Liberia to host Super Eagles in Grand Stade Tangier Stadium

by FSL News | 29 Oct, 2021 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

The Lone Star of Liberia will play their remaining 2022 World Cup decisive duel against Nigeria and the Central African Republic (CAR) at the Grand Stade in Tangier in November, the LFA has confirmed.

The Liberia Football Association suffered another blow after losing their try to host their doubleheader in Group C World Cup Qualifiers at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, following CAF inspection.

The LFA says Liberia will host Nigeria at the Grand Stade de Tanger on November 11 at 16:00Hrs GMT and Central African Republic (CAR) on November 15 at 16:00Hrs GMT with blessings from Royal Morocco Football Federation (RMFF).

The Grand Stade de Tanger is a football and track stadium located in the city of Tangier, Northern Morocco, with a capacity of 45,000 people. The venue to IR Tanger, a top tier Moroccan club.

In the group C standings, Nigeria is in the lead with 9 points, ahead of Cape Verde (7 points), the Central African Republic (4 points) and finally Liberia (3 points).

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CAF approves maximum 28-man optional squads for AFCON in Cameroon

by FSL News | 27 Oct, 2021 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

The Confederation of African Football has said that participating countries for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Cameroon can travel with a maximum of a 28-man squad.

The 33rd edition was delayed due to Covid-19 but look set for Cameroon next year from Sunday, January 9 to Sunday, February 6, 2022, with the usual three substitutes per match.

The last Afcon in Egypt was 23-man squads, but this increment came due to fear of Covid-19 cases. The continental body says the five additional players is optional and not mandatory.

CAF release reads: On the occasion of the upcoming final tournament of the TOTALENERGIES Africa Cup of Nations – Cameroon 2021, we would like to provide you with the following decision:

Number of additional players – The Organizing Committee of the Africa Cup of Nations has decided to increase the number of players to 5 additional players. Consequently, the list of players could be increased to a maximum of 28 players. This decision was taken to allow the participating teams have a larger squad list for the competition in case some players test positive for COVID 19.

On the other hand, please note that your federation will bear the cost of the international travel as well as the accommodation of these additional players on the final list. In view of the above, we would like to inform you that the registration of the 5 additional players is only an option and not an obligation.

Number of substitute players: Concerning the number of substitutions, CAF will apply the law of three substitutions per match (+ 1 additional substitution in case of extra time) during the final tournament of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone, the writer @bittar32 Contact bi****@*********************ne.net

Ghana top-tier winner to pocket GHC 250,000 as prize money

by FSL News | 27 Oct, 2021 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

Ghana Football Association has maintained a winner price cash boost for the 2021/2022 season Ghs 250,000, about $42,000 for lifting the title.

GFA boss Kurt Okraku confirmed the news on Tuesday during the launching of the new season at the FA headquarters in Accra.

The new season will kick off on Friday, October 29, 2021, with newly promoted side Accra Lions set to square off with Elmina Sharks in the season’s opening blockbuster at the Accra Sports stadium.

The GFA says the titleholder will take home a trophy and cash prize of GHC 250,000 and 40 gold medals while the 1st and 2nd Runner up receive GHC 150,000, 40 silver medals, and GHC 80,000, 40 Bronze medals, respectively.

GFA also indicated prize money in lower categories. In Division One, Winners of the various Zones (One, Two and Three) will also receive a brand new car and 40 medals as reward packages in the second tier competition while the second-placed teams take home GHC 30,000 and 30 silver medals each.

Women’s League winner will be rewarded with GHC 50,000 and 40 Gold medals while the Runner up receives GHC 30,000 and 40 Silver medals. Each of the 20 participating clubs will receive jersey team bags, movable mini goalpost, footballs, ball bags, cones and shin guards.

The Ghanaian top-tier also receive a major boost in the area of Television coverage as official broadcast right holder StarTimes are set to invest $1 million in production and promotion of the elite competition. Over 150 live games will be broadcast across the globe.

African Football News – Follow us on Twitter @football_sierra On Facebook & Instagram: Football Sierra Leone.

Gambia Scorpions progress to next round of 2022 WAFCON Qualifiers

by FSL News | 26 Oct, 2021 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

The Gambia women national are through to the second round of the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier with a 3-1 aggregate over Sierra Leone.

Having won the first left 2-0, the Female Scorpions played to a 1-1 draw with their counterparts at the multi-purpose Independence Stadium in Bakau on Monday.

The host team took the lead in the 24-minute through their Spanish based player Fatoumata Kanteh, but Sierra Leone rallied to draw parity via a Zainab Macauley 54th-minute goal.

The Gambian ladies who won the first leg at the Antonette Tubman Stadium will face the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon in February.

It was inevitable that the Sierra Leone women’s national team was facing a tough task trying to overturn the two-goal deficit a week ago.

Meanwhile, Cameroon completed the double over the Central African Republic to progress to the second round of the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Yaounde on Sunday, October 24.

The Indomitable Lionesses went through after winning both legs 3-0 aggregate

Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone, writer Lamin Turay in Freetown.

Striker Augustine Williams nets brace in seven-goal thriller

by FSL News | 25 Oct, 2021 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sport News

Sierra Leone striker Augustine Williams scored twice for San Diego Loyal, but his goals were not enough as Jeremy Bokila last-gasp winner from the penalty spot saw Oakland Roots secure a 4-3 triumph on Sunday afternoon at Torero Stadium.

Despite the defeat, manager Landon Donovan looks set to clinch a USL Championship playoff spot.

Williams breaks the deadlock after sliding into the six-yard box to slot in a pinpoint cross by Hertzog. It was his fifth goal of the season since his loan move from LA Galaxy II in August.

Oakland Roots level the scoring from an own goal as Callum Montgomery sent the ball into his net in the 35th minute.

After the restart, Oakland Roots scored two more goals as they strived for a positive result. Jesus Enriquez and Akeem O’Conner-Ward 52nd and 58th minutes goals, respectively, gave the visitors a 3-1 lead before Williams registered his sixth of the season assisted by Elijah Martin in the 77th-minute to make it 3-2.

With four minutes to go, San Diego scored their equaliser through Hertzog right foot from the left side of the penalty area into the bottom-right corner of the net.

A late drama Oakland was reduced to 10 men as Tarek Morad was sent off for abusive language, giving SD Loyal a man advantage.

However, despite a man down, Roots scored their fourth of the day after Rodriguez was brought down by Guerrero for a penalty kick. Bokila stepped up to the spot and shot high into the top-left corner past the dive of the goalkeeper to restore Roots SC’s lead.

MATCH SCORERS

1-0: SD (17’) Augustine Williams (Assist: Corey Hertzog)

1-1: OAK (35’) Callum Montgomery (Own goal)

1-2: OAK (52;) Jesus Enriquez (Assist: Matias Fisori)

1-3: OAK (58’) Akeem O’Conner-Ward (Assist: Jose Hernandez)

2-3: SD (76’) Augustine Williams (Assist: Elijah Martin)

3-3: SD (86’) Corey Hertzog

3-4: OAK (90+) Jeremy Bokila (PK)

Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone, the writer @bittar32 Contact bi****@*********************ne.net

Coach Musa Kallon breaks down goal-fest, ‘Football is not always 1+1=2’

by FSL News | 24 Oct, 2021 | Football Africa, International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News

Assistant Coach Musa Kallon talked briefly with Football Sierra Leone, sounding very cautious, following their mammoth 7-nil hammering of Sierra Leone Police.

He said the win is a result of what they have been working on as a club. The former International noted that recent games had not produced wins, but they have concentrated on improving the attack.

He explained that the performances in the final third can only come about through a two-pronged approach.

Firstly, you have to work with individuals so they can improve their finishing, and secondly, bring the individual players together and get them to play as a team.

He went on to say that when that happens, the team can create enough chances that the individual players can now convert into goals.

He passionately says they have four games to go until the end of the first round, and they are looking to see how they can win all their remaining games to stay in contention for the championship.

The win means Kallon stands fourth in the pecking order, four points adrift for leaders East End Lions.

Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone, writer Sallia Fawundu in Freetown.