by FSL News | 5 Sep, 2016 | African News
Uganda have qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 1978 after beating Comoros on Sunday.
Uganda Cranes 1-0 victory over Comoros secured their place at next year’s finals in Gabon as one of the two best group runners-up.
Farouk Miya scored the winning goal as they qualified with 13 points from their six group games.
Uganda’s last appearance at the Nations Cup ended in a runners-up spot when they lost to Ghana in the final.
Sixteen teams will compete at the tournament, which runs from 14 January to 5 February: the 13 group winners and two best group runners-up, plus hosts Gabon.
The Last 16 Nations
Gabon, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon
Cote d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Ghana
Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Morocco, Senegal
Tunisia, Togo, Uganda, Zimbabwe
by FSL News | 4 Sep, 2016 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Major League Soccer and New England Revolution striker Kei Kamara hailed his international team-mates after they played to a 1-all draw against the African Champions Ivory Coast on Saturday.
The Sierra Leone national team were one-nil down in their crucial Group I clash at the Stadium of Peace in Bouake, Ivory Coast.
Jonathan Kodjia gave the host the lead via a bicycle kick after 35 minutes in front of a sell-out 25,000 crowd.
Kamara equalised on 67 minutes with a glancing header following a free kick from Mohamed Medo Kamara.
Leone Stars was awarded a corner five minutes into stoppage and Kamara whose far-post header was cleared off the line certainly appreciates the support from his national mates.
He said: “I am very proud of all the boys that sacrifice so much to represent the Green White and Blue.
“Congratulations to the lads, we left our best on that field and can have no regrets as players.
“Putting on those colours means everything to us. We know how much our people wanted us to succeed, but unfortunately, the draw was not enough.
“I am happy to get a goal on the board but it wasn’t enough so I can’t focus on that solo achievement. We as a team and nation just need to prepare better for the future,” he proudly told footballsierraleone.net
Kamara, who was back in the Sierra Leone squad after a self-imposed one-year exile almost made it possible for Sierra Leone with the help of his team mates.
The 2015 Nations Cup winners qualified after drawing twice against Sierra Leone and taking four points off Sudan.
Sierra Leone finished with five points and Sudan with four.
@football_sierra – bittar32 (Photo Credit Abidjan.net)
by FSL News | 4 Sep, 2016 | African News
Manchester City ace Kelechi Iheanacho scored the only goal of the game to give Nigeria their first win of an underwhelming Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign on Saturday in Uyo.
With the 1-0 success, Nigeria finished the group stage on five points, while Tanzania were bottom of a three-team group already won by Egypt.
The Super Eagles created a rash of chances in this dead rubber game, but wasteful finishing and the brilliance of goalkeeper Aishi Manula ensured they had to wait until the 78th minute to snatch victory at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium.
It was a winning start for new manager Gernot Rohr, but he certainly knows his team will have to improve their shooting in time for next month’s World Cup qualifier in Zambia.
The Eagles created a rash of chances in the first 45 minutes, but couldn’t not make any of them count against an inspired Manula.
In the 12th minute, captain John Obi Mikel released Ahmed Musa, but the Leicester City forward failed to tuck away the opening.
On 24 minutes, Manula denied Iheanacho, before Victor Moses fluffed another chance two minutes later.
Three minutes from half time, Manula pulled off a big save to deny Odion Ighalo.
It was a similar story in the second half with Mikel denied by Manula after 59 minutes but Iheanacho, 19, conjured a wonder strike 12 minutes from time to finally break the deadlock.
Champions Ivory Coast to defend their crown
Title-holders Ivory Coast cleared a header off their goal-line in stoppage time to hang on to a 1-1 draw with Sierra Leone on Saturday to squeeze into the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals.
Jonathan Kodjia scored via a bicycle kick after 35 minutes for the Ivorians before a sell-out 25,000 crowd in Bouake but Kei Kamara equalised on 67 minutes with a glancing header following a free kick.
It was Kamara, back after a self-imposed one-year exile having accused Sierra Leone officials of disrespecting him, who almost took his country to the finals after a 20-year absence.
Sierra Leone were awarded a corner five minutes into stoppage time but a far-post Kamara header was cleared off the line.
Ivory Coast qualified for a seventh straight Cup of Nations by winning Group I with six points after drawing twice against Sierra Leone and taking four points off Sudan.
Sierra Leone finished with five points and Sudan with four.
Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Morocco, Senegal and Zimbabwe secured places ahead of the final round and hosts Gabon are automatic participants as hosts.
Another 14 matches are scheduled for Sunday with the remaining five places up for grabs.
Ethiopia fell behind against Seychelles in Hawassa before goals from Getaneh Kebede and Saladin Said either side of half time brought a 2-1 win and hope of qualification as one of the best two runners-up.
It was the sixth goal of the qualifying campaign for Kebede in Group J and moved him to the top of the scorers charts.
Fouad Al Triki scored a late goal as Libya shocked Cape Verde 1-0 in a Group F match interrupted when a dog wandered onto the pitch in Praia.
Defeat eliminated Cape Verde, who were briefly ranked No 1 in Africa this year and had been seeking a third consecutive Cup of Nations appearance.
Group H winners Ghana lacked numerous first choices, including Andre Ayew and Asamoah Gyan, and were held 1-1 in Accra by Rwanda.
Samuel Tettah put the Black Stars ahead midway through the opening half with a low shot and Muhadjir Hakizimana levelled off a free-kick seven minutes from time.
Mozambique jumped from fourth to second in the same mini-league after a last-gasp goal earned a 1-0 win over Mauritius in Maputo.
Cameroon cruised to a 2-0 victory over bottom-of-the-table Group M team Gambia in Limbe.
Benjamin Moukandjo converted a first-half penalty for a foul on Karl Toko Ekambi, who scored the second goal soon after half-time.
A dismal run by Angola in Group B extended to five matches without a win when they were held 1-1 by Madagascar in Luanda.
Bapasy put the visitors ahead during the opening half with a glancing header off a corner and Gelson levelled nine minutes into the second half.
Senegal finished with a perfect Group K record thanks to a predictable 2-0 win over Namibia in Dakar through goals from Balde Keita and Famara Diedhiou.
(Credit The National)
by FSL News | 3 Sep, 2016 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Video & News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JsE8nFQKYE
Sierra Leone’s Leone Stars will not be part of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations to be staged in Gabon after they forced Ivory Coast to a 1-1 on Saturday in a crucial Group I clash at the Stadium of Peace in Bouake.
Sierra Leone needed to win, but they were unfortunate against the defending African Champions.
The African Champions was ahead in the 36min a well-taken acrobatic goal from Jonathan Kodjia help them mustered all they had to make sure they can defend their title next January.
The pressure mounted on the Ivorians just after New England Revolution striker Kei Kamara equalised midway through the second half.
In the last minute of added time, Sierra Leone came close to knocked the 2015 Nations Cup winners out with another header from the MLS striker who returns from international retirement.
Leone Stars have never defeated the Ivorians in eight attempts, however, in their last meeting Les Elephants endured a frustrating time against their West African counterparts following a 0-0 draw in Port Harcourt Nigeria in their 2017 qualifying Group I match-day 2.
Ivory Coast (1) 1 (Adjo 36′)
Sierra Leone (0) 1 (K.Kamara 67′)
Ivory Coast XI: Gbohouo, Goua, Kanon, Bailly, Kessie, Jean-Michel (Diomande 76′), Yao Serge, Kalou (Gradel 69′), Adama, Adjo, Yao Kouassi
Sierra Leone XI: Zombo, Dunia, Sesay, Bangura, Simbo, Kamara, Sankoh, Quee (Fofanah 92′), Woobay (Davies 79′), Kamara, Bangura
Elsewhere, 2017 host Gabon beat Sudan 2-1 in Khartoum.
Both Nations coming out to lineup before kickoff
Les Elephants and Leone Stars at the Bouake Stadium
Ivory Coast’s Gervinho with the ball surrounded by Leone Stars players
@football_sierra
Sierra Leone | Highlights -