Category: Sport News

Terem Moffi replaces Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Terem Moffi replaces Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface

Ligue 1 club Nice Terem Igobor Moffi has been named to the Nigeria Cup of Nations squad instead of Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface.

Striker Terem Moffi has scored six goals in Ligue 1 this season.

Boniface was ruled out of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) through injury, in another blow to the Nigeria head coach Portuguese, José Peseiro.

The Nigerian Federation confirmed his replacement, Igobor via their Facebook page.

Boniface picked up the injury in Nigeria training camp in Abu Dhabi and was absent from the Super Eagles’ 2-0 Pre-Afcon friendly defeat to Guinea.

A few days ago, Wilfred Ndidi was replaced with Royal Antwerp midfielder Alhassan Yusuf.

Nigeria to start their Group A campaign against Equatorial Guinea on 14 January before taking hosts Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau in the group stage.

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Nigeria to start their Goup A campaign against Equatorial Guinea on 14 January, before taking hosts Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau in the group stage
Nigeria to start their Goup A campaign against Equatorial Guinea on 14 January, before taking hosts Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau in the group stage.
SuperSport make Africa Cup of Nations U-turn to broadcast showpiece tournament
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

SuperSport make Cup of Nations U-turn to broadcast showpiece

SuperSport TV has announced they will broadcast all 52 matches of the TotalEnergies AFCON 2023 Ivory Coast 2023 live after MultiChoice secured the rights to broadcast the continent’s showpiece tournament.

Following their initial announcement of not broadcasting the event, they have made a U-turn after securing broadcasting rights for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finals set to take place in Ivory Coast, commencing in two days.

The 34th edition is set to kick off on 13 January 2024 until 11 February 2024 as hosts Ivory Coast take on Guinea-Bissau at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara.

“MultiChoice reached a commercially viable agreement with rightsholders, New World TV (NWTV), to broadcast the 34th edition of Africa’s premier men’s football competition taking place in Ivory Coast,” Super Sport confirmed.

Rendani Ramovha, SuperSport CEO, said: “We are delighted to be able to showcase the best of African football live to our viewers.”

As part of this agreement, Nimonka Kolani, Managing Director of NWTV, declared: “By securing the rights to CAN 2023 under the leadership of Dr Patrice Motsepe, SuperSport and NWTV prove that nothing is more important than the happiness of Africans who wish to follow the exploits of their favourite team during the biggest football competition in Africa.”

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Midfielder Yayah Kallon pens SSC Bari loan deal
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Midfielder Yayah Kallon pens SSC Bari loan deal

Italian Serie B side SSC Bari has confirmed the signing of Sierra Leone-born Yayah Kallon on a loan deal from Hellas Verona. Kallon, 22, will wear the number 91 shirt.

The former Genoa player has been handed a lifeline to revamp his career after a long spell out. He is immediately available to Bari’s coach, Marino, for selection. 

Kallon featured for 3 minutes for parent club Hellas Verona in their 2-1 defeat to Inter last weekend after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in July 2023 before the season commenced.

The attacker was an unused substitute for the Hellas Verona as they suffered 1-0 Fiorentina in the Serie A round of sixteen.

Kallon, who scored his first goal for Genoa in a 3–2 Coppa Italia win over Perugia, joined Hellas Verona initially on loan with an option to buy.

He completed his Verona move in the summer but has yet to future for the club this season. Kallon featured in 22 games last season while on loan for The Yellow and Blues.

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Alex Bangura suffers hamstring in Boro win over Chelsea
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Alex Bangura suffers hamstring injury in Boro win

Sierra Leone’s right-back Alex Bangura lasted only 19 minutes in the Middlesbrough Carabao Cup first-leg semi-final 1-0 victory due to a hamstring injury.

The Teessiders were forced to another alteration when Alex Bangura pulled up with a hamstring issue.

Bangura, 24, was making his sixteen appearances since joining the club in September 2023 on a four-year deal on Teesside.

However, they will head into the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final with a goal advantage thanks to Hayden Hackney’s deft finish.

It was an outstanding, battling performance from the threadbare Teessiders, who emerged from the contest fully deserving of the lead – having also been forced into two first-half substitutions.

Bangura will have to undergo further checks to see how long he will be out ahead of the second leg on Tuesday, 23 January, at 19:45 GMT.

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Bittersweet Sierra Leone full debut for Rodney Michael
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Bittersweet Sierra Leone full debut for Rodney Michael

Sierra Leone-born attacker Rodney Michael would have liked his full International debut to come in more positive circumstances but was  nonetheless proud to be on the scorecard against the Ivory Coast.

On Saturday, the 24-year-old midfielder recorded his first Sierra Leone goal against a difficult Ivorian side at the Laurent Pokou Stadium. He gives the Leone Stars a consolation in the 5-1 defeat against the Elephant of Côte d’Ivoire.

“I’m delighted to get the opportunity to make my full debut and score my first international goal for Sierra Leone. It was even more special, that I was able to do it against such a huge footballing nation like Ivory Coast,” the attacker told Football Sierra Leone. 

 “Unfortunately, the result was disappointing, but we will continue working to turn things around and hopefully make Sierra Leone in the near future.”

Rodney was introduced against Guinea-Bissua in match day six of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in the final minutes of the game. 

Sierra Leone’s next friendly is against Morocco behind closed doors.

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