Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Liberia beat Sierra Leone 2-1 in MRU Peace U17 Cup opener
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Liberia thrash Sierra Leone in U17 MRU Peace Cup opener

Host Liberia thrased Sierra Leone in the 2023 Mano River Union Men’s Under-17 Peace Cup 6-2 in the opening match on Wednesday.

 A brace from Emmanuel Sieh and Jerius Holmes and a goal apiece from Fallah Johnson, Jr and Kindness Cole saw Liberia U17 thrash their counterparts.

 The visitors scored in the 43rd and 84th minutes but were not enough to change the scoreline. 

 Kindness Cole was named Man of the Match Award after Liberia’s heavy victory over their neighbours at the TUSA FIELD.

The Mighty Barrole wonder kid was at his best with his exceptional skills displayed in match day one of the Mano River U17 hosted in Liberia.

 The tournament which is to run from 27-31 December at the Samuel Kanyon Doe sports complex in Paynesville, was expected to see three countries, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

 Guinea pulled out as a result, and Liberia and Sierra Leone will play four matches in five days.

At the Antoinette Tubman Stadium on 28 December, Sierra Leone will have the chance to avenge the first result when both sides lock horns again in the 2023 Mano River Union (MRU) men’s Under-17 Peace Cup – kickoff at 4:00 PM.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, African News, Mano River Union Men’s and U17 Sierra Leone News. 

Liberia kickoff the 2023 Mano River Union men's under-17 Peace Cup with a win over Sierra Leone at Tusa field.
Liberia kickoff the 2023 Mano River Union men's under-17 Peace Cup with a win over Sierra Leone at Tusa field.
Laurent Pokou Stadium to host Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone friendly
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Laurent Pokou Stadium to host Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone friendly 

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

The Sierra Leone Football Association announced the friendly on Wednesday.

Ivory Coast initially arranged to face the Mambas of Mozambique, but the Mozambicans withdrew in November.

Sierra Leone will travel with a 21-man sqaud predominately home-based players for the duel.

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 and Sierra Leone. 

Sierra Leone will travel with a 21-man squad predominately home-based players for the duel.
Sierra Leone will travel with a 21-man squad predominately home-based players for the duel.
Mauritania to test with Tunisia ahead of AFCON opener
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mauritania to face Tunisia ahead of AFCON opener

Mauritania to kick off their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations preparations with an international friendly against Tunisia on Jan 6 before heading to the Ivory Coast for the

Mauritania gears up for their third CAF Africa Cup of Nations as Coach Amir Abdou named a 27-man provisional squad. 

The Lions of Chinguetti to begin their Nations Cup campaign against Burkina Faso in Bouake on Jan 16 before taking on Algeria and Angola in Group D.

Coach Abdou has recalled former Ligue 1 midfielder El-Hadji Ba and handed a first call-up to teenager Oumar Ngom.

It was 18 months ago Ba, 30, formerly with Racing Lens and Sunderland, last played for his country. Ba, who recently signed for Mauritanian champions FC Nouadhibou, earned him an international recall.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Namori Diaw (Tevragh Zeina), Babacar Diop (FC Nouadhibou), Babacar Niasse (En Avant Guingamp)

Defenders: Aly Abeid (UTA Arad), Lamine Ba (NK Varazdin), Khadim Diaw (Al Hilal), Nouh Mohamed El Abd (FC Nouadhibou), El Hassen Houeibib (Al Zawraa), Ibrahima Keita (TP Mazembe), Bakary Ndiaye (Al Quwa Al Jawiya), Mohamed Dellah Yali (Al Hedod)

Midfielders: El Hadji Ba, Mouhsine Bodda (both FC Nouadhibou), Bakari Camara (Villefranche-Beaujolais), Sidi Ahmed Mohamed El Abd (Nouakchott Kings), Guessouma Fofana (Doxa Katokopias), Omare Gassama (Chateauroux), Abdallahi Mahmoud (Bellinzona), Oumar Ngom (Pau). 

Forwards: Souleymane Anne (KMSK Deinze), Pape Ibnou Ba (Concarneau), Amar Sidi Bouna (FC Nouadhibou), Souleymane Doukara (Magusa Turk Gucu), Aboubakar Kamara (Al Jazira), Aboubakaray Koita (St Truiden), Hemeya Tanji (Ai Ittihad Tripoli), Idrissa Thiam (Al Mesaimeer).

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

Boxing Day defeat for Alex Bangura's Middlesbrough
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Boxing Day defeat for Alex Bangura’s Middlesbrough

Cohen Bramall’s mishit cross looped in to give bottom-of-the-table Rotherham a priceless Championship win over Middlesbrough, BBC Sport reports

Sierra Leone International was making his fifteen appearances for Boro as he started the tie at AESSEAL New York Stadium on Tuesday.

It was the hosts’ only shot on target in a game which was dominated by Michael Carrick’s Boro, who paid the price through being wasteful in front of goal.

Rotherham goalkeeper Viktor Johansson, who looked close to coming off through injury in the first half, made some crucial saves – Sam Greenwood’s first-half swerving shot in particular – to help keep the Millers level.

But Greenwood and Sammy Silvera wasted further good chances for Boro before Bramall’s cross-shot went over visiting keeper Tom Glover and in, with Leam Richardson’s side able to hang on for their first points since he took charge.

Full-time: Rotherham United 1 Middlesbrough 0

Rotherham United 1

Middlesbrough 0

Teams: Rotherham- Johansson, Lembikisa (Appiah 66), Bramall, Hugill (Cafu 90+2), Lindsay (Clucas 83), Rathbone, Odoffin, Morrison, Tiehi, Revan, Nombe (Eaves 66). Unused- Phillips, Kelly, McGuckin.

Middlesbrough- Glover, Barlaser, Clarke, Fry, Rogers, I Jones, Dijksteel (Coburn 77), Howson (Crooks 90+1), Silvera (Kavanagh 90+2), Bangura (Engel 77), Greenwood (McGree 70). Unused- J Jones, Van den Berg, Gilbert, Bridge.

Referee- A Kitchen

Attendance- 11487 (2404)

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Al Ahly, Zamalek & three other Egyptian clubs eye Sierra Leone's Mohamed Kabia
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Al Ahly, Zamalek & others eye Sierra Leone’s Mohamed Kabia 

About five Egyptian clubs are interested in Sierra Leone International Mohamed Kabia, who is presently in Cairo, Egypt. 

Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Pyramid are all eyeing the service of the midfielder because of his potential. The other clubs are ZED FC and Ceramica Cleopatra Club.

Kabia. 20, who can play midfield and defence, arrived in Egypt on Sunday evening and will try with all five clubs in the Egyptian top tier and possibly sign by the end of next week, Football Sierra Leone understands.

The versatile player made his Sierra Leone debut in the 1-1 draw against Benin during the International friendly played in Khouribga, Morocco, in October. 

He played a pivotal role in the goalless draw against Ethiopia in the opening 2026 World Cup Group A qualifier at the Stade El Abdi last Month.

The former Mbabane Swallow and Denver Sundowns player must impress in Egypt as he will train with these clubs in an attempt for a deal.

Kabia, who has won four caps with the Sierra Leone senior national team, scored eight goals and eleven assists for Mbabane Swallow in Eswatini’s top-tier league.

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