by FSL News | 28 Jul, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Dept. Sports minister label SLFA boss unfathomable liar
Deputy Minister of Sports, Ishmael Al-Sankoh Conteh has reacted strongly to the statements of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) President, Isha Johansen pictured as an unfathomable liar.
“The SLFA president press statement on Thursday against the Sports Minister, I, the director of sports and our ministry is nothing but mendacious and parochial,” Al-Sankoh said adding that it is one of the F.A president seditious antics.
Madam Johansen in Thursday’s press statement stated that football infighting seems to have found its way into being almost common place in society citing recent development in which the Minister of Sports, Ahmed Khanou took to the media to make a misleading and inciteful statement about the SLFA and the pronouncement questioning her ethic.
The SLFA boss further stated: “Coupled with his Deputy, Hon. al- Sankoh’s vitriolic and defamatory statement about myself and the FIFA General Secretary, Madam Fatma Samoura, this give a course for grave concern.”
Johansen said that her decision not to react instinctively to the barrage of insults and smear of her character and the SLFA which was provoked by the minister’s national tour around the media houses was the most the appropriate, mature and professional approach by him.
However, the deputy minister who admitted listening to the SLFA boss statement said: “Madam Johansen is an enemy of the state and has employed the service of international journalist to blackmail government and destroy football in Sierra Leone.
“She is not interested in anything about legality but rather doing things against the conventional practice. As a Ministry, we’ve always give her the support but she has always played the hard ball game.”
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by FSL News | 22 Jul, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Senegal National B side proved too strong for Sierra Leone as the Local Stars were beaten 3-1 and eliminated 4-2 on aggregate in Dakar at the Alassane Djigo Stadium in Pikine (outskirts of Dakar) on Saturday.
The win sees the young Lions advance to the next round where they face Guinea who demolished Guinea Bissau 10-1 on aggregate.
The mauling at the hands of Senegal was an obvious harsh pull back to reality for the young stars, who in the last four years have not been playing any competitive local football at home.
The Local Stars even failed to win at home in the first leg in Freetown last weekend and that was the first point of disappointment in front of the home fans.
Following a 1-1 home draw at home, it comes as no surprise the teams’ preparation was making all the headlines for the wrong reasons, it was alleged that the first part of the delegation stranded in Guinea on their way to Dakar.
The hosts dominated their visitors in the entire second half in Dakar and even in Freetown; they were a difficult team to beat despite playing for almost 50 minutes with a man down.
In Dakar, the hosts took the lead in the opening five minutes, Amadou Ndiaye accounted for the opener.
The spirited Local Stars hurry forward to stun their host with an equaliser 1-1 a few minute after.
The first half ended 1-1, Alhassan Dior made it 2-1 to Senegal a few minutes into the restart as the Lions of Teranga restored their lead.
The Lions of Teranga continued their dominance as the Stars struggled to contain them.
Daouda Dieme also put his name on the score sheet for Senegal as he made it 3-1 five minutes after the hour-mark.
Senegal held on to their two-goal lead in the closing stages of the encounter and they ran out 3-1 winners.
Senegal have now eliminated Sierra Leone in the CHAN qualifiers for the second time. The first was on penalty shoot out after 1-1 aggregate draw in 2011, the first time Sierra Leone participated.
Mauritania was the second nation to knockout Sierra Leone over the two legs in 2015 in the 2016 qualifiers.
Sierra Leone was knocked-out from the 2016 tournament in the preliminary round by Mauritania thanks to a 4-1 aggregate win. The Mauritanians won the first leg 2-1 at the Nouakchott Stadium and six days later they registered a 2-0 victory at the same venue.
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by FSL News | 22 Jul, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Prince Barrie was in action in Freetown last weekend.
Home-based Leone Stars head coach, Abubakar Tostao Kamara, has made three changes to his first team squad for today’s second leg tie of the African Nations Championship.
The CHAN qualifier to be played at the Alassane Djigo Stadium in Pikine (outskirts of Dakar).
Skipper Sorie Barrie and right back Mohamed Kamanor have both named on the bench to make way for Alfred Nyuma aka Sakila and Mahmoud Fornah in the team expected to start in Dakar.
Also, FC Johansen’s attacker Abdul Babu Bangura, who was a starter in Freetown, has been dropped to the bench.
The former Leone Stars skipper will bank on his trusted centre forward, Port Authority striker Donald Wellington aka Korbor Korbor and former Inter Allies attacker Prince Barrie to deliver in what has already been deemed a difficult test.
According to a report from Dakar, the coach made the changes for technical reasons, the team is going to play a 4-3-3 system.
The winner on aggregate will play either Guinea-Bissau or Guinea in the second round.
The first leg tie in Freetown ended in a 1-1 draw last weekend at the Siaka Steven Stadium.
Coach Kamara’s XI
Keeper: Ibrahim Bangura
Defenders:Â Abu Kanu,Captain Yeami Dunia, Abu Suma, Kemson Fofanah
Midfielders: Nathernial T, Â Mahmoud Fofanah, Alfred Sakilla
Attackers: Gibirlla Kamara, Donald Wellington, Prince Barrie
Subs: Issac Caulker, Mohamed Kamara, Morie Alie, Sorie Barrie, John Kargbo, Moahmed Kamanor, Abdul B Bangura.
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by FSL News | 21 Jul, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
The cracker is scheduled for Saturday and will be played at the Alassane Djigo Stadium in Pikine ( a suburb of Dakar).
Spirited Sierra Leone will go into the second leg in Dakar eager to reach the second round of the African Nations Championship – CHAN.
The cracker is scheduled for Saturday and will be played at the Alassane Djigo Stadium in Pikine ( a suburb of Dakar).
The match venue was undecided due to the suspension of all sporting and cultural events by the Senegalese government following the tragedy last Saturday during a League Cup final game.
Previously, was to be played at the Demba Diop Stadium before being relocated.
Having registered an away goal in Freetown last weekend at the Siaka Steven Stadium, the host’s team have the edge over their visitors.
The Local Stars of Sierra Leone have never participated in the CHAN finals but the home-based technician Abubakar Tostao Kamara will be looking to guide his side to the competition next phase.
However, defeating the Young Lions at home will be an uphill battle regardless of the first leg result. The Senegalese are more equipped and they also one of Africa’s big guns.
They played two friendlies as part of the home work against Mauritania – winning the first leg 2-0 in Dakar and lost 2-1 in Nouakchott, while their counterparts’ preparation was surrounded by the endless football predicament in the country.
Meanwhile, Football Sierra Leone sources have indicated that the team is more than determined despite all the alleged obstacles surrounding their travels upon arrival in Dakar on Thursday.
Inside sources have disclosed that the technical team and players have express optimism and with a 1-all first leg draw, is not a mission impossible.
None of the players nor officials looked downcast as they checked in at the Alafifa Hotel in Dakar in spite of latest photos of the team allegedly stranded in Guinea Conakry.
The 34-man delegation to Senegal was warmly received by officials of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF).
“The Ministry of Sports (MOS) and the country’s FA have done their best to ensure that we are here and I want to commend them for their efforts,” Sorie Ibrahim Sesay FA head of Competition have stated.
The winner on aggregate will play either Guinea-Bissau or Guinea in the second round.
Expected Coach Kamara’s Squad:
Keeper: Ibrahim Bangura
Defenders: Kemson Fofanah, Yeami Dunia, Abu Suma, Mohamed Kamanor
Midfielders: Anderson, Abu Kanu, Sorie Barrie, Prince Barrie
Attackers: Donald Wellington, Abdul Badu Bangura
Subs: Issac Caulker, Mohamed Fofanah, Morie Alie, Alfred Sakilla, John Kargbo, Mahmoud Fornah, (Nyakeh O. Alpha or Gibrilla Kamara)
Abu Bakarr Tostao Kamara-Â Head coach homes basedÂ
Amidu Karim- Asst coach
Jeffrey Coker- Goalkeeper coach
John Sama- Coach
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by FSL News | 15 Jul, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Kemson Fofanah scored from the spot to helped Sierra Leone force a draw in front of an empty stadium.
Sierra Leone survived late on in Freetown to force a 1-1 draw at the Siaka Steven Stadium on Saturday in the first leg preliminary of the African Nations Championship – CHAN.
The Local-Stars were playing a tricky home tie for the first time under new home-based coach Abubakar Tostao Kamara, but they failed to make use of home advantage.
A Senegalese defender was sent off 10 minutes before the end of the first half and they have to play the rest of the encounter with a man down.
After a goalless first half, the second 45 minutes was able to produce all the goals of the day.
The visitors scored from a rebound free-kick, Sidi Bara Diop accounted for the goal in the 63rd minute.
Sierra Leone capitalised from a spot kick scored in the 85th minutes by Kemson Fofanah to save the day in front of an empty stadium.
The Senegalese are now favourites to reach the next stage of the competition when both sides meet next weekend in Dakar.
Sierra Leone or Senegal will face the winners between Guinea-Bissau and Guinea in the second round with the first leg billed to take place between 11 – 13 August, and the return leg the following weekend.
The Local Stars have never participated in the CHAN finals and the West African side will be looking to qualify for the finals in Kenya next year.
Senegal qualified for the first two CHAN finals (in 2009 and 2011). Their best finish was when they were beaten in the third-place playoff match in 2009.
Meanwhile, elsewhere Guinea have the advantage following their 3-1 victory over Guinea-Bissau today.
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by FSL News | 15 Jul, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
The National home-based head coach, Abubakar Tostao Kamara, has named Port Authority striker Donald Wellington aka Korbor Korbor and FC Johansen’s attacker Abdul Babu Bangura in the attack of his first team to face Senegal this afternoon, Football Sierra Leone understands.
The Local-Stars will battle it out with their Senegalese counterpart in the first leg preliminary of the African Nations Championship – CHAN, in Freetown at the Siaka Steven Stadium, as they look to have a foothold ahead of the second leg in Dakar the following week.
Coach Tostao will also install inform skipper Sorie Barrie, who scored in the 93rd minute to knock out Cameroon during 2016 Olympic qualifiers to partner Abu Kanu in central midfield.
While Anderson Tongor Fullah of Port Authority and former Inter Allies attacker Prince Barrie will play in left and right midfield respectively.
The coach is optimistic and keenly aware that a win in Freetown could give his side the advantage going into the second leg in Senegal.
The CHAN – is a tournament only for domestic-based players in Africa. The tournament will be staged in Kenya from 12 January to 4 February 2018 in Kenya.
The winner of the double-legged tie will face the winners of the Guinea-Bissau and Guinea clash in the second round with the first leg billed to take place between 11 and 13 August, and those of the return leg the following weekend.
Expected Coach Kamara’s Squad:
Keeper: Ibrahim Bangura
Defenders: Kemson Fofanah, Yeami Dunia, Abu Suma, Mohamed Kamanor
Midfielders: Anderson, Abu Kanu, Sorie Barrie, Prince Barrie
Attackers: Donald Wellington, Abdul Badu Bangura
Subs: Issac Caulker, Mahamed Fofanah, Morie Alie, Alfred Sakilla, John Kargbo, Mahmoud Fornah, (Nyakeh O. Alpha or Gibrilla Kamara)
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Sierra Leone | Highlights -Â