by FSL News | 22 Jan, 2018 | African News
Ex-football superstar George Weah has been sworn in as president of Liberia.
“I have spent many years of my life in stadiums, but today is a feeling like no other,” President Weah told crowds in the capital Monrovia.
It is Liberia’s first transition between democratically-elected leaders since 1944.
Mr Weah thanked his predecessor, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, for bringing peace to the country after years of civil war.
- Born 1 October 1966, grew up in a slum in Liberia’s capital
- Signed by Arsene Wenger to Monaco from Cameroonian club Tonnerre Yaoundé.
- Made Monaco debut in 1987, went on to play for AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.
- Only African to win Fifa World Player of the Year
- First ran for president in 2005, losing to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
- Graduated with a business degree from a US university after being accused of lacking education
- Elected president in December 2017
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by FSL News | 20 Jan, 2018 | Players Abroad News
New Vancouver Whitecaps FC acquisition, Kei Kamara, hopes his goals will help the Canadian side with a chance to run for the Major League Cup title.
The Veteran MLS goal poacher, who signed from New England Revolutions will give Vancouver a new dimension going forward and will be wearing the No 23 jersey.
The Whitecaps will starts at home against Montreal Impact when the new MLS 2018 campaign kicks off in March.
Kamara has been a proven target man – a big target man to get on the end of important crosses when necessary with the ability to play as a lone striker when required.
“The club were in the playoffs and just getting into the playoffs is not enough,” Kamara told Vancouver reporters Wednesday.
“Me also as a player, I’ve been in the playoffs, I’ve been in the final, but that’s never enough.
“What’s enough is really bigger than that, which is winning a championship. Coming here, I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself or my teammates, but that’s what you play for.”
Kamara, 33, who scored 12 goals and five assists in 31 appearances with the Revolution last season is also relishing the Vancouver challenge.
“Bring on the pressure,” Kamara said. “I love playing under pressure. … I’m ready for that. I played in England. If there’s any criticism in soccer in general, it’s bigger over there than in any other place.
“It’s good. Players should be players, and coaches and clubs should be held accountable for if it’s not going well. That’s the pressure that you want to have as players, or as an organization.”
“For me, if I’m not scoring goals, put me on the bench,” Kamara added “It shows me that I’m not doing well and I need to work a little bit harder.
“I can’t wait. If the pressure’s going to come from the city, then that’s great because then the city knows that when you’re winning games, everybody’s going to fill out the stadium. We look forward to that.”
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by FSL News | 20 Jan, 2018 | Players Abroad News
Alhassan ‘Crespo’ Kamara has returned to full training with BK Häcken first-team after four months out.
The striker, who took part with his team-mates on Friday is hoping to revive his career following a troubled period last season.
The return of the Sierra Leonean will serve as a real boost for new head coach Andreas Alms.
The 25 years old, who experienced surgery in September is anxious to get back to full action ahead of the new campaign.
The Sierra Leone striker has had major injury problems during his career but the last few months have been heavy.
“Feels great to be back in full training after being away from football for this long,” The 25-year-old told footballsierraleone.net.
He added, “I’m craving to kick-start the new Swedish Allsvenskan season, very happy to be injury free.”
“He is expected to slowly build on his fitness in the coming weeks as he edges towards a first-team return,” a source close to Häcken said.
Prior to his injury Kamara scored five goals in 12 appearances for the Gothenburg side.
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by FSL News | 19 Jan, 2018 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone ranking in photo
Sierra Leone have moved down to 98th position in the first 2018 FIFA world rankings announced on Thursday.
The national men’s soccer side finished 2017 as the 97th best-ranked team in the world.
In Africa, Leone Stars position unchanged as the 23rd best on the continental pecking order – they’re static on 360 points.
Their highest ever rankings came in August 2014, when they were ranked 50th globally.
Sierra Leone last official competitive match was against Nigeria during the WAFU Cup of Nations in September 2017, they were defeated 2-0 by Nigeria’s home-based Eagles at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium in Ghana.
Meanwhile, Tunisia have replaced Senegal at the top of the continent global ladder.
Africa’s top 10 (World position in brackets)
Tunisia (23) Senegal (24) Egypt (30) Morocco (39) DR Congo (43) Burkina Faso (44) Cameroon (45) Ghana (50) Nigeria (51) Algeria (57)
Germany maintained top spot of a static top ten, while Iceland (20, up 2) are the only team to enter the top 20, with the Netherlands (21, down 1) dropping out.
Follow Us On twitter @football_sierra @bitta32 Photo Credit Lansana Kamara
by FSL News | 18 Jan, 2018 | African News
CAF: Striker Walaal Musa was the hero for Sudan in the quarter-final following a 1-0 win over a spirited Mauritania from Group A.
The victory saw the Desert Hawks qualify for the last eight joining host Morocco who had earlier beaten Guinea 3-1 at the same venue in Casablanca.
The African Nations Championship (CHAN), is the continent tournament for locally-based players only.
Corentin Martins’ chargers started the better side as Hameya Tanjy headed El Mostapha Diaw’s inviting cross over the Sudan goal with eleven minutes on the clock.
Mauritania came close again from a set piece Sidi Mohamed Bilal stabbing wide Alassane Diop’s curling effort.
Babacar Bagili pounced on a misplaced back past in the Sudanese back but he couldn’t beat the rushing keeper and wasted the opportunity much to the frustration of manager Martins.
Walaal Musa punished the wasteful Mauritanians with a clinical stylish finish from captain Mohamed Tahir’s delightful assist.
Moulaye Ahmed Khalil found space on the right but his near post cross was cleared just wide of Akram Abdeltam’s goal by towering defender Omer.
Sudan hangs on to secure their second win of the tournament and book a place at the quarters, their first since 2011 when they hosted the tournament.
Morocco and Sudan have six points each with Guinea and Mauritania pointless in that order.
Reactions
Logarusic Zdravko Hrvatsko (Head Coach, Sudan)
I must congratulate Mauritania because they also have their chances but could not take it. Sometimes you have to be lucky a bit so we’re lucky to be facing Morocco in the last game. My target is the next game so let me enjoy this moment.
We’re not here as tourist; we came here to compete so let’s see what will happen in next game.
Corentin Martins (Head Coach, Mauritania)
On Saturday I was disappointed with my forwards but today I cannot blame them. Tonight, it was a competition and that will not change against Guinea because we have defend the Mauritanian flag. We did not refuse to play football; we did play and you can see we created chances.
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Sierra Leone | Highlights -