by FSL News | 21 Nov, 2016 | African News, Sport News
World football body FIFA has suspended its annual $1.2m grant to the Sierra Leone FA until after an investigation into corruption allegations are completed by the government.
Football Sierra Leone understands today that following the visit by the FIFA Secretary General to Sierra Leone over the weekend, the world body agrees with the ministry of sports and the FA to allow the anti-corruption commission to come out with its findings before the grant is released.
FIFA will also wait for the FA to publish its audited reports before the grant is deposited in their account.
Samoura, who met with government officials in Freetown and Africa’s only female football association president, Isha Johansen has called for transparency in the game, adding that as the country gets $1.2 million annually from FIFA for developing football, it should be used accordingly.
In a visit that ended on Saturday, Samoura also talked about FIFA’s new anti-corruption drive, urging the nation’s governing football body to be transparent and settle their differences with rival members as one family.
In September, it would be recalled that SLFA president Isha Johansen was detained and questioned for alleged mismanagement of funds received by the SLFA since February, by Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). She was later released without charge.
Fifa recognises the role of the government to facilitate the dialogue and support the SLFA in resolving the on-going impasse.
The match-fixing issue of 15 suspended national players and officials to be dealt with in accordance with the SLFA and FIFA status, as FIFA hold zero tolerance policy to match-fixing.
At a meeting which was aimed at restoring peace, It’s was also agreed that Congress be conducted in a free and fair manner in accordance with the SLFA statute and integrity checks for potential SLFA delegates were decided.
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by FSL News | 21 Nov, 2016 | African News
Ivorian defender, Serge Aurier has been refused permission by British authorities to travel to England for Wednesday’s Champions League match against Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed.
The French club announced that their 23-year-old Ivory Coast international had been denied an entry visa because of an assault conviction he received in September for acting violently towards police outside a nightclub.
In a statement, PSG said: “Due to a sudden about-face by the British authorities, Serge Aurier has not been allowed to travel with Unai Emery’s squad for the London crunch task at the Emirates.”
A UEFA statement read: “UEFA supported the PSG in its efforts to acquire a visa for the player but at the last moment the authorities refused it.”
The Wednesday’s meeting at Emirates Stadium second in the standings, level on 10 points with leaders Arsenal with both clubs assured of a place in the knockout stages.
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by FSL News | 19 Nov, 2016 | African News
Yaya Touré is back!
Ivorian International Yaya Toure gave Manchester City the lead with his first goal in his first starts under Pep Guardiola at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
Toure plays a one-two with Nolito before drilling home. Connor Wickham equalised for the host after a period of pressure with 24 minutes to go slotting home under Claudio Bravo.
Toure, who has been out of favour under Guardiola, restored his side’s lead after converting a low Kevin de Bruyne corner.
The Ivory Coast international has not featured since starting the second leg of the Champions League play-off against Steaua Bucharest in August.
Toure’s outspoken representative, Dimitri Seluk, claimed Guardiola had humiliated his client by omitting him from City’s Champions’ League group-stage squad, triggering a war of words with the Spaniard.
The 33-year-old’s City contract is due to expire at the end of the campaign and it had appeared likely he would leave the club before the off-season transfer window closed.
However, he apologised this month to Guardiola for Seluk’s outburst and has now earned a return to the first team.
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by FSL News | 14 Nov, 2016 | African News
A determined Egyptian side walloped the Ghana Black Stars 2-0 in their 2018 World Cup qualifying Group E clash at the Alexandria’s Borg El-Arab Stadium on Sunday.
Goals from AS Roma winger Mohamed Salah and Abdallah El-Said gave Egypt a valuable 2-0 home win over Ghana to help the Pharaohs make a noteworthy pace in their bid to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1990.
The Group E leaders Egypt, who have not lost in any home World Cup qualifier since 2004, will take on Uganda in two home and away matches next year.
Egypt leads the group with six points, two clear of Uganda who defeated pointless Congo 1-0 on Saturday.
Ghana are third on in the group and their hopes of making a fourth successive World Cup appearance are hanging by a thread.
In the other group match, Uganda are now second in the group, two points behind Egypt, following their 1-0 win over Congo Brazzaville in Kampala on Saturday.
The Democratic Republic of Congo regained first place in Group A on goal difference from Tunisia after a 2-1 comeback victory over Guinea in Conakry.
Bolasie and Kebano goals in the 54th and 56th minutes destabilized the Guineans at home.
Only the top five group winners will represent Africa at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
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by FSL News | 12 Nov, 2016 | African News
Chelsea pair Mikel John Obi and Victor Moses played from the start as Nigeria beat Algeria 3-1 on Saturday at the Akwa Ibom Uyo Stadium in the race to Russia 2018.
Inform Chelsea’s winger, Victor Moses scored twice as the Super Eagles warmed up for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Victor Moses scored a solo goal in the 25th minute before Mikel, Chelsea’s outcast wheels to slots in the Eagles second in the 43rd minutes just before half time.
However, the Algerians cut the deficit with a goal from Nabil Bentaleb, who after missing one of Algeria’s better chances of the first half fires a rasping drive into the roof of the Nigerian net from 25 yards, a superb goal from the midfielder with serious talent.
Victor Moses sealed the Eagle’s victory with his second to tighten Nigeria’s grip on a seriously tough Group B.
The victory takes Super Eagles to the top of Group B with two victories from the qualifiers, ahead of the Cameroon and Zambia.
Only the top team from the five groups in Africa will qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Saturday’s 2018 World Cup qualifying results
Uganda 1-0 Congo
South Africa 2-1 Senegal
Cameroon 1-1 Zambia
Nigeria 3-1 Algeria
Cape Verde 0-2 Burkina Faso
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by FSL News | 12 Nov, 2016 | African News, Video & News
Sunderland’s striker Wahbi Khazri scored a penalty in the second half as Tunisia beat 10-man Libya 1-0 in a 2018 World qualifier in Algiers on Friday night.
The victory takes Tunisia to the top of Group A with two victories from two group games, ahead of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Guinea who meet on Saturday. Libya are bottom with two consecutive defeats.
Following a largely uneventful first-half, the game opened up in the second stanza as both sides looked to get the vital three points.
In the 50th minute, Libya’s Ali Salama gave away the foul in his own penalty area, and with it also his second booking of the game to see his team playing a man short.
The Ajaccio forward Khazri converted the spot-kick even though Libya keeper Muhammad Nashnoush had dived the right way.
Even though they were playing with 10 men, the Mediterranean Knights still pinned their opponents back but Tunisia eventually held on to record a vital win.
Only the top team from the five groups in Africa will qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
African qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup Result & fixtures
Friday, 11 November
Libya v Tunisia 0-1
Saturday, 12 November: Uganda 1-0 Congo / South Africa 2-1 Senegal
Cameroon v Zambia / Nigeria v Algeria
Cape Verde v Burkina Faso (17:00)
Mali v Gabon (18:30)
Morocco v Ivory Coast (20:00)
Sunday, 13 November
Egypt v Ghana (16:00)
Guinea v DR Congo (17:30)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbuNvWgK-DM
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Sierra Leone | Highlights -