by FSL News | 27 Aug, 2016 | African News
Ivory Coast coach, Michel Dussuyer has left out Manchester City duo, Yaya Toure & Wilfried Bony from the Elephant squad ahead of their 3 September decisive 2017 AFCON final qualifying match against Leone Stars of Sierra Leone.
The two nations will clash at the Stade Bouaké now Stadium of Peace in what is describe as the Group I decider for a place in Gabon but the home side will have to make do without the Manchester City pair.
Coach Dussuyer final 23-man squad was made know last Thursday in a press conference at the headquarters of the Ivorian Football Federation (IFF).
The French boss, when asked about Toure’s absent, said: “A meeting is planned with Yaya Toure. After which everyone will be updated.”
Another player that will miss the September 3 encounter is Stuttgart midfielder Serey Die who is recovering from a leg injury he suffered on April 5 while playing for Stuttgart in their 2-2 draw with Darmstadt.
However, there is some good news for the former Guinea national team coach as PSG defender Serge Aurier and newly acquired Manchester United central-back Eric Bailly are available for selection.
Aurier had not been involved with the Elephants since March 29 in Khartoum against Sudan during the fourth round matches.
Meanwhile, the former French international also recalled Deli Simon of Sparta Prague, Ousmane Viera, Wilfried Kanon and Kone Lamine Traore.
In midfield, Franck Kessie, now a pivot in Atlanta Bergamo in Italy and Serge N’Guessan the new resident of the French league was again recalled by Dussuyer.
With the absent of Toure and Bony, Dussuyer recalled Max Gradel, Yao Kouassi Gervais, Kodja Jonathan and Giovanni Sio Thomas of Girondins de Bordeaux.
While goalkeeper Gbohouo Sylvain will be assisted by Sayouba Mande and Sangare Badra.
Ivory Coast are currently leading group I with 5 points and only need to avoid defeat to secure qualification while Sierra Leone who are with 4 points can progress to Gabon 2017 with only a victory.
Full Squad:
Keepers: GBOHOUO Sylvain (TP Mazembe – DR Congo), SANGARE BADRA Ali (AS Tanda – Côte d’Ivoire)
And Sayouba Mande ( Stabaek – Norway ).
Defenders: AURIER Serge (Paris SG – France), BAILLY Eric (Manchester United – England), DELI Simon ( Slavia Prague – Republic Czech ), DIARRASSOUBA Ousmane Viera ( Adanaspor – Turkey ), GOUA Mahan Marc ( Asec Mimosas – Cote d’Ivoire ), KANON Wilfred (ADO The Hague – Netherlands), KONE Lamine (Sunderland AFC – England ) And TRAORE Adama (FC Basel – Switzerland).
Midfielders: Angban Victorian (Granada CF – Spain ), DIOMANDE Ishmael (SM Caen – France), DOUKOURE Sheik (FC Metz – France), KESSIE Franck (Atlanta Bergamo – Italy ), N’Guessan Yao Serge (AS Nancy Lorraine – France) and SERI John Michael ( OGC Nice – France).
Strikers: Gradel Max-Alain (AFC Bournemouth – England), Kouassi Yao Gervais (Hebei Fortune FC – China), KALOU Solomon ( Hertha Berlin – Germany ), Kodjia Jonathan (Bristol City FC – England ), SIO Giovanni ( Stade Rennais – France) and TOURE Thomas ( Girondins de Bordeaux – France).
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by FSL News | 19 Aug, 2016 | African News
Former Sierra Leone coach Johnny McKinstry was disappointed to be let go by Rwanda.
Johnny McKinstry was let go by the Rwanda’s football federation (FERWAFA) on Thursday after 15 months in charge of Amavubi.
His sacking was confirmed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports and Culture Lt Col Patrice Rugambwa.
McKinstry, 31, has expressed his shock after he was sacked as head coach of Rwanda’s national team.
“I am in shock because I have not been told why the Federation has taken this decision,” McKinstry said.
“This period has been one of the best in terms of performance for Rwanda,” he added.
“However, it has been an honour to be Head Coach of the Rwanda National Team for the past year and a half.”
McKinstry was appointed as Rwanda’s head coach in March 2015.
He managed to register 11 wins, two draws and a dozen defeats in the 25 games he was in charge of Rwanda.
Rwanda ranked 121 in the global ranking and they are already out of the road to Gabon 2017.
Mckinstry guided Sierra Leone to their highest ever FIFA World and African rankings – 7th in Africa and 50th in the World in his 16 months in charge.
@football_sierra
by FSL News | 18 Aug, 2016 | African News
Nigerian international Kelechi Iheanacho has signed a new two-year deal tying him to the club until 2021.
The 19-year-old Nigerian scored 14 goals in his breakthrough campaign at the Etihad Stadium last season, and now looks set for a pivotal role under new boss Pep Guardiola.
Iheanacho told City’s official website, “I can’t express how I’m feeling now, I’m excited.”
“I just need to keep working hard and express my feelings on the pitch and work really well and do great things for the team.
“I’m happy and I appreciate everything the club has done for me so far at this point so I really need to help and work for them as well.”
The youngster was a late substitute in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Sunderland.
“Kelechi is a natural goal-scorer,” said Guardiola.
“I knew about him before, but I’ve been really impressed with him since I arrived.
“I like his personality, his attitude, his ability: we hope to help him reach the highest level and to realise his full potential.”
@football_sierra
by FSL News | 15 Aug, 2016 | African News
DR Congo international Yannick Bolasie in Photo signs for Everton
Everton signed DR Congo international midfielder Yannick Bolasie from Crystal Palace on a five-year deal for £25 million.
Bolasie, 27, spent four seasons with Palace after joining the London side from Bristol City in 2012.
Speaking to Everton TV the Democratic Republic of Congo international said: “I’m looking forward to putting on the Everton shirt.
“This is a big club and I know all about it from having played against them over the years.
For me, it was a no-brainer to come here. But now that I’ve come to Everton, the job is not done. I’ve got to work hard and feel my way in. I’m ready and up for the challenge.”
Since joining Palace in August 2012, on a three-year contract, he has made 143 appearances scoring 13 goals, and came on as a substitute in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat by West Brom.
The attacking midfielder made his international debut in a 2014 World Cup qualification 0–0 draw with Libya.
The former Bristol City player was also selected in the Congolese squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea and he scored the equaliser in their first group game, a 1–1 draw against Zambia at the Nuevo Estadio de Ebebiyín on 18 January.
@football_sierra
by FSL News | 6 Aug, 2016 | African News
Ghanaian striker Andre Ayew pictured is close to a move from Swansea City to West Ham United.
Football Sierra Leone understands that West Ham have agreed on a fee of about £20m to sign Ghana striker Andre Ayew from Swansea City.
The 26-year-old, who arrived from Marseille in 2015 on a free transfer, was the Swans’ top scorer with 12 last seasons.
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic remains eager to bring in “a minimum of five players” before the close of the transfer window.
They are expected to remain in the market in the priority positions of striker and left-back.
However, the Swans want more time to get in another striker before concluding the deal for Ayew and they are chasing strikers Fernando Llorente of Sevilla and Leicester City attacker Leonardo Ulloa.
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by FSL News | 2 Aug, 2016 | African News
Ghanaian international and Chelsea defender Abdul Baba Rahman (Pictured) has joined Bundesliga outfit Schalke 04 on a season-long loan move after completing his medical on Sunday.
The Bundesliga side tweeted his arrival this morning with the full-back having joined their pre-season training camp.
Baba will reunite with his former Augsburg manager Markus Weinzierl who took charge of Schalke earlier this summer.
Rahman, 22, signed a five-year deal for the London giant club from Augsburg last summer in a deal worth close to £21.4m.
The highly-rated Ghanaian international made 23 appearances in all competitions for the Blues during the 2015/16 campaign.
However, new boss Antonio Conte is currently shaping his squad ahead of his first season at Chelsea and has already allowed a number of younger players leave the club on loan, including Nathan Ake, Charly Musonda and Lewis Baker,and with Rahman’s move to Germany, 100% done.
Rahman spent three years in Germany prior to joining Chelsea, spending two seasons at Bundesliga 2 side Greuther Furth, where he made 48 appearances, scoring twice.
@football_sierra
Sierra Leone | Highlights -