Algeria, Egypt & Tunisia register wins in race to Qatar 2022 

Algeria, Egypt & Tunisia register wins in race to Qatar 2022 

North African sides Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia struck first blood, winning the first leg matches of their Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup play-off qualification matches on Friday.

Algeria and Tunisia picked up vital 1-0 wins away from home against Cameroon and Mali, respectively, while Egypt’s Pharaohs clinched a similar result at home against African champions Senegal.

In the other two matches, DR Congo played to a 1-1 draw with Morocco while Nigeria and Ghana played to a barren stalemate in Kumasi.

Recap of CAFOnline summary of Friday’s matches.

Cameroon 0-1 Algeria

In Douala, Islam Silimani scored the lone goal as former African champions Algeria silenced Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions at the Japoma Stadium.

Slimani scored his eighth goal in World Cup qualification, thumping home a 40th-minute header from Youcef Bellaili’s delivery off a freekick.

Mali 0-1 Tunisia

In Bamako, defender Moussa Sissako was the unfortunate villain for the Malians as he scored an own goal and was sent off minutes later as the home side lost by a solitary goal to Tunisia.

Sissako scored a bizarre own goal in the 36th minute when his attempt to pass the ball back to his keeper was awry as the shot-stopper had moved off his line and the pass was a yard off his positioning.

DR Congo 1-1 Morocco

In Kinshasa, substitutes Ayoub El Kaabi and Tarik Tissoudali combined for the equalizer as Morocco scored with 14 minutes left to salvage a 1-1 draw with DR Congo.

Yoane Wissa gave his side the lead just 12 minutes into the match when his brilliant shot from distance took a wicked deflection off skipper Roman Saiss and into the net.

Egypt 1-0 Senegal

At the Cairo International Stadium, hosts Egypt laid revenge on Senegal, who beat them to the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations title in Cameroon last month, beating them by a solitary goal.

Saliou Ciss scored into his net just four minutes in as the Egyptians took a massive lead that they jealously guarded ahead of next week’s second leg.

Ghana 0 – 0 Nigeria

At a fully packed Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, hosts Ghana played to a barren draw with Nigeria in a highly publicized derby, leaving all to play for when the two sides clash in Abuja on Tuesday.

Both sides had chances to score, but none was lucky enough to find the back of the net.

FSL News – African Football News – Follow us on Twitter @football_sierra On Facebook & Instagram: Football Sierra Leone.

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Sierra Leone’s Leone Stars kick-off their 2023 African Cup of Nations qualifying preparation with a 3-0 defeat to their Togolese counterpart on Thursday evening in Turkey. 

At the Mardan Sports Complex in Aksu Antalya, Turkey, John Keistrer’s new looks side were better in the opening exchanges.  Bolton’s striker Amadou Bakayoko came close twice with his half chances. The two teams started brilliantly with energy in an entertaining opening 15-minutes.

Togo had a chance to go ahead through their striker Kevin Denkey, but Mohamed Kamara in goal for Sierra Leone was attentive. 

Both sides played to a goalless first half as the Leone Stars new-look young and energetic impress in the opening 45-minutes. However, the second half exploded with three goals for the Togolese. 

Paulo Duarte’s side took control of the tie after they scored a direct free-kick through Euloge Placca in the 48-minute. He completed his double from outside the area after his strike fine the back of the net in the 51st minute to further dampen the Leone Stars spirit. 

Sierra Leone pushed forward to get a goal of their own, but debutant Winston Ceesay made a costly error. Guillaume Yenoussi capitalised on Ceesay’s lost ball to score their third. 

A total of seven new players were part of the Leone Stars’ first test match. East End Lions’ in-form striker Alie Conteh replaced Alusine Koroma to make his Sierra Leone debut. 

In his post-match interview, John Keister says his side conceded easy goals from individual mistakes. 

Changes made – Alie Conteh in for Alusine Koroma, Augustus kargbo in for Issa Kallon, Emmanuel Samadia in for Jonathan Morsay in the 70th-minute before Winston Ceesay replaced Ibrahim Sillah. 

Sierra Leone will face Liberia on Sunday and Congo Brazaville on Tuesday in their remaining two friendly International. 

FSL News – African Football News – Follow us on Twitter @football_sierra On Facebook & Instagram: Football Sierra Leone.

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Sierra Leone national team starting their internship against Togo at the Mardan multi-purpose stadium in Aksu, AntalyaTurkey

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Michael, 22, joins Indy Eleven after impressing while on trial during the team’s preseason. “It means a lot to join such an amazing club in a very competitive league. Moving to a higher level will definitely help my development as a footballer. I’m ready to face any challenges that may come my way. Extremely excited to get started with Indy Eleven,” he told FSL News.

Rodney began his professional career last year with Tormenta FC, where he originally played for the club’s USL League Two side to retain his final season of collegiate eligibility before eventually being offered a professional contract to Tormenta FC’s League One squad. Michael made 16 appearances for Tormenta FC and recorded one goal, two assists and 13 key passes for the side.

Michael spent his college career with UC Santa Barbara, wherein three seasons with the Gauchos he started all but one of his 59 appearances, netted 23 goals, and tallied 15 assists. 

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Speaking to the SLFA Media, the newly appointed squad skipper Steven Caulker is optimistic that the “team has great potentials and we are positive that the team can do great things.” Adding that the team is full of young and passionate players that are enthusiastic to play football.”

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Kamil Conteh, 19, who opened his account for Braintree Town in the National League South against Hungerford Town on February 19th, says he has been great around experienced around the National team.

The Watford Under-23s midfielder joined the Iron last month on loan, weeks after making his first-team debut against Leicester City in the FA Cup, and he has made a bright start to life in Essex.

Speaking after Leone Stars’ final training at the Sueno Sports Centre on Wednesday, he said, “I’m delighted to be here for the first time as i have enjoyed every moment around the boys.”

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