Category: Sport News

Benni McCarthy names Kenya final squad for FIFA World Cup qualifying ties
by Football Sierra Leone

Benni McCarthy names Kenya final roster for FIFA World Cup qualifying ties

Benni McCarthy has revealed his final roster for Kenya’s last two FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Burundi and Ivory Coast.

Standing 11 points behind Ivory Coast, both games will take place away from home, signaling the end of the Harambee Stars’ qualification effort.

Kenya will first compete against Burundi on October 9, 2025, at Intwari Stadium, with the match scheduled to begin at 4pm EAT, followed by their final game against Ivory Coast on October 14, 2025, starting at 10pm EAT at Alassane Outtara Stadium.

Currently positioned fifth in the group with nine points, the Harambee Stars are eager to conclude their qualification journey positively. The squad will assemble for training in early October, with the final traveling squad to be confirmed after medical evaluations and fitness checks.

Final Squad;

Goalkeepers

Faruk Shikhalo, Byrne Omondi, Brian Bwire

Defenders

Manzur Suleiman, Vincent Harper, Sylvester Owino, Alphonce Omija, Collins Sichenje, Michael Kibwage, Ronney Onyango, Abud Omar, Daniel Sakari

Midfielders

Alpha Onyango, Duke Abuya, Timothy Ouma, Ben Stanley, Marvin Nabwire, Austine Odhiambo

Wingers

William Lenkupae, Job Ochieng, Boniface Muchiri

Strikers

Michael Olunga, Ryan Ogam, Lawrence Okoth

CAF Confederation Cup features exciting second-leg ties
by Football Sierra Leone

CAF Confederation Cup features exciting second-leg ties

There are exciting matches in today's second-leg matches of the first Preliminary Round of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup, as teams compete for spots in the final qualifying round in October.

Some clubs will return home with small advantages, while well-known teams must recover from losses in the first leg in front of their fans. After a weekend full of surprises and close games, these matches feel like knockout rounds: stay calm, manage the game, and you could reach the group stage in November.

Chiefs under pressure, Kabuscorp sensing an upset

Kaizer Chiefs lost 1–0 in the first leg and need to win against Kabuscorp from Angola, who will try to counterattack in South Africa. Mighty Wanderers have a 1–0 lead over Jwaneng Galaxy from Botswana. If Wanderers score early, it will change the game; otherwise, expect strong pressure from the hosts.

Otohô’s 2–1 victory over Primeiro de Agosto in Angola was one of the standout results from the first leg. They need to stay organized and strong in the return match to advance.

Kotoko’s thrilling match continues in Ilorin

Few first legs were as exciting as the 4–3 game in Accra, where Kotoko narrowly won. Expect quick action from the start as Kotoko relies on James Ablorh’s runs during counterattacks, while Kwara needs to strengthen their defense to avoid being exposed again.

Kassi Théodore scored a neat goal in Cameroon, giving San Pedro a 1–0 advantage with an important away goal. Aigle Royal was unable to score in Yaoundé and must attack in Côte d’Ivoire, which could benefit San Pedro’s ability to use wide players.

Hafia and Stade Tunisien in control

Hafia has a strong lead after winning 3–0 against Bhantal in Sierra Leone. The Guinean team will play carefully at home. Stade Tunisien also has a 2–0 lead and controlled the midfield in the first leg. Though SNIM from Mauritania will have little to lose when they face Stade Tunisien, they need to be cautious.

East African derby remains tight

The thrilling 2–2 draw in Kampala between NEC from Uganda and Nairobi United sets up an exciting rematch. The Ugandan team plays aggressively and will try to capitalize on this in the return match.

FC Libreville’s 2–0 win over Zesco United came from a strong start and solid defense. The Zambians need to push the pace, but they also must be careful to defend against quick counterattacks. An early goal for Zesco could change the game’s atmosphere.

These second leg matches are scheduled from September 26 to 28. The aggregate winners will advance to the Second Preliminary Round on October 17-19 and 24-26, edging closer to the group stage on November 21.

Sullay Kaikai's Cambridge United fell to Fulham in League Cup third round
by FSL News

Sullay Kaikai’s Cambridge United fell to Fulham in League Cup third round

Sierra Leone International Sullay Kaikai' was subsituted on in the 64th minute as Cambridge United fell 1-0 to Premier League side Fulham in the League Cup third round on Wednesday at Craven Cottage.

Cambridge United manager Neil Harris expressed he “couldn’t be prouder” of his team after a narrow defeat to Fulham in the third round of the Carabao Cup.

Harris made seven changes to the squad that secured a victory against Fleetwood Town last weekend, and they managed to hold their Premier League rivals at bay until Emile Smith Rowe scored the decisive goal in the 66th minute.

Midfielder Korey Smith made his comeback after a knee injury, playing 45 minutes, while Northern Ireland international Shayne Lavery completed over an hour on the pitch in his first start of the season.

Harris shared his thoughts on the game’s challenges, stating, “It’s a completely different ball game compared to League Two; you don’t face the same kind of aerial threats, and you’re not constantly dealing with restarts.

We were well aware that long throws wouldn’t be a factor in this match. We really needed to be solid in the midfield and ensure the ball went around us rather than through us.

Having the best one-on-one defenders and top-notch wide players was crucial, and Shayne Lavery provided us with a counter-attacking option whenever we managed to find him.”

“We chose a lineup that suited playing against a Premier League team instead of a League Two side, and the players stepped up admirably. Every single player gave it their all.”

Cambridge United travel to Tranmere Rovers for the League Cup tenth round of action on Saturday.

Algerian star trains after joining Brazilian outfit Santos FC
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Algerian star Billal Brahimi trains after joining Brazilian outfit Santos

Algerian international Billal Brahimi has completed his first training session with Santos FC, one of Brazil's most renowned football clubs.

The talented winger has made the move to Santos after inking a contract that will run until the end of 2026, marking his first venture outside of Europe.

This transfer comes on the heels of Brahimi mutually terminating his contract with French Ligue 1 club OGC Nice on September 1, which allowed him to become a free agent.

Having previously played for clubs such as Middlesbrough, Brest, Sint-Truiden, Le Mans, and Angers, Brahimi has now found a new chapter in Brazil, where he will team up with Santos superstar Neymar.

“The addition of Brahimi brings international experience to Santos for the 2025 season,” read a club statement.

At the age of 25, the French-born, naturalised Algerian joins Peixão after his tenure with Nice, in France.

While born in France, Brahimi holds both French and Algerian nationalities and represented the French under-19 national team in 2018.

In May 2022, he received a call-up to the Algeria national team for two qualifying matches for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations against Uganda and Tanzania.

Sierra Leone's Bhantal set for challenging task against Hafia in the Ivory Coast
by FSL News

Sierra Leone’s Bhantal set for challenging task against Hafia in Ivory Coast

Following their 3-0 first leg defeat at home to one of West African's powerhouse Hafia FC, the Sierra Leone representatives in the CAF Confederation Cup have arrived in Ivory Coast for their second leg match on Friday.

The important second leg preliminary interclub matchup will take place at the Alassane Ouattara Ebimpé Olympic Stadium.

In a bid to overturn the first leg margins, Bhantal FC squad has safely arrived in the Ivory Coast as they immediately shift focus on the pitch, kicked off their first training session Thurdsay.

An early goal for Bhantal could spark a major comeback as they aim to advance to the second round of the preliminary matches. Without a doubt, it promises to be an exciting match in the Ivorian capital.

First Leg Recap  – Hafia FC began their African campaign with a strong performance, achieving a decisive 3-0 victory over Banthal FC last Saturday, September 20, in Sierra Leone. This game was the first leg of the opening preliminary round of the Confederation Cup.

From the beginning to the end, the Green and Whites showcased their superiority on the pitch, highlighted by an outstanding display from Salif Camara, who scored two goals.

Substituted player Sekou Damaro Bangoura contributed to the score, finishing off with a well-earned third goal.

With a solid advantage already in place, the three-time African champions are geared up for the return leg scheduled for this Friday in Abidjan, eager to secure their place in the next round.