Category: Sport News

Sierra Leone Interclub representatives await CAF clearance to host matches
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone await clearance to host CAF Interclub matches

Sorie Ibrahim Sesay, the Director of Competitions and a CAF-certified stadium Inspector for the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), diligently inspected the Southern Arena on Saturday, July 20th, to ensure it meets the standards required for CAF approval.

Sierra Leone stadiums were not included in the initial list of approved stadiums by CAF for the 2024/25 Inter-Club competitions.

In August, Champions Bo Rangers FC and East End Lions Football Club are scheduled to participate in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup, respectively.

There is a chance that these matches could occur in Sierra Leone. This will depend on the review of the pre-inspection report by CAF in the coming days, which will determine the eligibility of the Southern Arena stadium for these important matches.

In the preliminary stages of the 2024/2025 CAF Confederation Cup, East End Lions will play against ASC Jaraaf from Senegal, and Bo Rangers will play against San-Pédro from Ivory Coast in the 2024/2025 CAF Champions League.

The first leg matches are scheduled for August 16th-18th – with the return fixtures taking place the following weekend.

The upcoming 2024-2025 women's interclub football season is eagerly anticipated, with the official kickoff scheduled for Wednesday, July 24th.
by FSL News

CAF set date for Women’s Champions League Qualifying draw

The upcoming 2024-2025 women’s interclub football season is eagerly anticipated, with the official kickoff scheduled for Wednesday, July 24th.

The draw for the CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers is particularly exciting, as it will determine the teams competing in the 4 zones: UNAF, UNIFFAC, WAFU B, and CECAFA.

Mamelodi Sundowns, as the reigning champions, and the tournament hosts automatically qualified, resulting in eight teams competing in the final phase of the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League.

The draw is at 13:00 Cairo time (10:00 GMT) at CAF Headquarters in Egypt. It will be broadcast live on CAF TV and CAFOnline.com. Details about participating teams and qualifying tournament dates are below.

  • WAFU B (10 – 23 August): Ainonvi FC (Benin), Hasaacas Ladies (Ghana), Inter d’Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), AO Étincelles OU USFA (Burkina Faso), AS Garde Nationale (Niger), Edo Queens (Nigeria), ASKO de Kara (Togo).
  • UNAF (21 – 31 August): CF Akbou (Algeria), Tutankhamun (Egypt), AS Far (Morocco), ASF Sousse (Tunisia)
  • CECAFA (17 August – 4 September): PVP Buyenzi (Burundi), FAD

(Djibouti), CBE FC (Ethiopia), Kenya Police Bullets (Kenya), Kawempe

Muslim (Uganda), Rayon Sports (Rwanda), Yei Joint Stars (South Sudan), Simba Queens (Tanzania), Warriors Queens (Zanzibar)

  • UNIFFAC (16 – 24 August): Lekié FF (Cameroon), TP Mazembe (DR Congo), Atlético de Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), CSM Diables Noirs (Congo)

CAF has said the COSAFA and WAFU A tournament draw dates will be announced in due course.

Nigeria's Victor Osimhen in talks to join French giant PSG
by FSL News

Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen in talks to join French giant PSG

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen is reportedly in negotiations to transfer from Italian club SSC Napoli to the French champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

This potential move is prompted by PSG’s search for a replacement for Kylian Mbappe, who recently joined Real Madrid.

Reports from esteemed Italian football journalist Fabrizio Romano suggest that Osimhen has reached an agreement with PSG, with negotiations still ongoing over the transfer fee between the two clubs.

Napoli manager Antonio Conte has expressed confidence in the amicable resolution of Osimhen’s departure, stating, “It was already a clear pact about Osimhen’s exit. The timing is exactly as we expected, and there will be no issues.”

Osimhen, whose current contract with Napoli runs until June 2026, has a buyout clause of €130 million. Alongside PSG, English clubs Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC have also shown interest in the 25-year-old striker.

Widely acknowledged as one of the premier strikers in the global football arena, Osimhen has achieved a commendable record of 76 goals in 133 matches across all competitions for Napoli. Furthermore, he has contributed 21 goals in 35 international matches for Nigeria.

Sullay Kaikai's Cambridge United end pre-season in Portugal
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sullay Kaikai’s Cambridge United end pre-season in Portugal

Cambridge United played against League Two newcomers Bromley in the second of their two pre-season friendly matches in Portugal.

Stevens, Digby, Rossi, Andrew, Brophy, Gibbons, Hoddle, Kachunga, Kaikai, Lavery, and Munday played the first hour.

In the first game – George Munday and Shayne Lavery scored, resulting in a 2-2 draw. In the second game, featuring a younger U’s side, Cambridge United lost 2-0.

The U’s fell behind after just a minute but quickly equalized and then missed some good chances. Just before the first break, Bromley almost scored.

The 28-year-old Sierra Leonean attacker joined the U’s last summer on an initial one-year deal and was a consistent performer in his first year with the Club, making 47 appearances across all competitions.

Kaikai signed a new one-year contract ahead of the new campaign. Their next in the pre-season schedule is a trip to Braintree on Friday and Ebbsfleet on Saturday.

Freetown City's relegation confirmed after the Disciplinary Committee's decision
by FSL News

Freetown City relegated after Disciplinary Committee’s decision

On July 19th, 2024, Freetown City suffered relegation from the Sierra Leone Premier League. This decision came after the league’s Disciplinary Committee awarded three points and two goals to Wilberforce Strikers.

On the second-to-last day of the league, a controversial penalty was awarded to Wilberforce Strikers in the 52nd minute while FCFC was leading 1-0. As a result of this decision, the match was halted and subsequently abandoned by the referee.

FCFC has forfeited the match. As a result, 3 points and 2 goals have been awarded to Wilberforce Strikers FC by Rule 24.2 paragraphs b, c, and d, reports the Emergency Disciplinary and Protest Committee.

Several fines and suspensions were imposed on FCFC players, coaches, and management due to the incident. Additionally, FCFC has been fined 10 million Leones for the collective misconduct of its players, officials, and supporters.

The Secretary General of FCFC expressed disappointment with the decision and stated that the club will challenge it through established mechanisms to ensure justice.

https://twitter.com/football_sierra/status/1814606173993144383