by FSL News | 9 Feb, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
The Leone Stars of Sierra Leone moved up two places from 96th to 94th position in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola global ranking released on Thursday and on the Continent they now occupy Twenty-fourth (24) places.
It is worth mentioning that Leone Stars last competitive football was back in September 2016, when they were eliminated by the former African champions Ivory Coast in Bouake during the qualifiers of the just concluded 2017 African Nations Cup, despite a 1-1 score-line.
However, Leone Stars will battle it out in Group F alongside Ghana Black Stars, Kenya, and Ethiopia, in the qualifiers for a place in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted by Cameroon.
Meanwhile, Egypt have jumped up 12 spots in the latest FIFA world rankings and is currently in the 23rd position worldwide and sits on top of the African ranking.
Cameroon winning the AFCON 2017 in Gabon helped them climb 29 places into 33rd position in the world and third on the continent.
Argentina (1), Brazil (2), Germany (3), Chile (4) and Belgium (5) hold onto their positions respectively.
@football_sierra
by FSL News | 7 Feb, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
In Photo: Sierra Leone 2016 FA Cup Champions, FC Johansen
The stage is set: Sierra Leone 2016 FA Cup Champions, FC Johansen, have a tough test ahead of them as they take on their Moroccan counterparts, Fath Union Sport de Rabat (FUS Rabat) in the first leg preliminary of the 53rd edition of the TOTAL CAF Champions league in Freetown on Saturday.
The Moroccans are very experienced in the continental stage. They were unbeaten in last season’s CAF Confederation cup group stage. They topped Group B taking 12 points from their six group stage matches and even seeing off Tunisian heavyweights Etoile du Sahel.
However, since missing out of reaching the Confederation Cup final following a 1-1 draw against Algerian side Mouloudia Bejaia in Morocco after a goalless first leg, the side from Rabat has been struggling this season.
They have only won once in their last five matches in the Moroccan Championship (known as Botola Maroc Telecom).
Former Morocco international, Hoalid Regragui’s side will find their host a hard nut to crack.
John Keister’s men on the other hand, despite no national championship in Sierra Leone, have recently tested their might against the Liberian Champions Barracks Young Controllers (BYC) and the Liberian CAF Confederation representative Club Brewery in a double-friendly tie in Liberia a few days ago.
FC Johansen suffered a 2-1 defeat in Liberia to BYC and won against Club Brewery, but notwithstanding, they will need to work overtime if they are to overpower FUS Rabat in Freetown.
Back in 2013, Johansen – then debutants in the CAF confederation were eliminated by Barrack YC II following a 1-0 aggregate defeat.
Meanwhile, The Moroccans will be leaving the shores of Morocco on Wednesday night for Freetown after a 1-0 defeat to RSB Berkane last Friday.
Friday’s defeat to RS Berkane means the Rabat-based club are 13 positions with 17 points from 16 matches heading into their crunch test in Freetown.
Rabat’s technical staffs have confirmed they will have two training sessions in Sierra Leone before taking on their hosts.
Rabat striker Gambian-born Njie Yusupha, 23, is a player to watch. The son of Gambian football legend, Biri-Biri, signed for the Rabat-based club from Real de Banjul and has been a revelation since joining the club.
The return leg in Rabat will be at the Stade de FUS, in Rabat in a week’s time from this Saturday.
First Round CAF Champions League preliminary
Sat 11/02/2017 Johansen (SLE) v FUS Rabat (MAR)
Date: 17/02/2017 FUS Rabat (MAR) v Johansen (SLE)
Follow the writer @bittar32 Contact bi****@*********************ne.net
by FSL News | 4 Feb, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone have been pitted against Senegal in the first round of the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying campaign.
The continental competition is only designed for players, who are playing in their country’s domestic league and qualifiers are arranged regionally.
With the African Football governing body, CAF conducted the draw last Friday, February 3 in Libreville, Gabon, the home-base Leone Stars are scheduled to host the Lions of Teranga in Freetown on the weekend of 14-16 July in the first-leg and the second leg will take place the following weekend in Dakar.
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.
Sierra Leone has eliminated 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.
Leone Stars chose to host their home leg in Nouakchott because Sierra Leone was unable to host international games due to the Ebola outbreak in the country which forced an international ban on all football and sporting activities in the country then.
In 2014, Sierra Leone was eliminated from the qualifiers in their own backyard by next door neighbor Guinean. The Guineans forced Sierra Leone to a 1-1 draw at the National Stadium in Freetown as the first leg in Conakry ended in a goalless draw.
Senegal, on the other hand, has participated in the final phases of CHAN in 2009, 2011, 2014 and 2016. In 2014, they were eliminated by Mauritania (1-0 and 0-2) and in 2016, it was the Guineans who pushed them away.
Follow the writer @morrisjr88 – Sahr Morris Jr.
by FSL News | 30 Jan, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Squad: Barrack Young Controllers
- FC Johansen suffered a 2-1 defeat in Liberia to Barracks Young Controllers (BYC) in their friendly test on Sunday ahead of their 2017 doubleheader in the CAF Champions League preliminary round
- Club Johansen was drawn to face Moroccan side Fath Union Sport de Rabat (FUS Rabat)
The Sierra Leone 2016 FA Cup Champions FC Johansen and the Liberian Champions are preparing for their upcoming 53rd edition Total CAF Champions League matches next month.
George Mata gave the visitors an early lead as he opened the scoring within the opening sixteen minutes.
Mark Paye of BYC converted a free ball into an empty net to level the scores 1-1 before Kateo Anderson converted a spot-kick in the 47′ minutes to made sure of the victory.
FC Johansen will play their second friendly on Tuesday against Liberian CAF Confederation representative Club Brewery, before heading home to take on FUS Rabat on the 11th February 2017 at the Siaka Steven Stadium and the return tie the following week in Morocco.
BYC boss Copper M. Sannah said: “It was a good performance from both teams. The friendly is an added value towards our preparation for the CAF Competition.” He also commended the performance of his opponent.
“They (FC Johansen) is a very good team with a better system; the match was a good education for both teams and from what I have learned I will educate my players in details.”
FC Johansen boss John Keister said: “We were vulnerable in few areas on the pitch but we are not disappointed in fact, such a friendly match is vital for my team ahead of the CAF competition.
“We have taken into consideration our mistakes and the work is going to continue”
CAF Champions League 2017 preliminary and first-round draws made in Cairo:
Johansen (SLE) v FUS Rabat (MAR)
FUS Rabat (MAR) v Johansen (SLE)
Barrack Young Controllers II (LBR) v Stade Malian (MLI)
Stade Malian (MLI) v Barrack Young Controllers II (LBR)
First legs: Feb 10-12, second: Feb 17-19
Source: © Kemoh Sesay in Liberia
by FSL News | 20 Jan, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Moroccan top flight side FUS Rabat, are already preparing for their upcoming Total CAF Champions League tie against Sierra Leone FA Cup Champions FC Johansen next month.
FUS will play a friendly match against their Algerian counterpart CR Belouizdad on Tuesday, January 24, 2017, at 15:00 as part of their preparation for the return phase of Botola Maroc Telecom and the preliminary round of the African Champions League.
This test match is slated for the Fath Union Sports Academy and will be on camera, Football Sierra Leone understands.
Sierra Leone 2016 FA Cup Champions, FC Johansen, will face the Moroccans in the 2017 doubleheader in CAF Champions League preliminary round.
The club owned by the President of Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) Isha Johansen will host the first leg on the 11th February 2017 and the return tie the following week.
The preliminary round will feature a total of 46 teams and if Johansen’s side eliminates the Moroccans, they will play either side – the Ghanaian champions Wa All Stars or the Libyan outfit Al Ahly Tripoli in March.
FC Johansen was eliminated from the 2013 CAF Confederation Cup by Barrack YC II following a 1-0 aggregate defeat.
Meanwhile, CAF Champions League holders, Mamelodi Sundowns, will start their defense of their title against the winner of the matchup between KCCA Club (Uganda) and D.1e Agosto (Angola).
@football_sierra
by FSL News | 13 Jan, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
AFCON 2019 qualifiers Group F: Sierra Leone, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya
Sierra Leone government has assured Leone Stars of its ‘full support’ in their quest to reach African Nations Cup 2019 in Cameroon.
Leone Stars were drawn alongside Ghana Black Stars, Kenya, and Ethiopia for the qualifiers, with the draw held in Libreville, Gabon last Thursday evening.
The qualifiers will start in June this year and end in November 2018.
This was revealed by Deputy Minister of Sports Al-Sankoh Conteh following the draws for 32nd edition of the biennial international men’s football championship organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The Draw In Full
Despite not qualifying for this month’s tournament in Gabon, the Deputy Minister was delighted with the team spirit after the 1-1 draw against the holders Ivory Coast in Bouake September 2016.
Sierra Leone last participated in the continental big stage 21 years ago in South Africa 1996, where Mohamed Kallon age 16, became the tournament’s youngest player and scored the winning goal for Sierra Leone in a 2-1 win over Burkina Faso.
“The government is willing to give all the necessary support to ensure we have early planned and mobilized the most qualified and best of our players without any bias,” Al-Sankoh said.
“As a government, we are very much confident that Sierra Leone will qualify for AFCON 2019 in Cameroon, we may take the first position in our group or qualify as best losers.”
“I reiterated, we’re optimistic that we have what it takes, Leone Stars winning all our home matches and will take points from our away matches in Kenya, Ethiopia or Ghana,” The Deputy Minister passionately said while answering questions from footballsierraleone.net
The 12 group winners will join the host country, Cameroon, along with the best three second-placed teams in the tournament finals.
Follow the writer @bittar32 Contact bi****@*********************ne.net – @football_sierra
Sierra Leone | Highlights -Â