North African sides Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia struck first blood, winning the first leg matches of their Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup play-off qualification matches on Friday.

Algeria and Tunisia picked up vital 1-0 wins away from home against Cameroon and Mali, respectively, while Egypt’s Pharaohs clinched a similar result at home against African champions Senegal.

In the other two matches, DR Congo played to a 1-1 draw with Morocco while Nigeria and Ghana played to a barren stalemate in Kumasi.

Recap of CAFOnline summary of Friday’s matches.

Cameroon 0-1 Algeria

In Douala, Islam Silimani scored the lone goal as former African champions Algeria silenced Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions at the Japoma Stadium.

Slimani scored his eighth goal in World Cup qualification, thumping home a 40th-minute header from Youcef Bellaili’s delivery off a freekick.

Mali 0-1 Tunisia

In Bamako, defender Moussa Sissako was the unfortunate villain for the Malians as he scored an own goal and was sent off minutes later as the home side lost by a solitary goal to Tunisia.

Sissako scored a bizarre own goal in the 36th minute when his attempt to pass the ball back to his keeper was awry as the shot-stopper had moved off his line and the pass was a yard off his positioning.

DR Congo 1-1 Morocco

In Kinshasa, substitutes Ayoub El Kaabi and Tarik Tissoudali combined for the equalizer as Morocco scored with 14 minutes left to salvage a 1-1 draw with DR Congo.

Yoane Wissa gave his side the lead just 12 minutes into the match when his brilliant shot from distance took a wicked deflection off skipper Roman Saiss and into the net.

Egypt 1-0 Senegal

At the Cairo International Stadium, hosts Egypt laid revenge on Senegal, who beat them to the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations title in Cameroon last month, beating them by a solitary goal.

Saliou Ciss scored into his net just four minutes in as the Egyptians took a massive lead that they jealously guarded ahead of next week’s second leg.

Ghana 0 – 0 Nigeria

At a fully packed Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, hosts Ghana played to a barren draw with Nigeria in a highly publicized derby, leaving all to play for when the two sides clash in Abuja on Tuesday.

Both sides had chances to score, but none was lucky enough to find the back of the net.

FSL News – African Football News – Follow us on Twitter @football_sierra On Facebook & Instagram: Football Sierra Leone.

Togo head coach Paulo Duarte has finalised his 38-man squad for this month’s International friendlies in Antalya, Turkey. Photo Credit FTF

The FTF has confirmed their list, including names of under 23 players.

Togo will square up with Sierra Leone on March 24 before challenging Benin on March 29 in preparation for AFCON 2023 qualifiers.

After their poor showing in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification Group G, new technician Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte is working on Ivory Coast 2023.

Under the supervision of their Portuguese coach, Sparrowhawks ended second behind Senegal in the second round group stages of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte full listed Players

Goalkeepers

Malcom Barcola (Lyon, France), Wassiou Ouro-Gneni (ASCK), Steven Foly Mensah (Hamburg, Germany)

Defenders

Dakonam Djene (Getafe, Spain), Steven Folly Nador (Spal, Italy), Emmanuel Hackman (Gil Vicente, Portugal), Frédéric Ananou (Paderborn, Germany), Kangnivi Ama Tchoutchoui (FC Nouadhibou, Mauritania), Kennedy Boateng (Santa Clara, Portugal), Klousseh Agbozo (Abu Salem, Libya), Loic Bessile (Charleroi, Belgium), Youssifou Atte (Legon Cities, Ghana), Jean Marie Nadjombe (Fortuna Koln, Germany) Kevin Boma (Angers, France) Mathieu Dotse (Dyto).

Midfielders 

Alaixys Romao (Ionikos, Greece), Franco Atchou (Erbil, Iraq), Gnama Akate (Al Naft, Iraq), Marouf Tchakei (AS Vita Club, DR Congo), Samuel Asamoah (Univ. Craoiva, Romania), Dikeni-Rafid Salifou (Augsburg, Germany ), Karim Dermane (Feyenoord, Netherlands), Malik Djibril (Vicenza, Italy), Samsondin Ouro (NS Mura, Slovenia), Jarry Kparo Ahoro (AS Togo Port).

Forwards

David Henen (Kortrijk, Belgium), Ismail Ouro-Agoro (St George, Ethiopia), Justin Yere (Dyto), Kevin Denkey (Cercle Brugge, Belgium), Kodjo Laba (Al Ain, United Arab Emirates), Fessou Placca (Al Tadamon, Kuwait), Thibault Klidje (Bordeaux, France), Josue Doke (WAFA, Ghana), Junior Akakpo (Entente II), Kodjo Aziangbe (Al Nasr, United Arab Emirates), Nadir Ayeva (Orebro Syrianska, Sweden), Tawfik Moukaila (Gbohloe-Su).

FSL- African Football News – Follow us on Twitter @football_sierra On Facebook & Instagram: Football Sierra Leone.

English-man Peter Butler has named a 23-man squad for three International friendlies in Antalya, Turkey. 

The LFA says Liberia will battle with Benin on 24 March, Sierra Leone on 27 March and Burundi on 29 March. 

Six new Lone Star players will be hoping to make their debut for the West African side.

They are Italy-based Mohamed Cherif Diallo and local-based players Junior Yeanay, Allenton Sembeh, Frank Allison, Emmanuel Reyah, Divine Roosevelt Teah and Prince Zawoh will be hoping to make their debuts. 

Their last contest was a 1-0 defeat for Liberia in the first round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers at the Siaka Stevens Stadium in Freetown on 8 September 2019.

Full Squad Below 

Goalkeepers: Allenton Sembeh (Bea Mountain), Junior Yeanay (Nimba Kwado) and Derrick Julu (Watanga FC) 

Defenders: Jamal Arago (Sabail, Azerbaijan), Mark Pabai (SPAL, Italy), Prince Balde (Drita, Kosovo), Sampson Dweh (LPRC Oilers), Joel Johnson (Hartford Athletic, United States of America) and Emmanuel Reyah (Muscat FC) 

Midfielders: Abrahim Mohammed Soumaoro (PAEEK FC, Cyprus), Moussa Sanoh (Mioveni, Romania), Seth Kanteh Hellberg (IK Brage, Sweden), Oscar Murphy Dorley (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic), Allen Njie (FC Aarau, Switzerland), Mohammed Sangare (Newcastle United under-23, England) and Frank Allison (Freeport FC) 

Forwards: Justin Paul Salmon (Degerfors IF, Sweden), Mohamed Cherif Diallo (Derthona, Italy), Kpah Sherman (Terengganu, Malaysia), Peter Wilson (Olympiakos Nicosia, Cyprus), Ayouba Kosiah (NAC Breda, Netherlands), Divine Roosevelt Teah (Nimba FC) and Prince Zawoh (Nimba United)

FSL- African Football News – Follow us on Twitter @football_sierra On Facebook & Instagram: Football Sierra Leone.

Espérance Sportive de Tunis defeated Etoile du Sahel 2-0 in the Tunisian Derby at the Stade Olympique de Radès in Tunis on Saturday.

The victory took Espérance Sportive de Tunis top of TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Group C standings. 

Goals from Abdelkader Bedrane and Mohamed Ben Romdhane were enough as Esperance’s registered eight points, same as second-placed CR Belouizdad.

Espérance’s next two games are against Jwaneng Galaxy on the 19th and CR Belouizdad in April.

Meanwhile, South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns completed a CAF Champions League double over Al Ahly after a hard-fought 1-0 victory at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.

Peter Shalulile break the deadlock with an easy tap-in from inside Al Ahly’s area after 22 minutes.

As a result, the Sundowns maintained top of group A with 10 points six ahead of their opponents after four matches played.

They will face Al Hilal on the 19th of March before hosting Al Merrikh in their final game.

FSL Sports News – African Football News – Follow us on Twitter @football_sierra On Facebook & Instagram: Football Sierra Leone.

South African Al Ahly’s boss Pitso Mosimane has extended his stay with the Egyptian giants until 2024.

The 57-year-old has twice led the Cairo side to the African Champions League title since joining in 2020. He also boasts two consecutive third-place finishes at the Club World Cup, including the 2021 edition played in February.

Mosimane, who coached South Africa from 2010 to 2012, is in his first managerial post outside of his homeland.

His new deal came after Ahly impressively won bronze for a second successive time at the Fifa Club World Cup in Qatar last month, beating Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal 4-0 in the playoff match.

Recently named the best African Club Coach of the Year, Mosimane has not been short of success at Al Ahly, also winning the Caf Super Cup and the Egyptian Cup.

“Al Ahly are delighted to announce that Pitso Mosimane has signed a contract extension with the club for two more years,” the ten-time African champions said in a statement. 

“The coach and his assistants signed the new contract, ensuring they will remain at the helm until 2024.”

Al Ahly currently leads the Egyptian Premier League, two points clear of second-placed Pyramids with a game in hand.

During his time in South Africa, Mosimane also won the African Champions League title with Mamelodi Sundowns, in 2016.

FSL- African Football News – Follow us on Twitter @football_sierra On Facebook & Instagram: Football Sierra Leone.

The Journey Continues ❤️#MosimaneIsHereToStay pic.twitter.com/3477Pstlx2

— Al Ahly SC 🇬🇧 (@AlAhlyEnglish) March 9, 2022

Swansea City midfielder Olivier Ntcham is among four new named in Indomitable Lions coach Rigobert Song’s 38-man squad ahead of Cameroon’s 2022 World Cup play-off against Algeria.

Cameroon to host Algeria on March 25th at the Douala Japoma before their second encounter on the 29 at the Mustapha Tchaker Stadium in Blida.

Ntcham, 26, is a former France Under-21 international, has scored three goals in 27 appearances for the Swans since joining on a free transfer in September last year.

Galatasaray defender Sacha Boey – another former France youth international – Hannover midfielder Gael Ondoa and Asteras Tripolis forward Kevin Soni have also received their first call-ups.

In the West African World Cup qualifying derby, Ghana to host Nigeria in their first leg at the Cape Coast stadium on Thursday, March 24, 2022, with the reverse leg set for the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Tuesday, 29th March.

FSL African Football News – Follow us on Twitter @football_sierra On Facebook & Instagram: Football Sierra Leone.

#FIFAWC2022Q

Liste des joueurs pre-convoqués pour la double confrontation contre l'Algérie des 25 et 29 mars 2022 comptant pour les barrages de la Coupe du Monde FIFA Qatar 2022. pic.twitter.com/CxuYpRd2q7

— Les Lions Indomptables Officiel (@LIndomptables) March 7, 2022

🔥 Some BIG games in Africa's final round!

🤔 Which five teams will advance to Qatar 2022?@CAF_Online | #WorldCup | #WCQ pic.twitter.com/Jbp6ctZVN8

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) January 22, 2022