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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by FSL News | 25 Apr, 2017 | African News
Hull City have confirmed striker Oumar Niasse red rad has been reversed.
The 27-year-old Senegal international was shown a straight red card for a tackle on M’Baye Niang during Hull’s 2-0 win over the Hornets on Saturday.
Hull successfully appealed to the FA against Niasse’s red card – which would have led to a three-match ban.
It means Niasse will be available for Hull’s trip to Southampton on Saturday.
Hull City are two points above the relegation zone with four games to play.
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by FSL News | 18 Apr, 2017 | African News
Sierra Leone soccer legend Mohamed Kallon has confirmed he will join high-profile former African players to take part in the African Football Legends doubleheader billed to raise funds for charity.
Two-legged charity match is organised by African football Legends organisation (NPO) and the Beneficiaries are Nelson Mandela and Kanu heart Foundation.
The game will also be used to preach against Current Xenophobic attack happening in South Africa.
A team of African football legends will play against a team of South Africa legends to raise funds for the two charities and the Proceeds will be donated to Kanu Heart Foundation and Nelson Mandela Foundation.
The first leg is expected to be played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos on April 29 in Nigeria and May 27 in South Africa.
Speaking ahead of the Legendary football matches he said: “I’m delighted to be part of this wonderful initiative.
“Obviously, I have done very well in representing Sierra Leone in Africa and at the highest stage of world football so I think this charity matches should be our obligation to pay back to less privileged and the needy all over Africa.
“Big brother Kanu is doing very well with his heart foundation and off course supporting Nelson Mandela foundation is a privilege for some of us who saw the great transformation of South Africa from the apartheid to freedom,” the former Leone Stars skipper told www.footballsierraleone.net.
Most notable former stars like Lucas Radebe, Peter Ndlovu, George Weah, Roger Milla, Taribo West, Samuel Eto’o, Cyril Mubiala, El Hadji Diouf, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, Daniel ‘the Bull’ Amokachi, Garba Lawal, Phil Masinga, Aime Kitenge, Lomana Lualua, Dr Jomo Sono, Neil Tovey, Patrick Mabedi, Peter Rufai, Samson Siasia, Joseph Yobo, Kwame Ayew, Doctor Khumalo, Eric Tinkler, Mutiu Adepoju, Pape Diouf, Phil Masinga, Kolo Toure, Dipsy Selolwane, among others have agreed to play in the doubleheader.
The Kanu Heart Foundation was founded in 2000 by former Inter Milan and Arsenal star, Nwankwo Kanu, to help save underprivileged African children who are battling heart diseases.
@football_sierra @bittar32
by FSL News | 13 Apr, 2017 | African News
* Spanish coach Lucas Alcaraz takes the reins of Algeria following dismissal from Granada role this week
* Algeria currently sat bottom of their 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ qualifying group
* Alcaraz will be the Desert Foxes’ fourth coach in just over a year
Algeria have appointed Lucas Alcaraz as their new coach, following the resignation of Georges Leekens in February.
The Spaniard, who was sacked as Granada coach on Monday after six months following his third spell at the helm of the Andalucian club, becomes the fourth permanent coach to take charge in 13 months.
Christian Gourcuff, who had been in the role since Vahid Halilhodzic stepped down following Brazil 2014, resigned in March 2016. Milovan Rajevac took control for two games before Leekens stepped in, but the Belgian called time after Algeria’s group stage exit at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations.
Alcaraz will take over the Desert Foxes with them languishing at the bottom of their Russia 2018 qualifying group, having picked up one point from their opening two fixtures. They are five points adrift of leaders Nigeria with four games remaining, with the Super Eagles occupying the solitary qualifying place.
Algeria at the FIFA World Cup
* The Desert Foxes’ first appearance at the World Cup came at Spain 1982, stunning West Germany with a 2-1 win
* Brazil 2014 ranks as their best-ever performance, taking eventual champions Germany to extra-time in the Round of 16
* They also qualified for Mexico 1986 and South Africa 2010
(Source FIFA.com) @football_sierra
by FSL News | 13 Apr, 2017 | African News
Former Ivory Coast striker and Chelsea FC legend Didier Drogba has signed for American side Phoenix Rising as a player and part-owner. Phoenix Rising currently part of the United Soccer League and they targeting Major League Soccer promotion.
Shaun Wright-Phillips, another former Chelsea winger, former Newcastle and QPR defender Peter Ramage and ex-Watford and Derby left-back Jordan Stewart are all on Phoenix’s roster.
The Chelsea FC legend on his official twitter account tweeted to break the news: ‘Happy to announce I have signed with and will be part of the ownership group hoping to take Phoenix to the MLS.’
Drogba, one of Africa’s finest, who was a free agent for nearly four months will play a major role on and off the pitch for USL side Phoenix Rising after announcing himself as the very first player-owner in football history.
The former Le Mans and Marseille striker was recently playing for Canadian MLS side Montreal Impact, where he successfully scored 21 goals in the 2015-16 seasons.
“The USL is a league on the rise, further demonstrated by the calibre of players who have recently joined our ranks,” said USL President Jake Edwards. “The addition of Drogba in Phoenix, as well as the numerous other world class and domestic players competing in the USL, speaks volumes to the professional-quality environment our league continues to build,” quoting their website.
Drogba, 39, said in a statement on Phoenix Rising’s official website: ‘I have taken my time in deciding what I wanted to do next and am really excited about the opportunity at Phoenix Rising FC.
@football_sierra @bittar32
by FSL News | 11 Apr, 2017 | African News
Togo international, Emmanuel Adebayor, scored a hat-trick as Istanbul Basaksehir thrashed city rivals Galatasaray in the Turkish top flight League on Monday.
Adebayor, 33, scored the opener in 11 minutes and headed home his second just before half-time.
The ex-Arsenal and Tottenham forward completed his hat-trick on 57th minutes before Mustafa Pektemek adding a fourth.
Adebayor’s last hat-trick came for Real Madrid in 2011, while the 33-year-old now has five goals since joining Basaksehir as a free agent in January.
Basaksehir moved five points behind leaders Besiktas with seven games remaining.
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Sierra Leone | Highlights -