Category: Sport News

USM Alger set for RS Berkane CAF Confed first-leg cracker
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

USM Alger set for RS Berkane CAF Confed first-leg cracker

On Sunday, April 21, 2024, USM Alger and RS Berkane will compete against each other in the semi-final of the CAF Confederation Cup. The first-leg match will be held at the Stade du 5 Juillet in Algiers, which is the capital and largest city of Algeria.

Referee Abdel Aziz Mohamed Bouh from Mauritania will officiate the first leg match between Alger and Berkane.

Alger made it to this tournament stage by defeating Rivers United, the Nigerian club, 2-1 on aggregate in the quarterfinals. Having won the Confederation Cup last season, the Algerian team will be looking to defend their title successfully by winning it again this season.

On their part, Berkane qualified for the semi-finals by defeating Abu Salim of Libya 3-2 on aggregate in the quarterfinals. 

Having won the trophy in 2020 and 2022, the Moroccan side hopes to win it again this season and claim a joint record of three titles.

Alger needs goals from Abdoulaye Kanou. Berkane’s captain, Issoufou Dayo, could be key.

Rangers, Ports, Lions & Kallon battle for a CAF Confed Cup spot
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Rangers, Ports, Lions & Kallon battle for Confed Cup spot

This will be intriguing as the winner of this year’s Sierra Leone FA Cup will represent the West African nation in the next CAF Confederation Cup. (Photo Credit Kemokai Sportgraphy)

On Friday, Sierra Leone’s League Leaders, Bo Rangers, will play against the Water Front Boys Ports Authority in the first FA Cup semi-final at the SLFA’s academy turf. 

The semi-finals are expected to be fascinating as all four teams compete for a spot in the next CAF Confederation, making a place in the final crucial.

Coach John Keister will be desperate to overcome Ports in the showpiece encounter for a place in the final.

The WaterFront boys have not won any of their last three matches, including a goalless draw in the league on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Rangers have scored eight goals in their previous three league matches and have nine maximum points.

On Saturday, one of Sierra Leone’s most decorated football clubs, East End Lions, will face off against FC Kallon.

The last Sierra Leone’s representative in the CAF Confederation Cup, FC Kallon, will surely face a stiff test against East End Lions in the second semis at the same venue.

This game promises to be a thrilling encounter as both teams seek to secure a spot in this year’s final. 

In the first round of the league, both teams played to a goalless draw. However, FC Kallon has been in good form lately, winning their last three games and accumulating nine points.  They have scored six goals and conceded only one against Real Republicans.

East End Lions, on the other hand, have shown improvement under their Ghanaian coach and are unbeaten in their last three league games.

The semi-finals are expected to be a fascinating contest as all four teams compete for a spot in the next CAF Confederation, making a place in the final crucial.
The semi-finals are expected to be a fascinating contest as all four teams compete for a spot in the next CAF Confederation, making a place in the final crucial.
Midfielder Yayah Kallon returns to full SSC Bari training
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Midfielder Yayah Kallon returns to full SSC Bari training

Sierra Leonean footballer Yayah Kallon has returned to full training with the Italian Serie B team SSC Bari after recovering from his latest injury.

Kallon, 22, played his last competitive match for Bari on March 16th in a 1-0 defeat to Sampdoria. 

Unfortunately, he could only feature for two minutes before being replaced due to an injury. 

However, he has since recovered from his knee problem and has returned to training with his teammates this week.

The club confirmed that Kallon had joined first-team training for the second day of the week as they prepare to face Pisa led by Mr Aquilani at San Nicola. 

During their training session, the players were divided into two groups, with one group focusing on gym exercises such as joint mobility, core stability and muscle strengthening. In contrast, the other group worked on tactical exercises specific to their departments. 

The final 30 minutes of the session were dedicated to a mixed ranks challenge on half of the field.

On 10 January 2024, Kallon moved on loan to Bari from  Hellas Verona.

The first leg semi-finals of the 2023/24 CAF Champions League campaign will take place on Saturday, April 20th.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Fascinating first-leg CAF Champions League Semis this weekend

The first leg semi-finals of the 2023/24 CAF Champions League campaign will take place on Saturday, April 20th.

The remaining four African football clubs, Al Ahly (Egypt), TP Mazembe (DR Congo), Espérance Sportive Tunis (Tunisia) and Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) are all vying for the highly-coveted African club football title.

The first leg semi-finals are scheduled for 20th April, while the return leg will be played on 25th and 26th April 2024.

TP Mazembe, a former FIFA Club World Cup finalist from the Democratic Republic of Congo, hasn’t made it to the finals of the CAF Champions League in the last decade. 

This weekend, they will face a challenging match against the current champions, Al Ahly from Egypt, in Lubumbashi.

Four clubs have won 21 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League titles. Al Ahly leads with 11 titles, followed by Mazembe with 5, ES Tunis with 4, and Mamelodi Sundowns with 1. 

ES Tunis seeks their 5th title in Tunis after winning in 2019. They’ll play Mamelodi Sundowns, who won in 2016 and recently triumphed in the African Football League. 

All four clubs have proven their championship mettle and have an equal chance of winning this season.

 

All four football clubs will be competing for a spot in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Final.

The first leg of the final is scheduled for Saturday, May 18th, 2024, with the second leg taking place on Saturday, May 25th, 2024.

Sullay Kaikai's Cambridge suffer a defeat to Conteh's Bristol Rovers
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sullay Kaikai’s Cambridge suffer defeat to Conteh’s Rovers 

Chris Martin scored the only goal of the match for Bristol Rovers against Cambridge United at the Memorial Stadium on Tuesday evening, securing a 1-0 victory in the 87th minute.

The goal was set up by Luke Thomas, who provided the cross that Martin converted. This was Rovers’ first home win in five games.

Sierra Leone internationals Sullay Kaikai in Photo and Kamil Conteh both featured in the game. Kaikai started for Cambridge while Conteh came on as a substitute for Rovers in the 50th minute. 

Chris Martin had a chance to score earlier in the match when he was awarded a penalty in the 33rd minute. However, his poorly placed shot was stopped by Cambridge goalkeeper Will Mannion.

Cambridge had several opportunities to score, particularly from set pieces. Paul Digby and Macauley Bonne both headed corners over the crossbar in the first half, while Mamadou Jobe’s header hit the woodwork in the 60th minute. 

In the last minute of stoppage time, Luca Hoole cleared a shot from Liam Bennett off the line to preserve Rovers’ win.

That goal made up for Martin’s earlier gilt-edged miss – the 35-year-old former Norwich and Derby forward was unable to convert a 33nd-minute penalty.

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