by FSL News | 9 May, 2017 | African News
ETHIOPIA will host Uganda in an international friendly on 3rd June 2017 in Addis Ababa as part of their homework for the forthcoming 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The newly appointed Ethiopian national team coach, Ashenafi Bekele, has named his 29-man provisional squad ahead of the Uganda friendly tie and African Cup of Nations qualifier opener against Ghana in June.
The Walia Ibex, seeking their first return to AFCON since 2013, are in Group F of the qualifiers alongside Uganda’s neighbours Kenya, Sierra Leone and Ghana.
They will open their campaign away to Ghana on 9th June 2017 before hosting the Leone Stars March 2018.
Only the winners of each group will join the host country in the final tournament as well as the best 3 runner-ups in all 12 Groups.
Meanwhile, Football Sierra Leone understands that the Ethiopia Football Association, EFA make known to have requested a friendly match with Zambia as a preparation for the 2018 CHAN in Kenya.
Full squad list.
Goalkeepers: Abel Mamo (Mekelakeya), Jemal Tassew (Jimma Aba Bunna), Lealem Birhanu (Sidama Bunna), Teklemariam Shanko (Addis Ababa Ketema)
Defenders: Asechalew Tamene (Kidus Giorgis), Abdulkerim Mohammed, Ahmed Reshid (Ethiopia Bunna), Seyoum Tesfaye (Dedebit), Tesfaye Bekele, Mujib Kassim (Adama Ketema), Aneteneh Tesfaye (Sidama Bunna), Awot Gebremikael (Ethio-Electric), Addis Tesfaye (Mekelakeya)
Midfielders: Natnael Zeleke, Menetesnot Adane (Kidus Giorgis), Biruk Kalbore (Adama Ketema), Ephrem Ashamo,Shemekit Gugesa (Dedebit), Gatoch Panom (Ethiopia Bunna), Tadele Mengesha (ArbaMinch Ketema),Mulualem Mesfin (Sidama Bunna), Gadissa Mebrate (Hawassa Ketema), Shemeles Bekele (Petrojet/Egypt)
Attackers: Getaneh Kebede (Dedebit), Salahdin Said (Kidus Giorgis), Addis Gidey (Sidama Bunna), Ame Mohammed(Jimma Aba Bunna), Abdulrahman Mubarak (Fasil Ketema), Oumed Okuri (El-Entag El-Harby/Egypt)
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by FSL News | 6 May, 2017 | African News
Infuriated that he was treated like a “criminal,” Sulley Muntari won his fight with Italian soccer authorities on Friday to overturn a one-match ban for walking off the field in response to racist abuse.
“I feel that someone has finally listened and heard me,” the Ghanaian player said in comments published by FIFPro, the international players’ union. “The last few days have been very hard for me. I have felt angry and isolated. I was being treated like a criminal. How could I be punished when I was the victim of racism?”
The Sierra Leone defensive midfielder, Rodney Strasser was one of the first footballers to hail his former team-mate walk of action. Strasser told this medium “FIFA and the Italian Football Association need to pay more attention to the Persistent racial abuse of African players playing in Italy.
“I stand with Muntari for taking action because Racism has no place in football. It has to stop – We have to put an end to such inhuman behaviour in football.”
“In 2013, during a friendly match we played against Busto Arsizio there was racial abuse on another Ghanaian Kelvin Prince Boateng, as a team, we were forced to walk off the pitch in a protest to say no to racism and nothing was done,” Strasser explained.
The Pescara player received a yellow card during Sunday’s Serie A game at Cagliari for protesting to the referee about the monkey chants from the stands.
Muntari, 32, said he had complained against some section of the crowd, in the final minute of Pescara’s 1-0 loss including a group of children, chanting racist insults at him.
The red card led to Muntari receiving a one-match ban by the league’s disciplinary commission.
Cagliari escaped punishment because Serie A’s disciplinary body said only 10 fans bellowed abuse at Muntari, raising further doubts about Italy’s commitment to tackling racism in soccer.
“I hope my case can help so that other footballers do not suffer like me,” Muntari vehemently added. “I hope it can be a turning point in Italy and show the world what it means to stand up for your rights.”
The global anger reached the United Nations, with a top human rights official calling Muntari an “inspiration.”
FIGC President Carlo Tavecchio told national news agency ANSA that he was “satisfied” with the appeal ruling “because rules and procedures which are guaranteed by our system were respected.” Tavecchio was banned by UEFA for six months at the start of his Italian federation presidency in 2014 over a reference to bananas when discussing the presence of foreign players in Italy.
FIFPro said “common sense has prevailed” with the ban being rescinded.
“The right result has happened and justice has been served,” Bobby Barnes, FIFPro’s leader in Europe, told The Associated Press. “All of us felt the decision was wrong because there is a clear protocol in place and the player had followed that protocol.
“To be penalised for leaving the field because the protocol hadn’t been carried out was an insult to injury. When you’ve got the victim of a situation being the one that ends penalised, I think it is only right you look at that again. We’ve got to the right place, albeit belatedly.”
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Daniella Matar in Milan contributed to this report – @football_sierra.
by FSL News | 4 May, 2017 | African News
Former AC Milan Midfielder Rodney Strasser says he is in “Solidarity with the action taken by his former AC Milan teammate Sulley Muntari” to walk off the pitch on Sunday in a Seria A match between Cagliari and Pescara.
Muntari said he had complained against some section of the crowd, including a group of children, chanting racist insults at him.
Photo: Former AC Milan players, Thiago Silva, Rodney Strasser and Sulley Muntari
The Sierra Leone defensive midfielder said FIFA and the Italian Football Association need to pay more attention to the Persistent racial abuse of African players playing in Italy.
“I stand with Muntari for taking action because Racism has no place in football. It has to stop – We have to put an end to such inhuman behaviour in football.”
“In 2013, during a friendly match we played against Busto Arsizio there was racial abuse on another Ghanaian Kelvin Prince Boateng, as a team, we were forced to walk off the pitch in a protest to say no to racism and nothing was done,” Strasser explained.
Strasser, 27, who is plying his trade in Portugal with second-tier LigaPro Gil Vincente, added: “More must be done to tackle racism in football, especially in Italy were it on an increase.
“I spoke with Muntari a day ago after the incident he told me that before the game they were chanting racist insults on him by some kids in the midst of their parent’s.” citing some parents set no good examples to their children.
“Muntari loves children and always like to show good examples to the kids,” Strasser told footballsierraleone.net.
“I believe the first way to addressed this issues is that the suspension given to Muntari by Daniel Minelli should be reversed with immediate effect before they can address the issue.
“Racism is bad and if the authorities fail to address this issue it might get worse than this it can even lead to loss of lives so the authorities have to address these issues of racism chant on black players.”
Meanwhile, Football Africa Arena (FAA) Africa biggest sporting forum has also joined the campaign to stamp out racism in football.
The group which is comprised of Journalist all over Africa, Football FA heads, Administrators, CAF executive members and a host of others have issues statements on it twitter page condemning the racial chant on Sulley Muntari and to Say no to racism in football.
According to the CEO, FAA Collins Oyinkao said racism is killing football and it has to stop. Adding no space for racism in football, noting Africa players are mostly the Victims of racial abuses in Europe namely Samuel Eto Fil’s, Kelvin Prince Boateng, Sulley Muntari and a host of others.
Muntari was banned after he protested against racist abuse he received from the crowd during Sunday’s Serie A match at Cagliari, which earned him a yellow card for dissent before he walked off.
The Serie A disciplinary committee which issued Muntari’s ban agreed that the fans’ actions were “deplorable” but said its guidelines meant it could not impose sanctions as only “approximately 10” supporters were involved – fewer than 1% of the Cagliari supporters in the ground.
Follow the writer @PrinceArmaniSc1 @football_sierra
by FSL News | 3 May, 2017 | African News
Ex-Tottenham striker Garth Crooks says “every self-respecting black player” in the Italian league should strike this weekend unless Sulley Muntari’s one-match suspension is withdrawn.
Sulley Muntari is shown a yellow card after he protested against racial abuse
Pescara midfielder Muntari, 32, was banned after he protested against racist abuse he received from the crowd during Sunday’s Serie A match at Cagliari, which earned him a yellow card for dissent before he walked off.
Italy’s football chiefs were branded “gutless” by anti-discrimination organisation Kick It Out.
“Those with power in Italy need to take action to stop this happening again,” Kick It Out tweeted.
In a fuller statement on its website, the organisation added: “Garth Crooks, an independent Kick It Out trustee, is calling for every self-respecting black player in the Italian League to not play this weekend unless the Italian authorities withdraw the ban on Sulley Muntari.
“It’s unbelievable that Cagliari escaped punishment as ‘only 10′ fans were involved. This situation should never be allowed to happen again.”
Ex-Ghana international Muntari was cautioned for dissent after asking the referee to stop the match and then walked off in protest – which earned him a second yellow card for leaving the field of play without permission.
The Serie A disciplinary committee which issued Muntari’s ban agreed that the fans’ actions were “deplorable” but said its guidelines meant it could not impose sanctions as only “approximately 10” supporters were involved – fewer than 1% of the Cagliari supporters in the ground,
SOURCE: BBC
by FSL News | 27 Apr, 2017 | African News
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Wednesday at the CAF’s headquarter in Cairo completed the draws of the group stage for the 2017 Champions League.
Holders South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns will face a tougher test in Group C after been handed a tricky draw in the group stage.
As well as debutants Saint George of Ethiopia in Group C they will face Esperance of Tunisia and DR Congo’s AS Vita Club, who have both been continental champions in the past.
Sudan’s two biggest clubs have been drawn in Group A as Al Hilal and Al Merreikh are joined by Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia and Mozambique’s Ferroviario Beira.
Eight-time champions Al Ahly of Egypt headline Group D, where they will tackle Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, Cameroon’s Coton Sport and Zambia’s Zanaco.
The group stage of the continental competition begins with Matchday 1 on the weekend of 12-14 May and wraps up with Matchday 6 on the weekend of 7-9 July.
CAF Champions’ League group stage draws results
Group A: Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia), Al Hilal (Sudan), Al Merrikh (Sudan), Ferroviario Beira (Mozambique)
Group B: Zamalek (Egypt), USM Alger (Algeria), Al Ahly Tripoli (Libya), CAPS United (Zimbabwe)
Group C: Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia), AS Vita (DR Congo), Saint George (Ethiopia)
Group D: Al Ahly (Egypt), Wydad Casablanca (Morocco), Coton Sport (Cameroon), Zanaco (Zambia)
@football_sierra
by FSL News | 27 Apr, 2017 | African News
TP Mazembe of DR Congo will travel to South Africa, West Africa to Guinea and Gabon as they seek to defend their Confederation Cup title.
The five-time African champions have been drawn in a Group D alongside SuperSport United, Horoya and Mounana in the expanded group stage.
Three-time winners CS Sfaxien of Tunisia will face South Africa’s Platinum Stars, debutants Mbabane Swallows of Swaziland and Mouloudia Alger from Algeria.
Moroccan side FUS Rabat, who won the tournament in 2010, face two sides making the debuts in the group stages in Rivers United of Nigeria and Uganda’s KCCA.
The group is completed by Tunisia’s Club Africain, who were the winner’s in 1991 and runners-up in this competition 20 years later.
The first group matches due to be played on the weekend of 12-14 May.
The top two from each group will progress to the quarter-finals with the final set to be played over two legs in November.
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Sierra Leone | Highlights -