Category: Sport News

TP Mazembe crowned Queens of African women’s club football
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

TP Mazembe crowned Queens of African women’s club football

TP Mazembe ladies from the Democratic Republic of Congo have won the CAF Women’s Champions League in Morocco 2024.

In the final match at Stade Ben Ahmed El Abdi in El Jadida, TP Mazembe defeated the former champions and hosts AS FAR by a score of 1-0.

This victory is Mazembe’s first title in the tournament, erasing the disappointment of their early exit in 2022.

The deciding goal came from Marlene Kasaj, who scored on a penalty kick in the first 10 minutes. Mazembe defended their lead strongly throughout the match.

AS FAR pushed for an equalizer after falling behind, but TP Mazembe’s solid defence kept a clean sheet in the first half.

After halftime, TP Mazembe maintained their lead while AS FAR struggled to score.

Along with the Champions League trophy, TP Mazembe will receive $600,000, while AS FAR, as runners-up, will take home $400,000.

Maharlika FC midfielder John Kamara happy with his form
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Maharlika FC midfielder John Kamara happy with his form

Experience Sierra Leone International John Kamara has been pleased with his form this season since joining the Philippine’s top-tier side Maharlika.

Last season, Kamara was successful with United FC in the Philippines Football League organized by Liga Futbol Inc., where he made over 15 appearances.

Kamara, 35, the former Kaisar and Keşla FK, says he is enjoying his time helping his new club. “Although we suffered a 1-0 defeat to DH Cebu FC on Saturday, I believe it was a commendable effort considering we were away from home. This league is highly competitive, and I’m really enjoying the challenge it presents.

Joining a new club can always be tough, but I have confidence in my abilities. And I’m committed to working hard. I aim to demonstrate my determination and energy on the field.”

Kamara has played in Lebanon and Greece for clubs including Tadamon Sour, Apollon Smyrni, and Lamia. On January 8, 2019, Kamara joined Keşla FK, a club in the Azerbaijan Premier League. On June 25, 2020, he signed a new contract with Keşla for the 2020–21 season.

On December 27, 2021, Kamara left Keşla by mutual consent. In January 2023, he signed with the Greek team Egaleo. In March 2024, Kamara joined United City, a club in the Philippines Football League.

Steven Caulker steps down as Sierra Leone captain
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Steven Caulker steps down as Sierra Leone captain

The former Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Caulker, who made his competitive debut for the Leone Stars at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, has stepped down as captain as he thanked fans for their support.

Caulker, 32, who was appointed as skipper in March 2022, departed Sierra Leone ahead of the Zambia Matchday six tie following talks of controversy. However, the Sierra Leone Football Association said he was called home due to urgent personal matters that required his immediate attention.

He missed Sierra Leone’s 2-0 defeat in their final game against the Chipolopolo of Zambia of the 2025 AFCON Qualification campaign.

“The time has come for me to step down as captain of the Leone Stars,” Caulker noted to the medium. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to achieve my goal of qualifying us for AFCON, and it is with great sadness that I must accept this,” He explained. “I have given my all, three hard years battling against a very broken system. At times, we saw progress, but during this last campaign, it became evident that we have, in fact, taken five steps backwards.

I have donated my appearance fees from the 2024 AFCON campaign to ‘The Sick Pikin Baby Project’. I do not want to take money that we don’t deserve.

This is a fantastic charity doing amazing work and I know that several children will benefit from the donation. Sierra Leone has an enormous amount of talent, and it is vitally important that we get the right people in charge, people who know how to bring out the best in the players on the pitch.

Caulker is thankful for the opportunity

I would like to thank Coach John Keister and SLFA President Thomas Daddy Brima for giving me the opportunity in 2021. I also want to thank my fellow players and the dedicated staff members who gave their all along the way.

Last but not least, I want to thank the fans. Your support has meant so much to me, and I am incredibly proud to have represented my grandad’s homeland. You welcomed me from day one, and for that, I will be forever grateful. Greater days are coming, keep the faith.”

In October 2021, Caulker announced he was waiting for FIFA’s approval to switch from England to Sierra Leone. He played in a friendly match against a Moroccan team, which Sierra Leone lost 2–1.

On December 17, FIFA cleared him to play in the Africa Cup of Nations. He was in Sierra Leone’s squad and played all three matches, drawing with Algeria and Ivory Coast but losing to Equatorial Guinea, finishing third in their group with two points.

Caulker made one international appearance for England, his birth country, in a 4-2 loss to Sweden in November 2012, but he switched allegiances to Sierra Leone last year.

Sullay-KaiKai please to lead Sierra Leone despite defeat to Zambia
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sullay KaiKai proud to lead Sierra Leone despite defeat to Zambia

Cambridge United winger Sullay Kaikaki has expressed his satisfaction as skipper of the Sierra Leone National team match day six African Cup of Nations qualifier against Zambia in the Liberia Capital.

Kaikai was named captain in the absence of Steven Caulker as the Leone Stars suffered a 2-0 defeat ending the AFCON campaign in defeat but Sullay Kaikai was thankful for the chance to lead the nation.

Sierra Leone suffered its third defeat, a 2-0 loss to Zambia in the last match of the 2025 African Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. During the campaign, Sierra Leone conceded ten goals and scored five in their six qualifying matches.

“I am extremely proud and honoured to lead the team out for our last auction qualifier. Although we fell short, we know there’s still a lot more to come from us.

Thank you to all Sierra Leoneans that supported us throughout the good and difficult times. We feel your pain and are very committed to learning from our experiences and using them to help us achieve.”

Salford City midfielder Tyrese Fornah noted, “We gave our all and it wasn’t to be for AFCON 2025, but we will be back better and stronger as a nation for March 2026 World Cup qualifiers.”

“I’m always proud to wear these national colours. Thank you for your support and together we will achieve much more. Was really a disappointing campaign, we felt your pain and frustration back home. We promise to put a smile on your faces, we are so sorry. This is our motherland, Sierra Leone,” Netherland-based midfielder Ibrahim Sillah.

Sierra Leone Champions Bo Rangers Request Delay Prize Money
by David Lebbie

Sierra Leone Champions Bo Rangers Request Delay Prize Money

The management of Bo Rangers submitted a letter dated October 29 to the Acting Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Football Association, requesting their championship prize money for the 2023/24 Leone Rock Premier League after nearly six months of waiting.

The prize money for the championship is confirmed to be Five Hundred Thousand New Leones (NLe 500,000), as announced by the Premier League Board before the league’s commencement in November 2023.

Although the league was sponsored by Leone Rock Mining Company, which contributed Eighty Thousand American Dollars, along with an additional Two Million Eight Hundred Thousand Leones (NLe 2.8M) from the Government of Sierra Leone, the Premier League Board, led by Victor Lewis, and the Sierra Leone Football Association, have yet to disburse the prize money to the champions.

In their letter, Bo Rangers expressed that the delay in receiving the funds has raised concerns among the club’s management, particularly the board of directors. They urged the Sierra Leone Football Association to expedite the payment process for the championship prize.

“This delay has caused genuine concern among the club’s management, especially the board,” the letter stated. It emphasized that timely payment is crucial for the club’s financial planning and upcoming activities.

“We kindly ask the Football Association to expedite the processing of the championship funds to ensure that our club is duly rewarded for its hard work and achievements. Timely disbursement of these funds is essential for the club’s financial planning and future endeavours,” the FA Cup champions lamented.

An official from the SLFA, who wishes to remain anonymous, told the media, “The Champions will receive their prize money.

“Typically, it is the responsibility of the league board to distribute these funds, but they have been unable to do so. The FA will intervene and provide the payments in light of this situation. However, the process has been delayed because the Executive Committee requested that we hold off until they can review the report submitted by the league board.”

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The Sierra Leone Champions Bo Rangers letter to the Sierra Leone Football Association
The Sierra Leone Champions Bo Rangers letter to the Sierra Leone Football Association