by FSL News | 13 Jun, 2018 | African News
#111 Sierra Leone continue to slide in Latest Fifa World Ranking
Sierra Leone men’s senior team have plummeted further eight places down to 111th from 103rd in the latest FIFA rankings.
The latest ranking was released last week on FIFA’s official website.
They finished 2017 as the 97th best-ranked team in the world. Their highest ever rankings came in August 2014, when they were ranked 50th globally.
In Africa, Sierra Leone, who will take on Ethiopia in September hoping to reach Cameroon 2019 Afcon, moved further down on the continent from 22nd position to 26th.
Meanwhile, World top three positions are unchanged as Germany, Brazil and Belgium sit respectively, the Russia-bound duo of Poland and Uruguay have succeeded in making strides within the top 20.
Super Eagles World Cup Group D foes Argentina, Croatia and Iceland are on fifth, 20th and 22nd positions respectively. In Africa, Tunisia moved seven places down from 14th in the previous rankings to 21 as the continent’s top-ranked team.
Senegal follows in 27th place, while DR Congo stayed on 38 with Russia-bound Morocco on the 41st place and Egypt in 45th position.
Ghana, a non-participant at the World Cup and Sierra Leone’s opponent in the contest to Cameroon moved three places to 47th and sixth in the region.
The next rankings will be released on July 19.
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by FSL News | 13 Jun, 2018 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone’s Abubakarr Koroma captured the attention of spectators, coaches and journalists at this year’s Football for Friendship Tournament in Russia.
The youngster pictured first from right, was instrumental while playing for Angel Sharks at the Sapsan Arena in Moscow Russia.
Abubakarr who played as a defender and midfielder simultaneously scored three goals and created an assist.
The 12-year-old kid helped his team secured 4 points in the three-round matches but was not enough to see them through to the last eight.
The young and promising football player rose spectators to their feet after scoring a screamer right from the centre-half during the second match which they won 2-1.
The youngster expressed happiness and thanked God for giving him the opportunity to showcase his talent at such international platform.
“If we have the facilities and resources as other children then we will do better in future international tournaments and make progress in the country’s football within the next decade”, the PS Zizo defender noted.
Abubakarr has already gotten lots of friends from all over the world as 211 countries and regions participate in the week-long event.
Football for Friendship is an annual International Children’s social programme for 12 years old Young Players which has been implemented by the PJSC Gazprom since 2013.
The key values promoted by the programme participants include friendship, equality, fairness, health, peace, devotion, victory, traditions and honour.
By Ishmail Saidu Kanu in Moscow, Russia
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by FSL News | 10 Jun, 2018 | Players Abroad News
Kei Kamara scored twice and registering his sixth goal of the season to help the Whitecaps beat visiting Orlando City 5-2 at BC Place on Saturday afternoon.
The Sierra Leone native, who skippered his side for the first time in his MLS career, opened the scoring in the 36th-minute assisted by Alphonso Davies cross via the left flank.
The visitors levelled the score-line in the 64th minutes, a goal from Sacha Klještan before Davies, 17, netted the go-ahead tally 2-1 that reinstated the Whitecaps lead in the 76th minute.
Kamara added the insurance goal for his second from the penalty spot in the 85th minute after Reyna was brought down inside the Orlando box.
Yordy Reyna and Nicolás Mezquida each on target with a goal apiece for the ‘home team, whose five goals tied their club MLS record for most in a single match.
City’s Dom Dwyer came on late to score from close range, making the final tally 5-2.
Kamara and the Whitecaps will have a two-week break for the FIFA World Cup.
Their next MLS contest will be against Philadelphia Union at PPL Park on Saturday, June 23.
FINAL SCORE: Vancouver Whitecaps 5 Orlando City 2
ATT: 22,120
VANCOUVER: Brian Rowe; Jake Nerwinski, José Aja, Doneil Henry, Brek Shea; Cristian Techera (Nicolás Mezquida 74), Aly Ghazal (Jordon Mutch 74), Felipe, Alphonso Davies; Kei Kamara, Yordy Reyna (Russell Teibert 88)
[Substitutes not used: Sean Melvin, Sean Franklin, Anthony Blondell, Aaron Maund]
ORLANDO: Joe Bendik; Will Johnson (RJ Allen 40), Chris Schuler, Amro Tarek, Mohamed El-Munir; Cristian Higuita (Dom Dwyer 64), Oriol Rosell; Chris Mueller, Sacha Kljestan, Justin Meram (Tony Rocha 60); Josué Colmán
[Substitutes not used: Earl Edwards Jr, Richie Laryea, Stéfano Pinho, Jose Villarrea]
Kamara’s first goal against Orlando City below.
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by FSL News | 9 Jun, 2018 | Players Abroad News
SHEKA FOFANAH Pictured in action (SUDAN AL- MERREIKH) 12 GAMES 9 GOALS
The Sierra Leone International, who scored on his CAF Champions League debut for Al Merreikh in a 2-1 win over Township Rollers in Khartoum in February, has recorded nine goals in the first phase of the Sudanese top-tier in twelve appearances.
The 20-year-old also notably bagged a debut brace and is now focusing on winning something with his new side in Sudan.
The sixteen times Sudanese titleholders are presently leading Group B. The league second round will be commencing July 15.
MOLDOVA ALHAJI KAMARA FC SHERIFF
Alhaji Kamara’s Moldovan side will be in action on Sunday against Dinamo-Auto Tiraspol looking to extend their lead at the top of the Divizia top flight.
Kamara, 24, who announced himself in the Moldovan top-flight after scoring in the Wasps opening two league games, has encountered for three goals in this campaign in eight matches.
Kamara joined the club as a free agent after leaving Saudi Arabian side Al-Taawoun in February.
New head coach
The club management announced on Friday that they have acquired a new head coach. Croatian expert Goran Sablic has signed an employment agreement and will start work immediately.
The club has dominated Moldovan top-tier since 2001, winning 16 titles and 9 Moldovan cups.
DONALD WELLINGTON GHANA – KARELA UNITED
Donald Wellington’s Ghana Premier League newcomers are presently the surprise package this season.
Wellington has scored three goals in as many games played this season.
Two points adrift from Medeama and Ashanti Gold respectively are yet to lose at their Cam Park home venue this season winning six and draw two from their last eight league matches.
They were expected to host Unistar Acad on Sunday. However, the Ghana Football Association has postponed all football matches until further notice.
This is because of a directive from the government of Ghana.
The USA – VICTOR MANSARAY CHARLESTON BATTERY
Signed for the South Carolina-based club Charleston Battery in February.
Mansaray was part of the Battery’s side that where knockout of this year’s fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup after a 3-0 defeat to Atlanta United on Wednesday night at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
The Sierra Leone native has yet to score for the USL side after six appearances.
Their last 3-3 league draw with Indy Eleven extends the Battery’s unbeaten streak to eleven games in all competitions and nine games in league play.
The former USA men’s U18 and U20 player in June 2017, voiced his desire to play for his native Sierra Leone and was part of the countries men’s senior team preparation in the AFCON opening tie against Kenya.
Mansaray is still eligible to play for either country.
FINLAND – FODAY CONTEH VASA IFK
The Finnish third-tier side presently sixth in their Group C Kakkonen standings from seven matches this season.
Foday, who has been playing a defensive midfield role in their last five matches this season, is targeting to help IFK beat GBK Kokkola on Sunday.
Former East End Lions attacker, Conteh opened his account for Finish third-tier side Vasa IFK in their 2-1 pre-season victory over Narpes Kraft FF in February.
The 23-year-old, who signed on a two-year deal is a promising talent. He last played for FC Jaro following his moved from Lupa Virkia.
His preferred position is in left midfield but he can also operate on either flank and has been noted for his versatility in Finland.
United Kingdom Leyton Orient Josh Koroma
Hailing from Parent from Sierra Leone, Josh Koroma, who is a Leyton Orient Youth team product signed his first professional contract with the Club in September 2016.
The skilful forward was handed his Orient debut at Barnet on April 9, 2016, when he came on in place of player-manager at the time Kevin Nolan.
Koroma became the youngest O’s player to score a hat-trick for the Club on March 4, 2017, when the O’s claimed an emphatic 4-0 victory at Newport County.
The forward made a total of 25 appearances for O’s first team during the 2016-17 season, scoring three goals.
John Trye (Scarborough SC – Canada)
The veteran keeper, who plies his trade in the Canadian Soccer League (CSL) with Scarborough SC is hoping to help his side win the title this season.
Trye, 33, is relishing the prospect of leading his new club to triumph in their next upcoming games.
Scarborough SC played to a goalless draw away to Serbian White Eagles on Friday. They lost 3-0 to FC Ukraine United Sun, Jun 03.
Leaving them fourth in the CSL top-tier standings.
Keeper John Trye is hoping to help Scarborough SC win the title this season
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by FSL News | 8 Jun, 2018 | African News
Ghana Football Association president, Kwesi Nyantakyi, has been banned from all football-related activities for 90 days by the Fifa’s independent Ethics Committee.
Nyantakyi, who is also the vice president of the Confederation of African Football, CAF is now under football investigation sword as the sanctioned comes into force immediately.
The chairperson of the adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee has provisionally banned the President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and FIFA Council member, Mr Kwesi Nyantakyi, for a duration of 90 days.
The duration of the ban may be extended for an additional period not exceeding 45 days. During this time, Mr Nyantakyi is banned from all football activities at both national and international level (administrative, sports or any other).
The decision was taken upon the request of the chairperson of the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee carrying out the formal investigation proceedings into Mr Nyantakyi, pursuant to art. 83 par. 1 and art. 84 par. 2 of the FIFA Code of Ethics.
This comes following an investigative piece from Ace investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ on corruption in Ghana Football.
The Fifa Ethics Committee document
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by FSL News | 8 Jun, 2018 | African News
Ghana has dissolved its national football association after its president was filmed apparently accepting a “cash gift”.
Kwesi Nyantakyi was pictured taking $65,000 (£48,000) from an undercover reporter pretending to be a businessman keen to invest in Ghanaian football.
He has not commented on the allegations.
Sports Minister Isaac Asiama said the association had been “dissolved with immediate effect”, GhanaWeb reported.
Correspondents say the undercover investigation by controversial journalist Anas Aremayaw Anas has raised questions about the nature of football in Africa.
His documentary, entitled When Greed and Corruption Become the Norm, was handed to authorities last month and publicly screened for the first time on Wednesday.
Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Ghana’s information minister, said the government had “decided to take immediate steps to have the GFA (Ghana Football Association) dissolved”, citing the “widespread nature of the apparent rot”.
He said interim measures to govern Ghanaian football would be announced soon, pending the formation of a new association.
The GFA said in a statement that it would co-operate with any investigation.
Mr Nyantakyi is vice president of the Confederation of African Football and also a member of the Fifa Council, effectively the board that runs world football.
Since taking charge of the GFA, he has made anti-corruption a major part of his message.
However, the undercover film shows him apparently placing the $65,000 “shopping money” into a black plastic bag.
BBC Africa’s new investigations unit, Africa Eye, has had exclusive access to the footage.
An undercover reporter was pretending to be a businessman from a Middle Eastern company wanting to invest in Ghanaian football.
The filmmaker’s team had invited Mr Nyantakyi to a luxury hotel in the Middle East with the promise of a meeting with a wealthy businessman interested in a sponsorship deal with the GFA.
Mr Nyantakyi went on to both negotiate and write up the sponsorship deal on behalf of the GFA, which could have allowed a cut to go to a company he owned.
Correspondents say that had the fictitious deal gone ahead, he could potentially have made $4.5m from the diversion of funds.
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