Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

New Japanese J-League challenge striker Amadou Bakayoko
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

New Japanese J-League challenge for striker Amadou Bakayoko

Japanese J-League team Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo have confirmed the arrival of a new acquisition, Sierra Leone’s striker Amadou Bakayoko.

“We are pleased to announce that Amadou Bakayoko has joined us on a permanent transfer from Dundee FC (Scotland). He will wear the number 20 jersey. He will undergo a medical examination and is scheduled to sign a formal contract.”

The former Bolton player spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Dundee FC in Scotland. He played a crucial role in Dundee’s run to a top-six finish in the Scottish Premiership after joining on loan from Forest Green.

Bakayoko’s impact as a striker led Dundee manager Tony Docherty to express his desire for the player to stay at Dens Park beyond the summer.

However, Bakayoko became a free agent after being released by Forest Green on July 10. This came after the 28-year-old made 19 appearances for the club since joining in January 2023.

While there were talks of interest from four English clubs, Bakayoko sought a new challenge outside of Europe.

Morocco and Mali eye Olympic football tournament knockout phase
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Morocco and Mali eye Olympic football knockout phase

A victory for Morocco and Mali would place them in a favourable position in the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament at Paris 2024 on Saturday.

Group B – Morocco could advance to the knockout stages by defeating Ukraine on Saturday at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, following their dramatic victory over Argentina. Kick-off at 17:00. – Ukraine v Morocco.

Valentyn Rubchynskyi scored Ukraine’s first-ever goal in the last tournament, in their 2-1 loss to Iraq. Morocco has never defeated a European team in 11 previous attempts at the Games.

“I watched highlights of the Argentina vs. Morocco game, and both teams are outstanding and very dangerous. We will try to analyze the mistakes they made in the previous game and use that knowledge to our advantage on the pitch.” – Maksym Talovierov, Ukraine defender.

Group D – West African team Mali could put themselves in a strong position with a win over Japan at the Stade de following their 1-1 draw with Israel.

Japan’s 5-0 victory over Paraguay last time out was their biggest win at the Olympics. Mali are undefeated in normal time at the Games. Their only defeat to date came in extra time against Italy in the quarter-finals of Athens 2004.

“We did well to win our first match but that counts for nothing if we lose the next one. We’re preparing now as well as we can for this next match (against Mail),” Shota Fujio, Japan forward.

Japan v Mali – Stade de Bordeaux Kick-off: 21:00
Africa's representatives have crucial encounters today in Paris for Match Day Two of the football tournament.
Africa's representatives have crucial encounters today in Paris for Match Day Two of the football tournament.
Nigerian native David Ozoh joins Derby County
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Nigerian native David Ozoh joins Derby County

David Ozoh, a 19-year-old central midfielder hailing from Nigerian parents, has joined the Rams on a season-long loan from a Premier League side Crystal Palace to gain valuable match experience.

He is an England youth international and featured 12 times for the Eagles last season, with nine of those appearances in the Premier League.

Ozoh is the sixth summer signing for manager Paul Warne, following the arrivals of Ben Osborn, Kayden Jackson, Jerry Yates, Kenzo Goudmijn, and Ebou Adams.

Ozoh was born in Valencia, Spain, to Nigerian parents. He joined Crystal Palace’s Academy at eight years old, signed professional terms in August 2022, and made his senior debut in January 2023 at the age of 17, becoming the club’s youngest-ever Premier League player.

He made 11 senior appearances in the 2023/24 season and represented England at Under-18 level on five occasions.

Opening draw for Morocco against Argentine in Paris Olympics
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Opening win for Morocco over Argentina in Men’s Olympic

In the Group B Olympics match held at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint Etienne, Rahimi Soufiane scored two goals as Morocco defeated Argentina 2-1 on Wednesday.

The Argentina squad, which included players such as Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez, scored late to make it 2-2. However, a late VAR intervention ruled the goal offside on the first day of football action at the Paris Olympics.

Soufiane Rahimi scored both goals for Morocco, first in the 45+2nd minute and then again from the penalty spot to double his side’s lead.

In the Argentina vs. Morocco football game at Paris 2024, Giovanni Simeone scored a goal for Argentina, but they couldn’t find another goal until the 16th minute of added time when Cristian Medina equalized for the 2008 Olympics gold medal winners.

Due to on-field chaos, the match was suspended for over an hour. Play eventually resumed behind closed doors, with the African side winning 2-1 after an equalizer by their opponents had been ruled out by VAR.

Argentina’s players were booed by the crowd after a video showed them chanting a song labelled as “racist and discriminatory” by the French Football Federation after winning the Copa America.

The organizers issued a statement confirming that the football match between Argentina and Morocco at the Saint-Etienne Stadium had to be suspended. This was a result of a pitch invasion by a small number of spectators.

In another match, Spain defeated Uzbekistan 2-1 at the Parc des Princes in western Paris, with Marc Pubill and Sergio Gómez scoring for the Euro 2024 winners, while Eldor Shomurodov pulled one back for the Uzbeks.

Southern Arena ready to host San Pedro as Rangers bolster squad
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Southern Arena ready to host San Pedro as Rangers bolster squad

Bo Rangers, Sierra Leone’s reigning champions, have bolstered their team with the season’s top scorer, Musa Noah Kamara, and six new players.

In addition, the Confederation of African Football has approved the Southern Arena to host next month’s Interclub first-leg match against Ivorian side San Pedro, Football Sierra Leone Understands.  

The new additions to Bo Rangers’ squad include young left-back Idrissa Sesay from Freetonians SLIFA, versatile defender Edmund Momoh, Lamin Conteh from FC Johansen, goalkeeper Abubakarr Kamara from Wusum Stars, George Mattar, who was in Sweden and Michael Brima from Alpha Lions in Kenema, making the squad stronger – as they prepare for the upcoming CAF Champions League campaign in August.

Musa, the leading goal scorer this season, scoring 15 goals and winning the Golden Boot, has re-joined his former club and is the first player to achieve this award with three different clubs.

Bo Rangers will face the Ivorian team San Pedro in a crucial match during the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League next month for a place in the next round.

The tie will occur between the 16th and 18th of August, followed by a trip to Ivory Coast the following weekend.

It’s worth noting that since 1989, when Mighty Blackpool reached the Quarterfinal stage of the African Cup of Champions Clubs, no Sierra Leonean team has progressed to the group stages of Interclub competitions.

These upcoming competitions will provide a chance for Rangers and East End Lions to make a significant impact in continental football and rewrite history.