Sport News Archives - Page 59 of 444

Guinea stripped of hosting 2025 Cup of Nations

by FSL News | 1 Oct, 2022 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

Guinea have been stripped of hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations because the infrastructure is not yet ready, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe announced in Conakry.

“We are not ready as of yet in Guinea – and we should reopen the process” of allowing prospective host countries to bid, Motsepe said in a press conference.

President Motsepe said: “I visited Guinea today out of respect to the people of Guinea to discuss CAF’s willingness to advise and work together with the football stakeholders to construct and build football infrastructure and facilities in this country.

This will enable Guinea to bid with other competing Nations for the African Nations Championships (“CHAN”) which will take place after the CHAN to be hosted by Algeria in 2023, in the light of the decision by CAF not to proceed with the TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 in Guinea.”

The CAF Executive Committee will be meeting on Saturday, 1 October 2022 in Algiers, Algeria and will take a decision to re-open the bidding process for the TotalEnergies AFCON 2025.

In 2014, CAF awarded the 2019 tournament to Cameroon, the 2021 event to Ivory Coast and the 2023 edition to Guinea.

Then Egypt replaced Cameroon for 2019 with CAF shifting the calendar, awarding the 2021 edition to Cameroon, which was held this year, and the 2023 edition to Ivory Coast.

Guinea had then agreed to organise the 2025 edition. This is also a severe blow to Guinea. Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, who came to power in a coup in September 2021, had expressed his firm intention to honour the commitment to hosting.

The event was always going to be a significant challenge for one of the world’s poorest countries, which is sorely lacking in infrastructure, sports facilities and transportation.

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Sierra Leone to open Wafu U17 against host Mauritania

by FSL News | 30 Sep, 2022 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

Sierra Leone will open this year’s TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers for WAFU (Zone A) tournament on Saturday 1st October, against host Mauritania.

The Multi-purpose Shebkha Bedia stadiums will host the opener kickoff at 6 pm. Host Mauritania battle Liberia on Monday, October 3, in their final match.

WAFU U17 competition will run from 1st to 10th October 2022. The two finalists are to compete in the U17 tournament in Algeria in 2023.

The Sierra Stars of Sierra Leone contingent comprises 23 players and 13 Officials.

Across all national levels, Sierra Stars remain the only Sierra Leone side to have participated in a FIFA competition after their impressive performance in the 2003 U-17 African qualifiers hosted in Swaziland and qualified for the World Cup finals in Finland alongside Nigeria and Cameroon under the guidance of former Sierra Leone International Musa Kallon.

U17 tournament in Mauritania 🇲🇷 Sierra Leone to face host and neighbours Liberia 🇱🇷

The competition is set to run from October 1st to 10th 2022.

Two finalists to compete in the U17 tournament in Algeria 2023. #SaloneTwitter #AfricanFootball @football_sierra pic.twitter.com/PYeCUCgAq2
— Alie Bittar (@bittar32) July 20, 2022

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Another crushing defeat as Sierra Leone fall to DRC Leopards

by FSL News | 28 Sep, 2022 | Football Africa, International, National Sport News Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone senior team Leone Stars was again put under the microscope following their 3-0 loss to DRC Leopards at the Stade Père Jégo on Tuesday.

Before this tie, Sierra Leone was heavily defeated 4-0 by South Africa at the FNB stadium on Saturday.

After a much better performance in the first half against DRC, they conceded three goals in four minutes in the second half.

Malenga Ngita Ben opened the scoring in the 70-minute before Kayembe Kayemba Edo doubled the Leopards’ lead in the 72nd minute.

Elia Lina Meshak scored their third in the 74th minute to dismantle their West Africa counterparts.

As a result, they conceded seven goals in their two International friendlies this month – and both results have sparked widespread criticism among soccer fans.

Both matches were part of a training International ahead of next year’s African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sao Tome in March 2023.

Match Highlight Below

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Sierra Leone shift attention to DRC Leopards

by FSL News | 26 Sep, 2022 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

After a disappointing display against South Africa, coach John Keister’s side will focus on amending their poor showing when they lock horns with DRC Leopards on Tuesday in Casablanca.

A brace from Themba Zwane in the 33′ 66′, Mihlali Mayambela 49′, and Aubrey Modiba 72′ were enough to condemn the Leone Stars to a 4-0 heavy defeat in their first International friendly on Saturday at the FNB stadium.

The Leone Stars will now turn attention to Tuesday’s encounter with DRC Leopards, who were defeated by Burkina-Faso 1-0 at the Stade Père Jégo on Friday in Casablanca.

Both nations are coming into this contest from a back of a defeat, but DRC never lost to their West African counterparts.

The Leone Stars coach, during his post-match interview after the awful defeat to South Africa, noted that his side suffered as a result of poor preparations.

“The reality is there – if you don’t get it right in terms of preparations, this is what’s going to happen. We looked very tired – you can’t have players leaving their base from Monday hanging around hotels waiting for visas to come into South Africa.”

“What do you expect if you train for an hour, not even an hour, to come and play against a decent side? There’s no magic about it.”

During the 2014 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, DRC recorded a back-to-back defeat against Sierra Leone and scored five goals in Lubumbashi.

This encounter will be the third between the two nations.

Meanwhile, Leone Stars arrived in Casablanca today ahead of their second International friendly slated to be played at the Stade Père Jégo.

Coach Keister is expected to make a few changes to the side that was heavily defeated in South Africa.

Sierra Leone Spain-based midfielder Alusine Koroma is set to join the team in Morocco today. Koroma made his senior international debut on 17 March 2018 in a friendly against Iran.

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Grey Yellow Football Match Instagram Post

South Africa crush Sierra Leone to end unbeaten record

by FSL News | 24 Sep, 2022 | Football Africa, International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News

Sierra Leone’s unbeaten record has now been thrashed at the FNB stadium after they succumbed to a 4-0 defeat on Saturday.

The former African Champions Bafana Bafana of South Africa have recorded their first triumph over the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone in an international friendly at the FNB stadium on Saturday.

The host’s first goal came through Themba Zwane, the midfielder, who received Zakhele Lepasa’s pass and gave South Africa the lead after he brilliantly turned inside the box to lose his marker before firing beyond Kamara into the net in the 31-minutes.

Sierra Leone struggled the entire first half as the host took full advantage to keep their lead.

After the restart, Bafana Bafana doubled their lead through a Mayambela tap-in into an empty net on debut after some brilliant work from Lepasa, who drew Kamara out of his goals before picking out his teammate.

Brilliant Themba Zwane scored a brace to give the host their third of the day in the 64-minute after another great inter-change football.

In the 72-minute, the South Africans completed their onslaught on coach John Keister’s side when they extended their lead to four through Modiba’s goal.

Sierra Leone has failed to win in their last three games. The Leone Stars’ previous outing in the Africa Cup of Nations matchday two qualifiers was a 2-2 draw with Guinea Bissau in June at the Stade Général Lansana Conté, Conakry.

The Leone Stars will now turn attention to Tuesday’s encounter with DRC Leopards at the Stade Père Jégo in Casablanca.

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Sierra Leone's unbeaten record has now been thrashed at the FNB stadium after they succumbed to a 4-0 defeat on Saturday.

Sierra Leone aim to maintain record over South Africa

by FSL News | 23 Sep, 2022 | Football Africa, International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News

Sierra Leone skipper Steven Caulker has admitted they want to maintain their unbeaten record over South Africa when the two nations lock horns on Saturday.

The former England International has been leading a new generation of Leone Stars players after the Nations Cup in Cameroon this year.

The former African Champions South Africa will engage Sierra Leone for the fifth time at the FNB stadium on Saturday.

The iconic 94, 736-seater FNB stadium in Nasrec, near Johannesburg’s Soweto, will host the fifth meeting between the two nations. Kickoff 1:00 pm Sierra Leone on Saturday, September 24.

Both nations are using the contest as preparation for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

When answering a question on Sierra Leone’s record over the host team, he assured that they want to maintain that record.

“We look to maintain that record – I wasn’t aware that we have such a record against South Africa. We must play well for our country and get a result. On a good day, we would like to get a result with a clean sheet.”

Head Coach John Keister, during his pre-match conference, has said that the tie will be a competitive contest as they’re looking to get to a winning habit.

“Saturday’s type is going to be competitive. We want to win football matches. These are the type of matches you want to come to and give a good account of yourself. We want to get into a good habit of winning. Winning is a habit.”

On the Issue of visa delay causing the late arrival of some of his players – Keister made it clear he would love to get his players early, but at the same time, he doesn’t want to make excuses.

“The unfortunate situation coming here is not ideal, but again I have a group of players with a good mentality.”

Bafana Bafana’s last outing was in June, where they bowed 2-1 to Morocco despite taking an eighth-minute lead through Lyle Foster inside Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat.

The Leone Stars’ last outing in the Africa Cup of Nations matchday two qualifiers was a 2-2 draw with Guinea Bissau in June at the Stade Général Lansana Conté, Conakry.

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