Category: Sport News

Algeria eye third continental title after naming squad
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Algeria eye third continental title after naming squad

Algeria won the tournament in 2019 and has set their sights on their third title after head coach Djamel Belmadi announced his final 26-man squad for the upcoming AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast next month.

The Desert Warriors set to compete against Angola, Burkina Faso and Mauritania in Group D for a place in the knockout stages.

In Cameroon, for the Africa Cup of Nations, they were knocked out of the group stage despite coming into the competition as the favourites. 

Riyad Mahrez is one of their biggest threat. He won the treble with Man City before moving to Saudi Arabia in the summer. West Ham winger Said Benrahma is the only big name missing.

Youcef Atal, presently on trial in France accused of inciting hatred, has been selected in Algeria’s Africa Cup of Nations squad by head coach Djamel Belmadi.

The 27-year-old defender has not played for his Ligue 1 side Nice since mid-October after he caused a furore by posting a video in which a Palestinian preacher purportedly threatened Israel with a “black day”.

Sierra Leone suffer third straight defeat to Liberia in U17 MRU Cup
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone suffer third straight defeat to Liberia in U17 MRU Cup

Sierra Leone suffered a third-straight defeat after another 3-2 scoreline to Liberia at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium.

On Saturday, Liberia defeated their Sierra Leonean counterpart 3-2 in the 2023 Mano River Union Men’s Under-17 Peace Cup encounter. 

It was a third straight defeat for the Sierra Leone U17 side following a 6-2 thrashing on Wednesday and a 3-2 defeat on Thursday in the opening two matches, respectively.

Emmanuel Sieh’s brace and Alhaji Samukai scored another to give the host a 3 -1 lead into the break at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium.

Sierra Leone Idrissa Swarray pulled one back late in the 88th minute, but was not enough to get at least a draw.

On Sunday, Sierra Leone to host Liberia in the final match at the Tusa Field. In this tie, they will be playing for pride after losing all three matches in the competition.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, African News, Mano River Union Men’s and U17 Sierra Leone News. 

Wilfred Zaha out, Pepe & Sebastien Haller recall to Ivory Coast squad
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Wilfred Zaha out, Pepe & Haller recall to Ivory Coast squad

Ex-Cyrstal Palace winger Wilfred Zaha and Hamed Junior Traore have been left out of Ivory Coast Africa Cup of Nations sqaud as former Arsenal player Nicolas Pepe makes his return. 

French manager Jean-Louis Gasse listed two surprises with Idrissa Doumbia and Lazare Amani in his 27-man squad.

According to the Ivorian Federation, this selection will test against Sierra Leone in a friendly match on January 6, 2024, at the Laurent Pokou stadium before they take Guinea-Bissau in the tournament’s opener on January 13.

The Ivory Coast are set to compete against Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea in Group A next month. 

French manager Jean-Louis Gasset has named Borussia Dortmund striker Sebastien Haller, Monaco defender Wilfried Singo, and midfielders Ibrahim Sangare of Premier League side Nottingham Forest, Seko Fofana (Al Nassr) and Franck Kesslie (Al Ahli).

Zaha, 31, made his Ivory Coast debut against Sweden in a friendly in Abu Dhabi on 8 January 2017 and was part of the squad in Cameroon 2021 AFCON.

The full final list of Côte d’Ivoire AFCON 2023 Squad

Goalkeepers: Fofana Yahia, Charles Folly, Badra Ali

Defenders: Serge Aurier, Willy Boly, Chester Diallo, Ousmane Diomandé, Odilon Kossounou, Evan Ndicka, Ghislain Konan, Wilfried Singo

Midfielders: Ibrahim Sangaré, Doumbia Idrissa, Franck Kessié, Jean Michael Seri, Seko Fofana, Lazare Amani

Attackers: Sébastien Haller, Karim Konaté, Max-Alain Gradel, Jean-Philippe Krasso, Christian Kouamé, Jonathan Bamba, Oumar Diakité, Jérémie Boga, Nicolas Pépé, Simon Adingra.

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

Liberia beat Sierra Leone 2-1 in MRU Peace U17 Cup opener
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Liberia thrash Sierra Leone in U17 MRU Peace Cup opener

Host Liberia thrased Sierra Leone in the 2023 Mano River Union Men’s Under-17 Peace Cup 6-2 in the opening match on Wednesday.

 A brace from Emmanuel Sieh and Jerius Holmes and a goal apiece from Fallah Johnson, Jr and Kindness Cole saw Liberia U17 thrash their counterparts.

 The visitors scored in the 43rd and 84th minutes but were not enough to change the scoreline. 

 Kindness Cole was named Man of the Match Award after Liberia’s heavy victory over their neighbours at the TUSA FIELD.

The Mighty Barrole wonder kid was at his best with his exceptional skills displayed in match day one of the Mano River U17 hosted in Liberia.

 The tournament which is to run from 27-31 December at the Samuel Kanyon Doe sports complex in Paynesville, was expected to see three countries, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

 Guinea pulled out as a result, and Liberia and Sierra Leone will play four matches in five days.

At the Antoinette Tubman Stadium on 28 December, Sierra Leone will have the chance to avenge the first result when both sides lock horns again in the 2023 Mano River Union (MRU) men’s Under-17 Peace Cup – kickoff at 4:00 PM.

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Liberia kickoff the 2023 Mano River Union men's under-17 Peace Cup with a win over Sierra Leone at Tusa field.
Liberia kickoff the 2023 Mano River Union men's under-17 Peace Cup with a win over Sierra Leone at Tusa field.
Laurent Pokou Stadium to host Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone friendly
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Laurent Pokou Stadium to host Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone friendly 

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

The Sierra Leone Football Association announced the friendly on Wednesday.

Ivory Coast initially arranged to face the Mambas of Mozambique, but the Mozambicans withdrew in November.

Sierra Leone will travel with a 21-man sqaud predominately home-based players for the duel.

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.

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Sierra Leone will travel with a 21-man squad predominately home-based players for the duel.
Sierra Leone will travel with a 21-man squad predominately home-based players for the duel.