Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Senegal's Pape Matar Sarr extends Tottenham contract
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Senegal’s Pape Matar Sarr extends Tottenham contract

Tottenham Hotspur and Senegal midfielder Pape Matar Sarr has signed a new six-and-a-half-year contract until the summer of 2030.

The Senegal international, 21, has established himself as a pivotal first-team player under new manager Ange Postecoglou.

Sarr, who made his debut for the Senegal national team on 26 March 2021 in an AFCON 2021 qualifier against Congo, has been to the Senegal AFCON 2023 squad.

However, his participation may be in doubt after he went off injured in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth.

On 6 February 2022, he won the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal. He made one appearance at the tournament, appearing as a substitute in the 3–1 semi-final win over Burkina Faso.

Sarr joined Tottenham from Metz in 2021 but spent the 2021-22 season back on loan with the French side.

Since making his Spurs debut in January 2023, Sarr has made 33 appearances in all competitions, scoring twice.

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Senegal to start AFCON title defence against the Gambia
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Senegal to start AFCON title defence against the Gambia

Senegal has rallied their troops as they set to compete in their 17th Africa Cup of Nations – head Coach Aliou Cisse’s squad ready to defend the title in Cote d’Ivoire.

The Teranga Lions must overcome competition in Group C with Gambia, Guinea, and Cameroon for a place in the knockout stages. 

They will kick off their title defence against The Gambia on Monday, 15 January, before the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. Their final group tie is against Guinea’s Syli National 1976 runners-up on January 23rd at the Stade Charles Konan Banny de Yamoussoukro.

Aliou Cisse, the coach of Senegal, has named his 27-man squad to defend the title in Cote d’Ivoire 2023, which they won in Cameroon 2021.

However, key striker Sadio Mane believes that the Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire 2023, will be the toughest compared to previous editions.

“We know it won’t be easy but we will be there to do our best and try to go through every round. We are expecting a tough competition,” Mane said.

“This competition will be one of the strongest since I started playing in it because all the big countries are here and they all have their targets, but we will see what will happen,” the former Liverpool star noted.

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Algeria eye third continental title after naming squad
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Algeria eye third continental title after naming squad

Algeria won the tournament in 2019 and has set their sights on their third title after head coach Djamel Belmadi announced his final 26-man squad for the upcoming AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast next month.

The Desert Warriors set to compete against Angola, Burkina Faso and Mauritania in Group D for a place in the knockout stages.

In Cameroon, for the Africa Cup of Nations, they were knocked out of the group stage despite coming into the competition as the favourites. 

Riyad Mahrez is one of their biggest threat. He won the treble with Man City before moving to Saudi Arabia in the summer. West Ham winger Said Benrahma is the only big name missing.

Youcef Atal, presently on trial in France accused of inciting hatred, has been selected in Algeria’s Africa Cup of Nations squad by head coach Djamel Belmadi.

The 27-year-old defender has not played for his Ligue 1 side Nice since mid-October after he caused a furore by posting a video in which a Palestinian preacher purportedly threatened Israel with a “black day”.

Sierra Leone suffer third straight defeat to Liberia in U17 MRU Cup
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone suffer third straight defeat to Liberia in U17 MRU Cup

Sierra Leone suffered a third-straight defeat after another 3-2 scoreline to Liberia at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium.

On Saturday, Liberia defeated their Sierra Leonean counterpart 3-2 in the 2023 Mano River Union Men’s Under-17 Peace Cup encounter. 

It was a third straight defeat for the Sierra Leone U17 side following a 6-2 thrashing on Wednesday and a 3-2 defeat on Thursday in the opening two matches, respectively.

Emmanuel Sieh’s brace and Alhaji Samukai scored another to give the host a 3 -1 lead into the break at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium.

Sierra Leone Idrissa Swarray pulled one back late in the 88th minute, but was not enough to get at least a draw.

On Sunday, Sierra Leone to host Liberia in the final match at the Tusa Field. In this tie, they will be playing for pride after losing all three matches in the competition.

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Wilfred Zaha out, Pepe & Sebastien Haller recall to Ivory Coast squad
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Wilfred Zaha out, Pepe & Haller recall to Ivory Coast squad

Ex-Cyrstal Palace winger Wilfred Zaha and Hamed Junior Traore have been left out of Ivory Coast Africa Cup of Nations sqaud as former Arsenal player Nicolas Pepe makes his return. 

French manager Jean-Louis Gasse listed two surprises with Idrissa Doumbia and Lazare Amani in his 27-man squad.

According to the Ivorian Federation, this selection will test against Sierra Leone in a friendly match on January 6, 2024, at the Laurent Pokou stadium before they take Guinea-Bissau in the tournament’s opener on January 13.

The Ivory Coast are set to compete against Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea in Group A next month. 

French manager Jean-Louis Gasset has named Borussia Dortmund striker Sebastien Haller, Monaco defender Wilfried Singo, and midfielders Ibrahim Sangare of Premier League side Nottingham Forest, Seko Fofana (Al Nassr) and Franck Kesslie (Al Ahli).

Zaha, 31, made his Ivory Coast debut against Sweden in a friendly in Abu Dhabi on 8 January 2017 and was part of the squad in Cameroon 2021 AFCON.

The full final list of Côte d’Ivoire AFCON 2023 Squad

Goalkeepers: Fofana Yahia, Charles Folly, Badra Ali

Defenders: Serge Aurier, Willy Boly, Chester Diallo, Ousmane Diomandé, Odilon Kossounou, Evan Ndicka, Ghislain Konan, Wilfried Singo

Midfielders: Ibrahim Sangaré, Doumbia Idrissa, Franck Kessié, Jean Michael Seri, Seko Fofana, Lazare Amani

Attackers: Sébastien Haller, Karim Konaté, Max-Alain Gradel, Jean-Philippe Krasso, Christian Kouamé, Jonathan Bamba, Oumar Diakité, Jérémie Boga, Nicolas Pépé, Simon Adingra.

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