Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ethiopia in training ahead of opening World Cup qualifiers
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ethiopia to play Al-Hilal ahead of Sierra Leone World Cup qualifier 

Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) has announced that newly appointed head coach Gebremedhin Haile will test his side against Sudanese club side Al-Hilal before heading to Morocco for their World Cup qualifiers.

The Walias were drawn in Group A in the new African zone qualifying format, along with Egypt, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, and Djibouti.

Ethiopia host Sierra Leone on Wednesday November 15, at the El Abdi Stadium in their opening 2026 World Cup qualifier before taking on Burkina Faso six days later at the same venue.

“The Ethiopian national team has been practising for the World Cup qualifier match for Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso. 

Our team will have a practice match with Sudanese Al-Hilal at Bank field on Thursday afternoon and will be preparing in Addis Ababa until Friday and then will be heading to Morocco for our World Cup qualifying matches,” EFF announced on Wednesday. 

Gebremedhin Haile 30-man squad

Goalkeepers: Seid Habtamu, Abubeker Nura, and Biniam Genetu

Defenders: Amlemhiran Yigezu, Henok Adugna, Ramedan Yesuf, Yared Kasaye, Mengistu, Milion Solomon, Mignot Debebe, Birhanu Bekele, Yared Baye, Fetudin Jemal, and Woldeamanuel Getu.

Midfielders: Gatoch Panom, Natnael Zeleke, Shimelis Bekele, Surafel Dagnachew, Kenean Markneh, Wegene Gezahegn, Yabsira Tesfaye, and Alelegn Azene

Forwards: Getaneh Kebede, Abubeker Nasir, Amanuel G/Michael, Bereket Desta, Tegenu Teshome, Fitsum Tilahun, Chernet Gugsa, Habtamu Tadesse, and Abel Yalew.

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Burkina Faso confirm 25-man squad for World Cup double header
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Burkina Faso confirm 25-man squad for doubleheader

The Stallions of Burkina Faso have confirmed a 25-man list for their 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Morocco next week.

Hubert Velud’s side will kick off their campaign against Guinea-Bissau and Ethiopia on November 17 in Marrakech and November 21, 2023, in El Jadida, Morocco, respectively.

Having qualified for the 34th edition of the biennial African Association football in Ivory Coast next year, coach Velud will have another eye to progress from Group A to the next World Cup.

Group A consists of Egypt, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and Djibouti in the race to the next World Cup.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be played across three North American nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Full drafted 25-man Squad listed below  

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Burkina Faso named 25-man squad for World Cup qualifying doubleheader
Burkina Faso named 25-man squad for World Cup qualifying doubleheader
Abu Kamara nets Portsmouth winner in the Motors Trophy
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Abu Kamara nets Portsmouth winner in Motors Trophy

Abu Kamara scored his third goal of the season as Portsmouth won at Leyton Orient to finish top of Southern Group E in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy despite playing more than three-quarters of the game with just ten men.

The visitors recovered from Sean Raggett’s sent-off by taking the lead through Christian Saydee just before the break.

Joe Pigott came off the bench to draw the Londoners level. However, Abu Kamara grabbed the winner in the 77th minute for Portsmouth.

“The manager had a bit of a pop at me in the first half for not running, so when the ball broke for Kas – I just had to get my head down and get into a position to make up his mind.

“It was always going to be tough after going down to 10 men so early in the game, but the boys dug deep to get the result,” Abu Kamara told the club’s website. 

The sending-off meant a couple of changes in shape that led Kamara to take up some unfamiliar positions.

He explained, “I got told to play as a wing-back, but they flooded bodies forward, so I was basically in a right-back role.

“The gaffer then decided to change the formation, so I played as a ‘number eight’ and switched with Harry Jewitt-White.

“It’s another new position, but you’ve just got to do what you’ve got to do and put in those hard yards.”

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Adel Ramzy optimistic ahead of AFL final return fixture in South Africa
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Wydad coach Ramzy is optimistic ahead of Sundowns’ tie

Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca coach Adel Ramzi is optimistic as he recalled his team could easily have scored four goals against Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of the African Football League (AFL) at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca.

Casablanca managed a 2-1 win ahead of the return match this Sunday in Pretoria.

Ramzi said the match was tactical and difficult for both sides as he pointed out that the two teams were unable to control the tie.

“It was a difficult fixture for both sides and the level was top notch. Sometimes Wydad Casablanca controlled the game, other times it was the opposition who was in control,” Adel Ramzi told the AFL website. 

“The result of the match was positive for us, although we conceded a goal, as we scored two goals against a team that had never conceded before we had the chance to score three or four goals – this is football, and for me, I am satisfied with the results.

“We are capable of scoring more goals in the return match away from home,” he added.

He predicted another difficult fixture in the return match, but he has great faith in the ability of his players to get the job done.

The coach also confirmed that team captain Yahya Jubran will not be available for the return match in Pretoria and admitted that they will miss his services.

“He is a leader on the pitch and we will miss him greatly. He has a strong personality which gives the team something extra. We trust in the rest of the squad. We will have him with us in South Africa to motivate the others.”

AFL WYDAD CASABLANCA  Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone & African News.

Casablanca managed a 2-1 win ahead of the return match this Sunday in Pretoria.
Casablanca managed a 2-1 win ahead of the return match this Sunday in Pretoria.
Salah, Elneny among foreign-based named in Egypt's squad
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Salah, Elneny among foreign-based named in Egypt’s squad

The Pharaohs of Egypt head coach Rui Vitoria listed nine foreign-based players in his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifying camp in November.

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny are among key notable players. 

Eintracht Frankfurt winger Omar Marmoush, Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed, and Pendikspor forward Ahmed ‘Kouka’ Hassan were all named for their opening two World Cup qualifiers.

Al-Wakrah SC midfielder Hamdi Fathi, Ittihad Jeddah midfielder Tarek Hamed, and Khaleej FC striker Mohamed Sherif were all included by the Portuguese coach.

Also leading the list of foreign-based players is Trabzonspor winger Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan.

Coach Vitoria will start his Pharaohs 2026 World Cup campaign against Djibouti on 16 November in Cairo before taking on Sierra Leone on 19 November in Liberia.

Egypt to travel with an 82-man delegation to Liberia on a private jet for the World Cup qualifier against Sierra Leone on 19 November at the SKD.

The delegation includes at least 18 members of the technical staff and 43 players.

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