Category: Sport News

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu set to leave Luton Town
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

DRC’s Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu set to leave Luton Town after eleven years

Luton Town will release Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu this summer after he spent over 11 years at the club.

The 31-year-old midfielder is considered a “club legend” for his contributions to Luton’s rise from the National League to the Premier League.

He joined the team as a teenager in 2013 and made a total of 412 appearances, although he spent the second half of last season on loan at Rotherham United.

The club announced that Mpanzu is leaving after playing a key role in four promotions, making him an important part of their history.

In addition to Mpanzu, goalkeeper Tim Krul, defender Amari’i Bell, and Nigeria international Victor Moses will also leave Luton after their relegation from the Championship. Bell, who spent four years with the club, was part of the team that achieved promotion in the 2022-23 season.

Jameson Horlick, another first-team player, will also leave Kenilworth Road. However, club captain Tom Lockyer, who is out of contract, will remain with the team to continue his recovery from ankle surgery.

CAF TSG named U20 AFCON Group Stage top scorer Momoh Kamara in the Best XI
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

CAF TSG named U20 AFCON Group Stage top scorer Momoh Kamara in the Best XI

As per the CAF Technical Study Group (TSG), Sierra Leone’s standout performer, Momoh Kamara, has been honoured in the Best XI of the group stage at the TotalEnergies U20 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2025.

In four games, the agile playmaker scored four spectacular goals, helping Sierra Leone make history by reaching the quarter-finals on their first try.

Kamara in photo alongside Walter Steenbok, former Technical Director of the South African Football Association, took all the individual awards, winning both Top Scorer and Best Player. To honour the tournament’s highlight stars, the TSG picked a 1-4-2-3-1 formation. Levison Banda of Zambia was named Best Goalkeeper; his defenders were Nigeria’s Odinaka Okoro, Daniel Bameyi, Ghana’s Dacosta Antwi, and Sierra Leone’s Nathaniel Jalloh.

South Africa’s Lazola Maku and Kenya’s Kevin Wangaya drive the game forward from midfield; Kamara is joined in the attack by Morocco’s Othmane Maamma and Zambia’s Joseph Sabobo. At the head of the line is Samuel Ntanda-Lukisa of DR Congo, whose important contributions guaranteed advancement for his team.

Mohamed Ouahbi of Morocco was chosen Best Coach for leading his team to an unbeaten group stage; Ghana earned the Fair Play Award for their discipline. Along with the recently unveiled Africa’s first FIFA Mini Pitch in Algeria, the knockout phase approaches increase the enthusiasm for these outstanding players and their countries.

CAF U20 AFCON Egypt 2025 – Group Stage Best XI (1-4-2-3-1):

Goalkeeper:

  1. Levison Banda – Zambia

Defenders:

2. Nathaniel Jalloh – Sierra Leone

3. Odinaka Okoro – Nigeria

4. Daniel Bameyi – Nigeria

5. Dacosta Antwi – Ghana

Midfielders:

6. Kevin Wangaya – Kenya

7. Lazola Maku – South Africa

8. Momoh Kamara – Sierra Leone

Forwards:

9. Joseph Sabobo – Zambia

10. Othmane Maamma – Morocco

11. Samuel Ntanda-Lukisa – DR Congo

Individual Awards (Group Stage):

🏆 Best Player: Momoh Kamara (Sierra Leone)

🥅 Best Goalkeeper: Levison Banda (Zambia)

⚽ Top Scorer: Momoh Kamara (4 goals, Sierra Leone)

👔 Best Coach: Mohamed Ouahbi (Morocco)

🏅 Fair Play Team: Ghana

CAF TSG named U20 AFCON Group Stage top scorer Momoh Kamara in the Best XI
CAF TSG named U20 AFCON Group Stage top scorer Momoh Kamara in the Best XI
The inaugural FIFA Mini Pitch in Africa has been launched in Algeria
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

First FIFA Mini Pitch In Africa Inaugurated in Algeria  

Algeria has made history by becoming the first African nation to inaugurate a FIFA Arena mini-pitch, part of FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s initiative to install 1,000 such pitches globally, supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The new facility was officially opened at Collège Malek Haddad in East Algiers, with plans for a second pitch at Ibn Joubair school in West Algiers. Together, these pitches will serve around 1,500 children from local schools and grassroots clubs, providing vital opportunities for youth engagement in sports.

The FIFA Arena project aims to establish a total of 11 mini-pitches, or “Starting Eleven,” across all six confederations. So far, pitches have launched in Georgia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Armenia, making Algeria the first African country and the fifth worldwide to benefit. The project target areas are those lacking access to sports facilities.

Infantino emphasised the project’s mission, stating, “Every child deserves a safe space that allows them to learn, to play, and to grow.” Walid Sadi, president of the Algerian Football Federation (FAF), expressed gratitude for FIFA’s support, highlighting that these mini-pitches advance school football and nurture future football talent.

Gelson Fernandes, FIFA Deputy Chief Member Association Officer, underscored the importance of this milestone for grassroots football in Algeria, stating, “In a football-passionate country like Algeria, this inauguration paves the way toward excellence. These children have the potential to become the next Mahrez or Slimani.”

Sierra Leone's Momoh I Kamara tops U20 AFCON scoring chart after group stage
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone’s Momoh I Kamara tops U20 AFCON scoring chart

Sierra Leone’s Momoh Kamara is the top scorer at the TotalEnergies CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt 2025, with four goals in four matches.

The new Minnesota United acquisition has played a crucial role in leading his nation to the quarter-finals, where they will face tournament favourites Morocco.

Kamara’s standout performances have established him as one of Africa’s brightest prospects. He holds a two-goal lead over challengers like DR Congo’s Samuel Ntanda and Noah Makanza, both with two goals, and Senegal’s Cheikh Tidiane Thiam, who also has two goals.

The other two-goal scorers include South Africa’s Thabang Mahlangu and Morocco’s Yassir Zabiri.

The quarter-finals will feature Morocco vs. Sierra Leone, South Africa vs. Senegal, DR Congo vs. Nigeria, and Egypt vs. Ghana.

All eyes will be on Kamara as he aims to maintain his scoring lead in the knockout stages. Already drawn attention from scouts across Africa and Europe.

A strong showing in the knockout rounds could accelerate his rise to prominence and cement his place among the continent’s next generation of stars.

The Golden Boot race is far from over, and with knockout football on the horizon, a single standout performance could shake up the leaderboard.

Top scorers after the group stage:

  • Momoh Kamara (Sierra Leone) – 4 goals
  • Samuel Ntanda (DR Congo) – 2 goals
  • Noah Makanza (DR Congo) – 2 goals
  • Cheikh Tidiane Thiam (Senegal) – 2 goals
  • Lawrence Ouma (Kenya) – 2 goals
  • Thabang Mahlangu (South Africa) – 2 goals
  • Yassir Zabiri (Morocco) – 2 goals
Momoh I. Kamara has won back-to-back Man of the Match awards in the ongoing U20 AFCON
Momoh I. Kamara has won back-to-back Man of the Match awards in the ongoing U20 AFCON
Financial boost for Sierra Leone's Shooting Stars ahead of historic U20 quarter-final
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Financial boost for Sierra Leone’s Shooting Stars ahead of historic U20 quarter-final

The Sierra Leone government, via the National Sports Authority and the Ministry of Sports, has pledged a $500 bonus for the U-20 Shooting Stars ahead of their crucial quarterfinal match against Morocco in the TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations on Monday.

NSA Executive Director Dr Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai and Madam Augusta James-Teima, the Minister of Sports, during the visit, sincerely acknowledged the team’s relentless efforts.

Pledging a $500 winning bonus for every player starting from the quarterfinal against Morocco up to the final, Dr. Abdulai praised the athletes for their discipline and resilience. Emphasising the federation’s dedication to youth football development, he also commended the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) for successfully organising and preparing the team.

Madam James-Teima stressed once more the government support and the team’s beneficial influence on the reputation of Sierra Leone. She appreciated National Teams Ambassador Christian Dauda and national team scout Morlai Kamara for their work in recruiting and developing skills.

As the gathering buzzed with excitement for what could be a historic milestone—a triumph that would guarantee Sierra Leone’s sought-after place in the prestigious FIFA U-20 World Cup in the vivacious scenery of Chile—the sense of unity and shared purpose was apparent. The encouragement offered during this visit highlighted the road toward a fantasy that many people cherish and was a lighthouse of hope.

Speaking on behalf of the team, Captain Momoh Ibrahim Kamara thanked everyone and vowed that the crew would work very hard. Under coach Mohamed Lamin Kamara, the players’ preparedness and cohesion impressed supporters.

With national pride at stake, the Shooting Stars are quite driven to create history. Eight teams guaranteed their places in the quarterfinals of the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt after a run of exciting games on Friday, May 9.

Top Goalscorer: Sierra Leone’s Momoh Kamara leads the scoring charts with 4 goals.

TotalEnergies CAF U-20 AFCON Egypt 2025 Quarter-Finals Fixtures

12h00 GMT | Nigeria vs Senegal

15h00 GMT | Ghana vs Egypt

15h00 GMT | Morocco vs Sierra Leone

18h00 GMT | South Africa vs DR Congo