Spoils shared in Bo Rangers Champions League opener

by FSL News | 21 Aug, 2023 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

Spoils shared in Bo Rangers Champions League opener

Sierra Leone champions Bo Rangers opened their CAF Champions campaign with a 1-1 draw against Liberian side LISCR in their first leg CAF Champions League preliminary in Bo.

Rangers scored an early goal through Mohamed Kabba in the 3rd minute, but they were unable to extend their lead. As a result, the visitors drew parity in the 34th minute through Christopher Jackson at the Southern Arena on Saturday.

The reverse fixture will be played at the SKD in Liberia on Sunday, August 27, as both teams will be hoping to make the next stage of the competition.

The last time Rangers played continental football, they were eliminated by Algerian side CR Belouizdad 3-0 on aggregate following a goalless first leg last September.

Having won the Sierra Leone Premier League unbeaten after a run of 34 games, they will look to continue in that form later this afternoon against their Liberian counterpart.

Several sides have gained advantages to take into their second-leg clashes, while some face uphill tasks to keep their Champions League hopes alive.

Full CAF Champions League first-leg results

18.8.2023

KMKM SC 1-2 Saint George S.C.

CS Constantine 0-2 Étoile SS

19.8.2023

Bo Rangers FC 1-1 LISCR FC

APR FC 1-1 Gaadiidka FC

CS de Bendje 1-1 Bumamuru FC

African Stars 2-1 Power Dynamos FC

AS Real de Bamako 0-0 Coton Sport FC de Garoua

Djabal FC 0-1 Orlando Pirates

20.8.2023

Hafia FC 0-0 Génération Foot

AS Garde Nationale du Niger vs AS Douanes

Medeama SC 1-0 Remo Stars FC

UD do Songo 1-0 Green Mamba

Dragón FC 0-2 FCB Nyasa Big Bullets FC

Ahli Benghazi 4-3 Enyimba FC

Coton Sport Benin 0-0 Asec Mimosas

ASKO De Kara 0-1 AS FAR

FC Nouadhibou 2-0 Al Ahli Tripoli

CD Primeiro de Agosto 0-0 AS Vita Club

A.S. Otohô 1-1 Al Merrikh SC

ASAS/Djibouti Télécom 0-2 Young Africans

Jwaneng Galaxy FC 2-0 Vipers SC

The return leg fixtures will be from 24 August – when the first round of preliminary stages will be concluded.

National News – CAF Champions League Preliminary – African News

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and Players Abroad. The writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32, Contact Bi****@ol*.net.

It ended 1-1 at the Southern Arena in Bo Rangers' first leg CAF Champions League preliminary.

Sullay Kaikai nets first United’s goal in win over Rovers

by FSL News | 21 Aug, 2023 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sport News

Sullay Kaikai nets first United’s goal in win over Rovers

Sierra Leone International Sullay Kaikai was on target as Cambridge United defeated Bristol Rovers 2-0 at the Abbey Stadium.

Its substitutes Fejiri Okenabirhie and Sullay Kaikai’s goals gave Cambridge their third win in four League One on Saturday.

Okenabirhie’s curling finish in the 78th minute opened the scoring before Kaikai wrapped up the points in stoppage time to consign Rovers to a first defeat of the season.

Despite the visitors having the best chance in the first half, the home side capitalised as they wrapped up their third win of the campaign.

As Rovers pushed for an equaliser in injury time, a Cambridge break in the 96th minute, led by Okenabirhie and George Thomas, left Kaikai with a simple finish.

Kaikai, 27, made 11 appearances for Crystal Palace after coming through their academy. He joined the League One side after he left MK Dons earlier this summer.

This is his second spell with Cambridge United, having made 30 loan appearances for the U’s in the 2014-15 season, scoring six times.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and Players Abroad. The writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32, Contact Bi****@ol*.net.

Idris Kanu brace helps Barnet to draw with Eastleigh

by FSL News | 21 Aug, 2023 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sport News

Idris Kanu brace helps Barnet to draw with Eastleigh

Eastleigh and Barnet played to a 3-3 draw in their National League round three away contest as Sierra Leone International Idriss Kanu scored a brace on Tuesday.

Paul McCallum was on target twice as Eastleigh staged a remarkable comeback to draw 3-3 with Barnet in the National League.

Having led with goals from Sierra Leone International Idris Kanu and Danny Collinge in the 15th, 18 and 30th minutes, respectively, the Bees looked on course to maintain their 100% start to the season as they surged into a 3-0 lead after just 30 minutes.

Idris Kanu tapped in at the far post to get the ball rolling after 14 minutes, but four minutes later, it was two as Danny Collinge headed in his third goal of the season.

Kanu’s second looked to have wrapped the points up on the half-hour mark before McCallum got Eastleigh back in it on the stroke of half-time with a cool finish after a counter-attack.

Scott Quigley made the Bees sweat midway through the second half, and McCallum earned a point six minutes into stoppage time when he headed home.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and Players Abroad. The writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32, Contact Bi****@ol*.net.

SLFA reaffirms coach John Keister’s position

by FSL News | 21 Aug, 2023 | Football Africa, International, National Sport News Sierra Leone, Sport News

SLFA reaffirms coach John Keister’s position

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.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and Players Abroad. The writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32, Contact Bi****@ol*.net.

Isaac Babadi nets first Champions League goal for PSV

by FSL News | 9 Aug, 2023 | African News, Football Africa, Sport News

Isaac Babadi nets first Champions League goal for PSV

Sierra Leone native Isaac Babadi scored his first UEFA Champions League goal in PSV’s 4-1 win over Sturm Graz in their Third qualifying round, 1st leg on Tuesday.

The win means PSV Eindhoven is close to reaching the Champions League play-off round after a huge first-leg margin. They could face either or Servette.

In front of the home fans at the PSV Stadion-Eindhoven, they rushed into a three-goal lead with goals from 18-year-old talent Isaac Babadi, Luuk De Jong brace in the 4th, 22nd and 32nd minutes, respectively.

The visitors pulled one back five minutes before the breakthrough of Jon Stankovic, but PSV retired their three-goal cushion in the 73rd minute through I. Sangaré.

PSV will travel to SK Sturm Graz for next week’s r third qualifying round, 2nd leg at the Graz Liebenau-Graz Stadium, next week Tuesday.

Highlights – Isaac Babadi on target in @PSV's 4-1 win over Sturm Graz in their Third qualifying round, 1st leg @ChampionsLeague #FSLNews #SierraLeone #FSLMedia pic.twitter.com/KWTqKpRpkm
— Alie Bittar (@bittar32) August 9, 2023

PSV EINDHOVEN – UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – SK STURM GRAZ – LUUK DE JONG – NOA LANG

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and Players Abroad. The writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32, Contact Bi****@ol*.net.

Sierra Leone’s Issa Kallon nets brace for Shanghai Port

by FSL News | 9 Aug, 2023 | Football Africa, Players Abroad News, Sport News

Sierra Leone’s Issa Kallon nets brace for Shanghai Port

Sierra Leone International Issa Kallon scored a brace for Shanghái Port as they thrashed Qingdao Hainiu 5-0 on Tuesday in the Chinese Super League.

The winger recorded his fifth of the season in the 71st and 91st minute, as Shanghai Port delivered a stunning during the 2023 Chinese Super League (CSL) on Tuesday.

Qingdao’s Ma Xingyu scored an own goal in the 23rd minute, putting his team 1-0 down to Shanghai.

Shanghai’s momentum continued in the second half – in the 66th minute, Wu Lei found double their lead. Five minutes later, Issa Kallon slotted the ball into the net.

Towards the end of the match, Wu and Kallon both scored again, helping Shanghai make a clean sweep

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and Players Abroad. The writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32, Contact Bi****@ol*.net.