Sport News Archives - Page 56 of 444

Kallon braces for toughest challenge in coaching career

by FSL News | 15 Oct, 2022 | African News, Football Africa, Sierra Leone Soccer team Profile

FC Kallon boss Mohamed Kallon is set to face a huge challenge of his coaching career when the club he owns squares up against Egyptian side FC Future in their CAF Confederation preliminary second-round second leg on Sunday in Egypt.

The 43-year-old was able to mastermind first round 4-0 aggregate consecutive victory over Les Buffles du Borgou of Benin.

However, after their first leg 2-0 defeat against Egyptian side FC Future in Liberia, the ex-Inter Milan striker now faces a massive test to overturn the scoreline.

The Egyptian side Future FC took a brilliant first-leg advantage against Sierra Leone’s FC Kallon after a 2-0 win at the SDK stadium in Liberia last Sunday.

As a result, they are within touching distance of a place in the African Confederation Cup next stage.

The former Inter Milan and Monaco forward told Journalist Fajah Barrie: “We’re going to play an open match in Cairo in the return leg – anything can happen in football.”

Kallon’s elder brother, Musa, a member of the Cavaliers technical team, said: “We lost because of naivety and inexperience, but all is not lost. We are going to fight hard to overturn the result in Cairo.”

Fifteen years ago, FC Kallon eliminated Nigerian side Ocean Boys 1-0 on aggregate in the African Champions League preliminary after both sides played to a goalless draw in Nigeria.

The Cavaliers were eliminated by Ivorian Champions Asec Mimosa 3-1, who won both matches to progress.

In the 2012 CAF Confederation Cup, FC Kallon eliminated Cameroon’s Union Sportive de Douala in the preliminary but faced stiff competition against Nigerian Warri Wolves. They won 2-0 on aggregate in the first round.

CAF Confederation Cup FC Kallon FC Future

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Zamalek, Sundowns & two others through to group stage

by FSL News | 15 Oct, 2022 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, CR Belouizdad, Petro de Luanda and Zamalek are the first four teams to reach this year’s CAF Champions League group stage after impressive results.

The 2016 Champions, Sundowns impressively hammered Seychelles champions La Passe 15-1 over two legs to progress. They had won the first leg 7-0 last weekend to put one foot in the group phase.

In Alexandria, Egyptian giants Zamalek proved too strong for Burundi’s Flambeau du Centre sealing through with a 5-1 thumping on the day 6-1 on aggregate.

Algerian side CR Belouizdad overcame their Malian counterparts Djoliba AC 4-1 on aggregate after a 2-0 home triumph on Friday.

Angola’s Petro de Luanda 1-0 victory over Cape Town City means they join the party with a 4-1 aggregate scoreline following their first leg 3-0 win last week.

Cape Town, La Passe, Djoliba and Flambeau still have a place in the continent’s second-tier club competition as they make the second additional preliminary round in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.

CAF Champions League group stage@Crbelouizdadoff @ZSCOfficial @Masandawana & @PeteodeLuanda are through.

12 more teams to join this year's club continental group stage. #AfricanFootball #AfricanTwitter #TotalEnergiesCAFCL pic.twitter.com/a6qqzJ0Avw

— Alie Bittar (@bittar32) October 14, 2022

4️⃣ Matches
1⃣8⃣ Goals

Here are the results of today's #TotalEnergiesCAFCL matches! 👇 pic.twitter.com/6VUQsJYjeC

— TotalEnergies CAFCL – TotalEnergies CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) October 14, 2022

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Mena, Kahunla Queens to kick off inaugural Women’s League

by FSL News | 13 Oct, 2022 | Football Africa, International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News

The inaugural Sierra Leone Women’s Premier League will kick off on Saturday when Mena Queens squares off with Kahunla Queens from Kenema.

Wusum Ground in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone is set to host football stakeholders and top dignitaries.

The first gentleman of the Republic of Sierra Leone, President Julius Maada Bio and first lady Fatima Bio to do a joint ceremonial kick-off.

Sunday’s League fixture will see Ram Kamara face Correctional Sports club at the Bo Coronation playing field.

The board comprised seven members. They are chairperson Asmaa James, Jenessi Matturi Secretary-General, Angela Gabbidon ESQ member, Jeneba Essekwi member, Daniella Mansaray member, Zainab S Conteh, member and Emillia Kamara Jengo member.

“This is the first-ever national Women’s, Premier League. Twelve teams will compete, eight from the regions and four from Western Area,” Board chairlady Asmaa James told FSL News.

“For the first time in our history, an organised Women’s Premier League is playing in Kabala, Rutle, Kailahun, Lungi and Mile 38 and so on.”

Excited chairperson Madam James expressed her delight “We are so proud as board members to make this history.”

Mena Queens, Kahunla to kick off the inaugural Sierra Leone Women's Premier League on Saturday in Makeni and on Sunday, Bo Coronation playing field to host Ram Kamara v Correctional. #FSLNews #SaloneTwitter #Womensfootball #AfricanFootball pic.twitter.com/uNLM7y3tSP
— Alie Bittar (@bittar32) October 13, 2022

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Coach Amidu Karim speaks after U23 appointment

by FSL News | 12 Oct, 2022 | Football Africa, International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News

Newly appointed Sierra Leone U23 head coach Amidu Karim has admitted his delight ahead of Zambia doubleheaders this month.

The former Sierra Leone International, who has been assistant to the senior National A team Leone Stars, will be in the dugout against Zambia on the 22 October at the SKD stadium in Liberia.

Sierra Leone will kick start their Total Energies U23 AFCON 2023 Qualifiers against Zambia next Saturday before the reverse fixture in Lusaka 29th of October.

“This is a great opportunity for me as head coach. I must commend the authority for believing in me,” Coach Amidu Karim told FSL News.

On his Opponent

The former FC Kallon coach is fully aware of the threat Zambia will pose to his side when they face each other in the doubleheader later this month.

“No easy game in African football -we know both ties are going to be difficult against a decent Zambian side. I have been following their preparation – they are looking well-prepared.

They selected a good number of foreign-based – likewise us, we called a few, although this is not a FIFA-approved window.

On his Selections

“I followed all the recent International competitions across all levels. I am working with homebased coach Francis Zappa Koroma and U20 coach Ibrahim Sillah. We have selected players based on recent International competitions.

We have already started working on our game plan. We are not going to be an easy pushover.”

Over two legs, the aggregate winner will face either Egypt or Eswatini in the final qualifying round.

The U23 AFCON tournament will serve as a ticket for the U23 Paris 2024 Olympics.

Zambia seeking a third successive U23 AFCON appearance has not been to the Olympics since Seoul in 1988.

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Zambia dealt injury blow ahead of Sierra Leone U23 clash

by FSL News | 12 Oct, 2022 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

Zambia could be without Red Arrows FC striker Ricky Banda who has been ruled out for the upcoming Zambia U-23 AFCON qualifier first-leg fixture against Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone will host their Zambia counterparts on October 22 in Liberia before the reverse fixture on the 29th in Lusaka.

Over two legs, the aggregate winner to face either Egypt or Eswatini in the final qualifying round.

Team manager Lombe Chipupu confirmed the development in an interview on Monday.

Banda, 21, was released from camp yesterday after he reported back with a knee injury.

“We resumed camp over the weekend. We summoned 29 players for this particular camp, and as of today, only striker Ricky Banda has been ruled out for the first leg fixture that will be played on October 22 in Liberia after he reported back with a knee injury.

We shall wait and see how he recovers for the return leg set of Lusaka on October 29.

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Heart condition forced Enock Mwepu to retire

by FSL News | 11 Oct, 2022 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

Brighton midfielder Enock Mwepu has been forced to retire from football at the age of 24 because of a hereditary heart condition, BBC Sport reports.

The Premier League club said Mwepu would be at an “extremely high risk of suffering a potentially fatal cardiac event” if he continued playing.

Mwepu had recently fallen ill on a trip with the Zambia national team to Mali. He was unable to train after arriving in West Africa last month and spent four days in hospital.

Mwepu had tests on his return to England and Brighton said the results meant the “only option” was for him to retire.

“These tests have concluded that his illness is due to a hereditary cardiac condition, which manifests later in life and was not previously evident on regular cardiac screening,” Brighton said in a statement.

“Sadly, this can be exacerbated by playing sport so Enock has been advised that the only option, for the sake of his own safety, is for him to stop playing football.”

Mwepu said he was retiring with “sadness”, adding he had lived his dream by reaching the Premier League but that “some dreams come to an end”.

“This is, however, not the end of my involvement in football, I plan to stay involved in some capacity,” he said in a statement on Twitter

The versatile player joined Brighton from Red Bull Salzburg on a four-year deal for a fee reported to be £18m in July 2021.

He scored three goals in 27 appearances for the club and last played in the 5-2 win over Leicester City in September.

Brighton’s head of medicine and performance Adam Brett said: “It is a terrible blow for Enock, but he has to put his health and his family first and this is the right choice, however difficult it is to quit the game he loves.

“Given this is Enock’s career and a decision which can’t be taken lightly, we have taken our time to be as thorough as possible, completed advanced cardiac investigations and collaborated with clinical experts to gain the best second opinions for Enock.

“We will be helping him make sure the condition is managed with the appropriate treatment for him to otherwise live a long and healthy life.”

Mwepu’s younger brother Francisco, 22, is also a professional footballer for Austrian side Sturm Graz.

Heart problems affecting professional athletes are unusual but not unheard of.

Manchester City’s all-time record goalscorer Sergio Aguero retired from football aged 33 after experiencing chest discomfort, less than six months after joining Barcelona.

Former Manchester United defender Daley Blind was diagnosed with a heart condition in December 2019 but returned to playing after having an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) fitted.

Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen also has an ICD fitted following his cardiac arrest while playing for Denmark at Euro 2020.

Fabrice Muamba collapsed when his heart stopped during a game in 2012, while Cameroon midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe died after collapsing during an international match in France in 2003.

Brighton Enock Mwepu

Baller, all the best in your future endeavours @EnockMwepu45 @FAZFootball will miss such a great talent. pic.twitter.com/YIrmflz0Ii

— Alie Bittar (@bittar32) October 11, 2022

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