by FSL News | 18 Jul, 2023 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News
Africa’s formidable side, Super Falcons of Nigeria, will open their FIFA Women’s World Cup against Olympic champions Canada at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on Friday.
Of course, Group B has been coined this year’s version of the Group of Death alongside co-hosts Australia and the Republic of Ireland.
Game 1: vs. Nigeria, July 20, 10:30 p.m., in Melbourne.
Boasting a talent-studded squad headlined by Barcelona’s Asisat Oshoala, Atletico Madrid’s Rasheedat Ajibade, and Sevilla’s Toni Payne, only a few nations outdo Nigeria in terms of quality, even though in recent times, that strength of quality has proven not to be enough as the nine-time African champions are slowly losing grip of their monopoly on the continent of Africa.
Canada, on the other hand, won historic back-to-back bronze medals at London 2012, Rio 2016 and a gold medal at Tokyo 2020. They are surely a force to reckon with.
Canada are reigning Women’s Olympic Football Tournament champions and heads to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ with a new level of confidence.
Asisat Oshoala, who is a five-time African Women’s Footballer of the Year, is set to lead by example when they tackle Canada. Global soccer fans eagerly waiting for such a mouthwatering contest between the two nations.
Group stage (kick-off times are local and are subject to change)
20 July
Group A – New Zealand v Norway 19:00, Eden Park (Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau)
Group B – Australia v Republic of Ireland 20:00, Stadium Australia (Sydney/Gadigal)
21 July
Group B – Nigeria v Canada 12:30, Melbourne Rectangular Stadium (Melbourne/Naarm)
Group A – Philippines v Switzerland 17:00, Dunedin Stadium (Dunedin/Ōtepoti)
Group C – Spain v Costa Rica 19:30, Wellington Regional Stadium(Wellington/Te Whanganui-a-tara)
by FSL News | 18 Jul, 2023 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sport News
Serie A club Frosinone Calcio has made an offer for SC Cambuur defender Alex Bangura, but the yellow-blues have rejected it.
There is a possibility the Sierra Leone left-back could be on his way out if the Italian side comes back with a fresh offer in the next coming days.
There is also interest in him from England, and his Canbuur contract expires next year. Bangura, 24, Alex Bangura appears to be the subject of discussion and has been a revelation for the Dutch second tier since joining them in 2018 from the Feyenoord U19 side.
The defender, who is in preseason, was part of the side that was promoted to the Eredisive in the 2021/22 season.
On Saturday, the Dutch side Cambuur thrashed Harkemase Boys 4-0 in their second pre-season friendly.
Sierra Leone left-back Alex Bangura was in action as they prepared for the new Eerste Divisie. Cambuur were relegated after a difficult Eredivisie finishing second from bottom last season.
Cambuur were denied promotion to the 2020–21 Eredivisie due to the COVID-19 pandemic, despite being in first place in the 2019–20 Eerste Divisie.
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by FSL News | 16 Jul, 2023 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sport News
Dutch Second-tier side Cambuur thrashed Harkemase Boys 4-0 in their second pre-season friendly on Saturday.
Sierra Leone left-back Alex Bangura was in action as they prepared ahead of the new Eerste Divisie.
A goal from Milan Smit 31st minute, Remco Balk in the 42nd minute, Wiebe Kooistra and Roberts Uldrikis in the 49th and 81st minutes saw the Cambuur overcome their opponent.
Cambuur were relegated after a difficult Eredivisie campaign finishing second from bottom last season.
They’ll be hoping to gain automatic promotion back to the Dutch top tier next season.
Cambuur were denied promotion to the 2020–21 Eredivisie as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite being in first place in the 2019–20 Eerste Divisie.
Line-up SC Cambuur (first half) : Yanick van Osch, Jhondly van der Meer, Chima Anyasi, Milan de Koe, Alex Bangura, Michael Breij, Marcel Schaapman, Fedde de Jong, Silvester van der Water, Milan Smit and Yoram van der Veen
SC Cambuur line-up (second half): Yanick van Osch, Bjarn Zorgdrager (’79 Tyrique Mercera), Marco Tol, Myles Veldman, Sekou Sylla, Daniël van Kaam, Daan Visser (’76 Youns El Hilali), Tom van der Werff, Remco Balk, Roberts Uldrikis and Wiebe Kooistra
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by FSL News | 13 Jul, 2023 | Football Africa, International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News
Sierra Leone learn 2026 World Cup Qualifying Opponents
Sierra Leone men’s senior team will face opposition from Africa powerhouse Egypt, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Ethiopia, and Djibouti in their Africa 2026 World Cup qualifying group.
The Leone Stars’ journey to qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the USA, Mexico and Canada will begin in November 2023.
Before the draw, the Leone Stars were listed in group four of the seeding countries for the 2026 Fifa World Cup – drawn in Group A. Sierra Leone was eliminated from the African Cup of Nations race to Ivory Coast 2023 after a 3-2 defeat to Nigeria at the SKD stadium in June.
During the 2022 World Cup preliminary, Liberia eliminated Sierra Leone 3-2 on aggregate after the Lone Star won the first leg 3-1 and suffered a 1-0 defeat in Freetown, both matches played in September 2019.
However, with the latest format of 48 teams competing with a minimum of nine African sides guaranteed places for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, many Sierra Leoneans believe this is Leone Stars’ best chance ever.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the 23rd FIFA World Cup to be co-hosted in three countries, Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The group stage qualifiers will start in November this year. Opening matches will take place over ten matchdays during the next two years: 13-21 November 2023 – 3-11 June 2024; 17-25 March 2025; 1-9 September 2025; 6-14 October 2025; 10-18 November 2025 (Playoffs).
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and African News.
by FSL News | 13 Jul, 2023 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sport News
Cypriot sports club AEL Limassol has confirmed the signing of Sierra Leone International winger Jonathan Morsay on a two-year deal.
The Greek top-tier side informed the public through their website that Morsay, 25, who scored his first international goal for Leone Stars against Nigeria, has signed a two-year deal.
Last season, Morsay featured 25 matches for Panaitolikos, where he registered three goals and two assists. The club further announced that former Stoke City striker Saido Berahino has extended his contract.
Born in Sweden to a Sierra Leonean father and Swedish mother. Morsay made his International debut for the Sierra Leone national team in a friendly 3–0 loss to Togo on 24 March 2022.
He has had spells with GIF Sundsvall IK Brage, Chieve and Dinamo București.
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by FSL News | 12 Jul, 2023 | African News, Sport News
The 2026 World Cup will see an increase of participating countries to 48, meaning more spots for African teams as Sierra Leone is in line to know their challengers.
The West African state has never qualified for a FIFA World Cup. The draw for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers for Africa will take place on July 13, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Tuesday.
The new format will see Member Associations of CAF divided into nine (9) Groups. Winners of each Group will automatically qualify for the FIFA World Cup™ 2026.
The four best runners-up (from the Groups) will play in a CAF Play-Off tournament. The winner of the CAF Play-Off Tournament will play in the FIFA Play-off Tournament.
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Sierra Leone | Highlights - 