Author: Football Sierra Leone

by Football Sierra Leone

East End Lions Set to Face AF Amadou Diallo in CAF Confederation Cup Preliminary Round

East End Lions will take on Ivorian outfit AF Amadou Diallo in the preliminary round of the 2026/27 CAF Confederation Cup following Thursday’s interclub draw in Cairo, Egypt.

The Sierra Leone representatives have been handed a challenging opening fixture against the Côte d’Ivoire side as they aim to progress to the next stage of Africa’s second-tier club competition.

The first leg is scheduled to be played during the opening weekend of September, with the return leg set for the weekend of 11–13 September. The two-legged encounter will determine which side advances to the next round of the competition.

East End Lions will now step up preparations for the continental assignment, with the technical team and players focused on producing strong performances and flying Sierra Leone’s flag with pride on the African stage.

They were dismantled in their last continental outing against  7-1 over two legs to Tunisian side US Monastir. 

East End Lions Set to Face AF Amadou Diallo in CAF Confederation Cup Preliminary Round
East End Lions Set to Face AF Amadou Diallo in CAF Confederation Cup Preliminary Round
CAF Sets Date for Continental Interclub Draw (
by Football Sierra Leone

CAF Sets Date for Continental Interclub Draw

The journey to win continental club football begins on Thursday, 6 August 2026. On this day, the draws for the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2026/27 will take place at CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.

Teams from across Africa will learn their first opponents as they aim for a spot in the group stages of Africa’s top two club competitions.

The draw for the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup starts at 14h00 Cairo time (11h00 GMT), followed by the draw for the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League at 15h00 Cairo time (12h00 GMT).

Both draws will be shown live on CAF TV, allowing fans across Africa and beyond to follow the start of another exciting CAF Interclub season.

Draw details:

– TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup preliminary rounds  

  Date: Thursday, 6 August 2026  

  Time: 14h00 Cairo time (11h00 GMT)  

  Venue: CAF headquarters, Cairo, Egypt  

– TotalEnergies CAF Champions League preliminary rounds  

  Date: Thursday, 6 August 2026  

  Time: 15h00 Cairo time (12h00 GMT)  

  Venue: CAF headquarters, Cairo, Egypt  

The winners of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League will receive USD 6 million as a prize, while the champions of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup will earn USD 4 million.

Clubs that do not advance from the preliminary rounds will each get a payment of USD 100,000. This is part of CAF’s effort to support teams and engage them in its Interclub competitions.

Recent preliminary rounds have produced exciting matches and stories, showcasing both well-known teams and ambitious new clubs eager to succeed on the African stage.

Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa are the defending champions of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, while USM Alger from Algeria won the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup last season.

by Football Sierra Leone

Egypt Keep Faint WAFCON Qualification Hopes Alive

Following their disappointing opening loss, Egypt’s hopes in the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 are precarious as they face a strong Malawi team, fresh off a 3-2 victory against 10-time champions Nigeria.

For Mohamed Kamal’s squad, bouncing back is critical; another defeat could derail their chances of reaching the quarterfinals, while Malawi can secure their spot with a consecutive win.

Mohamed Kamal: “Show the true face of Egypt

Despite the 6-0 loss to Zambia in their opener, Kamal remains calm, insisting his team is still learning. “We want to show the true face of the Egyptian team. We’ve reviewed our mistakes and need to grow through these experiences,” he explained. He respects Malawi’s talent, admitting, “They pulled off a significant upset, and we’re preparing for them with complete focus.”

Nadin Ghazi: “It would be a rebirth.

Egyptian captain Nadin Ghazi is resolute despite the defeat. “We’re even more motivated now; we want to make our nation proud,” she stated. For her, winning this match signifies a crucial turning point. “This is our opportunity. Our goal is to take all three points,” she affirmed, emphasizing the unity of her team.

Malawi stays grounded

Despite their win over Nigeria, Malawi’s coach Lovemore Fazili emphasizes the importance of staying focused. “It will be a different match,” he noted, stressing the need for seriousness in preparation. “We’re not underestimating Egypt; we know they can be a challenge.” Midfielder Leticia Chinyamula echoed this sentiment, urging others not to underestimate their potential: “Don’t judge us too quickly. We’ve already moved on from the Nigeria game and are focused on performing even better against Egypt.”

Stat of the Day

Egypt faces a Southern African nation for the fourth time, holding one win and two losses. Their last two matches against COSAFA teams ended in defeats, including a 6-0 loss to Zambia in the current tournament. Their only victory in the finals came against Zimbabwe in 2016, where they won 1-0.

by Football Sierra Leone

Manga bags a brace as Cameroon edge Mali in a highly entertaining duel

Ngah Manga scored twice to lead Cameroon to a 2-1 victory over Mali in the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Group D match in Casablanca on Thursday.

With this win, Cameroon improved its record against Mali to four wins and one draw in their last five encounters.

Manga opened the scoring in the 14th minute. She controlled a high pass and finished neatly to put Cameroon ahead. Mali equalised in the 30th minute when Cameroonian goalkeeper Michaely Bihina fouled Aïssata Traoré. Traoré converted the penalty, making it 1-1.

The first half saw both teams create chances but remain tied. In the 72nd minute, Cameroon regained the lead after a VAR review awarded them a penalty, which Manga converted for her second goal.

Mali pushed for another equaliser, but Cameroon defended well. The best late chance came from Mali’s Fatoumata Diarra, whose shot lacked power and was easily saved by Bihina.

This victory solidifies Cameroon’s strong history against Mali.

Cameroon is participating in the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the 13th time, having played in every edition since 1998 except for the last tournament.

Next up, Cameroon will face Ghana, while Mali will hope to bounce back against Cape Verde.

Sierra Leone's Emmanuel Samadia extends Hartford contract
by Football Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone’s Emmanuel Samadia extends Hartford contract

Hartford Athletic has extended midfielder Emmanuel Samadia’s contract for two years, starting after the 2026 season.

Samadia has played in six matches as a starter this season, scoring one goal and providing one assist. He has also made five clearances and four takeaways on defence.

General Manager and Head Coach Brendan Burke praised Samadia for his hard work and skill. He noted that Samadia is a key player for both Hartford Athletic and the national team of Sierra Leone. Burke expressed happiness about Samadia’s continued commitment to the team as they work to keep their core group together.

Since joining Hartford two seasons ago, Samadia has recorded eight assists in 41 starts in the USL Championship. He was an important player when Hartford won the Jägermeister Cup in 2025. Samadia has been part of Sierra Leone’s national team since he was 18, starting in 2020.