Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

WAFU A makes U-Turn as Sierra Leone U 17 reinstated after medical retest
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

WAFU makes U-Turn as Sierra Leone U17 reinstated after medical retest

Sierra Leone has been cleared to participate in this year’s Under-17 WAFU AFCON qualifiers in Senegal after a successful appeal re-qualified both Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau.

The youth tournament leading to the U17 AFCON begins today, with host nation Senegal facing Liberia at 16:00 at the Lat Dior de Thies stadium. The complete fixtures will be announced again by the WAFU media department in due course.

On Sunday, WAFU announced that Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, and Guinea would not take part in the tournament due to age cheating, according to the new rule outlined in Article 27.4 of the Under-17 African Cup of Nations regulations.

However, on Monday evening, the West African Football Union and the CAF Medical team reversed their decision after a satisfactory medical test confirmed Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau’s eligibility to compete in this year’s U17 AFCON qualifiers.

The new rule states in Article 27.4: “If, after carrying out the eligibility test (IRM) for a participating team, one or more of its players are deemed ineligible, the participating team will be disqualified.”

Sierra Leone has been requalified to participate, having met the necessary criteria after two of the five players in question were cleared. Additionally, Guinea-Bissau has been reinstated and will compete in the WAFU U17 tournament in Senegal.

Africa and Age Cheating

Guinea has a history of age cheating. In 2019, they were disqualified from the Under-17 World Cup in Brazil due to age violations at the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, which served as qualifiers.

Despite runners-up at the U-17 Nations Cup in Tanzania in April, Guinea believed they had secured a World Cup spot by reaching the semi-finals.

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Bo Rangers coach Keister hails team spirit after Sierra Leone Cup triumph
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Bo Rangers coach Keister hails team spirit after Sierra Leone Cup triumph

In an exhilarating display of skill and determination, the reigning champions of Sierra Leone, under the guidance of head coach John Keister, celebrated a remarkable achievement as they secured a coveted double title this season.

The team triumphed over East End Lions in a heart-stopping penalty shootout, winning 4-1 after an intense match that concluded in a 2-2 stalemate.

The dramatic FA Cup final unfolded at the FA’s secretariat playing ground, where emotions ran high as both teams fought fiercely for glory. Keister praised his players’ resilience, emphasizing the unwavering team spirit that shone through under pressure. “It was a very intense game against a formidable opponent that truly tested our limits. Everyone witnessed the depth of our character as a team,” he reflected.

Expressing gratitude, he acknowledged the support of the club’s executive chairman, Babadi Kamara, as well as the players and dedicated fans who have been instrumental throughout this journey. “Completing the double brings an immense sense of pride for us as a team. It’s a joyful moment that we will cherish.”

Keister remarked on his commitment to delivering results, highlighting the importance of performance on the field. “I have an incredible chairman in Babadi Kamara, who is passionate about success and transforming the narrative surrounding football,” he stated confidently.

Looking ahead, Keister emphasized the need to build on this achievement. “We are not content to rest on our laurels; we are eager to lay the groundwork for the future. That’s the vision Babadi and the team are diligently working towards.”

The team triumphed over East End Lions in a heart-stopping penalty shootout, winning 4-1 after an intense match that concluded in a 2-2 stalemate.
The team triumphed over East End Lions in a heart-stopping penalty shootout, winning 4-1 after an intense match that concluded in a 2-2 stalemate.
Ishmael Kabia named on the bench in Arsenal's defeat to Bournemouth
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ishmael Kabia named on the bench in Arsenal’s defeat to Bournemouth

Sierra Leonean Ishmael Kabia was one of four academy players—along with Tommy Setford, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Ethan Nwaneri—who were included on the bench for Arsenal’s first team in the 2-0 loss against Bournemouth on Saturday.

Arsenal suffered an unexpected 2-0 loss to Bournemouth after William Saliba’s red card marking their first Premier League defeat since April.

Alexei Rojas serves as the third-choice goalkeeper. Setford has returned from injury, and winger Kabia is once again involved with the first team. Midfielders Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri have frequently been called up to the senior squad this season.

Kabia, a Dutch citizen born in the Netherlands to Sierra Leonean parents, has not yet represented any country internationally. He is a right-footed right-winger who typically stays near the touchline on the right, though he has played occasionally on the left as well.

Ishmael Kabia stands out for his speed and crossing ability, excelling at youth levels. His effective partnership with Nwaneri in the under-21 team has caught the club’s attention.

A youth expert from Next Generation Arsenal remarked, “Ishmael Kabia is the quickest wide player I’ve seen recently. His speed disrupts defenders, and his technical skills have improved significantly. If he keeps progressing, he could become a key player.”

In September, he made his first senior appearance for Arsenal’s first team in their 5-1 win over Bolton in the EFL Cup.

Sierra Leone captain Caulker expresses excitement after win over African champions, Ivory Coast
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone captain Caulker expresses pride after win over Ivory Coast

Sierra Leone captain Steven Caulker expressed pride in his Leone Stars teammates after their hard-fought victory over the African champions on Tuesday during their round four Group G qualifiers at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium.

Amadou Bakayoko, a striker based in Japan, scored a last-minute header to secure the win for the West African team, marking their first victory in the qualifiers and against Ivory Coast.

The Sierra Leone skipper remarked, “The beautiful game… On Friday night, we lost 4-1 to the African champions, Ivory Coast. We conceded three penalties and paid the price for lapses in concentration.

I didn’t sleep at all that night; I was fuming. Our chances of qualifying for AFCON 2025 have been severely diminished. We then spent the entire Saturday traveling to Liberia. For those who may not know, many African nations can’t play at home because we don’t meet FIFA requirements.

It’s a real disadvantage not being able to play in front of our home supporters. We also picked up a few injuries to key players, and by Tuesday, everyone had written us off… That’s where the beauty of football comes into play.

Our team rallied together and achieved a historic victory, beating the African giants for the first time ever. What a feeling! We won 1-0 with a clean sheet and a solid team performance.

Although we still have two challenging matches against Chad and Zambia to play in November, our hopes of qualifying are reignited. The highs and lows of football.”

As it stands in Group G,  Ivory Coast on nine points, Zambia on seven, Sierra Leone amassed four points and Chad on two points ahead of the final two matches. 

Serhou Guirassy brace helps Guinea strengthen qualification hopes
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Serhou Guirassy brace helps Guinea stay focus on qualification

Guinea won 3-0 against Ethiopia on Tuesday, 15 October in their 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier, with Serhou Guirassy scoring two goals. The match took place at the Ebimpe Stadium in Abidjan.

With this victory, Guinea secured three crucial points, moving to second place in Group H with six points. Ethiopia remained at the bottom with just one point.

Serhou Guirassy continued his impressive form, scoring two goals in the first half. He found the net in the 16th minute and then converted a penalty in the 23rd minute. Abdoulaye Touré scored a third goal in the 19th minute, sealing the win for Guinea.

Guirassy has now scored five goals in two games against Ethiopia, after having scored a hat-trick against them in the previous match.

Guinea’s next month’s, crucial matches will be held against DR Congo and Tanzania to conclude the race to Morocco.