Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

On Sunday, Sierra Leone International Alusine Koroma featured for 83 minutes as Orihuela CF defeated CF Badalona Futur 1-0 in their promotion first-leg tie.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Midfielder Alusine Koroma’s Orihuela win RFEF playoff first-leg 

On Sunday, Sierra Leone International Alusine Koroma featured for 83 minutes as Orihuela CF defeated CF Badalona Futur 1-0 in their Segunda RFEF promotion playoff first-leg tie. 

In a closely contested match at Estadio Municipal Los Arcos stadium, Juanmi Callejón scored the sole goal for the home team, providing them with an advantage in the promotion race.

The stadium atmosphere was incredible, with fans offering their undivided support to the team captained by Sergi Guilló.

Koroma has played in 26 matches across all competitions since he joined the club.  He will be hoping to make a significant contribution to help his team win in the second leg on Sunday, May 19.

Orihuela CF achieved a crucial 3-2 victory against San Roque de Lepe, thanks to a double from Miguel Ángel De Las Cuevas Barberá. This result has led them to the playoff final.

RS Berkane edged Zamalek 2-1 to set up a tricky tie in Cairo
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Berkane edged Zamalek 2-1 to set up a tricky tie in Cairo

On Sunday, Renaissance Berkane defeated Zamalek 2-1 in the first leg of the African Confederation Cup final at the Berkane Municipal Stadium.

A second-leg contest is scheduled for Sunday, May 19, at 7:00 PM GMT in Cairo.

Hosts scored twice, with a penalty by skipper Issoufou Dayo in the 13th minute and a header at the back post by Adil Tahif in the 32nd minute, doubling their lead.

After the halftime break, the Egyptian team came back with a more organized strategy and started recovering positions as they reduced the deficit. 

The Egyptians managed to score thanks to Seifeddine Jaziri’s quick thinking in the 46th minute. A momentary lapse of concentration just after the resumption of play resulted in Ahmed Sayed making his fifth assist of the competition. 

He found Seifeddine Jaziri, who scored with a powerful header that hit the bottom left corner of the net.

The return leg in Cairo next Sunday will see Berkane, winners in 2020 and 2022, aiming for a third triumph in the continent’s secondary club competition.

Lineups:

RS Berkane: Hamza Hamiani – Issoufou Dayou, Abdelhak Assal, Hamza El Moussaoui, Adil Tahif – Ayoub Khairi, Mohamed El Mourabit, Yassin Labhiri, Tuisila Kisinda – Youssef Mehri, Youssef Al Fahli, Paul Bassene

Zamalek: Mohamad Awaad – Ahmed Fattouh, Hossam Abdel-Meguid, Omar Gaber, Hamza Mathlouthi – Mohamed Shehata, Nabil Emad, Ahmed Hamdi –  Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed, Samson Akinyoola, Seifeddine Jaziri.

El Jadida Stadium to host Sierra Leone v Djibouti WC qualifier
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

El Jadida Stadium to host Sierra Leone v Djibouti WC qualifier

Sierra Leone national football team will play their next World Cup Group A match against Djibouti at the Ben M’Hamed El Abdi Stadium in El Jadida, Morocco, football Sierra Leone understands. 

The match is scheduled for next month as Sierra Leone will be looking to secure their first win in the race to the 2026 World Cup in the USA after earning a point from their previous matches against Ethiopia and Egypt.

Sierra Leone is ranked 126th, which is 66 places ahead of Djibouti. This puts the West African team in a favourable position to win. 

Djibouti previously suffered a 2-0 aggregate defeat to Liberia in the CAF qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. However, it was a positive goalless draw for Djibouti in Liberia during the second leg of the qualifier. 

The Ben M’Hamed El Abdi Stadium is a 15,000-seater multi-use stadium in El Jadida, Morocco. 

It is mainly used for football matches and is home to Difaa El Jadida. Central and East African teams will face a tough contest against Sierra Leone at this stadium.

Egypt topped 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 opening two games.

Djibouti previously suffered a 2-0 aggregate defeat to Liberia in the CAF qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
SDjibouti previously suffered a 2-0 aggregate defeat to Liberia in the CAF qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Ademola Lookman nets as Atalanta reach the Europa League final
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ademola Lookman nets as Atalanta reach Europa League final

Ademola Lookman was on target as Atalanta secured their spot in the Europa League final with a 4-1 aggregate victory over Marseille at the Gewiss Stadium.

Atalanta, managed by Gian Piero Gasperini, is set to face Bayer Leverkusen, led by Xabi Alonso, in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on May 22nd.

This will be Atalanta’s first final in European competition.

Nigeria International Ademola Lookman scored the first goal for Atalanta in the 30th minute with a deflected strike that went past Marseille’s goalkeeper Pau Lopez and landed in the bottom corner.

Matteo Ruggeri extended Atalanta’s lead at the start of the second half with a right-footed drive into the top corner. El Bilal Toure scored the final goal of the match in injury time with the last kick of the game.

Atalanta had several missed chances to score in the first half, even though they eliminated Liverpool in the previous round.

Ilaix Moriba scored the winning goal from a penalty in the first half. 
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Guinea beat Indonesia to seal Paris 2024 Olympics spot

On Thursday, Guinea secured their place in the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament with a 1-0 win against Indonesia in a play-off match. 

Sixteen teams will compete in the men’s tournament from July 24 to 9 August 2024.

Moriba Kourouma scored the winning goal from a penalty in the first half.

Although Indonesia fought back, Guinea’s defence held firm, and they secured their historic place in the Olympic Age.

During the game, Algassime Bah was fouled by Indonesia’s Witan Sulaeman, leading to a penalty. 

The African team will be making their second appearance in the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament, having previously competed in 1968.

Guinea is in Group A of the 16-team summer event, along with hosts France, USA, and New Zealand. 

Reaction

“We’re qualified, so we’re rewriting history with these young ones. They’ve earned it. This will be the second time that Guinea has taken part in the Olympic Games. We’re going there to try and go as far as possible.” Kaba Diawara, Guinea coach.