by FSL News | 9 Oct, 2016 | African News
Ivory Coast came from a goal down at home to beat Mali 3-1 in their opening Group C clash of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers in Bouake on Saturday.
Ivory Coast beat Mali 3-1 to go top of Group C after Gabon and Morocco had earlier drawn 0-0.
A difficult start from the hosts, Mali takes the lead in the 18th-minute goal from Mali’s Sambou Yatabare, who sent a lofted ball over the advancing keeper to put his side ahead.
The holders Ivory Coast reacted with goals from Aston Villa striker Jonathan Kodjia and Mali’s defender Salif Coulibaly scoring own goal to give the Elephants a 2-1 lead.
Former Arsenal winger Gervinho, who plays for Hebei China Fortune, added the third with a superb volley from a tight angle on 34 minutes.
The defending champions are leading their group with three points after Morocco played out a 0-0 draw with Gabon earlier in the day.
Ivory Coast next 2018 qualifying tie is in Morocco in match-day two on 7 November, while Mali will host Gabon.
Results African qualifiers for 2018 World Cup
Friday: Ghana 0-0 Uganda
Saturday’s Results
Gabon 0-0 Morocco
DR Congo 4-0 Libya
Burkina Faso 1-1 South Africa
Ivory Coast 3-1 Mali
Senegal 2-0 Cape Verde
@football_sierra
by FSL News | 9 Oct, 2016 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
FC Johansen have been crowned Sierra Leone FA Cup champions 2016 after a 1-0 deserving victory over Republic of Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces FC (RSLAF) on Saturday evening at the Wusum Stadium in Makeni.
Nyakeh O. Alpha accounted for the only goal in the 62nd minutes as they won their first FA Cup trophy since gaining promotion to the Sierra Leone Premier League.
Jubilant FC Johansen supporters are celebrating the club’s first major domestic trophy.
FC Johansen Crowned FA Cup Champions 2016
Runner-Up: Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF)
The club owned by the President of Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) Isha Johansen have also won the right to participate in next year’s continental top clubs competition.
The Sierra Leone FA Cup Champions will participate in the CAF Champions League while the Military soccer side (RSLAF) will compete in the CAF Confederation next year, football Sierra Leone understands.
James Massaquoi an agog Johansen fan praised the team’s determination and echoed the crowd’s sentiments, grinning: “This is a good start; we’re all so proud of our team and now looking forward to the continental stage next year.”
An eye witness Sallieu, who is also a Johansen fan said: “This is a competition that was boycotted by eight Premier League clubs, although it was a disappointment for some of the big clubs not getting involved, but it was successful considering the massive turnout in Makeni.”
Noah Dumbuya posted on his Facebook page, “Watching FA cup final between RSLAF and FC Johansen in Makeni as part of my birthday celebration.
The Champions received a cash prize of 40 Million Leones while the runner-up bagged home 30 Million Leones.
The competition was sponsored by Sierra Leone’s only cement manufacturing company, Leocem for the second time.
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by FSL News | 8 Oct, 2016 | Players Abroad News
The Chalobah brothers Nathaniel and Trevoh Chalobah (pictured above) have both happy with their development at Premier League club Chelsea FC as they sat down to clarified the early stages of their career. (Photo Credit chelseafc.com)
The duo was born in Sierra Leone; they arrived in England at a young age.
Elder brother Chalobah, 21, who made his Chelsea first-team debut on 20 September 2016, when he came off the bench to replace Michy Batshuayi in the 79th minute of a 4–2 win over Leicester City, has been a good example to his younger brother.
His younger Trevoh (above right), who recently signed his first professional contract at Chelsea, at age 16 played an integral role in the club’s Youth Cup and UEFA Youth League successes last term and also skippered the England’s Under-17 side at this summer’s European Championships.
The Blues brothers were speaking about how they started playing football up to professional level.
When asked who was better as a kid, Trevor was quick to acknowledges his elder brother (Chalobah) was ahead of him.
“Probably Nathaniel was better!’ Trevoh told club’s website.
‘But he’s catching up,’ Nathaniel responds. ‘We would play together in the garden and on the estate where we grew up. When we were younger I tried to protect him a bit when we played with the bigger boys, tried to make sure he didn’t get hurt. But as he grew up, and I could see he could handle it, I just let him play.’
Trevoh maintained he only started taking playing football seriously after his elder brother signed for Chelsea.
“I only really started playing football because he was playing. It was a bit of fun for me. But when he got signed I started taking it more seriously and playing football at school. That’s what made me want to play the sport.
‘I always played with the older boys. They were a lot bigger, but I liked it. It was more of a challenge and it’s helped me at Chelsea, especially playing in older age groups as I do.’
Trevoh, 17, has started all seven of Chelsea’s development squad matches so far this season, including the win over Tottenham
When they were growing up, Nathaniel explains, ‘it was all about street cred’. Who could do the most skills, nutmegs, that sort of thing. ‘Could you make your opponent look like a fool?’
Now everything is geared towards developing as a player and as a person and winning. Nathaniel says the staff, the training and the facilities have always been top class in the club’s Academy, adding that he thinks the connection between coaches and players is even closer these days.
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by FSL News | 8 Oct, 2016 | African News
Black Stars 0-0 Cranes
The Black Stars of Ghana were held to a 0-0 draw by the Cranes of Uganda on Friday in their 2018 World Cup qualifying match on Friday at the Tamale Stadium.
The Stars were frustrated by a resolute Ugandan defence which kept the Black Stars attack which included Asamoah Gyan at bay during the clash.
The visitors enjoyed the better of the match in the early minutes, with the East Africans using their pace and power to impose themselves early on.
In the 55th minute, the Sudanese official showed Uganda’s Nicholas Wadada what seemed to be a second yellow card but did not send him off.
The Cranes coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic then replaced Wadada seven minutes later with Hassan Waswa.
The Black Stars had many chances to win the game and had several free-kicks on the edge of the area but were unable to make any of them count.
Uganda’s goalkeeper Denis Onyango, who plays for South African side Mamelodi Sundowns, had an outstanding game to keep Ghana at bay.
Ghana played without the injured duo of Andre ‘Dede’ Ayew and Kwadwo Asamoah but did welcome back veteran striker Asamoah Gyan, who was unable to inspire his side to a win.
The two sides also met in qualifying for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations with Uganda earning a 1-1 draw in Ghana on that occasion too before winning 1-0 at home in Kampala.
The other two teams in Group E are Congo and Egypt and they meet in Brazzaville on Sunday.
Ghana: Razak Braimah, Harrison Afful, Baba Rahman, John Boye, Daniel Amartey, Afriyie Acquah (Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu 57’), Mubarak Wakaso, Christian Atsu (Majeed Waris 82’), Frank Acheampong (Jeffrey Schlupp 78’), Jordan Ayew, Asamoah Gyan
Uganda: Denis Onyango, Joseph Ochaya, Isaac Isinde, Murushid Juuko, Nicholas Wadada (Hassan Wasswa 62’), Farouk Miya, Khalid Aucho, Tony Mawejje (Geoffrey Massa 59’), Dennis Iguma, Moses Oloya (Godfrey Walusimbi 75’), Kizito Luwagga
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by FSL News | 6 Oct, 2016 | African News
Rigobert Song’s “life is no longer in danger” after he emerged from a coma, Cameroon’s public health minister has said.
The announcement comes as the Cameroon FA (Fecafoot) confirmed that Song, who has been working as his country’s A-team coach, had been moved to a new hospital on Tuesday night.
“He leaves conscious,” Andre Mama Fouda, public health minister, told media. “His life is no longer in danger, but he is not out of the woods yet. We hope he gets well soon, and comes back in full form, as we know him to be.”
Fecafoot wrote on Twitter: “Victim of a stroke, Rigo Song, Lions A coach, was evacuated this evening. Swift recovery to you, the Lion.”
L’Equipe said the 40-year-old had opened his eyes and smiled after coming out of the coma caused by his stroke on Sunday.
Camfoot, which reported that he had been airlifted to Paris for medical treatment, said Song raised an arm in an attempt to acknowledge well-wishers as he left hospital in Yaounde for the airport, where the specially-chartered medical transport was waiting.
Ian is ESPN’s French football correspondent. Twitter: @ian_holyman
Sierra Leone | Highlights -