Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Samuel Gandi signs permanent deal with Moldovan side Polytechnic UTM
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Samuel Gandi signs permanent deal with Moldovan side Polytechnic UTM

The Sierra Leone striker, Samuel Gandi, has formally signed as a permanent member of the FC Polytechnic UTM team until the summer of 2029.

The Moldovan football club based in Chișinău has effectively triggered the transfer clause, therefore securing the future of the gifted 20-year-old football player.

In his first season wearing the red and white colours, Samuel Gandi had a tremendous effect, playing 25 games and scoring an amazing 15 goals for the team.

Fans and teammates both already find inspiration in his talent and perseverance on the field.

“We wish Samuel the best as he starts his next career chapter with FC Polytechnic UTM. We hope his path is full of successes and many accomplishments that will raise the club’s league level even further!”

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw remains hopeful about defender Kalidou Koulibaly
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw remains hopeful about defender Kalidou Koulibaly

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw has confirmed that captain Kalidou Koulibaly will be fit for next year’s FIFA World Cup following his squad announcement.

Senegal were drawn into Group I alongside France, Norway, and Iraq

Slated to take place from June 11 to July 19, the global showpiece will be hosted across 16 cities: 11 in the United States, 3 in Mexico, and 2 in Canada.

It will mark the first World Cup to be hosted in three countries and the first tournament to expand from 32 to 48 teams.

Koulibaly is reportedly “coming along nicely.” Despite missing a large chunk of games for his current club, Al-Hilal, Thiaw named Koulibaly on the list of 28 players to represent Senegal at the World Cup. “He is the captain of this team, the one who brings everyone together.

He is evolving very well in his recovery. I think that by three weeks before the World Cup, he will be ready for it. This World Cup is not a 100-meter race, it’s a marathon, and I believe he will be ready on time,” Thiaw told reporters.

Kalidou Koulibaly also missed out on the Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco last year due to injury and has been sidelined since April.

Conversely, Chelsea defender Malang Sarr will not be heading to the World Cup with Senegal. Thiaw explained his reasoning: “Malang is a player I follow up closely. We spoke twice on the phone; the second time was just to congratulate him personally. He’s had a great season, but decisions had to be made.

In football, you never know what can happen. He’s on the standby list. But for now, I want to concentrate on these 28 players on the list.”

Tanzania and Mali reach quarter-finals and the World Cup as Mozambique secure a playoff spot
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Tanzania and Mali reach quarter-finals and the World Cup as Mozambique secure a playoff spot

Following an electrifying final round of matches in Group C, Tanzania and Mali advanced to the quarter-final stages of TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, having both booked their ticket to FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026. Mozambique qualified for the playoff of the global tournament.

Mali 2-1 Tanzania | Goals: bdoulaye Touré (3’, 41’), Hassan Mkindai (82’)

What a finale we witnessed in Group C as play began with the match already underway.

Mali began life of the Final Round in dazzling fashion as league’sstarplayerAbdoulaye Touré found the back of the net in just three minutes.

He doubled his team’s lead just before half-time in the 41st minute. Tanzania came storming back in injury time through Hassan Mkindai which proved fruitless as Mali hung on to win the match. Tanzania topped the group on six points but both sides celebrated progression to the Quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations and qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Angola 1-2 Mozambique | Goals: Francisco Eliseu (27’), Allan Figueiredo (22’), Charif Carlos (55’)

Both Angola and Mozambique needed a win from this match to progress further. Mozambique stunned Angola in the opening minutes of the game through Allan Figueiredo in the 22nd minute.

Angola equalised just five minutes later through Francisco Eliseu, but they seemed to tire off after that goal. Charif Carlos made it two goals apiece in the second half as he scored in the 55th minute to hand the lead back to Mozambique, who held on strongly to the final whistle.

This victory gave Mozambique third place in the competition and a chance for qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup via the playoff, while for Angola, the tournament came to an end.

Difficult task ahead of East Africa AFCON for Sierra Leone
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone placed in Group E for the race to East Africa

The Leone Stars of Sierra Leone will compete with a stiff contest against African powerhouse DR Congo, stubborn Equatorial Guinea and improving Zimbabwe in Group E as they aim for their fourth appearance in the Cup of Nations in 2027.

This comes after the PAMOJA Qualifiers Draw held in Cairo, Egypt, on 19 May. The Leone Stars of Sierra Leone, who did not qualify for the last tournament in Morocco, are in search of a new head coach.

They participated in the Cameroon 2021 tournament but were eliminated in the group stage. Their last match was a 1-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea on 20 January 2022, finishing third in Group E behind Ivory Coast and Equatorial Guinea.

The road to East Africa will be challenging for whoever takes charge of the Leone Stars. There will be 48 teams divided into 12 groups, with four teams in each group. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Final Tournament.

The Qualifiers will take place during three FIFA International Windows:

– Matchdays 1 and 2: from 21 September to 6 October 2026
– Matchdays 3 and 4: from 9 to 17 November 2026
– Matchdays 5 and 6: from 22 to 30 March 2027

The tournament is scheduled from 19 June to 17 July 2027 and will be held in East Africa for the first time in 51 years, with Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania as co-hosts.

Sierra Leone Last Three and only appearances

3 (first in 1994) Group stage – (1994, 1996, 2021)

Sierra Leone Confirmed in Pot 3 for 2027 AFCON Qualifiers
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone Confirmed in Pot 3 for 2027 AFCON Qualifying draw

Sierra Leone will be in Pot 3 for the draw of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification series on Tuesday.

The Leone Stars, who did not qualify for the last tournament in Morocco, will find out who they will compete against as they work to secure a place in the event. The tournament will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

The country’s football association is seeking a new manager after firing former head coach Mohaed Kallon.

Pot 1 includes some of Africa’s top-ranked teams, such as the current champions Morocco, along with Senegal, Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Cameroon, DR Congo, Mali, South Africa, and Burkina Faso.

A total of 48 teams will compete, organised into 12 groups of four. Each group will have one team from each pot.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the final tournament. Groups with a co-host nation will get an extra spot for qualification.