by FSL News | 27 Nov, 2019 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Suffian Kalokoh scored a hattrick as Sierra Leone beat 10-man Mauritania 3-1 at the 28 September Stadium to keep alive their hopes of reaching the West African Football Union (Wafu) Zone A Under-20 Championship semifinals.
Mauritania opens the scoring after 30min through Mbareck Oumar before their keeper was sent off after committing a foul on Suffian Kalokh who scored the equaliser in the 47th minute from the spot-kick.
The young prolific Bo Rangers striker completed his first international hattrick with a brace to sink Mauritania who lost their opening match 2-0 against host Guinea.
As a result, Sierra Leone’s Shooting Stars, who lost their opening match 4-1 against Senegal, must beat Guinea on Friday to be sure of reaching the competition semifinals.
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Hat-trick hero Suffian Kalokoh was named Man of the Match
by FSL News | 26 Nov, 2019 | African News
Egyptian club Zamalek confirms it will not travel to Qatar to play Champions League holders Esperance of Tunisia in February’s African Super Cup, BBC Sport reports.
The annual match brings together the winners of the African Champions League and the Confederation Cup.
Zamalek president Mortada Mansour has reiterated his club’s stance on travelling to play in Qatar.
“We are two African teams, why should we play in Asia?” he questioned at a press conference on Tuesday.
“I don’t understand why Caf (Confederation of African Football) wants to play the Super Cup in a country who is an enemy to Egypt.
“Zamalek board members discussed the issue and decided not to play in Qatar. I am disappointed that Esperance have agreed to play there.”
Egypt was one of the middle eastern nations that severed diplomatic ties with Qatar in 2017, accusing it of destabilising the region.
Mortada added that the club would change its stance if ordered to do so by the Egyptian government.
“At the end of the day it is up to the Egyptian authorities if they want to reverse the decision and if they have another opinion we will respect that,” he added.
Last year Caf decided that the Super Cup would be played in Qatar until 2021, rather than the tradition of the Champions League winners hosting the match.
Morocco’s Raja Casablanca, the Confederation Cup holders, beat Esperance in last year’s match in Qatar.
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by FSL News | 23 Nov, 2019 | African News
The young Pharaohs of Egypt’s U-23 national football squad have been crowned champions of Africa, following a 2-1 victory over Cote D’Ivoire at the African Cup of Nations final at the Cairo International Stadium on Friday.
As a result, they achieve their first title of the tournament third edition of that also served as African Qualifiers for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Egypt dominated the match, with the first goal being scored by Karim El-Eraky in the 37th minute.
The Pharaoh’s opener was cancelled after Elephants’ Aboubacar Junior Doumbia scored in the 89th minute.
Skipper Ramadan Sobhy won the match for Egypt in the 116th minute.
The Olympic Pharaohs sailed to the title in style, having won their fifth game in as many matches.
Total Man of the Match: Ramadan Sobhy (Egypt)
Best Goalkeeper of the tournament: Mohamed Sobhy (Egypt)
Top Scorer: Mostafa Mohamed (Egypt)
Best Player of the tournament: Ramadan Sobhy (Egypt)
Fair Play Award: Egypt
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by FSL News | 23 Nov, 2019 | African News
South Africa snatched the last African place for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games with a 6-5 penalty shootout victory over Ghana in Cairo Friday after a breathtaking third-place play-off.
The South Africans will join Egypt and the Ivory Coast as the three African representatives among 16 nations in Japan next July and August.
Ghana twice came from behind in regular time, with the second equaliser scored on 85 minutes by Samuel Obeng, forcing the match to a shootout.
Both sides converted four of the five mandatory kicks before Lyle Foster gave South Africa a 6-5 lead, Emmanuel Cudjoe had his penalty saved by Mondli Mpoto.
South African players and coaches hugged each other at the Cairo International Stadium while many Ghanaians slumped to the ground and wept.
Ghana also lost on penalties against the Ivory Coast in the semi-finals of the eight-nation qualifying tournament, foiling them in the first of two chances they had to reach Tokyo.
South Africa led when Habib Mohammed conceded a 15th-minute own-goal and Ghana levelled five minutes into the second half through an unstoppable Evans Mensah shot.
Kamohelo Mahlatsi put South Africa ahead a second time after 62 minutes with a close-range shot, but a dazzling Mensah dribble and a fumble by Mpoto allowed Obeng to equalise.
With extra time not part of the play-off regulations, the shootout drama began and Ghana looked the likelier winners until their fourth kick, from Fobi Kingsley, was saved.
Africa has claimed five Olympics football medals with Nigeria winning gold, silver and bronze, Cameroon gold and Ghana bronze.
Qualifiers are restricted to under-23 footballers, but the 16 finalists can include three over-age players, opening the possibility of Egypt choosing Mohamed Salah.
Unlike Europe, where Olympics football attracts little attention, some African eliminators draw 60,000-plus crowds.
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by FSL News | 22 Nov, 2019 | Players Abroad News
SKN St. Pölten have handed a new one-year contract to Sierra Leone international George Davies, keeping the midfielder at the club until 2021 with an option to renew.
The 23-year-old’s new Pölten deal comes after his recent fine form with strong performances over the past few weeks.
He won his first major accolades in Latvia with FC Riga. The Latvian Cup and Virslīga League title during the 2017 and 2018 seasons while on loan.
Davies initially joined the Austrian Football Bundesliga side on a free transfer in 2017 from German second league side; SpVgg Greuther Fürth on a three-year deal.
“We are very pleased that George has decided to extend his contract with us. He has proven with his achievements in recent times that he is an important part of our team. Therefore, we are very happy that we will have him in our team again in the coming year, “says General Manager Andreas Blumauer, pleased about the contract extension. Glad he stayed with us, George!
He has participated in several international youth tournaments with FC Johansen and won the 2011 Swiss U-16 Cup where they beat Liverpool in the final courtesy of his goal, to finish as the tournament’s top goal-scorer.
Davies, a regular for Sierra Leone in recent international matches. He was sent off against Lesotho in the 1-1 draw during the African Cup Of Nations opener in the closed-doors tie in Freetown.
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George Davies’ Riga wins first Latvian Virslīga League Title
by FSL News | 22 Nov, 2019 | African News
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has said that the dates for Africa Cup of Nations slated for Cameroon 2021 are yet to be decided.
The announcement raises the possibility of the tournament returning to its previous schedule of January/February.
Egypt 2019 was the first Nations Cup to be held in June/July.
CAF say the Cameroon move is due to weather conditions in the country but a move would also avoid a clash with the newly relaunched Club World Cup.
Cameroon are also the hosts, in 2020, of the African Nations Championship, for locally-based players, and that will take place in April.
But an April Nations Cup would clash with the end of the European club season, so is unlikely be an option.
CAF says it will decide on the dates “jointly” with the host country.
The news was one of several decisions made at CAF’s Executive Committee meeting in Cairo on Thursday.
The governing body confirmed its decision to cancel its long-term media rights contract with French company Lagardere, which CAF says is legally required.
Lagardere has previously said it would challenge the decision or demand “a significant amount of cash”.
CAF also called for bids to host the 2019 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, which is still without a host after Congo Brazzaville pulled out.
And they announced the return of an award for players based on the continent.
There hasn’t been one since 2017, but the Executive Committee announced a new trophy for the best player featuring in the continent’s inter-club competitions – the African Champions League and Confederation Cup.
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