Category: Sport News

Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone share points in World Cup qualifier
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone share points in World Cup qualifier

Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau battled to a tense 1-1 draw in their quest for a coveted spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, held at the vibrant Estadio Nacional 24 de Setembro on Thursday.

The opening half was charged with intensity as both teams sought to establish dominance, with the home side employing a relentless high press that set the tone for the match.

OCG Nice’s defender Abdulai Juma Bah had to be substituted early in the second half after picking up an injury. The first significant opportunity of the match came from Mama Balde, whose powerful strike was expertly saved by Sierra Leone’s goalkeeper, Alhaji Sesay, signalling a bright start for the home team.

As the match neared halftime, Sierra Leone began to find their groove. The crowd was stunned when veteran striker Kei Kamara leapt above the defenders to deliver a brilliant header from a distance, sending the ball crashing into the net and lifting the spirits of their fans just before the break.

The second half saw Guinea-Bissau come back with renewed vigour. After a series of missed chances, Mama Balde struck the equaliser in the 74th minute, firing a powerful shot from inside the box that bulged the net, sparking wild celebrations among the travelling supporters and levelling the score at 1-1.

As the game progressed, both teams made strategic substitutions; Kamara and Augustus Kargbo made way for Mohamed Buya Turay and Momoh Kamara. Emmanuel Samsadi’s well-taken free kick was skillfully parried away by the agile home goalkeeper. Ultimately, neither side could find a breakthrough.

In the group stage, Egypt leads the table with 16 points and will host fifth-placed Ethiopia on Friday at the Cairo Stadium, while Burkina Faso, sitting in second with 11 points, will head to Djibouti, who are at the bottom of the group.

Kei, Alhassan and Augustus to spearhead Sierra Leone's attack
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Kei, Alhassan and Augustus to spearhead Sierra Leone’s attack

Veteran forward Kei Kamara, Blackburn Rovers winger Augustus Kargbo, and Qatar-based striker Alhassan Koroma will spearhead Sierra Leone’s attack as they face Guinea-Bissau in Group A of the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.  

Coach Kallon retains his midfield duo of Tyrese Fornah and Abu Dumbuya. In the defence, Osman Kakay is making his debut with the current coaching staff, accompanied by Abdulai Juma Bah, Alpha Turay, and Salliue as Keeper Alhaji Sesay continues in goal.

At present, the visitors sit third in the group with eight points, two points ahead of their opponents.  

Both teams are eager to enhance their qualification prospects for a chance to participate in the 2026 World Cup. In their last meeting, Sierra Leone claimed victory with a score of 3-1 in the Liberian capital back in March.

Sierra Leone listed team for Guinea Bissau
Sierra Leone listed team for Guinea Bissau
Ghana Black Stars look to improve World Cup qualifying chances
by FSL News

Ghana Black Stars look to improve World Cup qualifying chances

The Black Stars of Ghana will compete against Chad on Thursday at the Stade Olympique Marechal Idriss Deby Itno as part of Group I in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Currently, the visitors are leading their group with 15 points, and a victory would bring them closer to automatic entry into the esteemed tournament.

Les Sao have no possibility of qualifying, and their participation will merely serve as a formality.

In their matches in Group I, Ghana has achieved five victories and experienced one defeat in the six games contested to date.

The Black Stars have netted 15 goals while allowing just five, which is a favourable outcome for the squad.

Chad has yet to earn any points from the first six matches in the group.

They have struggled significantly in the group, having conceded 15 goals and scored only one, which falls well below expectations.

In their previous encounters, the teams have faced each other only once, on March 21, 2025, when Ghana secured a significant 5-0 victory.

Liberia to face stiff competition against leaders Tunisia
by FSL News

Liberia to face stiff competition against leaders Tunisia

West African side Liberia faces a steep test against North African giant Tunisia in today’s Group H World Cup qualifying contest at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium.

Tunisia has displayed effectiveness and solidity throughout the qualifying series, showcasing an unblemished defensive performance and a ruthless attacking style.

After completing six matches, Sami Trabelsi’s squad has secured five wins and one draw, placing them at the top of Group H with 16 points—four points ahead of second-placed Namibia—scoring nine goals while ensuring they haven’t conceded any.

Rabelsi, now in his second term as Tunisia’s head coach since his appointment in February, kicked off his tenure with a 1-0 victory over Liberia and then guided his team to a 2-0 win against Malawi.

His team had mixed outcomes in friendly matches, winning 2-0 against Burkina Faso but losing 2-0 to Morocco, where defender Ali Al-Abdi was sent off.

On Thursday, they aim for a seventh consecutive clean sheet in the qualifiers to extend their group lead.

Tunisia holds a strong record against Liberia, with five wins in their last seven encounters, one draw, and one loss.

Liberia, on the other hand, will approach this match with cautious hope, aware that they face one of Africa’s top teams but motivated by their improved play. The Lone Stars sit third in Group H with 10 points from three wins, one draw, and two losses.

After a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations qualifying round, they seek redemption for World Cup qualification. A FIFA ruling upgraded a prior loss to Equatorial Guinea to a 3-0 victory, boosting their morale. Since then, they drew 1-1 with Namibia and narrowly defeated Sao Tome & Principe 1-0.

Despite a close 1-0 loss to Tunisia in March, they rebounded with a 2-1 win against Sao Tome & Principe. However, they have struggled defensively, suffering four defeats in their last six matches and conceding 10 goals.

Algeria's Desert Warriors eye Group G win against Bostwana
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Algeria’s Desert Warriors eye Group G win against Bostwana

Algeria aims to improve its chances of automatically qualifying for the 2026 World Cup when it hosts Botswana at the Hocine Ait Ahmed Stadium on Thursday.

Algeria leads Group G, having collected 15 points from its first six matches, three points ahead of Mozambique, which sits second before today’s kickoff.

Under coach Vladimir Petkovic, the team has scored the most goals (16) but has only kept one clean sheet. Their biggest win was 5-1 against Mozambique on March 25. They won their last three matches after Guinea broke their perfect record in qualifying with a 2-1 win in Algiers on June 6, 2024.

Ismael Bennacer has played only once for Algeria in the qualifiers due to injury issues and was left out of the current squad because he is not fit. The AC Milan midfielder missed the first two games of the new Serie A season.

Petkovic emphasized Bennacer’s importance to the team, saying, “Bennacer is struggling physically with zero preparation; he trained with Milan B and immediately suffered more physical issues. I hope he returns to his best because Ismael is very important for our national team.”

Botswana is still in the race as they sit in third place, three points behind Algeria. They recently won 2-0 against Somalia on March 25.

This victory was their third win in the group, following a 3-1 loss to Algeria on March 21, their biggest defeat.

They also lost to Mozambique (3-2) and Uganda (1-0), and need to win the return matches to have a chance to finish in the top two.