Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

First leg AFCON 2027 preliminary qualifying advantage for Eritrea
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Eritrea beat Eswatini to grab 2027 AFCON preliminary qualifying advantage

Eritrea clinched a 2-0 win against Eswatini in the first leg of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) PAMOJA 2027 Preliminary Round qualifier, held in Meknes, Morocco, on Wednesday.

The breakthrough came in the 81st minute when Siem Eyob-Abraha’s corner kick surprisingly curled straight into the net, catching everyone off guard.

Four minutes into stoppage time, their star player, Ali Suleiman, added to the scoreline with a dazzling run down the left side, unleashing a powerful strike into the roof of the net from close range.

This match marked Eritrea’s first continental qualifier in nearly two decades, though they did miss a penalty when Suleiman’s shot was saved by Eswatini’s goalkeeper, Mlamuli Makhanya, who made a crucial dive to his right.

Interestingly, Eritrea’s last CAF AFCON qualifier was also against Eswatini back in September 2007, where they finished second in their qualification group.

Now, both teams will head to Eswatini for the return leg, scheduled for Tuesday next week.

This match kicked off the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON PAMOJA 2027 Preliminary Round qualifiers. The six teams that advance from this round will join the other 42 Member Associations in the Group Phase.

Next year, the continental finals will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, marking the first time the tournament will take place in East Africa in 51 years.

CAS confirm Senegal appeal over CAF AFCON final decision
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

CAS confirm Senegal appeal over CAF AFCON final decision

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has confirmed receipt of an appeal by the Senegalese Football Federation against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.

The appeal concerns a CAF decision on 17 March 2026 declaring that the Senegal national team forfeited the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 and recording the Moroccan national team as the winners of the match by 3-0.

Registered by CAS on 25 March 2026, the FSF appeal seeks to set aside the CAF decision and declare the FSF winners of AFCON. It also requests an immediate suspension of the time limit to submit an appeal brief until the CAF decision is notified with full grounds. The CAF decision rendered on 17 March 2026 was operative only.

A CAS Arbitral Panel will be appointed to consider this matter. Following this, a procedural calendar will be established. In accordance with CAS procedural rules, an Appellant has twenty days to file an appeal brief with legal arguments, and the Respondents then have a further twenty days to submit an answer containing a statement of defence. At this early stage of proceedings and considering the FSF request to suspend deadlines, it is not possible to anticipate a procedural timeline and to indicate when a hearing will be scheduled.

Matthieu Reeb, CAS Director General, has issued the following comment: “CAS is perfectly equipped to resolve this type of dispute, with the assistance of expert and independent arbitrators. We understand that teams and fans are eager to know the final decision, and we will ensure that arbitration proceedings are conducted as swiftly as possible, while respecting the right of all parties to a fair hearing.”

Swedish side IF Elfsborg sign Momoh Kamara on loan
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Swedish Allsvenskan club Elfsborg sign Momoh Kamara on loan

IF Elfsborg has confirmed the signing of Sierra Leone International Momoh Kamara. The midfielder is joining us on a season-long loan from Minnesota United, with an option to buy.

“I’m really happy to be here! Elfsborg is a big club in Sweden, and this is a huge opportunity for me,” Momoh says.

Momoh, who’s 20 and hails from Sierra Leone, is known for his intense style and solid offensive skills. Before coming to Elfsborg, he played for Minnesota United’s second team in the MLS Next Pro league. Last year, he made a mark by scoring four goals and picking up two assists in 14 games. In the spring season opener, he also provided an assist.

On the international stage, Kamara has been a regular for Sierra Leone, racking up six senior caps and a bunch of youth appearances. He even scored in a World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia last fall, a moment he clearly cherishes.

“It was amazing to score my first goal with the national team in those qualifiers; it really gave me a confidence boost,” he shares.

Starting at Mattia FC in Sierra Leone, Momoh’s journey has taken him through Nigeria, Portugal, and the USA before landing at IF Elfsborg in Borås. He’s looking forward to this next step in his career.

“I’m coming to Elfsborg to really challenge myself, learn new things, and help out the team as much as I can. I’m excited to get started with training soon! Momoh wraps up.

Manager Björn Hamberg says, “We’re thrilled to have Momoh Kamara join us at IF Elfsborg. He’s a young, hungry player ready to develop in our setup, and we believe his skills will fit in really well with the squad.”

Club manager Stefan Andreasson adds, “Momoh stood out to us during the winter, and we were keen to see him in Elfsborg colours. After some good conversations with Minnesota, Momoh showed a genuine interest in joining us. We’ve agreed on a loan for the season with a fixed purchase option. He’s signed, but there are still a few formalities to handle before he can officially join the team.”

Seven foreign-based players arrive for FIFA Series test against Azerbaijan
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Seven foreign-based players arrive for FIFA Series test against Azerbaijan

Seven foreign-based players have joined the Leone Stars in Azerbaijan on Monday as they prepare to face host Azerbaijan on March 30 at the Mehdi Huseynzade Stadium.

Sullay Kaikia, Yayah Kallon, Juma Bah, Idris Kanu, Kamil Conteh, Daniel Kanu and Jay Tee Kamara were all spotted on Camera as the delegates arrived safely.

Meanwhile, FIFA has confirmed a format change and timing of the FIFA Series 2026 international tournament to be held in Azerbaijan have been altered following Oman’s national team’s withdrawal.

Because of rising military tensions in the Middle East, Oman won’t travel to Azerbaijan.

According to the new framework negotiated with FIFA, the competition will now be made up of two games instead of its intended schedule.

March 27 marks Azerbaijan’s contest against Saint Lucia; March 30 sees Sierra Leone. With a 7 p.m. local kickoff, both matches will take place at Sumgayit’s Mehdi Huseynzada Stadium.

Defender Alex Bangura returns to Middlesbrough action
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Defender Alex Bangura returns to Middlesbrough action

Sierra Leone defender Alex Bangura, who was forced off early in their 4-0 victory over Southampton in January, has returned to full fitness.

On Saturday, Middlesbrough played to a goalless draw with Blackburn Rovers, and Bangura was subbed on in their remaining nine minutes after full recovery to replace Matt Targett.

The defender has struggled with injuries since joining Boro in September 2023. Hopefully, his latest recovery will see him enjoy a long spell on the pitch.

Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg post-match:

“It was a very, very good first half. The first 15 to 20 minutes of the second half felt very good, but then it became open for us, trying to chase the game.

“We wanted it so much that we lost a bit of control and quality in terms of how we played, but it was a good performance in many ways.

“We’re doing our best, we kept a clean sheet away from home, we’re trying to score, we created a lot of opportunities, but it didn’t fall for us.

“Of course, we need to score goals. If we don’t, we won’t win games.”