by FSL News | 13 Nov, 2020 | Players Abroad News, Sport News
- Sierra Leone players subjected to mandatory covid-19 tests this morning before taking on Nigeria later this evening at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City this Friday, Football Sierra Leone understands.
Reports coming from Nigeria have indicated that Keister’s men will be tested for Covid-19 on Friday morning before the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The three-time African champions face the Leone Stars, who are in dire need of a win to revive their Cameroon 2022 ambitions.
The Super Eagles will battle Sierra Leone in the qualifiers double-header against Sierra Leone on 13, 17 November.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed all medical tests carried out on Super Eagles players and coaches returned negative results.
The contest will mark the fifteenth meeting between the two West African Nations in competitive and friendly internationals. Sierra Leone has won two, lost nine, and drew three of their games with the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
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by FSL News | 12 Nov, 2020 | African News, Sport News
- Sierra Leone national head coach John Keister has urged his players to have the right mentality and belief going into matchday three of the African Cup of Nations qualifier in Nigeria.
- Keister’s men face with a tough away job at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
- The Leone Stars have only won once in their last six outings that include the two recent friendlies in October.
- Ranked 88th places below Nigeria, Sierra Leone must avoid a back to back defeat, worst-case scenario a win at home, if they are to rejuvenate their chances for Cameroon next year.
- Sierra Leone full 23-man squad will train for the first time in Nigeria today.
- The Leone Stars’ going into Friday’s tie in search to reach their third Afcon finals. They last featured at the 1996 edition in South Africa.
Fifteen of the sixteen foreign-based named will be available for the quick-double on 13 and 17 as Keister urged his players to put faith in their abilities.
Keister will bank on the likes of MLS veteran Kei Kamara, who scored Leone Stars winner against Liberia in Freetown during the World Cup elimination last September.
Randers striker Alhaji Kamara is in good form with his Danish Superligaen side same could be said of China-based striker Mohamed Buya Turay who has accounted for six goals four assists in all competition with Hebei China Fortune.
LA Galaxy striker Augustine William is another secret weapon in Keister’s side. A proving goal scorer with 13 goals for LA Galaxy II this season. His 13 goals and two assists helped him finished second in the race for the USL Championship’s Golden Boot.
Williams’ impressive form this campaign has led to USL key observers named him to the 2020 USL Championship All-League First Team.
Nigeria, on the other hand, in dire need of a win to strengthen their Cameroon 2022 ambitions.
Their last international game in Benin City was a friendly against Botswana which ended in a goalless draw. Without any exaggeration, the Eagles have only won one of their four matches in the multi-purpose stadium named after two-time Governor of the old Bendel State (now Edo State), the late Dr Samuel Ogbemudia.
With the likes of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, Genk and Jupiler top-scorer Paul Onuachu who replace Moses Simon, Everton attacker midfielder Alex Iwobi, German coach Gernot Rohr has a lot of firepowers.
Nigeria’s last eight goals have been scored by six different players. Victor Osimhen is the highest goal scorer in Group L with three goals. Everton’s Alex Iwobi, Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze and Bordeaux’s Samuel Kalu have a goal each to their names.
“As a group, we have to be positive in our approach in both games. It’s not the easiest of games taking on one of the best nations in our continent,” Keister to FSL UK a day before departed Freetown.
The Manchester-born, former Sierra Leone International further urged his players to have the right mentality.
“Going into the game against Nigeria, we have to be clever in our method, and we have to be honest about it. We have been working on our strategies, but we must have the right mentality.”
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by FSL News | 11 Nov, 2020 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
Prominent football philanthropist and seasoned administrator, Rodney Michael is set to declare for the Presidency of the Sierra Leone Football Association, close allies have informed Football Sierra Leone.
In 2013, Rodney Michael and Sierra Leone superstar Mohamed Kallon were among those disqualified from contesting the SLFA presidential election.
As a result, Isha Johansen, who now doubles as CAF Executive Council member, went unopposed to become the first female president of the SLFA.
Rodney Michael remains the most revered and popular football administrator in the country. His declaration is bound to trigger another hot contest in the race. It will be interesting to know what happens next after his pronouncement.
Close sources have indicated another attempt to find ways of disqualifying his candidacy is already brewing. Football Sierra Leone will follow this developing story as it unveils.
There is no official date yet for the SLFA elective congress.
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by FSL News | 10 Nov, 2020 | African News, Sport News
Anderlecht attacker Mustapha Bundu, Finland-based experienced midfielder Mohamed Medo Kamara, Orebro SK left-back Kevin Wright, Queens Park Rangers right-back Osman Kakay have all arrived and trained at the Freetown stadium this morning ahead of travelling to Benin, Nigeria.
Long time absentee and former Milan midfielder Rodney Strasser, Randers striker Alhaji Kamara and LA Galaxy top scorer Augustine Williams all set for the quick double after the first assessment by head coach John Keister.
In all, seven foreign-based professionals have joined the local home-based players in Freetown ahead of the trip to Edo State in southern Nigeria for this Friday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The likes of MLS veteran Kei Kamara, FC Zurich defender Umaru Bangura, John Kamara, who plays for Keshla, Iceland-based right-winger Kwame Quee and Zire FC defender Alie Sesay are all expected in Nigeria on Wednesday.
Football Sierra Leone understands that Spain and RB Linense winger Alhassan Koroma will be in Freetown latest today.
Meanwhile, fans are optimistic with the energy in the team Sierra Leone can spring a surprise in Nigeria.
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by FSL News | 10 Nov, 2020 | African News, Sport News
The Nigeria assistant coach Joseph Yobo has warned Eagles players to settle for nothing less than three points when they face off against Sierra Leone on Friday.
Nigeria will host Sierra Leone at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City in the race to Cameroon 2022, but Yobo is familiar with the 2001 1-0 defeat Nigeria suffered in Freetown.
He acknowledged that the Leone Stars has always been a difficult nut to crack in Freetown.
The former Everton defender targets a Nigeria victory at home for them to strengthen their grip for qualification.
“Big game, we expect a big performance. We need a result at home which will help us further in the qualifiers.
“A win at home will mathematically put us in the driving seat, but it is important to play well to take all three points,” Yobo said to Super Eagles TV.
“Away from home as always Sierra Leone, especially, is a difficult place to go and win.”
Yobo recollected with pride that he scored the game-winning goal the last time the Super Eagles faced Sierra Leone in an away match a World Cup qualifier on June 7, 2008.
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by FSL News | 10 Nov, 2020 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
- FC Zurich defender, Umaru Bangura has confirmed his availability to face Nigeria at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City in the race to Cameroon 2022.
- The Super Eagles will battle Sierra Leone in a quick double qualifier on 13, 17 this month but the news of Bangura has raised fitness concern among fans.
The former Dinamo Minsk defender initially was not named in coach John Keister’s 16-foreign-based. However, he declared that he is 100% fit to play.
“No doubt he has been a great player for Sierra Leone, but his last competitive game for FC Zurich was a 3-2 defeat against Chiasso on 13 September almost two months again,” A fan Saidu Turay questioned his present state.
“There are genuine concerns about his fitness because he has not played any match for Zurich in the Swiss Super League this campaign,” John Bangura told FSL news.
Sidique Mansaray confirmed Bangura last season appeared 14 times for his side during the 2019- 2020 Swiss Super League.
“We know he has been a great skipper for our national team but if we must succeed we have to play a fully fit side against the three-time African Champions,” Mansaray passionately stated.
“Head coach John Keister must be sure of the players using against Nigeria especially when it comes to players fitness,” Michael Kargbo advised for the Leone Stars boss.
Meanwhile, defender Ishmael Koroma, who plays for newly promoted Swedish Superettan side Vasalund IF will have to make way for the return of his national skipper.
The full Sierra Leone delegation will be in Nigeria latest on Wednesday with SN Polten midfielder George Davies missing the first leg tie.
The Super Eagles top the group L, accruing 6 points from two wins against Lesotho and the Benin Republic.
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