by FSL News | 10 Jun, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Video & News
The Harambee Stars of Kenya XI
Sierra Leone beat Kenya 2-1 to give new coach John Keister his first win in charge of Leone Stars in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations first leg qualifying tie in Freetown on Saturday.
The Leone Stars get off to a winning start at home at the Siaka Stevens Stadium. The victory sees Keister’s troops sitting at the top of the Group F with three points at least until tomorrow when Black Stars of Ghana host Ethiopia in Ghana.
Thanks to goals from Julius Wobay and Umaru Bangura in the 22′ and 69’ minutes respectively, with Kenya’s Michael Olunga getting their only goal in the 76th minutes despite playing with a man down.
Julius Wobay and Umaru Bangura penalty helped Sierra Leone make the all-important victory in their Group F campaign against the Kenyans who had Brian Mandela sent off for a dangerous tackle on Alhassan Kamara.
Julius Wobay gave the home side the lead 22 minutes as his shot past the Kenya goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch thanks to Kei Kamara whose breakaway on the left set up the cross for Wobay.
The visitors had a chance to draw back level just minutes after the goal from a Victor Wanyama glanced shot after Johanna free kick but the ball went off the crossbar.
In the 56th minute, Leone Stars came close to double their lead through Alhassan Kamara but he slipped while pulling the trigger from a cross from the right with the ball going wide.
Again in the 63rd minute, Alfred Sanko also slipped a shot on the upright from a Hassan Sesay cross but Leone Stars second of the evening came in the 70th minute from the penalty spot after Kei Kamara was brought down by Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma.
The Sierra Leone skipper Umaru Bangura stepped up roof the ball past Oluoch for his seventh goal for Sierra Leone.
Harambee Stars do showed some bit of fighting spirit with 15 minutes from the clock, thanks to a superb free-kick by Michael Olunga. Kenya’s next assignment will be next year March when they host Ghana in Nairobi while Sierra Leone will travel to Ethiopia.
The win over the Harambee Stars saw Leone Stars ended the East African 10 match unbeaten run which most came from friendly matches. It was also coach Stanley Okumbi third defeat since taking charge of the Stars early last year.
Ghana host Ethiopia in the other Group F match later on Sunday in Kumasi.
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by FSL News | 9 Jun, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Some football enthusiasts on Friday urged the Leone Stars team to ensure victory over the Harambee Stars of Kenya in the first leg Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Siaka Steven Stadium on Saturday, June 10 in Freetown.
Leone Stars played to a goalless draw against Ivory Coast in September 2016 in the final 2017 Afcon qualifying match in the process failing to qualify for the continental showpiece in 21 years with a record of 11 times of trying.
However, fans who are eager to see the team make it to Cameroon 2019 told the country’s fastest growing football website (footballsierraleone.net) in an exclusive interview on social media; Facebook and WhatsApp that while hopes are not lost, a lot of work needed to be done to ensure victory.
James Kanu, a student, told FSL that he had confidence in the ability of the team to qualify if newly appointed coach John Keister selected the right players.
“The Kenya team is a very serious team – they have not lost in their last ten international matches under coach Stanley Okumbi. This game is a stepper to our progress, a must-win game but we need to be very careful in our defence.
“The attack should be led by Kei Kamara, who recently scored 100 MLS career goals and was the scorer against Ivory Coast in Bourke last September. I have confidence Kei can deliver,’’ Kanu passionately said.
Ibrahim Jalloh, who claimed is a diehard supporter of local club East End Lions, said the team must this time live up to expectation in scoring goals. They must take their chances and therefore also urged them to be careful as the Kenyans are no pushovers.
“The team must start scoring goals at home, we have always struggled to score at home, they also have to be very careful with the heights threat of the Kenyans,” Jalloh warned.
Sullah Kaikai, a trader, told this medium, “We’re lucky to start our campaign at home, we the fans must turn out in thousands in support of our national team. No excuses this time we have to win and start brighter in this group if we going to have any chance to make Cameroon 2019,” Kaikai explained.
Meanwhile, the East African nation who will be lead out of the dugout by their Tottenham Hotspur anchorman, Victor Wanyama on Saturday have played three international friendlies before heading to Freetown.
They recently played Uganda to a 1-1 draw on March 23, defeated DRC 2-1 three days later and held Malawi to a goalless in April. All three friendly was part of their preparations for the 2019 Nations Cup qualifiers.
The two nations will be without a couple of players for Saturday’s showdown, Kenya will be without Zesco United forward Jesse Were who was the latest to join Belgium-based Royal Antwerp midfielder Johanna Omollo and Bulgaria based defender Abud Omar on the sideline.
While Leone Stars will have to do without both the tough and pacey Partick Thistle right-back, Mustapha Dumbuya who was “immensely disappointed” when confirming he will not be part of the Keister’s side and D.C. United striker, Alhaji Kamara.
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by FSL News | 9 Jun, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
President Ernest Koroma has given his blessings to the Sierra Leone national team’s new kit on Thursday during an inspection, Football Sierra Leone understands.
Sierra Leone Football Association SLFA boss Madam Isha Johansen, President Ernest Koroma centre and Minister of Sports Hon. Ahmed Khanou during the inspection.
The Minister of Sports Hon. Ahmed Khanou and the Sierra Leone Football Association SLFA boss Madam Isha Johansen presented the newly contracted official national football teams’ jerseys to the president at the State House for an inspection and presentation.
It will be worn for the first time in public on Saturday, June 10 in the first leg Africa Cup of Nations in Freetown and his Excellency, who is a keen sports and football enthusiast is expected to attend the cracker.
According to the SLFA, the President and the Executive Committee of the Sierra Leone Football Association will be officially unveiling the national teams’ jerseys today the 9th June 2017, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Aberdeen.
Singapore-based sports kit manufacturers MAFRO Sport* recently signed a record deal with SLFA.
The deal is worth $82,000. MAFRO and the Sierra Leone Football body will share the proceeds from the sale of replica jerseys and other merchandise.
Sierra Leone joined Mafro Sports’ portfolio of Federation sponsorships including Zambian, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and others.
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by FSL News | 7 Jun, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) have signed a three-year kit deal with Singapore-based sports kit manufacturers Mafro Sports on the 3rd of June 2017, until at least 2020.
The SLFA will formally unveil the new kits on Friday.
The deal is worth $82,000. Mafro and the Sierra Leone Football body will share the proceeds from the sale of replica jerseys and other merchandise.
Sierra Leone joined Mafro Sports’ portfolio of Federation sponsorships including Zambian, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and others.
The Sierra Leone men’s senior team Leone Stars will be the first to don the new Mafro kit in the first leg Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Saturday, June 10 in Freetown against Kenya.
“In addition to the annual kit sponsorship, MAFRO and SLFA have agreed on a profit-sharing basis of the national team jerseys nationwide plus international activities to be agreed.”
“We hope our presence will not only be strengthened in your market industry but also in the social and technical development of the future generation,” MAFRO Managing Director Mahmoud Gomba stated.
Sierra Leone Saturday’s Group F opponent Kenya last month agreed to a three-year sponsorship deal with the Football Kenya Federation worth $750,000 and a two-year contract with the Football Association of Zambia worth $400,000.
Sierra Leone and Kenya are both expected to don the new Mafro kit on Saturday.
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by FSL News | 6 Jun, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Some Foreign-based Players and coaches pictured after training.
With a good number of foreign-based players in camp, Sierra Leone training in Freetown intensifies with a double session as more foreign-based expected.
Sierra Leone will tackle Kenya on Saturday, June 10 in the first-leg qualifier of the 2019 Africa Nations Cup in Freetown.
Turkey-based boys, David Simbo and Alfred Sankoh, alongside Sierra Leone skipper and FC Zurich defender Umaru Bangura, JS Hercules Midfielder, Abdul Sesay, Julius G. Wobay-Olimpija Ljubljana attacking wing man and BK Hacken striker Alhassan Kamara are all part of yesterday’s sessions.
With Khalifa Jabbie, George Davies, Alhaji Duada Conteh, France-based keeper Solomon Zombo Morris and Finland-based Tornion Pallo -47 forward Thomas Koroma all in town, the number of players in the camp preparing for the June 10 cracker against the Harambee Stars is now 10.
USA-based New England Revolution hitman Kei Kamara and others are due in camp today Wednesday.
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by FSL News | 5 Jun, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
The Leone Stars of Sierra Leone were edged 1 nil by host Liberia in Monrovia in a friendly international on Monday at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium.
Lone Star goal scorer Christopher Jackson celebrated his goal
The defeat was John Keister’s first in charge of the Sierra Leone side that are preparing to face Kenya in the 2019 Africa Nations Cup first-leg qualifier in Freetown on June 10.
The only goal of the game was scored in the 78th minutes by Christopher Bigman Jackson of LISCR football club assisted by Terrence Tisdell of Fassell FC.
LISCR’s striker was introduced in the second 45, replacing striker Mark Paye after a goalless first half, and managed to use his height to send FC Fassel forward Terrance Tisdell’s left foot cross from about 10 yards.
Not much separated the two teams in the first half with only a few attempts, striker Paye getting the Lone Star’s only shot on target from a header and the visitor’s with one attempt.
John Keister selected a squad of 20 players including three foreign-based for the testing encounter.
Khalifa Jabbie as one of the foreign-based just from winning the treble with FC Sheriff Tiraspol in Moldova was the captain of Leone Stars.
The team will return home on Tuesday to continue with their preparation for the Kenyans.
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Sierra Leone | Highlights -