Category: Sport News

Striker Victor Osimhen doubtful for Nigeria World Cup qualifiers
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Striker Victor Osimhen doubtful for Nigeria World Cup qualifiers

Nigerian soccer star Victor Osimhen has injured himself before next month’s qualifying matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup next month.

The Super Eagles will play against Rwanda’s Wasps away and Zimbabwe’s Warriors at home, with Eric Chelle as the new head coach.

Osimhen, Nigeria’s top striker, was taken off the field in the 89th minute of Galatasaray’s goalless draw with Fenerbahce on Monday night.

Galatasaray’s team doctor, Yener İnce, confirmed that the substitution was due to an injury.

“We will see; it will be clear tomorrow,” the doctor said on habersarikirmizi.com.

Osimhen, 26, is now the joint second-highest goalscorer for the Super Eagles, with 23 goals in 39 games. Only Rashidi Yekini has scored more for Nigeria, with 37 goals in 62 matches.

Benin cruise past Sierra Leone to progress to next stage of WAFCON qualifiers
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Benin cruise past Sierra Leone in first round WAFCON qualifiers

On Monday, Sierra Leone faced a 3-1 defeat in the Women’s AFCON qualifier second leg against Benin at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, resulting in their elimination from the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations 2026 qualifiers. (Photo SLFA)

This loss followed a 2-1 defeat in the first leg at Kégué Stadium last Thursday, Sierra Leone was eliminated with an aggregate score of 5-2. This result means Benin will face Nigeria’s Super Falcons in the second round.

The visitors first scored in the 38th minute through Marguerite Ahouassou, and Germaine Honfo doubled their lead in the 44th minute. Aude Gbedjissi added a penalty goal, sealing their victory. Although the host team managed to reduce the deficit to 3-1, it was too late for a comeback.

In the first match, Benin’s captain Aude Gbedjissi scored a brace, with her first goal coming in the 23rd minute after receiving a solid pass from the left. She skilfully manoeuvred past the Sierra Leone goalkeeper to open the scoring. Benin started brightly and could have scored more in the first 15 minutes, but they missed several chances.

The Sierra Queens equalized in the 35th minute when Kadiatu Kamara capitalized on a corner play, striking the ball long over the Benin goalkeeper.

However, the home side quickly responded and regained their one-goal lead after being awarded a penalty in the 44th minute. The Benin captain converted the penalty for her second goal, ending the first half with a 2-1 advantage for her team.

After the recess, both teams struggled to take control of the tie with scrappy football, as there were no goals in the second forty minutes.

The final phase of the competition is divided into three groups, each consisting of four teams. The top two teams from each group will directly qualify for the quarter-finals, along with the two best third-placed teams.

From this stage onward, the competition follows a knockout format leading up to the final, where the winner will be crowned.

The 2026 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations is the 16th edition of this tournament, bringing together the best women’s football teams in Africa.

Read Related – Benin beat Sierra Leone in first-leg WAFCON qualifiers.

Second Round

● M33 & M34: Angola – Zimbabwe vs. Malawi 

● M35 & M36: Botswana – DR Congo vs. South Africa

● M37 & M38: Tanzania – Equatorial Guinea vs. Uganda – Ethiopia

● M39 & M40: Eswatini – Namibia vs. Zambia

● M41 & M42: Burundi – Burkina Faso vs. Djibouti – Togo

● M43 & M44: South Sudan – Algeria vs. Cameroon

● M45 & M46: Rwanda – Egypt vs. Ghana

● M47 & M48: Kenya – Tunisia vs. Niger – Gambia

● M49 & M50: Benin – Sierra Leone vs. Nigeria

● M51 & M52: Guinea – Cape Verde vs. Gabon – Mali

● M53 & M54: Chad – Senegal vs. Ivory Coast

Emmanuel Latte Lath nets brace on his MLS debut for Atlanta
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ivorian Emmanuel Lath nets brace on his MLS debut for Atlanta

Emmanuel Latte Lath had an impressive debut for Atlanta United, scoring two goals in one game. Broadcaster Mike Conti celebrated with, “It’s a double latte!” after his second goal. (Photo Atlanta United)

Latte Lath made history by being the first player to score two goals in a debut for the club on February 22. His goals came in the 41st and 63rd minutes.

Coach Ronny Deila praised his speed and skill, noting, “He’s quick, has great direction, and can finish with both feet.”

Before the match, there were questions about whether he would play the whole game, having just joined the team from Middlesbrough FC.

Latte Lath was substituted in the 90th minute, fulfilling his goal to score in his first match. “I’m really, really happy,” he said.

His first goal came from a corner by Saba Lobjanidze, which he headed in. He described it simply: “I jump.”

His second goal came in the second half when he scored in a scramble after a deflection from Montreal’s goalkeeper. Deila remarked, “When he’s focused, he can threaten any defense.”

Latte Lath signed on February 4 and made his debut just over two weeks later, rounding out a busy offseason for the team.

Starting the season at home with new players was a great way to begin 2025, drawing a large crowd. All three designated players, including Latte Lath, contributed significantly in Deila’s first match. “Their hard work and teamwork helped us immensely,” he said.

Guinean striker Serhou Guirassy nets four against Union Berlin
by Football Sierra Leone

Guinean striker Serhou Guirassy nets four against Union Berlin

Inform Guinean International Serhou Guirassy scored four goals to lead Borussia Dortmund to a 6-1 victory over Union Berlin, giving Niko Kovac his first win as head coach.

Dortmund went ahead in the 25th minute when Union’s Diogo Leite deflected a shot from Julian Ryerson into his own net. Guirassy scored his first goal in the 40th minute with a header from Pascal Gross’s cross and added another in the 75th minute, also set up by Gross.

Maximilian Beier assisted Guirassy’s hat-trick goal five minutes later, and Guirassy completed his scoring with a header in the 83rd minute, bringing his season total to 13 league goals.

Beier finished the scoring in the 89th minute. Gross’s four assists marked the first time in five years that a player achieved this feat in the Bundesliga. Nico Kovac, who took over as coach in January, has Dortmund in 10th place with 32 points as they prepare to face Lille in the Champions League next month.

Morocco's Achraf Hakimi Scores Twice to Help PSG Beat Lyon
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi Scores Twice to Help PSG Beat Lyon

Achraf Hakimi scored two goals on Sunday night, leading Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to a 3-2 win against Olympique Lyon in Ligue 1.

The Moroccan International now has four goals and five assists in 18 appearances for Ligue 1. Hakimi, named Man of the Match, played very well in this important game. After a scoreless first half, PSG took the lead in the 53rd minute.

Bradley Barcola set up Hakimi, who shot into the bottom left corner of the goal, past Lyon’s keeper Lucas Perri. Seven minutes later, Ousmane Dembélé increased the lead with a great solo goal, weaving past defenders and striking the ball into the left side of the net.

Lyon fought back in the 83rd minute when Rayan Cherki scored after getting a pass from Georges Mikautadze. However, Hakimi scored again just two minutes later, thanks to a well-placed assist from Kang-In Lee.

Lyon continued to push for more goals. In stoppage time, Corentin Tolisso scored with a powerful header from an Ainsley Maitland-Niles cross. Despite this, PSG held on to win the match.