by FSL News | 11 Feb, 2019 | Players Abroad News
FC Zurich will fancy their chances of progressing to the Europa League next stage by eliminating the second best team this season in Serie A Napoli.
With the capital club hosting their Italian counterpart in Thursday’s debut appearance in the UEFA Europa League round of 32 for the first time, a tough test emerge.
The first leg will be played at the Letzigrund Stadium on Thursday, 14 February 2019, with the second-leg match taking place at the Stadio San Paolo the following week.
However, Sierra Leone skipper Umaru Bangura, who has been pivotal in their quest this season faced a curious situation.
“I am confident, despite knowing is going to be a tough game against one of the competition favourites,” Bangura told Football Sierra Leone.
“We are playing at home and, nothing is impossible in football, we’re capable of beating any team because this is football.”
Bangura confirmed the matchday excitement, “The city is waiting Italy is closer to Switzerland, it feels like an International derby.”
When asked to relate previous group matches to this round of 32 contest, Bangura said, “All the matches are not the same but, we have to be at our best against a very good team. Every team at this stage are top sides.”
Bangura’s presence at the heart of the Swiss defence was good enough as they went through to the group phase of a European competition for the first time in 11 years.
They ended up as runners-up to Bayer Leverkusen in UEFA Europa League Group thanks to their victories in each of their opening three fixtures.
The Italian side hoping to make up for the disappointment of narrowly losing out in a tough UEFA Champions’ League group.
During this year’s Champions League campaign, SSC Naples amassed nine points in the group with Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool and Red Star Belgrade.
The Italian side was eliminated from the competition because they scored fewer goals.
It could be recalled that he was part of the Zürich side that won the Swiss Cup that warrants their return to Europe’s second-tier competition as we as helping the side promotion to Swiss Super League.
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by FSL News | 11 Feb, 2019 | Players Abroad News
Sierra Leone native Amadou Bakayoko makes his first home start of 2019 on Saturday to help Coventry City picked up their first win since New Year’s Day.
Jordy Hiwula scored the only goal of the game at Rochdale in the 68th minute after collecting a pass from Bakayoko before slotting in beyond new Dale goalkeeper Andy Lonergan.
After the break, Bakayoko was close to scoring when he met a Luke Thomas cutback.
The striker, who was returning from injury last started for City in the away trip to Walsall early December 2018.
The former Walsall man was one of five changes from the side that faced Gillingham last week at the Ricoh Arena coming on in the 60th minute in their 1-1 draw.
He joined the Sky Blues League One side Coventry City for an undisclosed fee, signing a two-year deal in August 2018.
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by FSL News | 11 Feb, 2019 | Players Abroad News
Sierra Leone’s Hassan Milla Sesay made his debut for IFK Helsingfors in their 2-1 defeat to FC Honka in Men’s Finnish Cup on Saturday.
The 2018 Ykkönen Champions signed the former FC Lahti defender last month on a one-year deal with an option to extend.
All three goals of the match were scored in the first half. The guest team Honka took the lead when Arlind Sejdiu scored the opener in the 11 minutes.
Sesay’s side responded well with a goal of their own, Kevin Larsson header level things up before Arlind Sejdiu completed his brace to sink HIFK 15 minutes before the break.
The result means the new Veikkausliiga side are first from bottom in Group A standing.
Kevin Larsson was pleased with the goal but naturally disappointed with the outcome of the match.
“We still have a lot to improve as a team. In the first half, we had a good time, but it wasn’t enough today. Now we’ll be tomorrow, and then we will continue to practice hard again on Monday, Larsson told clubs website.
Despite the result, IFK’s head coach, Tor Thodesen, was pleased with the play and looks confident about the future.
“I was satisfied with the game presentation, and we are in these matches come to try out different patterns but losing is always tough,” Thodesen commented.
“Now we have played against a series of pre-eminent teams, and I believe that we will be able to catch up with them at the latest in Veikkausliiga and that we have a powerful team in the series.”
HIFK first squad
3 Palm Tino, 5 Cozar Torres Fernando, 7 Mattsson Joel, 8 Halme Jukka, 11 Selander Riku, 12 Kollar Daniel,13 Sesay Hassan,14 Larsson Kevin,15 Gela Xhevdet,17 Bäckman Jani and 27 Mohamed Hussein
FC Honka first squad
4 Ivanov Robert, 5 Aalto Henri,10 Kaufmann Lucas,11 Hakola Juha,13 Murray Timothy,14 Martin Gonzalez Borjas,16 Rasimus Konsta,19 I look at Arlind, 21 Perovuo Joel, 23 Sumusalo Mikko, 33 Tammilehto Duarte.
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by FSL News | 9 Feb, 2019 | African News
Nigeria and South Africa have booked their FIFA U-20 World Cup places after Friday wins at the Under 20 Africa Cup of Nations in Niger.
The 22nd edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup is slated to be placed between 23 May to 15 June in Poland this year.
Nigeria beat hosts Niger 1-0 at the Stade Général S. K in Niamey, in their final group match with Ibrahim Alhassan scored the only goal in 73rd-minute.
South Africa on the other hand, secured all three point after a 1-0 win over Burundi at the Stade de Maradi with Luke Le Roux converted a penalty in the 9th minute.
The results mean both Nigeria and South Africa are into the semi-finals of the U-20 Nations Cup.
Nigeria finished top of Group A on seven points with South Africa second on five points.
Hosts Niger was third on two points with Burundi finishing bottom of the standings on one point.
Senegal was the first team to qualify for the World Cup from Niger 2019 after their 2-0 win over Ghana on Thursday.
The final Group B matches will be played on Saturday Mali taking on Ghana in Niamey and Senegal taking on Burkina Faso in Maradi.
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by FSL News | 8 Feb, 2019 | African News
Burkina Faso international Aristide Bance in a surprise move has returned to his home country to join US des Forces Armées until end of the season.
The former Beerschot A.C striker, who has been trading for over 14 years in Europe terminated his contract with Al Masry in late 2018.
He made 19 appearances with the Port Said-based club scoring eight goals and produced three assists.
The former Al Masry striker made 73 appearances for Burkina Faso, including 2013, 2015 and 2017 Nations Cups, and has scored 22 goals.
Bance had spells with clubs in Ivory Coast, Belgium, UAE, Latvia, Finland, Qatar, Ukraine, South Africa and Kazakhstan.
Sources close to the striker has said he needed a fresh start to revitalise his career ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
He last played for Burkina Faso in their 4-0 home win against Cape Verde in a 2018 World Cup qualifier on 14 November 2017.
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by FSL News | 7 Feb, 2019 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
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Sierra Leone move one place up in first FIFA Ranking of 2019
Sierra Leone still under Fifa suspension have jumped up one place in the first FIFA global rankings published on Thursday, February 7 2019.
The Leone Stars moved from the 115th position to the 114th on the global ranking.
On the continental rating, they are static as the 29th best.
They last played to a 1-0 defeat in Ethiopia during their second 2019 qualifiers before facing disqualification by CAF.
Meanwhile, In Africa, the Teranga Lions of Senegal (24) are leading the pecking order followed by Tunisia (28), Morocco (43), Nigeria (46), Congo DR (51), Ghana (52), Cameroon (56), Egypt (57), Burkina Faso (62) and Mali (65) in top ten.
In a related development, Asian Cup champions Qatar have made giant strides in the rankings. Their maiden title has seen them gain 38 places to move up to 55th place in the update. This is their best position since 1993.
The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 4 April 2019.
Sierra Leone | Highlights -