by FSL News | 16 Nov, 2018 | African News
The Mauritanians sitting pretty at the top of Group I
Mauritania will qualify for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in their history this weekend with a win against Botswana in Nouakchott.
The Mauritanians defeat Botswana in their AFCON qualifier opener in June 2017 won 1-0 through an Abdallahi Soudani goal.
A team guided by French coach Corentin Martins will be assured of a top-two finish in Group I and qualification if they defeat bottom side Botswana in Nouakchott.
While Mauritania impressively won three of their four group games, Botswana lost three, drawn one, and not scored a single goal.
Botswana’s only previous Nations Cup visit to Nouakchott resulted in a 4-0 defeat 12 years ago.
Meanwhile. Host Cameroon automatically qualifies and already joined by Madagascar who secured their place at a Nations Cup also for the first time after qualifying last month along with Egypt, Senegal and Tunisia.
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by FSL News | 15 Nov, 2018 | African News
Namibia are blaming a financial squeeze on their decision to withdraw from the opening round of qualifiers for next year’s U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, BBC Sports reports.
The qualifiers will determine which countries represent the continent at the 2022 Olympics in Tokyo.
Namibia pulled out of their scheduled meeting with neighbouring Angola over the next week because they were unable to afford the trip to Luanda.
They were due to play the first leg on Friday in Luanda and host the return game in Windhoek on 20 November.
They were due to play the first leg on Friday in Luanda and host the return game in Windhoek on 20 November.
It means Angola have a walkover into the next round of the qualifiers against South Africa, who competed at the men’s tournament at the last Olympics in Brazil.
“We simply don’t have funds to take the team to Angola and it is a very sad situation as you could see the boys were looking forward to this campaign but now it’s all over for them,” Namibia Football Association Secretary General Barry Rukoro said on the organisation’s website on Wednesday.
“The money we have now has to be used for the Brave Warriors for this weekend’s game against Guinea Bissau. And so the junior teams are feeling the pinch.
“It is serious reputational damage for the Association as we are known to be ever present at almost all youth competitions and now this is happening and we have no choice but to pull the plug.
“We will still assess the situation with regard to the Under-20s going to the Cosafa Cup [in Zambia next month].”
Namibia’s withdrawal follows that earlier in the month of The Gambia, which has allowed Libya to advance to play Nigeria.
There will be a total of 13 first round ties completed by Tuesday, after which the winners will join up with Algeria, Congo, Gabon, the Ivory Coast, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone (if their Fifa ban is lifted by then), South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe in the second round in March.
There will be a final round of knockout matches over two legs in June to determine the seven countries who will join hosts Egypt at the tournament in November next year.
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by FSL News | 10 Nov, 2018 | African News
Result: Esperance 3-0 Al Ahly (4-3 on agg.) – Esperance de Tunis (1) 3 (Beguir 45+1′ 54′ Badri 86′) – Venue: Stade Olympique de Radès
Esperance de Tunis thrashed Al Ahly 3-0 to win year’s Caf Champions League for a third time at the Stade Olympique de Radès on Friday evening.
A brace for Saad Beguir and another for Anice Badri were enough to see them secure a perfect continental third title.
The Tunisians remarkably deserved the win having lost the first leg of the 2018 contest 3-1 in Alexandria but secured a 4-3 aggregate success.
They dominated the early exchanges just before the opener in first-half stoppage time.
As CAF Champions League winners, Esperance join Al Ain (hosts), CD Guadalajara (CONCACAF), Real Madrid (UEFA) and Team Wellington (OFC) in securing their berth at UAE 2018.
Esperance de Tunis: Cherifia; Belaili (Meskini 80′), Chemmam, Coulibaly, Derbali, Chaalali, Ben Mohamed, Khenissi (Mejri 70′), Yakoubi, Badri, Beguir (Erbeia 62′).
Al Ahly: El Shenawy; El Demerdash (Nedved 62′), Samir, Coulibaly, Ashraf, Ashour, El Sulya (El Gaber 76′), Gaber (S.Mohsen 62′), Soliman, Mohareb, M.Mohsen.
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by FSL News | 8 Nov, 2018 | African News
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Johnathan Mckinstry has been confirmed as the new coach of Bangladesh Premier League Saif Sporting Club on Wednesday.
Former Sierra Leone and Rwanda national team head coach took to Twitter to announce the news.
Mckinstry first task is to guide his new club Saif’s qualify to the semi-final of Bangladesh Federation Cup.
Saif will take on Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Friday in the Cup quarterfinal match.
“Very pleased to have joined #SaifSportingClub as their new Head Coach. Looking forward to the challenge ahead, and thank you to all at the club for the warm welcome afforded to @Macca364 and myself today upon our arrival,” he tweeted.
Remarkably on 14 Aug 2014, the Northern Irish led Sierra Leone to their highest ever FIFA World and African rankings – 7th in Africa and 50th in the World – both well above their lowest ever ranking of 172 in 2007.
Mckinstry parted ways with Sierra Leone in September 2014 due to poor team performances during the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
His last job was at the Lithuanian top-tier club FK Kauno Zalgiris where he stayed for five months until December 2017.
by FSL News | 3 Nov, 2018 | African News
Walid Soliman converted two VAR penalties to give Al Ahly of Egypt a 3-1 first-leg win over arch-rivals Esperance of Tunisia on Friday in the CAF Champions League final.
For the first time, VAR was used in a Champions League final and referee Mehdi Charef watched replays before awarding the spot kicks.
Al Ahly’s Amr Elsolia scored the third goal in front of the excited fans while Youcef Belaili converted a penalty for Esperance.
The eight continental title-holder are targeting their ninth on the continent.
Tunisian side Esperance have previously won the title twice but they lost 1-0 at home to Ahly in the group stages of the competition.
The second leg takes place at Stade Olympique in Rades on 9 November.
The overall winners will also earn a place at December’s Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
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by FSL News | 31 Oct, 2018 | African News
Zambian top FIFA referee Leah Namukonda has died after having been involved in a road traffic accident.
Leah who was the fourth official on Saturday for the game between Buildcon and Power Dynamos at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium was involved in an accident on the same evening in Luanshya as she visited her parents.
She was rushed to Luanshya Hospital before being referred to Ndola General Hospital where she was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit.
Leah died in the early hours of Wednesday.
Leah was part of the officials at the 2018 Cosafa Women Championship.
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