Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Official: Morocco to host 2025 AFCON
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Morocco awarded 2025 Afcon while joint bid gets 2027

Morocco was awarded the hosting right for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals on Wednesday whilst joint bids from East African nations were awarded the 2027 AFCON.

The North African nations set to host the 35th edition and the second time, 35 years after the North African country staged the competition in 1988.

Morocco replacing Guinea, who was stripped of the right to host the tournament last year. Algeria withdrew their bid to host one of two finals on the eve of the vote on Tuesday.

The 2027 rights were awarded to a joint bid from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The long-awaited decision to host the 2025 and 2027 finals has been sorted after almost a year since Caf stripped Guinea last October of the right to host the 2025 finals.

Morocco won by default after Algeria, Zambia, and a joint bid from Benin and Nigeria all withdrew before the vote of the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee in Cairo on Wednesday.

The North African country was a runaway favourite and will see the decision as a boost to their hopes of co-hosting the 2030 World Cup with Portugal and Spain.

Morocco set to host 2025 AFCON
Morocco set to host 2025 AFCON
East Africa Nations to host 2027 AFCON
East Africa Nations to host 2027 AFCON
Attacker Idris Kanu is on target as Barnet thumps York City
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Attacker Idris Kanu on target as Barnet thump York City

On Tuesday, Sierra Leone International Idriss Kanu was on target as his National League side Barnet turned on the style in the second half to crush York 4-2 at the LNER Community Stadium.

As a result, Barnet sits third on their table as they focus on promotion this season. 

The home opened the scoring in the ninth minute as they started the better. Dipo Akinyemi’s lobbed opener sent the fans into ecstasy stay.

However, the visitors hit back despite Idris Kanu’s goal being ruled out for offside, but Harry Pritchard levelled for the Bees from the edge of the box.

Kanu, who made his eleventh appearance of the season, gave his side a 2-1 lead ad from close range and the result was secured three minutes later when Reece Hall-Johnson headed in at the back post.

Zak Brunt nodded in a fourth with eight minutes to go as Barnet rubbed salt into the wound before Akinyemi’s last-minute consolation.

YORK CITY: Whitley, Fallowfield, Akinyemi, Kouhyar, Howe, Batty, Marsh (66’ Harriott), Siziba (46’ Dyson), Woodyard (80’ McLaughlin), Latty-Fairweather, Smith.

UNUSED SUBS: Watson, Kennedy.

BARNET: Walker, Hall-Johnson, Collinge, Okimo, Kabamba (86’ Barratt), Stead (80’ Armstrong), Kanu, Pritchard © (82’ Gorman), Hartigan, Oluwo, Brunt.

UNUSED SUBS: Gillmore, Potter.

ATTENDANCE: 4,065 (163 Barnet supporters)

Winger David Kalokoh extends Ajax contract with
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Winger David Kalokoh extends Ajax contract

Ajax winger David Kalokoh has signed an extended contract with the club.

The 18-year-old was born in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone (KONO). The youngster’s old deal ran until mid-2024.

“Ajax and David Kalokoh have reached an agreement on a new contract. The 18-year-old left winger’s new contract runs from September 1, 2023, to June 30, 2027. His old contract ran until mid-2024,” Ajax announced on Tuesday.

Kalokoh was born on April 21, 2005, in Kono, Sierra Leone and switched from the youth academy of VVV-Venlo to Ajax in 2018.

On April 28 this year, Kalokoh made his debut in professional football during Jong Ajax’s away match against his old club VVV-Venlo: 0-1.

He has played nine games for the reserves so far, scoring once.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, Contact fo*****************@******co.uk – David Kalokoh Ajax

Winger David Kalokoh extends Ajax's contract with
Winger David Kalokoh extends Ajax's contract with
Egypt Line up friendlies ahead of Sierra Leone World Cup qualifier
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Egypt line up friendlies ahead of Sierra Leone qualifier

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced two International friendlies in October before starting their World Cup campaign in November against Sierra Leone.

The Pharaohs will face Algeria and Zambia next month in the United Arab Emirates. The EFA say both matches are part of the Egyptian national team’s preparation program for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and African Cup 2024 in Côte d’Ivoire next January.

On October 12, the African powerhouse will battle Zambia four days before Egypt takes on Algeria on October 16, with both games taking place at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.

This will mark Egypt’s first clash with Algeria since the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup when both teams played out a 1-1 draw in the group stages.

Egypt, Zambia’s last meeting was in October 2015, when Egypt won 3-0 in an international friendly, thanks to Ahmed Hassan Kouka’s brace and a late goal from Amr Gamal.

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.

 

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and African News – The Egyptian national team. 

EFA lined-up two friendlies ahead of Sierra Leone qualifier in November
EFA lined-up two friendlies ahead of Sierra Leone qualifier in November
Meet Groningen's Sierra Leonean sensation Fofin Turay
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Meet Groningen’s Sierra Leonean sensation Fofin Turay 

This year couldn’t have started much better for young FC Groningen academy graduate Fofin Turay. Six appearances for the youngster this campaign as they compete in the Eerste Divisie, the second tier of Dutch football.

He was 18 when he signed his first professional contract at FC Groningen after his impress at youth level. His pace and athleticism with under-21 prompted a contract until 2025 with an option for an additional year.

The attacker started playing football at GVAV and switched to the FC Groningen academy in 2015.

Hailing from Sierra Leonean parents, born and born and raised in Groningen, the winger has developed well within the training in recent years and passed all selections. 

“Fofin is a player who has a lot of threat in his one-on-one situations. In addition, Fofin’s speed allows him to take advantage of the spaces in the opponent’s back. He is a boy who always works hard. A neat boy who always has everything neatly in order, even outside of football,” Head of Youth scouting Arno de Jong explains the attacker’s progress.

“Fofin has developed so well in recent years that he can see this contract as a reward and incentive to continue growing in the coming years,” De Jong continues. “Our trainers and other specialists within the training will help him as best as possible.”

The main character himself told his club website he was pleased to be considered for a senior team deal. “I’m naturally happy and proud – a special moment. It is a first step towards more, it is great that the club sees potential in me and I will do everything I can to realize what the FC sees in me.”

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, the writer on Twitter @bittar32, Contact bi****@*****************ne.com and National news.

The Sierra Leonean sensation Fofin Turay celebrated with teammates
The Sierra Leonean sensation Fofin Turay celebrated with teammates