Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Fifa bans 2023 AFCON top scorer Emilio Nsue over ineligibility
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Fifa bans 2023 AFCON top scorer Emilio Nsue over ineligibility

African Cup of Nations golden boot winner Emilio Nsue has been banned by the world governing body, FIFA, for six months. 

This decision comes after FIFA ruled that the Equatorial Guinea striker was ineligible to play in his country’s first two qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. 

Last November, the 34-year-old scored the winning goal in both games in question, against Namibia and Liberia.

The Equatorial Guinea Football Association has also been sanctioned by FIFA, resulting in the country forfeiting its first two qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, in which Nsue participated.

A Fifa disciplinary committee was “comfortably satisfied” that Nsue was ineligible for “several” international matches and has ruled that both World Cup preliminaries will be forfeited 3-0 by the Central Africans. 

It has also fined the Equatoguinean federation (Feguifut) 150,000 Swiss francs ($164,000, £129,000) and banned Nsue – a former youth international for Spain – from playing for any national side for six months. 

FIFA has not provided further details on the ruling for a player who won the Golden Boot at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. An official from Feguifut said they are investigating the case and have not received official notification from FIFA. 

Nsue was previously ruled ineligible by FIFA in 2013. Equatorial Guinea faces a potential six-point deduction, which would impact their chances of reaching the 2026 World Cup finals. 

They currently hold the second position in their group, but if the deduction is upheld, they will drop to fifth. The team is scheduled to face Tunisia and Malawi in qualifiers next month.

Augustine Williams takes tally to seven for Indy Eleven 
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Augustine Williams takes tally to seven for Indy Eleven 

Indy Eleven made club history by reaching the Quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the first time after defeating USL Championship rival Detroit City FC 3-0. 

Augustine Williams scored his seventh goal in thirteen games since joining the club before the new campaign. He has two Open Cup goals for Indy this season, while Stanley leads the team with two assists.

The scoring started with a Detroit City own goal from a Benjamin Ofeimu cross. Indy Eleven has scored their first goal in the 14th minute or earlier in all three U.S. Open Cup matches this season.

Indy Eleven scored two more goals in the first half. Douglas Martinez assisted Augi Williams for the first goal in the 33rd minute, and Aedan Stanley connected on a corner kick to Ofeimu for the second goal in the 36th minute.

Indy Eleven is unbeaten in its last eight matches, dating back to the Third Round win over Chicago Fire FC II on April 17. 

They also became the second Indiana club in the tournament’s history to reach the Quarterfinals (the first being Indianapolis Inferno in 1992).

Indy Eleven will play against Atlanta United (MLS) on the road on July 9 or 10 in the Quarterfinals.

Indy Eleven will play against Atlanta United (MLS) on July 9 or 10 in the Quarterfinals on the road.
Indy Eleven will play against Atlanta United (MLS) on July 9 or 10 in the Quarterfinals on the road.
Abdourahman Okieh picks 23-man squad for Sierra Leone and Ethiopia
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Abdourahman Okieh picks 23-man squad for Sierra Leone and Ethiopia 

Abdourahman Okieh has selected a 23-man squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Sierra Leone and Ethiopia. 

The Djibouti men’s senior national team will play against Sierra Leone on June 5th at Stade El Abdi in El Jadida, Morocco, and will face Ethiopia on June 9th for matchday four.

After losing their opening two Group A matches, Djibouti is currently at the bottom of the standings. They suffered a 6-1 defeat to Egypt and a 1-0 home loss to Guinea-Bissau in November 2023.

In the current standings, Egypt leads Group A with six points, followed by Burkina Faso and Guinea-Bissau with four points each. Sierra Leone and Ethiopia are tied on one point each, while Djibouti has no points after losing their first two games.

In their preliminary AFCON qualifier against Liberia in March, Lone Star captain Murphy Dorley scored one of two first-half goals as the Lone Stars defeated hosts Djibouti 2-0 in the opening leg in Marrakech. 

Mohammed Sangare opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute, followed by Dorley calmly converting Sebastian Teclar’s cross 12 minutes later. The match ended in a goalless draw in Liberia, leading to their elimination.

Abdourahman Okieh has selected a 23-man squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Sierra Leone and Ethiopia.
Abdourahman Okieh has selected a 23-man squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Sierra Leone and Ethiopia.
Lookman hattrick hero in Europa final to end Leverkusen’s unbeaten run
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Lookman shines in Europa final to end Leverkusen’s unbeaten run

Ademola Lookman made history with a hat trick in the Europa League final for Atalanta as they dismantled Bayern Leverkusen 3-0 on Wednesday, surprising even his coach, Gian Piero Gasperini. 

The Nigerian international became the first player to score a hat-trick in a Europa League final. He had never scored double figures in a season for any of his previous clubs. However, his performance significantly improved after moving to Atalanta, where he scored 15 goals in each of his two seasons with the club.

Gasperini credited a senior manager at Atalanta for spotting Lookman’s potential and bringing him to the club. Following the match, Lookman expressed his confidence in his abilities and his gratitude for the support he received from Atalanta and his coach. 

Additionally, his mentor and former youth coach spoke highly of him, emphasizing Lookman’s hard work and determination to succeed.

He also mentioned that his time in Bergamo had been instrumental in his development as a player. 

The recent final might be remembered as the Lookman final, but Atalanta’s success is equally remarkable. This is only their second trophy in their 116-year history, the first being the 1963 Coppa Italia. 

Last week, they lost the Coppa Italia final to Juventus, so this victory is an impressive comeback. Gasperini’s team made history by becoming the first Italian team to win this tournament since 1999.

“I am hugely proud for all of Italy because it was a cursed trophy,” said the 66-year-old, who took charge of the club in 2016. “Having won it with Atalanta is perhaps one of those footballing fairytales that rarely crop up.”

The Nigerian international became the first player to score a hat-trick in a Europa League final.
The Nigerian international became the first player to score a hat-trick in a Europa League final.
Gasperini's team also made history by becoming the first Italian team to win this tournament since 1999.
Gasperini's team also made history by becoming the first Italian team to win this tournament since 1999.
Ex-Sierra Leone coach Jonathan McKinstry appointed as new Gambia boss
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Coach Jonathan McKinstry appointed as new Gambia boss

The Gambia Football Federation has confirmed the appointment of Jonathan McKinstry as their new head coach of the national team. 

The UEFA PRO License holder, who has previously led Gor Mahia to clinch the Kenyan Premier League title, is set to take over from Tom Saintfiet after Gambia’s exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournament. 

Jonathan, aged 38, has previously coached Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Rwanda. He is currently the manager of Gor Mahia FC in Kenya and will assume the role with the Scorpions from June 1, 2024.

In the August 2014 FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, the Leone Stars ranked 50th in the world and also broken into the top 10 teams on the continent. They were in seventh place under the management of the Irish coach.

The Northern Irish coach has signed a two-year contract and has been tasked with qualifying The Gambia for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Jonathan previously coached the Uganda national team, Saif SC in Bangladesh, and the Lithuanian club Kauno Zalgiris, with early career roles in youth development at Newcastle United, New York Red Bulls, the Right to Dream Academy, and the Craig Bellamy Foundation.