by FSL News | 30 Mar, 2021 | African News, Sport News
- Malawi Flames secured second spot behind Burkina Faso in group B for their third AFCON finals after 1984 and 2010 appearances.
Baroka FC striker Richard Mbulu accounted for the only goal as Malawi beat Uganda 1-0 in their final qualifying match for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations to book a ticket.
Uganda only needed a draw from the game in Blantyre but failed thanks to Richard Mbulu’s 15th-minute goal.
Elsewhere, reigning African champions Algeria thrashed Botswana 5-0 at the Mustapha Tchaker Stadium to extend their unbeaten run to 24 games as they finish top of Group H on Sunday.
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by FSL News | 29 Mar, 2021 | African News, Sport News
- Michel Dussuyer’s squad wrapped up its final training session ahead on Tuesday decider at the Siaka Steven Stadium in their hunt to reach Cameroon 2022. (Photo credit FebefootOfficiel)
The Squirrels of Benin only need a draw to join the list of other nations already qualified.
Tuesday’s crunchy decider will the fourth meeting between the two nations in fifteen years.
In the last three meetings – they have defeated Sierra Leone 2-0 in 2006 at home, 2-0 in 2007 in Freetown, and a 1-0 win in November 2019.
Group L – Following a last-gasp winner, Nigeria qualified and Lesotho out of the race.
Benin (7 points) and Sierra Leone (4) both in the race. They go to war on Tuesday in Freetown.
A draw sees Benin through, while Sierra Leone needs a win to qualify.
Stade Brestois 29 striker Steve Michel Mounié in Sierra Leone
Midfielder Sessi D’Almeida looking focus
Benin final training session at the Siaka Steven Stadium on Monday
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by FSL News | 27 Mar, 2021 | African News, Sport News
Sierra Leone hopes of reaching their third African Cup of Nations finals is alive after Nigeria 1-0 victory over Benin at the Charles de Gaulle Stadium in Porto Novo on Saturday.
Despite John Keister’s team failed to win away at the Setsoto Stadium – the result in Poto Novo has given Sierra Leone a new lifeline in their quest of reaching Cameroon next year.
Sierra Leone will need to defeat Benin by at least a goal without any reply in Freetown on Tuesday to end the Afcon drought since their last outing in South Africa in 1996.
After today’s matches, Nigeria top of Group L with eleven points with a game to spare as they booked their ticket for next year’s continental showpiece in Cameroon.
Ahead of the final group L matches, Nigeria on eleven points while Benin on seven with Sierra Leone standing third with four points and Lesotho on three.
At home, coach Keister must ensure his side ended this qualifier on the high at the Freetown Siaka Steven Stadium on Tuesday.
The Teslim Balogun Stadium will host Nigeria versus the Crocodiles of Lesotho billed for March 30 their final group L game as Sierra Leone welcome the Squirrels on Tuesday at the Siaka Steven Stadium.
by FSL News | 26 Mar, 2021 | African News, Sport News
Record seven-time champions Egypt minnows Comoros and the Gambia were among five teams, who qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday, Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea could join them later.
Egypt drew 1-1 with 10-man Kenya in Nairobi, where an early Mohamed ‘Afsha’ Magdy goal for the visitors was cancelled out by Hassan Abdallah in the second half.
The other qualifiers from Group G are the Comoros, who will make them the first appearance at the tournament despite being held 0-0 by Togo in Moroni.The
The Gambia will also go to the Cup of Nations for the first time next January after an Assan Ceesay goal earned a 1-0 win over Angola in Bakau.
They will be joined from Group D by Gabon, with Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang among the scorers as they trounced the Democratic Republic of Congo 3-0 in Franceville.
Ghana will be one of the Group C qualifiers after a weakened side drew 1-1 with South Africa in Soweto, where a Mohammed Kudus goal for the West Africans was responded to by Percy Tau.
Later Thursday, Zimbabwe will secure a place if they win in Botswana and Zambia do not collect maximum points from a home match against already-qualified Algeria.
Equatorial Guinea is another nation on the verge of qualifying — a home win over Tanzania in Malabo will assure them of a third appearance.
Ahead of the Thursday matches, defending champions Algeria, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Senegal, Tunisia and hosts Cameroon had booked places.
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by FSL News | 23 Mar, 2021 | African News, Sport News
- Lesotho senior national team head coach Thabo Senong says his side is under no pressure ahead of ties against Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
- The South African nation sharing the same national flag colours with Sierra Leone ranked 27 places below their West African opponent.
But after guiding his side to a 1-1 draw in Freetown during the qualifiers opener in November 2019, he has set sight on his first win against Sierra Leone on Saturday at Setsoto Stadium.
The South African technician, who was speaking after naming his final 21-man squad, believed only a good performance ensure a good result.
According to News4U, Senong said he does not think there is pressure towards him and the team. He said they prioritise performance because if they perform well, automatically there will be results and that they have to minimise mistakes while staying focused.
He will face Sierra Leone and Nigeria without international players like Lesia Thetsane, Thabiso Brown, Luciano Matsoso and Tshwarelo Bereng.
Lisema Lebokollane and Jane Thabants’o ruled out of the games with injuries as Thabiso Brown faced challenges flying out of South America and has had to go back to Bolivia.
Nigeria top of Group L table with eight points, Benin on seven, Sierra Leone third with three and Lesotho on two points in the race to the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Likuena final squad for Sierra Leone & Nigeria games
Goalkeepers
Monaheng Ramalefane, Sekhoane Moerane, Ntsane Lichaba.
Defenders
Thabang Malane, Thabo Lesaoana, Basia Makepe, Motlomelo Mkhwanazi, Nkau Lerotholi, Bokang Sello, Thabo Mats’oele.
Midfielders
Tau Masiu, Tumelo Ngatane, Hlompho Kalake, Mokoteli Mohapi, Neo Mokhachane, Lits’epe Marabe, Tsepo Toloane, Lehlohonolo Fothoane.
Striker
Motebang Sera, Tumelo Khutlang, Nkoto Masoabi.
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by FSL News | 21 Mar, 2021 | African News, Sport News
The Leone Stars’ dramatic comeback against the Super Eagles of Nigeria was nothing short of remarkable. The game was played on 13th November 2020 in Benin City, Nigeria and with the Super Eagles 4-0 up after just 30 minutes, many Sierra Leoneans were left fearful of an impending historic thrashing, only for Leone Stars to launch an astonishing fightback to draw the game 4-4. That result, and the 0-0 draw in the return leg in Freetown, have significantly increased expectations among the fans that Leone Stars will qualify for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations.
With games against Lesotho and Benin still to come, here are four reasons why Sierra Leoneans should not get carried away as this team is still a work in progress:
With four games played and only two matches remaining, the Leone Stars are yet to win a single game in the qualifying round. We even failed to beat Lesotho in Freetown and they were expected to be the whipping boys in our group. The Southern Africans could be confident of getting a result when they host Leone Stars on 27th March 2021. We need to significantly improve our away form if we are to get a positive result in Lesotho.
- One Clean-Sheet in four games
In four games played so far, we have only managed a solitary clean sheet, and surprisingly it was against Nigeria in Freetown. We have conceded six goals already and scored five. Throughout the qualifying campaign so far, our defence has been average, to say the least. While we kept a clean sheet in our last game, we may need a similar performance in the coming games.
- The presence of Michel Dussuyer’s and the form of Benin
Benin’s French coach is no stranger to African football. He led the Syli Nationale of Guinea to the quarterfinal of the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations which was their best result in 30 years. He also led Guinea to yet another quarterfinal appearance at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. Despite having an unsuccessful spell managing the Ivory Coast, Benin appears to have benefited from his experience and knowledge of African football. His Benin team has only lost one game, and that was against the Super Eagles of Nigeria. In addition, his Benin team has kept three clean sheets in four games, and only Nigeria has scored against them. They could pose a significant problem to our hopes of qualifying as they’re currently just a point behind Nigeria in the group.
- Growing distractions off the field
The recent issues involving the SLFA nomination process for the forthcoming election could also have an impact on the national team. Chaos and Sierra Leone football appear to be two sides of the same coin. The nation went several years without a national football league, as football’s administration was beset by infighting and chaos, and tensions are rising yet again. We have not presented a united front for several years, and this could have an impact on the minds of the players. As Sierra Leoneans, we should offer our unflinching support to the national team but must not exert excessive pressure on the players. Should we fail to qualify for the Cup of Nations, we must pick up the pieces, dust ourselves and prepare to try again with a united front as the saying goes: ‘the table does not lie.’
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Sierra Leone | Highlights -