Category: International, National Sport News Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone Sports, football, players abroad, International and African news website is passionately on all topics of National and International news, identifying our soccer stars.

Coach Karim urges players to record positive results against Copper Bullets of Zambia
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Coach Karim urges players to end AFCON campaign on high against Zambia

Despite the disappointment of not qualifying for the upcoming African Cup of Nations in Morocco, Sierra Leone coach Amidu Karim has urged his team to finish their AFCON qualifying campaign on a positive note as they face Zambia in their final Group G match on Tuesday.

Sierra Leone and Zambia will play their final match in the Liberian capital. This match will not affect their standings because Avram Grants side along with Ivory Coast, have already secured their advancement.

Karim’s team could not secure qualification after the Leone Stars’ 1-1 draw against Chad and Zambia’s victory over Ivory Coast. Their hopes of reaching Morocco in 2025 were dashed.

However, the coach is determined to achieve a positive ending, stating, “We are disappointed as technical staff and as a head coach for not making it to Morocco this time. Nonetheless, we want to assure our people and fans that we will fight and give our best against a difficult Zambia side.

“Just because we have been eliminated does not mean we cannot give our all for the people of Sierra Leone. We need to finish the group strongly, which means securing a positive result against Zambia.”

Sierra Leone will be without skipper Steven Caulker, and Kei Kamara and a couple of injured players might force the coach to make a few changes to his starting eleven.

Read related News – Zambia edges Sierra Leone in Group G AFCON qualifier.

Meanwhile, with only a few matches remain in the qualifiers for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025. So far, 21 teams have secured their spots for the tournament, which will take place in Morocco.

Salt to injury as Kei Kamara departed Sierra Leone camp
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Salt to injury as Kei Kamara departs Sierra Leone camp

Striker Kei Kamara, who told the BBC that he was inspired by Roger Milla for his return to international football at age 40, has left the Sierra Leone national team camp in Liberia. As a result, he will not be available for Tuesday’s game against Zambia.

Sierra Leone and Major League Soccer (MLS) Kei Kamara re-joined Leone Stars two years and seven months after he announced his retirement.

Kamara’s decision to return to international football at the age of 40 was inspired by Cameroon legend Roger Milla in a bid to help Sierra Leone reach their fourth AFCON.

He was aiming to help Sierra Leone qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), and he started but was substituted in the 76th minutes in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Chad.

“There’s only one person I think about when I decided to come do this thing all over again, being part of the national team at this age, and that’s Roger Milla,” Kamara told the BBC World Service.

“Roger Milla was doing it, came back out, played at the World Cup at 42. The World Cup is only two years ago away, so why not?”

His MLS club, Los Angeles, will play Seattle Sounders on November 24th in the MLS Conference semifinals, and his services have been requested as Sierra Leone lost all hopes of reaching Morocco 2025.

On Saturday, the SLFA announced that captain Steven Caulker departed the team’s camp in Monrovia, Liberia, to return home due to urgent personal matters requiring immediate attention.

However, Sierra Leone and Zambia’s final match on Tuesday holds no impact on their standings, as they have already secured their place in Morocco 2025 AFCON.

Jonathan Morsay nets brace as Kalamata edge Arteras Tripoli
by FSL News

Jonathan Morsay nets brace as Kalamata edge Arteras Tripoli

On Sunday, Sierra Leone international Jonathan Morsay scored two goals for FC Kalamata in the Greek Super League 2 during their 3-1 away victory over Arteras Tripolis.

His brace marked his fourth season goal in the last seven matches. Morsay, 27, joined the club on a year deal in September after spells with Dinamo București Panetolikos and AEL Limassol, respectively.

The victory allowed Kalamata to move up to second place in the Group B standings, trailing leaders A.E. Kifisia only on goal difference.

The Super League 2 is the second division of professional football in Greece. It serves as a feeder league to the top-tier Super League. Comprising 20 teams divided into two groups, the league typically runs from September to May.

Morsay was born in Sweden to a Sierra Leonean father and a Swedish mother. He has represented Sweden at the youth international level. Since making his debut for Sierra Leone on March 24, 2022, the winger has become a regular member of the national team.

He made his debut for the Sierra Leone national team in a friendly match, which ended in a 3–0 loss to Togo.

Kei, Alhaji Kamara Return for CHAD and Zambia qualifiers
by FSL News

Kei, Alhaji Kamara Return for CHAD and Zambia qualifiers

Sierra Leone head coach Amidu has selected striker Kei Kamara and Alhaji Kamara, who plays in Portugal, as they prepare for the African Cup of Nations qualifiers this month.

Coach Amidu Karim’s team is preparing for a crucial double header this month as they aim to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco 2025. Currently, third in Group G, Sierra Leone must win both matches against Chad and Zambia to improve their qualification chances.

The first match against Chad is set for Wednesday, November 13. A victory would bring them closer to securing a spot in the tournament and boost their confidence for the following game against Zambia. With determination and strong teamwork, Sierra Leone is ready to make a push for qualification.

Sierra Leone and Chad previously played to a goalless draw in their first encounter at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in September.

Meanwhile, veteran striker Kei Kamara scored the only goal in a qualifying match against Benin, securing Sierra Leone’s spot in the 2021 African Cup of Nations for the first time since 1996.

He has made 36 appearances for Sierra Leone, scoring seven goals and serving as the team captain. In Major League Soccer (MLS), Kamara is the top active goalscorer, with 147 goals in 445 appearances across multiple clubs.

Another key player in the team is Alhaji Kamara, who scored against Ivory Coast in a 2-2 draw during the 2021 AFCON held at the Stade de Japoma in Douala, Cameroon.

Kei Kamara to join Sierra Leone squad for CHAD and Zambia qualifiers
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Kei Kamara to join Sierra Leone squad for CHAD and Zambia

Sierra Leone and Major League Soccer (MLS), Kei Kamara, is expected to join Leone Stars two years and seven months after he announced his retirement.

Kamara scored the only goal in a qualifying victory against Benin, which secured Sierra Leone’s place in the 2021 African Cup of Nations for the first time since 1996.

The experienced striker has earned 36 caps for Sierra Leone, scoring seven goals and also served as team captain.

Coach Amidu Karim’s side gearing up for a crucial double header this month in the final hurdle to reach Morocco 2025. Sierra Leone, third in Group G, must win both matches against CHAD and Zambia to boost its hopes of qualifying for the continent’s biggest football event next year.

The full team list will be announced soon after confirmation of the listed players. On October 15, 2024, Sierra Leone secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against the African Champions Ivory Coast in their match day four qualifiers at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium as they bid to reach Morocco next year.

Amadou Bakayoko, a striker based in Japan, scored a last-minute header to secure the win for the West African team, marking their first victory in the qualifiers and against Ivory Coast.

Meanwhile, Zambia, who also claimed a 1-0 victory in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, will battle Ivory Coast at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium before facing Sierra Leone.

Their win over CHAD placed them just two points behind Group G leaders Ivory Coast, who have a game in hand. Zambia initially struggled in the match, with Chad having more shots on goal in the first 20 minutes. However, Zambia found their rhythm by the half-hour mark and began to dominate possession.

Kennedy Musonda scored the only goal in the 70th minute, and despite a late scare with a penalty awarded to Chad, Zambia held on to secure all three points in Cameroon.