by FSL News | 30 May, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
With both countries preparing for the first leg encounter of the 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifiers, the Vice President of the Liberian Football Association (LFA), Musa Shannon has hinted that modalities are being put in place for a friendly encounter with Sierra Leone possibly at least few days before both teams play their respective matches on June 10th and 11th.
Sierra Leone’s Leone Stars are billed to play against the Harambee Stars of Kenya in Freetown during that weekend while the Lone Stars of Liberia will be flying to Harare, Zimbabwe to clash with the Warriors of Zimbabwe in their Group G opener.
Shannon made this disclosure during a radio interview with UN Radio in the Liberian capital, Monrovia on Monday.
Sierra Leone have not kicked a ball since they last failed to qualify for the AFCON 2017 in Gabon.
Leone Stars last encounter was against Les Éléphants of Ivory Coast in Abidjan and it ended in a 1-1 draw. The Lone Stars of Liberia, on the other hand, lost 1-0 to Leone Stars next month’s opponent Kenya November 15, 2016, at the Moi International Sports Centre in a friendly test.
Fans of both countries have questioned what they considered to be serious preparation gap for a huge tournament like this.
A friendly for both countries is, therefore, a welcomed idea though it also comes with fears that players run the risk of suffering from injuries they might not be able to recover from in time for the June 10th and 11th games.
Sierra Leone head coach John Keister, whose first task will start with a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Harambee Stars of Kenya in Freetown on 10 June will welcome the Liberia test.
Liberian on the other hand will use the Leone Stars tie as homework ahead of their away trip to Zimbabwe five days after on June 11 in Harare.
Meanwhile, Kenya have recently played Uganda to a 1-1 draw (March 23), defeated DRC 2-1 (March 26) and held Malawi to a goalless in April as part of their preparations for the qualifiers and the Football Kenya Federation are still in search of one more test match before facing Sierra Leone, after their June 4th friendly with Palancas Negras of Angola to be played in Machakos cancelled.
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by FSL News | 30 May, 2017 | Players Abroad News
Miami FC skipper, midfielder Michael Lahoud, is excited about being involved again with the Sierra Leone national team.
Lahoud, 30, has not been part of the Sierra Leone squad for almost two years but after head coach John Keister recalled him as one of the 19-foreign based players for Kenya tie in Freetown, the former Philadelphia Union player took to twitter to express his delight, stating that he is honoured to play for his country.
Check out Michael Lahoud’s tweet here:
Lahoud made his Leone Stars debut in a 3-2 victory over Equatorial Guinea during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification match.
He was a pivotal player under former coach Johnny Mckinstry playing in over four qualifying matches and was part of a 1-0 victory over Swaziland in Freetown.
Lahoud’s last contribution under Mckinstry was during 2015 AFCON qualifiers before the Northern Irish man was sacked in September 2014.
Lahoud’s outfit Miami currently in first place in the NASL standings, sporting a three-point lead and a league-best 14 goals scored and +7 goal differential.
(Photo Credit Darren Mckinstry) @football_sierra
by FSL News | 29 May, 2017 | African News
Kenya June 4th friendly with Palancas Negras of Angola to be played in Machakos has been called off.
Federation (FKF) have confirmed that Angola called off their friendly match against Harambee Stars citing fixtures congestion.
The move leaves the FKF in search of a makeup friendly before their June 10 African Cup of Nations qualifier against away to Sierra Leone in Freetown.
FKF public relations and communication manager, Barry Otieno said: “Indeed, Angola have pulled out of the friendly due to the on-going preparations for the Africa Cup qualifiers. They travelled to Portugal and it has proved hard for them to honour the friendly. The federation will try to get a cover up but if our efforts will not be successful, we will prepare for the Sierra Leone game away,” Otieno was quoted as saying.
The friendly would have seen the Kenyan side use it as a final test before they embark on the qualifiers.
Angola withdrew from the friendly to focus on the Africa Cup of Nations duel against Burkina Faso set for June 9 away in Ouagadougou.
Nevertheless, Kenya have recently played Uganda to a 1-1 draw (March 23), defeated DRC 2-1 (March 26) and held Malawi to a goalless in April as part of their preparations for the upcoming qualifiers.
Meanwhile, the FKF have also confirmed that they will arrive in Freetown on the 8th June 2017 with a 31-man delegation for the opener of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Freetown June 10th and they will depart on the 11th June 2017.
According to the Sierra Leone Football Association, (SLFA) the FKF foreman, however, will arrive on the 5th June to do the necessary groundwork awaiting the landing of the full delegation.
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by FSL News | 29 May, 2017 | Players Abroad News
Sierra Leone and Partick Thistle Right-back, Mustapha Dumbuya is “immensely disappointed” when confirming he will not be part of the Sierra Leone side that will play against the Harambee Stars of Kenya June 10 in Freetown.
Dumbuya was one of the 19 foreign-based selected by coach John Keister as the Leone Stars technician bid to start his first spell with a win at home in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations opening qualifier.
Although Dumbuya, 29, did not want to explain his personal situation, however, he has confirmed that he will not be available citing personal problems.
“I didn’t just want to cancel the game out, yes I have personal problems at the moment and I’m immensely disappointed,” he said.
“It was important for me to try and make this game, but as I said problem arise that I have no control over and it’s sad I won’t be able to help the boys.
“But, I wish the team luck and hopefully I’ll be available for the next game, a disappointing Dumbuya confirmed to footballsierraleone.net
“It was important for me to make sure I really couldn’t make it first before anything was said.” He explained.
The former Portsmouth defender won his first cap on 14 October against Tunisia in a goalless draw of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in 2012.
Dumbuya this season made eight appearances for Scottish top flight side The Jags since rupturing his Achilles tendon last summer.
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by FSL News | 29 May, 2017 | Players Abroad News, Video & News
Alhaji Kamara scored his first hat-trick on Saturday playing for Richmond Kickers on loan from DC United.
The Sierra Leone man struck three times for Richmond Kickers (3 Kamara 34′, 49′, 59′) but his goals were not enough to help his side avoid defeat away to Ottawa.
After halftime, back-to-back Kamara goals put Richmond ahead before Ottawa blew the game open.
The home team regroup after Kamara scored his third to put the away team ahead. Ottawa scored with goals from Seoane 9′, 38′, Rozeboom 69′, Hume 73′, Sanon 90′ to win in an eight goals thriller.
The DC United striker finally sends a message in the Kickers uniform, netting a hat trick in a 5-3 loss to USL expansion team Ottawa Fury FC.
The Kickers had only scored five goals so far this season but tallied three on Saturday.
Fellow D.C. United loan Chris Durkin also performed well in an otherwise wild game on the road.
Richmond finally returns home after three matches on the road. Saturday, June 3rd, the Kickers face off at City Stadium against 2016 USL champions.
The former Nyköpings striker is expected to be part of the Sierra Leone side to play Kenya June 10th in Freetown in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations opening qualifier.
@football_sierra @bittar32
Sierra Leone | Highlights -