by FSL News | 13 Oct, 2018 | African News
A brace for Emmanuel Okwi ensures Uganda go top of Group L with a 3-0 win over Lesotho in their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala on Saturday.
Impressively, the home team opened the scoring in the 11th minute thanks to a strike from Simba attacker Emmanuel Okwi to send the fans into ecstasy.
Farouk Miya doubled their lead from the penalty spot in the 27th before Okwi completed a sounding victory for the host late on in the second half.
The Crocodiles were poor as they offered very little in attack throughout the duration of the contest.
Lesotho host Uganda next week Tuesday in the return fixture of the 2019 Afcon qualifier.
Meanwhile, A Ricardo Gomes brace helped Cape Verde beat Tanzania 3-0 at home on Saturday.
Cape Verb after saturday’s win are three points adrift off Uganda in Group L.
Another win for the Ugandans will surely mean they are two steps closer in their bid to reach Cameroon 2019.
Elsewhere, South Africa thrashed Seychelles 6-0 on Saturday in their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Johannesburg.
The impressive victory means they achieved their biggest victory.
Their previous biggest win was when they walloped Guatemala 5-0 during a friendly ahead of 2010 World Cup.
Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying results/Matches
Group E: South Africa 6-0 Seychelles
Group L: Uganda 3-0 Lesotho
Group A: Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Madagascar
Group K: Mozambique 1-2 Namibia
Group E: Nigeria 4-1 Libya
Group G: DR Congo v Zimbabwe
Group I: Burkina Faso v Botswana
Group J: Tunisia v Niger
Group A: Senegal v Sudan
Group B: Morocco v Comoros
Follow Us on Twitter @football_sierra – On Facebook/Instagram: Football Sierra Leone
by FSL News | 13 Oct, 2018 | African News
Egypt striker Mohamed Salah scored a stunning goal as the Pharaohs beat eSwatini 4-1 in their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Cairo on Friday.
The Liverpool striker took a corner-kick on the stroke of half-time and curled it directly into the net to put the Pharaohs 4-0 up going into the break.
As a result, the victory moves Egypt level on points with Tunisia in Group J.
Earlier goals from Ahmed Elmohamady, Amr Warda, Mahmoud Trezeguet and Mohamed Salah, in the seventh, 10th, 29th minutes respectively had given Egypt a comfortable lead.
Sihlangu Semnikati, though, never stopped fighting and netted an 84th-minute consolation through Sibonginkosi Gamedze for a timely boost ahead of the reverse fixture in Manzini on Tuesday.
Egypt has now netted 10 goals in their last two games.
Elsewhere, Manchester United’s beleaguered defender Eric Bailly fared better in an Ivory Coast top, helping the Elephants beat the Central African Republic 4-0 to revive their Group H campaign.
Aston Villa’s Jonathan Kodjia put Ivory Coast ahead before Bailly made it 2-nil. Cheick Doukoure and Maxwell Cornet added to the scoreline to give Ivory Coast a much-needed victory.
They are now second in the group behind Guinea who was 2-0 winners over Rwanda courtesy of a first-half Francois Kamano penalty and a goal from Ibrahima Cisse.
African champions Cameroon edged past Malawi 1-0 to earn Dutch coach Clarence Seedorf his first win in charge of the Indomitable Lions.
See Friday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying results:
Grp B: Cameroon 1-0 Malawi – Grp I: Angola 4-1 Mauritania
Grp C: Gabon 3-0 South Sudan – Grp H: Guinea 2-0 Rwanda
Grp L: Cape Verde 3-0 Tanzania – Grp H: Ivory Coast 4-0 CAR
Grp J: Egypt 4-1 eSwatini- Grp D: Togo 1-1 Gambia
Grp C: Mali 0-0 Burundi – Grp D: Algeria 2-0 Benin
Follow Us on Twitter @football_sierra – On Facebook/Instagram: Football Sierra Leone
by FSL News | 10 Oct, 2018 | African News
The Harambee Stars of Kenya were held to a goalless draw by Ethiopia at the Bahir Dar National Stadium on Wednesday in their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
They face each other again in the fourth round of their 2019 Afcon qualifiers in Kenya on October 14.
The Wallias saw more of the ball early on but struggled to break down the Kenyan defence and consequently, they had to shoot from long range with very little effect.
Getaneh Kebede, who scored against Sierra Leone probably came closest to break the deadlock midway through the first half, but the Ethiopian attacker saw his long-range effort skim the wrong side of the post.
Kenya played well as the half went on and started creating some scoring opportunities of their own but like the home opposition, their shooting was woeful.
Their best chance fell to Victor Wanyama five minutes before the break, but the Kenyan defensive midfielder saw his rather 20-yard timid shot well-saved by the keeper.
The second half saw Ethiopia pushing more players forward, but similar to the first half they were thwarted by a well-organised Kenyan defence.
In the end, neither team could find a goal as the match ended 0-0.
Meanwhile, Sierra Leone’s African Nations Cup qualifier against Ghana was called off after the country’s FA failed to get a FIFA suspension lifted.
Confederation of African Football (CAF) has yet to comment on whether Ghana will be awarded a win for Thursday’s match or if Sierra Leone will be allowed to continue in the Nations Cup qualifying competition if and when they are reinstated by FIFA.
Squads
Ethiopia: Asefa, Mohamed, Tamene, Tesfaye, Ahmed, Panom, Bekele, Dawa (Yalew 87’), Demte (Okwury 66’), Mesfen (Maleko 82’), Kebede.
Kenya: Matasi, Mohammed, M Onyango, Khamis (O Otieno 55’), Omondi (Athuman 46’), Wanyama, Odhiambo, Otieno, Kahata (Were 74’), Olunga, Ochieng.
Afcon 2019 Group F standings
Follow Us On Twitter @football_sierra – Facebook/Instagram Football Sierra Leone
by FSL News | 9 Oct, 2018 | African News
Sierra Leone’s African Nations Cup qualifier against Ghana has been called off after the country’s FA failed to get a FIFA suspension lifted.
Sierra Leone authorities, who had petitioned FIFA to get the ban lifted, did not meet a Tuesday deadline to reinstate ousted football association president Isha Johansen, who is under investigation of corruption-related charges.
“Our appeal has been rejected,” Sierra Leone Football Association president Brima Mazzola Kamara, who replaced Johansen, told Reuters.
Sierra Leone has three points from their opening two Nations Cup qualifiers.
Confederation of African Football (CAF) has yet to comment on whether Ghana will be awarded a win for Thursday’s match or if Sierra Leone will be allowed to continue in the Nations Cup qualifying competition if and when they are reinstated by FIFA.
Follow us on Twitter @football_sierra, On Facebook/Instagram Football Sierra Leone
by FSL News | 9 Oct, 2018 | African News
Former France U-20 star goalkeeper Jonathan Ligali has pledged his international future to Benin, BBC Sports report.
The 27-year-old, who plays his club football in France for Montpellier, is eligible to play for the Squirrels because his mother is from Benin.
Under Fifa rules, he is free to switch because he has not yet played for France’s senior national team.
“Yes, I’m available to play for Benin if they call me,” he told BBC Sport.
“It would definitely be a great honour for me to represent the country of my mother.”
He denied some reports that he had previously turned down a chance to play for the West Africans in the past.
“Not really, no one has contacted me directly from the federation,” he added.
“Right now, if the federation reaches out to me then we can take the next level.”
Ligali represented France at under-18, under-19 and under-20 levels.
He played all seven matches as the French side finished fourth at the 2011 Under-20 World Cup in Colombia.
Born in Montpellier, Ligali began his youth career with his hometown side in 2003 and made his professional debut nine years later.
However, he has mainly been a second choice keeper and has only played 16 matches for the club.
He spent the 2017/18 season on loan at French third-tier side USL Dunkerque, making 30 appearances for the northern club.
Follow Us On Twitter @football_sierra – Facebook/Instagram Football Sierra Leone
by FSL News | 7 Oct, 2018 | African News
Deportivo Alaves midfielder Wakaso Mubarak says he is fine and ‘very well’ after his involvement in a car accident on Sunday morning.
The Ghana international was driving on the motorway to the Loiu airport to travel to Ghana for next week’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone.
The 28-year-old was named in coach Appiah’s list for Ghana’s doubleheader against Sierra Leone in Kumasi Accra and Freetown.
It is still unclear whether the qualifiers will go ahead after Sierra Leone suspended by Fifa.
He has been in top form for the Spanish La Liga side and lasted the entire duration in Saturday’s 1-0 win over giants Real Madrid.
“Deportivo Alavés player, Wakaso Mubarak, has had a slight car accident this morning. It is in perfect condition.”
“The incident occurred this morning on a stretch of the AP-68 motorway when the player was heading to the Loiu airport to travel to Ghana and join the national team.”
“Wakaso has resumed his way to the airport normally minutes later, clubs statement.
Wakaso later posted on his Twitter page: ”Estoy muy bien gracias a DIOS ” which translates ‘I very well thank God.”
Wakaso Mubarak in action Real Madrid on Saturday.
Follow Us On Twitter @football_sierra – Facebook/Instagram Football Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone | Highlights -