Admin, Author at Football Sierra Leone

Hamzad Kargbo features in QPR’s preseason defeat

by Admin | 9 Jul, 2023 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sport News

Sierra Leone native Hamzad Kargbo was named in Gareth Ainsworth’s Queen Park Rangers’ first-team squad as they suffered a 3-0 defeat in a pre-season friendly to Slavia Prague in Austria.

QPR were two goals down at half-time before the Czech top-flight outfit rubber-stamped their win shortly after the hour mark.

Gareth Ainsworth’s men included debutant Ziyad Larkeche among their starters following his summer switch from Fulham – who lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation initially.

Kargbo, 21, who has been on loan to Southern United, started the match in Austria.

Last season, he played on loan for Oxford City. Kargbo, who joined QPR in 2014 from Mass Elite Academy in London, could make his second appearance when Rangers return to pre-season action next Saturday, taking on Vorwarts Steyr at the Liwest Arena to round off our trip to Austria.

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Morocco win first U23 AFCON defeating Egypt

by Admin | 9 Jul, 2023 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

Host Morocco defeated defending champions Egypt 2-1 in extra time at home in Rabat on Saturday (8 July). Both teams and Mali booked their places in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Morocco came from behind to clinch their first TotalEnergies U-23 Africa Cup of Nations title against ten-man Egypt at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, requiring extra time to settle the match.

They became only the fourth nation to lift the trophy since the football tournament was launched in 2011. Morocco finished runners-up in the inaugural tournament losing to Gabon 2-1 in Marrakech.

Egypt took an early lead when Mahmoud Saber unleashed a brilliant curler into the top corner, giving his team an advantage after just nine minutes of play.

However, after Saber’s received a red card eight minutes later for a reckless challenge to Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, things went from good to bad.

In the 37th-minutes, Yanis Begraoui draws parity to end the first half 1-1. No goal was scored in the second 45 minutes until extra time when substitute Oussamna Targhalline capitalized on a free kick from Ezzalzouli, delivering a powerful strike that eluded the Egyptian goalkeeper, making it 2-1 in favour of Morocco.

𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 🇲🇦🏆🎉🥳#TotalEnergiesAFCONU23 pic.twitter.com/YX44Ccyydj

— #TotalEnergiesAFCONU23 🏆 (@CAF_Online) July 8, 2023

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Bo Rangers set for West Africa Champions Cup

by Admin | 7 Jul, 2023 | Football Africa, International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News

Sierra Leone Premier League reigning Champions Bo Rangers will feature in the second edition of the West Africa Champions Cup.

The second edition of the WACC 2023 will take place from 07 to 13 August 2023 at the Sports Center in Yorokoguia Dubréka in Guinea.

In the first edition, Académie SOAR in Guinea, Djoliba Athlétic Club from Mali, Casa Sports from Senegal and Horoya Athletic Club participated.

Bo Rangers clinched their second consecutive Sierra Leone Premier League title after round 30 of the Sierra Leone Premier League, defeating Wusum Stars Football Club 2-0 on Sunday at the Southern Arena.

Their second straight title in the club’s history. A remarkable achievement for the Southern Province outfit with four games to spare.

Abu Komeh netted the first goal in the 72nd minute from the penalty spot before Suffian Kaloko sealed the all-important win in the 78 minutes.

The Elephant Boys are the fifth team in the Sierra Leone Premier League history to win a back-to-back title after Mighty Blackpool in 1978 and 1979, Real Republicans in 1983 and 1984, and Diamond Stars in 2012 and 2013.

The title means they have qualified to compete in the next CAF Champions League after their debut in the last continental club competition.

Related News – https://old.footballsierraleone.net/2022/09/18/caf-cl-bo-rangers-eliminated-after-defeat-in-algeria/

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Guinea, Mali to battle for U23 Olympic Games ticket

by Admin | 7 Jul, 2023 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

The two West African nations set for an eventful TotalEnergies CAF U23 Africa Cup of Nations third and fourth-place play-off tie on Friday.

Kick Off for the all-important cracker at 17:00 GMT at the Grande Stade de Tanger in Tangier.

A place for Paris Paris 2024 Summer Olympics next year is at stake after both nations suffered semi-final defeats to Egypt and Morocco, respectively.

With only three allocated spots for the Paris games, the winner of this cracker will join Morocco and Egypt. However, there is still the chance for the loser of the third-place playoff between Mali and Guinea to seal a place in the competition to be held in Paris.

The U23 African Cup of Nations fourth-placed team must win a play-off match against a country from Asia at a date to be decided by competition organisers.

Guinea finished second in the group, with their only loss coming against the host nation.

Mali, who also finished second, made the defending champions sweat for a top finish in Group B as they were separated by a mere point in deciding who finished top.

Host Morocco face-off Egypt in Africa Cup of Nations U23 final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex on Saturday.#TotalEnergiesAFCONU23 #AfricanFootball #AfricanTwitter pic.twitter.com/Wfx3wHq5G7
— Alie Bittar (@bittar32) July 5, 2023

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Mali determined for historic battle against Guinea in Olympic play-off

Sierra Leone FA members bury hatchet at Ordinary Congress

by Admin | 6 Jul, 2023 | Football Africa, International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News

Members were pleased with the decisions taken at SLFA Ordinary Congress.
The reduction of Premier League teams from present 18 to 12 was unanimously embraced by members by the 2025/26 league season.
A package of artificial turf, floodlight, perimeter fence, 100KVA generator and 100-seater pavilion at the SLFA Academy Field, Approved School Field, Port Loko Town Field and Bo Coronation Field are all in the pipeline.

“For me, this was the best Congress attended in a decade with my experinced in previous Congress,” a member who wanted to remain anonymous attested.

“An open discussions on desicive issues towards the development of the game. We are more unified as President Daddy Brima – and his executive outlined isssues and progress updates on urgent infastratural process. Now, we wait to see the outcome.”

Toeing the line was Mighty Blackpool and one of the most experienced football administrators in the country, Rodney Michael.

“Overall, the congress was well organised in line with the provisions of the statutes. Documents submitted a bit late, but everyone was given the opportunity to freely participate and even criticise without being frowned upon,” Rodney Michael, one of the leading administrators, noted.

The Mighty Blackpool chairman continues, “The process was smooth as the Chairman of the occasion, who happens to be the FA boss, allowed congress to delibrates to decide on almost all issues. There were issues of concerns raised, but overall the FA presented a lot of ambitious projects in the pipeline, which if they materialise, would be a wonderful achievement by the President and his Executive. We wait in excitement to see the completion of the projects.”

Congress Wrap-Up

Led by the Sierra Leone Football Association President Thomas Daddy Brima and his Executive Committee, the first under his leadership since he took office in 2021, was witnessed by the Minister of Sports Ibrahim Nyelenkeh, Executive Director of the National Sports Authority Dr Kenneth Brima and the President of the National Olympic Committee Prince Suallay.

Among other things, stakeholders deliberated on issues pertinent to the development of football nationwide, key among which was the adoption of a new Football Ecosystem aimed at reducing the number of teams in the various SLFA leagues to ensure quality, efficiency and proper league management.

President Thomas Daddy Brima vehemently disclosed several upcoming developmental projects set to be implemented by his Executive Committee. As per the president’s statement, a package of artificial turf, floodlight, perimeter fence, 100KVA generator and 100-seater pavilion at the SLFA Academy Field, Approved School Field, Port Loko Town Field and Bo Coronation Field are all in the pipeline.

“As part of the same projects, the Kono artificial turf pitch will be renovated with a perimeter fence whiles the Kenema pitch will be equipped with standard floodlight.”

The projects are set to commence in August 2023 as the Netherland-based contractors representing Edel Grass are expected to arrive in Freetown on Friday, July 7th, to complete the necessary documentation.

@SLFA_sl held a successful Ordinary Congress at the Radisson Blu Hotel on Wednesday, July 5th. Led by @thomasdbrima stakeholders were pleased with the process and outcome.

Some even described it as the best over the last decade. @thomasdbrima @bittar32 #FootballNews pic.twitter.com/KMFbxxhKcs

— @football_sierra (FSL Media) 🇸🇱 website (@football_sierra) July 6, 2023

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