Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

2026 World Cup Qualifying Groups Africa Zone Opponents Group A Sierra Leone, Egypt, Burkina-Faso Guinea-Bissau, Ethiopia, Djibouti
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

World Cup Q: Ethiopia to host Sierra Leone in Morocco

The Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca will host Sierra Leone’s 2026 World Cup opening qualifier against the Walia Ibex of Ethiopia on Wednesday, 15th of November 2023, the SLFA have announced.

The Leone Stars’ second match in the race to the USA, Mexico and Canada is against the Pharaohs of Egypt. The tie is set to be played in the Liberian Capital, Monrovia, on Sunday, 19th November 2023.

Group A comprised of Egypt, Burkina-Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. 

During the 2022 World Cup preliminary, Liberia eliminated Sierra Leone 3-2 on aggregate after the Lone Star won the first leg 3-1 and suffered a 1-0 defeat in Freetown, both matches played in September 2019.

Sierra Leone played to a 1-1 draw against Benin on October 14th before defeating Somalia 2-0 in a recent training camp in Morocco three days later.

However, with the latest format of 48 teams competing with a minimum of nine African sides guaranteed places for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, many Sierra Leoneans believe this is Leone Stars’ best chance ever.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the 23rd FIFA World Cup to be co-hosted in three countries, Canada, Mexico and the United States. 

The nine groups will play a home and away, starting in November this year. They will take place over ten matchdays during the next two years: 13-21 November 2023 – 3-11 June 2024; 17-25 March 2025; 1-9 September 2025; 6-14 October 2025; 10-18 November 2025 (Playoffs).

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Sierra Leone confirm 2026 World Qualifying dates and venues
Sierra Leone confirm 2026 World Qualifying dates and venues
Mustapha Bundu opens Plymouth Argyle Championship account
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mustapha Bundu opens Plymouth Argyle Championship account

Sierra Leone International Mustapha Bundu opened his English Championship account in Plymouth Argyle 3-0 over Sheffield Wednesday.

Argyle manager Steven Schumacher handed Bundu his first start after he made just two changes from the weekend draw at West Brom, captain Joe Edwards returning for Mickel Miller and a first start for Bundu in place of Hardie.

Mustapha Bundu accounted for their first in the 44th minute as Argyle returned to winning ways. Morgan Whittaker doubled the host lead in first-half stoppage time.

“It’s up there in the top two or top three,” Bundu told BBC Sport.“It was an amazing feeling, the whole situation, my first start at home in front of the fans, in a game where we weren’t really on top.

“To get that free-kick and to score and give everyone a breather was nice.”

Ryan Hardie scored the highest third as he completed the win with a low right-footed finish in the second half after Finn Azaz had dispossessed George Byers and played the Scottish striker in.

The win is Argyle’s first in five games to lift them to 18th place in the Championship table as winless Wednesday remain bottom with three points from their first 13 games.

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Tonight's player of the match as selected by match sponsors Adrenalin Leisure, is Mustapha Bundu.
Tonight's player of the match as selected by match sponsors Adrenalin Leisure, is Mustapha Bundu.
Foreign scouts visit Sierra Leone football chief Daddy Brima.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Foreign scouts visit Sierra Leone football chief Daddy Brima

On Tuesday, International football scouts who were in Sierra Leone to witness the U17 and U19 talent Detection tournament organised by Star Sports Academy paid a courtesy call to the Sierra Leone football chief, Thomas Daddy Brima.

In a bid to expand the International football relationship, the Sierra Leone Football Association President, Daddy Brima, engaged the scouts from Türkiye, Slovakia, Sudan and Bulgaria at the FA secretariat.

President Brima was pleased and described their visit as ” timely and impactful towards the growth and development of players in the country.”

He further assured them of the Sierra Leone Football Association’s unreserved support and cooperation throughout their scouting activities within the country.

Meanwhile, Eight of the sixteen teams that participated were from outside Sierra Leone. Academy GFI from Guinea emerged as the Detection tournament champions held at the Southern Arena in Bo following a 5-3 penalty shootout victory over Star Sports Academy of Sierra Leone.

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Academy GFI from Guinea emerged as the Detection tournament champions held at the Southern Arena in Bo following a 5-3 penalty shootout victory over Star Sports Academy of Sierra Leone.
Academy GFI from Guinea emerged as the Detection tournament champions held at the Southern Arena in Bo following a 5-3 penalty shootout victory over Star Sports Academy of Sierra Leone.
Al Ahly beat Simba to set Sundowns African Football League date
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Al Ahly eliminate Simba to set Sundowns African Football League date

On Tuesday, Al Ahly eliminated Tanzania Simba to set a date with South African Mamelodi Sundowns in the semifinals of the African Champions League.

After a 2-2 draw in Tanzania, the Egyptian giants emerged victorious on an away goal rule as they booked their place in the inaugural African Football League (AFL) semifinals. The first leg match had ended 1-1 at Cairo International.

Sundowns of South Africa, on the other hand, confirmed their semifinal spot with a goalless draw after they played most of the tie with a man down against th Petro Atletico on Tuesday.

They won the first leg 2-0 away and will play Egyptian side Al-Ahly in Sunday’s first-leg semis match. 

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CAF & Puma unveil AFCON 2023 Match Ball 'Pokou'
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

CAF & Puma unveil AFCON 2023 Match Ball ‘Pokou’

The Confederation of African Football, CAF and German multinational corporation PUMA have unveiled “POKOU” – the official match ball for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023.

CAF say the Official match ball, POKOU, is named after Ivorian legendary forward Laurent Pokou, a doyen of African football whose five goals in the 6-1 victory over Ethiopia at the 1970 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations remains a record during the Final competition.

The continental tournament is set to run from 13 January to 11 February 2024 in the cities of Abidjan, Bouake, Korhogo, San Pedro and Yamoussoukro.

Erwan, a son of the late Pokou, presented the iconic and beautifully designed match ball to the audience during the Final Draw.

The 34th edition match ball features the three colours of the Cote d’Ivoire flag – white, orange and green, whilst incorporating the latest technology that will revolutionize the game on the continent and beyond.

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