Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Defender Alex Bangura makes Boro return in win over Cardiff
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Defender Alex Bangura makes Boro return in win over Cardiff

Defender Alex Bangura started on the bench for Middlesbrough in their 2-0 win over Cardiff City on Tuesday.

He’s been out of action since suffering a hamstring injury on his debut at Blackburn but was subbed on in the 90th minute for Lukas Ahlefeld Engel.

At the Riverside, Boro made it four wins in a row from second-half goals from Isaiah Jones and Emmanuel Latte Lath secured Michael Carrick’s side another impressive win. 

Bangura, who was forced in the 68th minute in a defeat to Blackburn Rovers due to hamstring injury, was subbed on late in their win. 

Alex Bangura Middlesbrough FC English Championship

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Ex-International Amidu Karim lands a Sierra Leone coaching job
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ex-International Amidu Karim lands Sierra Leone coaching job

Former Sierra Leone attacking midfielder Amidu Karim, who was part of the Leone Stars 1994 and 1996 African Cup of Nations squad, has been appointed provisional head coach of the national team.

The former U23 technician will be assisted By former homebased coach Francis Zappa Koroma and Bo Rangers Alhaji Foray as they start their groundwork ahead of the World Cup 2026 qualifiers.

The SLFA say Karim and his team will take charge of the World Cup 2026 qualifiers starting in November. Karim, 49, who has been assistant under John Keister during the AFCON in Cameroon and the 2023 AFCON qualifiers, will start a new journey in his coaching career.

His Leone Stars’ journey to qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the USA, Mexico and Canada will begin in November 2023. His first task will be a doubleheader against  Walia Ibex of Ethiopia before hosting the African powerhouse Egypt.

The draw for the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup finals placed Sierra Leone in Group A with five teams: Egypt, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, and Djibouti.

About the World Cup qualifiers Nine (9) Groups Fifty-four (54) Teams 

The Africa Zone (CAF) qualifiers for the 26 FIFA World Cup will begin on 13 November 2023 and end in November 2025.

Qualification process – The African teams will play across two rounds – the first contest of the group stage, with nine groups of six teams each. 

Each team will play ten home and away matches -the top finisher in each group will qualify for World Cup 26.

The second round will pit the four best runners-up in two one-off semi-finals, followed by a final. The winner of this second round will participate in the FIFA Play-off Tournament.

https://twitter.com/football_sierra/status/1709297482469949711

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The draw for the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup finals placed Sierra Leone in Group A with five teams: Egypt, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, and Djibouti.
The draw for the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup finals placed Sierra Leone in Group A with five teams: Egypt, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, and Djibouti.
Continental giants Wydad Casablanca down Hafia to reach group stage
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Wydad Casablanca beat Hafia to progress

Continental giants Wydad Casablanca walloped Guinean side Hafia 3-0 in their second round second leg CAF Champions League tie to progress at the Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca on Saturday. 

Following their 1-1 draw in the Guinean capital, Wydad knew they had to do the needful if they are to join other continental giants in the group stage draw.

Wydad Casablanca thrased Hafia’s 3-0 second leg win to progress on a 4-1 aggregate success.

Yahia Attiyat Allah and Hamdou Elhouni struck in the first half before Abdellah Haimoud completed the job after the break.

Wydad extends their remarkable run of reaching the group stage to nine consecutive seasons as they chase a third Champions League title.

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CR Belouizdad puts Sierra Leone side Rangers to the sword
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

CR Belouizdad puts Sierra Leone side Rangers to the sword

CR Belouizdad Cameroonian striker Leonel Wanda scored a hattrick as the Algerian side defeated Sierra Leone Champions Bo Rangers 3-1 in Algeria on Monday.

The visitors came out of the blocks early with a 9-minute goal from Ibrahim Turay’s superb strike from the edge of the box at the Stade Olympique d’Oran.

Rangers took their lead to the 78th minute before the home side was awarded a spot kick converted by Leonel Wanda after Azzi was fouled in the area.

Two minutes later, Wanda doubled their lead through a one-to-one pass before slotting past the Rangers keeper. Wand’s hattrick was completed in the 89th minute after he collected a pass from the right.

As a result, the Algerian side qualified for the Champions League Group stage with a 6-2 aggregate scoreline from both legs. 

Sierra Leone Champions Bo Rangers suffered a 3-1 home defeat to  Algerian side CR Belouizdad in the first leg of the second preliminary round of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League at the Southern Arena.

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The Algerian side qualified for the Champions League Group stage with a 6-2 aggregate scoreline in both legs.
The Algerian side qualified for the Champions League Group stage with a 6-2 aggregate scoreline in both legs.
Cyprus League leaders defeated AEL Limassol 3-1 in round six of the Cypriot First Division league on Sunday.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Jonathan Morsay nets in AEL Limassol’s defeat to Anorthosis

On Sunday, Cyprus League leaders Anorthosis defeated AEL Limassol 3-1 in the sixth round of the Cypriot First Division league at the Alfamega Stadium.

Sierra Leone winger Jonathan Morsay scored the only goal for the home side, his second of the campaign, but was not enough as the visitors took home maximum points.

The visitors took the lead in the 24th minute through Miguel Ángel Guerrero Martín from the penalty spot before Sergio Castel Martínez doubled their lead two minutes later.

Morsay, 25, reduced the deficit in the 52nd minute to lift his side. However, Anorthosis showed more composure to score their third in the 92nd minute via Ousseynou Thioune as they wrapped up the victory.

As a result, the home team succumbed to back-to-back defeats and sat eighth on the league standings.

APOEL vs. Ethnikos Achnas and AEZ hosting Paphos FC. will end matchday six of the Cyprus first league on October 2nd.

AEL Limassol’s next outing is away to Ethnikos Achnas on Sunday, 13 October, 2023.

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Jonathan Morsay nets in AEL Limassol defeat to Anorthosis