Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ivory Coast ease past Sierra Leone ahead of AFCON opener
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ivory Coast ease past Sierra Leone ahead of AFCON opener

Jean-Louis Gasset‘s Elephant eased to a 5-1 victory over their visitors, Sierra Leone, at Laurent Pokou Stadium with three first-half goals on Saturday.

Diomand Othman opened the 2023 Cup of Nations host in the 18 minutes when headed home a Jeremie Boga cross before Franck Kessie doubled their lead just after the half-hour mark.

Three more goals were scored from Jonathan Bamba, Jeremie Boga and Amani Lazare in the 38, 48 and 84th minutes, respectively, which were enough for the home team.

Sierra Leone’s only goal came through Rodney Michael’s fine finish assisted by Abu Komeh in the 86th minute as consolation.

The tie was part of the Ivorian’s preparation for the 34th edition of the continent’s biggest footballing event to run from 13 January to 11 February 2024 in Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Bouake, San Pedro, and Korhogo.

Sierra Leone’s next friendly is against Morocco next Thursday at the same venue. 

Jean-Louis Gasset's Elephant eased to a 5-1 victory over their visitors, Sierra Leone, at Laurent Pokou Stadium
Jean-Louis Gasset's Elephant eased to a 5-1 victory over their visitors, Sierra Leone, at Laurent Pokou Stadium
Sierra Leone wrap up training for Ivory Coast friendly.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone wrap up training for Ivory Coast friendly

The Sierra Leone side, predominantly local stars, concluded its training at San Pedro field as they ready to tackle Cup of Nations hosts Ivory Coast on Saturday.

The newly built 20,000-seater Laurent Pokou Stadium will host the Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone encounter on January 6 ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Skipper of Leone Stars, Kwame Quee, acknowledged that it is going to be difficult but added, “They are determined to make a difference in their friendly with Ivory Coast tomorrow.

“Even though football has three aspects; win, lose or draw but we are ready to win the match.”

Head coach Alhaji Foray said he has good players who are well-focused and ready to showcase their talents. He expressed optimism going into tomorrow’s fixture.

Foray added that the match is very important for them as a team, noting that it gives opportunities to the players to prepare for the CHAN competition and the upcoming matches in the AFCON qualifiers in March.

The host will test against Sierra Leone as they prepare for the 34th edition of AFCON to run from 13 January to 11 February 2024 in Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Bouake, San Pedro, and Korhogo.

Both sides played to a 2-2 draw in the last Cup of Nations in Cameroon at the Stade de Japoma, Douala 16, January 2022, but they thrashed Sierra Leone 5-1 during the Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying Group D at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan in 2014.

In Group A, the Ivorians are to start their Afcon campaign against  Guinea-Bissau at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan, on January 13 before facing the Super Eagles of Nigeria in their second match.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, African News, Ivory Coast.

Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi ruled out of AFCON
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi ruled out of AFCON

Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has been ruled out of Nigeria’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations campaign due to injury.

Ndidi, 27, suffered the setback during Leicester City’s 2-0 win at Cardiff City on December 29.

The three-time African champions begin their Group A campaign against Equatorial Guinea on 14 January before taking on their West African counterpart hosts Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau in the group stage.

The midfielder was named in the Super Eagles’ 25-man squad on 29 December but was absent from his club side’s win over Huddersfield Town on Monday.

The Nigeria Football Federation has announced Royal Antwerp midfielder Alhassan Yusuf as Ndidi’d replacement.

Nigeria are still hopeful Ndidi’s Leicester team-mate Kelechi Iheanacho will be able to join the squad.

Forward Iheanacho, 27, has missed the Foxes’ past two games in the Championship with a muscle problem.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, AFCON News and African News Nigeria. 

East End Lions strengthen squad with Ghana-born Samuel Armah
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

East End Lions strengthen squad with Ghana-born Samuel Armah

East End Lions have confirmed the signing of Ghanaian-born striker Samuel Armah days after they acquired another Ghanaian, Isaac Kofi Sarfo, as head coach.

The Eastern giant club has said their new talented striker, formerly showcasing his prowess with Legon Cities FC, the 2016 Ghana Premier League Champions.

Samuel is only 23 and has a wealth of top striker experience.

After a difficult start to their campaign, Lions will be hoping their former Inter Allies, Accra Great Olympics man, is set to revamp their attacking force.

Meanwhile, last month, they sacked coach Charlie Wright following a defeat to Ports Authority, their first defeat in seven Sierra Leone Premier League games.

The Lions stand 15th on eight points after nine league games thus far, a statistic that doesn’t go down well with the club’s management.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone Premier League and East End Lions. 

New Africa Cup of Nations Winner Price Money is $7m
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

New Africa Cup of Nations Winner Price Money is $7m

The Confederation of African Football has today announced a 40% increase in the Prize Money for the Winner of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.

Afcon’s winning price is now $7m as the continent’s biggest football event set to kick off on Saturday, January 13, with host Ivory Coast taking on Equatorial Guinea at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan.

CAF also stated that the runner-up of AFCON Côte d’Ivoire 2023 will now get $4 million. Each semi-finalist will receive $2.5 million, and each of the four quarter-finalists will receive $1.3 million.

CAF President Patrice Motzepe said he’s confident that the increase will help the development of football on the continent.

“CAF has made significant progress over the past two years in increasing the Prize Money of the AFCON and all its other major competitions. We have increased the Prize Money of the AFCON Winner to USD 7 000 000 which is a 40% increase from the previous AFCON Prize Money.”

“I am confident that a portion of the Prize Money will contribute to developing football and also benefit all the football stakeholders, as well as assist our Member Associations with their administrations.”