Author: @football_sierra

Football Sierra Leone, all you need to know about the game in Sierra Leone and Sierra Leonean players at home and Abroad.The award-winning website also covers football from across the continent.
Senegal eye first win in Group L in AFCON qualifier
by @football_sierra

Senegal eye first win from Group L in AFCON qualifier

Senegal will try to recover from a slow start in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign when they play against Burundi in a Group L match at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, Malawi, on Monday, 9 September.

In their last game, Senegal looked like they were going to win at home against Burkina Faso, but gave up a late goal, ending in a 1-1 draw.

Senegal’s coach, Aliou Cisse, was disappointed with the result but defended the team’s game plan.

On the other hand, Burundi comes into the match as the Group L leaders after securing a 3-2 away win over Malawi.

In their history of playing against each other, Senegal has won three out of four matches against Burundi, and their most recent meeting in June 2016 resulted in a 2-0 victory for Senegal.

Goalless in Dar es Salaam between Tanzania and Ethiopia
by @football_sierra

Goalless in Dar es Salaam between Tanzania and Ethiopia

Tanzania and Ethiopia began their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification with a goalless draw in Dar es Salaam. The match in Group H featured few clear chances due to physical battles and cautious play from both sides at Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium.

In the opening minutes, both teams lacked attacking urgency. Tanzania managed a few goal attempts, but Ethiopian goalkeeper Seid Habtamu Aregawi was largely untroubled.

In contrast, Ethiopia found space on the flanks but encountered formidable resistance from the Tanzanian defence.

The first half concluded with neither side able to breach the opposition’s defence, resulting in an unchanged scoreline of 0-0. At halftime, Tanzania made a substitution by bringing on Pascal Msindo, while Ethiopia introduced Binyam Fikre and Adis Giday.

Consequently, Tanzania dominated possession in the second half, exerting pressure on the Ethiopian defence. However, the Walyas remained resilient, thwarting the Taifa Stars’ attempts to score.

The match saw an increase in Tanzania’s tempo – which nearly led to a breakthrough, but their efforts lacked precision, culminating in a tense 0-0 draw.

In Tripoli, Libya and Rwanda tied 1-1 in their Group D opener. Libya’s Sobhi Al-Dawi scored in the 16th minute, but Rwanda’s Innocent Ntshwe equalized early in the second half.

Despite both teams trying to secure a win, the match ended in a draw, with each team earning a point.

AFCON Qualifiers Heat Up: Zambia Takes on Sierra Leone
by @football_sierra

AFCON Qualifiers Heat Up: Zambia ready for Sierra Leone

How to get rich sports betting? Place bets via the link with the best odds from 1xBet, and do not forget about responsible gaming!

The qualifications for the 35th AFCON have started. The tournament’s final stage will be held in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026. This will be the second time Morocco hosts AFCON, with the first being in 1988.

The Moroccan national team is participating in the qualifiers, striving to replicate Côte d’Ivoire’s achievement of winning the championship on home soil in February 2024. The Ivorians stunned the world by finishing the group stage with only 3 points and a poor goal difference of 2-5.

They changed their coach, braced themselves for the worst, but miraculously advanced to the playoffs and delivered an incredible performance.

Each AFCON promises new, amazing stories, so stay tuned! The desire to prove themselves and please the fans unites all the qualification participants. We want to announce the hot struggle between Zambia and Sierra Leone that will bring us intrigue and an unforgettable spectacle.

Zambia did not hire Avram Grant as head coach to lose five out of five games this summer. The renowned Israeli manager has a chance to start from scratch in the Afcon qualification.

Chipolopolo is only interested in winning. However, Sierra Leone’s team earned a respectable draw in an away match against Burkina Faso and a win over Djibouti in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in June, showing that they are not as simple as they might seem and will not easily give up.

How to get rich sports betting? It’s best to start playing with the highest odds from 1xBet! Register on the website of the best bookmaker in Africa, get 2800 SLE bonuses for your first deposit after using the promo code SLFOOTBALL24, don’t forget about responsible gaming, and place winning bets on the hottest Afcon qualification 2nd round struggles!

Tyrese Fornah features in Salford's first win of the season
by @football_sierra

Tyrese Fornah features in Salford’s first win of the season

Salford City got their first win of the season thanks to a debut goal from Frankie Okoronkwo against MK Dons.

Sierra Leone International Tyrese Fornah played the full throttle of the games at the Peninsula Stadium and later expressed his satisfaction.

Okoronkwo, who joined on loan from Everton on deadline day, scored in the 42nd minute with a well-placed shot past Tom McGill.

During the first half, Salford had to withstand sustained pressure from the Dons, with Alex Gilbey’s shot saved by Jamie Jones in the first minute.

MK Dons’ Aaron Nemane caused plenty of problems for the hosts during the first 45 minutes, providing a pass to team-mate Joe Tomlinson, who was denied by hosts keeper Jones.

Jones made crucial saves, including deflecting a shot from Dons substitute Tommy Leigh onto a post, securing Salford’s victory.

Striker Sebastien Haller set to miss Zambia and Chad qualifier
by @football_sierra

Striker Sebastien Haller set to miss Zambia and Chad qualifiers

The Ivory Coast national football team will be without their key striker, Sebastien Haller, during the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

The Elephants kick start their AFCON 2025 campaign against Zambia at home on Friday, September 6, and Chad away on Tuesday, September 10.

Sebastien Haller will not be available for these matches due to his recent loan transfer to Spanish La Liga side CD Leganes from German Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.

Haller, who notably scored the winning goal in the 2023 AFCON final against Nigeria, has been replaced by France-based striker Jean-Philippe Krasso in the squad.

An official statement from the Ivorian Football Federation informed, “The federation Ivorian Football informs the press and the public that the player Sébastien Haller, summoned by Selector Emerse Faé for the 1st and 2nd Days of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, will be unavailable due to his transfer to another club.”

It further stated, “Indeed, the Ivorian international, who transferred to Leganés (Spain) in the final moments of the Mercato, will be with his new club, especially for the medical examination.”

As a result, Sébastien Haller is replaced by Jean-Philippe Krasso of Paris FC for this FIFA window from September 2 to 10, 2024.