Author: FSL News

* Established in 2014 © 2021 FSL MediaFootball Sierra Leone - all you need to know about the game in Sierra Leone and Sierra Leonean footballers at home and abroad.Founded by Alie Ahmed Bittar in 2014, Bittar is one of the leading journalists from Sierra Leone with over 25 years covering football.The award-winning website also covers football from across the continent.We aim to continue pursuing up-to-date reports for our readers in Sierra Leone and across the globe.FSL Media is always informative, accurate and consistent. Make Football Sierra Leone Your daily news feed.Follow our social media pages on Twitter @football_sierra, Instagram, Linkedin and Facebook. Permission to use our content is granted subject to crediting our website as the source.Contact: Managing Editor Alie Ahmed Bittar - Email: bittar@footballsierraleone.com - Tel: +44 (0) 7861141119
Champions Al Ahly, CRB, Pirates, and Stade D’Abidjan in Group C
by FSL News

Champions Al Ahly, CRB, Pirates and Stade D’Abidjan in Group C

The official draw for the Group Stages of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League for the 2024/25 season has set up what promises to be an exciting phase of Africa’s top club competition.

Al Ahly SC of Egypt, the most successful club with 12 titles, will headline Group C, which includes CR Belouizdad of Algeria, former champions Orlando Pirates, and Stade D’Abidjan, who are making their first group stage appearance.

All six of CAF’s Zonal Unions will be represented in this season’s edition of the Group Stages, showing the continued growth of African football across the continent.

TP Mazembe, five-time champions, will headline Group A and will face off against Young Africans, Al Hilal, and MC Alger of Algeria.

Group B will feature 2016 champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who will compete against three-time champions Raja Casablanca and AS FAR, both from Morocco, along with DR Congo outfit Maniema Union FC.

Group C will be led by the reigning champions, Al Ahly SC. The last group of the competition will see last season’s runners-up, ES Tunis, competing against Pyramids FC, GD Sagrada Esperanca, and Djoliba AC of Mali.

The group stages will be played between November 2024 and January 2025.

•⁠  ⁠Match Day 1: November 26-27, 2024  – ⁠Match Day 2: December 6-8, 2024 – Match Day 3: December 13-15, 2024 

•⁠  ⁠Match Day 4: January 3-5, 2025 – Match Day 5: January 10-12, 2025 – Match Day 6: January 17-19, 2025

Click HERE for a list of fixtures.

TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Group Stage Draw Results: 

GROUP A: TP Mazembe (RDC), Young Africans SC (TAN), Al Hilal (SUD), MC Alger (ALG)

GROUP B: Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA), Raja CA (MAR), AS FAR (MAR) Maniema Union (RDC)

GROUP C: Al Ahly SC (EGY), CR Belouizdad (ALG), Orlando Pirates (RSA) ,Stade D ‘Abidjan (CIV)

GROUP D: ES Tunis (TUN), Pyramids FC (EGY), GD Sagrada Esperanca (ANG), Djoliba AC (MLI)

CAF will soon announce details of the fixtures, venues and dates in due course.

Zamalek win the CAF Super Cup after penalty shootout in Riyard
by FSL News

Zamalek win CAF Super Cup after penalty shootout in Riyard

On Friday night, Zamalek won the 2024 TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup in a thrilling penalty shootout against their rivals Al Ahly. The match ended in a 1-1 draw at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Zamalek clinched the victory by winning 4-3 in the penalty shootout, securing their fifth Super Cup title. The win is a significant achievement for Zamalek, as it marks their fifth CAF Super Cup title.

The game started with Al Ahly taking the lead in the 44th minute through Wessam Abou Ali’s penalty. This was confirmed after a VAR review identified a foul on Akram Tawfik by Zamalek’s Hamza Mathlouthi.

Zamalek responded in the second half, with substitute Naser Mansy scoring the equalizer in the 77th minute from a well-delivered cross by Omar Gaber.

The match remained intense, with both teams seeking a winning goal, but ultimately went to a penalty shootout.

In the shootout, Al Ahly’s Yahia Attiyat Allah missed a crucial penalty, and Wessam Abou Ali’s shot hit the post, giving Zamalek the advantage.

Zamalek capitalized on this advantage, converting four of their five attempts, with Hossam Abdelmaguid securing the victory with a well-placed shot into the bottom left corner.

CAF confirms date for Inter-club group stage draw
by FSL News

CAF confirms date for Inter-club group stage draw

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released the schedule for the 2024/25 CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup Group Stage Draw.

Both draws are scheduled to take place on Monday, 07 October 2024.

The CAF Confederation Cup Group Stage Draw is set to commence at 13:00 local time in Cairo (11:00 GMT), followed by the CAF Champions League draw at 14:00 local time (11:00 GMT).

The complete list of qualified teams will be announced on the evening of Sunday, 22 September 2024.

In the latest matches, FAR Rabat and Djoliba AC of Mali secured spots in the group stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League. FAR Rabat won 2-0 against Sudan’s Al Merreikh with goals from Hammoudan and Joël Beya.

Meanwhile, Stade d’Abidjan advanced despite a 2-1 defeat against Milo FC, and San Pedro fell 1-0 to Al-Hilal. Djoliba AC sealed their spot with a 1-0 victory over ASKO in Lomé.

These results complete the line-up for the CAF Champions League group stage.

Midfielder Rodney Michael opens Safa SC account in Lebanon
by FSL News

Midfielder Rodney Michael opens Safa SC account in Lebanon

Sierra Leone International Rodney Michael scored his first goal for the Lebanese Pro side Safa SC in their 4-1 victory over Racing Beirut on Saturday.

It was an impressive start for the midfielder, who was awarded the Man of the Match on his debut after a goal and assist.

In the previous season, he played for PO Xylotymbou in Cyprus. On March 22, 2022, Michael moved from Tormenta to the USL Championship side Indy Eleven.

He later left Indy Eleven after the 2022 season. In February 2023, Michael signed with FK Mornar of the Montenegrin First League.

Three more teams progress to the CAF Confederation Cup group stage
by FSL News

Three more teams progress to the CAF Confederation Cup group stage

On Saturday, three additional teams advanced to the group stage of the 2024-25 CAF Confederation Cup. Angolan top-tier side Lunda Sul, Tunisian side CS Sfaxien, and Algeria’s CS Constantine secured their spots after winning their second-round, second-leg qualifying matches.

In Angola, Lunda Sul lost 2-1 against South African team Sekhukhune United in Polokwane. However, Guilherme’s 36th-minute goal helped Lunda Sul advance on the away goal rule.

In Tunisia, CS Sfaxien defeated Rukinzo from Burundi with a 1-0 victory, securing a 2-0 aggregate win. Firas Sekkouhi scored the only goal in the second half.

Meanwhile, CS Constantine of Algeria also won 1-0 at home against Nsoatreman of Ghana, securing a 3-0 aggregate triumph. Ben Shaa scored an early goal for CS Constantine.

The Confederation Cup continues today, Sunday, September 22, with 10 matches scheduled across the continent. Notable teams in action include Enyimba, ASEC Mimosas, AS Vita, Simba SC, and USM Alger.

CAF Confederation Cup results, Saturday 21 September

Sekhukhune United 2-1 CD Lunda Sul – 2-2on aggregate, Lunda Sul won on away goals

CS Constantine 1-0 Nsoatreman – Constantine won 3-0 on aggregate

CS Sfaxien 1-0 Rukinzo – Sfaxien won 2-0 on aggregate