Football Africa Archives - Page 34 of 139

Coach John Keister starts Sao Tome preparations

by FSL News | 28 Feb, 2023 | Football Africa, International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News

Sierra Leone national head coach John Keister has started preparations for the African Cup of Nations double-header against São Tomé and Príncipe on March 23 and 26 in Morroco.

After he named 40 local stars in his preliminary list, the players commenced training at the Murray Town facility in Freetown on Monday.

Third, in Group A, Sierra Leone will resume action in their race to Ivory Coast 2023 against São Tomé and Príncipe on Wednesday, the 22nd of March 2023, before their matchday four return leg on March 26.

45,000 seater Grand Stade Adrar Agadir in Morocco will host both 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches.

The Leone Stars’ last outing was a 2-2 draw against Guinea-Bissau. Guinea-Bissau is on four points and occupies second place. Nigeria, who thrashed Sao Tome 10-0 in Morocco Stade d Agadir, top Group A with six points.

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Sierra Leone Coach John Keister starts Sao Tome preparations

Women’s football on agenda as Infantino meets SLFA boss Brima

by FSL News | 27 Feb, 2023 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

Gianni Infantino holds discussions with counterpart from the SLFA
President Thomas Brima provides an update on his country’s progress in the women’s game
The meeting took place in FIFA’s Paris bureau, in France

The President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has travelled to Paris to meet with FIFA President Gianni Infantino to provide an update on the remarkable progress made in women’s football development, and to identify further collaboration opportunities with FIFA in the future.

Women’s football in Sierra Leone entered an exciting new era in October 2022, as the country’s Women’s Premier League kicked off.

More than three years had passed since Sierra Leone last had a women’s league in operation when it was only a regional competition.

The inauguration of the new competition meant that the African nation’s top 12 women’s teams would face each other home and away and fight it out for the right to become Sierra Leonean champions – a project made possible by FIFA Forward funding.

President Infantino said, “At FIFA we are committed to developing football at all levels and in every corner of the world. Hearing the reports of the great work being carried out in Sierra Leone to ensure that women and girls across the country can have access to football and aspire to be the next football star fills me with joy. The launch of the Women’s Premier League is a perfect example of what the FIFA Forward programme is for, and it was great to meet with President Brima in Paris to learn more about the progress they are making.”

Speaking after the meeting, President Brima also said of his organisation’s willingness to further engage the FIFA Forward programme, which moves into its next phase in 2023 – as FIFA honours its commitment to bolster funding by almost 30%, compared to the previous four-year cycle.

“We are working with the Forward [Programme] Funds to develop infrastructure, and the good thing is that I’ve just got the confirmation FIFA is going to help us with infrastructure through the Forward Funds,” he said. “On our end, we are trying to play whatever tournaments we can. Last year, we played all FIFA and CAF-sanctioned tournaments. That is to say, we are moving in the right direction.”

Credit Fifa.com

Idris Kanu nets in Barnet’s emphatic win over Aldershot

by FSL News | 26 Feb, 2023 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sport News

Sierra Leone striker Idris Kanu registered his seventh of the season in Barnet’s emphatic 4-1 win over Aldershot Town at the Hive Stadium.

Aldershot Town suffered a heavy defeat in the capital, their third defeat in a week, with a 4-1 loss to Barnet on Saturday.

The Bees started well with Ryan De Havilland hitting the post from a free-kick in the 12th minute.

In the 13th minute, Harry Pritchard opened the scoring by chipping the ball from the edge of the box to take the lead.

Aldershot levelled in the 59th minute through Ryan Glover, who smashed the ball into the top corner before Harry Smith restored Barnet’s lead six minutes later with a header at the back post.

Idris Kanu, 23, got on the end of a long ball forward before slotting his shot under Ashby-Hammond for Barnet’s third in the 76th-minutes.

The win means Barnet ended their three consecutive National League losses by defeating Aldershot.

Substitute Courtney Senior made a quick impact from the bench to score the fourth in the 82nd minute.

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MLS third all-time scorer Kamara joins Chicago Fire

by FSL News | 25 Feb, 2023 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sport News

CF Montreal has traded Sierra Leonean veteran MLS striker Kei Kamara to the Chicago Fire on Friday – in return, CFM receives up to $400,000 in Targeted Allocation Money.

He featured in 39 games across all competitions in 2022, scoring nine times. Over the years, Kamara, 38, 139 goals are the third-most in MLS history.

“We are excited to welcome Kei Kamara to the Fire,” said Chicago Fire FC Sporting Director Georg Heitz.

“Kei has shown throughout his career that he can consistently produce goals in MLS, including this past season with CF Montréal. Not only will he help to make us more dangerous in the attacking third, but he will bring experience and leadership to the squad. Kei will be an important addition to the team as we continue to build the squad for the 2023 season.”

A 16-year MLS veteran, Kamara has played in 391 regular season matches, logging 313 starts and 28,668 minutes played.

During that time, Kamara scored 139 goals and registered 54 assists. His 139 goals are ranked as the third-most in MLS history, and Kamara currently has the most goals in League history among all active players.

Additionally, he is one of 10 players in MLS history and the only active player to have scored more than 100 regular season goals in his career.

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U20: Nigeria’s Flying Eagles stun host Egypt

by FSL News | 23 Feb, 2023 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

Resilient Nigeria’s Flying Eagles defeated host Egypt 1-0 in the ongoing U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in their second group game on Wednesday.

After starting on a losing note against Senegal, the win over their north African counterparts was an improved performance as they reignited their hope for a record-extending eighth title and a berth in the World Cup.

Following several unsuccessful attempts at breaking the deadlock, Solomon Agbalaka’s bullet header in the 71st minute was enough for the Flying Eagles to boost their chance of qualifying for the knockouts.

The defender was voted Man-of-the-match for his match-winning goal.

With this victory, Flying Eagles are now second in Group A with three points behind Senegal.

Egypt, the host nation, sits in third position with a point from two games, the same as Mozambique, which lies at the bottom with an inferior goals deficit.

Ladan Bosso’s men face Mozambique in the final group game on Saturday evening.

Meanwhile, Senegal booked their place in the quarter-final following a flawless 3-0 hammering of Mozambique on Wednesday.

In the final round of matches, Nigeria to battle Mozambique at the Suez Canal Stadium. Egypt goes toe to toe with already qualified Senegal in Cairo International Stadium on Saturday.

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TotalEnergies AFCON U-20 Group A standings after two matches

Osman Kakay’s first session under new QPR’s head coach

by FSL News | 22 Feb, 2023 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sport News

Sierra Leone right back Osman Kakay and the rest of Queens Park Rangers teammates took their first training under newly appointed boss Gareth Ainsworth on Tuesday.

Gareth Ainsworth replaced sacked Neil Critchley after just 12 games in charge at Loftus Road.

The Hoops’ new boss, who signed a three-and-a-half-year deal at Loftus Road, the first task is against Blackburn Rovers in front of the homes fans.

Kakay, 25, will be hoping to impress his new boss in return for regular first-team football. He played the full throttle of their 3-1 defeat to Middlesbrough on Saturday.

During this campaign, Kakay has featured eighteen times for the Championship side in all competitions.

Having been on the books at QPR since the age of eight, Kakay has worked his way up through the Rangers youth ranks and has now got his part to play in Mark Warburton’s side.

Read Osman Kakay’s Queens Park Rangers Journey

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