Author: Football Sierra Leone

The Sierra Queens ready for WAFCON 2026 first leg qualifier against Benin
by Football Sierra Leone

Sierra Queens ready for WAFCON 2026 first leg qualifier against Benin

The Sierra Leone Women’s National Team, called the Sierra Queens, has left for Togo for their important first match against Benin. This game is part of the qualifiers for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

This match is a big chance for the team to qualify for the tournament, which will take place in Morocco.

Haja Ramatulai Kamara, a member of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), leads the group. Her guidance, along with the support of the coaching and administrative staff, will be important for a successful campaign.

On Monday, Coach Hassan Malik Mansaray announced an 18-player squad for Sierra Leone’s important qualifiers for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 against Benin.

Sierra Leone is striving to qualify for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the first time. A strong performance against Benin will bring them closer to this goal. If they advance, they will face the formidable Super Falcons of Nigeria in the second round.

Format

The final phase of the competition has three groups, each with four teams. The top two teams from each group will move on to the quarter-finals, along with the two best third-placed teams.

After this, the competition will use a knockout format until the final, where the winner will be announced.

Match Schedule:

– First Leg: Benin vs. Sierra Queens – February 20, 2025 (Togo)

– Second Leg: Sierra Queens vs. Benin – February 24, 2025 (Monrovia, Liberia)

  • Second Round Matches

● M33 & M34: Angola – Zimbabwe vs. Malawi 
● M35 & M36: Botswana – DR Congo vs. South Africa
● M37 & M38: Tanzania – Equatorial Guinea vs. Uganda – Ethiopia
● M39 & M40: Eswatini – Namibia vs. Zambia
● M41 & M42: Burundi – Burkina Faso vs. Djibouti – Togo
● M43 & M44: South Sudan – Algeria vs. Cameroon
● M45 & M46: Rwanda – Egypt vs. Ghana
● M47 & M48: Kenya – Tunisia vs. Niger – Gambia
● M49 & M50: Benin – Sierra Leone vs. Nigeria
● M51 & M52: Guinea – Cape Verde vs. Gabon – Mali
● M53 & M54: Chad – Senegal vs. Ivory Coast

On Monday, coach Hassan Malik Mansaray announced an 18-player squad for Sierra Leone’s crucial qualifiers for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 against Benin.
On Monday, coach Hassan Malik Mansaray announced an 18-player squad for Sierra Leone’s crucial qualifiers for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 against Benin.
Gambia’s Yankuba Minteh’s brace helps Brighton stun Chelsea
by Football Sierra Leone

Gambia’s Yankuba Minteh’s brace helps Brighton stun Chelsea

Gambian International scored his fifth goal of the Premier League season with two goals against Chelsea on Friday night at the American Express Stadium. This helped Brighton win 3-0.

Kaoru Mitoma started the scoring with a fantastic goal, and Yankuba Minteh added two more goals. This victory ended Brighton’s two-game losing streak.

Mitoma’s great opener and Minteh’s double led Brighton to a strong win over a weak Chelsea team. Head coach Enzo Maresca faced a tough night.

Maresca disappointed fans by downplaying the importance of the FA Cup after their earlier loss to Brighton. This recent loss will not help his image among fans at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca had to play without a recognized striker, which showed in the game. Chelsea did not have a single shot on target in the league for the first time since September 2021. Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku took turns playing as a false nine but could not make an impact.

“Tonight was the worst performance since I arrived, but we are still in the race to finish in the top four,” Maresca said to Sky Sports after the match. He added, “I always feel pressure, not just now.”

Mustapha Bundu's Plymouth Argyle face tricky Millwall contest
by Football Sierra Leone

Mustapha Bundu’s Plymouth Argyle face tricky Millwall contest

Mustapha Bundu and his bottom-placed English Championship team, Plymouth Argyle, has not won any of its last eight league matches against Millwall, with four draws and four losses since its 3-0 victory at home in December 1997.

Both teams will compete in round 31 of the ongoing campaign at the Home Pack stadium. The home side, Argle, will look to take inspiration from their 1-0 win against Premier League Leaders Liverpool in the FA Cup fourth round.

Millwall has won their last three league games against Plymouth Argyle. This is the longest winning streak the Lions have ever had against the Pilgrims in the EFL.

Plymouth recently broke a 15-game winless streak in the Championship by winning 2-1 against West Bromwich Albion. However, Argyle has not won consecutive league games since February 2024.

Millwall has won their last three league matches after not winning any of their first four under Alex Neil, which included two draws and two losses. Each of their last eight league wins has been by just one goal.

In the win against West Brom, Ryan Hardie scored both goals for Plymouth. Before this match, he only scored once in his previous 35 Championship games. Hardie last scored in consecutive games in January 2024.

Argyle, led by Mustapha Bundu, will face Manchester City away in the fifth round of the Emirates FA Cup after their 1-0 win over Liverpool.

The Greens previously met City in the League Cup semi-final in 1974 and in the FA Cup in 1988.

Fifth-round matches are set for February 28 to March 3, and we will provide date and ticket information soon.

The Sierra Leone International, Mustapha Bundu, who on September 1, 2023, signed a two-year deal with EFL Championship club Plymouth Argyle, was part of the team that defeated Liverpool.

After debuted on September 23, coming on in the 87th minute during a 6–2 win over Norwich City, where he assisted a goal. Bundu scored his first goal in his first league start on October 25 with a first-half free-kick in a 3–0 victory against Sheffield Wednesday.

New Roma acquisition Anass Salah-Eddine left of Europa League
by Football Sierra Leone

Moroccan descent Anass Salah-Eddine left out of Roma Europa League squad

Moroccan descent, Salah-Eddine, the ninth Dutch footballer to join AS Roma, has been left out of the club’s squad for the Europa League knockout stage.

He recently transferred from FC Twente to Roma for a fee reported to be up to €10 million. Despite this high price, Salah-Eddine is not included in Roma’s squad for the Round of 16.

This means the Dutch-Moroccan defender will miss Roma’s important match against FC Porto. If Roma advances further, they might face his former team, FC Twente, who are set to play against FK Bodø/Glimt.

Born on January 18, 2002, Salah-Eddine grew up in the youth programs at AZ Alkmaar and Ajax. He made his senior debut for Ajax in 2022. He later established himself at Twente, first on loan in the 2022-23 season and then by joining the club permanently in 2024.

Tunisian defender Mathlouthi surgery on anterior cruciate ligament was successful
by Football Sierra Leone

Tunisian defender Mathlouthi surgery on anterior cruciate ligament was successful

Zamalek defender Hamza Mathlouthi had successful surgery in Germany to fix a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the team announced on Wednesday.

The Tunisian international injured his right knee on January 23 during a Premier League match against Modern Sport FC, which Zamalek lost 1-0. He was diagnosed with the injury the following day.

“Mathlouthi had successful ACL surgery in Germany and is doing well,” said Mohamed Osama, the team doctor. “He will start his rehabilitation program soon,” he added. Mathlouthi’s injury is a big loss for the White Knights, as they will be missing one of their key defenders for a long time.

Since joining Zamalek in 2020 from CS Sfaxien in Tunisia, the 32-year-old has scored five goals in 152 games. He played 13 times this season before the injury.

Currently, Zamalek SC is in third place in the Egyptian League with 20 points from 11 games, four points behind the leaders, Pyramids FC.