by FSL News | 5 Apr, 2019 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
The Sierra Leone government to re-engage Fifa by the end of this month Football Sierra Leone has learnt.
The Country’s Anti-Corruption Commissioner boss, Francis Ben Kaifala, has confirmed that government is hoping to engage Fifa by the end of this month over the pending suspension.
Today April, 5, mark six months since the Fifa Bureau Council suspended the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) on allegations of government interference.
Fifa announced the International suspension on the 5th October 2018 and two weeks after reiterated that the country hold-up will continue until the alleged corruption trial against SLFA head Isha Johansen and sec-gen Chris Kamara concluded.
“The matter has been reserved for lawyers to provide final submissions within the next two weeks,” the ACC boss Francis Ben Kaifala has confirmed.
“Then, it will be withdrawn for judgment. We’re hoping that by the end of this month, the matter will be finally concluded and then we can re-engage with FIFA,” he explained.
It could be recalled that the ACC maintained that there are no exceptions with regards to the ‘rule of law’ in Sierra Leone.
The embattled SLFA boss Johansen and Sec-Gen Chris Kamara were both removed from office. Both have denied any wrongdoing.
FIFA and Sierra Leone Government talks
Fifa after talks with Sierra Leone government noted: “Following Wednesday’s talks, (17 October 2018) FIFA and the Sierra Leone Government discussed the situation surrounding the country’s football body.”
In the communiqué released, Fifa maintained that the discussions were cordial in paving the way forward after the country’s suspension.
“FIFA will wait for the completion of the trial before further measures can be considered, including the lifting of the suspension by the Bureau of the FIFA Council, if deemed appropriate,” Fifa said after talks with top government officials.
The investigation into the alleged match-fixing also took centre stage following confirmation that a delegation will visit Sierra Leone in early November to look into the matter.
A Fifa delegation visited Sierra Leone in November 2018 to do their findings since then nothing has been said by Fifa.
CAF disqualified Sierra Leone from the 2019 African Nations Cup qualifiers (Group F) due to the pending suspension.
Photo: SLFA President, Isha Johansen, FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, Sierra Leone Vice-President, Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, Sierra Leone Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Priscilla Schwartz and FIFA Secretary General, Fatma Samoura, at the Home of FIFA in Zurich last year.Â
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by FSL News | 4 Apr, 2019 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone still under Fifa suspension dropped one place down according to latest global rankings published on Thursday, 4 April 2019.
The Leone Stars moved from 114th position to 115th on the global standings.
On the continental rating, they are the 27th best behind minors like the Central African Republic and Namibia.
As a reminder, the suspension was due to the country’s anti-corruption commission (ACC) setting aside the FA President Isha Johansen and secretary general Christopher Kamara.
Sierra Leone before the suspension played to a 1-0 defeat in Ethiopia during their second 2019 qualifiers before facing disqualification by CAF.
They were disqualified from the qualifiers, Kenya and Ghana qualified for this year’s Nations Cup finals from Group F.
Meanwhile, Senegal are still the best ranked African nation after moving one step up from 24th to 23rd while Tunisia remain in the 28th position.
Sierra Leone at 115 in the latest Fifa ranking published on Thursday, 4 April 2019.
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by FSL News | 4 Apr, 2019 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone Premier League Board (SLPLB) chairman Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai has denied the allegation of a brawl involving him and match officials on Wednesday at the Siaka Steven Stadium.
Several social media platforms reported that match officials officiating between Ports Authority and Old Edwardians during the break refused to officiate the second half.
Names of match officials are yet to be known but, the reports stated that the Edwards chairman, who doubles as the PLB chairman was directly tangled in mix-up confrontations and after some mediation, the match was allowed to continue.
“New reports making rounds that I was involved in a punch-up with one of the Referees is untrue,” Saffa stated after the news broke out.
“I met a few fans fighting with match officials during the half time at the national stadium. I merely went into it to stop the fight and, separate them. In the process, I was slapped by the Referee’s Assessor.”
“I stopped him from slapping me again and walked away. I don’t fight and, I will never be involved in a fight in a league that I am organizing. Match has resumed,” he explained.
Ports Authority went on to defeat Edwards 2-1 in the ongoing domestic league season.
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by FSL News | 1 Apr, 2019 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
East End Lions proved too strong as they condemned FC Kallon to their first league defeat this season and kept the pressure on league leaders.
Two goals in either half of the game earned the East End giants a 2-0 victory at the Siaka Steven Stadium.
As a result, Lions level on points and can go top if they can win their next and final first-round game against Ports Authority.
It was Football Club Kallon’s final game of the first phase in the ongoing 2019 top-flight domestic season.
Musa Noah Kamara put the visitors ahead after 25 minutes, after collecting a clever pass to beat Kallon’s keeper.
Lions were much more compose and showed resilient throughout the game as the Kallon boys, who have been well organised up until this match suffered their first league defeat in twelve matches played.
A second-half beauty scored from 30 yards by Mohamed Kamara completed the Killers victory in a well-attended match. Despite the defeat, FC Kallon still leading on goals advantage.
The Cavaliers Kallon were unable to find a way past 2014 leaders Lions in a cracking game.
Recap: FC Kallon 0 EE Lions 2
Scorers: Musa Noah Tombo – Mohamed Kamara
Sierra Leone Premier League table top 10 standings
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by FSL News | 29 Mar, 2019 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
One of Sierra Leone’s most decorated club East End Lions could break a new transfer record if they must stand a chance of getting Suffian Kalokoh.
Football Sierra Leone understands that the player who is presently one of the exciting stars in the ongoing domestic league with Old Edwardians is not for sale.
The New sensation has been pivotal this season scoring six goals from ten matches for the May Park Boys.
The AIK Freetong on-loan player could be the highest transfer in Sierra Leone domestic league history as ‘The Killers’ Lions and Bo Rangers vying for his signature.
An Inside source has told this medium that the team manager Alfred Badara Turay of Lions has instructed the club Sec-Gen to write an official letter to ask about Suffian situation to his parent club AIK Freetong.
Our source closed to the player local agent, Chernor Musa maintained that Suffian is not looking forward to changing club in the middle of the season but, focus to learn his trade to improve his game.
Local agent Musa over the years is known to have represented Sierra Leone top exports to Europe and, such a player will not be traded locally by him.
Most recently it’s believed that Nathaniel Andersson Thonguvulla moved to Bo Rangers for around 50 million Leones.
FC Kallon is rumoured to have rejected 50 million Leones from East End Lions for winger Mohamed Alimamy Bundu brother of Danish-based attacker Mustapha Bundu of AGF in Denmark.
In 2012, 28 million Leones was paid for the transfer of Kemson Fofanah to Diamond Stars from Freetown City FC. The same year Diamond Stars won the league after spending a fortune.
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by FSL News | 24 Mar, 2019 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
East End Lions goalkeeper Mohamed Nbalie Kamara says he was pleased with the return of domestic action.
This is the first edition of National League since 2014 and, the home-based talent has played in every game for the East End giants club this season.
Lions sit fourth position five points adrift of league leaders FC Kallon in the hunt for the championship.
The former FC Johansen shot-stopper, who was in goal for Sierra Leone against Liberia in last year’s friendly, is expected to face East End Tigers today at the Siaka Steven Stadium.
“I was pleased with the return of domestic football. It has been good so far,” Kamara passionately told Football Sierra Leone.
Kamara, 19, who started his playing career with local club Eze FC a non-division is enjoying his time with the East End giant club.
“I’m focused and enjoying regular football again. I hope it continues.”
“IÂ thanked God to be able to play regular national football I think every home-based players will do. Because of every footballer the more games you play, the more confidence you gain with more experience,” the former U20 keeper explained.
Kamara was part of the FC Johansen side that won the 2016 Sierra Leone Football Association FA Cup trophy after seeing off their arch-rivals Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces FC (RSLAF) by a lone goal at the Wusum Stadium, Makeni City.
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Sierra Leone | Highlights -Â