Sierra Leone CAF Confederation Cup representative for the 2023/24 competition, FC Kallon, has reached the competition’s second round without kicking a ball following the withdrawal of AS Douanes. 

The Freetown-based outfit will face the winner between Milo FC de Kankan Guinea and Dreams FC Ghana in the CAF Confederation second preliminary round for a place in the group stages.

The former Inter Milan and Monaco was the coach of his club (FC Kallon) in the CAF inter-clubs Confederation Cup last September when they progressed to the second qualifying stage of the competition. 

Under his guidance, they eliminated Buffles de Borgou of Benin 4-0 on aggregate – but they suffered a heavy defeat to the Egyptian side FC Future over the two legs in the second preliminary round.

Milo and Dreams shared spoils in the first leg 1-1 at the General Lansana Conté Stadium on Saturday, 19, 2023.

The Accra Sports Stadium will host the return leg between Dreams and Mila on Sunday, August 27, 2023.

The second preliminary round will take place 15 -19 September for the first leg before the return fixtures from 19 October 2023.

National News – CAF Confederation Cup Fist Leg Results 

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Head coach John Keister will take charge of Leone Stars’ final Group A AFCON qualifier against Guinea Bissau next month.

The SLFA say since coach Keister and his technical team’s contracts expire a week before the Guinea-Bissua tie, they have requested their service for the final Afcon qualifier.

The Manchester-born was appointed in August 2020 on a three-year deal until August 2023. He guided Sierra Leone to the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon in 2021 after almost three decades of absence.

Sierra Leone, who will not be part of Ivory Coast 2023 AFCON, will be playing for pride in the final match to wrap up the qualifiers.

However, This news will temporarily put an end to rumours of coach Keister’s exit until further notice.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria defeated Sierra Leone 3-2 in the Liberian Capital in match day five of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, to book a place in Cote d’Ivoire.

Osimhen’s brace was pivotal for the Super Eagles -Mustapha Bundu and Augustus Kargbo restored hope for the Leone Stars.

In the end, it was Kelechi Iheanacho who seized the moment, securing Nigeria’s qualification with a crucial goal. This result also guarantees qualification for Guinea-Bissau.

The Leone Stars will not be part of the 34th edition of AFCON 2023, which is set to hold from January 13, 2024, to Feb. 11, 2024, in six cities across Cote d’Ivoire.

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The Confederation of African Football has temporally approved the Southern Arena in Bo City, Sierra Leone, to host Bo Rangers Champions League first league preliminary this month.

Sierra Leone Champions will kick off their TotalEnergies CAF Champions League campaign against Neighbours Liberian side LISCR FC in the first round of preliminary.

The Southern Province outfit will host the first leg on the 19th of August before they travel to the Liberian capital for the second leg to a place in the next round.

Bo Rangers was eliminated by Algerian giants CR Belouizdad in their maiden continental appearance 3-0 on aggregate last September following a goalless first-leg encounter in the Liberian capital.

Having engraved their name in the Sierra Leone top-flight history books after a back-to-back title, they will be hopeful to relive that moment this time on the continental stage.

Egypt’s Al Ahly are the current holders of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League after their fiercely contested victory over Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca.

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

They have announced a 30-man squad for the competition to kickoff from 07 to 13 August 2023 at the Sports Center in Yorokoguia Dubréka in Guinea as part of their preparation for the CAF Champiuons League.

Related News –

CAF CL: Bo Rangers eliminated after defeat in Algeria

Bo Rangers share CAF CL spoils with CR Belouizdad

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British coach Sebastian Bowles has been speaking as head coach of Sierra Leone Premier side Luawa FC, on why he joined the project, building on the club’s achievement and his winning mentality.

Bowles is excited by the challenge presented to him at Luawa FC. CEO Luawa FC and Legal Practitioner Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai confirmed Bowles’s deal.

A holder of a UEFA A license with the Scottish FA will start his new task with the club hailing from the Eastern District of Kailahun. Luawa FC survived their first season in the top tier of the Sierra Leone football system after winning ten games from 34 matches.

“Indeed, I am excited as a winner who wanted to win everything possible that was why I chose the Luawa FC position ahead of several other opportunities because I was very interested in the project that Mr. Abdulai presented,” Bowless to Football Sierra Leone.

“It’s imperative during the preseason in September to start implementing the winning mentality. I am looking forward to meeting the staff. I’ll arrive two weeks before the commencement of preseason.

The former Haka U20 boss confirmed heading the Luawa Academy.

“As head coach of the First Team, I’ll be the Technical Director of the Luawa Academy. I am looking forward to experiencing the Sierra Leone culture and people. Doing my very best to bring glory to our fans and the Kailahun community. I have heard a lot of good things about Sierra Leonean people and hospitality and am looking forward to experiencing it first hand.”

“Sierra Leone has been through a lot of turmoil in the past 20 years from Civil War, Ebola and Covid. There is much that we can do together to improve the daily lives of the youth of Sierra Leone and help them develop not just as footballers but as human beings as well.”

Bowles, who has been without a club since his contract expired as Manager with Swedish Second Division side Ytterhogdals IK in 2022, acknowledges lots of potential in Sierra Leone – with the correct investment and people, achievement can be acquired.

On his previous coaching experience

‘Another good experience that helped me grow and mature as a Coach. The team was located in the middle of the Swedish forest with only 400 people living there, so we were really isolated and the travelling time for away games was anything from 8h to 16h one way. It was a good experience in resilience and professionalism. 

We managed to secure our League status with a very thin squad of 10-17 players only. So player fitness management, injury prevention and mental health were vital. Before Sweden, I had the privilege of coaching FC Hakas U20’s and U17’s Academy teams. I got to work with various elite prospects and helped them improve and develop into players for the First Team. After my success with U20, it was time for First Team Management.’

CEO Saffa noted, “Sebastian Bowles is well known as an attack-oriented coach with fluent ball possession, which makes his teams entertaining to watch and extremely hard to play against.”

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Sierra Leone CAF Confederation Cup representative FC Kallon is set to open their preliminary continental campaign against Niger’s side AS Douanes next month.

The Cavaliers learned of their opponents after the conclusion of the CAF inter-club draw for the 2023-24 campaign was conducted on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at the CAF headquarters in the Egyptian capital city, Cairo.

FC Kallon progressed to the second stage of the competition last season when they eliminated Buffles de Borgou of Benin 4-0 on aggregates but suffered a heavy defeat to the Egyptian side FC Future over the two legs. 

The winner of the tie will face either Dreams FC from Ghana or Milo FC de Kankan of Guinea, both teams making their debut in the continental stage.

The first preliminary round is scheduled to take place from 18 to 20 August for the first-leg matches and 25 to 27 August for the second-leg encounters.

The second preliminary will come off 15 to 17 September for the first leg games, and the returning fixtures are from September 19 to October.

Read Related –

Kallon FC progress into CAF Confed Cup second round (Agg 4-0)

FC Kallon crash out after defeat to Future in Egypt

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• Sierra Leone Champions Bo Rangers will kick off their CAF Champions League campaign against Neighbours Liberian side LISCR FC in the first round of preliminary next month.

The Southern Province side from Sierra Leone will host the first leg before travelling to the Liberian capital for a place in the next round.

CAF officials conducted the draw on Tuesday, 25 July 2023, in Cairo at the CAF Headquarters.

The tie winner over two legs will tackle Algeria side CR Belouizdad in the second round of the continental competition.

Bo Rangers was eliminated by Algerian giants CR Belouizdad in their maiden continental appearance 3-0 on aggregate last September following a goalless first-leg encounter in the Liberian capital.

Having engraved their name in the Sierra Leone top-flight history books after a back-to-back title, they will be hopeful to relive that moment this time on the continental stage.

Egypt’s Al Ahly are the current holders of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League after their fiercely contested victory over Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca.

Read Related – 

Bo Rangers share CAF CL spoils with CR Belouizdad

CAF CL: Bo Rangers eliminated after defeat in Algeria

@bo_rangers to kick off their #TotalEnergies #CAFChampionsLeague campaign against Liberian side @LISCR in the Premilinary. The winner will face Algeria @Crbelouizdadoff in the next round. #FSLNews #SierraLeone #BoRangers #SaloneTwitter pic.twitter.com/8c88l4JCE2

— Alie Bittar (@bittar32) July 25, 2023

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