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Benin and Sierra Leone play out a 1-1 stalemate in a friendly
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Benin and Sierra Leone play out a 1-1 friendly stalemate

On Saturday, Coach Amidu Karim started his Sierra Leone reign with a 1-1 draw with Benin at the Stade Khouribga in Casablanca, Morocco. (Photo Credit SLFA)

Sierra Leone drew with Benin 1-1 after Cheetah’s last-gasp 98th-minute leveller by Cedric Hountondjito to cancel out Odense Boldklub striker Mohamed Buya Turay’s first Sierra Leone goal since his debut in 2018 against Ethiopia. 

Odense Boldklub striker Mohamed Buya Turay opened the score line with his 32nd goal after he dribbled past his marker to slot home at the bottom right for his first Sierra Leone goal. 

It was a brilliant start for new provisional head coach Amidu Karim after back-to-back defeats for Leone Stars against Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau in their match day five and six of the Afcon 2023 qualifiers in June and September, respectively.

Sierra Leone’s keeper Ibrahim Sesay was brilliant through the full throttle of the match following his bravery with a couple of saves over 90 minutes.

Despite a slow start, Karim’s men capitalised on Turay’s 32nd-minute goal and held on to their lead at the break.

After the recess, Sierra Leone continued their brilliant defending as they grew in confidence and composure as they fought for every loose ball. It became intense as Benin rallied for an equaliser – tension mounted from both sides – the referee a couple of times had to intervene.

Cedric Hountondjito slotted in a cross from the left to beat the Leone Stars keeper Ibrahim Sesay for the first time in the match.

The Leone Stars will take on Somalia on Tuesday in their second friendly.

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Sierra Leone starting Eleven against Benin at the Stade Khouribga in Casablanca, Morocco.
Sierra Leone starting Eleven against Benin at the Stade Khouribga in Casablanca, Morocco.
Sierra Leone aim to bounce back with Benin friendly
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone aim to bounce back with Benin friendly

Sierra Leone’s newly appointed head coach, Amidu Karim, will officially start his reign against  Gernot Rohr’s side at the Stade Khourribga in Casablanca, Morocco, later this afternoon.

Both nations are preparing for next month’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers – Kickoff at 3:30 PM Sierra Leone time.

Sierra Leone will be looking to avoid a third straight defeat following defeats to Nigeria and Guinea-Bissua in the African Cup of Nations 2023 match day five and six qualifiers.

Like Sierra Leone, Benin suffered a 3-2 defeat to Mozambique in the final Group L Afcon 2023 qualifier. 

Defenders Curtis Davies and Augustine Loof will not be available for the Benin contest as they await Fifa clearance on the Football Association switch. However, they’ll be ready to face Somalia in the Fifa tier two duel on Tuesday. 

Today’s contest will be the fifth meeting between the two West African nations – their last was when both contested in the race to Cameroon Afcon. Leone Stars came out supremed in the Guinean Capital with a 1-0 victory in June 2021 to reach the 2021 Cup of Nations with Kei Kamara’s only goal.

The Cheetahs of Benin won the first meeting in that qualifiers at the Stade Charles de Gaulle, Porto Novo 1-0 on 17 November 2019.

In their last four meeting – Benin won three out of four – in October 2006, they defeated Leone Stars 2-0, the same result on 12 October 2007 through Oumar Tchomogo brace.

Benin is in Group C against Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Lesotho in the race to the 2026 World Cup. 

Sierra Leone in Group A against Ethiopia, powerhouse Egypt, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau and Djibouti are the others in the race to the 2026 World Cup.

The continental journey to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the USA, Mexico and Canada will begin in November 2023. 

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Sierra Leone v Benin head to head since 2006
Sierra Leone v Benin head to head since 2006
Curtis Davies and eight other foreign-based players have arrived at Leone Stars camp in Morocco for friendly matches against Benin and Somalia on the 14 and 17, respectively.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Curtis Davies banks on experience to boost Sierra Leone dream

Former West Bromwich and Derby centre-back Curtis Davies is optimistic his twenty-years professional football will help the Sierra Leone national team as he joins new International teammates.

Davies, 38, presently playing for League One side Cheltenham Town, has arrived at Leone Stars camp in Morocco for friendly matches against Benin and Somalia on the 14 and 17, respectively.

Acknowledging he is in the twilight of his career, however, his professional know-how can help nurture his new International teammates.

With over 500 professional matches for clubs like Birmingham, Aston Villa, West Brom, Hull and Derby, Davies told Football Sierra Leone that he banks on his professional ability to guide others.

“I hope my experience can help this time – I think being an older player, having played at the level I have played at, I would like to think the professionalism I bring and the standards I have adhered to in my whole career – will hopefully assist the group, But first, I need to know my teammates, as players, as people and from there – you can help people individually.

“For now, is all about me coming into this camp, getting to know people, the technical team, getting to know the way things are goning to be done so that hopfully, in the next camp for the World Cup qualifiers, I am better prepare Individually and people know me a bit more.”

  • On Receiving The Call-Up

 “When I got the call, it was an initial shock, if I am being honest. Because obviously, at my age, I thought the opportunity to play for Sierra Leone had gone. 

It was something that had always been at the back of my head. But, what it is, I never want to be the one to reach out. 

It could have been easy to try during the AFCON in Cameroon when there was success. Again, at the time, I did not want to jump at the success of others.

  •  Davies On His Sierra Leone Root 

“When I spoke to my dad after receiving the call – in his voice, I knew I had to do it, to come and play for the team – he was so proud.

My dad is the motivational factor in this. Obviously, when I was younger, I represented England at the U21 level. I then was in some four squads as I got older. 

I could have played for Ireland – it was never a question of playing for Ireland or Sierra Leone. That is why I never play for Ireland, either. 

Is a case of my dad has done everything in my life to give me the best opportunity to be a player, so I think at this stage of my career, to be able to do this is a blessing. 

I would like to dedicate my dad – he made this happen for all those years of running around to various football pitches. From County football, District football and them even for Premier League, my dad will go everywhere.”

Between 2006 and 2007, Davies earned three caps for England under-21s before he was drafted in Fabio Capello’s first England squad in January 2008. 

On Saturday, Sierra Leone kicks off their 2026 World Cup preparations with a friendly against Benin in Morocco at the Stade Bechir, Casablanca, before taking on Somalia on Tuesday at the Stade Berrechid.

The Leone Stars journey for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the USA, Mexico and Canada will begin in November 2023 against Ethiopia and African powerhouse Egypt. 

The others in Group A are Burkina-Faso Guinea-Bissau and Djibouti in the race to the 2026 World Cup.

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Curtis Davies first Leone Stars training session in Casablanca, Morocco
Curtis Davies first Leone Stars training session in Casablanca, Morocco
Caf 'A' licensed coach Victoria Conteh set for SFEF sport education program
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Caf A licenced coach Victoria embraces empowerment role  

CAF A Licence female trainer Victoria Conteh, the first woman to coach a top-tier men’s football club in Sierra Leone, is set to hit the road running – on a quest to educate the next generation of coaches across Sierra Leone.

Coach Conteh to join hands in the Sport For Empowerment Foundation Grassroots coaches and management training to be rolled out from the 14th of October 2023 across Sierra Leone for up to three weeks.

Over the years, she has been working with the SFEF foundation across Sierra Leone to promote grassroots education programs for young coaches in rural areas.

In May of 2022, she led their first-ever grassroots coaches management and education training program in Kono. In August of the same year, a follow-up training program was organized in Kono, with coaches from various areas across the country participating in the training.

This month, she will lead a group of expert coaches who will be travelling from Lungi, Bo, Kenema, Mattru Jong, Kono, Kamakwie, and Makeni to continue educating grassroots coaches with the theme Building Better Communities Through Education and Sport.

Conteh is the only female CAF Instructor in Sierra Leone and holds a CAF ‘A’ License. She has served as under 20 women’s team coach. 

She now serves as coordinator for the Sierra Leone national female team. Victoria Conteh was a member of the first Sierra Leone Women’s International in 1994.

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Sierra Leone line-up friendlies for World Cup qualifiers
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone line-up friendlies for World Cup qualifiers

Veteran English defender Curtis Davies has been drafted to provisional head coach Amidu Karim’s 25-man sqaud for friendlies in Morocco.

The Cheltenham Town defender is set to join eleven (11) other foreign-based players for friendlies against Benin and Somalia in Casablanca, Morocco.

Sierra Leone to kick start the groundwork for World Cup 2026 qualifiers with matches against Benin and Somalia. The Leone Stars will take on the Cheetahs of Benin on the 14th before hosting the Ocean Stars of Somalia on the 17 October.

All engagements are for preparatory assessments for November’s World Cup qualification. 

Somalia are in Group G alongside Algeria, Guinea, Uganda, Mozambique and Botswana. Benin is in Group C against Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Lesotho in the race to the 2026 World Cup. 

The Leone Stars defeated Benin 1-0 in their last meeting through a Kei Kamara spot kick during the AFCON race to Cameroon in Guinea in June 2021 as Sierra Leone secured a place at the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 1996.

Ranked 124 in the global standings, Leone Stars’ journey to qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the USA, Mexico and Canada will begin in November 2023. 

Coach Karim and the technical team will use these games in the North African region to assess the squad ahead of his first major task against Group A opponents Ethiopia and powerhouse Egypt in November.

The others in Group A are Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau and Djibouti in the race to the 2026 World Cup.

Leone Stars last outing in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying, Group Stage A final match ended in 2-1 defeat to Guinea-Bissua at the Estádio 24 de Setembro in September.

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