Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Jaze Kabia nets a brace as Play-off contenders Grimsby thrash Barrow
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Jaze Kabia nets a brace as Play-off contenders Grimsby thrash Barrow

Sierra Leone-native Jaze Jabia recorded his twelfth goal of the season as Grimsby eased past Barrow in their pursuit of promotion at Blundell Park, marking his twelfth goal of the season.

With a commanding 5–0 win at Blundell Park, play-off hopeful Grimsby inflicted more suffering on bottom-side Barrow. After Andy Cook’s opening, Kieran Green and Jaze Kabia each bagged a brace as the Mariners stayed in seventh place on goal difference.

Darragh Burns opened space on the right in the 17th minute to lash in an in-swinging cross onto Cook’s head, who nodded home off the foundation of the post.

Before the break, Grimsby doubled their advantage with a swift counter-attack as Kabia found Green in the middle of the box with a low cross, which the latter first-time finished in the 41st minute.

With Grimsby’s leading scorer Kabia joining in the action, the hosts made it three in the 61st minute by firing in under Wyll Stanway on the left side of the penalty box.

With Reece Staunton’s in-swinging corner in the 87th minute, Green scored his second and his team’s fourth with a fierce header. Still, Kabia had time to get a brace; in the 10th minute of extra time, she tapped Justin Amaluzor’s cross.

Sierra Leone's Daniel Kanu takes tally to 14 goals
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone’s Daniel Kanu takes his tally to 14 goals

Sierra Leone Daniel Kanu recorded his fourteenth of the season as Walsall fought back to beat League Two relegation battlers Newport County 2-1 and deepen the fears of the team from south Wales.

Midfielder Harrison Biggins put the Exiles ahead in the opening period, hammering in from close range as Newport took the game to the Saddlers.

Daniel Kanu replied midway through the second half, and Alex Pattison fired home from outside the box in added time to send Newport home with nothing to show for their efforts.

Walsall are 10th in the table, two points off the play-offs, while Newport are a point and one place above the relegation zone.

Defending champions Pyramids eliminated
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Defending champions Pyramids eliminated by FAR Rabat

Defending champions Pyramids were knocked out of the CAF Champions League quarter-finals on Saturday, suffering a 2-1 defeat at home to Morocco’s FAR Rabat, who advanced with a 3-2 aggregate score.

This loss marks the end of Pyramids’ title reign, despite managing a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Rabat. The Egyptians had clinched their first African Champions League title last June by overcoming South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns.

Rida Slim gave the visitors an early lead in the ninth minute at Cairo’s 30 June Stadium, and Mohamed Rabie Hrimat extended that advantage with a header in the 54th minute.

Although Fiston Mayele pulled one back in the 62nd minute, the Egyptians couldn’t find the equaliser they desperately needed to push the match into penalties, as FAR Rabat held their ground.

“This is a historic win and an important qualification for the club,” stated forward Youssef El Fahli in an interview with beIN Sports. “We are determined to compete for the title this season and, with God’s help, we’ll claim the club’s second continental crown.”

FAR Rabat will go up against fellow Moroccans RS Berkane or Sudan’s Al Hilal in the semi-finals, as they aim to get closer to securing a second continental title, having previously won the African Cup of Champions Clubs in 1985 against AS Bilima (now AS Dragons) from what was then Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Esperance knocked out Al Ahly in Cairo after a thriller to reach semis
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Esperance knock out Al Ahly in Cairo after a thriller to reach semis

Esperance Sportive de Tunis delivered a stunning performance in Cairo, defeating Al Ahly 3-2 on the night and securing a 4-2 aggregate win to advance to the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

After narrowly winning the first leg 1-0 in Rades, the Tunisian giants rallied from an early setback to clinch a late winner, silencing the Cairo International Stadium and dashing the hopes of Africa’s most decorated club.

Backed by a passionate crowd, Al Ahly opened the match with intensity. Their early efforts paid off in the 10th minute when Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet” capitalised on defensive confusion to score, levelling the aggregate tie.

Although Al Ahly continued to create chances and control much of the first half, Esperance goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said made crucial saves, leaving the score at 1-0 at halftime.

The second half saw a dramatic shift in momentum as Esperance returned with renewed energy. Theyequalisedd in the 68th minute with a powerful shot from Florian Danho, regaining the aggregate lead. Soon after, a defensive error led to a penalty converted by Mohamed Amine Tougai, putting Esperance ahead 2-1.

Al Ahly fought back with urgency, and an own goal in the 84th minute levelled the match at 2-2, reigniting hope among home fans. As pressure mounted, it was Esperance who struck the final blow. In stoppage time, Hamza Jelassi headed the winning goal in the 94th minute, completing a remarkable turnaround despite his earlier own goal.

The final whistle confirmed Esperance’s semi-final spot, where they will face the winner of Mamelodi Sundowns and Stade Malien. For Al Ahly, this loss brought a disappointing end to their campaign, having dominated portions of both legs.

Meanwhile, Esperance’s determined display underscores their status as serious title contenders and adds another memorable chapter to African club football history.

Idriss Kanu on target as MK Dons suffer a home defeat to Barnet
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Idris Kanu on target as MK Dons suffer a home defeat to Barnet

Sierra Leone’s Idriss Kanu was on target as MK Dons suffered their first League Two defeat since New Year’s Day after Barnet rallied from behind to secure an away victory.

Jon Mellish initially put the Dons ahead, but goals from Danny Collinge, Kabongo Tshimanga, and Idris Kanu saw the Bees earn their first win in four matches.

The home team took the lead in the seventh minute when goalkeeper Cieran Slicker dropped a cross from Aaron Nemane, allowing Mellish to tap the ball into an unguarded net.

Barnet nearly equalised soon after, with Craig MacGillivray turning away efforts from Ryan Glover and Adam Senior. However, they found the back of the net in first-half stoppage time when Collinge nodded in Mark Shelton’s corner.

Ex-Dons striker Tshimanga put Barnet in front just three minutes into the second half, scoring with a deflected shot from the edge of the box that left MacGillivray with no chance.

The visitors extended their lead in the 57th minute, as Kanu capitalised on a rushed clearance to fire home.

MK Dons’ frustrations grew when they missed a penalty after Aaron Collins was brought down in the box; Slicker saved the spot-kick taken by Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, compounding the home side’s disappointment.