Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mamadou Wurie Jalloh makes Sierra Leone debut
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mamadou Wurie Jalloh makes Sierra Leone debut

Mamadou Wurie, the young goalkeeper currently playing for Finnish club VPS in the Veikkausliiga, has made his international debut with Sierra Leone.

“First of all, thank you to Coach Kallon, the staff and my teammates for the trust and support. I really appreciate it. Proud to make my debut for Sierra Leone. It has always been a dream to wear this shirt. Of course, not the performance I wanted; I take full responsibility for that moment.
But I learn and grow, and I come back stronger. This is just the beginning,” Jalloh shared with this medium.

Jalloh was included in the starting eleven for the Leone Stars in a penalty shootout defeat against Azerbaijan on Tuesday.

Sierra Leone got off to a strong start, with Danile Kanu scoring to put the visitors ahead. However, the home team equalised, taking the match into penalties after 90 minutes.

Wurie played the entire match and was happy with his contribution. He shared on Instagram, “Hard lesson, but a big moment. A debut with Sierra Leone.”

“First of all, thank you to Coach Kallon, the staff and my teammates for the trust and support. I really appreciate it. Proud to make my debut for Sierra Leone. It has always been a dream to wear this shirt. Of course, not the performance I wanted; I take full responsibility for that moment. But I learn and grow, and I come back stronger. This is just the beginning,” Jalloh shared with this medium.

Nineteen-year-old Jalloh was the first-choice keeper for the Sierra Leone U20 team during the Cup of Nations tournament in Egypt, where they were eliminated by Morocco in the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2025 in Cairo.

Mamadou Wurie Jalloh makes Sierra Leone debut
Mamadou Wurie Jalloh makes Sierra Leone debut
Ghana start new search for head coach ahead of World Cup
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ghana start new search for head coach ahead of World Cup

Ghana is set to welcome a new coach for the upcoming World Cup in June after parting ways with Otto Ado following their disappointing 2-1 loss to Germany.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) have announced that Otto Addo will be stepping down.

The Hamburg-born former Bundesliga player has led the Ghanaian national team for the past two years. Unfortunately, the defeat in Stuttgart marked the fourth consecutive loss for the “Black Stars.”

As of now, it remains unclear who will take the helm after the 50-year-old Addo. Ghana’s group stage opponents in the World Cup will include England, Croatia, and Panama.

Azerbaijan defeat Sierra Leone in FIFA series friendly on penalties
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Azerbaijan defeat Sierra Leone in FIFA series friendly on penalties

At the Mehdi Hüseynzadə adına Sumqayıt şəhər stadionu in Sumqayıt, host Azerbaijan won 9-8 on penalties after battling to a 1–1 draw over 90 minutes with Sierra Leone in an international friendly on March 30, 2026.

Forward Daniel Kanu put Sierra Leone ahead with a composed finish, assisted by Barnet player Idriss Kanu, marking an important moment for the young striker on the international stage.

Azerbaijan responded later in the match, equalising through Rahil Mammadov to ensure both sides shared the spoils. The contest was competitive, with both teams creating chances and testing each other’s defences throughout.

Several players made their debut, including Mamadou Wurie, a young goalkeeper currently with VPS in Finland’s Veikkausliiga. Yayah Kallon plays in Italy’s Serie C with Casertana FC, and former U20 defender Alpha Kabia is with Minnesota 2 in the USA.

The result reflects a balanced encounter and provides valuable experience for both squads as they continue preparations for upcoming international competitions and future fixtures.

Azerbaijan defeat Sierra Leone in FIFA series friendly on penalties
Azerbaijan defeat Sierra Leone in FIFA series friendly on penalties
CAF announces shock expansion of AFCON from 24 to 28 teams
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

CAF announces shock expansion of AFCON from 24 to 28 teams

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unveiled plans to increase the number of teams competing in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals.

Currently, 24 teams participate in the tournament, which takes place every two years. However, CAF President Patrice Motsepe made a surprising announcement in Cairo on Sunday, revealing that this number will rise to 28 teams in future editions of the tournament.

Motsepe stated that this change reflects the organisation’s commitment to showcasing world-class football and welcoming the best African players from around the globe to compete on their home turf. However, he did not provide details on how or when these changes would be implemented.

This isn’t the first time the competition format has been altered; in 2019, the tournament expanded from 16 teams to its current 24. Yet again, Afcon is set for further modifications, as its biennial scheduling will shift to a model similar to that of Europe, taking place once every four years.

The 2027 edition will proceed as planned, leading into a special 2028 edition that will mark this transition.

To enhance the African football landscape, Motsepe also announced the introduction of a continental version of UEFA’s Nations League. This new competition will feature annual matches and a biennial final tournament comprising 16 teams.

These changes come against a backdrop of controversy surrounding the final of the 2025 edition in January. A match between Senegal and Morocco descended into chaos when Senegal walked off the pitch following a contentious penalty call.

Although they later returned to win the game, Morocco contested that Senegal’s departure amounted to a rule violation, leading to a successful appeal that saw Morocco retroactively declared the champions in March, nearly two months after the final took place.

In a show of defiance against this decision, Senegal has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and was seen parading the trophy in Paris over the weekend.

DR Congo set for Jamaica cracker for a spot at World Cup
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

DR Congo set for Jamaica cracker for a spot at World Cup

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) is set to face Jamaica in the final of Path A of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Play-off Tournament, where a coveted spot in the global event is at stake.

Jamaica secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over New Caledonia in the semi-final held at the Guadalajara Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Friday morning (Central Africa Time).

Wrexham’s Bailey Cadamarteri was the standout player for the Reggae Boyz, scoring the decisive goal in the 18th minute. Ronaldo Webster took a shot from a set piece just outside the area, forcing New Caledonia’s goalkeeper, Rocky Nyikeine, to make a save.

The goalkeeper deflected the ball to his right, right into the path of the onrushing Cadamarteri, who made no mistake from close range.

The Reggae Boyz fired off 12 shots, with four hitting the target, while New Caledonia could only manage five shots, two of which were on goal.

Having claimed victory in last year’s African play-off tournament, DR Congo automatically secured a place in the World Cup Play-off Tournament final and now knows who it will be up against.

The Leopards triumphed over both Cameroon and Nigeria to reach this point and are eager to clinch a spot in the World Cup for the first time since their initial appearance as Zaire in 1974.

Jamaica and DR Congo will clash at the Guadalajara Stadium on Tuesday, March 31, (15:00 local time) the winner earning a place in the World Cup in this high-stakes showdown.