by FSL News | 31 Mar, 2021 | Football Africa, International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
Sierra Leone will have to wait until June during the next FIFA date to know if they will join other Zone 2 nations when they take on Benin for a place in Cameroon 2022.
Their final Group L qualifier was cancelled on 30 March due to the visitors contesting local authorities’ Covid-19 results after five Benin players were tested positive for the virus.
The SLFA has said they will appeal against the Confederation African Football decision to schedule a new date for the clash against the Benin Republic.
The five Benin nationals affected are Dossou Jodri Harod Oluwafemi, Allagbe Kassifa Owolabi Frank Saturnin, Adenon Abdou Kalid Akiola, Ben Yohan Cedric Benjamin and Mounie Steve Michel Kevin.
“The committee made this decision after reviewing official accounts of the incidents that stopped the match from taking place at the scheduled time,” CAF said in a statement.
CAF added that they have informed the Sierra Leone FA and Benin about its decision and will provide further information on the rearranged fixture in due course. The committee, therefore, felt that moving the match to the next international window was the better course of action.
Sierra Leone needed to win at home to reach the tournament for the first time in 25 years. Benin needed only a draw.
Only one team will join the already 23 qualified nations to compete in next year’s finals in Cameroon.
Meanwhile, all Zone 2 nations, the likes of Senegal, Guinea, Mali, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania and the Gambia, have qualified for Cameroon.
Sierra Leone, who won the Zone 2 tournament in 1993 and 1995, will wait to face their final hurdle against Benin.
The AmÃlcar Cabral Cup was an international association football tournament for Western African nations.
The Benin-Sierra Leone cancellation was the second bizarre incident on the final day of qualifiers.
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by FSL News | 30 Mar, 2021 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
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Sierra Leone first team news for their Cup of Nations decider at the Siaka Steven Stadium against Benin this Tuesday afternoon.
Leone Stars coach John Keister has made one change with Bo Rangers winger Prince Barrie, who was impressive against Benin away, in place for Rodney Strasser for the cracker in Freetown.
Austria-based midfielder George Davies, Randers FC striker, who scored a brace against Nigeria, both named on the bench – all came into the side for the final qualifier – Kick-off 16:00 local time.
The match is expected to be stream live by Guinean media CIS medias.
The same back four against Lesotho at the Setsoto stadium has been trusted with the task against Benin.
Heavy-weight Kei Kamara will play alongside FC Linköping City striker Christian Moses who was impressive in defeat to Ethiopia at the Hawassa Stadium in September 2018.
In midfield, Alhassan Koroma, Medo Kamara, Kwame Quee, Prince Barrie with Keshla midfielder John Kamara named on the bench.
Coach John Keister’s is still in search of the first win in the race to Cameroon 2022.
Benin need a point from the game to secure qualification, while a victory for the Leone Stars will mean an automatic spot to the next Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Keeper – Mohamed Kamara
Defenders – Abu Bakaarr Samura, Kempson Fofanah, Yeami Dunia and Abdul R Conteh
In Midfield – Alhassan Koroma, Mohamed Medo Kamara, Kwame Quee, Prince Barrie
Attackers – Kei Kamara and Christian Moses
Subs: Unisa Conteh, Abdul Bundu, David Simbo, John Kamara, Alusine Koroma, Rodney Strasser, Alhaji Kamara, George Davies, Masalakie Bangura, Abu Dumbuya, Lamin Conteh.
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by FSL News | 28 Mar, 2021 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
- A new Afcon lifeline for Sierra Leone, but only a win against Benin at the Siaka Steven Stadium on Tuesday, at least with a goal, will be enough to break the continental jinx.
Sierra Leone destiny in their hands going into their final Group L encounter against Michel Dussuyer’s Squirrels.
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.
In the process, the Squirrels scored five goals without conceding against Sierra Leone.
This is an opportunity not only to qualify but to beat the French-speaking West African nation for the first time since 2006.
A replica 1-0 win over Liberia in September 2019 during the World Cup preliminary when MLS legend Kei Kamara stunning finish ensure victory will be enough for the Leone Stars to book a ticket to the 33rd edition of the Afcon in Yaoundé Cameroon.
Without any exaggeration, Benin will be coming to take the game to Sierra Leone. They’ll want to score to increase the psychological pressure on the home team.
It is expected to be fast and furious, more so they are a force to reckon with in African Football. They eliminated Morocco in the round of sixteen and lost to Senegal in the quarter-finals during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
A new era in the making, as Coach John Keister looks to register his name in the history book of Sierra Leone football since Swedish coach Roger Palmgren who won the 1995 AmÃlcar Cabral Cup before guided Sierra Leone to South Africa 1996 Afcon.
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 in Freetown.
A draw sees Benin through, while Sierra Leone needs a win to qualify.
Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Comoros, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia and Zimbabwe have qualified, leaving seven places to be filled.
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by FSL News | 27 Mar, 2021 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
With the absence of many vital players in the side to face Lesotho later this afternoon, coach Keister has handed a debut to former U20 skipper Abdul Razar Conteh and Kempson Fofanah.
Conteh, who recently captain Sierra Leone U20 during the recent West African Football Union U-20 Championship at the Stade Lat- Dior De Thies, Senegal, is a promising young defender.
Kemson will be thrilled after being named on the bench against Chad in World Cup qualification Africa 2015, against Gabon both legs 2016, and Sudan in Freetown Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
However, he played against Iran in an international friendly at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium in March 2018.
FC Kallon defender Abu-Bakar Samura, who started against Nigeria in Freetown as a replacement for the national skipper, Umaru Bangura, will keep his place alongside Yeami Dunia.
Heavy-weight Kei Kamara will play alongside FC Linköping City striker Christian Moses who was impressive in defeat to Ethiopia at the Hawassa Stadium in September 2018.
In midfield, Medo Kamara, Rodney Strasser both will command the middle of the park, with Keshla midfielder John Kamara named on the bench.
Coach John Keister’s is still in search of the first win in the race to Cameroon 2022.
The penultimate Group L cracker at the Setsoto Stadium will be live on the Lesotho National Broadcasting Service Facebook page.
Victory against Lesotho will mean jubilation nationwide as Leone Stars will increase their chance to make a third appearance in Afcon finals in Cameroon 2022.
In Goal – Mohamed Kamara
Defenders – Abu Bakaarr Samura FC Kallon, Kempson Fofanah, Yeami Dunia and Abdul R Conteh
In Midfield – Mohamed Medo Kamara, Rodney Strasser, Kwame Quee, Alhassan Koroma
Attackers – Kei Kamara and Christian Moses
Subs: Unisa Conteh, Abdul Bundu, David Simbo, John Kamara, Alusine Koroma Real Balompédica Linense Spain), Prince Barrie Bo Rangers, Saidu, Masalakie Bangura FC Kallon, Abu Dumbuya, Alpha Kamara, Lamin Conteh.
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by FSL News | 26 Mar, 2021 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
- Sierra Leone held their first training session in Maseru, Lesotho, ahead of the crunchy 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Lesotho on Saturday.
The Leone Stars arrived safely in Lesotho on Thursday for the penultimate Group L cracker at the Setsoso Stadium.
John Keister was seen distributing instructions in his first training session as he works on the final touches for Saturday.Â
Photos of the first training in Lesotho Credit SLFA
Coach John Keister in action
Rodney Strasser in training with Leone Stars
Homebased Keepers (3) Mohamed Kamara East End Lions, Unisa Conteh FC Johansen and Abdul Bundu Bo Rangers with trainer Tamba Moses
by FSL News | 24 Mar, 2021 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
- Sierra Leone last away triumph was in 2002 when they defeat Equatorial Guinea 3-1 during the 2004 Afcon qualifiers.
- Coach John Keister’s team must-win if they are to toughen their grasp in the race to Cameroon 2022.
- They were impressive against the Super Eagles of Nigeria following an eight-goal thriller at the Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City last November.
Sierra Leone will commence a 3734 miles journey to Maseru, Lesotho, on Wednesday in their hunt to break a 26-year Africa Cup of Nations drought.
Group L third-placed side will depart Freetown en route to famous Bloemfontein, one of South Africa’s capital, on their way to Lesotho’s capital Maseru, to honour their match day five fixture on 27 March against the Likuena at the Setsoto Stadium in Lesotho.
- Bloemfontein is a familiar city to Sierra Leoneans
Twenty-five years ago, Leone Stars won their only Afcon match with a 2-1 win over Burkina-Faso at the Free State Stadium goals from Idol Mohamed Kallon and John Gbassay Sesay.
In the same stadium, they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Algeria and 4-0 to Zambia during their second appearance in the 20th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.
As the saying goes, if you fail to prepare, you are prepared to fail as proper planning is fundamental to success. Burkina-Faso, since 1996, have gone on to host the 1998 21st edition of the Africa Cup Nations, where they ended up as the fourth-best side, plus eight more appearances at the biggest stage of continental football.
In the 2017 competition, they were the third-best side, whereas Sierra Leone, one of the nations to have inflicted pain at the Burkinabe’s still in the hunt for their third Afcon appearance.
However, in a few days’ time, all that could change as the destiny of the West African nation now in their hands.
Coach Keister’s is optimistic that he has the experienced to drive his side to the finishing line.
“I am optimistic because there is a lot of experience and youth in the squad, so I am looking forward to it,” he vehemently told FSL UK.
“Sierra Leoneans just need to keep supporting, and that will help the players in their application and drive.”
Lesotho coach Thabo Senong, on the other hand, has 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.
It is expected to be a cracker in Group L with Nigeria taking on Benin away at the Charles de Gaulle Stadium. A win for Benin on Saturday will ensure their ticket for only the fifth time and a consecutive one after 2004, 2008, 2010 and 2019 editions.
-  The Experience in Sierra Leone side Â
Experienced MLS striker Kei Kamara, former Bolton Midfielder, Mohamed Medo Kamara, former Milan midfielder Rodney Strasser are amongst the names of players that could help their beloved Sierra Leone cross the finishing line against Lesotho and Benin.
Victory against Lesotho and Benin will mean jubilation nationwide as Leone Stars will be making a third appearance in Afcon finals in Cameroon 2022.
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Sierra Leone | Highlights -Â