Author: Football Sierra Leone

by Football Sierra Leone

Co-hosts Tanzania to face an uphill task against Morocco in Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam is set to host a quarterfinal showdown as co-hosts Tanzania take on Morocco at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium, one of the most successful teams in the history of the African Nations Championship (CHAN), in a highly anticipated match on Friday.

This encounter will mark the first-ever meeting between Tanzania and Morocco at CHAN, and it will also be Tanzania’s first match against a North African team in the tournament.

Tanzania will be playing their 11th game at CHAN, while Morocco will be their 10th different opponent in the competition.

Morocco has faced East African teams six times, with a record of three wins, two draws, and one loss. Their wins include victories over Uganda (3-0 in 2014, 5-2 in 2020) and Rwanda (4-1 in 2016), along with draws against Rwanda (0-0 in 2020) and Sudan (0-0 in 2018).

In this tournament, their only defeat was a 1-0 loss to Kenya. This match marks Morocco’s first knockout round encounter with an East African team and will be their 21st opponent at CHAN.

Morocco will face a tournament host for the fourth time, having previously beaten Rwanda (4-1 in 2014) and Cameroon (4-0 in 2020), but lost to Kenya this year.

Tanzania has shown strong defence, conceding only one goal—the fewest in the tournament—while Morocco boasts a powerful attack, scoring eight goals, the highest in the competition.

Morocco has an 18.6% shot conversion rate, scoring eight goals from 23 shots on target, while Tanzania has a conversion rate of 10.42%, with five goals from 17 shots. Additionally, Tanzania leads in defence with 45 tackles, compared to Morocco’s 29.

Ivorian Eric Bailly agrees with the Spanish La Liga side Real Oviedo
by Football Sierra Leone

Ivorian Eric Bailly agrees with the Spanish La Liga side Real Oviedo

On Monday, Real Oviedo confirmed that they are hiring Ivorian Éric Bailly on a two-year deal expiring in June 2027. The 31-year-old central defender joined the club on a free transfer upon the completion of his Villarreal agreement.

Bailly’s move to Real Oviedo comes after a failed endeavour to join the Saudi Premier League, the Al Najma Sports Club. Having made twelve appearances during the 2024–25 season, his Villarreal contract was terminated, and he became free.

Beginning at Espanyol, Bailly has played for a few European teams, including Villarreal and subsequently Manchester United, over his career.

He had his longest stint at Manchester United and served on loan at French Ligue 1 team Olympique de Marseille (OM) before joining Turkish club Besiktas. The seasoned defender returned to Villarreal subsequently.

Having 49 international caps for the Ivory Coast, Bailly’s most recent showing was a loss against Sierra Leone during the qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in October 2024.

Burkina Faso International Dando Ouattara joins Brentford
by Football Sierra Leone

Burkina Faso International Dango Ouattara joins Brentford

Brentford has signed Dango Ouattara from Bournemouth for a club-record fee. He has signed a five-year contract with an option for an additional year.

The 23-year-old forward had 18 goal contributions in 81 Premier League matches for Bournemouth after joining in January 2023.

Brentford’s head coach, Keith Andrews, said, “We’re really happy to get Dango in. We were surprised he was available, and once we saw he might be possible to sign, we focused on getting him. We like his Premier League experience at such a young age.

He hasn’t found his rhythm yet due to inconsistent playing time. He fits the way we want to play and brings something we needed in our forward line. The fans will enjoy watching him.”

Phil Giles, Brentford’s director of football, stated, “After selling Bryan Mbeumo, we needed to add another attacking player, and we believe Dango is the perfect choice. Despite many changes at the club this summer, we have strong replacements, and Dango showcases that. We also have players like Aaron Hickey, Rico Henry, and Frank Onyeka ready to contribute, and I’m excited to see Dango’s unique skills on the pitch.”

Brentford finished last season in tenth, one place below the Cherries in ninth.

Yan Diomande nets as RB Leipzig beat Sandhausen in Cup win
by Football Sierra Leone

Yan Diomande nets as RB Leipzig beat Sandhausen in Cup win

Scoring on his RB Leipzig debut in Saturday’s DFB Pokal victory against Sandhausen, Yan Diomande immediately made an impact.

The 19-year-old winger, who moved from Spanish team Leganés to the Bundesliga side in a notable transfer, equalized for his new team in only six minutes. The Ivory Coast youth international coolly shot from close range after receiving a pass from Willi Orban inside the area.
 
RB Leipzig conceded another goal in the 18th minute, but Leipzig rallied back in the second half to win 4-2 as Diomande clocked 86 minutes on the field for his official debut.
 
Under German coach Ole Werner, he is expected to become a leading player for the 2025/26 season. Having represented Ivory Coast at the U17 and U23 levels, Yan Diomande is hailed as among the most promising talents to emerge from West Africa.
Antoine Semeyo's net brace in Bournemouth's defeat to Liverpool
by Football Sierra Leone

Antoine Semenyo’s nets brace in Bournemouth’s defeat to Liverpool

Liverpool began their Premier League title defence with a dramatic 4-2 victory over AFC Bournemouth at Anfield as Anooine Semeyo and Mohamed Salah were on the scoresheet.

Despite a strong performance from the Cherries, which included a brace from Antoine Semenyo to equalise at 2-2, late goals from Federico Chiesa and Mo Salah secured the win for Liverpool.

The match started with a moment of silence in memory of Diogo Jota and his brother, followed by goals from Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo that put Liverpool ahead.

Semenyo’s impressive second half brought Bournemouth back into the game, with a stunning long-range shot for his second goal.

However, Chiesa and Salah’s late strikes dashed Bournemouth’s hopes, despite their commendable fightback.

New signings for Bournemouth, including goalkeeper Đorđe Petrović, made their debuts in a match praised for its competitive spirit.