Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Osimhen, Salah, Hakimi named in final three for CAF Award

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah, and Moroccan International Achraf Hakimi are the final three for the CAF 2023 Player of the Year Award. The current holder is Senegal’s Sadio Mane.

The Confederation of African Football has unveiled the final three players for the CAF Men’s Player of the Year Award.

After he scored 26 Serie A goals, Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen has been crowned the Italian Footballers’ Association Player of the Year for his Napoli performances last season.

He was presented with the award on Monday night after helping his side win their first league title in 33 years.

Osimhen scored 26 Serie A goals in 2022-23, breaking former World Best George Weah’s record as the highest-scoring African in the Italian top flight in the process.

Mohamed Salah leads the way for top Premier League African goal scorer with 149 goals, 243 matches and 65 assists since joining Liverpool in 2017.

He won the African Award back to back in 2017 and 2018 and was runners-up in 2019 and 2022 behind former team mates Sado Mane. 

Achraf Hakimi made headlines after he was named to Morocco’s 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

His winning penalty with a panenka-style shot in a shoot-out against Spain in the round of 16 helped secure a place for his country in the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, Yassine Bounou is one of the finalists for the Best Goalkeeper category, alongside Cameroon’s Andre Onana and Egypt’s Mohamed El Shenawy.

On Monday, 11 December 2023, the award ceremony will be held at the Palais des Congrès, Movenpick, Marrakech, Morocco, 19H00 local time (18H00 GMT).

The ultimate winner of each category is decided following votes from a panel consisting of the CAF Technical Committee, media professionals from Member Associations, Head Coaches and captains of Member Associations and clubs involved in the group stages of the Interclub competitions.

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, African News and CAF 2023 Awards.

Josh Koroma returns to Huddersfield's action in Swansea draw
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Josh Koroma features in Huddersfield’s draw with Swansea

Josh Koroma gained valuable minutes in Huddersfield Town’s 1-1 draw at Swansea City, his third match since returning from Injury.

The Sierra Leonean native was making his sixteen appearances for the English Championship side. 

Koroma, 25, was subbed on in the 67th minute to replace Daniel Carl Ward as both teams played to a 1-1 at Swansea City.

Charlie Patino’s stoppage-time goal saw struggling Swansea City salvage a point against Huddersfield Town.

Darren Moore’s Terriers had looked set to hold on for victory after Swansea defender Ben Cabango turned Jaheim Headley’s cross into his net early on, but Patino denied the visitors maximum points.

As a result, they remain 21st in the table, four points clear of the relegation zone, with Swansea a point better off in 18th.

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, Players Abroad News, and Huddersfield Town. 

Defending Champions South Africa beat Burkina Faso to book AFCON ticket
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

South Africa beat Burkina Faso to book AFCON ticket

South Africa has qualified for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations to be played in Morocco next year after their 2-0 win over Burkina Faso.

On Monday, Linda Mothlalo and Nicole Michael scored the goals as Banyana_Banyana overcame Burkina Faso in a return leg played at the nation’s capital on Monday afternoon.

After a 1-1 draw in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire, a few days ago, the defending champions dug deep to secure their ticket to Morocco next year.

At Pretoria’s Lucas Moripe Stadium, Motlhalo’s 55th-minute strike, followed by Michael’s 63rd-minute goal, ensured the defending champions book their spot in Africa’s most prestigious national women’s competition next year.

Meanwhile, in Burundi, Algeria completed the job with a 1-0 win over the East African nation to make a return to the competition after missing out on the 2022 edition in Morocco.

Following their comfortable 5-1 lead at home, the North Africans were assured of a place with an easy return leg against Burundi.

Ines Boutaleb scored as Algeria sealed a 6-1 aggregate two-legged victory and booked a place in Morocco next year.

The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, Morocco 2024 qualifiers continue on Tuesday to determine who will advance to the prestigious women’s national team competition.

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, African News and CAF Africa Women’s Cup of Nations. 

Defending Champions South Africa beat Burkina Faso to book AFCON ticket
Defending Champions South Africa beat Burkina Faso to book AFCON ticket
Ines Boutaleb scored as Algeria sealed a 6-1 aggregate two-legged victory and booked a place in Morocco next year.
Ines Boutaleb scored as Algeria sealed a 6-1 aggregate two-legged victory and booked a place in Morocco next year.
Charlton Athletic recall striker from loan spell at Blues
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Striker Daniel Kanu recall from Southend United loan spell

CHARLTON Athletic have recalled Daniel Kanu from his loan spell at Southend United.

The Sierra Leone International signed a short-term loan from Charlton Athletic on 6 October 2023.

He has scored four goals in six games since signing for the Shrimpers in early October.

Technical Director Andy Scott commented: “With Daniel coming back here, he’s going to be match fit, he’s going to be ready and he’s going to be chomping at the bit to score goals. He did very well for us earlier in the season.”

Kanu, 19, made his international debut for Sierra Leone on 19 November 2023 as a second-half substitute in a 2–0 defeat to the Egypt national team.

The young striker started his career with the club’s U11 level and penned his first professional contract in February 2022.

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, Players Abroad News, and Charlton Athletic News.

Plymouth Argyle attacker Mustapha Bundu made a return from a hamstring injury in the 2-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone’s Mustapha Bundu helps Plymouth beat Stoke

Sierra Leone International Mustapha Bundu scored his second of the season for Plymouth Argyle in their English Championship week fifteen encounter on Saturday.

Tyrese Campbell had capitalised to score the visitor’s opener after a lack of communication in the home defence to ghost in and slot Stoke ahead in the 23rd minute. However, Mustapha Bundu steered the home side leveller from Kaine Kesler-Hayden’s low, fizzed-in cross from deep just before the break.

Adam Randell scored a last-gasp match-winner to record his first goal at Home Park – the substitute kept his cool to score a 97th-minute winner for Plymouth Argyle on his 100th appearance for the club to beat fellow strugglers Stoke City.

Victory moves Plymouth above Stoke into 16th, maintaining their six-point gap over the bottom three, while Alex Neil’s Potters fall to 20th. 

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, Players Abroad News and Plymouth Argyle Championship News. 

Sierra Leone's Mustapha Bundu helps Plymouth beat Stoke City.