Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

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.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone and National News. 

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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In Uyo, Nigeria, Wydad Casablanca of Morocco secured narrow victory over their rival in the first leg.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

TP Mazembe, Wydad register AFL quarterfinal first leg wins

TP Mazembe of DR Congo and Wydad Casablanca of Morocco registered wins over their rivals in the first leg of the African Football League quarter-finals on Sunday.

Cheick Oumar Fofana’s first-leg goal was enough as TP Mazembe registered a hard-fought 1-0 win over Tunisian side Esperance.

Fofana. 19, 11th-minute head put Mazembe in front at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Tanzania to give the DR Congo club a slender advantage.

Mazembe gave a good account of themselves as they controlled the early exchanges before Fofana connected with Phillipe Kinzumbi’s pinpoint delivery to score what proved the winner.

Despite all efforts from the Tunisian side, Mazembe held on to secure a vital away goal and advantage ahead of the second leg in Tunisia this Wednesday.

In Uyo Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, Wydad Casablanca of Morocco secured a narrow victory over their Nigerian counterpart in the first leg.

The Moroccan side defeated Enyimba 1-0. The match-winning goal was scored by Wydad’s skipper Yahya Jabrane in the 39th minute from the penalty spot at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

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Augustine Williams nets as Charleston Battery progress
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Augustine Williams scores as Battery progress to USL Semis

Augustine Williams recorded his fifteen of the campaign as Charleston Battery progressed after they wallopped Indy Eleven  5-0 at Patriots Point on Sunday.

A 5-0 triumph for Battery saw them progress to the USL Championship Eastern Conference Semifinal on Sunday at Patriots Point. 

Emilio Ycaza, Augi Williams, Arturo Rodriguez, Fidel Barajas and Nick Markanich were all on the score sheet. 

A bright start for Battery as Emilio Ycaza scored their opener in the 12th minute, assisted by Arturo Rodriguez, before Augustine Williams powered in from the edge of the box to beat goalkeeper Tim Trilk.

The Sierra Leone International took his tally to fifteen with the strike. 

Rodriguez, fresh off providing an assist, etched his name into the scoresheet in the 40th minute with an exclamation mark before halftime. 

Fidel Barajas and Nick Markanich were the other scorers of the day as they proved too strong for their visitors.

Williams’ Battery will face Birmingham Legion in the Semifinals to host Birmingham Legion FC on Sat, Oct. 28, at 7 PM.

Scoring Summary

CHS – Emilio Ycaza 12’ (Arturo Rodriguez) 

CHS – Augi Williams 37’ (Nick Markanich) 

CHS – Arturo Rodriguez 40’ (Fidel Barajas) 

CHS – Fidel Barajas 47’ (Arturo Rodriguez) 

CHS – Nick Markanich 63’ (Augustine Williams)

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, the writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32, Contact Bi****@*****************ne.com. Players Abroad – Charleston Battery USL