Category: Sport News

Nigeria striker Kelechi Iheanacho on Watford's radar
by Football Sierra Leone

Nigeria striker Kelechi Iheanacho on Watford’s radar

English Championship team Watford is interested in striker Kelechi Iheanacho, who has not been performing well at Sevilla in La Liga.

Iheanacho joined Sevilla as a free agent this summer after the expiration of his contract at Leicester City. However, he managed three goals in eleven appearances since joining the club.

Reports from fichajes.net say that Sevilla plans to transfer Iheanacho during the January window to make changes to their squad for the second half of the 2025 season.

Watford wants to sign the Nigerian striker to strengthen their attack as they aim for promotion to the Premier League. Sevilla is also looking to make a deal to create space in their squad.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Watford suffered their first defeat in seven Sky Bet Championship matches, despite Kwadwo Baah’s late volley creating a tense finale in the 2-1 loss to promotion-chasing Burnley at Turf Moor.

SLIFA's Head Coach Jumu Bockarie Reflects on Debut Victory
by Football Sierra Leone

SLIFA’s Head Coach Jumu Bockarie Reflects on Debut Victory

Jumu Bockarie, head coach of Sierra Leone Premier League side SLIFA FC, spoke to the club’s media following his debut victory in the league, a 1-0 win at the approved school pitch in Freetown last Sunday.

A fantastic goal from Ernest George was the reason for the victory. “I want to express my gratitude to God and my family for their endless love and support. I would also like to thank SLIFA MANAGEMENT for allowing me to continue as head coach for the 2024/2025 season,” stated Bockarie, a UEFA C licensed coach.

“The focus of the staff was on welcoming our players, the style of play, and improving our passing, which played a significant role in our performance. The opponent posed a real challenge in the first ten minutes, but our players adapted well and demonstrated high-quality skills.

He also commented on the team’s performance: “We played very well and achieved a clean sweep across all fronts. Our victory was thanks to a fantastic shot that hit the crossbar, followed quickly by George, who sealed the score.

“It’s a fantastic achievement in my debut season; however, I’m not satisfied yet, and I remain focused on the next game. It’s essential to manage players effectively and use the right tactics.

I am grateful for SLIFA’s support on my journey to becoming a coach, and I am committed to helping our young players grow and entertain our fans,” he added.

Holders Al Ahly dismantle Algerian side CR Belouizdad
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Holders Al Ahly dismantle Algerian side CR Belouizdad

Title holders Al Ahly of Egypt delivered a strong message in the CAF Champions League with a commanding 6-1 victory over CR Belouizdad, highlighted by Wessam Abou Ali’s impressive hat-trick.

The match, held at Cairo International Stadium, saw Al Ahly rebound from an early setback when Aimen Mahious scored for Belouizdad in the 21st minute. Abou Ali equalized just before halftime, paving the way for a dominant second half.

He added two more goals, including a precise free kick and a long-range strike, while Hussein El Shahat and Percy Tau also contributed to the scoreline. Emam Ashour capped the match with a sixth goal in stoppage time, thrilling the home crowd.

With this victory, Al Ahly ascends to the top of Group C with seven points, ahead of Orlando Pirates by two points, while Belouizdad, now third with three points, faces a challenging return leg.

This resounding win illustrates Al Ahly’s strength as they continue to contend for the title in the tournament’s next phase.

Liberia and Senegal share spoils as Côte d'Ivoire beat Burkina Faso
by FSL News

Liberia and Senegal share spoils as Côte d’Ivoire beat Burkina Faso

On Sunday, defending champions Senegal drew 1-1 with Liberia in Monrovia in the first leg of the final round of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 qualifiers.

Seydina Mbaye scored first for Senegal, but Bility equalized late. The return leg will be in Dakar, where Senegal hopes to capitalize on home advantage.

With the first leg of the qualifiers over, the focus shifts to the second leg starting on December 25. Teams will compete for spots in CHAN 2024, held in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda in February.

In another match, Côte d’Ivoire won 2-0 against Burkina Faso, with Oumar Konaté scoring both goals.

Sudan beat Ethiopia 2-0 away, and Mauritania narrowly defeated Mali 1-0.

South Sudan triumphed over Rwanda 3-2, with Malish Mandela and Ezibon scoring, while Rwanda’s goals from Muhire and Didier kept them in the running.

Nigeria and Ghana ended in a 0-0 draw. The second leg next week will be crucial for both teams’ qualification hopes.

TotalEnergies CAF CHAN 2024 Qualifiers Results:

Saturday, 21 December 2024

  • Lesotho 0-2 Angola
  • Equatorial Guinea 0-0 Congo
  • Mozambique 0-3 Zambia
  • Eswatini 0-2 Madagascar
  • Chad 1-1 DR Congo

 

Sunday, 22 December 2024 | Times in GMT

  • 13:00: South Sudan 3-2Rwanda
  • 14:00: Central African Republic vs Cameroon
  • 14:00: Ethiopia 0-2 Sudan
  • 16:00: Ghana 0-0 Nigeria
  • 16:00: Cote d’Ivoire 2-0 Burkina Faso
  • 16:00: Liberia 1-1 Senegal
  • 16:00: Togo 1-1 Niger
  • 17:00: Mauritania 1-0 Mali
Angola, Madagascar and Zambia secure wins in CHAN first-leg qualifiers
by FSL News

Angola, Madagascar and Zambia secure wins in CHAN first-leg qualifiers

The first leg of the second-round qualifiers for CHAN 2024 has produced challenging results for host nations across the continent.

On Saturday, December 21st, five matches took place, with three visiting teams securing victories. However, DR Congo and Congo did not achieve wins. Lesotho hosted Angola in Durban, South Africa, where Angola celebrated a convincing 2-0 victory.

Equatorial Guinea faced Congo at home but struggled to secure a win, settling for a goalless draw despite having control of possession. In a Southern African derby, Zambia triumphed over Mozambique with a 3-0 scoreline, while Eswatini was outperformed by Madagascar, suffering a 2-0 loss in Mbabane.

Two-time champions DR Congo managed to earn a 1-1 draw against Chad in an away match as they seek to reclaim their title after previous wins in 2009 and 2016.

The qualifiers continue on Sunday, leading to the second and final round from December 25 to 29, where the final 19 qualified nations, including hosts Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, will be determined.

The TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship 2024 will be held from February 1 to February 24, 2025.

TotalEnergies CAF CHAN 2024 Qualifiers Results:

Saturday, 21 December 2024

  • Lesotho 0-2 Angola
  • Equatorial Guinea 0-0 Congo
  • Mozambique 0-3 Zambia
  • Eswatini 0-2 Madagascar
  • Chad 1-1 DR Congo

Sunday, 22 December 2024 | Times in GMT

  • 13:00: South Sudan vs Rwanda
  • 14:00: Central African Republic vs Cameroon
  • 14:00: Ethiopia vs Sudan
  • 16:00: Ghana vs Nigeria
  • 16:00: Cote d’Ivoire vs Burkina Faso
  • 16:00: Liberia vs Senegal
  • 16:00: Togo vs Niger
  • 17:00: Mauritania vs Mali