by FSL News | 6 Jan, 2017 | African News
The Algerian-born Pictured Riyad Mahrez is the CAF player of the year
Algerian international and Leicester City forward born Riyad Mahrez was named the Confederation of African Football’s player of the year on Thursday night.
The 25-year-old Algerian beat Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Liverpool striker Sadio Mane for the honour after helping Leicester secure the Premier League title last season.
Mahrez had already been named the PFA Player of the Year and the BBC’s African Footballer of the Year.
Last year’s winner, Aubameyang, finishes in 2nd place with 313 votes. Riyad Mahrez is the African Player of the Year, collecting 361 of the votes #GloCAFAwards2016.
He claimed 361 votes, while Gabon international Aubameyang finished second with 313 and Senegal’s Mane was third with 186.
All three finalists also made the confederation’s Best XI.
Arsenal and Nigeria forward Alex Iwobi won the Youth Player of the Year, while his countryman Kelechi Iheanacho took home Most Promising Talent for the second time in his career.
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by FSL News | 3 Jan, 2017 | African News
New Cameroon coach Hugo Broos is confident Liverpool defender Joel Matip will be arriving in camp by Tuesday.
Joel Matip is one of eight Cameroon players who do not want to play at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Matip pulled out of contention for the tournament this month, saying he wanted to “concentrate on Liverpool,” with his last regular spell in the Cameroon squad coming in mid-2014.
The AFCON is set to run from January 14 to February 5, and Cameroon’s training camp begins on Tuesday.
The Liverpool defender Joel Matip, West Brom’s Allan Nyom and Schalke’s Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting are all expected to arrive at their Africa Cup of Nations training camp on Tuesday.
“We have three players who are due to arrive, notably Allan Nyom and Joel Matip. The third player is Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting,” said team manager Alphonse Tchami.
“Clubs have to release them and players have to go,” football lawyer David Seligman told BBC World Service. “The only reason they don’t have to go is if they are injured.
“Fifa could sanction both the club and the player. The player could be banned from playing domestic games for the duration of the tournament and the club could be fined.
“The FA would be expected to intervene and they could also face sanction if the player doesn’t go.”
The other Cameroon players who do not want to play at the competition are Andre Onana (Ajax), Guy N’dy Assembe (Nancy), Maxime Poundje (Bordeaux), Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Marseille) and Ibrahim Amadou (Lille).
Meanwhile, Bournemouth striker Benik Afobe has also withdrawn from DR Congo’s squad.
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by FSL News | 2 Jan, 2017 | Players Abroad News
Brentford Football Club have confirmed on their official website that Sullay Kaikai has returned to Crystal Palace after he was recalled from his loan deal. The 21-year-old hailing from Sierra Leonean parents joined Brentford in August in a deal that was set to last for the whole of the 2016/17 season.
However, Palace has exercised an option to recall Sullay during the January Transfer Window. He will head back to Palace immediately and will not be available for Brentford’s Sky Bet Championship game at Birmingham City today, Monday 2 January.
Kaikai on twitter posted: “Thanks to all the @CPFC fans for the welcoming messages. Can’t wait to get started!”
He also thanked Brentford FC, “Thanks to everyone at @BrentfordFC for a great time. Wish the club every success in the future.”
He made 18 Championship league appearances for Brentford during his loan spell at Griffin Park, started six of those, including the draw against Norwich City on Saturday, scoring three goals in his four months with the West London outfit.
Brentford Head Coach, Dean Smith, told club’s website: “We would have loved to have kept hold of Sullay for the season. He is a player with great potential and he has made an impact for us, particularly in recent matches. This is his first taste of Championship football and he has made the step up, he is a player I have enjoyed working with.
“He is a Crystal Palace player and they have exercised their option to recall him. They have players going to the African Cup of Nations and have lots of games coming up so Sullay may be in line to play in the Premier League for them. They also have a new manager in Sam Allardyce and I am sure he wants to look at Sullay. I wish him all the best for the rest of this season and thank him for his efforts during his time here.”
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by FSL News | 2 Jan, 2017 | Players Abroad News
Mustapha Dumbuya pictured in Sierra Leone’s outfit has not played for the Jags since June 2016. He was one of the club’s most impressive and consistent performers last season.
The Sierra Leone right-back has confirmed he is back training and hopefully will be back in Alan Archibald’s first team by the end of this month.
Answering questions from footballsierraleone.net, Dumbuya said: “I’m back training now so hopefully by the end of January I’ll be back with the first squad, I’m positive.”
Dumbuya’s side had two goals disallowed for offside while Killie had an opportunity to snatch all three points late on last Saturday in their goalless draw against Kilmarnock.
The 29-year-old defender is pleased with his teammates during his time out battling with his Achilles problem.
“The lads have done well, regardless of all the injury troubles. We have long term injuries but hopefully, everyone will be back fit soon.”
The Maryhill side are presently seventh in the Scottish premiership standing winning two from their last five matches, two draws and a defeat to Celtic.
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by FSL News | 27 Dec, 2016 | African News
Borussia Dortmund star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and China-based striker Malick Evouna head Gabon’s Africa Cup of Nations squad unveiled Tuesday by the hosts’ manager Jose Antonio Camacho.
Gabon’s attack will be spearheaded by African Footballer of the year Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is one of 15 players retained from the last Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea two years ago when Gabon failed to get past the first round.
Former Spain manager Jose Antonio Camacho signed earlier this month to replace ex-Portugal international Jorge Costa.
Also figuring in Jose Antonio Camacho’s 23-man squad for the Jan 14-Feb 5 continental showpiece is Bruno Ecuele Manga, a defender with English Championship side Cardiff City, China-based striker Malick Evouna and Didier Ndong with Premier League strugglers Sunderland.
Ndong was kicked out last month after skipping training ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Mali but was named on Tuesday to take part in the Jan. 14 to Feb. 5 tournament.
Gabon, who play the opening game against Guinea Bissau in Libreville, go into the finals having changed their coach.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Stephane Bitseki (CF Mounana), Anthony Mfa Mezui (unattached), Didier Ovono (Oostende)
Defenders: Aaron Appindangoye (Laval), Bruno Ecuele Manga (Cardiff City), Johann Obiang (Troyes), Lloyd Palun (Red Star), Franck Perrin Obambou (Stade Mandji), Yoann Wachter (Sedan), Benjamin Ze Ondo (Mosta)
Midfielders: Guelor Kanga Kaku (Red Star Belgrade), Mario Lemina (Juventus), Levy Madinda (Gimnastic Tarragona), Junior Serge Martinsson Ngouali (Brommapojkarna), Samson Mbingui (Raja Casablanca), Didier Ndong (Sunderland), Andre Poko (Karabukspor), Merlin Tandjigora (Meizhou Hakka)
Forwards: Serge Aboue (Uniao Leiria), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund), Denis Bouanga (Tours), Malick Evouna (Tianjin Teda), Cedric Ondo Biyoghe (CF Mounana)
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Sierra Leone | Highlights -