Author: Football Sierra Leone

Senegal international Habib Diarra on Sunderland's' Radar
by Football Sierra Leone

Senegal international Habib Diarra on Sunderland’s’ Radar

Senegal international Habib Diarra is about to close a transfer to recently promoted English Premier League team Sunderland. Following a strong four-season tenure, he is expected to leave French Ligue 1 team RC Strasbourg.

Because of his strong performances with Strasbourg over the past three seasons, the midfielder attracted notice from many clubs across Europe. Negotiations broke down a few days ago even though Diarra was close to joining Leeds United.

Additionally intrigued in him was Spanish La Liga club Atlético Madrid, but according to Italian writer Fabrizio Romano, Sunderland is about to grab Diarra in a €35.5 million deal.

After a difficult eight-year absence, Sunderland is rejoining the Premier League. Diarr is known to head coach Régis Le Bris from their association in Lorient, France. Diarra will add fresh energy and tactical dynamism to Sunderland’s midfield.

Although Diarra played for France at several junior levels, Senegal welcomed his senior debut in 2024.

Wydad Athletic Club to wrap up Club World Cup Group G against Al Ain
by Football Sierra Leone

Wydad Athletic eye first Club World Cup win against Al Ain

Wydad Athletic Club will conclude their final Group G match in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup against Al Ain FC on Thursday at Audi Field, located in Washington, DC, the capital of the United States.

In their second Group G match on June 22, Wydad suffered a 4-1 defeat to the Italian football powerhouse Juventus FC, extending their winless streak across all competitions to three matches.

As a result, the Moroccan football heavyweights currently sit in third place in the group standings. A win against Al Ain would allow Wydad to finish third, behind Manchester City and Juventus.

“We want to win for our fans and for our coach,” said Nordin Amrabat, Wydad’s midfielder. The team’s head coach, Mohamed Amine Benhachem, and the team doctor were involved in a traffic accident in the USA. Amrabat added, “We want to leave America with a good feeling. If you don’t win, you don’t have a good feeling; that means you’ve played three games and lost all three. For us as a club, winning is important, God willing.”

Al Ain has not won in their last two matches, including a heavy 6-0 loss to Manchester City on June 22. They currently sit in fourth place in Group G, but a win over Wydad could move them up to third.

“Our goal is to earn three points. We have the same aim for every game,” said Vladimir Ivic, Al Ain’s head coach. “We know we are a big club, the biggest in Asia. We strive to win every game in our championships, both cups, and the Asian Champions League. This match will be no different. We want to show our best in the final game. Overall, this tournament has been a great experience with everything well organized.”

This match will be the first time Wydad faces Al Ain in any competition. Canadian referee Drew Fischer will officiate the game on Thursday.

Juma Bah joins OGC Nice on loan after a six-month loan spell with RC Lens
by Football Sierra Leone

Juma Bah joins Nice on loan after a six-month spell with RC Lens

Sierra Leonean international Juma Bah has switched from RC Lens to OGC Nice on loan from Manchester City.

The 19-year-old has been a revelation since he entered professional football in Spain.

Following the signing of Gabin Bernardeau, OGC Nice has made a second acquisition at the start of the transfer window.

Bah, a 1.95m defensive player well-known to Ligue 1 fans, has played in France for the past six months.

“We have been following his progress collectively for a while and found him to be very effective during his time at Lens,” explains Florian Maurice, Sporting Director of Le Gym.

This is confirmed by the statistics. Juma is a young player with great potential, and importantly, we believe he can quickly adapt to the coach’s ideas.

He is coming to reinforce a sector that faced two significant injuries at the end of last season,” emphasises President Rivère. “There is a strong alignment between our project and his ambitions. Juma is joining the team at the beginning of the preparation, which is ideal for his quick integration and ability to perform effectively.”

Juma Bah in stats

Here are Juma Bah’s Ligue 1 stats for the second half of the 2024/25 season: 

  • 8 starts, 2 substitute appearances, 685 minutes of playing time
  •  1st in xDef (our in-house defensive indicator)
  • 4th in % of successful passes under pressure
  •  1st in % of successful long passes
  • 1st in % aerial duels won
  • 2nd best performer in duels overall
  • 1st who allows his team to recover the most balls per 90 minutes, thanks to his pressing
  • 5th with the most interceptions per 90 minutes
  • 4th with the most defensive clearances per 90 minutes

 

 

https://twitter.com/bittar32/status/1937946705044885591

Nigerian International Moses Simon joins French side Paris FC
by Football Sierra Leone

Nigerian International Moses Simon joins French side Paris FC

Moses Simon, 29, has joined Paris FC in the French Ligue 1 from FC Nantes in a contract until June 2028.

The winger is known for his speed and strong crossing ability. He has a lot of experience in top-level football, both in clubs and national teams.

Simon started his career at AS Trenčín in Slovakia after training at the GBS Academy in Nigeria. He then played for La Gantoise in Belgium and Levante UD in Spain.

In 2019, he joined FC Nantes and quickly became an important player. He played almost 180 matches in Ligue 1 and won the Coupe de France in 2022.

As a player with over 70 caps for the Nigerian Super Eagles, Moses Simon is well-prepared for major competitions. His experience will help strengthen Paris FC’s team as they move into Ligue 1 McDonald’s next season.

Horoya AC crowned champions of Guinea Ligue 1 Pro
by Football Sierra Leone

Horoya AC crowned champions of Guinea Ligue 1 Pro

Horoya AC secured the Guinea Ligue 1 Pro championship for the 2024/25 season, marking the end of their two-year wait for a league title.

Horoya rebuilt their team with both experienced players and new talent after missing out on the title for two seasons.

On Sunday, they secured the championship with a 1-1 draw against Flamme Olympique. Last year’s champions, Hafia, drew 0-0 with Renaissance, which meant Horoya could not be caught with three games left to play.

Under coach Soufiane Souaré, Horoya finished with 52 points. Renaissance and Hafia are in second and third place with 39 and 38 points, respectively, as they compete for second place in the final matches.

Horoya will now prepare for the 2025/26 CAF Champions League. They have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League two times, in 2018 and 2019.