by FSL News | 25 Jul, 2019 | African News
- Sierra Leone to open Afcon 2021 campaign at home
- The Leone Stars will face Lesotho Crocodiles for the first time
- Leone Stars last home match was a 2-1 win over Kenya in 2017
Sierra Leone play their first competitive home international match in over two years when the Leone Stars open there Africa Cup of Nations campaign against Crocodiles of Lesotho November 11th in Freetown.
The fixture will be the opening Group L qualifying match of both sides’ in the race for the 2021 AFCON which will be staged in Cameroon.
The two sides have never previously met at any international level, but one thing they do have in common is the colours of their national flags are the same.
Sierra Leone will be hoping to make use of home advantage and open their campaign with a victory at home replicating their 2019 opener against Kenya on June 2017.
Their opponent Lesotho has never qualified for the final stages of the Afcon.
Sierra Leone, on the other hand, participated in the continental big stage 23 years ago during the 1996 Afcon in South Africa.
The country’s soccer team in Dec 2018, were disqualified from the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign because of alleged government interference in running the country’s football association.
Leone Stars lost to Ethiopia in their last Afcon 2019 qualifier before the suspension.
Meanwhile, Sierra Leone second contest in the qualifiers will be away in Benin against The Squirrels eight days after their opener.
During the just-concluded Afcon in Egypt, The Squirrels of Benin were superb unbeaten in their group along Ghana, Guinea-Bissau and Cameroon.
They dismissed one of the tournaments big guns Morocco in the round of 16 4-1 on penalties before losing to Senegal in the Quarter-final.
Group L: Nigeria, Benin Sierra Leone Lesotho
Match Day 1 & 2 fixtures
Match Day 1: November 11, 2019
Nigeria vs. Benin
Sierra Leone vs. Lesotho
Match Day 2: November 19, 2019
Lesotho vs. Nigeria
Benin vs. Sierra Leone
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by FSL News | 24 Jul, 2019 | African News
- Musa Bility banned for 10 years and fined 500,000 Swiss francs ($507,200).
Musa Bility, a senior African football official, has been banned for 10 years by Fifa over financial wrongdoing, including taking funds from a campaign tackling Ebola.
FIFA has said its ethics judges banned Musa Bility, a member of the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee, for 10 years and fined him 500,000 Swiss francs ($507,200).
In 2015, Bility was blocked as a FIFA presidential candidate after the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a ruling that he failed an integrity check.
The Liberian businessman’s ban was announced days after he said he would appeal to CAS against a FIFA-backed plan to send its top administrator from Zurich to oversee the troubled African soccer body.
FIFA says its investigation against Bility was opened last May after a forensic audit of Liberian soccer federation (LFA) accounts.
FIFA found “various payments made by the LFA to (and received from) entities owned by or connected to Mr Bility and his family.”
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by FSL News | 24 Jul, 2019 | African News
Egyptian winger, Mahmoud Hassan, commonly known as Trezeguet, has completed his move to English Premiership side Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee.
Trezeguet, 24, who made four appearances and scored one goal at this summer’s Africa Cup of Nations, is Villa’s ninth summer signing.
The Egypt international winger signed from club Kasimpasa.
He started his career with Egyptian side Al Ahly before moving to Anderlecht in 2015, joining Kasimpasa two years later.
“We’re excited to work with ‘Trez’,” said Villa boss Dean Smith.
“I’ve watched him several times. He’s the type of wide player that we have been looking for who is direct, causes problems for the opposition in the final third and scores goals.”
Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone, the writer Prince Scott @PrinceArmaniSc2.
by FSL News | 21 Jul, 2019 | Players Abroad News
- Midfielder George Davies delighted to be back in action
- He has been out of action since his return to SKN St. Pölten from FC Roga loan spell
SKN St. Pölten midfielder George Davies says he was happy to be back playing football after a long spell out.
Davies was part of the Pölten side that progressed to the next stage of the Austrian Cup after a 2-1 win over S Gloggnitz on Saturday.
The Sierra Leone international was glad to be playing pain-free again his first appearance since returning from FC Riga loan spell in January.
“Happy to be back, after a long time, was not an easy one yesterday but on to the next step, Cup Game, there is more to come,” he posted on his Instagram page.
The 22-year-old made over 20 appearances including Europa League qualifying matches in his nine months spell in Latvia.
Davies was the first from Sierra Leone to win two trophies in Latvia the same season and in history.
He was an instrumental figure helping the Latvian side winning the Latvian top-flight title and Latvian Cup.
He joined Austrian Football Bundesliga side, Pölten on a free transfer in July 2017 from German second league side; SpVgg Greuther Fürth on a three-year deal until 2020.
Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone, the writer Prince Scott @PrinceArmaniSc2.
by FSL News | 21 Jul, 2019 | Players Abroad News
- Conteh enjoying life at Persipura Jayapura under new boss
- He joined the club from PSIS Semarang on a year deal
Midfielder Ibrahim Conteh has admitted that he is loving life under new Brazilian boss Jacksen F Tiago.
Conteh has been a pivotal figure for his new side and has made his fair share of sacrifices since joining the club.
He told this medium that under new boss things have been going on well with his partnership with Tahir and Rivaldo Ferre in midfield.
He was part of the Jayapura winning team that defeated Bhayangkara 1-0 on Sunday.
“I am enjoying myself here at Persipura Jayapura under new boss,” he told FSL News.
“Since the arrival of the new coach, things have been going well, everyone enjoying the new style of play.”
“Out of nine games in this campaign, I have featured in eight but still without a goal.”
“Nevertheless, I am excited to see what the future holds.”
He has had spells with Pelita Bandung Raya, Barito Putera, PS TNI and PSIS Semarang, where he featured in 29 matches scoring five goals and five assists.
Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone, the writer @bittar32 Contact bi****@*********************ne.net.
Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone, the writer @bittar32 Contact bi****@*********************ne.net.
Sierra Leone | Highlights -