Football Africa Archives - Page 14 of 139

Ghana set for Congo U23 AFCON test in Morocco

by FSL News | 20 Jun, 2023 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

Ghana Black Meteors will face Congo in their opener of the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations kick-off this weekend in Morocco.

Having departed from Accra on Monday, 12th June, the Black Meteors arrived in Cairo on the same day to kick-start their intensive training camp ahead of the tournament.

On Tuesday, the Ghanaian U23 side battle Egyptian side Zamalek in a friendly contest as they prepare for the U23 continental showpiece.

They’ll travel to Morocco on Wednesday ahead of Sunday’s opener against Congo at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

In Group A, host Morocco to compete against Ghana, Congo and Guinea. Group B is set for action between holders Egypt, Mali, Gabon and Niger in what promises to be a high-flying show.

Group A matches will be held at Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex, while Group B matches will take place at the Grand Stade de Tanger in Tangier.

The first three nations will get their ticket for the Summer Olympics in 2024.

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Sierra Leone knocked out by Nigeria in Afcon 2023 qualifiers

by FSL News | 19 Jun, 2023 | Football Africa, International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News

It was the end of the road for Sierra Leone as Nigeria emerged victorious at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Stadium in the Liberian capital Monrovia in the Group A match day five African Cup of Nations qualifier on Sunday.

The three-time African Champions prevailed with a 3-2 scoreline to secure their ticket to play at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire 2023.

Napoli’s hit-man striker Victor Osimhen scored a brace in the 19th and 32nd minutes, respectively, to help the Super Eagles grab maximum points.

Sierra Leone came into the game knowing only a victory to revive their hopes of reaching AFCON 2023. In the 41st minute, Mustapha Bundu restored hope for the Leone Stars when he struck from the edge of the box to reduce the deficit just before the break.

Sierra Leone put up a show back from half-time, knowing they needed to score goals with renewed determination.

After a couple of half chances, Augustus Kargbo equalized with a powerful shot from outside the box. The momentum favoured the Sierra Leoneans, who continued to create opportunities, albeit leaving gaps for the ever-vigilant Super Eagles.

In the end, it was Leicester City’s attacker Kelechi Iheanacho, who seized the moment, securing Nigeria’s qualification with a crucial goal. This result also guarantees qualification for Guinea-Bissau.

The final group matches are to be played in September as Sierra Leone tackles Guinea-Bissua and Nigeria hosts Sao Tome.

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Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi relishes Sierra Leone face-off

by FSL News | 17 Jun, 2023 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has been speaking ahead of the Super Eagles Group A Cup of Nations qualifying contest against Sierra Leone at the Liberian capital on Sunday.

Awoniyi, 25, is confident they must get the job done on Sunday because he believes the Nigerian players are coming off tremendous individual seasons.

After helping Forest to stay in the Premier League, the 25-year-old is confident of victory against Sierra Leone.

“Of course, Nigerians should not expect anything other than victory. Because looking at the calibre of players that we have in the team, these are players that have done well for their club sides, and I hope that we can bring home the same spirit that we have from our club sides.”

“This is a game that you have to put in your best because you only have 90 minutes to play. Perhaps, the next time you play again in September or thereabout.

Guinea-Bissau topped Group A of the qualifiers with ten points after five qualifying matches, followed by Nigeria with nine, while Sierra Leone is third with five points.

A win or draw for Nigeria will mean the end of the road for Sierra Leone, but if the Leone Stars can stun the Super Eagle, they revive every hope of reaching a back-to-back AFCON.

In seventeen meetings between the West African nations, Sierra Leone only managed two wins, ten defeats and five draws.

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Nigeria topped Group A of the qualifiers with nine points after four games, followed by Guinea-Bissau with seven points, while Sierra Leone sit third with five points after the same number of games.

Sierra Leone’s Kallum Cesay released by Tottenham

by FSL News | 17 Jun, 2023 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sport News

Sierra Leone’s Kallum Cesay released by Tottenham

Tottenham have released Sierra Leone International Kallum Cesay, among others, ahead of the 2023/24 season.

“We can also confirm the departures of Development Squad players Jamie Bowden, Kallum Cesay, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Roshaun Mathurin, Marqes Muir and Romaine Mundle following the conclusion of their contracts.

Under-18 players Thomas Bloxham, Brandon Bryan-Waugh and Riley Owen have also departed following the conclusion of their scholarships.
We wish them all the best in the next stage of their careers,” the club announced on Thursday.

Kallum Cesay, 20, who made his Sierra Leone debut in March 2022, scoring a match-winning brace on his debut to secure a 2-1 win over Congo-Brazzaville, previously played for West Ham United.

He scored two goals in 15 appearances in all competitions for our Under-18s in 2019/20, then added another four goals in 18 appearances at that level in 2020/21 while stepping up to feature once for our Development Squad in the Premier League 2.

The 2021/22 campaign was an eventful one for Kallum, who featured for our first team in pre-season before being named as a substitute in two matches in the UEFA Europa Conference League.

In the just concluded campaign, Kallum made 24 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur U 21 Premier League 2 Division One side.

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Sierra Leone coach John Keister counts on squad for Nigeria duel

by FSL News | 16 Jun, 2023 | Football Africa, International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News

Sierra Leone’s head coach John Keister is not shying away from the fact that his side must win against Nigeria to rekindle hopes of reaching Ivory Coast 2023.

Having secured five points from four matches in the ongoing qualifiers, the technician backed his side to turn up against the three-time African Champions when the two sides lock horns at the SKD in Liberia on Sunday.

Speaking to Football Sierra Leone, the Manchester-born acknowledged that his young side must be positive in their approach over 90 minutes from kickoff.

“We know this is a match that we need to win, and therefore we have to be positive in our approach against a difficult Nigerian side – and we will definitely be.”

“We are a young group, but there is just this feeling that we can come here and get a result against Nigeria. It’s going to be a fight – we are ready to deal with whatever is thrown at us. Football is about the day who wants it the most.”

Sierra Leone to host the Group A leaders at the SKD Stadium in Liberia on June 18th. Nigeria won the first meeting between the two nations 2-1 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, on 09 June 2022.

Sierra Leone Stars have played all their home games in the race to Ivory Coast on the road away from Freetown, with no suitable ground in their country to host international matches.

Guinea-Bissau topped Group A of the qualifiers with ten points after five qualifying matches, followed by Nigeria with nine, while Sierra Leone is third with five points.

In seventeen meetings between the West African nations, Sierra Leone only managed two wins, ten defeats and five draws.

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Guinea Bissau edge closer to Côte d’Ivoire as Egypt qualify

by FSL News | 15 Jun, 2023 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

Guinea-Bissau’s Zinho Gano’s 55th-minute goal in the 1-0 win over Sao Tome moved them ahead of Nigeria in Group A in the race to Côte d’Ivoire on Wednesday at the Estádio 24 de Setembro in Bissau.

The victory in Bissau means the Djurtus move to the top of Group A with 10 points, one ahead of second-placed Nigeria, who play Sierra Leone in the group’s other match.

Sierra Leone with an uphill task but can still qualify if they secure maximum points in their remaining games, starting with Nigeria on Sunday at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex.

In 2017, Guinea-Bissau qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time. They also made the AFCON in 2019 and 2021.

The Guinea-Bissau side will play Sierra Leone in their final group match.

In Wednesday’s late kickoff, Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Ahmed scored as Egypt qualified for the 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Guinea in Marrakesh on Wednesday.

Serhou Guirassy put the visitors ahead in the 26th minute, but Trezeguet equalized for Egypt just before the break before Mostafa Mohamed scored the winner 11 minutes to full time.

As a result, Egypt moved to 12 points after five rounds of matches and has an unassailable lead of nine points to the third-placed team with one round of qualification matches left to play.

Guinea remains second on course with nine points and will only need a draw in the final qualification match in September to earn a ticket to the final tournament.

Elsewhere, The Gambia defeated South Sudan 3-2 as they secured nine points from five matches in the qualifiers in Group G.

Substitute Hamza Barry’s last-gasp goal was enough as Gambia beat South Sudan in a five-goal thriller in Suez to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations.

📹 HIGHLIGHTS: 🇸🇹 0-1 🇬🇼

Super-sub Zinho Gano's goal takes Guinea-Bissau closer to #TotalEnergiesAFCON qualification as they beat São Tomé and Príncipe ✅#TotalEnergiesAFCONQ2023 pic.twitter.com/oiK1Ua48Tc
— CAF (@CAF_Online) June 14, 2023

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