Kamara’s Randers share Europa League spoils with Galatasaray

Kamara’s Randers share Europa League spoils with Galatasaray

by | 20 Aug, 2021 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sport News

Sierra Leone international Alhaji Kamara was named on the bench as his Randers side played to a 1-1 draw with Galatasaray SK in the first of their Europa League qualifier at Ceres Park in Denmark.

The Danish side described the tie as a fantastic match in a fantastic setting after a 1-1 draw at home on Thursday night.

Kamara, who has scored twice in Randers opening three games in the Danish Superleague this season, was an unused substitute in the first leg doubleheader.

The visitors scored a vital 22 minute away goal from Karem Aktürkoğlu before Frederick Lauenborg level the scoreline in the 54-minute to give his side a chance ahead of the second leg in Turkey.

The return fixture is set for Thursday, 26 August, and Kamara will be hoping he can play some part to help his club advance at the Türk Telekom Stadyumu.

Patrik Carlgren – Mikkel Kallesøe, Simon Piesinger, Erik Marxen, Björn Kopplin – Tobias Klysner, Lasse Berg Johnsen, Frederik Lauenborg, Simon Tibbling – Vito Hammershøy-Mistrati, Marvin Egho.

The bench:

Jonas Dakir, Jakob Ankersen. Tosin Kehinde, Mads Enggård, Jesper Lauridsen, Oliver Bundgaard Kristensen, Karl Dreier Leth, Issah Salou, Filip Bundgaard Kristensen, Nicolai Brock-Madsen, Alhaji Kamara.

The UEFA Europa League is undergoing a major revamp in 2021/22. The group stage has been reduced from 48 to 32 teams and there will be additional knockout round play-offs prior to the round of 16.

Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone, the writer John Bangura.

Related Articles

Kickers Offenbach sign former German U-19 striker Kargbo

Kickers Offenbach sign former German U-19 striker Kargbo

Jun 15, 2020

Regionalliga club Kickers Offenbach have confirmed the signing of former German U-19 striker Abu Bakarr Kargbo for an undisclosed fee. Kargbo, 27, is a Sierra Leonean-born but was raised in Germany, where he played for the youth U15, U17, and U19 sides.  The former...

read more
Bangura’s Zurich to restart season against Young Boys

Bangura’s Zurich to restart season against Young Boys

Jun 13, 2020

Sierra Leone skipper Umaru Bangura's Swiss top-tier side FC Zürich will kick start the remainder of the season next Friday against title-challengers BSC Young Boys. The Swiss Football League (SFL) will resume on June 19, officials have said with up to five...

read more
‘No small teams in African football’ – Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi 

‘No small teams in African football’ – Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi 

by | 19 Aug, 2021 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi has said his side will be more vigilant in their bid to defend the title as he acknowledged that there are no smaller teams in African football. He was reacting to the just concluded TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon 2021 draw.

Belmadi’s side will face Sierra Leone in their opening tie on January 11 2022 at the Japoma Stadium in Douala. 

The reigning African champions will battle for automatic berths to the round of 16 alongside Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea and Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire Douala in group E.

“It’s a group with obviously a big one from Africa, namely Côte d’Ivoire. It’s a strong team that needs no introduction. We faced them in the quarter-finals of AFCON 2019, and everyone saw the match,” he told CAF online.

“Of course, Algeria and Côte d’Ivoire are the favourites of this group, ahead of Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea. But, you have to know that there are no longer small teams in Africa. There is always a surprise, and we must be ready and vigilant. We should not take things lightly. Otherwise, we risk going by the wayside. We must prepare well to approach this AFCON as it should be and try to achieve the best possible result.”

Ivory Coast and Algeria defeated Sierra Leone in 1994 in Tunis and 1996 in South Africa continental showpiece, respectively.

In Tunisia 1994, the elephant of Ivory Coast walloped Sierra Leone 4-0 on 27 March in Sousse whilst Algeria defeated Sierra Leone 2-0 in 1996 Afcon at the Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein in South Africa.

AFCON GROUP E TEAMS

Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone, the writer @bittar32 Contact bi****@*********************ne.net

.

Kei Kamara: “Playing against the best makes you the best”

Kei Kamara: “Playing against the best makes you the best”

by | 19 Aug, 2021 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

Sierra Leone forward Kei Ansu Kamara on Tuesday joined former Leone Stars captain Mohamed Kallon and others online to react after the tournament’s draw in Yaounde which revealed Sierra Leone in Group E along with Algeria, Equatorial Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon 2021.

Kamara, who scored the only goal against Benin to qualify Sierra Leone as the 24 teams for the continent’s biggest showpiece on June 15 in Guinea, says he is excited about his country being among 23 other nations for the prestigious continental trophy which will as well earn him a maiden lifetime opportunity.

“Algeria’s presence has made our group tough because we’re together with some of the continent’s best and globally ranked nations but as always playing against the best makes you the best.

“I had wished not to be drawn in the same group with a side like Algeria who according to their last performance are theoretically the strongest in Group E but now that we’ll have to face them as one of our three opponents, I believe is as well a golden challenge where we can offer our best as a nation heading to Cameroon next year to compete and win and not merely going there to participate,” remarked an excited Kamara.

Sierra Leone’s Legend and former Leone Stars Captain Mohamed Kallon, who donned the tri-colours of Sierra Leone for over a decade and represented the nation in their last two AFCON appearances in 1994 and 1996 respectively are also optimistic Sierra Leone can progress to the round of 16 and beyond if they don’t sleep on their group opponents.

“These opponents, especially Algeria, are no strangers to us. We played against them 26 years ago, defeated them 1-0 and played to a barren draw in 1994 before losing to them 2-0 in 1996”, recalled Sierra Leone’s most popular former international.

Leone Stars will be looking forward to exceeding their last two performances at the Nations Cup in their third AFCON outing next year when they face Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea on January 11, 16 and 20 next year in Cameroon.

Source CAF Online – African Football News – Follow us on Twitter @football_sierra On Facebook & Instagram: Football Sierra Leone

Osman Kakay pleased after ten-man QPR edge thriller

Osman Kakay pleased after ten-man QPR edge thriller

by | 19 Aug, 2021 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sport News

Sierra Leone defender Osman Kakay has praised his Queens Park Rangers side after their 3-2 win over Middlesborough on Wednesday.

Queens Park Rangers continued their unbeaten streak to the Championship season with a win over Middlesbrough after Chris Willock scored the winner on Wednesday at the Riverside Stadium despite falling behind and being reduced to 10 men.

As a result, the London club standing third on the English Championship table with seven points from their opening three games.

Rangers’ Moses Odubajo second yellow card in the 50th minute means the away team have to play the rest of the match with ten men.

The Sierra Leone right-back made his first Championship appearance this season following his introduction in the 58th minute, replacing Ilias Chair. 

“It’s always good to be playing and win away from home tops it up,” he told FSL News.

“I feel this season, the team has a real togetherness and are all pushing towards a goal, so we work hard fr each other every game.”

“You have to win ugly sometimes and defend your goal with passion, and you saw that tonight,” QPR manager Mark Warburton told BBC Radio London.

Chris Willock of Queens Park Rangers left footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner assisted by Stefan Johansen was enough to seal the victory.

Results: Middlesbrough 2, Queens Park Rangers 3. 

Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone, the writer @bittar32 Contact bi****@*********************ne.net

Sierra Leone to open Afcon against defending Champions Algeria

Sierra Leone to open Afcon against defending Champions Algeria

by | 17 Aug, 2021 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News

Sierra Leone will have a lot to chew after the Afcon 2021 draw pits the Leone stars against two former champions and a host. 

Making its third appearance, Sierra Leone will open its first campaign in 26 years against titleholders Algeria on January 11 at the Japoma Stadium in Douala. 

Five days later, Sierra Leone takes on the elephant of the Ivory Coast at the same venue. The Leone Stars will be up against Equatorial Guinea in their final game at the Omnisport Stadium in Limbe. 

The West African nation will go up against Algeria, Ivory Coast and Equatorial Guinea in Group E for two automatic places to the round of 16. 

The draw was conducted at Yaounde Conference Centre on Tuesday. The 24 participating teams were divided into six groups of four teams each. 

In Tunisia 1994, the elephant of Ivory Coast walloped Sierra Leone 4-0 on 27 March in Sousse whilst Algeria defeated Sierra Leone 2-0 in 1996 Afcon at the Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein in South Africa. 

This will be the first meeting between Equatorial Guinea and Sierra Leone in a continental showpiece. However, the two nations have played each other six times, with the West African Nations won 3-2 during a FIFA World Cup qualifier on 7 September 2013. 

Although the tournament is delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 24 team Afcon 2021 competition gets underway in less than five months. The 33rd CAF African Cup of Nations (AFCON), taking place from the 9th January to the 6th February 2022 in Cameroon. 

Meanwhile, five-time Africa Cup of Nations winners Cameroon will open the tournament against Burkina Faso, runners-up of 2013 AFCON. 

Sierra Leone Group E Matches

11 January 2022

Algeria Vs Sierra Leone
Japoma stadium, Douala
13:00GMT

16 January 2022

Ivory Coast Vs Sierra Leone
Japoma stadium, Douala
16:00GMT

20 January 2022

Sierra Leone Vs Equatorial Guinea
Limbé stadium, Limbé
16:00GMT

The Full Draw

Group A: Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Cape Verde

Group B: Senegal, Zimbabwe, Guinea, Malawi

Group C: Morocco, Ghana, Comoros, Gabon

Group D: Nigeria, Egypt, Sudan, Guinea-Bissau

Group E: Algeria, Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast

Group F: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Gambia

Road to Final

  • Group stage: from January 9 to 20, 2022
  • Round of 16: January 23-26, 2022
  • Quarter-finals: January 29 and 30, 2022
  • Semi-finals: February 2 and 3, 2022
  • Third Place match and Final: February 6, 2022

Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone, the writer @bittar32 Contact bi****@*********************ne.net