by FSL News | 21 Jul, 2018 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
The Leone Stars camp on Friday boosted with the arrival of two foreign-based defenders in Freetown.
Swedish club IK Frej Taby defender Alie Sesay, who could make his comeback to the Sierra Leone national team, Leone Stars against Lone Star of Liberia in Monrovia joined the team’s final training in Freetown.
Sesay, 24, last played for Leone Stars of Sierra Leone in Ivory Coast in 2014 during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Former Partick Thistle right-back Mustapha Dumbuya was also part of Friday’s evening training session ahead of their departure to Liberia on Saturday.
Liberia requested a friendly with the Sierra Leone Stars as part of programs marking its 171st Independence Day celebration at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Liberia’s new interim head coach Thomas Kojo has included three foreign-based players that are currently in the country on holiday in his squad.
They are Jordan-based centre defender Teah Dennis, Lebanon-based midfielder Theo Weeks, and Norwegian star player Sam Johnson.
(Photo L-R, Deputy Minister Sports Kai Lawrence Mbayo, IK Frej Taby defender Alie Sesay, Minister of Sports, Ibrahim Nyelenkeh, former Partick Thistle right wing-back Mustapha Dumbuya, and Team Manager Christian Dauda.)
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by FSL News | 14 Jul, 2018 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone to compete with eight others for a spot in the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted by Tanzania.
The West African Football Union, (WAFU) Zone A U17 Afcon qualifiers scheduled from the 9 to 18 September in Senegal.
Each of the six Zonal Unions (CECAFA, COSAFA, UNAF, UNIFFAC, WAFU A, and WAFU B) will organise their own qualifiers.
Each zonal winner will qualify for the final tournament, with the exemption of zone A of the previous winner, with two slots. Since Mali won the title in 2017.
The African football body, CAF says the new format is expected to increase participation at the level of teams in the qualifiers, enhanced exposure and competitiveness by getting all involved. Since 1995, an average of 30 teams engaged in the qualifiers, representing about 54 per cent of the CAF membership.
The decision, one of the key elements among the resolutions of the first ever CAF African Football Symposium in July 2017 in Rabat (Morocco), was approved by the CAF Executive Committee.
The CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations will hold from the 12th to the 26th of May 2019. Mali are the defending champions of the tournament.
Meanwhile, selected players from each country for the tournament must undergo mandatory Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to determine their eligibility to participate.
The Dates and Hosts of the Zonal Qualifiers U17 AFCON, TANZANIA 2019
WAFU A:Â Host country: Senegal
Participating teams: (9): Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal and Sierra Leone
Date: 9 to 18 September 2018
WAFU B: Host country: Niger
Participating teams (7): Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Benin
Date: 2 to 15 September 2018
COSAFA:
Host Country: Mauritius
Participating teams (12): Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Date: 19 to 29 July 2018
UNIFFAC:
Host Country: Equatorial Guinea
Participating teams (8): Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, Guinea Equatorial, Gabon, RD Congo, Sao Tome, and Chad.
Date: 3 to 12 August 2018
CECAFA:
Host country: Tanzania
Participating teams (10): Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti
Date: 11 to 26 August 2018.
UNAF:
Host Country: Tunisia
Participating teams (4): Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Libya
Date: 20 to 28 August 2018
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by FSL News | 12 Jul, 2018 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
The Sierra Leone Football Association, (SLFA) has confirmed a friendly date with the Lone Star of Liberia.
The anticipated friendly is scheduled for Sunday the 22nd July 2018 in Monrovia.
The SLFA says a 25-man delegation will be travelling to Liberia to honour the invitation from their counterpart over the weekend.
Football Sierra Leone on June 20th reported that the Liberian FA in a communique invited Sierra Leone to play in a friendly with the Lone Star of Liberia as part of Liberia’s 171st Independence Day Celebration.
Read More –Â Sierra Leone to clash with LIB on Independence Day showdown
“A 25 man delegation is expected to travel to Liberia over the weekend to honour the said friendly tie,” a statement from SLFA read.
Liberia v Sierra Leone last encounter was on 05 June 2017 at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium which was won by Liberia 1-0.
Meanwhile, Sierra Leone will take on Walia Ibex in Ethiopia in September in Group F CAF Afcon qualifiers for a place in Cameroon 2019.
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by FSL News | 8 Jul, 2018 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Delegates and Members of the Sports Writers Association of Sierra Leone (SWASAL) on Saturday 7th July 2018 endorsed a new Executive that will operate the affairs of the association for the next three years.
The Chief Electoral Commissioner of SLAJ James Tamba Lebbie declared Frank Magnus Cole as President; Austin Thomas, Vice President; Sahr Morris Jnr., Secretary General; Mohamed Konneh, Financial Secretary; Festus J. Lahai, Organizing Secretary and Ishmail Saidu Kanu as Public Relations Officer.
Speaking after the declaration ceremony, the SWASAL President Frank M.E. Cole thanked the entire membership for giving him the opportunity to serve them for the second time.
The President noted that his executive is determined to take the association to another level.
“We have completed the process to bring more women into the association”, he added.
“We have thoroughly scrutinized the application forms for new intake and we hope to shortlist those who meet the criteria as provided by SWASAL the constitution”.
The SWASAL President ended by assuring the general membership of his continued support to them as an individual and his effort to develop the association.
Delegates at the Triennial Congress congratulated the new executive and called on them to work very hard to fulfil their promises.
© SWASAL By Ishmail Saidu Kanu in Kenema
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by FSL News | 20 Jun, 2018 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone’s National team, Leone Stars have been invited to play a friendly with the Lone Star National Team of Liberia to celebrate that country’s Independence on July 26th.
Confirming the invite to this medium is Liberia’s Deputy Minister of Sports, G. Andy Quamie.
He said the country’s FA and President George Weah have requested for the friendly showdown.
“The game should be played on July 22, 2018, if Sierra Leone agrees,” said the Deputy Sports Minister.
“The President of Liberia has already phoned the Sierra Leonean President already about this.”
“We are hoping that Sierra Leone agrees to come and celebrate our Independence with us.”
The Liberia Football Association has also written the Sierra Leonean Football Association, and once they agree, the technical details will be worked out with both FAs” Quamie explained.
The two neighbours have met fifteen times that including ten international friendly encounters.
Liberia with the most wins eight, four draws and three defeats including the 1986 Africa Nations Cup qualifiers (2-1 to Liberia on aggregates) and the 2001 Fifa World Cup doubleheader the Lone Stars won 1-0 at home and away.
Liberia v Sierra Leone last encounter was on 05 June 2017 at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium which was won by Liberia 1-0. – Read More… John Keister’s first international ends with 1 nil defeat for Leone Stars
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by FSL News | 13 Jun, 2018 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone’s Abubakarr Koroma captured the attention of spectators, coaches and journalists at this year’s Football for Friendship Tournament in Russia.
The youngster pictured first from right, was instrumental while playing for Angel Sharks at the Sapsan Arena in Moscow Russia.
Abubakarr who played as a defender and midfielder simultaneously scored three goals and created an assist.
The 12-year-old kid helped his team secured 4 points in the three-round matches but was not enough to see them through to the last eight.
The young and promising football player rose spectators to their feet after scoring a screamer right from the centre-half during the second match which they won 2-1.
The youngster expressed happiness and thanked God for giving him the opportunity to showcase his talent at such international platform.
“If we have the facilities and resources as other children then we will do better in future international tournaments and make progress in the country’s football within the next decade”, the PS Zizo defender noted.
Abubakarr has already gotten lots of friends from all over the world as 211 countries and regions participate in the week-long event.
Football for Friendship is an annual International Children’s social programme for 12 years old Young Players which has been implemented by the PJSC Gazprom since 2013.
The key values promoted by the programme participants include friendship, equality, fairness, health, peace, devotion, victory, traditions and honour.
By Ishmail Saidu Kanu in Moscow, Russia
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Sierra Leone | Highlights -Â