by FSL News | 11 Dec, 2018 | Players Abroad News
Sierra Leone striker Kei Kamara will not return to Vancouver Whitecaps.
Forward Kei Kamara, who is presently on holiday in his country Sierra Leone, will not be returning to Canadian side Vancouver Whitecaps.
“I am available to be pick today by Cincinnati and Friday by trade window, Kei told Football Sierra Leone.
The club’s leading scorer has opted out of free agency, choosing instead to be eligible for Tuesday’s expansion draft and the league’s re-entry draft on Friday.
The Whitecaps also confirmed that striker Kei Kamara would not be returning for the 2019 season.
“Kei was an important part of the team last year, and we’re thankful for his time at the club,” said head coach Marc Dos Santos.
“We evaluated what we want in this position for next season, while also keeping in mind the medium and long-term. We are looking for characteristics that are very specific as a whole. We wish Kei all the best.”
Kamara, who earned a team-high $1million last season, was also the club’s top scorer with 14 goals and five assists in 28 games.
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by FSL News | 9 Dec, 2018 | African News
Women’s World Cup 2019: African champions Super Falcons will face hosts France
African champions the Super Falcons of Nigeria have been drawn in Group A of the 2019 Women’s World Cup where they will face the hosts France.
The Super Falcons won a ninth continental title out of 11 editions last weekend, beating South Africa on penalties in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final – and will also face South Korea and Norway at next year’s global showpiece event.
Debutants South Africa will play in Group B alongside Germany, China and Spain.
Cameroon are in Group E alongside Canada, New Zealand and the Netherlands.
In other interesting match-ups, England will face neighbours Scotland in Group D, a group which also includes Argentina and Japan.
Defending champions the United States will take on Sweden, Thailand and Chile in Group F, and Jamaica – who are also debutants – will face Australia, Italy and Brazil in Group C.
The 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup will be held in France from 7 June to 7 July, with hosts France facing South Korea in the opening game on 7 June in Paris.
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by FSL News | 5 Dec, 2018 | Players Abroad News
Sierra Leone Star Julius Wobay announces international retirement
Julius Wobay has retired from International football with immediate effect after seventeen years of representing Sierra Leone.
Wobay ended his Leone Stars career with over 30 caps two days after the Confederation of African Football (Caf) disqualified Sierra Leone from the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
He made his international debut against Nigeria in 2001 in a 2002 World Cup qualifier in Freetown which they won 1-0.
“It’s really sad that I’ll end my career at a time when we’ve been disqualified from the Nations Cup qualifiers due to the Fifa suspension,” the 34-year told BBC Sport.
“I wanted to end my career on a high note by qualifying my country to the Nations Cup finals. This was the last opportunity I had to do so.
“It’s a big disappointment because we had a good chance to qualify. We were determined to give our best to qualify because it was my last chance to play in the Nations Cup,” he said.
The attacking midfielder played for nine clubs in his career making over 302 appearances and scored 64 goals since moving abroad in 2003.
During his career, Wobay won four silver wears including two titles with Azerbaijan’s top-flight side Neftchi Baku and with Slovenian side Olimpija in 2016 respectively.
The former East End Lions attacker won two Azerbaijan cup with Khazar Lankaran in the 2010-2011 season and then with Neftchi two seasons later.
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by FSL News | 3 Dec, 2018 | Players Abroad News
A new deal delight for QPR’s Sierra Leone defender Osman Kakay.
Queens Park Rangers and Sierra Leonean defender Osman Kakay have revealed his delight after putting pen to paper on a new two-year contract at the club.
The 21-year-old defender’s original contract was set to expire at the end of the current campaign.
He made his Sierra Leone debut in defeat to Ethiopia this year at the Hawassa Stadium during the African Cup of Nations qualifier.
Kakay took to Twitter to express his delight.
He posted, “Delighted to have signed a new deal at QPR! Onwards and upwards.
“I have been here for 13 years and see QPR as my home so I am delighted to extend my stay, ” the defender told clubs website.
“I have played six games this season and am very hungry to play more for the club. I have seen what it takes to play at the first-team level and I hope there are more opportunities to come.
“Steve McClaren has been great. From the moment he has come in, the training has been really good and I feel I am improving every day as a player which is a real positive for me.”
R’s boss McClaren added: “Ossie is definitely one for the future.
“He played at the start of the season and I thought he did excellently well.
“He came out of the team and Angel (Rangel) came in and he has been unfortunate in that respect but he is an exciting player for the future and I am delighted he has agreed on a new deal.”
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by FSL News | 3 Dec, 2018 | African News
Sierra Leone officially out of AFCON 2019 qualifiers
The Black Stars of Ghana and Kenya have qualified for the African Cup of Nations 2019, after a decision by CAF to withdraw Sierra Leone from the group.
The decision was taken at the CAF Extraordinary Executive Committee meeting on Friday in Accra, Ghana.
“The Caf Executive committee decided that Sierra Leone is disqualified, so the group “F” is composed of three teams; Ethiopia, Ghana and Kenya,” CAF’s communication director Nathalie Rabe declared.
With this development, the Harambee Stars of Kenya and Black Stars have duly qualified regardless of the outcome of the last game between these two sides in March next year.
Kenya sits on top with seven (7) points and six(6) points for the Black Stars of Ghana. Ethiopia cannot usurp any of these two teams having only churned a point from four games played.
The top two teams from each group qualify for the 24-team Afcon tournament which starts on June 15, 2019.
Already, countries such as Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Nigeria, Algeria, Morocco, Mali, Guinea, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Mauritania and Madagascar have made it to the finals of this tournament.
Cameroon who lost an automatic qualification after being stripped of the hosting rights will have to grab the last remaining ticket in Group “B” when they play Comoros in March next year.
Currently, Cameroon is second placed on eight (8) points in Group B.
Sierra Leone was banned by world football governing body FIFA, for undue government interference in football-related matters in the West African country.
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by FSL News | 1 Dec, 2018 | Players Abroad News
The Charleston Battery announced on Friday 12 initial players that would remain with the club for the 2019 USL Championship season.
Sierra Leone native Victor Mansaray, who enters his first season with the Battery in 2018, was not amongst names released.
The club also confirmed negotiations with other members of the side that finished fourth in the Eastern Conference this past season also ongoing.
“With the tremendous growth of the league, it is a huge benefit for the Club and coaching staff to be able to bring back a quality core of players every season,” said Battery Head Coach and General Manager Mike Anhaeuser. “We’re looking forward to continuing to build the roster around these players.”
He was named in the USL Team of the Week after scoring the winning goal against North Carolina FC in Week 29 last season.
He traded with FC Cincinnati and Seattle Sounders 2 on loan in 2017 prior to joining Swedish third-tier club Umea FC in August.
Mansaray joined Seattle as a Homegrown Player in November of 2014 at the age of 17, making him the youngest player ever to sign with the Sounders.
The winger also became the youngest player in franchise history to play in a match when he made his first MLS appearance for Seattle months after signing.
CURRENT CHARLESTON BATTERY ROSTER
Goalkeepers: Joe Kuzminsky
Defenders: Taylor Mueller, Leland Archer, Jay Bolt, Jarad van Schaik
Midfielders: Tah Brian Anunga, Angelo Kelly, Nico Rittmeyer, Kotaro Higashi
Forwards: Ataulla Guerra, Romario Piggott, Ian Svantesson
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