by FSL News | 7 Jul, 2019 | African News
- South Africa will take on Nigeria in Wednesday’s quarter-final after their impressive 1-0 victory over host Egypt on Saturday in Cairo.
Thembinkosi Lorch scored the winner for South Africa in their well deserved late win over the tournament favourite Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations.
His goal came following a counterattack with just five minutes to full time at the Cairo International Stadium.
Egypt was one of the favourites to win this year’s AFCON, but on the day Bafana Bafana was well up for the task despite they qualified for the last 16 as the lowest-ranked of the four third-placed teams.
Elsewhere, The Super Eagles of Nigeria eliminated holders and bitter rivals Cameroon, scoring twice in three minutes coming from behind to win a thrilling last-16 match 3-2.
South Africa’s Thembinkosi Lorch stuns Egypt’s home crowd with a late winner in the Africa Cup of Nations. Photograph: Ariel Schalit/AP
Thembinkosi Lorch (Total Man of the match)
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by FSL News | 6 Jul, 2019 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone has been placed in pot three ahead of the qualifying draws for the 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon 2021.
The qualifiers are scheduled to begin in October with the draw to be held in Cairo on July 18, Football Sierra Leone understands.
Leone Stars are alongside Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Central African Republic, Namibia, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Angola, Malawi, Togo, Sudan, and Tanzania which implies they can’t face any of those teams in the qualifiers.
Hosts nation, Cameroon are in Pot 1 with Senegal, Tunisia, Nigeria, Morocco, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Egypt, Burkina Faso, Mali, Ivory Coast, and Algeria.
Meanwhile, the eight-pot 5 teams will be drawn into four pairings preliminary round the winners of the two-leg ties advance will advance to stage 2 as part of pot 4.
In stage 2, there will be 12 groups comprised of one team from pots 1-4 and the section winners and runners-up qualify for the finals in Cameroon with the tournament host already guaranteed a place with only a team to qualify from their group.
Pot 1: Senegal‚ Tunisia‚ Nigeria‚ Morocco‚ DR Congo‚ Ghana‚ Cameroon‚ Egypt‚ Burkina Faso‚ Mali‚ Ivory Coast‚ Algeria
Pot 2: Guinea‚ South Africa‚ the Cape Verde Islands‚ Uganda‚ Zambia‚ Benin‚ Gabon‚ Congo‚ Mauritania‚ Niger‚ Kenya‚ Libya
Pot 3: Madagascar‚ Zimbabwe‚ the Central African Republic‚ Namibia‚ Sierra Leone‚ Mozambique‚ Guinea Bissau‚ Angola‚ Malawi‚ Togo‚ Sudan‚ Tanzania
Pot 4: Burundi‚ Rwanda‚ Equatorial Guinea‚ Eswatini‚ Lesotho‚ Botswana‚ the Comoros Islands‚ Ethiopia plus four playoff winners
Pot 5: (Playoffs before group stage): Liberia‚ Mauritius‚ the Gambia‚ South Sudan‚ Chad‚ Sao Tome Principe‚ Seychelles‚ Djibouti.
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by FSL News | 5 Jul, 2019 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone Premier League leaders, East End Lions boss, John Keister has insisted his men are solely focused on taking each game at a time.
Talks of Lions are with the advantage of lifting this year’s title is not the most important to the former Walsall and Dover Athletic man.
Keister’s side still unbeaten leading their closest rivals FC Kallon by three points with a game in hand.
With three games to lift this year’s title, Keister will be on the dugout again when Lions host Freetown City FC on Saturday at the Freetown Brookfields Stadium.
It will be top against a mid-table contest. However, the man who has guided Lions to a run of 21 games undefeated, has reiterated securing as many points as possible is key in their remaining games.
The technician was very pleased with victory over FC Kallon a few days ago.
“I’m not really looking too ahead, just looking at the next three important matches we have,” he told FSL News.
“We still have three very difficult games, and our approach will be trying to get as many points as possible before looking at anything else.”
Today’s Matches – Bo Rangers looking to continue their firm form under superb John Konneh at home against Anti-Drugs while Mighty Blackpool battle it out against East End Tigers at the Siaka Steven Stadium
Flashback Photo: 28 Oct 2000: John Keister of Shrewsbury Town in action during the Nationwide League Division Three match against Torquay United at Gay Meadow in Shrewsbury, England. The match was drawn 1-1. Picture by Paul Broadrick. \ Mandatory Credit: Allsport UK /Allsport
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by FSL News | 5 Jul, 2019 | African News
Cairo (AFP) – Cameroon coach Clarence Seedorf wants forward Karl Toko Ekambi to rediscover his La Liga form when they meet Nigeria on Saturday in an Africa Cup of Nations last-16 blockbuster in Egypt.
Ekambi was the leading Villarreal scorer in the Spanish top flight last season with 10 goals but has failed to find the net for the Indomitable Lions in three group matches.
Seedorf tried various attack combinations, all including Ekambi, but after a 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau, the defending champions were held to 0-0 draws by Ghana and Benin.
Former Dutch star Seedorf deflected media criticism away from his misfiring forwards, saying: “Sometimes teams do not score for weeks and forwards do not score for months.”
“Karl and the other forwards have to improve a few details, be smarter and create more chances,” added the four-time UEFA Champions League winner.
“We pushed forward in each group game, we introduced attacking players off the bench, but we dare not try crazy stuff. We have to respect our opponents.”
Here, AFP Sport looks at the Saturday matches with the clash of Cameroon and Nigeria in Alexandria too close to call, while hosts Egypt are expected to defeat South Africa in Cairo.
Cameroon v Nigeria
In 2004, the last time Cameroon was Cup of Nations defending champions, they were eliminated in the first knockout round by Nigeria.
The great rivals have met six times in the biennial tournament, including three finals that Cameroon won, one after a penalty shootout.
Only once did more than one goal separate the sides and the latest episode at the 20,000-seat Alexandria Stadium looks evenly balanced.
After single-goal victories over Burundi and Guinea, Nigeria came a cropper against minnows Madagascar, losing 2-0 to finish second in the group and get tougher last-16 opponents.
Captain and former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel put a positive spin on the setback, saying: “It is better this (losing) happened now than in the knockout stages.”
Egypt v South Africa
Unlike the showdown between Cameroon and Nigeria, this match appears easy to call with record seven-time champions Egypt overwhelming favourites to defeat poorly performing South Africa.
While the Pharaohs won all three group games without conceding a goal, Bafana Bafana (The Boys) sneaked into the last 16 as the lowest of the best four third-place qualifiers.
Prolific Liverpool scorer Mohamed Salah and Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan have been constant threats in attack for Egypt while Aston Villa right-back Ahmed Elmohamady netted twice.
In stark contrast, South Africa did not have a single goal attempt on target in losses against the Ivory Coast and Morocco.
But South Africa coach Stuart Baxter sees a glimmer of hope, telling reporters: “If we can improve our attacking game by 10 to 15 per cent, we will give Egypt problems.”
AFCON Last 16 wrap-up
Friday, JULY 5
Morocco v Benin – 18:00
Uganda v Senegal – 21:00
Saturday, JULY 6
Nigeria v Cameroon – 18:00
Egypt v South Africa – 21:00
Sunday, JULY 7
Madagascar v Democratic Republic of Congo – 18:00
Algeria v Guinea – 21:00
Monday, JULY 8
Mali v Ivory Coast – 18:00
Ghana v Tunisia – 21:00
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by FSL News | 3 Jul, 2019 | Players Abroad News
Sullay Kaikai is delighted with his move to League One side Blackpool on a free transfer after leaving relegated Dutch club, NAC Breda.
He signed on an initial two-year deal, with the option of a further 12 months.
The former Crystal Palace academy player posted on twitter, “Exciting times, thank you for the warm welcome. Looking forward to the season ahead ?? #GIG @BlackpoolFC ?,”
The 23-three-year old, Sierra Leone native terminated his contract earlier this week following NAC’s relegation from the Dutch Eredivisie.
He made six appearances with the Dutch Eredivisie during his short spell.
“Sullay is an exciting talent with bags of ability,” Tangerines manager Terry McPhillips told the club website.
“He adds pace and power to our attack and hopefully plenty of goals and assists.”
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by FSL News | 3 Jul, 2019 | Players Abroad News
Striker Mansaray joins V-League side Ho Chi Minh City
Victor Mansaray has joined Ho Chi Minh City FC, the club have confirmed.
Mansaray, 22, recently was trading with another Vietnamese side Becamex Binh Duong F.C. where he played 17 matches before his move.
The Sierra Leone native was one of 4 Binh Duong’s foreign players for the 2019 season.
“Following the news that Mati Jadue will miss the rest of the season through injury, HCMCFC have swooped to sign Victor Mansaray from Binh Duong, Welcome to City, Victor.” Minh City said in a statement.
Mansaray had spells previously with Seattle Sounders FC, FC Cincinnati, Umea FC and Charleston Battery.
“Welcome to our club Victor Mansaray.”
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Sierra Leone | Highlights -