Category: Sport News

Mjøndalen IF Fotball confirm Alie Conteh's Sierra Leone call up
by Football Sierra Leone

Mjøndalen IF Fotball confirm Alie Conteh’s Sierra Leone call up

Sierra Leone is competing in the World Cup qualifiers, and our striker has once again been selected for the national team squad, as noted by the Norwegian second-tier side.

It does not surprise Kevin Nicol that the West Africans have nominated Conteh for the matches against Guinea-Bissau and Egypt on March 20 and 25, respectively.

– He has been in very good form so far in the pre-season, so it’s not surprising, no. We have previously seen that Alie returns from the national team training camp with new energy, so we hope for more goals already in the series opener against Egersund, says the head coach.

Conteh has to sit out the dress rehearsal against Haugesund, but that doesn’t worry Nicol.

– No, it simply means that another player gets valuable match training against a good reference and can show off, he continues.

Important matches

Sierra Leone are fourth in Group A of the African World Cup qualifiers after four matches, but have a chance to grab the important second place that could qualify them to play in the World Cup.

Egypt are superb and has escaped, while opponents Guinea-Bissau currently hold the important second place. However, they are only one point ahead of the Leone Stars, as the national team is called.

Abubakarr Kargbo signs first Pro deal with Dutch side NEC Nijmegen
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Abubakarr Kargbo signs first Pro deal with Dutch side NEC Nijmegen

On Monday, top talent Abubakarr Kargbo, age 15, signed his first professional contract with NEC Nijmegen, which will run until the summer of 2028.

Three other talented players from the DFDS – NEC Football Academy also signed their first professional contracts.

Abubakarr Kargbo, Mees Rensen, Mandela Bongne, and Jeremy van Haalen, who all play in the Under 17 team, are now signed until the summer of 2028.

Technical director Carlos Aalbers is proud that these players have been connected to NEC for a longer time.

“This is part of our new vision. We want to keep great talents with us and not lose them to bigger clubs. This way, we reward them for their hard work and can continue to develop together,” he said.

Colin Williamson, Head of Youth Development, added: “It is uncommon for players to sign their first contract with NEC at just fifteen years old. We are happy to have these boys as a strong foundation as we aim to help them move up to the first team. This is something the DFDS – NEC Football Academy can build on.”

Mustapha Bundu helps ten-man Plymouth beat Portsmouth
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mustapha Bundu helps ten-man Plymouth beat Portsmouth

Sierra Leone International Mustapha Bundu recorded his sixth of the season as ten-man Plymouth held on to defeat Portsmouth, securing their first away win of the season and moving within three points of safety.

Argyle deserved the points against their hosts, who had recently beaten league leaders Leeds. Fit-again Ryan Hardie’s brilliant backheel set up Mustapha Bundu to score the opener just before halftime. Hardie then doubled the lead four minutes after the break, racing from halfway and drilling the ball inside the near post.

Plymouth finished the match with 10 players after Matthew Sorinola received a second yellow card in the 86th minute. Adil Aouchiche later netted a stunning consolation goal for Portsmouth three minutes later.

Although the Greens remain at the bottom of the league, this win represents their first victory on the road since last April and places them three points away from safety. Portsmouth, on the other hand, is still seven points clear of the drop zone despite suffering just their second home defeat in 13 games.

Unsurprisingly, John Mousinho kept the same Portsmouth starting XI that played well in their 1-0 victory over Leeds on Sunday. In contrast, Argyle boss Miron Muslic made four changes from their disappointing 3-0 loss to Sheffield Wednesday.

There were 11 minutes of added time at the end of the match, during which Bramall had a shot charged down in the box as Portsmouth pressed for an equalizer. However, they couldn’t find the goal, and Plymouth extended their unbeaten streak against Portsmouth to eight matches, ending a 41-year record of 20 consecutive away games without a win.

Dr. Patrice Motsepe re-elected as Confederation of African football president
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Dr. Patrice Motsepe re-elected as Confederation of African football president

Dr. Patrice Motsepe has been re-elected as President of the Confédération African Football (CAF) for another four years. His re-election was confirmed at the 14th CAF Extraordinary General Assembly in Cairo on Wednesday, extending his term until 2029.

Motsepe’s first term improved CAF’s finances and raised its global reputation. Under his leadership, the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in Côte d’Ivoire in 2023 attracted a record 1.4 billion viewers worldwide.

Prizes for major tournaments, including the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, have increased. There is also more financial support for Member Associations.

Motsepe, who is 63 years old, ran unopposed after the nomination deadline in November 2024. He decided to run again based on requests from Member Association Presidents and key stakeholders.

His goals remain to make African football competitive worldwide, stabilize finances, and invest in infrastructure. Dr. Motsepe’s unopposed re-election shows confidence in his leadership and a desire to raise the standards of African football.

Fecafoot President Samuel Eto'o joins CAF Executive Committee
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Fecafoot President Samuel Eto’o joins CAF Executive Committee

Fecafoot President Samuel Eto’o has joined the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after a tumultuous journey that initially saw him barred from running for a seat. However, he successfully overturned that decision.

The former Barcelona striker was the only individual nominated from the Central African Football Federations’ Union (UNIFFAC) and was chosen unanimously. Eto’o will now begin a four-year tenure within CAF’s leadership, further reinforcing his increasing influence in the governance of African football.

Currently serving as the President of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), Eto’o faced a surprising ban from campaigning for the UNIFFAC seat, representing the Central African region. This ban was imposed by CAF due to alleged governance issues within FECAFOOT, leading to a contentious legal battle that reached the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Eto’o was determined to contest what he viewed as an unjust ruling and promptly appealed to CAS. In a favorable outcome for him, CAS overturned CAF’s decision and declared him eligible to run for election.

This ruling allowed the four-time African Player of the Year to be reinstated on the ballot, much to the relief of his supporters. With his reinstatement, Eto’o faced no challengers for the UNIFFAC position, ensuring his automatic election to the CAF Executive Committee, which was confirmed at the 14th CAF Extraordinary General Assembly held in Cairo.

Eto’o’s victory further solidifies his influence in African football administration and enhances his growing leadership role in the sport. His involvement comes at a crucial time as CAF moves forward with reforms, financial reorganization, and preparations for major competitions such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Eto’o’s extensive experience in football, both as a player and an administrator, is likely to be invaluable as CAF seeks to implement greater standardization across the continent’s game.