by FSL News | 25 May, 2017 | African News
Newly appointed Ghana head coach Kwesi Appiah has announced a strong side to face Ethiopia in next month’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations opening qualifier.
Ghana will battle in Group F alongside Sierra Leone, Kenya, and Ethiopia, in the qualifiers for a place in the 2019 Afcon to be hosted by Cameroon.
The re-appointed Kwesi Appiah has kept faith with regulars such as captain Asamoah Gyan and the Ayew brother, Andre and Jordan.
However, he has left out Newcastle forward Christian Atsu, Granada CF winger Mubarak Wakaso, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu and Razak Brimah from his 30-man selection in readiness for their opener against Ethiopia on 11 June to be played in the second city of Kumasi.
But, Appiah has given Abdul-Majeed Waris, the striker overlooked by former coach Avram Grant for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Gabon, a chance to revive his international career as a Black Star.
He has also included seven players from the domestic league in a squad that will also play friendly internationals against the United States and Mexico.
The Black Stars will travel to the US for a date with Mexico in Houston, Texas, on (28 June) and the US in Connecticut (1 July).
Goalkeepers: Richard Ofori (Wa Allstars); Adam Kwarasey (Brondby, Denmark); Felix Annan (Kotoko); Joseph Addo (Aduana Stars)
Defenders: Harrison Afful (Columbus Crew, USA); Daniel Amartey (Leicester City, England); Lumor Agbenyenu (Munich 1860, Germany); Daniel Darkwah (Aduana Stars, Ghana); John Boye (Sivasspor, Turkey); Rashid Sumalia (Al Gharafa, Qatar); Nicholas Opoku (B.Chelsea, Ghana); Jonathan Mensah (Columbus Crew, USA); Jerry Akaminko (Eskiserhispor, Turkey); Samuel Sarfo (Liberty, Ghana)
Midfielders: Mohammed Abu (Columbus Crew, USA); Afriyie Acquah (Torino, Italy); Isaac Sackey (Alanyaspor, Turkey); Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Ebenezer Ofori (Stuttgart, Germany); Kingsley Sarfo (Sirius, Sweden); Winful Cobbinah (Hearts of Oak); Yaw Yeboah (FC Twente, Holland); Godsway Donyoh (Nordjaelland, Denmark); Andre Ayew (West Ham, England); Frank Acheampong (Anderlecht, Belgium); Thomas Agyepong (NAC Breda, Holland)
Forwards: Asamoah Gyan (Al Alhi, UAE); Jordan Ayew (Swansea City, England); Majeed Waris (Lorient FC, France); Raphael Dwamena (FC Zurich, Switzerland)
Only the winner in this group will join the host country in the final tournament as well as the best 3 runner-ups in all 12 Groups.
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by FSL News | 23 May, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone’s newly appointed Sierra Leone head coach John Keister has named his first squad since replacing Sellas Tetteh this month.
The former Margate FC midfielder will start his first spell as Leone Stars head coach with a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Harambee Stars of Kenya in Freetown on 10 June.
AFC Eskilstuna’s striker Mohamed Buya Turay, who continues to garner international acclaim received first Sierra Leone call-up in Keister’s 19-man foreign-based selection.
The pacy attacker was impressive last season in the Swedish second-tier with AFC scoring 10 goals in Superettan division and was the club’s top scorer helping them to promotion to the Swedish top-flight. He has scored three Allsvenskan goals this season in eight appearances.
The Manchester-born also included Richmond Kickers striker on loan from DC United Alhaji Kamara, BK Hacken top goal scorer in the photo with Buya Turay, Alhassan ‘Crespo’ Kamara on the list.
Miami FC anchorman and skipper Michael Lahoud, who was part of the Leone Stars campaign during the 2015 Afcon qualifiers are also recalled by Keister.
Lahoud made his Leone Stars debut in a 3-2 victory for Sierra Leone over Equatorial Guinea in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification in August 2013.
Kwame Quee, who in recent matches has been regular, also included for the first time as a foreign-based from Iceland top-tier side Víkingur Ólafsvík.
Sierra Leone Squad Below:
Keepers: Solomon Z. Morris- France- GK 2. Alhaji Dauda Kamara- Guinea- GK
Defenders: Mustapha Dumbuya- Partick Thistle Scotland), Hassan Milla Sesay- FC Lahti Finland), Captain -Umaru Bangura- FC Zurich Switzerland), David Simbo- Yeni Amasyaspor Turkey),
Midfielders: (Micheal Lahoud – Miami FC USA), (Mohamed M. Kamara- Kuwait SC Kuwait), (Alfred Z. Sankoh- Denizlispor K Turkey ), (Julius G. Wobay-Olimpija Ljubljana Slovenia), (John B. Kamara- FC Kaisar Kazakhstan), (Kalifa Jabbie- FC Sheriff Tiraspol Moldova), (George Davies- on loan Floridsorfer AC Austria), (Abdul Sesay JS Hercules Finland), (Kwame Quee- Víkingur Ólafsvík Iceland ).
Strikers: (Kei Kamara- New England Revolution USA), (Alhassan Kamara – BK Hacken Sweden), (Alhaji Kamara DC United USA on to Richard Kickers), (Mohamed Buya Turay- AFC Eskilstuna Sweden)
Head Coach John Keister:
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by FSL News | 23 May, 2017 | African News
Somali Football Family is in shock and sadness after a football coach was killed and two players were wounded in what seems to be accidental gunfire late on Monday afternoon while they were travelling on a busy road in Mogadishu which witnessed heavy security operations through the day.
Bariga Dhexe Football Club assistant coach, Yusuf Ali Heydar, was killed in the gunfire, while two of Elman FC’s footballers were seriously wounded.
The two players are Omar Moumin Omar and Abdullahi Mohamed Mayow and they are currently under operation at the Racep Tayyin Erdogan hospital in Mogadishu.
Initial reports indicate that soldiers opened fire on the private car in which the players were travelling after the driver was unable to stop the car when ordered to do so and as a result, they were mistakenly fired causing heavy human casualties.
The footballers were returning from a short trip to the town of Afgoye which is about 30 kilometres south of the capital when they accidentally came under fire near Elasha Biyaha district late in the afternoon.
Somali Football federation said it was very sorry for the death and wounds of football family members. “SFF is sharing the painful experience with the family of the slain coach. We pray for the quicker recovery of the two players” SFF statement carried.
“The players were travelling in a private car, not a team bus as some media outlets reported” Somali Football Federation, said in a statement on Monday evening.
“The footballers were not targeted because as a football family we are not in a fight with anyone and this tragedy was accidental. The media should look for what is accurate and they have to contact the concerned people if they are unsure of what to report” the SFF statement read.
Somali Football Federation (SFF) called on the federal government of Somalia to conduct further investigations into the gunfire.
“The two players are suffering from serious wounds. We kindly ask our government to help get top medical care for the wounded” SFF statement said.
– SOMALI UPDATE ONLINE –
@football_sierra
by FSL News | 23 May, 2017 | African News, Video & News
Senegal started their Fifa under-20 World Cup campaign with a strong victory defeating Saudi Arabia 2-0 on Monday.
Semi-finalists last time out, Senegal secured all three points with first-half goals from Ibrahima Niane and Cavin Diagne.
With the United States and Ecuador drawing 3-3 in Group F’s other game, Senegal are the early pacesetters in Incheon.
The Senegalese could have scored more goals but found the Saudi Arabian goalkeeper Mohammed Alyami in inspired form.
Senegal next encounter is against the US on Thursday while Ecuador takes on Saudi Arabia.
Sixteen of the 24 teams advance to the second round – the top two from each of the six groups and the four best third-place finishers.
The final is scheduled for 11 June in Suwon.
Meanwhile, Guinea held England to a 1-1 draw at the Fifa under-20 World Cup in Jeonju, South Korea, on Tuesday, as they scored their first ever U-20 World Cup goal to secure a point.
England scored first in their opening Group A encounter after the break when Lewis Cook’s 25-yard effort found the back of the net.
But an own goal from Fikayo Tomori saw the two sides share the points.
Unaware that goalkeeper Dean Henderson had strayed from his goal, Tomori played a blind back-pass which rolled into an empty net.
Click here for U-20 World Cup results from the Fifa website http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/index.html
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by FSL News | 23 May, 2017 | African News
Ghana will battle it out against Niger in the first semi-final in Port Gentil on Wednesday 24 May.
In the second semis, Mali takes on Guinea at the Stade de l’Amitie Sono-Gabonaise in Libreville on Wednesday, kick-off at 19h30 CAT for a place in the final of the 2017 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.
Guinea and Ghana were the first two sides to book their semi-finals slots.
The Guineans played to a 0-0 draw against Ghana in their final match of Group A in Libreville at the Stade de I’Amitie Sino-Gabonaise on Saturday night.
The point was enough for Guinea to finish as group runners-up and secure a place at the World Cup in India in October.
Niger and Mali secured their place in the semi-finals on Sunday in Gabon and also qualify for the Fifa World Cup in India in October.
In the final Group B matches, Niger beat Tanzania 1-0 in a tense encounter in Port Gentil to go second in the group, above Tanzania on goal-difference.
In Libreville, group leaders and defending African champions Mali booked their place with a 6-1 win over Angola.
The semi-final winners will advance to the final at the same venue in Libreville.
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Sierra Leone | Highlights -