by FSL News | 20 Jul, 2017 | African News
24 teams will contest the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) when the next tournament takes place in 2019, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed.
CAF’s Executive Committee rubber-stamped the proposal on Thursday, at a meeting in the Moroccan capital, Rabat.
Africa’s flagship sporting event has featured 16 teams since 1996.
This implies that two teams from each of the 12 qualifying groups in the ongoing campaign, including the hosts, will sail through.
However, a decision on whether the finals will be moved from January and February to June and July is still awaited.
Meanwhile, Morocco is reported to have committed to hosting the 2019 event should Cameroon fail to cope with the burden of the expanded tournament.
The West African country that will be defending the title won in January will have recently been under pressure with critics doubting her preparedness for AFCON even before today’s development.
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by FSL News | 18 Jul, 2017 | Players Abroad News
Walsall striker Amadou Bakayoko has set himself a target of 15 goals for the English League One outfit.
Bakayoko, 21, who won the Walsall FC Young Player of the Year award for the 2016/17 season, scored ten goals in all competitions last year.
After completing Walsall’s intense pre-season boot camp in the Lake District, the Sierra Leone-born wants to make the most of his season.
“I’m going for 15 goals or more. And I want to be the main man for the team. I want to be part of a team that is winning football matches and pushing up that table,” he said.
“I feel strong and I can’t wait for the season to get started. I’m really ready to go. The team has been working incredibly hard and we’re all really looking forward to the start of the season,” he told Express and Star.
While in the Lake District, the players spent time completing intense obstacle courses, climbing mountains, abseiling and swimming in Lake Windermere.
Bakayoko, who made 45 appearances in all competitions, is well known for his scoring exploits.
The prolific striker, who was the leading goal scorer for the Walsall youth team has also had spells at Port Vale in April 2014 and AFC Telford United.
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by FSL News | 18 Jul, 2017 | African News
North London Premier League side, Arsenal, are reportedly weighing up a bid for Napoli’s Senegalese centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly.
The Gunners are in the market for a central defender and TMW claims that the Teranga Lions man is now Arsene Wenger’s top target.
Koulibaly, 26, has previously been linked with a move to Chelsea, but Antonio Conte’s side failed with several bids last year.
Arsenal have now made an approach but Napoli, for the moment at least, remains unwilling to sell their prized asset.
Kalidou Koulibaly was born and raised in France by Senegalese parents and was therefore eligible for both nations.
He played for the U-20 French side starting in 2011.
However, in early September 2015, Koulibaly changed federations and joined the Senegal national football team
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by FSL News | 17 Jul, 2017 | Players Abroad News
Mannah, Head Coach Yasser Alkinani and the team manager Saheed Kasimis
Aluminium SC new acquisition and Sierra Leone-born midfielder, Abdul Sama Mannah pictured with the club , is eager to impress on the pitch for his new club.
The former Sohag player is currently getting ready for the new season with the Egyptian second-tier side after signing a two-year deal with the Hammadi-based outfit last week.
Mannah, who has been regularly playing as an attacking midfielder in the last two seasons with Sohag is relishing the prospect of helping Aluminium SC gain promotion to the top flight.
He delivered solid performances for Sohag sporting club last year which has made him a mainstay in the division.
While talking to Football Sierra Leone, Mannah admitted that he is ready to play in any attacking role for the club in the new Egyptian second-tier campaign.
“The most important matter for me is not where I play, but that I play,” he said and confirmed his desire as to why he joined the club.
“I’m happy to be here and really looking forward to getting started.
“The club is a very ambitious club and hopefully I can be part of the history, as the determination is to get promoted,” Mannah added.
The club once returned to the Egyptian Premier League at the beginning of the 2007–08 season, following a long absence before relegated back to the Second Division, 2nd (Group A).
He has had spells with Mount Zion and Ghanaian side Medeamaa Sporting club before moving to Egypt.
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by FSL News | 17 Jul, 2017 | Players Abroad News
Sierra Leone defender David Simbo pictured is happy with his new move
Turkish side Eskisehirs Kutuluspor have signed Sierra Leone international defender David Simbo on a one-year contract for an undisclosed fee from Yeni Amasyaspor.
Simbo, 27, is delighted to join Eskisehirs kutuluspor and is ready to rejuvenate his playing career.
“I’m delighted and It’s a great feeling to be playing in Turkey,” Simbo said.
“I also had a great time last season despite been a lower league, I was happy, for me game time matters most.
“I want to thank everyone at Yeni Amasyaspor for my time with them.”
“Everything about Eskisehirs Kutuluspor satisfied me, I’m ready to give 110%, I can’t wait to get started,” the Najran and Krumkachy Minsk player told footballsierraleone.net.
Simbo has had spells in Sweden with → Motala (on loan), Trelleborg (on loan), Boden and Sandviken before joining Sudanese top-flight side Al-Hilal in 2014–2015 and later moved to Najran and Krumkachy Minsk in Belarus.
He started his playing career with local club Mighty Blackpool, where he was impressive before moving abroad.
Our apologies: David Simbo’s new club is not a TFF Lig 1 club as earlier reported, but the same level he played last season, was an Error.
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