by FSL News | 19 Aug, 2020 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
AFCON qualifiers Group L standings
- The continental football body, CAF has confirmed new dates for the resumption of the AFCON qualifiers in the race to Cameroon 2021.
- Sierra Leone was supposed to face Nigeria in matchday 3 and 4 in March before the Covid-19 pandemic.
- CAF Emergency Committee has confirmed that the ongoing qualifiers of the Total Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021, will resume in November.Â
“For Cameroon 2021, the qualifiers resume on 9-17 November 2020 with the Day 3 & 4 matches, whilst the penultimate and ultimate matches take place on 22-30 March 2021,” CAF announced on their website.Â
CAF further stated that they are monitoring the situation closely and working with the relevant authorities with regards to hosting of the matches, and will make pronouncements accordingly in the event of developments that will affect playing a match at the designated venue.
Nigeria will host Sierra Leone before travelling to Freetown for the return fixture set for Freetown Siaka Steven Stadium.
 Due to Covid-19, it is yet to be decided whether the match will still be played at the 22,000 seater Stephen Keshi stadium in Asaba.
The Super Eagles are leading Group L after their opening two victories against Benin and Lesotho. The Squirrels of the Benin Republic standing second followed by Lesotho.Â
The Leone Stars of Sierra Leone first from bottom in the race to earn a berth to Cameroon.
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by FSL News | 11 Aug, 2020 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
Sierra Leone Premier League female tactician Victoria Conteh is thrilled and relishing her new role as the lead coach for the Sierra Leone U20 female team.
Conteh, who is presently the only female leading a male dugout with East End Tigers, has been impressive since taking the top-flight side.
Ernest Halloway will be her first team assistant, Regina Hamilton second assistant with Alison Conteh named as goalkeeping coach.Â
She became the first woman to win a Premiership match in Sierra Leone following East End Tigers 2-1 victory over Bo Rangers at the Siaka Steven Steven in January. The victory ended Rangers unbeaten run in the campaign.Â
She also guided the Submarines to three-straight wins against Ports Authority, kamboi Eagles and Mighty Blackpool in February.Â
Without any exaggeration, her side were three points adrift with a game in hand from league leaders Bo Rangers before the league was halted due to covid-19 pandemic.
Coach Conteh, who is also a CAF instructor, a police officer and a qualified CAF A Licence coach, told FSL news she was elated after she was appointed.Â
Conteh said: “I’m thrilled to have been chosen for the role as head of a U-20 national side. And also, I want to say thank you to the management of East End Tigers they made me, who I am today.”
“I feel proud because my appointment is based on performance and integrity. I am looking forward to sharing my experiences with the young and exciting girls.”
She was also the former head coach of the Sierra Leone Police Female Football team, and later on, had a spell with the head coach capacity of the Sierra Leone Female Football Team (Lioness).
Conteh becomes first woman coach to win Sierra Leone top-tier match
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by FSL News | 16 Jul, 2020 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
The 2019/2020 Sierra Leone Premier League season has been cancelled and declared null and void, Football Sierra Leone understands.
All fourteen Premier League clubs have agreed to null and void the season subject to the Sierra Leone Football Association, SLFA’s approval.
Big money spenders, Bo Rangers were leading the pecking order before the league was halted due to the global pandemic Covid-19 in March. However, two clubs still can represent Sierra Leone in CAF competitions next season.
The last representatives from Sierra Leone were FC Johansen and Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces Football Club in CAF Champions League and Total Caf Confederation Cup respectively in 2017.
 The cancellation of the season effectively means that there will be no champions of the season and no relegation.Â
 Premier League Board says 2019/2020 season in a meeting with the 14 Premier League Clubs on Wednesday agreed to cancel the season.
 “It was also agreed in the meeting that Bo Rangers, Kamboi Eagles and East End Lions decide between and among themselves from now till Monday who among them will represent the country in CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup respectively.
 “Should they not be able to reach an agreement, the Board will then decide as to which two teams will represent the country as against CAF’s August deadline.”
 East End Lions will remain as the reigning defending champions after their excellent run last season winning the league undefeated under the supervision of John Keister.Â
 Meanwhile, there is no tentative kick-off date for the SLPL 2020/2021 season subject to the full reopening of the country by the government and the approval of the health authorities.
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 Halted Season Standings below
Premier League Fixtures, Results & Table
GAME OVER! Football in Sierra Leone suspended over Coronavirus
by FSL News | 12 Jun, 2020 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
With some of the present national team players at the twilight of their careers and others running out of steam, Football Sierra Leone takes a closer look at some of the diaspora’s new faces with potential to break into the Leone Stars.
Striker Amadou Bakayoko, 24, Coventry City England
Amadou Bakayoko’s Coventry handed 2019 League One title.
The striker was born in Sierra Leone before moving to the Netherlands at the age of six. He played his youth football firstly at Velocitas 1897 and then moved to the prestigious FC Groningen academy.
He joined the Sky Blues in 2018, for an undisclosed fee from Walsall on a two-year-deal since then, the former Saddlers striker has been pivotal in the Coventry City race to Championship promotion.
Baka as he’s fondly called also has an eye to play for the Netherlands. He was recently called up by Sierra Leone but was unable to make the squad.
He rose through the ranks with the Saddlers, coming through the academy to earn his first professional contract at 18.
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Midfielder Trevoh Challobah, 20, Huddersfield City England.
Trevoh Chalobah in Huddersfield’s action.
The Sierra Leonean-born is one of the most popular among the names the country must target.
He is the younger brother of Nathaniel, who is already an England International.
The versatile midfielder cum defender is a Chelsea academy graduate.
Chalobah signed a new Chelsea contract until 2022 season and was sent on a season-long loan to Huddersfield Town.
He made his debut five days later in a 1–0 home loss to Lincoln City in the first round of the EFL Cup, playing the full 90 minutes. Scored his first goal for Huddersfield to equalise in a 2–1 defeat at Cardiff City on 21 August.
Chalobah was part of the England under-19 squad for the 2017 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.
He played under Chelsea’s previous boss Antonio Conte. He was subbed on during the 2018 FA Cup Final victory against Manchester United on 19 May 2018 at Wembley Stadium despite never having previously played a professional game.
Despite representing England at youth level from Under-16 up to Under-20, captaining all four teams at various stages, he is still eligible to play for his country of birth.
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Defender Kevin Adrian Wright, 24, Örebro SK Sweden.
The Örebro SK left-back, who can also play as a left-winger, is a Sierra Leonean native.
Wright, since moving to Sweden after signing for the Allsvenskan side has been pivotal to their campaign. The former Fredrikstad FK has played over 25 matches since his move. They ended their 2019 season on 9th spot.
He won the U21 title with Chelsea football club alongside Nathan Aké, Andreas Christensen, central midfield Ruben Loftus-Cheek to name a few.
Örebro SK defender Kevin Wright welcomes Sierra Leone call-up
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Attacker Mohamed Sankoh, 16, Stoke City.
The Dutch/Sierra Leonean youngster, who has already played for the Netherlands, has been recently dubbed as the new Romelu Lukaku.
The youngster is arguably the hottest property in the Championship club’s academy.
The Dutch U-18 forward has fired nine goals and provided nine assists this season.
Several British media have reported that both Chelsea and Atletico have had talks with the 16-year-old, who won the European Under-17 Championship with the Netherlands in 2019 alongside Chelsea’s Ian Maatsen.
Sankoh whose physical attributes and prolific strike-rate have prompted comparisons to former Chelsea forward Lukaku is said to also eligible to represent Sierra Leone.
He signed for Stoke from Sparta Rotterdam in 2018, alongside his brother Abdul, having featured for the Dutch side as a youth player.
Many soccer experts believe Sankoh will develop fast at a big club like Chelsea.
Sierra Leone’s Mohamed Sankoh on Chelsea radar
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Augustus Kargbo, 20, attacker Reggio Audace Italy.
Augustus Kargbo has been a pivotal figure in Reggio Audace Race to Serie B.
The Sierra Leonean-born has maintained his impressive form since his loan from Serie B side FC Crotone, where he was also an important player until he asked to go on loan in search of regular football.
Kargbo has scored eight goals in 21 appearances this season. His versatility is what makes him very impressive on the pitch. He is a player to keep a close tag on.
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Attacker Josh Koroma, 21, Huddersfield Town England.
Josh Koroma was excited about joining League One leaders Rotherham United on loan for the rest of the season.
Koroma, 20, is a Sierra Leonean native. He joined Huddersfield from Leyton Orient where he was an important figure in the youth ranks before breaking into the senior setup at Brisbane Road.
He signed on a three-year contract with the Terriers last June, with Town having the option of a further season’s extension.
He played a fundamental part in Orient’s promotion back to the Football League in 2018/19 as they stormed they division, claiming the National League title in the process and departed having made more than 100 appearances in total for the O’s.
Sierra Leone native Josh Koroma was excited about joining League One leaders Rotherham United on loan for the rest of the season.
Rotherham United move excites forward Josh Koroma
Defender David Sesay, 20 Crawly Town England.
The 20-year-old full-back joined the Reds in August 2018 on a two-year contract after he was released by Watford earlier in the year.
He has been called up by Kenya for recent qualifiers. However, the defender was not able to honour the invitation at the time in order to help Crawley Town in their relegation battle.
David was born in England to a Kenyan mother, and we understand his dad is Sierra Leonean.
Sesay is a three-way street, who could be eligible to represent England, Sierra Leone and Kenya under the current football laws.
He was with Watford from the age of nine and played in their under-23s when former boss Harry Kewell was coaching the team.
Sullay Kaikai, 24, Blackpool England.
Kaikai made his Premier League debut on 15 May in the last game of the season
Crystal Palace youth academy product. Kaikai has demonstrated his ability at various clubs in England.
He made his senior debut on loan at Crawley Town in 2014, and later that year scored on his Palace debut.
Following loan spells at Cambridge United, Shrewsbury Town, Brentford and Charlton Athletic, he returned to Palace where he made eleven total appearances before moving to the Netherlands to sign with NAC Breda in January 2019.
Kaikai, In July 2019, ended his contract with Breda and signed for League One side Blackpool on an initial two-year contract with an option of a further year.
The striker made his Blackpool debut in their 2–0 victory over Bristol Rovers at Bloomfield Road on 3 August.
He has told the medium a few months ago that he would love to represent his parent’s country Sierra Leone.
Issa Kallon, 24, SC Cambuur.
Kallon has made 22 appearances this season registered six goals and accounted for eight assists.
Kallon hailing from Sierra Leonean parents has shown lots of promise that he has what it takes to hit the back of the net for the Leone Stars.
He can score from long range, a good dribbler with the ball and has played a fundamental part in SC Cambuur race to the Dutch top-tier league.
Kallon has made 22 appearances this season registered six goals and accounted for eight assists helping his Dutch side in the race to gain promotion to the Eredivisie.
https://www.facebook.com/sccambuur/videos/665322960701540/
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Sierra Leone | Highlights -Â