by FSL News | 15 Nov, 2018 | African News
Namibia are blaming a financial squeeze on their decision to withdraw from the opening round of qualifiers for next year’s U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, BBC Sports reports.
The qualifiers will determine which countries represent the continent at the 2022 Olympics in Tokyo.
Namibia pulled out of their scheduled meeting with neighbouring Angola over the next week because they were unable to afford the trip to Luanda.
They were due to play the first leg on Friday in Luanda and host the return game in Windhoek on 20 November.
They were due to play the first leg on Friday in Luanda and host the return game in Windhoek on 20 November.
It means Angola have a walkover into the next round of the qualifiers against South Africa, who competed at the men’s tournament at the last Olympics in Brazil.
“We simply don’t have funds to take the team to Angola and it is a very sad situation as you could see the boys were looking forward to this campaign but now it’s all over for them,” Namibia Football Association Secretary General Barry Rukoro said on the organisation’s website on Wednesday.
“The money we have now has to be used for the Brave Warriors for this weekend’s game against Guinea Bissau. And so the junior teams are feeling the pinch.
“It is serious reputational damage for the Association as we are known to be ever present at almost all youth competitions and now this is happening and we have no choice but to pull the plug.
“We will still assess the situation with regard to the Under-20s going to the Cosafa Cup [in Zambia next month].”
Namibia’s withdrawal follows that earlier in the month of The Gambia, which has allowed Libya to advance to play Nigeria.
There will be a total of 13 first round ties completed by Tuesday, after which the winners will join up with Algeria, Congo, Gabon, the Ivory Coast, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone (if their Fifa ban is lifted by then), South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe in the second round in March.
There will be a final round of knockout matches over two legs in June to determine the seven countries who will join hosts Egypt at the tournament in November next year.
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by FSL News | 12 Nov, 2018 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has confirmed that Sierra Leone’s anticipated 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Kenya on Sunday has been cancelled.
Caf said the Group F fixture is cancelled because Sierra Leone remains suspended from international football.
This match was supposed to be played in Nairobi on November 18.
Sierra Leone defeats Kenya 2-1 in Freetown June last year in the qualifiers opener.
“Seeing that Sierra Leone is still under suspension by Fifa, please note that the above-mentioned match will not take place,” Caf in a letter stated.
The continental body also called off Sierra Leone’s back-to-back matches with Ghana last month.
Caf added, “The status of the group will be communicated later on, once the competent body takes a final decision in this regards.”
Kenya is leading the group with seven points while Ghana, Ethiopia and Sierra Leone have three points each.
Sierra Leone suspended over alleged government interference last month.
The country’s anti-corruption commission (ACC) set aside the FA president Isha Johansen and secretary general Christopher Kamara.
The ACC says that under Sierra Leone law, both Isha Johansen and Christopher Kamara must vacate their posts until their case on corruption-related charges concludes.
Johansen and Kamara have denied any wrongdoing.
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by FSL News | 11 Nov, 2018 | Players Abroad News
Alhassan Crespo Kamara has opened his goal account for Greek top-flight side Panaitolikόs in their 2-1 defeat to PAOK Thessaloniki on Sunday.
Kamara, 25, was unavailable for his club Superleague match against Panionios when they were defeated 3-0 last weekend.
The Sierra Leone International on his return accounted for his first goal of the season since joining the club on a two-year deal in September.
Nikos Marinakis own goal after the hour mark and Chuba Akpom goal in the 65th had given the host the two-goal lead before Kamara’s pull one back in the 71st minute.
The former BK Hacken striker was making his seventh appearance for his new club.
The home side held on to the lead as the defeat leave Kamara’s side eight on the Superleague table.
Kamara scored two goals in his last 14 appearances for BK Hacken before leaving the Swedish club this season.
They host PAE AEK next weekend November 24 at home.
PAOK: Paschalakis, Varela, Krespo, Kitsiou (84 ‘Hatcheridi), Toska, Kanji, Sakhov (72’ Maurizio), Limnios, Pelka, Bessarab (57 ‘
PANATOLIKOS: Kyriakidis, Marinakis, Malis, Argos (85 ‘Liavas), Tocanis, Dias, Louseros, Mana (74’ Rotsa), Mazurek, Williams, Kamaras.
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by FSL News | 10 Nov, 2018 | African News
Result: Esperance 3-0 Al Ahly (4-3 on agg.) – Esperance de Tunis (1) 3 (Beguir 45+1′ 54′ Badri 86′) – Venue: Stade Olympique de Radès
Esperance de Tunis thrashed Al Ahly 3-0 to win year’s Caf Champions League for a third time at the Stade Olympique de Radès on Friday evening.
A brace for Saad Beguir and another for Anice Badri were enough to see them secure a perfect continental third title.
The Tunisians remarkably deserved the win having lost the first leg of the 2018 contest 3-1 in Alexandria but secured a 4-3 aggregate success.
They dominated the early exchanges just before the opener in first-half stoppage time.
As CAF Champions League winners, Esperance join Al Ain (hosts), CD Guadalajara (CONCACAF), Real Madrid (UEFA) and Team Wellington (OFC) in securing their berth at UAE 2018.
Esperance de Tunis: Cherifia; Belaili (Meskini 80′), Chemmam, Coulibaly, Derbali, Chaalali, Ben Mohamed, Khenissi (Mejri 70′), Yakoubi, Badri, Beguir (Erbeia 62′).
Al Ahly: El Shenawy; El Demerdash (Nedved 62′), Samir, Coulibaly, Ashraf, Ashour, El Sulya (El Gaber 76′), Gaber (S.Mohsen 62′), Soliman, Mohareb, M.Mohsen.
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by FSL News | 9 Nov, 2018 | Players Abroad News
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Sierra Leone skipper Umaru Bangura played on for the full 90 minutes in last night 1-0 defeat to German side Bayern Leverkusen at the BayArena – Leverkusen on Thursday.
Bangura, 31, since returning from injury has been pivotal for the Swiss Capital club playing in all their Europa League matches thus far.
The Swiss side suffered their first defeat in this year’s competition.
However, both teams progress to the last 32 of the Europa League tournament, knocking out both Larnaca and Ludogorets, whose game finished 0-0.
“I’m pleased to be able to help the team qualify into the knockout stages (Last 32) teams, with two more games to play,” Bangura told Football Sierra Leone.
The Sierra Leone native added, “It was a difficult game playing against a top side. They are a very good side.”
“Now, we have to look forward to the next round of matches in the competition. I think it’s very important.”
The host team were worthy winners, holding on in a manner they could not do against Zürich a fortnight ago.
FC Zurich won the first meeting at home against Leverkusen 3-2, and that was their three straight victory in the UEFA Europa League group stage.
Jedvaj headed in the goal from a corner, finding himself free.
The statistics say Leverkusen had 19 attempts to their opponents’ 5, and they restricted the away side to one shot on target.
The Sierra Leone captain Umaru Bangura in action at the at the Bay Arena – Leverkusen on Thursday.
by FSL News | 8 Nov, 2018 | African News
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Johnathan Mckinstry has been confirmed as the new coach of Bangladesh Premier League Saif Sporting Club on Wednesday.
Former Sierra Leone and Rwanda national team head coach took to Twitter to announce the news.
Mckinstry first task is to guide his new club Saif’s qualify to the semi-final of Bangladesh Federation Cup.
Saif will take on Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Friday in the Cup quarterfinal match.
“Very pleased to have joined #SaifSportingClub as their new Head Coach. Looking forward to the challenge ahead, and thank you to all at the club for the warm welcome afforded to @Macca364 and myself today upon our arrival,” he tweeted.
Remarkably on 14 Aug 2014, the Northern Irish led Sierra Leone to their highest ever FIFA World and African rankings – 7th in Africa and 50th in the World – both well above their lowest ever ranking of 172 in 2007.
Mckinstry parted ways with Sierra Leone in September 2014 due to poor team performances during the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
His last job was at the Lithuanian top-tier club FK Kauno Zalgiris where he stayed for five months until December 2017.
Sierra Leone | Highlights -