by FSL News | 13 Nov, 2020 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
- Sierra Leone in search of their third African Cup Of Nations final come from 4-0 down to 4-4 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City on Friday.
- Thanks to a brace from Randers FC striker Alhaji Kamara, who scored in the 72nd and 86th minutes while the Anderlecht man Mustapha Bundu impressed with his 80th-minute goal.
- As a result, Sierra Leone up to third in Group L while Nigeria remain top spot on seven points, four clear of Benin who hosts Lesotho on Saturday.
Host super Eagles race into quick four goals lead from Alex Iwobi’s brace, Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwuese in the opening half-hour, but their resilient visitors fought back.
Sierra Leone was able to pull a goal back before the interval as Kwame Quee slipped the ball underneath the onrushing Maduka Okoye.
John Keister’s men took confidence from Quee’s strike and scored a second in the 72nd minute as Alhaji Kamara nodded home from close range.
Sierra Leone showed maturity and composure after their first goal and took control of proceedings.
Heavy-weight Alhaji Kamara completed the comeback in the 86th minute with his second of the game as the Leone Stars claimed a remarkable result that will long live in the memory of those involved.
A star-studded Nigeria side, ranked 32nd in the World, could settle for a point against Sierra Leone ranked 88th places below in the global Rankings.
by FSL News | 13 Nov, 2020 | African News, Sport News
Hebei Fortune China striker Mohamed Buya Turay, and MLS fifth all-time top scorer, Kei Kamara, to lead the Leone Stars attack against Nigeria.
Keister’s men face with a tough away job at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City. Kickoff 17 hrs local time.
Former Chelsea academy graduate, Orebro SK left-back, Kevin Wright to make his official Sierra Leone debut.
In midfield, Keshla midfielder John Kamara, former Bolton enforcer Mohamed Medo Kamara and Kwame Quee to battle the Super Egles in the pack.
Local keeper East End Lions Mohamed Kamara, who was in goal in matchday two 1-0 defeat in Benin keep his position.
Coach John Keister will be hoping for a positive result in Nigeria before the return fixture in Freetown on the 17 at the Siaka Steven Stadium.
Nigeria coach Rohr earlier this week has stated that they are aiming to secure qualification for the 2022 Afcon finals in Cameroon in the double-header fixtures this month.
The Leone Stars’ only point came after a 1-1 draw against Lesotho before they suffered a 1-0 loss against Benin.
A reminder of Group L qualification standings
Sierra Leone bottom of 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifying standings
by FSL News | 13 Nov, 2020 | Players Abroad News, Sport News
- Sierra Leone players subjected to mandatory covid-19 tests this morning before taking on Nigeria later this evening at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City this Friday, Football Sierra Leone understands.
Reports coming from Nigeria have indicated that Keister’s men will be tested for Covid-19 on Friday morning before the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The three-time African champions face the Leone Stars, who are in dire need of a win to revive their Cameroon 2022 ambitions.
The Super Eagles will battle Sierra Leone in the qualifiers double-header against Sierra Leone on 13, 17 November.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed all medical tests carried out on Super Eagles players and coaches returned negative results.
The contest will mark the fifteenth meeting between the two West African Nations in competitive and friendly internationals. Sierra Leone has won two, lost nine, and drew three of their games with the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
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by FSL News | 12 Nov, 2020 | African News, Sport News
- Sierra Leone national head coach John Keister has urged his players to have the right mentality and belief going into matchday three of the African Cup of Nations qualifier in Nigeria.
- Keister’s men face with a tough away job at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
- The Leone Stars have only won once in their last six outings that include the two recent friendlies in October.
- Ranked 88th places below Nigeria, Sierra Leone must avoid a back to back defeat, worst-case scenario a win at home, if they are to rejuvenate their chances for Cameroon next year.
- Sierra Leone full 23-man squad will train for the first time in Nigeria today.
- The Leone Stars’ going into Friday’s tie in search to reach their third Afcon finals. They last featured at the 1996 edition in South Africa.
Fifteen of the sixteen foreign-based named will be available for the quick-double on 13 and 17 as Keister urged his players to put faith in their abilities.
Keister will bank on the likes of MLS veteran Kei Kamara, who scored Leone Stars winner against Liberia in Freetown during the World Cup elimination last September.
Randers striker Alhaji Kamara is in good form with his Danish Superligaen side same could be said of China-based striker Mohamed Buya Turay who has accounted for six goals four assists in all competition with Hebei China Fortune.
LA Galaxy striker Augustine William is another secret weapon in Keister’s side. A proving goal scorer with 13 goals for LA Galaxy II this season. His 13 goals and two assists helped him finished second in the race for the USL Championship’s Golden Boot.
Williams’ impressive form this campaign has led to USL key observers named him to the 2020 USL Championship All-League First Team.
Nigeria, on the other hand, in dire need of a win to strengthen their Cameroon 2022 ambitions.
Their last international game in Benin City was a friendly against Botswana which ended in a goalless draw. Without any exaggeration, the Eagles have only won one of their four matches in the multi-purpose stadium named after two-time Governor of the old Bendel State (now Edo State), the late Dr Samuel Ogbemudia.
With the likes of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, Genk and Jupiler top-scorer Paul Onuachu who replace Moses Simon, Everton attacker midfielder Alex Iwobi, German coach Gernot Rohr has a lot of firepowers.
Nigeria’s last eight goals have been scored by six different players. Victor Osimhen is the highest goal scorer in Group L with three goals. Everton’s Alex Iwobi, Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze and Bordeaux’s Samuel Kalu have a goal each to their names.
“As a group, we have to be positive in our approach in both games. It’s not the easiest of games taking on one of the best nations in our continent,” Keister to FSL UK a day before departed Freetown.
The Manchester-born, former Sierra Leone International further urged his players to have the right mentality.
“Going into the game against Nigeria, we have to be clever in our method, and we have to be honest about it. We have been working on our strategies, but we must have the right mentality.”
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by FSL News | 11 Nov, 2020 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
Prominent football philanthropist and seasoned administrator, Rodney Michael is set to declare for the Presidency of the Sierra Leone Football Association, close allies have informed Football Sierra Leone.
In 2013, Rodney Michael and Sierra Leone superstar Mohamed Kallon were among those disqualified from contesting the SLFA presidential election.
As a result, Isha Johansen, who now doubles as CAF Executive Council member, went unopposed to become the first female president of the SLFA.
Rodney Michael remains the most revered and popular football administrator in the country. His declaration is bound to trigger another hot contest in the race. It will be interesting to know what happens next after his pronouncement.
Close sources have indicated another attempt to find ways of disqualifying his candidacy is already brewing. Football Sierra Leone will follow this developing story as it unveils.
There is no official date yet for the SLFA elective congress.
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Sierra Leone | Highlights -