by FSL News | 1 Sep, 2018 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone may be without skipper Umaru Bangura for their 2019 AFCON Group F qualifier against Ethiopia on 9th September due to his latest muscle strain.
Bangura, 30, confirmed the news that he is a doubt after speaking to the FC Zurich medical team.
“I am not sure I will be going to Ethiopia,” he said. “I played my first 90 minutes in last Sunday’s 1-1 draw with FC Basel and a day after, I started feeling pains in my right leg muscles,” he told Football Sierra Leone UK.
“During yesterday’s training, my right leg muscles still feeling uncomfortable, and because of the discomfort, I am out of our League game against FC Lugano today.”
“Presently under observation by the club’s medical team.” Bangura added, “I have also informed coach Keister about it.”
The former Dinamo Minsk recently recovered from an internal ligament rupture in the right knee.
He joined FC Zurich from Dinamo Minsk at the beginning of August 2016. So far, the 30-year-old Bangura has played 55 official matches, in which he has scored one goal.
FC Zurich have been drawn alongside Bayer Leverkusen (GER), Ludogorets (BUL), Zürich (SUI), and AEK Larnaca (CYP) in Group A of this year’s Europa League competition.
Football Sierra Leone understands that the club medical team are wary about further damage to their defender if he risks playing for Sierra Leone 10 days before they kick off their Europa League campaign.
Meanwhile, Bangura is not the only player doubtful ahead of Sierra Leone away AFCON match with Ethiopia on 9th September in Hawassa.
Coventry City striker Amadou Bakayoko, PSIS attacking midfielder, Ibrahim Conteh have both withdrawn from the 23-man squad named by the Sierra Leone coach.
Coach Keister still have a few days to name the trio replacement before next weekend cracker.
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by FSL News | 22 Aug, 2018 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone Coach, John Keister has named a 35-man provisional squad for September’s African Nations Cup qualifier at the Hawassa Stadium in Ethiopia.
Coventry City striker Amadou Bakayoko, Queen Park Rangers defender Osman Kakay, and Bristol City young keeper Alhaji Sesay, are all set to receive their first international call-up by Sierra Leone.
Denmark based attacker Mustapha Bundu, who is trading his football with AGF Arhus has also been named on the list seen by this medium.
Khalifa Jabbie and Gibrilla Wobay get another chance to impress despite both have been without a club. However, both were part of Coach Keister’s side that defeated Kenya in Freetown in the opener of the qualifiers.
Wobay, 34, scored Leone Stars first goal in Freetown June 10, 2017, in a 2-1 win over Kenya.
Skipper Umaru Bangura boost for Sierra Leone. The Leone Stars captained has returned to action with his Zurich-based club.
He played for 40 minutes in their 6-0 away win over Concordia last Saturday.
The named squad is still dominated with some old faces.
The likes of MLS based striker Kei Kamara, Midfielder Mohamed Medo Kamara, Kazakstan-based midfield enforcer John Kamara, new Al-Jabalain midfielder Alfred Sankoh, Turkey-based defender David Simbo as well as Swedish-based striker Alhassan Crespo Kamara.
Sierra Leone will take on Ethiopia at the Hawassa Stadium September 9 in the race to Cameroon 2019.
Full listed squad.
Keepers
Solomon Zombo Morris FC Rodeo France), (Alhaji Sesay Bristol City UK), (John Trye Scarborough SC Canada), (Mohamed N Kamara FC Johansen) and Unisa Koroma East End Lions.
Defenders
Skipper Umaru Bangura FC Zurich, David Simbo Turkey, Hassan Milla Sesay FC Lathi Finland, Abu Suma unattached, Osman Kakay QRP UK, Alie Sesay Kissamikos Greece, Yeami Dunia, Kemson Fofanah B93 Danmark.
Midfielders
Mohamed Medo Kamara Kuwait SC, Alfred Sankoh Al Jabalain Saudi Arabia, Michael Lahoud USA FC Cincinnati, John Kamara FC Kaisar Kazakhstan, Khalifa Jabbie Unattached, Abdul Sesay TP47 Finland, Kwame Quee Vikingur Iceland, Julius Wobay Unattached, Nathaniel Tongovullah Port Authority, Ibrahim Conteh PSIS FC and George Davies FC Riga Latvia.
Attackers
Kei Kamara Vancouver Whitecaps Canada, Alhassan Kamara BK Hacken, Alhaji Kamara FC Sheriff Moldova, Christian Moses Viborg FF Danmark, Mustapha Bundu AGF Arhus, Mohamed Buya Turay Sint Truiden Belgium, Sheka Fofanah Al-Nasr Oman and Abu Bakarr Kargbo Berliner AK Germany, Alimamy Mohamed Bundu FC Kallon, Abdul Bangura unattached and Amadou Bakayoko Coventry City UK.
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by FSL News | 11 Aug, 2018 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Danish club Boldklubben 1893 have signed Sierra Leonean defender Kemson Fofanah from East End Lions on a one and half year contract.
(Photo: Defender Kemson Fofanah (right) and his Manager/agent, Bal Melvin Chalobah (left).
Fofanah, who was on trials with the third-tier side in Denmark, impressed the club’s management and hand himself a deal.
The right-back could feature in B93’s second League game of the season this Saturday pending clearance from the Danish Football Association.
A statement from East Lions FC reads: “We are very pleased to have completed the transfer of Kemson to B93 in collaboration with FC Lion Pride, Kempson’s management team Y2P and SLFA administrator Miss Miriam Heroe.”
“We as a club would like to thank all the individuals that made this transfer possible in the shortest possible time. This young man can now pursue his career and chase his dream.”
“This is what football is about working together to create opportunities for our brightest footballing prospects. We wish him all the best and success with his new team.”
Fofanah was recently part of the Sierra Leone side that was defeated 4-0 in Iran during an international friendly at the Tehran’s Azadi Stadium March 17.
Fofanah was recently part of the Sierra Leone side that was defeated 4-0 in Iran during an international friendly at the Tehran’s Azadi Stadium March 17.
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by FSL News | 10 Aug, 2018 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
A roster of fifty players has started groundwork for the Under-17 Total Africa Cup of Nations zonal qualifying tournament in Dakar, Senegal.
The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) says newly appointed Coach Tito Cole will be assisted by former International Francis Zappa Koroma and Jeffrey Kabia as goalkeeping coach.
Coach Cole’s lads are to face host Senegal and Guinea Bissau in Group A.
Sierra Leone first task is against Guinea Bissau on the 11th of September 2018 before the cracker with hosts Senegal two days later.
Meanwhile, the defending African champions Mali are in Group B alongside Liberia and Gambia.
Group C teams are Guinea, Mauritania and Cape Verde.
The tournament will be played from the 9-18 September 2018 at the Alassane Djigo Stadium in Pikine (Dakar) and the newly built Stade Ngalandou Diouf in Rufisque.
The winner of each group and best runner-up qualifying for the last four.
The finalists will represent the Zone at next year’s Total U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Tanzania.
Photos SLFA: The SLFA says newly appointed Coach Tito Cole will be assisted by former International Francis Zappa Koroma and Jeffrey Kabia as goalkeeping coach.
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by FSL News | 25 Jul, 2018 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone coach John Keister says he was pleased with his team after a goalless draw against the Lone Star in Liberia.
Keister appreciated his team’s work rate, over the weekend against the Lone Star in an international friendly at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex.
The technician, who has guided Sierra Leone to a brilliant start in the race to Cameroon 2019 with a win over Kenya passionately, told Football Sierra Leone that the test against Liberia was a positive friendly contest.
Regardless both nations were unable to find the net in last Sunday’s encounter, but Keister believes the encounter was important for the home-based boys in terms of their development.
“I thought it was a very positive friendly contest for us going into the Afcon qualifiers especially for the home-based lads’ development, he told Football Sierra Leone UK.
“Also, it was good to be able to watch the two foreign-based players (Alie Sesay and Mustapha Dumbuya) both have given us cover and options going into Afcon at midfield and centre back positions.”
He reiterated that the importance and what needed to be done ahead of the Ethiopia tie.
“This was a match that has given us an idea of where the players are in terms of levels and what is needed in terms of work to take them to the next level.
“For Ethiopia game, I will have to prioritize the inclusion of committed foreign-based players in the squad for the experience so the younger and the home stars to benefit going forward.”
“All invited foreign-based players must to come home well ahead of time and prove themselves. I am ready to work with every player that is committed to helping the country.”
“We are a working progress and with the right facilities and motivation, we have a chance but we must work really hard to get the right results.”
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by FSL News | 22 Jul, 2018 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
National head coach, John Keister, has announced his first team to face the Lone Star of Liberia later this evening at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex.
IK Frej defender Alie Sesay and former Portsmouth, Notts County and Partick Thistle right-back Mustapha Dumbuya, who can also play as a winger are both in the coach starting eleven that is dominated by home-based players.
Experience attacking midfielder, Julius Wobay will be playing behind the top three in a 4-2-1- 3 system.
The friendly showdown is part of Liberia’s 171st Independence Day celebration.
President George Weah is expected to be among a host of dignitaries including former Sierra Leone skipper Mohamed Kallon.
Liberia v Sierra Leone last encounter was on 05 June 2017 at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium, which was won by Liberia 1-0.
Leone Stars XI Keeper: Mohamed N Kamara
Defenders: 2. Yeami Dunia, 3. Foday Kamara, 4. Abu Suma, 5. Alie Sesay
Midfielders: 6. Abu Kanu 8. Mustapha Dumbuya
Attackers 10. Julius Wobay
11. Alimany Bundu 9. Musa M Kamara 7. Abdul Bangura,
Subs: Ibrahim Sorie, Alusine Koroma, Ballie Kamara, George Matta, Chochoma Caulker, Abdul Bangura, Mahmoud Fornah and Umaru Samura
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