by FSL News | 6 Sep, 2016 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Former Neftchi Baku attacking midfielder Julius Gibrilla Wobay says he has no plans of retiring yet and he plans to carry on playing for Sierra Leone.
Wobay, 32, who won Slovenian PrvaLiga last season with Olimpija Ljubljana following his one and a half year deal in January 2016 with Slovenian Champions is ready to continue playing.
The former East End Lions attacker made his international debut for Sierra Leone in the 2002 Fifa World Cup qualifier against Liberia in a match played in the Liberian capital of Monrovia.
Speaking to Football Sierra Leone Wobay said he still planned on participating in competitive matches for his country.
“I have made a decision, this is not my last season for my country, he said.
Wobay who played for 80th mins in the 1-1 draw against Cote d Ivoire last Saturday at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake is not sure about when or how soon he will hang his international boots.
“Football is not about age but the experience so I don’t see myself quitting the national team as I believe I have more to give,” he reiterated to footballsierraleone.net whiles boarding his flight from Abidjan to the UK.
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by FSL News | 5 Sep, 2016 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
The 2015 Nations Cup winners qualified after drawing twice against Sierra Leone.
It was a hard-fought 1-1 draw against a resilient Leone Stars side at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake on Saturday that cleared the title-holders to defend their crown in Gabon next year.
No goal line technology and no replay – Sierra Leoneans were left crying foul after Kei Kamara’s last minute header was off the Ivorians goal-line in stoppage time.
The Ivorians celebrated the result on and off the pitch as they held on to the draw to squeeze into the 2017 continental big stage.
Les Elephants head coach Frenchman Michel Dussuyer said he was “satisfied” with the result but not the way his side played on Saturday.
”We can be satisfied because of the result, but we cannot be proud of our work,” Michel Dussuyer said during his post-match conference.
The 57-year-old reiterated “Let us just be satisfied with this qualification because we reached our goal.
“The positive is that we made it, but at the last minute the sky almost fell on our heads.”
Ivory Coast qualified for a seventh straight Cup of Nations by winning Group I with six points.
(Photo: Ivory Coast’s Marc Goua (right) fights for the ball with Sierra Leone’s Kwame Quee at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake September 3, 2016. — AFP pic)
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by FSL News | 4 Sep, 2016 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Major League Soccer and New England Revolution striker Kei Kamara hailed his international team-mates after they played to a 1-all draw against the African Champions Ivory Coast on Saturday.
The Sierra Leone national team were one-nil down in their crucial Group I clash at the Stadium of Peace in Bouake, Ivory Coast.
Jonathan Kodjia gave the host the lead via a bicycle kick after 35 minutes in front of a sell-out 25,000 crowd.
Kamara equalised on 67 minutes with a glancing header following a free kick from Mohamed Medo Kamara.
Leone Stars was awarded a corner five minutes into stoppage and Kamara whose far-post header was cleared off the line certainly appreciates the support from his national mates.
He said: “I am very proud of all the boys that sacrifice so much to represent the Green White and Blue.
“Congratulations to the lads, we left our best on that field and can have no regrets as players.
“Putting on those colours means everything to us. We know how much our people wanted us to succeed, but unfortunately, the draw was not enough.
“I am happy to get a goal on the board but it wasn’t enough so I can’t focus on that solo achievement. We as a team and nation just need to prepare better for the future,” he proudly told footballsierraleone.net
Kamara, who was back in the Sierra Leone squad after a self-imposed one-year exile almost made it possible for Sierra Leone with the help of his team mates.
The 2015 Nations Cup winners qualified after drawing twice against Sierra Leone and taking four points off Sudan.
Sierra Leone finished with five points and Sudan with four.
@football_sierra – bittar32 (Photo Credit Abidjan.net)
by FSL News | 3 Sep, 2016 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Video & News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JsE8nFQKYE
Sierra Leone’s Leone Stars will not be part of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations to be staged in Gabon after they forced Ivory Coast to a 1-1 on Saturday in a crucial Group I clash at the Stadium of Peace in Bouake.
Sierra Leone needed to win, but they were unfortunate against the defending African Champions.
The African Champions was ahead in the 36min a well-taken acrobatic goal from Jonathan Kodjia help them mustered all they had to make sure they can defend their title next January.
The pressure mounted on the Ivorians just after New England Revolution striker Kei Kamara equalised midway through the second half.
In the last minute of added time, Sierra Leone came close to knocked the 2015 Nations Cup winners out with another header from the MLS striker who returns from international retirement.
Leone Stars have never defeated the Ivorians in eight attempts, however, in their last meeting Les Elephants endured a frustrating time against their West African counterparts following a 0-0 draw in Port Harcourt Nigeria in their 2017 qualifying Group I match-day 2.
Ivory Coast (1) 1 (Adjo 36′)
Sierra Leone (0) 1 (K.Kamara 67′)
Ivory Coast XI: Gbohouo, Goua, Kanon, Bailly, Kessie, Jean-Michel (Diomande 76′), Yao Serge, Kalou (Gradel 69′), Adama, Adjo, Yao Kouassi
Sierra Leone XI: Zombo, Dunia, Sesay, Bangura, Simbo, Kamara, Sankoh, Quee (Fofanah 92′), Woobay (Davies 79′), Kamara, Bangura
Elsewhere, 2017 host Gabon beat Sudan 2-1 in Khartoum.
Both Nations coming out to lineup before kickoff
Les Elephants and Leone Stars at the Bouake Stadium
Ivory Coast’s Gervinho with the ball surrounded by Leone Stars players
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by FSL News | 3 Sep, 2016 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone head coach Sellas Tetteh has named MLS-based striker Kei Kamara and Mohamed Bangura in the attack of his first team to face Ivory Coast later today in Bouake, Football Sierra Leone understands.
Today’s Africa Cup of Nations Group I matchday six encounter between the Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone will determine which team competes in the continental big stage next January in Gabon.
Inform Latvian-based midfielder John Kamara has been left out of the 18-man squad.
The Ghanaian boss seems to go for his trusted central defensive partners skipper Umaru Bangura and David Simbo.
Leone Stars predicted XI: Zombo Morris, Hassan Milla Sesay, Â Umaru Bangura, David Simbo, Â Yeami Dunia, Medo Kamara, Â Alfred Sankoh, Â Kwamie Queen, Gibrilla Wobay, Kei Kamara and Mohamed Bangura.
Subs: Unisa Koroma, Â Abu Suma, Â Sheka Fofanah, Â Abu Kanu, Â Khalifa Jabbie, George Davies. Abdul Sesay.
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by FSL News | 3 Sep, 2016 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
John Kamara pictured is out of Leone Stars 18-man squad
By Ishmail Saidu Kanu, Desmond Tunde Coker and Festus J Lahai in Bouake, Ivory Coast.
Sierra Leone and Riga FC midfielder, John Kamara has been dropped out of the Leone Stars 18-man squad for today’s crucial 2017 AFCON qualifiers against The Elephants of Ivory Coast in Bouake.
The Riga midfielder was among the 16 Foreign Based Players invited by head coach, Sellas Tetteh.
Speaking to Sports Journalists at the Elephant’s Hotel in Buoake, the 2014 Sierra Leone Player of the year said he was called outside by Assistant Coach John Keister including five Home Based Players, informing them that they would not be part of the 18 man squad.
He said Coach Sellas Tetteh as a professional gaffer should have been the best person to talk to him about such decision not his assistant.
“I John Bankole’ was not treated as a professional,” the disappointed midfielder said and accused the coaches of the national team coaches of running football ‘as a business without any focus’.
“I have played all my games and continue to be a regular player for my team and I have been part of this team for over four years now. I don’t think I should be left out of this squad for home-based players because there has been no league in Sierra Leone since the outbreak of the Ebola Disease in 2014,” he said.
The Latvian based midfielder said the attitudes of coaches in Sierra Leone have led to the poor state of football in the country.
“I decide to come public because I wanted Sierra Leoneans to know what I have been going through as a player,” adding that he might not get any further call-up to the team by the Sierra Leone Football Association.
On the decision to omit Kamara from the final 18-man squad, Coach Sellas Tetteh said the Latvia based player was left out of the squad due to the number of Foreign-based midfielders they had, adding that Mohamed Medo Kamara and Khalifa Jabbie are the best options due to the importance of the match and his game plan.
The Ghanian tactician said there is no home-based midfielder in the team who has played in Kamara’s role since 2014.
Hr also refuted the players claim that they have been running football in Sierra Leone as a business.
“I sent Keister to convey the message to Kamara because we are working together as a technical team and that shouldn’t have been a problem concern” Coach Tetteh adding that the midfielder has been very pivotal player for his club but has to compete with other midfielder in the national team.
Coach Tetteh said the behaviour of John was unacceptable and didn’t really know why he went that far.
“He’s frustrated and wanted to destroy the peace here”, he said adding that such display by the player will not affect his game plan as the boys are focused and well prepared to face the Ivorians.
The match will be played at the Peace Stadium in Buoake at 6pm prompt.
Credit – SWASAL
Supported by – The Ministry of Sports
Sierra Leone | Highlights -Â