by FSL News | 3 Jul, 2017 | Players Abroad News
Helmond Sports FC defender and Sierra Leone native, Samuel Babadi, has said he would love to be given the opportunity to play for Sierra Leone.
Babadi, 21, a centre-back, who is plying his trade in the Dutch second-tier Jupiler League, is targeting Sierra Leone call up.
Babadi in action playing against Sparta for Achilles 29.
The youngster passionately confirmed his intention to footballsierraleone.net, he said: “It will be a great honour to play for Sierra Leone. I would love it.
“Wearing the national colours of my country of birth will always be an honour.
“I was born in Sierra Leone; I grew up in Holland and started my career with the NEC Nijmegen Academy before moving to joined Achilles ’29 in July 2015.”
“It will always be an honour to wear the national colours of my country of birth.
“I’m a central defender who can also play as a Right-Back.
“It’s every player vision to be known internationally. I’m so looking forward to getting the opportunity to represent my country.
Babadi has also had a spell with JVC Cuijk before moving to Helmond Sports FC this summer.
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by FSL News | 2 Jul, 2017 | African News
CAF Champions League round-up saw three elite clubs in continental football – Etoile Sahel, Esperance de Tunis and Mamelodi Sundowns – advance into the quarterfinals of the Champions League, while Al-Hilal Al-Ubayyid have done the same in the Confederation Cup.
In Group A of the Champions League, Tunisian giants Etoile Sahel booked their spot in the knockout stages after claiming a 1-1 draw away to Mozambique’s Ferroviario Beira. A late penalty from Etoile’s Slim Ben Belgacem was the key event of the match.
Liberian International Anthony Laffor, scored the only goal of the day for South African club Mamelodi Sundowns as they defeated Saint George of Ethiopia 1-0 in their Group C contest.
Espérance maintained their spot at the top of their CAF Champions League group following an entertaining 2-2 draw against DR Congo’s AS Vita at the Complexe Omnisports Stade des Martyrs on Saturday night to advance along with Sundowns from Group C.
Esperance lead Group C on nine points, with Mamelodi Sundowns a further point back.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Zambian side Zanaco missed out on qualification after being held 0-0 at home in Group D by record eight-times winners Al Ahly of Egypt.
Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca hauled themselves back into contention in the group with a 2-0 win away to Cameroon’s Cotonsport Garoua in the later game.
Wydad are now two points adrift of group leaders Zanaco with Ahly a further point back.
Group B remains tight after the top two, Al Ahli Tripoli and USM Alger, drew 1-1 on Friday night.
They are both on eight points, three points ahead of Zamalek who travel to CAPS United on Sunday.
Only the top two teams from each of the four groups will qualify for the quarter-finals of this year’s African Champions League.
In the CAF Confederation Cup, Group D’s leading pair of Horoya and SuperSport United played to a goalless draw in Conakry, opening the door for title holders TP Mazembe to make up ground when they play CF Mounana on Sunday.
In Group C, Sudan’s Al-Hilal Al-Ubayyid have sealed their spot in the quarterfinals after defeating Recreativo Libolo 2-0 in the late game. The Angolans are not out of the running, though, as they will be in a three-way fight with Zesco United and Smouha to join Ubayyid in the last eight.
CAF club results, Saturday 1 July
CAF Champions League
Group A – Ferroviario Beira 1-1 Etoile Sahel
Group C – Saint George 0-1 Mamelodi Sundowns
Group C – AS Vita 2-2 Esperance Tunis
Group D – Zanaco 0-0 Al Ahly
Group D – Coton Sport 0-2 Wydad Casablanca
CAF Confederation Cup
Group D – Horoya 0-0 SuperSport United
Group C – Al-Hilal Al-Ubayyid 2-0 Recreativo Libolo
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by FSL News | 1 Jul, 2017 | African News
Belhanda completed his €8million move from Dynamo Kiev on Friday, signing a four-year deal, with Galatasaray set to make further payments if they return to the Champions League.
The 27-year-old started his career at French club Montpellier and has had spells in Ukraine and Germany and he spent last season on loan at Ligue 1 side Nice.
“I’ve joined the biggest club in Turkey and after two years without the title, I hope my coming will change that,” Belhanda told the club’s official website.
He becomes Galatasaray’s third signing of the season after Brazilian defender Maicon and French forward Bafetimbi Gomis.
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by FSL News | 1 Jul, 2017 | Players Abroad News
Watford are interested in Chelsea midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah, Football Sierra Leone understands.
Born in Sierra Leone arrived in England at a young age. The 22-year-old is set to hold talks over his future with the Blues this week, with newspaper reports claiming he wants to leave the club in pursuit of more regular first-team football.
Other reports are suggesting that Stamford Bridge club are willing to offer him a new five-year contract, keeping him in west London until 2022.
The premier League winner (Chalobah) has shown again he is ready for regular elite football.
However, Last season was his best ever season at Chelsea after six consecutive loans, he made 15 appearances in total, 10 of which came from the bench.
According to reports, Watford are prepared to give him that, and he previously spent time at Vicarage Road on loan in the Championship during the 2012-13 seasons.
Meanwhile, the Premier Champions are said to be close to signing Monaco’s Tiemoue Bakayoko which does not bode well for Chalobah’s future.
The Monaco star is expected to line up alongside his fellow countryman N’Golo Kante in the heart of Chelsea’s midfielder next season.
And Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith thinks the 22-year-old’s arrival at Stamford Bridge will spell the end for Chalobah.
“Chelsea have nearly bought a central midfielder, haven’t they? Which is going to block Nathaniel Chalobah’s path,” he said.
“You’re thinking he will probably have to leave. That goes right across the board with a lot of the boys.”
Chalobah has one year left on his Chelsea contract and reports have indicated the Blues want to extend that deal.
Nathaniel Chalobah loans:
2012/13 – Watford (42 games) – 2013/14 – Nottingham Forest (12 games) – Middlesbrough (19 games) – 2014/15
(Burnley 4 games) (Reading 20 games)
2015/16 – Napoli (9 games)
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by FSL News | 30 Jun, 2017 | Players Abroad News
Tornion Pallo −47 striker Thomas Sebora Koroma has said he was happy with his first Sierra Leone experience during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations first leg qualifier against Kenya under John Keister in Freetown.
Koroma, a surprise call-up to the national team was among three new faces but was the only one to make his national debut in Leone Stars 1 nil defeat in the International Friendly in Liberia.
He was also named on the bench against the Kenyans on June 10, 2017. Delighted Koroma watched closely as his national teammates gave it all to defeat Harambee Stars at the Siaka Steven Stadium in the first Group F tie of the 2019 AFCON qualifiers.
“I was delighted to be given this glorious opportunity to be part of the Sierra Leone National team, the experience was huge.”
“A dream comes true for me, Koroma said and admitted playing for Sierra Leone will help him. “It was great for me and this experience will help me most with my confidence and build up my determination.
“I get to train with players that I have looked up to all these years, for me the national team Jersey means everything, getting to represent my country for the first time, I will forever value that moment, He told footballsierraleone.net
Koroma, 24, who started his career with local football team Banbury FC before joining the Elite Football Academy in the UK, has scored two goals in seven appearances in the ongoing Finish third tier Kakkonen division.
The centre-forward is also frustrated with the recent lack of game time at TP-47 and said: “Recently, have not started in most games and most times I play out of position. I’m a striker, who wanted to play as No. 9. I’ve only started one game this season, which is a bit frustrating.”
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by FSL News | 29 Jun, 2017 | African News
The president of the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), Jamal Malinzi, has been arrested by the country’s Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau.
He was detained along with the TFF’s secretary general Selestine Mwesigwa.
The Anti-graft agency has confirmed that it will continue to hold all the other accused as investigations proceed. The duo was held overnight and faces a second round of questioning on Thursday.
Bureau spokesperson Musa Misalaba added the pair will stay in custody until further notice as they are questioned.
The detention comes after a lengthy investigation by the bureau. Details of the specific allegations are yet to be made public.
Misalaba said the bureau is continuing to investigate other federation officials over similar allegations.
Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone, the writer Prince Scott @PrinceArmaniSc2.
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