Category: Sport News

Sierra Leone International Daniel Kanu was on target in Charlton Athletics' 3-3 draw in their League contest at Vale Park.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Striker Daniel Kanu scores in Charlton Athletic’s six-goal thriller 

Sierra Leone International Daniel Kanu was on target in Charlton Athletic’s 3-3 draw in their League contest at Vale Park.

Kanu, who recently returned to the Addicks from a loan spell, scored in the 59th minute to put his side ahead.

Charlton went ahead three times through Corey Blackett-Taylor, Daniel Kanu and Tyreece Campbell. However, Ethan Chislett’s successfully converted penalty and goals from Uche Ikpeazu and Gavin Massey earned Vale a point.

Kanu took to Instagram to express his bittersweet moment. He posted, Tough result to take, but we keep pushing. Happy to be back on the scoresheet.”

As a result, the draw leaves Port Vale and Charlton remain separated only by goal difference in the League One table. 

https://twitter.com/bittar32/status/1744058811793477972

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, the writer Alie Bittar, On Twitter @bittar32, Players Abroad News. 

Sullay Kaikai nets in Cambridge United's FA Cup defeat
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sullay Kaikai nets in Cambridge United’s FA Cup defeat

Sierra Leone International Sullay Kaikai scored as Cambridge United’s run in the Emirates FA Cup ended at Ewood Park as Blackburn Rovers came away 5-2 winners of the third-round tie.

Kaikai, 28, goal came in the 26th minute, assisted by Okedina to put the visitors 2-1 ahead following Blackburn Rovers‘ Samuel Szmodics equaliser in the 23rd minute.

Lankester had opened the scoring for Cambridge United in the six-minute, but it was a Szmodics first-half hat-trick that grabbed the local headlines before a Harry Leonard fifth in the 81st-minute to confirm their progression into the next round.

Kaikai, who made his 22 appearances since joining the club, was subbed off in the 86th minute as they succumbed to a 5-2 defeat.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, the writer Alie Bittar, On Twitter @bittar32, Players Abroad News. 

Ivory Coast ease past Sierra Leone ahead of AFCON opener
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ivory Coast ease past Sierra Leone ahead of AFCON opener

Jean-Louis Gasset‘s Elephant eased to a 5-1 victory over their visitors, Sierra Leone, at Laurent Pokou Stadium with three first-half goals on Saturday.

Diomand Othman opened the 2023 Cup of Nations host in the 18 minutes when headed home a Jeremie Boga cross before Franck Kessie doubled their lead just after the half-hour mark.

Three more goals were scored from Jonathan Bamba, Jeremie Boga and Amani Lazare in the 38, 48 and 84th minutes, respectively, which were enough for the home team.

Sierra Leone’s only goal came through Rodney Michael’s fine finish assisted by Abu Komeh in the 86th minute as consolation.

The tie was part of the Ivorian’s preparation for the 34th edition of the continent’s biggest footballing event to run from 13 January to 11 February 2024 in Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Bouake, San Pedro, and Korhogo.

Sierra Leone’s next friendly is against Morocco next Thursday at the same venue. 

Jean-Louis Gasset's Elephant eased to a 5-1 victory over their visitors, Sierra Leone, at Laurent Pokou Stadium
Jean-Louis Gasset's Elephant eased to a 5-1 victory over their visitors, Sierra Leone, at Laurent Pokou Stadium
Sierra Leone wrap up training for Ivory Coast friendly.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone wrap up training for Ivory Coast friendly

The Sierra Leone side, predominantly local stars, concluded its training at San Pedro field as they ready to tackle Cup of Nations hosts Ivory Coast on Saturday.

The newly built 20,000-seater Laurent Pokou Stadium will host the Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone encounter on January 6 ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Skipper of Leone Stars, Kwame Quee, acknowledged that it is going to be difficult but added, “They are determined to make a difference in their friendly with Ivory Coast tomorrow.

“Even though football has three aspects; win, lose or draw but we are ready to win the match.”

Head coach Alhaji Foray said he has good players who are well-focused and ready to showcase their talents. He expressed optimism going into tomorrow’s fixture.

Foray added that the match is very important for them as a team, noting that it gives opportunities to the players to prepare for the CHAN competition and the upcoming matches in the AFCON qualifiers in March.

The host will test against Sierra Leone as they prepare for the 34th edition of AFCON to run from 13 January to 11 February 2024 in Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Bouake, San Pedro, and Korhogo.

Both sides played to a 2-2 draw in the last Cup of Nations in Cameroon at the Stade de Japoma, Douala 16, January 2022, but they thrashed Sierra Leone 5-1 during the Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying Group D at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan in 2014.

In Group A, the Ivorians are to start their Afcon campaign against  Guinea-Bissau at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan, on January 13 before facing the Super Eagles of Nigeria in their second match.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, African News, Ivory Coast.

Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi ruled out of AFCON
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi ruled out of AFCON

Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has been ruled out of Nigeria’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations campaign due to injury.

Ndidi, 27, suffered the setback during Leicester City’s 2-0 win at Cardiff City on December 29.

The three-time African champions begin their Group A campaign against Equatorial Guinea on 14 January before taking on their West African counterpart hosts Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau in the group stage.

The midfielder was named in the Super Eagles’ 25-man squad on 29 December but was absent from his club side’s win over Huddersfield Town on Monday.

The Nigeria Football Federation has announced Royal Antwerp midfielder Alhassan Yusuf as Ndidi’d replacement.

Nigeria are still hopeful Ndidi’s Leicester team-mate Kelechi Iheanacho will be able to join the squad.

Forward Iheanacho, 27, has missed the Foxes’ past two games in the Championship with a muscle problem.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, AFCON News and African News Nigeria.