by FSL News | 22 Mar, 2019 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
The winner of the 2019 Sierra Leone Premier League will walk away with an all-new trophy plus 150,000,000 million Leones in cash.
Board Chairman Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai confirmed the news on Friday during the unveiling ceremony at the National Stadium.
The winners’ grand trophy, runners-up trophy, medals, best player and golden boot accolades were displayed in front of the press and other dignitaries.
This is the first edition of domestic football since 2014. The government of Sierra Leone re-energized the most followed sports in the country after a mouth-watering and record-breaking cash injection.
The country’s Premier League Board received approximately about $250,000 to ensure football is played good-naturedly.
Each of the thirteen teams presently competing for the title received a cash boost of 50 million Leones prior to the kickoff with an additional sum expected for the second phase.
“The Champions will be awarded the Gold trophy, gold medals with the sum of one and fifty million Leones (Le 150,000,000).”
“The runner-up will also receive a cash prize, a Silver Trophy and Silver Medals,” the PLB published on its official Facebook page.
FC Kallon the Cavaliers presently are the league leaders’ four points ahead of Central parade and East End Tigers respectively in the race for the title.
CONNECT WITH US on Twitter @football_sierra, on Facebook/Instagram Football Sierra Leone, the writer @bittare32 Contact: bi****@*********************ne.net
by FSL News | 22 Mar, 2019 | Players Abroad News, Video & News
Striker Augustus Kargbo was delighted to return to first-team action as his Serie B side FC Crotone played to a 2-2 draw against Lecce on Sunday.
The youngster from Sierra Leone has been out with a fracture of the metacarpal on his left hand.
Kargbo, 19, since his injury in February, has been forced to stay out for two weeks.
Against Lecce last weekend he was introduced in the 51st minute on his return.
After the match, he was praised for his immediate impact as they fourth hard for an equaliser through A Benali in the 79th minutes.
“I am very happy to be back,” he said. “I suffered the injury to my hand and, my limb was immobilized.”
“I was not able to play but was able to train regularly with my classmates to keep my physical form unchanged,” Kargbo to the club’s website.
“I am very happy to be back, the draw was a good result and allows us to give continuity to our results,” the youngster reiterated.
Kargbo made his Serie B debut against Citadela in January 2019 at the Ezio Scida Municipal Stadium.
CONNECT WITH US on Twitter @football_sierra, on Facebook/Instagram Football Sierra Leone, the writer @bittar32 Contact: bi****@*********************ne.net
by FSL News | 21 Mar, 2019 | African News
Harambee Stars of Kenya will go up against the Black Stars of Ghana in their final Afcon 2019 Group F decider at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday.
Kenya defeats the Black Stars back in September last year, Ghana’s Nicholas Opoku own-goal was the difference between the sides.
Although the two nations have qualified for the continental showpieces set for Egypt this year, Ghana still fancies their chances in winning the group.
The Ghanaians hoping to claim three points on Saturday to finish the qualifying campaign as group winners.
However, the Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama, who missed the first leg tie wants to help his country to do the double against Ghana in this qualifiers.
“We want to beat Ghana and finish as the winners of the group. We beat them at home and, I know we can beat them away. We have a good squad, I am confident that we will manage a double over them.” Wanyama was quoted as saying.
It could be recalled that Sierra Leone, who defeats Kenya in their opening qualifier in Freetown, was disqualified from the same group following a FIFA suspension.
Meanwhile, seven-time champions host Egypt, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal as well as Guinea, Mali, Uganda, Kenya and the two newcomers to have already confirmed their places.
The Kenyan squad – Goalkeepers – Patrick Matasi, John Oyemba, Faruk Shikalo
Defenders – Joash Onyango, Musa Mohammed, David Owino, Bernard Ochieng, Brian Mandela, Philemon Otieno, Erick Ouma
Midfielders – Anthony Akumu, Ismael Gonzales, Victor Wanyama, Francis Kahata, Dennis Odhiambo, Johanna Omollo, Erick Johanna, Paul Were, Christopher Mbamba
Forwards – Masud Juma, Pistone Mutamba, Allan Wanga
AFCON QUALIFIERS GROUP F STANDINGS
CONNECT WITH US on Twitter @football_sierra, on Facebook/Instagram Football Sierra Leone – writer @bittare32 Contact: bi****@*********************ne.net
by FSL News | 21 Mar, 2019 | African News
Guinean side Horoya AC will face Wydad Casablanca of Morocco in one of the quarter-finals of the African Champions League according to the draws conducted in Cairo on Wednesday.
The draw was conducted by CAF Deputy General Secretary, Anthony Baffoe, with the assistance of Cameroon legend Patrick Mboma and Egyptian icon Emad Moteab.
The Guineans qualified to the knockout phase as second best from Group B alongside defending champions Esperance of Tunisia, who will take on Algeria’s CS Constantine.
The winners of Horoya and Wydad will play Sundowns or Ahly in the semi-finals.
Either Constantine or Esperance will take on the winner between Simba and TP Mazembe.
Draws for the Total CAF Champions League
CS Constantine (Algeria) vs Esperance (Tunisia)
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) vs Al Ahly (Egypt)
Horoya (Guinea) vs Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco)
Simba (Tanzania) vs TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
CONNECT WITH US on Twitter @football_sierra, on Facebook/Instagram Football Sierra Leone – writer @bittare32 Contact: bi****@*********************ne.net
by FSL News | 20 Mar, 2019 | African News
AZ Alkmaar’s winger Oussama Idrissi pledged to play for Morocco in February.
Football’s world governing body Fifa has given the 22-year old Oussama Idrissi permission to switch international allegiance from the Netherlands to Morocco.
The former Dutch youth international, who plays for AZ Alkmaar, had confirmed his choice to represent Morocco instead of the Netherlands last month.
The Royal Morocco Football Federation (FRMF) confirmed that the players have been given approval for the move earlier this week.
FRMF received a letter from Fifa stating Idrissi is qualified to play for the Atlas Lions.
In an interview with Volkskrant, Idrissi noted that playing for Morocco “was a rational choice.”
“I am a footballer who had to make a choice. I have discussed with my parents what is best for my career,” he added.
“I was born and raised here [in the Netherlands] with the standards and values of this beautiful country. I am a footballer and, I had to make the decision with my parents. I wanted to make the most of myself,” he said.
The winger was born in the Netherlands but still eligible for Morocco through his parents. He has played for the Netherlands at various youth levels,
CONNECT WITH US on Twitter @football_sierra, on Facebook/Instagram Football Sierra Leone – writer @bittare32 Contact: bi****@*********************ne.net.
by FSL News | 18 Mar, 2019 | African News
The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has turned down a request from the Liberia Football Association (LFA) to move Sunday’s crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The expected cracker is scheduled for the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa. However, Liberia’s FA wanted the venue changed because of the ongoing Ebola epidemic in the country.
The continental body has said they’re ‘monitoring the situation’ and that Kinshasa is safe to host the match as planned.
“According to reports, the virus is located very far from Kinshasa and there is no risk of organising DR Congo versus Liberia match in the said venue as scheduled,” said Caf’s Director of Competitions, Samson Adamu, in an email to the LFA dated 17 March and seen by the BBC.
“Caf is in contact with [the] WHO (World Health Organisation) and is following the situation closely to ensure the organisation of the match in the best conditions,” Adamu wrote.
The West Africans (Liberia) second position on the Group G table with 7 points, a point behind group leaders Zimbabwe.
All four teams in the group can still qualify for this year’s continental showpiece to be held in Egypt later this year.
“The delegation to Kinshasa leaves on Tuesday at 8:00 AM local time [08:00 GMT]. They will be joined by the overseas-based players ahead of the match on Sunday. And by his [God] grace, all will be well,” Montgomery told BBC Sport on Monday.
It could be recalled that in August 2014, Caf banned Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea from hosting international matches because of fears of spreading Ebola – eventually clearing the countries to restage matches in May 2015, December 2015 and January 2016 respectively.
According to the WHO, the most widespread Ebola outbreak in history began in Guinea in 2013 and killed more than 11,000 people – mainly in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
All four teams in the group with a chance to qualify for this year’s continental showpiece to be held in Egypt later this year
CONNECT WITH US on Twitter @football_sierra, on Facebook/Instagram Football Sierra Leone – the writer @bittar32 contact: bi****@****************ne.net.
Sierra Leone | Highlights -