by FSL News | 3 Jun, 2021 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
Sierra Leone John Keister on Wednesday urged fans to rally behind Leone Stars in the upcoming African Cup of Nations June 14 decider against Benin.
The Manchester-born, who also admitted he faced hindrance ahead of this month final qualifier, confirmed the majority of his squad are foreign-based.
Since taking charge, Keister still in search of his first win as Sierra Leone head coach. Defeating Benin will be more than a victory as the country will be making its third appearance on the continental stage in its history.
He called on fans to keep supporting and be positive as always. “We are team Sierra Leone,” he reminded all.
The Leone Stars must win to reach the tournament for the first time in 25 years, but without a doubt, the Squirrels of Benin in their way.
Only a win will end the West African Nation Afcon drought, and coach Keister is fully aware nothing less will be enough.
“I want the fans to know we need a few clarifications from CAF. Whilst is a little frustrating with preparations and travelling arrangements for players when we are still waiting for definite answers,” he explained on his Facebook page.
Fans have been concern about the delay in the squad list, but Keister maintained his groundwork kickstart on Monday.
“I have been reading concerns going into one of the most important matches in the last 20 or so years. We will start preparations on Monday. By then, we would have had most of the players available amid end to their seasons in various countries.”
Keister says home-based training sessions have been difficult to organise due to the ongoing league season but confirmed 80% of his squad coming from overseas.
Football pundits, fans are still waiting on his rebuilding promise he made after reappointed for his second spell in August 2020.
Twenty-three teams already qualified, and the winner between Sierra Leone and Benin will take the final spot to complete the 24 nations.
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by FSL News | 1 Jun, 2021 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone Soccer team Profile
Incumbent Isha Johansen has dropped out of the Sierra Leone Football Association presidential race to more focus on her FIFA role, she wrote.
As a recently elected Fifa Council Member, I will be required to play a higher level and more active role as a Global Ambassador for Football and Fifa,” she noted in her statement.
“My new role will require extensive global travelling and consequently increased demands on my time. After much deliberation and soul searching, it’s with sadness that I have decided to announce the withdrawal of my candidacy for president in the upcoming SLFA elections.
I hereby offer the new SLFA executive and staff my best wishes for the future and assure my full support from within FIFA.
“I want to thank all of my supporters and well-wishers from across the country for their unwavering loyalty, integrity and for the years of dedication to our cause and vision in changing our narrative and raising the game of football in Sierra Leone. I remain your friend, mother, and sister in football.”
She pledged her continuous support for Sierra Leone’s football development through her new role at FIFA.
“Whilst I pride myself in the belief that I have played a significant role in restoring integrity, compliance and good governance in our nation’s football, my fervent prayer is that we do not lose what we fought so hard to build,” she continued.
“As long as we continue to respect the rules of compliance and good governance, I pledge to expend every effort to ensure the delivery of football development programmes and infrastructure in the deserved benefit of our children and our nation.”
As a result, Thomas Daddy Brima, Saddick Deen-Nyarkoh and provisional aspirant Rodney Michael contesting the June 4th and 5th elective congress in the Northern Province town Makeni.
Under her reign, accusations of corruption, controversy, infighting and power struggle all emerged.
Sierra Leone match-fixing allegation in 2014 brought so much divides in the football fraternity as many believed she deliberately destroyed all her direct rivals.
Prominent football philanthropist and seasoned administrator Rodney Michael were among those recently ‘CLEARED’ of the said match-fixing following a lengthy investigation.
The case was focused on the match-fixing allegation in 2014 when eleven officials and four players were suspended by Sierra Leone’s FA and Sports Ministry pending investigation.
Most notable, the match-fixing inquiry includes a World Cup qualifier between Sierra Leone and South Africa that ended goalless in Atteridgeville, South Africa, in June 2008.
Court Case against her
For almost two years, Johansen and secretary-general Chris Kamara faced corruption charges by Sierra Leone’s Anti Corruption Commission.
The embattled SLFA boss Johansen and sec-gen Chris Kamara have always denied any wrongdoing.
Johansen and Kamara were acquitted because of a lack of evidence.
FIFA cited government interference that led to Sierra Leone suspension from international soccer in October 2018, and the country was disqualified from the qualifying competition for the African Cup.
Meanwhile, the last SLFA elective congress was held almost eight years ago when incumbent Isha Johansen assumed office on August 3, 2013.
FIFA suspends Sierra Leone soccer Association
Fifa to lift Sierra Leone suspension after Johansen’s court victory
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by FSL News | 24 May, 2021 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
Guinea thrashed their Sierra Leonean counterparts 4-1 at the Stade General Lansana Conte on Sunday to win group B.
Sierra Leone ended their maiden U15 West African Football Union Zone A tournament first from bottom after conceded sixteen goals from three matches.
After the 7-0 demolition by Mali and a 5-1 thrashing from next-door neighbours Liberia, Guinea inflicted the third straight defeat to Coach Sankoh’s boys, who managed to score only two goals
In his post-match interview, Coach Abu Sankoh cited inadequate preparation for such an abysmal performance on the international stage.
In the days’ other game, Liberia played to a 1-1 draw with Mali to secured the third spot.
The full delegation will return home on Monday, 24th May 2021.
by FSL News | 22 May, 2021 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
- Bo Rangers have unveiled a stunning new clubhouse. Commissioned by President Julius Maada Bio on Friday.
Just over two years after the resumption of the Sierra Leone Premier League 2018/2019 seasons, the club became the first in Sierra Leone to have a clubhouse.
The impressive two-storey building includes a secretariat, hostels, a swimming pool, a hall and a gym powered by solar energy.
Top government dignitaries, including President Bio and Sports Minister Ibrahim Nyelenkeh, grace the occasion.
The eye-catching new facility was commissioned by President Maada Bio on Friday in a well-attended colourful ceremony.
“Today even makes a historic and epoch-making day in the history of Bo Rangers Football Club in particular and Sierra Leone football in general,” Babadi Kamara vehemently noted.
He pointed out that the club will continue to strive to better its economic woes.
Presently forth on the top-tier log, the big spenders were league leaders in the 2019/2020 season before it was declared null and void due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
The Overview of the just-completed Bo Rangers Clubhouse is below.
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by FSL News | 12 May, 2021 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has ordered a full inspection of Sierra Leone’s main international venue, the Siaka Stevens Stadium, before deciding whether it is fit to host a rescheduled match against Benin.
The Leone Stars eagerly anticipated Group L 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier was called off ahead of kick-off on March 30 owing to a Covid-19 controversy.
SLFA’s Club’s Licence manager Sorie Ibrahim Sesay must compile a field inspection report, including photos and video evidence, to CAF not later than Thursday 13th, May 2021.
Caf will then decide on the approval of the Stadium and location of the final Africa Cup of Nations 2021 qualifier after receiving the reports.
Meanwhile, the SLFA has accepted CAF’s decision to play to end any Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) speculations.
The SLFA proposed the following dates for the Leone Stars decider 12th, 13th or 14th June 2021 in Freetown.
The proposed dates and venue subject to the African football body approval.
Benin only needs a draw whilst Sierra Leone must win to qualify at Benin’s expense to be sure of qualification to the Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon in 2022.
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by FSL News | 7 May, 2021 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
Patrice Motsepe, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has nudged Sierra Leone to bid for the African Cup of Nations.
Speaking during a few hours visit to the country, alongside Fifa president Gianni Infantino and General Secretary Fatma Samoura, Motsepe floated the idea during a courtesy call to the country’s president Julius Maada Bio at the State Lodge.
Motsepe said: “CAF and FIFA are committed to supporting Sierra Leone with the requisite infrastructure to host the African Cup of Nations in the not-too-distant future.”
Sierra Leone has only one internationally recognised stadium that is over four decades old. The Siaka Stevens stadium was built in 1979 with the help of the Chinese government. Other venues across the country. In Bo, Kenema and Makeni have been undergoing rehabilitation in recent years, some through Fifa assistance.
The next Cup of Nations will be hosted in Cameroon, and the subsequent two will be in West Africa in Ivory Coast and Guinea.
If Sierra Leone are to successfully bid for 2027 Afcon, it will be the third country in a row from West Africa to host the continental showpiece.
Hosting the Afcon will be a massive socio-economic boost for a country that was devastated by a decade long bloody civil war which started in March 1991.
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Sierra Leone | Highlights -