Category: Sport News

Kumba set to play UEFA Women's Champions League with Riga
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Kumba set to play UEFA Women’s Champions League with Riga

Kumba Zainab Brima has joined FC Riga’s women’s premier side on a two-year deal ahead of the new campaign and is set to compete in the UEFA Women’s Champions League next month.

FC Riga will be participating in this year’s Women’s UEFA Champions League, providing a great platform for the Sierra Leonean international to showcase her style and skills on the biggest stage.

The UEFA Women’s Champions League first and second qualifying round draws have been made to begin the new-look competition.

Riga’s ladies begin against Estonia side Tallinna FC Flora (EST) vs Riga FC Women (LVA) next month.

The club announced her signing via their social media pages, making her the first player from Sierra Leone to join them.

Known by her nickname, “Pele,” Kumba has been a standout player since arriving at the local club FC Kallon.

Steven Caulker pens player and coach deal with Stjarnan in Iceland
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Steven Caulker pens player and coach deal with Stjarnan in Iceland

Former Sierra Leone international Steven Caulker has signed a deal as both a player and assistant coach with Icelandic top-tier club Stjarnan FC.

“We are proud and honoured to announce that Steven Caulker has joined Stjarnan, taking on a dual role as player-assistant coach for the men’s first team,” the Iceland top-tier side noted.

Steven Caulker has had a successful career in football. He has played over 150 matches in the English Premier League for teams like Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, QPR, and Southampton.

He has also played for the England national team and later led Sierra Leone as captain in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Recently, Steven continued his career in Turkey, playing for Alanyaspor, Fenerbahçe, and Fatih Karagümrük, where he was an important player and a leader.

Most recently, he made 33 appearances for Ankara Keçiörengücü SK in the Turkish First League.

“We warmly welcome Steven Caulker to Stjarnan and believe our community will make him feel at home in Garðabær.”

Wydad Athletic suffered a three-straight defeat in the FIFA Club World Cup
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Wydad Athletic suffer third straight defeat in FIFA Club World Cup

On Thursday in Washington, D.C., a first-half goal by Cassius Mailula was negated by second-half goals from Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba and Kaku, allowing Al Ain to defeat Wydad AC 2-1.

Both teams took to the pitch with a sense of determination, playing not just for points but for pride, having already been eliminated from contention for the round of 16 in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

Both Manchester City and Juventus, two storied clubs in European football, had already secured the top two spots in Group G, rendering this match a contest for respect rather than advancement.

The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as fans filled the stands, eager to see their teams deliver a strong performance despite the stakes being low. Each player on the field understood the significance of this match, not only for their clubs’ legacies but for their own professional reputations.

Nonetheless, both clubs aimed to exit the tournament on a positive note, and it was the UAE side that left the pitch with their heads held high after completing the comeback.

Wydad Athletic Club to wrap up Club World Cup Group G against Al Ain
by Football Sierra Leone

Wydad Athletic eye first Club World Cup win against Al Ain

Wydad Athletic Club will conclude their final Group G match in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup against Al Ain FC on Thursday at Audi Field, located in Washington, DC, the capital of the United States.

In their second Group G match on June 22, Wydad suffered a 4-1 defeat to the Italian football powerhouse Juventus FC, extending their winless streak across all competitions to three matches.

As a result, the Moroccan football heavyweights currently sit in third place in the group standings. A win against Al Ain would allow Wydad to finish third, behind Manchester City and Juventus.

“We want to win for our fans and for our coach,” said Nordin Amrabat, Wydad’s midfielder. The team’s head coach, Mohamed Amine Benhachem, and the team doctor were involved in a traffic accident in the USA. Amrabat added, “We want to leave America with a good feeling. If you don’t win, you don’t have a good feeling; that means you’ve played three games and lost all three. For us as a club, winning is important, God willing.”

Al Ain has not won in their last two matches, including a heavy 6-0 loss to Manchester City on June 22. They currently sit in fourth place in Group G, but a win over Wydad could move them up to third.

“Our goal is to earn three points. We have the same aim for every game,” said Vladimir Ivic, Al Ain’s head coach. “We know we are a big club, the biggest in Asia. We strive to win every game in our championships, both cups, and the Asian Champions League. This match will be no different. We want to show our best in the final game. Overall, this tournament has been a great experience with everything well organized.”

This match will be the first time Wydad faces Al Ain in any competition. Canadian referee Drew Fischer will officiate the game on Thursday.

Sierra Leone's Tyrese Fornah pens permanent Northampton Town
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone’s Tyrese Fornah pens permanent Northampton Town deal

Northampton Town has signed Tyrese Fornah, a former midfielder for Nottingham Forest and Derby County, on a three-year contract.

The 25-year-old player, who is 6 feet 1 inch tall and was born in London, started his career at the academies of Reading and Brighton & Hove Albion. He made his professional debut for Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup match against Chelsea in 2020.

Fornah spent time on loan with Portuguese side Casa Oia and then joined Plymouth Argyle on a season-long loan in October 2020, making 39 appearances.

He went on to have loan spells at Shrewsbury Town, where he played 19 games, and Reading, where he played 35 games. In 2023, he transferred to Derby County for an undisclosed fee. Fornah made 23 appearances in the 2023/24 season, helping the Rams win promotion from League One. He then spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Salford City, where he played 43 times.

Manager Kevin Nolan said, “We have followed Tyrese for a long time and wanted to bring him in. We did a lot of research and believe he will work well with Dean Campbell. He can play as a defensive midfielder or advance further up the pitch. He has great skills for carrying the ball and moving the team forward.”

Nolan added, “We discussed how we can help him improve, especially in scoring goals, and he was open to that. We are happy with this signing. Tyrese is at a good age with a strong background, and I believe fans will enjoy watching him play for Northampton Town. He had a lot of interest this summer, so it’s great that we’ve secured him for Sixfields.”