Author: Football Sierra Leone

Salah nets brace as a late goal from Sarr secured Crystal Palace's win
by Football Sierra Leone

Salah nets brace as late goal from Sarr secured Crystal Palace’s win

Mohamed Salah had another strong game for Liverpool, scoring two goals in their latest Premier League match. This win helps Liverpool stay at the top of the league.

Meanwhile, Ismaïla Sarr scored a brilliant goal for Crystal Palace in their 1-0 victory over Ipswich Town. Liverpool faced a tough challenge against Southampton, who surprised everyone by scoring first just before halftime.

However, Liverpool quickly equalized with a goal from Darwin Núñez and then Salah scored two penalties, raising his total to 25 goals and 17 assists this season.

At Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace struggled against Ipswich until Sarr’s late goal broke the deadlock. He now has 8 goals and 3 assists this season.

Crystal Palace is currently in 12th place and will play Fulham in the FA Cup later this month. Liverpool, meanwhile, will face Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday in the UEFA Champions League, leading 1-0 in the first leg.

Exciting Second Round U17 African Women’s World Cup Qualifiers
by Football Sierra Leone

Exciting Second Round U17 African Women’s World Cup Qualifiers

The second round of qualifiers for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco starts this weekend. Several exciting matches are lined up.

Africa has four spots available for the tournament, and teams are eager to qualify.

On Saturday, March 8, the first-leg matches will take place. Cameroon will host Ethiopia, and Tanzania will play against Zambia. A key matchup is South Africa versus Nigeria, two teams with strong international experience.

Other interesting matches include Sierra Leone against Guinea and Benin facing DR Congo.

In East Africa, Uganda will meet Kenya in a CECAFA derby, while Algeria will challenge Botswana in a north versus south match.

Another match to watch is Cote d’Ivoire against Burundi. The second-leg matches are set for March 14 and will be important for deciding which teams qualify.

Zambia and Nigeria, who represented Africa in the last World Cup in the Dominican Republic, hope to win at home and continue their journey.

Some teams are well-known in youth competitions. Nigeria, a five-time qualifier for the U-17 Women’s World Cup, is favoured against South Africa. Cameroon relies on its experience to defeat an improving Ethiopia team.

Zambia must be careful with Tanzania, which has shown its potential. Meanwhile, DR Congo, with less experience, hopes to surprise Benin. Finally, Algeria needs to stay alert against Botswana, a team that can create upsets.

Schedule of the Second Round of the African Qualifiers for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup

First-leg Matches

  • Saturday, March 8, 2025 (local time)

14:00

• South Africa vs Nigeria

• Uganda vs Kenya

• Botswana vs Algeria

17:00: Sierra Leone vs Guinea

19:00: Cameroon vs Ethiopia

  • Sunday, March 9, 2025 (local time)

14:00

• Tanzania vs Zambia

16:00

• Benin vs DR Congo

17:00

• Ivory Coast vs Burundi

Second-leg Matches

  • Wednesday, March 12, 2025 (local time)

17:00: Burundi vs Cote d’Ivoire

  • Saturday, March 15, 2025 (local time)

13:00: Ethiopia vs Cameroon

15:00: Zambia vs Tanzania

16:00:Nigeria vs South Africa

17:00: Guinea vs Sierra Leone

  • Sunday, March 16, 2025 (local time)

13:00: Kenya vs Uganda

15:30: DR Congo vs Benin

21:00: Algeria vs Botswana

Josh Koroma named Huddersfield Town Playe of the Month
by Football Sierra Leone

Josh Koroma named Huddersfield Town Player of the Month

Josh Koroma was named as the Blue and White Player of the Month for February 2025 at Huddersfield Town.

This is his second Player of the Month award this season; he also won for September 2024.

In February, the team earned seven points from their matches, and Koroma scored two key goals: one in the win against Barnsley and another that helped secure three points against Shrewsbury. His strong performance led to him being voted Player of the Month.

Callum Marshall and Tawanda Chirewa received other votes, but Koroma was the top choice.

Mr. S. Taylor from Holmfirth and Junior Member J. Sykes from Huddersfield voted for Koroma, who received his award and receive a signed picture during their Sky Bet League One 1-0 defeat to Wrexham on Tuesday, March 4.

Adel Amrouche named new Rwanda head coach on a two year deal
by Football Sierra Leone

Adel Amrouche named new Rwanda head coach on a two-year deal

Algerian coach Adel Amrouche has been appointed as the new head coach of the Rwandan national team, marking his return to coaching. The Rwandan Football Federation (FERWAFA) confirmed his 24-month contract on March 2.

Amrouche’s main goal will be to revitalize the Amavubi and guide them to the 2027 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). He will be supported by Eric Nshimiyimana and Dr. Carolin Braun as part of a new technical team.

With extensive experience managing national teams, including Tanzania and Kenya, Amrouche is expected to instill tactical discipline and resilience in the squad.

His immediate focus will be on preparing Rwanda for FIFA World Cup qualifiers, with key matches against Nigeria on March 21, 2025, and Lesotho on March 25, 2025. His appointment aims to steer Rwandan football toward international success.

https://twitter.com/FERWAFA/status/1896200779037565279

Harambee Stars coaching job excites Benni McCarthy
by Football Sierra Leone

Harambee Stars coaching job excites Benni McCarthy

Famous South African footballer, Benni McCarthy, has been speaking after he was unveiled as head coach of Kenya’s national team, the Harambee Stars.

This is an important moment for Kenyan football and for the view of South African coaches in Africa. McCarthy is the first South African to coach a national team outside the COSAFA region. He is excited about bringing a winning attitude to the Harambee Stars.

“I am honored to take on this role and excited about the journey ahead with the Kenyan national team,” McCarthy said. “I have seen the talent in this country, and I believe we can compete at the highest level.”

With his coaching team, which includes Vasili Manousakis, Moeneeb Josephs, and Pilela Maposa, McCarthy wants to create a structured and competitive team. “We aim to build a strong team identity, play exciting football, and make the nation proud. I look forward to working with the players, the federation, and the passionate Kenyan fans to achieve success,” he added.

McCarthy and his team will begin as Kenya prepares for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Gambia and Gabon.

FKF President Hussein Mohammed is confident in the new technical team. He said: “We believe Benni McCarthy is the right person to lead our national team. His experience and dedication to Kenyan football match our goals. We also welcome Vasili Manousakis as Assistant Coach, Moeneeb Josephs as Goalkeepers Coach, and Pilela Maposa as Performance Analyst. This team has the expertise we need to instill discipline and a winning mindset as we prepare for upcoming competitions.”