Football Africa Archives - Page 75 of 139

Konyaspor renew interest in attacker Issa Kallon

by FSL News | 25 Jun, 2022 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sierra Leone Soccer team Profile

Turkish Süper Lig Konyaspor have reignited their interest in Sierra Leone Dutch-born winger Isaa Kallon.

The 26-year-old contract with Dutch top-tier side SC Cambuur-Leeuwarden expires on June 30th. The versatile winger had previously expressed interest in joining Konyaspor.

Turkish media Haberdairesi reported that the green-white management is in talks with the player.

Kallon, who has been at Cambbur since 2017, was disappointed after the Dutch side refused to let him go in February this year.

The left-winger wanted a move to Konyaspor, but the Dutch club did not accept the offer Konyaspor reportedly agreed with the winger.

Kallon featured in 33 Dutch topflight matches for Cambuur scoring five goals last season.

Meanwhile, on Friday, the club continue its preparations for the 2022-2023 season with the first stage of preparation camp at our Koyuncu Group Kayacık Facilities.

The technical team led by İlhan Palut evaluated the day after activating the CORE warm-up.

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TM Bah, coordinator shift focus on CHAN qualifiers in Morocco

by FSL News | 25 Jun, 2022 | Football Africa, International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News

The newly appointed Team Manager of the Sierra Leone homebased national team, Alhaji Umar Bah, and team coordinator Victor Lewis are both optimistic about ensuring Chan’s qualification.

Bah’s first mission is to see Leone Stars B side overcome Cape Verbe when the two sides meet in July in the Morrocan capital.

The winner of the two-legged matches will face Mali in the next stage. Sierra Leone has never qualified for the African Nations Championship exclusively for local stars from the respective national leagues.

The Business tycoon, who was unveiled by the Sierra Leone Football Association, SLFA, at their secretariat on Friday, has hailed the FA for their trust in him.

“Firstly, let me take this opportunity to appreciate the SLFA for their confidence in me with the National home-based team,” Chairman of Real Republicans Football Club and the CEO of Sierramin Bauxite Mining Company told footballsierraleone.net.

Assuring football enthusiasts, Bah, whose leadership has revamped Republicans Football Club to a Premier League playoff spot, started a relentless work ahead of next month’s qualifiers.

“I am here to work relentlessly. I am around people who are ready to let us all succeed. The aim is taking the home-based national side to another level.”

Team coordination (In the photo with TM Bah) and owner of Premier League side East End Tigers, Victor Lewis, is bullish over Bah’s appointment but admitted their task is immense but one that can be accomplished.

“It’s a task, but one that for the first time we have to accomplish for Sierra Leone,” He told this medium. We must try our best to qualify for Algeria.”

Coach Francis Zappa Koroma’s side has been in training since the beginning of June ahead of their doubleheader.

Sierra Leone was eliminated by Senegal 4-2 on aggregate during the 2018 African Nations Championship qualifiers.

The country was ineligible for the 2020 tournament due to a FIFA sanction.

All ties are slated to be played over two legs, with the winners on aggregate reaching the next stage of the qualifiers. First-round first-leg matches will be played between 22 and 24 July, with the return legs a week later.

Algeria, already qualified as the host nation, the final tournament is scheduled to be played in Algeria from 8–31 January 2023.

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The draw for the 2022 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers has been held in Cairo - here is second round zone A fixtures.

Defender Steven Caulker on Yukatel Kayserispor radar

by FSL News | 24 Jun, 2022 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sport News

Turkish Süper Lig side Yukatel Kayserispor are reportedly weighing the option to sign Sierra Leone defender Steven Caulker.

The Kayseri reports that the yellow-red team would make an offer to Fenerbahce for Caulker and Max Meyer.

The news comes a few days after Caulker returned to his parent club Fenerbache after his loan spell with Süper Lig side Gaziantep. The Former Tottenham defender featured in 29 games for Gaziantep last season.

In June 2021, the former Liverpool defender joined Fenerbahce on a two-year deal with a further year option.

Caulker, who had previously been at clubs such as Liverpool, Tottenham, Bristol City and Queens Park Rangers, played for Alanyaspor since 2019.

@TFF_Org side @KayserisporFK weighing the option to sign Sierra Leone skipper Steven Caulker from @Fenerbahce #SierraLeoneTwitter #FSLMedia #FSLNews pic.twitter.com/7RbIuZqD7w

— Alie Bittar (@bittar32) June 24, 2022

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Sierra Leone drop to 113 in latest global rankings

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

Sierra Leone dropped from 108 to 113th in the latest FIFA global rankings after their opening 2023 African Cup of Nations 2-1 defeat to Nigeria and 2-2 against Guinea-Bissau this month.

The Leone Stars of Sierra Leone suffered a 2-1 defeat to three-time African champions Nigeria at the MKO Abiola Stadium on June 9th before they fought from two goals down to draw parity with visiting Djurtus on June 13th at the General Lansana Conté stadium in Guinea.

As a result, they are now 82 places below Afcon 2023 Group A leaders Nigeria, two places ahead of Guinea-Bissau and 74th spots ahead of São Tomé and Príncipe.

The Leone Stars’ next outing will be a back-to-back qualifying game against São Tomé and Príncipe in September.

In the Global rankings, Brazil reigned over the top ten national teams, ahead of Belgium and Argentina.

FIFA’s June World Rankings (March world rankings top Ten

Brazil, Belgium, Argentina, France, England, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal and Denmark.

Top ten in Africa

18. Senegal, 22 Morocco, 30 Tunisia, 31 Nigeria, 38 Cameroon, 40 Egypt, 41 Algeria, 46 Mali, 52 Cote d’Ivoire and 55 Burkina Faso (56)

#SierraLeone #latest @FIFAcom #Ranking from 108 to 113 after they secured 1 point from two #AFCON2023Q games against Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau this month #SaloneTwitter @bittar32 pic.twitter.com/pWrHiPa5ZF

— Alie Bittar (@bittar32) June 23, 2022

⚽️ Latest FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking is out!

🇧🇷 Brazil stay top 💪
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan the big climbers 🧗
🇫🇷 France fall out of the top three 📉
🇦🇷 Argentina onto the podium 🏅

👉https://t.co/a21y1LVBnL pic.twitter.com/OkJ6mWnsFm

— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) June 23, 2022

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Alex Bangura set for Cambuur’s Ameland training camp

by FSL News | 22 Jun, 2022 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sport News

Alex Bangura has returned to full training ahead of the SC Cambuur trip to the Municipality in Ameland, Netherlands.

The Sierra Leone defender has not played since April due to an ankle injury he sustained during a training session. He missed the Leone Stars’ opening two African Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau this month.

His last game was in their 1-0 defeat away to Vitesse on 10th April 2022. The left-back is amongst the names announced by the club for a training trip in Ameland.

“We’re going to start again! from today onwards – the sights are full on the upcoming Eredivisie season. According to good tradition, the first selection of SC Cambuur will start with a mini-training camp on the Wadden Island of Ameland for the next three days,” Cambuur said on the website.

“SC Cambuur travelled early this afternoon with a selection of eighteen men, which can be found below. The four internationals and the injured Maxim Gullit are still missing.”

The listed SC Cambuurs players for the Ameland trip

Goalkeepers: Brett Minnema

Defenders: Doke Schmidt, Marco Tol, Alex Bangura, Jhondly van der Meer

Midfielders: Jasper ter Heide, Mees Hoedemakers, Jamie Jacobs, Mitchel Paulissen, Michael Breij, Robin Maulun

Attackers: Tom Boere, Sam Hendriks, Milan Smit, Remco Balk

Under 21: Thomas Rier, Roy van Mameren

Test players:

Jeremy Helmer

Under 21: Thomas Rier, Roy van Mameren

Internationals (absent): Calvin Mac-Intosch, David Sambissa

Sekou Sylla, Roberts Uldrikis – Injured (absent): Maxim Gullit

🏟 ⇢ 🚌 ⇢ ⛴️

Goede reis naar 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝, mannen! ✌️#SCCOpAmeland

— SC Cambuur (@SCCambuurLwd) June 22, 2022

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Moroccan defender Nayef Aguerd pens West Ham deal

by FSL News | 20 Jun, 2022 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

Moroccan defender Nayef Aguerd has joined Premier League side West Ham United on a five-year contract worth around £30m, including add-ons.

Aguerd is manager David Moyes’ first signing in this transfer window.

The former Dijon FCO player, who made his International debut for the Morocco national team in a friendly 0–0 tie with Albania on 31 August 2016, says he was pleased to join the Hammers.

“I was really excited when I heard about West Ham United’s interest,” said Aguerd. “When I heard about it, I knew I needed to go to the Premier League because it’s a dream for every player.

“West Ham is a historic club. I saw a few of their games this year, and I saw the fans and the atmosphere was fantastic, with the bubbles! I talked with the manager and he showed me that he was very interested, so it was easy to choose to come to West Ham.”

The 26-year-old arrived in London last week to complete his medical. Media reports indicated that Newcastle also registered an interest in Aguerd, though the Magpies are also keen on Lille’s Sven Botman.

A regular in the Atlas Lions’ starting XI with 25 senior caps and was an ever-present in Morocco’s successful 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign and run to the 2021 CAF Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.

West Ham kick-off the 2022/23 Premier League season with champions Manchester City visiting the Stadium, live on Sky Sports.

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