute.

Tuesday’s win was the first for the new Leone Stars technical as they continue preparation for World Cup 2026 qualifiers.

Somalia were not a threat to Sierra Leone for most of the game. However, they’ll face a much tougher test against Ethiopia and Egypt in the November World Cup doubleheader.

Sierra Leone in Group A against Ethiopia, powerhouse Egypt, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau and Djibouti are the others in the race to the 2026 World Cup.

The continental journey to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the USA, Mexico and Canada will begin in November 2023. 

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Sierra Leone ease past Somalia Blue Stars in Morocco.
Sierra Leone ease past Somalia Blue Stars in Morocco.
Sierra Leone had a successful camp in the International window in Morocco
Sierra Leone had a successful camp in the International window in Morocco