Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

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.

 

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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.”

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The Sierra Leonean sensation Fofin Turay celebrated with teammates
The Sierra Leonean sensation Fofin Turay celebrated with teammates
British-born Harry Varley set for SFEF's coaching program
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

British-born Harry Varley set for SFEF’s coaching program

British-born Harry Varley has agreed to be a special coaching educator in partnering with the Sports for Empowerment Foundation (SFEF) in Sierra Leone. 

Varley, 33, is a coach educator with 15 years of experience developing elite and grassroots youth development programs around the world. 

The African Football Recruitment specialist is a Leeds University graduate who has worked for several International organisations like the Right to Dream Academy in Ghana and Heads of Women’s Football in Grenada.

“Our role as a coach is to create problem solvers. The players should leave our program with the technical skills and decision making ability to allow them to independently find solutions to the complex problems that make up a 90 minute game of football,” Varley explained while speaking to SFEF media. 

The SFEF Grassroots coaches and management training will be rolled out from the 14th of October 2023 across Sierra Leone for up to three weeks.

SFEF tutoring will cut across the West African state areas like Lungi Port Loko District, Makeni in the Northern Province, Moyamba, Bo Southern Province, Kenema, Kailuhun, Kono Eastern Province of Sierra Leone., Kamakwei Karene District in Chiefdom Sella Limba.

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Sport For Empowerment Foundation Sierra Leone to kick start coaching tutoring and management training in October.
Sport For Empowerment Foundation Sierra Leone to kick start coaching tutoring and management training in October.
On Saturday, the Rams registered two straight victories in their Sky Bet League One and first away league win at Carlisle since 1957.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Midfielder Tyrese Fornah’s Derby triumph at Carlisle

On Saturday, the Rams registered an away win in the Sky Bet League One, their first away league win at Carlisle since 1957.

James Collins accounted for his 200th goal in club football to help Derby to a first away league win at Carlisle since 1957.

Sierra Leone native Tyrese Fornah has been pivotal for the Rams since joining the club from Nottingham Forest on a two-year deal in August 2023.

It was Fornah’s (In Photo) fifth appearance for Derby in all competitions as one of the holding midfielders this campaign for the Rams.

James Collins got Derby off the mark in the 18 minutes before his second in their 2-0 win for Paul Warne’s men with an 84th-minute penalty at Brunton Park.

Potent striker Collins scored for the second league game in a row as he powered home from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s cutback.

After the goal, Collins was full of confidence and fired over just moments later.

Derby County return to Sky Bet League One action at Pride Park Stadium a week today when they take on Cambridge United in Sky Bet League One (3 pm kick-off).

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Alpha Conteh scores brace for Lokomotiv Plovdiv in win over Slavia Sofia
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Alpha Conteh nets brace for Lokomotiv Plovdiv

Sierra Leone midfielder Alpha Cinteh scored a brace for Lokomotiv Plovdiv in their 2-0 win over Slavia Sofia in the Bulgarian professional first league on Saturday.

Following a goalless first half, Conteh’s opened the scoring in the 70th minute before he doubled their lead two minutes later with a composed finish. It was his third goal in the last ten games of the campaign.

Conteh’s first came after Velko Jelenkovic lost the one-on-one battle on the left flank as Conteh entered the Slavia penalty area and shot unsavable diagonally into the bottom corner.

Two minutes later, Conte completed his brace after receiving the ball, running past Jelenkovic again and finishing with his right foot past Vutsov.

As a result, Lokomotiv Plovdiv maintained their lead at the top after winning their last five top-tier matches. 

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