Salah nets brace as a late goal from Sarr secured Crystal Palace's win
by Football Sierra Leone

Salah nets brace as late goal from Sarr secured Crystal Palace’s win

Mohamed Salah had another strong game for Liverpool, scoring two goals in their latest Premier League match. This win helps Liverpool stay at the top of the league.

Meanwhile, Ismaïla Sarr scored a brilliant goal for Crystal Palace in their 1-0 victory over Ipswich Town. Liverpool faced a tough challenge against Southampton, who surprised everyone by scoring first just before halftime.

However, Liverpool quickly equalized with a goal from Darwin Núñez and then Salah scored two penalties, raising his total to 25 goals and 17 assists this season.

At Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace struggled against Ipswich until Sarr’s late goal broke the deadlock. He now has 8 goals and 3 assists this season.

Crystal Palace is currently in 12th place and will play Fulham in the FA Cup later this month. Liverpool, meanwhile, will face Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday in the UEFA Champions League, leading 1-0 in the first leg.

Striker Ibrahim Kargbo pens FC BATE Borisov deal in Belarus
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Striker Ibrahim Kargbo pens  FC BATE Borisov deal in Belarus

Promising 25-year-old Sierra Leone native, Ibrahim Kargbo has recently joined the ranks of the “yellow-blues,” igniting excitement among fans of FC BATE Borisov in Belarusian Premier League.

Kargbo’s journey to Europe began at just eight years old when he moved with his father, Ibrahim Kargbo Sr., a skilled footballer and former captain of the Sierra Leone national team who proudly gained Belgian citizenship.

In Belgium, amid the bustling streets of Antwerp, young Ibrahim honed his skills at the Beerschot academy, where the scent of fresh grass and the thrill of competition filled the air. In 2015, following his father’s move to England, Ibrahim ventured into the English football scene, training at renowned clubs like Reading and Crystal Palace.

In 2018, Kargbo took a significant step in his career by signing his first professional contract with Roeselare, a club competing in the second Belgian division. Just a year later, he transferred to Lierse, a team adorned in historic colours, where he showcased his talent on the field in the third Belgian division.

This period proved pivotal as he earned the opportunity to represent the Belgian junior team, competing in more than a dozen thrilling matches, each one a stepping stone to greater heights.

Kargbo’s career took a dramatic turn at the end of 2019 when he signed a long-term contract with Dynamo Kyiv. However, his initial excitement was tempered by FIFA regulations, which barred him from playing in the first half of 2020 due to his previous contracts with Roeselare and Lierse.

After months of anticipation, he finally made his official debut in June 2020 during the semi-final of the Ukrainian Cup against Minaj. He entered the match as a substitute and celebrated a hard-fought 2-0 victory.

Despite his undeniable talent, Kargbo faced challenges in securing a permanent spot at Dynamo. He sought new opportunities through loan spells with Olimpik in Donetsk, Celje in Slovenia, and Doxa in Cyprus. In early 2023, Kargbo became a free agent and returned to Celje, ready to embrace new challenges and adventures. His journey continues, filled with the promise of exciting futures and uncharted territories in the world of football.

Fecafoot president Samuel Eto set for CAF's March 12 election after CAS ruling in favour
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Fecafoot president Samuel Eto’o set for CAF’s March 12 election after CAS ruling in favour

Fecafoot president Samuel Eto’o can now run for a position on Africa’s soccer governing body after successfully appealing a prior decision that had blocked his candidacy.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland ruled in Eto’o’s favour on Friday. He had appealed to overturn the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to exclude him from the executive committee elections.

Eto’o, 43, is a former striker who played for top clubs like Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Chelsea. He has been president of the Cameroon Football Federation since 2021 and has faced controversy during his time in office.

In September, FIFA banned Eto’o from attending national team games for six months due to “offensive behavior and violations of fair play.” The ban was a result of his misconduct involving officials.

Last July, CAF fined Eto’o $200,000 for violating ethics and sportsmanship principles by becoming a brand ambassador for a betting company. Eto’o’s lawyers announced in February that this fine was overturned on appeal.

The 54 member federations will elect their leaders in Cairo next Wednesday. CAF president Patrice Motsepe from South Africa is running unopposed for a second term. FIFA President Gianni Infantino is expected to be present. Eto’o now has the opportunity to compete for a seat on the executive committee thanks to the CAS ruling.

The CAS stated, “The panel found enough information to overturn the CAF’s decision about Mr. Eto’o’s ineligibility.” They added that it will be up to the CAF assembly meeting on March 12, 2025, to evaluate the candidates.

Exciting Second Round U17 African Women’s World Cup Qualifiers
by Football Sierra Leone

Exciting Second Round U17 African Women’s World Cup Qualifiers

The second round of qualifiers for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco starts this weekend. Several exciting matches are lined up.

Africa has four spots available for the tournament, and teams are eager to qualify.

On Saturday, March 8, the first-leg matches will take place. Cameroon will host Ethiopia, and Tanzania will play against Zambia. A key matchup is South Africa versus Nigeria, two teams with strong international experience.

Other interesting matches include Sierra Leone against Guinea and Benin facing DR Congo.

In East Africa, Uganda will meet Kenya in a CECAFA derby, while Algeria will challenge Botswana in a north versus south match.

Another match to watch is Cote d’Ivoire against Burundi. The second-leg matches are set for March 14 and will be important for deciding which teams qualify.

Zambia and Nigeria, who represented Africa in the last World Cup in the Dominican Republic, hope to win at home and continue their journey.

Some teams are well-known in youth competitions. Nigeria, a five-time qualifier for the U-17 Women’s World Cup, is favoured against South Africa. Cameroon relies on its experience to defeat an improving Ethiopia team.

Zambia must be careful with Tanzania, which has shown its potential. Meanwhile, DR Congo, with less experience, hopes to surprise Benin. Finally, Algeria needs to stay alert against Botswana, a team that can create upsets.

Schedule of the Second Round of the African Qualifiers for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup

First-leg Matches

  • Saturday, March 8, 2025 (local time)

14:00

• South Africa vs Nigeria

• Uganda vs Kenya

• Botswana vs Algeria

17:00: Sierra Leone vs Guinea

19:00: Cameroon vs Ethiopia

  • Sunday, March 9, 2025 (local time)

14:00

• Tanzania vs Zambia

16:00

• Benin vs DR Congo

17:00

• Ivory Coast vs Burundi

Second-leg Matches

  • Wednesday, March 12, 2025 (local time)

17:00: Burundi vs Cote d’Ivoire

  • Saturday, March 15, 2025 (local time)

13:00: Ethiopia vs Cameroon

15:00: Zambia vs Tanzania

16:00:Nigeria vs South Africa

17:00: Guinea vs Sierra Leone

  • Sunday, March 16, 2025 (local time)

13:00: Kenya vs Uganda

15:30: DR Congo vs Benin

21:00: Algeria vs Botswana

Josh Koroma named Huddersfield Town Playe of the Month
by Football Sierra Leone

Josh Koroma named Huddersfield Town Player of the Month

Josh Koroma was named as the Blue and White Player of the Month for February 2025 at Huddersfield Town.

This is his second Player of the Month award this season; he also won for September 2024.

In February, the team earned seven points from their matches, and Koroma scored two key goals: one in the win against Barnsley and another that helped secure three points against Shrewsbury. His strong performance led to him being voted Player of the Month.

Callum Marshall and Tawanda Chirewa received other votes, but Koroma was the top choice.

Mr. S. Taylor from Holmfirth and Junior Member J. Sykes from Huddersfield voted for Koroma, who received his award and receive a signed picture during their Sky Bet League One 1-0 defeat to Wrexham on Tuesday, March 4.