by FSL News | 9 Feb, 2018 | African News
Hafia FC attacking midfielder Prince Barrie is looking forward to his CAF Confederation Cup debut in Benin at the Stade de l’Amitié de Kouhounou, Cotonou.
Seven points adrift of Horoya AC in second place, Hafia going into this weekend continental tie highly motivated after winning three of their last five League matches.
Barrie, 20, with No 17 jersey in the photo, who joined the Guinean top-flight club on a two-year deal is expected to play a key role against Energie Sports of Benin in the first leg tie of the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round this weekend.
“I think I’m ready is going to be a totally different experience for me, Barrie told footballsierraleone.net.
“I’ve never played in a CAF Cup tie, so I hope it will go well.”
“I’m determined to showcase my talent and help the team and make my country Sierra Leone proud as well.
The three-time African Champions new acquisition added: “As a team, we are all motivated and determine to win tomorrow match.”
“We want to do well in this competition.”
Meanwhile, Hafia arrived in Benin and according to our sources after the usual formalities upon arrival at the International airport Cardinal Bernardin Gantin the delegation refused to take the bus reserved for them.
The Guineans have made a fun of Energie FC hospitality. While the leaders of Energy were there, a police vehicle for their security, the Guinean delegation boycotted before heading towards the own buses that they prepared parallel, Football Sierra Leone understands.
The winner after two legs will have a cracking double date with Enyimba (Nigeria) in the second round.
CAF Confederation Cup fixtures – Friday, 9 February 2018 – Djoliba (Mali) vs ELWA United (Liberia) – Onze Createurs (Mali) vs CR Belouizdad (Algeria)
Saturday, 10 February 2018
Petro Atletico (Angola) vs Masters Security (Malawi) – Young Buffaloes (Swaziland) vs Cape Town City (South Africa) – Costa do Sol (Mozambique) vs Jwaneng (Botswana)
Energie (Benin) vs Hafia (Guinea) – Ngazi Sport (Comoros) vs Port Louis (Mauritius) – Mangasport (Gabon) vs Maniema Union (DR Congo)
Olympic Star (Burundi) vs Etoile Filante (Burkina Faso) – New Stars (Cameroon) vs Deportivo Niefang (Equatorial Guinea) – Tanda (Cote d’Ivoire) vs CS la Mancha (Congo)
Al Ittihad (Libya) vs Sahel (Niger) – US Ben Guerdane (Tunisia) vs Hilal Juba (South Sudan) – El Masry (Egypt) vs Green Buffaloes (Zambia)
Sunday, 11 February 2018
APR (Rwanda) vs Anse Reunion (Seychelles) – Akwa United (Nigeria) vs Hawks (Gambia) – Asante Kotoko (Ghana) vs CARA (Congo)
AFC Leopards (Kenya) vs FOSA Juniors (Madagascar) – Simba (Tanzania) vs Gendarmerie (Djibouti)- RS Berkane (Morocco) vs Mbour Petite Cote (Senegal)
Africa Sports (Cote d’Ivoire) vs FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania) – Zimamoto (Zanzibar) vs Wolaitta Dicha (Ethiopia)
*ELWA United withdrew
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by FSL News | 8 Feb, 2018 | African News
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has confirmed that Wilfried Zaha picked up a knee injury in the draw during the match against Newcastle United.
The Ivorian international will not be part of the Palace trip to Everton on Saturday.
Hodgson told club’s website: “We don’t know how long he is out for, that is the bottom line and it’s amazing he was able to play so long in the game with the injury.”
“The good news for us is that he is a very quick healer, he and the medical staff will work very hard to get him back on the field as soon as possible.”
The Palace boss added: “The doctors won’t give you a time frame, they won’t be put under that pressure if he recovers in a week or two it would be a fantastic effort from his point of view.”
He has scored four goals for Palace this season with the Eagles 14th in the Premier League.
The injury to Zaha follows Palace’s forward Bakary Sako being ruled out of the rest of the season with a fractured ankle and damaged ligaments, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek, on loan from Chelsea, is also out.
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by FSL News | 5 Feb, 2018 | African News
Host and tournament favourite, Morocco thrashed Nigeria 4-0 in the final on Sunday to claim the African Nations Championship (CHAN) at a packed Complexe Mohamed V in Casablanca at a packed Complexe Mohamed V in Casablanca.
A brace from Zakaria Hadraf and a goal each from Walid El Karti and Ayoub El Kaabi were enough for the Moroccans as they won their first major continental title since the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Atlas Lions become the fourth different winner of the Chan, joining DR Congo, Tunisia and Libya on the honours board after they overpowered the Super Eagles, who played most of the second half with just 10 men.
Read Full Article Host Morocco Crowned Champions
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by FSL News | 4 Feb, 2018 | African News
Sudan beat Libya 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 play-off draws in Marrakech on Saturday.
The result means the Falcons of Jediane ended up third for the second time in the African Nations Championship.
Sudan impressively took the lead on eight minutes when Walaa Eldin Musa headed in to break the deadlock.
The Libyans fought hard for their equaliser just six minutes to the end with a goal from Salem Ablo.
Another bronze medal for Sudan at the CHAN finals after they were third when they hosted the tournament in 2011, while Libya were champions three years later.
Morocco host Nigeria Sunday in an eagerly anticipated final at the 65,000-capacity Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca with a record $1.25 million (about one million euros) first prize at stake.
Total man of the Match: Mohamed Taher (Sudan)
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by FSL News | 1 Feb, 2018 | African News
Former Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o, who joined struggling Turkish top-flight side Konyaspor was unveiled at the Metropolitan Municipal Stadium on Wednesday.
The 36-year-old signed on a two-and-a-half year deal on 31 January 2018, after leaving Antalyaspor by mutual consent.
President Fatih Yilmaz told club’s website: “We have strengthened our team by adding Samuel Eto’o. Eto’o is going to be a very important for us and in Turkey. We are very happy to see him in Konya.
The African and Cameroon legend reiterated he was pleased to join the Turkish bottom club side.
The former Barcelona and Chelsea striker said: “First of all I am very grateful to you all. I thank the managers for inviting me here.”
“There is someone I want to thank you here for Aydin Tekin. He urged me to Antalya, Turkey. I would like to thank Menderes Bey, the President of Antalya, as a father. I am very grateful to all of you.
“To all the managers, employees, fans at the club, some people will have difficulty understanding it, but I believe they will understand me. I would like to thank our Chairman and our Administrators,”
The veteran last played Antalyaspor between 2015 -2018 where he scored 44 goals in 77 appearances, for Konyaspor league rivals.
He is the all-time leading scorer for his country Cameroon with 54-goals won back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations titles with his country at the 2000 and 2002 editions.
The former Inter Milan, Sampdoria and Everton striker is also the leading all-time scorer in the Nations Cup with 18 goals and he appeared at four World Cup finals – 1998, 2002, 2010 and 2014 – playing in eight matches and scoring three goals.
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by FSL News | 1 Feb, 2018 | African News
Nigeria narrowly defeated Sudan 1-0 on Wednesday to set up a cracking contest against hosts Morocco in the final of the 2018 African Nations Championship on Sunday.
Gabriel Okechukwu scored the local Eagles only goal in the 16th minutes as Coach Salisu Yusuf side will slug it out with Morocco the host of the biennial tournament.
Nigeria’s Total Man of the Match: Gabriel Okechukwu.
In the first semi-finals, hosts Morocco beat North African neighbours 3-1 to overcome a resilient Libyan side to book their spot in the final.
A brace from Ayoub El Kaabi and one from Walid El Karti was enough for host Morocco to see off Libya in Casablanca.
“It was really hard for both sides. They (Sudan) pushed us to the wall, especially after the red card,” Coach Yusuf Salisu told cafonline.com
“We tried to go on the counter-attack and make the defence compact defence so as not to give spaces for them at the back.
“They had some good moments but we defeated them in the end.
“For the game against Morocco, every team is beatable. If we do the right things, why not! We can beat Morocco,” he passionately added.
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