by FSL News | 28 Apr, 2018 | African News
The Junior Lone Star of Liberia
Host Liberia needs only to win against Sierra Leone in today’s West Africa Football Union (WAFU) Under-20 Group A decider for a spot in the semi-finals.
The match will now be played at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium on an artificial turf instead of the Samuel KD Stadium and Sierra Leone team have not been able to train as the change was unexpected by the organisers, Football Sierra Leone understands.
Liberia, who suffered a 3-0 defeat to the young Elephant of Cote d’Ivoire in the opening match on Tuesday, 24 April 2018, in Monrovia, beat Guinea Bissau 2-1 late on Thursday to set up this cracking decider.
Sierra Leone on the other hand in case of a draw will finish 2nd behind Ivory Coast and a potential date with Mali.
Sierra Leone’s Alusine Koroma and John Kamara under the supervision of their Cameroonian technician, Ken Tabi have both won Match of the Match Award consecutively against Guinea Bissau and Ivory Coast respectively.
Soccer fans are hoping both players will be at their best again today against Liberia, who will be in high spirit at home at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium kick-off 4 pm.
Sierra Leone soccer fans that have been following the team in Liberia are confident of a semi-final spot.
“I have watched both games against Guinea Bissau and Ivory Coast, despite the defeat to Ivory Coast, Shooting Stars have done well so far and they will not be a walkover. I am confident we are going to defeat Liberia,” said Alfred Sankoh a Sierra Leonean in Ghana.
“The team was reckless in the last ten minute against Ivory Coast, although they played well against Guinea Bissau. But the way they lost to the Ivorian was down lack of regular football in the country. You can see they lost all concentration and get thrashed.
“I still think they are capable and can qualify ahead of Liberia. Shooting Stars need much effort and to be more clinical in front of goal,” Sorie Barrie said.
John Coker in the US added, “The team need a lot of support, the Liberians are going to be motivated considering they playing at home. However, Shooting Stars must be fully determined and take their chances – my prediction 2-1 Sierra Leone.”
Meanwhile, The Young Elephants, who already and impressively scored three goals in the last 10 minutes to embarrassingly down resilient Sierra Leone on Thursday, April 26, await the second-best team from Group B.
However, Liberia’s U-20 team, Christopher Wreh wants better government support for the team.
The former Arsenal player, who was speaking after his side victory against Guinea Bissau, said his boys are going through a difficult period while playing in the tournament.
He added that he and his technical staff have had to use their personal funds and provide materials for the team.
All semi-finals matches will be played on May 2. Mali advance from Group B to the last 4 after a hard fought 1-0 win over Guinea while Gambia and Senegal settled to a 0-0 draw on Friday, April 27, 2018, at the SKD Sports Complex.
WAFU U20 Standing
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by FSL News | 24 Apr, 2018 | African News
This year’s West Africa Football Union (WAFU) Under-20 tournament will kick off today at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, with Liberia facing a tricky contest against the Ivory Coast in the opener.
Ivory Coast is replacing Cape Verde who earlier withdrew from the tournament.
In Group A. Liberia, the host nation will welcome Ivory Coast in the competition opener 16:00 GMT before Sierra Leone battles it out with Guinea Bissau three hours later.
Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and Mali and all participating teams arrived safely to honour their various fixtures in the WAFU U20 Liberia.
Senegal and Cote d Ivoire have been tipped by African Pundits favourites to win the tournament.
All group encounters are expected to be played between the 24th and the 29th of April before a two-day break for semi-finals matches, which will be played on May 2.
According to schedule, the final will be played on the 5th of May at the SKD stadium and all visiting teams will depart the capital of Liberia on Sunday, May 6.
“I can confirm all teams have arrived in the country to kick-start the tournament. Yesterday I was able to receive Senegal, Cote d Ivoire, Mali and all teams have been placed at their respective hotels,” Andy Quamie Liberia Deputy Minister of Sports to our correspondent.
“As a government, we want to use sports as one organ to rebrand our country that why the government is in 100% support to ensure this tournament is a success,” he said.
West Africa Football Union Under-20 tournament (WAFU) schedule
By Our African Correspondent in Liberia Prince Scott – Follow the writer @PrinceArmaniSc2
by FSL News | 21 Apr, 2018 | African News
Guinea Bissau U20 skipper, João Cláudio Gomes Ricciulli, (Pictured) is out of the Total U20 Africa Cup of Nations preliminary second leg qualifier.
The Sampdoria Primavera attacker scored the only goal at the Estadio Nacional 24 de Setembro in the capital city of Bissau in the first leg two weeks ago.
Coach Emiliano Te’s men are in Sierra Leone with a slender 1-0 advantage but very vital ahead of this afternoon contest at the Bo Coronation Ground, South of Sierra Leone.
Reports from Bissau has stated the Sampdoria B striker is not in Sierra Leone for the second leg match because of the Guinea Bissau Football Association (FFGB) request came too late for his club to release Coach Te’, key man.
“The Italians did not permit him for the match that will take place in Sierra Leone,” the report stated.
However, the young Djurtinhos technician added four new players to his side.
Sporting Club de Portugal defender, Jampier Gomes Ricciulli
Centre-forward Dino Vaz Dias from Fafe de Portugal
They are Sporting Club de Portugal defender, Jampier Gomes Ricciulli, the twin brother of (scorer in Bissau – João Cláudio Gomes Ricciulli), centre-forward Dino Vaz Dias from Fafe de Portugal, Luciano Joaquim, who plays for Porto’s de Bissau and Assumane from Sporting Clube de Bissau.
Sierra Leone on the other hand – Coach Tabi still has Rodney Michael, who played for the Santa Barbara Soccer Club from 2014-2017 to called upon and 18-year-old Benevolence Kargbo, who signed for Sporting club de Esmoriz last year August is uncertain. Both players did not start in the Bissau capital. We’re still waiting for the final team selection.
The aggregate winner between the two nations will face Nigeria’s Flying Eagles of Nigeria.
The Flying Eagles will then play away to the overall winners of this first round clash on May 11, 12 or 13 with the return leg in Nigeria a week later.
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by FSL News | 18 Apr, 2018 | African News
Sierra Leone v Guinea Bissau at the Estadio Nacional 24 de Setembro Stadium
Shooting Stars of Sierra Leone will start against Guinea Bissau in the West African Football Union (WAFU) Zone A tournament in Liberia.
The two nations will lock horns again for the third time three days after their Niger 2019 second leg qualifier slated for Bo City April 21.
Sierra Leone is in Group A alongside neighbour Liberia, Guinea Bissau, and Cape Verde, while Senegal will compete against the Gambia, Guinea and Mali in Group B.
The 2018 WAFU FOX U-20 Youth Football Tournament is expected to get underway on 24th April with hosts Liberia taking on Cape Verde at the Samuel K. Doe Sports Complex.
The Samuel K. Doe Sports Complex and the Antoinette Tubman Stadium are the two stadiums selected for the tournament.
Sierra Leone will then play Cape Verde before playing their last group match against Liberia.
Football Sierra Leone understands that the theme of the tournament is ’14’ in recognition of President Weah’s jersey he wore during his playing days for the national team of Liberia.
“We all know what 14 means. It explains itself so 14 is the number everyone remembers,” Bility was quoted as saying.
The draw was stage last month March 26, 2018, and the ceremony chaired by the Secretary Generals of WAFU Zones A and B Jammeh E. K. Bojang and Akan Malan was held at the Samuel K. Doe Sports Complex and attended by representatives of participating countries embassy in Liberia.
Meanwhile, Guinea Bissau won in the first leg at home in the race to Niger by a single goal.
The only goal for the host was scored by Sampdoria striker João Cláudio Gomes Ricciulli in the opening 11th minutes at the 24 de Setembro Stadium.
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by FSL News | 15 Apr, 2018 | African News
The race to elect new Liberia Football Association president after eight years under Musa Hassan Bility has taken another twist, following aspirant George Solo court injunction.
Mustapha Raji, LISCR FC’s president (Pictured) secured 16 votes, Musa Shannon current vice president amassed 13 votes and former Soccer international, George Solo was able to secure five, during the LFA elections on Saturday, April 14.
None of the three candidates reaches the 18 votes of two -third simple majority as stipulated in the LFA constitution, ushering the elections into a direct runoff between Mustapha Raji and Musa Shannon.
Seven minutes to kick-start the Presidential runoff the Civil law court of Liberia through the Protest of George Solo ordered that the Presidential runoff been put on hold with immediate effect.
According to Solo, he went to court because Mustapha Raji is not a degree holder, which is a violation of the election guidelines. Solo alleged prior to the election the degree he presented was fake.
The former ex-international also alleged that Raji did not go through all the electioneering process and as a result, ‘the route is not clean and credible’ he told our African correspondent in Liberia.
Defending such allegations Raji classed Solo as a coward and vehemently stated, ‘I went through all the process from integrity checks, Nationality, and educational status which was presented to the bodies set up for the election as mandated by the LFA constitution.’
“I am very disappointed at George Solo for his attitude towards this election for filing in a court injunction on such grounds.”
“I have proven myself to the delegates, the youths, Children of Liberia, and they have the desire for me to lead them this is just a distraction from solo,” he told Football Sierra Leone African correspondent in Liberia.
Deputy Minister of Sports Andy G. Quamie admittedly stated, “The Process was clean, fair, and transparent wherein all three candidates were given the green light to contest. In my view, this court injunction is very unfair to the People of Liberia they deserved better than this.”
Meanwhile, Football delegates and Pundits are pointing fingers to Liberia big spender politician Ben Urey as the rock behind this court injunction; they also alleged he is the sponsor of George Solo Presidency.
Meanwhile, no date yet has been announced for a hearing at the Civil Court of Liberia.
By Our African Correspondent in Liberia Prince Scott – Follow the writer @PrinceArmaniSc2
by FSL News | 11 Apr, 2018 | African News, Video & News
Egyptian international Mohamed Salah was once again at his best for Liverpool as the forward scored his 39th goal of the season to book his side’s spot in the semi-final of the Champions League, Metro Sport reports.
The away goal at the Etihad put Liverpool beyond the reach of Manchester City in their quarter-final tie after a 3-0 result at Anfield last week.
Salah scored in the second half to stop City’s fightback in its tracks and send the travelling Liverpool fans into a frenzy.
The Egyptian celebrated coolly in front of his supporters, holding his arms out and staring at the chaos that had erupted in the away end.
He has become Liverpool’s new talisman this season after bagging a remarkable 39 goals in his debut campaign for the Reds.
The Liverpool supporters worship Salah and have come up with several songs to celebrate his genius. And when Salah was being interviewed on the pitch after the 2-1 win against City, he suddenly noticed the Liverpool fans were singing his song.
Salah momentarily ditches the interview to applaud the Liverpool fans and is completely distracted as the reporter tries to draw him back into the conversation.
But, when Salah did eventually tear himself away from the fans, he praised his team-mates.’They were pressing high and had lots of chances, so at the beginning, we struggled,’ Salah said.
‘But we came back and fought hard to get the result. I’ve changed my position many teams but we play as a team and everyone gives 100 percent.
‘We are happy with the result. I’ve said many times I play for the team and I try to score to help them win the game, that’s the most important thing for me.’
Liverpool must now wait to learn their semi-final opponent with the draw set to take place on Friday.
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