Category: Sport News

Mamelodi Sundowns suffer opening defeat to Egyptian newcomers FC Masar
by Football Sierra Leone

Mamelodi Sundowns suffer opening defeat to Egyptian newcomers FC Masar

Egyptian newcomers FC Masar achieved a remarkable upset in their CAF Women’s Champions League debut, defeating reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 in a thrilling Group B match held in Casablanca on Sunday.

The winning goal came from a penalty taken by Sandrine Niyonkuru just before halftime. This unexpected victory shocked everyone in the tournament.

Masar, part of the Right to Dream Academy community, entered the game as the underdogs against the experienced Sundowns. However, their young team, an average age of only 20.6, stood strong and played with good strategy.

FC Masar, a new Egyptian team, surprised everyone by defeating reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 in their first CAF Women’s Champions League match in Casablanca on Sunday.

Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, Sundowns couldn’t break through Masar’s strong defence. Goalkeeper Maya Abouelwafa and defenders Aisha Nantongo and Hasnath Ubamba made key saves and blocks.

Just before halftime, Sundowns were penalized for a handball, allowing Niyonkuru to score and give Masar a surprising lead. Sundowns pushed for an equalizer but faced tough resistance, including a late missed opportunity by Tiisetso Makhubela.

 

This win is a significant step for FC Masar in Egyptian women’s football, following their first domestic title last season. They are now optimistic about upcoming matches against Nigeria’s Edo Queens and Ethiopia’s Commercial Bank.

El Madani shines as AS FAR thrash Aigles De La Médina
by FSL News

El Madani shines as AS FAR thrash Aigles De La Médina

Doha El Madani was the star of the show as she helped AS FAR win 3-0 against Aigles De La Médina in the CAF Women’s Champions League in El Jadida on Saturday.

The 19-year-old scored two goals, and veteran captain Aziz Rabbah added a penalty goal. This win is important for the Moroccan team, which wants to reclaim the title. AS FAR took control right from the beginning. Coach Mohamed Amine Alioua went with an attacking formation.

It didn’t take long for AS FAR to score. Doha El Madani found herself in the right spot to finish off a rebound and open the scoring. Feeling confident, El Madani scored her second goal in the 29th minute with a great pass from Sanaa Mssoudy.

Despite being ahead by two goals, AS FAR kept pressing forward. They caused Aigles De La Médina to commit a foul in the box, leading to a penalty. Aziz Rabbah converted it easily.

In the second half, Aigles played more organized and made fewer mistakes but struggled to get their offence going. Hajar Said almost scored a fourth goal for AS FAR after a defensive scramble, but her shot hit the post.

With the win secure, AS FAR maintained possession of the ball. Aigles faced more trouble when Adama Sane received a red card for a foul on Mssoudy in the box, but Rabbah’s penalty kick was saved by the goalie.

The match ended with AS FAR taking all three points and moving to the top of Group A ahead of TP Mazembe. Earlier, TP Mazembe won against the University of the Western Cape in the first match, making way for the hosts and newcomers to take the spotlight in the second match of Group A.

Sundowns start title defence, while CBE and Edo Queens are set to make their debut
by Football Sierra Leone

Sundowns start title defence, while CBE and Edo Queens are set to make their debut

The Women’s Champions League continues on Sunday in Casablanca, Morocco. The defending champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, will play against the newcomers, FC Masar.

Day 02 of the CAF Women’s Champions League Morocco 2024 starts on Sunday, November 10, with Group B matches led by Mamelodi Sundowns, CAF reports. 

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies vs. FC Masar

In Photo, FC Masar from Egypt will make their debut in the CAF Women’s Champions League. They face the reigning champions, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, in a key match.

Despite the challenges, FC Masar’s coach, Ahmed Ramadhan, is confident. He said, “We want to show our potential. Playing against Mamelodi Sundowns is a great chance for us to test ourselves against the best.”

Mamelodi Sundowns’ coach, Jerry Tshabalala, reminded his team to focus on the present. He said, “We have a title to defend, but we must not compare ourselves to the past. We have learned from previous experiences and have prepared well.”

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia vs. Edo Queen

The other Group B match will see two first-time teams, Commercial Bank of Ethiopia and Nigeria’s Edo Queens, compete in their openers.

Edo Queens’ coach, Moses Aduku, emphasized the team’s focus. He said, “This is a great chance for us to measure ourselves against top teams. We’ve played well in qualifiers, and we are ready to give our best.”

CBE coach, Heye Gizaw Birhanu, expressed pride in qualifying after three attempts but stressed the need to keep working hard. He said, “Qualifying is good, but we must not take it for granted. Now that we are here, we must keep competing and improving.”

Kei, Alhaji Kamara Return for CHAD and Zambia qualifiers
by FSL News

Kei, Alhaji Kamara Return for CHAD and Zambia qualifiers

Sierra Leone head coach Amidu has selected striker Kei Kamara and Alhaji Kamara, who plays in Portugal, as they prepare for the African Cup of Nations qualifiers this month.

Coach Amidu Karim’s team is preparing for a crucial double header this month as they aim to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco 2025. Currently, third in Group G, Sierra Leone must win both matches against Chad and Zambia to improve their qualification chances.

The first match against Chad is set for Wednesday, November 13. A victory would bring them closer to securing a spot in the tournament and boost their confidence for the following game against Zambia. With determination and strong teamwork, Sierra Leone is ready to make a push for qualification.

Sierra Leone and Chad previously played to a goalless draw in their first encounter at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in September.

Meanwhile, veteran striker Kei Kamara scored the only goal in a qualifying match against Benin, securing Sierra Leone’s spot in the 2021 African Cup of Nations for the first time since 1996.

He has made 36 appearances for Sierra Leone, scoring seven goals and serving as the team captain. In Major League Soccer (MLS), Kamara is the top active goalscorer, with 147 goals in 445 appearances across multiple clubs.

Another key player in the team is Alhaji Kamara, who scored against Ivory Coast in a 2-2 draw during the 2021 AFCON held at the Stade de Japoma in Douala, Cameroon.

Alassana Jatta named in Gambia squad for crucial AFCON qualifiers
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Alassana Jatta named in Gambia squad for crucial AFCON qualifiers

Alassana Jatta’s strong performances for Notts County have earned him a call-up to the Gambia’s national team under Northern Irish boss Johnathan McKinstry. (Notts County Photo) 

He will join the squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Comoros on November 15 and Tunisia on November 18, which means he will miss the league match against Crewe Alexandra.

Jatta could make his Gambia debut against Comoros in front of the fans at the Gambia Independence Stadium after the GFA received approval from the Confédération African Football (CAF).

The last home match was on March 25, 2021, when Gambia won 1-0 against Angola. Following that game, CAF banned the stadium and 22 others in Africa from hosting international matches in February 2022.

The return of international games is a significant milestone for Gambia’s football fans. The Scorpions, Gambia’s national football team, are currently in 3rd place in Group A, with 5 points from four games.