by FSL News | 29 Jul, 2021 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
By Alie Bittar @bittar32
The Confederation of African Football has announced August 17 as the official draw date for the 24 nations TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon 2021.
Sierra Leone will be in Cameroon next year after 25-year of trying to reach the continental big stage.
Each nation will be put into a pot depending on their rankings and then drawn into six groups of four teams.
Kei Kamara goal in Guinea at the Général Lansana Conté de Nongo won the final spot in Cameroon on June 15.
Top football dignitaries are expected to attend the process at the Yaounde Conference Centre, Cameroon at 19h00 local time 18h00 GMT.
The Local Organising Committee of Cameroon will get the draw underway ahead of next year’s TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations descend in the country ahead of the 09 January 2022 kick-off.
Our predicted seeding for the 2021 Afcon draw. In bracket are present Fifa rankings for each qualified Nation.
Pot 1
Hosts Cameroon (55), Senegal (22), Tunisia (26), Nigeria (32) Algeria (33), Morocco (34).
Pot 2
Egypt (46), Ghana (49), Mali (57), Ivory Coast (59), Burkina-Fas (60), Guinea (72)
Pot 3
Cape Verde (73), Gabon (88), Guinea-Bissau (108), Mauritania (101), Sierra Leone (114), Zimbabwe (107)
Pot 4
Malawi (115), Sudan (123), Comoros (131), Equatorial Guinea (132), Ethiopia (140), The Gambia (152)
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by FSL News | 29 Jun, 2021 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
- FC Kallon striker Baimba Sesay has departed Sierra Leone for trials in Israel with top-tier side Hapoel Tel Aviv.
The former East End Tigers attacker scored 12 goals during the 2019 Sierra Leone premier league with the SubMarines before joining the Cavaliers.
Sesay, 22, will be hoping he can impress the Hapoel technical team for a chance to get his first professional contract outside Sierra Leone.
After the resurrection of the Sierra Leone premier season in 2019, Sesay was one of the strikers, regularly in the spotlight after his 12 goals tally.
FC Kallon General Manager and acting Chairman Tunde Scott confirmed that the striker has a month to prove himself. “Our top striker, Baimba Sesay, has travelled today to join Hapoel Tel Aviv in Isreal on a month trial.
“Baimba is a talented striker. It’s a great time to take advantage of this opportunity handed to him.”
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by FSL News | 19 Jun, 2021 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
Hopes that the Sierra Leone Premier League season 2021/2022 will continue steadfast growth has been dashed as the league’s management have confirmed suspending football indefinitely.
With six months to the 2022 African Cup of Nations in Cameroon, this latest development can upset local player’s determination to break into the National team.
The Premier League board says it has resolved to postpone the ongoing season indefinitely following a meeting with club officials in response to the latest media release from the National Covid-19 Emergency Response Center.
NaCOVERC, in a communique to the National Sports Authority, confirmed that all designated activities and competitions must go on behind closed doors without spectators.
As a result, the season will run behind schedule as club officials cannot accept playing football without the proceeds due to financial constraints.
East End Lions 1-0 win over Republic of Sierra Leone arm forces and Anti-Drugs home win over Wusum Stars on Thursday were the final two matches before the suspension.
Big spenders Bo Rangers leading the table with 18 points from their opening nine matches winning six and three defeats.
Meanwhile, the Premier League board has said they intend to engage the health authorities through the Sierra Leone Football Association, NSA and Ministry of Sports to rethink its decision.
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by FSL News | 16 Jun, 2021 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
After securing qualification to the African Cup of Nations, there is an organised victory parade for the Sierra Leone national team today June 16th from Calaba Town to the Freetown national stadium.
John Keister and his squad triumph 1-0 over Benin on Tuesday at the General Lansan Conte de Nongo stadium in Guinea to book their place in Cameroon.
President Julius Maada Bio, immediately after the win, expressed his satisfaction with the team fantastic display.Â
They departed Guinea to meet with hundreds of singing and dancing agog fans at the Guinea-Sierra Leone border.
Thousands of fans are expected to turn out for the parade to mark the team’s victory as they break the Afcon jinx after 25 years.
Sierra Leoneans at home are encouraged to join the National team at 4 pm at the Siaka Steven Stadium, where President Bio will address the delegation.
“The national team have made Sierra Leone proud, and we should come out in large numbers to welcome them and show our appreciation,” a government statement reads.
Sierra Leone qualified for the African Cup of Nations for the first time since 1996.
Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone, the writer John Bangura.
by FSL News | 15 Jun, 2021 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
President Julius Maada Bio has expressed his delight after Sierra Leone qualified to the African Cup of Nations for the first time since 1996.
The ‘tok and do’ president took to Twitter to send a message to the Leone Stars delegation in Guinea.
“Congratulations to Sierra Leone. We are a football-loving nation, and today, our boys have made history. My government is committed to promoting football and other sports disciplines,” he posted on his Twitter account.
Striker Kei Kamara Leone Stars scored the only goal of the match in the first half through the penalty spot as Sierra Leone secured a place at the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 1996, following a 1-0 victory over Benin at the Général Lansana Conté de Nongo in Guinea.
The former Minnesota United attacker converted from the spot after 19 minutes as coach John Keister men held on to a famous victory to join the other 23 teams at the finals in Cameroon in January.
In March, the president made a promise to the National team that he would give US$10,000 and parcel of land to each if they beat Benin to reach Cameroon.
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by FSL News | 14 Jun, 2021 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
The Sierra Leone team was doing their pre-match warm-up at the Général Lansana Conté de Nongo in Guinea when their officials received news that six players infected by Covid-19.
As a result of that, the Sierra Leoneans refused to go on with the encounter as they questioned the timing and reliability of the Covid-19 test. After several hours of delays, the decider was rescheduled for Tuesday.Â
There was a suggestion by CAF for a rapid test to be conducted after initial tests returned six positive results. Somehow, the situation became confusing after the team were misinformed that CAF would only accept the results of a regular test and that the team should head back to the hotel for that.
New PCR tests result are expected before kickoff on Tuesday.
Those allegedly infected with the coronavirus include Peterborough striker Idris Kanu. Kanu, 21, was named in the Sierra Leone squad for the first. He was in line to make his debut from the bench.Â
The others are goalkeepers Ibrahim Sesay and Francis Koroma, Augustus Kargbo, Alusine Koroma and Kassim Sima Turay.
The match in Guinea was to settle a place at the 24-team Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon next January Benin needing a draw, but their hosts had to win.
It is the second time the Sierra Leone and Benin qualifier has been called off due to alleged fake covid-19 results. The Confederation of African Football has ordered the game to play on Tuesday.
Defending champions Algeria, host Cameroon and record seven-time title-holders Egypt are all amongst the 23 nations already qualified.
Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, Tunisia and Zimbabwe, have also secured places.
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Sierra Leone | Highlights -Â