Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Winning start for holders Senegal as Lamine Camara nets brace
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Winning start for holders Senegal as Lamine Camara nets brace

Holders Senegal got off to a winning start as youngster Lamine Camara stole the headlines with a brace in their 3-0 demolition of the Gambia.

Pape Gueye scored Senegal’s opener in the 4th minute at the Stade Charles Konan Banny de Yamoussoukro in the Group C encounter – 20-year-old Lamine Camara scored twice to ensure a bright opening match for Lions of Teranga.

The Gambia suffered more setbacks when Cardiff City midfielder Ebou Adams was sent off before half-time.

Lamine Camara doubled Senegal’s lead with a low finish in the 52nd minute with a curling effort before wrapping up his brace in the 86th minute.

The 2023 U20 AFCON Best Player was named Man of the Match on his Cup of Nations debut for Senegal.

Head coach Aliou Cisse’s side takes home an early advantage with maximum points of the group as Cameroon takes on Guinea later on.

Senegal will take on Cameroon in Yamoussoukro Charles Konan Banny Stadium in their second group-stage match on Friday (17:00 GMT).

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 African News.

Guinea face a tricky Cameroon AFCON opener
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Guinea face a tricky Cameroon AFCON opener

Syli National of Guinea to face a tricky Group C opener in the Africa Cup of Nations against five-time winners Cameroon on Monday.

Kaba Diawara will be at the dugout when his side opens their AFCON campaign at the Stade Charles Konan Banny de Yamoussoukro. 

Monday’s encounter is the third between the two sides at the Cup of Nations – Both nations have met in previous group stages that ended in draws: 2-2 in 1998 and 1-1 in 2015.

Cameroon, under the supervision of Rigobert Song, will be hoping to start on a positive footing as they were eliminated by Egypt in the semi-finals as hosts nation in the 2021 AFCON but won against Burkina Faso 5-3 on aggregate to lift the third spot. 

Syli National head coach Kaba Diawara has been working on instilling a winning mentality in his side as they prepare to face the Indomitable Lions.

“We have a strong group, with great teams so we must start the competition well to secure a chance of qualifying for the next neround,” he told CAFOnline.

“My personal ambition is to win. When we start a job we have to do it well. We have a young team and we are in a group that has previous champions. We hope to be at the level and give everything on the pitch. I want to urge our fans to encourage us and believe in us.”

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 African News.

Josh Koroma nets in Huddersfield's draw against Plymouth
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Josh Koroma nets in Huddersfield’s draw against Plymouth

Huddersfield Town played to a 1-1 draw with Plymouth Argyle in their English Championship encounter on Saturday at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Ian Foster’s first league game in charge of Plymouth ended in a draw with fellow strugglers Huddersfield Town. 

Morgan Whittaker’s seventh goal of the season for the Pilgrims was cancelled out by Sierra Leone’s native Josh Koroma before the break.

Darren Moore’s Terriers have now failed to win at home for the 11th time this season.

Koroma, who was making his 24th appearance, recorded his second of the campaign – assisted by Sorba Thomas in the 38th minute after M. Whittaker gave the visitors the opener in the 16th minute.

Plymouth Argyle‘s Sierra Leone International Mustapha Bundu was an unused substitute on Saturday.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, the writer Alie Bittar – On Twitter @bittar32 and Players Abroad. 

Mo Salah rescues Egypt as Cape Verde stunned Ghana with Rodrigues' goal
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mo Salah rescues Egypt as Cape Verde stun Ghana

Egypt captain Mohammed Salah converted a late penalty kick to rescue Egypt from a 2-2 draw against Mozambique in their opening group B game of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023.

The Pharaohs started brightly with an early goal through Mohamed Mostafa’s strike, but the Mambas came into the second half much stronger with determination. 

They rallied in the second half with goals from Witness João Quembo and Clésio Baúque in the 55th and 58th minutes, respectively. 

However, deep into the extra time, Domingos Macandza’s missed kick brought down Mostafa Mohammed – a VAR review confirmed Egypt deserved a penalty.

Salah made no mistake to slot in his spot kick for his first goal of the tournament as he helped the Phaphroahs nick a point.

In Group B’s other encounter, Garry Rodrigues’ late goal handed Cape Verde a 2-1 victory as they secured maximum points against the Black Stars of Ghana.

Cape Verde took a deserved lead in the 17th minute through Jamiro Monteiro. The former Philadelphia Union midfielder tapped home from a loose ball from goalkeeper Richard Ofori. 

Alexander Djiku levelled the scoreline for the Black Stars. However, his goal was not enough – after Garry Rodrigues scored late in stoppage time.

As a result, Cape Verde tops Group B on three points, followed by Egypt, Mozambique and Ghana, respectively. 

Egypt will play Ghana on Thursday, January 18, at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium – whilst Cape Verde takes on Mozambique on Friday at the same venue. 

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 African News.

Victor Osimhen's quick-fire equaliser spared Nigeria a shock defeat against Equatorial Guinea
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Disappointing AFCON start for Nigeria’s Super Eagles

Three-time African Champiosn Nigeria’s Super Eagles shared the spoils with Equatorial Guinea 1-1 in the African Cup of Nations Group A opener at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé, northern Abidjan on Sunday.

As a result, host Ivory Coast top Group A with three points after their 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau on Saturday. 

Iban Salvador’s fine first-half finish put the Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea ahead in the 36th minute. However, his goal was cancelled by the African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen in the 38th minute.

Victor Osimhen once again proved he is a key player in the Super Eagles side after his equaliser spared Nigeria a shock defeat against Equatorial Guinea in their opening game of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Italy & Napoli Player of the Year nodded in a minute after Iban Salvador’s opener for the underdogs. 

Nigeria manager Jose Peseiro heads into the tournament under some pressure, having drawn with Lesotho and Zimbabwe in World Cup qualifying before losing to Guinea in a friendly.

Jesus Owono made several second-half saves to deny the Super Eagles, while Osimhen missed after breaking clear.

Jesus Lazaro was named TotalEnergies Man of the Match award after a breathtaking performance.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 African News, Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea. 

Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea Share Spoils in Group A Opener
Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea Share Spoils in Group A Opener