Football Africa Archives - Page 32 of 139

Osman Kakay makes four straight QPR start

by FSL News | 11 Mar, 2023 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sport News

The Sierra Leone International Osman Kakay has been pivotal under new Queens Park Rangers boss Gareth Ainsworth.

Ainsworth again named the left-back to his starting eleven for Watford on Saturday afternoon at Vicarage Road Stadium.

Key Stats

Queens Park Rangers are looking to complete a league double over Watford for the first time since the 1986/87 top-flight campaign, following a 3-2 win in the reverse fixture.

Both Watford and QPR have scored in each of their last four league meetings – only in February 1929 (seven games), May 1963 (five games) and December 2007 (five games) have there been longer such runs in this fixture in the Football League.

The Rs are winless in their last nine league games at Loftus Road, losing each of their previous three and conceding 19 goals during that run (2.1 per game).

Chris Wilder, Watford Head Coach:

“If we can escape the traps quickly on Saturday, that’ll be great. I believe we’re taking about 3,000 supporters, and they’ll expect a performance just as much as I will.”

Gareth Ainsworth, Queens Park Rangers Head Coach:

“Watford is always a tough test. Chris Wilder is in charge now, and we have to be adaptable.

“I’ve had many battles with Chris over the years. He’s a fantastic manager who has proved it in the Premier League.

“I’m sure it will be another battle on Saturday.”

Last Six:

August 2022: Watford 2-3 QPR (Championship)
February 2021: Watford 1-2 QPR (Championship)
November 2020: QPR 1-1 Watford (Championship)
February 2019: QPR 0-1 Watford (FA Cup)
April 2014: QPR 2-1 Watford (Championship)
December 2013: Watford 0-0 QPR (Championship)

Credit WatfordFC

👥 Ready for the teams.

Here's a reminder of R's 📝#QPR | #QPRWAT pic.twitter.com/qWZbHAfgp3
— QPR FC (@QPR) March 11, 2023

Contact us on Twitter @football_sierra – on Facebook & Instagram Football Sierra Leone – Players Abroad News.

Alex Bangura & Issa Kallon out of Sierra Leone qualifiers

by FSL News | 9 Mar, 2023 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

Shanghai Port winger Issa Kallon and Cambuur left-back Alex Bangura will not be available for selection as Sierra Leone prepares for the Sao Tome doubleheader later this month.

Coach John Keister’s side will return to continental action in the race to reach the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.

Kallon, 27, who joined Chinese Super League club Shanghai Port in July last year, has confirmed his unavailability for selection.

“I am just returning from Injury. I want to get back to full fitness. I will not be part of the team as I am staying in China,” Kallon told Football Sierra Leone.

He added, “We have a new coach who wants to see and know his players better during pre-season.”

When asked about future Sierra Leone call up, he said, “I do not know. We will see at the time my situation.”

Alex Bangura, 23, the Cambuur skipper, is unavailable for comment. However, a source close to Sierra Leone Football Association has confirmed Bangura’s omission from the squad, citing personal reasons.

Third, in Group A, Sierra Leone is to host São Tomé and Príncipe on March 22nd 2023, at the 45,000-capacity Grand Stade Adrar Agadir in Morocco before the second leg on 26.

Sierra Leone staged a second-half comeback to share spoils with Guinea-Bissau in their matchday two Group A Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in the Guinean capital in June 2022.

Both West African nations played to a 2-2 draw, and as a result, Sierra Leone placed third in the group with a point after their two opening games.

To regain qualification hopes, Sierra Leone must win both matches or at least secure four points against their Central African opposition as they bid to reach Ivory Coast next year.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and African News.

Keeper Kamara makes Horoya’s CL debut in defeat to Raja

by FSL News | 8 Mar, 2023 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sport News

Sierra Leone first-choice keeper Mohamed Kamara was subbed on in the 29th minute to replace Moussa Camara to make his CAF Champions League debut in Horoya AC‘s 3-1 defeat to Raja Casablanca at Stade du 26 Mars in Mali.

First-choice goalkeeper Moussa Camara was sent off after 26 minutes for a second yellow card after handling the ball outside the penalty area.

The Moroccans became the first team to qualify for this CAF Champions League quarter-finals after winning 3-1 away to Horoya AC on Tuesday.

A brace for Walid Sabbar and Mohamed Nahiri’s 42nd-minute goal was enough for the visitors in Mali.

Horoya pulled one back six minutes later, the first time Raja was conceding in the group stages when Pape Ndiaye shot from inside the penalty box after a good build-up.

Raja should have completely killed off the game with seven minutes left when they won a penalty kick when goalkeeper Kamara had brought down Naoufel Zerhouni inside the penalty box, but Mohamed Zrida struck his effort wide.

As a result, Raja’s maintain their 100 per cent record in Group with a maximum of 12 points. They are six ahead of Tanzania’s Simba, who moved to second after edging out Ugandan debutants Vipers SC 1-0 in the other group fixture in Dar es Salaam.

Contact us on Twitter @football_sierra – on Facebook & Instagram Football Sierra Leone – Players Abroad News.

Adama Bojang star as Gambia beat Nigeria in U20 semis

by FSL News | 7 Mar, 2023 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

The Gambian starlet Adama Bojang scored the all-important winner against Nigeria in the semi-final of the TotalEnergies U20 Africa Cup of Nations on Monday night in Cairo.

The youngster, who netted a hat-trick in an emphatic 5-0 win against South Sudan in the quarters, was at his best at the Cairo International Stadium.

As a result, Bojang is the first Gambian to score a hat-trick in a CAF tournament, putting his name in his country’s record books. Technical observers earned him the Man of the Match award.

The Young Scorpions scored against the run of play when Ebrima Singhateh blocked a misplaced pass towards the path of Adama Bojang, who slotted past the helpless Chijioke Aniagboso after seven minutes.

Nigeria’s Ahmed Abdullahi missed a spot kick in the 85th minute that could have restored hopes. His spot kick came off the post as Gambia survived to sail through to their first-ever TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations final.

In the 89th minute, Gambia ended the match at ten following the dismissal of Haruna Rasid Njie for an unsportsmanlike gesture.

Gambia will face neighbours Senegal in the final on Saturday, 11 March at 19h00 local time (17:00 GMT) at the Cairo International Stadium.

The 2023 TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations is Gambia’s fourth participation, and they have qualified for the semi-finals in three of the four tournaments.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and African News.

Gambia will face neighbours Senegal in the final on Saturday, 11 March, at 19h00 local time (17:00 GMT) at the Cairo International Stadium.

The Young Scorpions also qualified for the U20 World Cup to be played in Indonesia this year thanks to the win that steered them to the last four.

Simbo’s Neroca move up to eight after a home win

by FSL News | 6 Mar, 2023 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

NEROCA FC defeated Mohammedan Sporting 2-0 at Khuman Lampak Stadium on Sunday, March 5, 2023, as they moved to the eighth position on the Hero I-League table.

Neroca’s skipper David Simbo (In photo) was pleased after another hard-fought victory to survive relegation. “It was a great win – we have worked hard all season,” Simbo told FSL News.

“Three straight games without a defeat. As a team, we are very pleased with our effort. I am happy as skipper of this great football club.”

Kolkata’s side dropped to the 10^th position. As things stand today, Aizawl FC, NEROCA and Rajasthan United are all on 25 points.

Their last matches would be crucial to determine when and where these four teams play in the Super Cup qualifiers.

The home side’s first goal came in the 10th minute. Ghanaian forward Michael Kporvi had a clear look at the goal and unleashed a right-footer from around 30 yards out before Sweden Fernandes completed the win in the 65th-minutes.

It was a free-kick from the left, a long way off the goal. But Sweden went for the goal himself and was able to swing it a long way, in through the first post at the top corner. Slight deflection from the wall did help. Zothanmawia could not even move.

Contact us on Twitter @football_sierra – Facebook & Instagram Football Sierra Leone – African News

NEROCA rise to eighth spot with 2-0 win over Mohammedan Sporting

Kei Kamara makes debut as Fire share spoils with NYCFC

by FSL News | 5 Mar, 2023 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sport News

Kei Kamara made his Chicago Fire debut in a 1-1 draw at home against New York City FC at Soldier Field on Sunday as he became the only player in Major League Soccer (MLS) history to feature for ten different teams.

Fabian Herbers pounded a deflected strike past goalkeeper Luis Barraza in the 75th minute from Kamara’s header as he helped Chicago Fire salvage a 1-1 tie with visiting New York City FC on Saturday night.

The visitor took the lead through Gabriel Pereira in the 39th minute when he guided a low, left-footed strike into the bottom left corner beyond Spencer Richey’s dive.

Kei Kamara came on at halftime after he arrived from Montreal in a trade earlier this week.

Chicago Fire’s next outing in the MLS is away to Philadelphia Union next Saturday.

FIRST GOAL OF THE '23 SEASON GOES TO FABI pic.twitter.com/Fd6kkpzgww
— Chicago Fire FC (@ChicagoFire) March 5, 2023

By appearing in tonight’s match for the @ChicagoFire, Kei Kamara is now the only player in league history to play for 10 different @MLS teams. pic.twitter.com/O9ITdluZ3R
— MLS Communications (@MLS_PR) March 5, 2023