Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Burkinabé winger Dango Ouattara records his ninth goal of the season
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Burkinabé winger Dango Ouattara records his ninth goal of the season

Burkinabé winger Dango Ouattara recorded his night of the Premier League season as Bournemouth reached another significant milestone in their commendable 2024/25 campaign by completing their first league double over local rivals Southampton on Saturday.

Dango Ouattara, who previously scored in the 3-1 victory against Southampton at the Vitality Stadium in September, initiated the scoring with a glancing header in the 14th minute.

Barely two minutes later, the passionate away supporters witnessed a second goal as Ryan Christie expertly placed a remarkable 25-yard shot beyond former Bournemouth goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

Although Kamaldeen Sulemana managed to reduce the deficit in the 72nd minute, Marcus Tavernier, who came off the bench, concluded the match with an impressive strike seven minutes before the final whistle.

This victory has elevated Andoni Iraola’s team to fifth place in the league standings and has further extended their club-record unbeaten streak in away Premier League matches to seven.

During this impressive run, they have secured victories against Wolves, Ipswich, Manchester United, and Newcastle, in addition to drawing with Fulham and Chelsea.

Zimbabwean Kalisto Pasuwa named as new Malawi coach
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Zimbabwean Kalisto Pasuwa named as new Malawi coach

Zimbabwean football coach Kalisto Pasuwa has been named the head coach of Malawi’s men’s football team.

Pasuwa, known as “Manabundu,” has signed a two-year contract and will lead The Flames until 2027. He took over on an interim basis in November last year before his official appointment.

The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) announced, “We have unveiled Kalisto Pasuwa as the new head coach of the Malawi Men’s Senior National Team for two years.”

Pasuwa previously had success as the head coach of Nyasa Big Bullets, a top team in Malawi. He won four straight league titles and several other trophies before leaving the club in December 2024.

Debutant Sierra Leone draw reigning champions Senegal in U20 AFCON
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Debutant Sierra Leone draw reigning champions Senegal in U20 AFCON

Sierra Leone will face a tough challenge in this year’s CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). A draw held on Thursday in Cairo, Egypt, placed them in Group C with Senegal, Zambia, and Kenya.

The Shooting Stars from Sierra Leone are preparing to compete against the reigning champions, Senegal, as well as Zambia and Kenya. This championship is scheduled to take place from April 26 to May 18 in Côte d’Ivoire.

Kenya will represent the CECAFA region with Tanzania, as both teams reached the qualifiers final in Dar es Salaam last October. Tanzania won that match 2-1, but both teams qualified for the tournament.

Tanzania is in Group A, where they will compete against the hosts Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Ghana, and one more team from the UNIFFAC region, which has not yet been confirmed.

The second team from the UNIFFAC Zonal Union is still to be announced because of Congo’s FIFA suspension.

Group B includes three-time champions Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, and 1997 winners Morocco.

The top two teams from each group will move on to the quarter-finals, along with the two best third-placed teams. The tournament will then proceed in a knockout format.

The four best teams will qualify for the 2025 FIFA Under-20 World Cup, which will take place in Chile from September 27 to October 19, 2025.

https://twitter.com/football_sierra/status/1890026891752652915

Mustapha Bundu nets as Plymouth Argyle thrash Millwall
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mustapha Bundu nets as Plymouth Argyle thrash Millwall

Sierra Leone international Mustapha Bundu contributed to Millwall’s 5-1 defeat against Plymouth Argyle in the Sky Bet Championship on Wednesday night.

Plymouth took an early lead with an own goal and a penalty scored by Ryan Hardie. In the second half, Hardie and Bundu quickly added two more goals. Joe Bryan scored a late consolation for Millwall before Nikola Katic made it 5-1.

Head Coach Alex Neil changed the starting lineup from the last game, bringing in Camiel Neghli for Ra’ees Bangura-Williams.

Plymouth scored first after six minutes when an accidental deflection went in off Joe Bryan. Hardie then converted a penalty following a foul in the box, making it 2-0.

Millwall nearly scored immediately after, but Mihailo Ivanovic’s header was saved. Neghli had a long-range shot tipped over, and moments later, Plymouth scored again. Bundu scored the third goal for Plymouth by turning and shooting past the goalie.

After substitutions, Azeez’s free-kick was deflected wide. In the 80th minute, Millwall finally scored when Azeez set up Bryan. However, Katic rounded off Plymouth’s scoring with a goal in the last minutes of the match.

Goals: Bryan og 6, Hardie pen 10, Bundu 53, Hardie 56, Katic 87

Millwall Goal: Bryan 80

Osman Kakay raring to go with Primeira Liga side Boavista
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Osman Kakay raring to go with Primeira Liga side Boavista

The former Queens Park Rangers academy graduate Osman Kakay has signed with the Portuguese Primeira Liga team Boavista as a free agent and says he can’t wait to get back on the pitch after a long absence. 

“I’m happy to be back playing football after a long break. Joining a big club like Boavista is a great honour,” said the excited Sierra Leone international.

He added, “I can’t wait to get started and enjoy playing football again.” Boavista is a well-known club, and even though it’s been a long time since I last played, I’ve had the chance to reflect and I believe now is the right time to return.”

He made his first appearance for QPR in August 2016. He played out of position on the right side of midfield during an EFL Cup second-round win over Rochdale and was substituted after 73 minutes, earning applause from the QPR fans.

On January 31, 2017, Kakay signed a loan deal with Chesterfield until the end of the 2016–17 season. In November 2018, QPR offered him a contract extension, keeping him at Loftus Road until 2021.

On September 2, 2019, Kakay went on loan to Partick Thistle until January 2020. He mainly played as a right back there but often as a right winger.

On September 5, 2020, Kakay scored his first professional goal in an EFL Cup match against Plymouth Argyle and signed a contract extension until 2024. He netted his first Championship goal on May 1, 2021, in a 2–0 win over Stoke City. QPR announced on May 6, 2024, that Kakay would leave the club when his contract expired that summer.

  • On the International stage

Kakay made his international debut for Sierra Leone on September 9, 2018, in a match against Ethiopia during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

In December 2021, he was named in the Sierra Leone squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. This marked the country’s first participation in the tournament since 1996.

Kakay played the entire ninety minutes in his team’s opening match, where they managed to draw 0-0 with Algeria, the defending champions and one of the favourites to win.

Read related – Sierra Leone’s Osman Kakay to Boavista is Imminent.