Category: Sport News

Benin and Sierra Leone play out a 1-1 stalemate in a friendly
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Benin and Sierra Leone play out a 1-1 friendly stalemate

On Saturday, Coach Amidu Karim started his Sierra Leone reign with a 1-1 draw with Benin at the Stade Khouribga in Casablanca, Morocco. (Photo Credit SLFA)

Sierra Leone drew with Benin 1-1 after Cheetah’s last-gasp 98th-minute leveller by Cedric Hountondjito to cancel out Odense Boldklub striker Mohamed Buya Turay’s first Sierra Leone goal since his debut in 2018 against Ethiopia. 

Odense Boldklub striker Mohamed Buya Turay opened the score line with his 32nd goal after he dribbled past his marker to slot home at the bottom right for his first Sierra Leone goal. 

It was a brilliant start for new provisional head coach Amidu Karim after back-to-back defeats for Leone Stars against Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau in their match day five and six of the Afcon 2023 qualifiers in June and September, respectively.

Sierra Leone’s keeper Ibrahim Sesay was brilliant through the full throttle of the match following his bravery with a couple of saves over 90 minutes.

Despite a slow start, Karim’s men capitalised on Turay’s 32nd-minute goal and held on to their lead at the break.

After the recess, Sierra Leone continued their brilliant defending as they grew in confidence and composure as they fought for every loose ball. It became intense as Benin rallied for an equaliser – tension mounted from both sides – the referee a couple of times had to intervene.

Cedric Hountondjito slotted in a cross from the left to beat the Leone Stars keeper Ibrahim Sesay for the first time in the match.

The Leone Stars will take on Somalia on Tuesday in their second friendly.

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Sierra Leone starting Eleven against Benin at the Stade Khouribga in Casablanca, Morocco.
Sierra Leone starting Eleven against Benin at the Stade Khouribga in Casablanca, Morocco.
Sierra Leone aim to bounce back with Benin friendly
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone aim to bounce back with Benin friendly

Sierra Leone’s newly appointed head coach, Amidu Karim, will officially start his reign against  Gernot Rohr’s side at the Stade Khourribga in Casablanca, Morocco, later this afternoon.

Both nations are preparing for next month’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers – Kickoff at 3:30 PM Sierra Leone time.

Sierra Leone will be looking to avoid a third straight defeat following defeats to Nigeria and Guinea-Bissua in the African Cup of Nations 2023 match day five and six qualifiers.

Like Sierra Leone, Benin suffered a 3-2 defeat to Mozambique in the final Group L Afcon 2023 qualifier. 

Defenders Curtis Davies and Augustine Loof will not be available for the Benin contest as they await Fifa clearance on the Football Association switch. However, they’ll be ready to face Somalia in the Fifa tier two duel on Tuesday. 

Today’s contest will be the fifth meeting between the two West African nations – their last was when both contested in the race to Cameroon Afcon. Leone Stars came out supremed in the Guinean Capital with a 1-0 victory in June 2021 to reach the 2021 Cup of Nations with Kei Kamara’s only goal.

The Cheetahs of Benin won the first meeting in that qualifiers at the Stade Charles de Gaulle, Porto Novo 1-0 on 17 November 2019.

In their last four meeting – Benin won three out of four – in October 2006, they defeated Leone Stars 2-0, the same result on 12 October 2007 through Oumar Tchomogo brace.

Benin is in Group C against Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Lesotho in the race to the 2026 World Cup. 

Sierra Leone in Group A against Ethiopia, powerhouse Egypt, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau and Djibouti are the others in the race to the 2026 World Cup.

The continental journey to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the USA, Mexico and Canada will begin in November 2023. 

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Sierra Leone v Benin head to head since 2006
Sierra Leone v Benin head to head since 2006
2023 Cup of Nations final draw produced intriguing contest
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

2023 Cup of Nations final draw produced intriguing contest

The groups for the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire 2023, were confirmed on Thursday in Abidjan, with some intriguing contests awaiting exciting fans.

Brand-new Parc Des Expositions venue in Abidjan hosted the event on Wednesday with hosts Ivory Coast among 24 nations – including Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Cameroon, Algeria, South Africa and holders Senegal – who have qualified.

Hosts Cote d’Ivoire to face regional rivals Nigeria as defending champions Senegal drew African giant Cameroon. Record winners Egypt renewed hostilities with Ghana. 

“It’s a really difficult group,” Senegal’s Mane said at the end of the presentation.

“Cameroon is going to be really tough but we will give our best to go through in the first round.”

Africa’s World Cup semi-finalists and 2025 hosts Morocco will face DR Congo, Zambia and Tanzania.

The continent’s showpiece event is set to run from 13 January to 11 February 2023.

Despite now being played in 2024, it has kept 2023 as part of its official title. The Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan will host the final on 11 February.

Groups:

Group A: Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau

Group B: Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde Islands, Mozambique

Group C: Senegal, Cameroon, Guinea, Gambia

Group D: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Angola

Group E: Tunisia, Mali, South Africa, Namibia

Group F: Morocco, DR Congo, Zambia, Tanzania

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Curtis Davies first Leone Stars training session in Casablanca, Morocco
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Work underway for Amidu Karim with International friendlies

Images of Sierra Leone as they continue groundwork ahead of friendlies against Benin and Somalia as part of their 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Sierra Leone to face Benin on Saturday before tackling Somalia on Tuesday in Casablanca, Morocco.

Head Coach Amidu Karim has described his first training as “vibrant, exciting, reassuring and most importantly full-blown”. It gives the team a clear and positive vision of what lies ahead.

Israeli-based defender Abdulai Jajue Kabia is the only absentee from the squad named by coach Karim due to the availability of flights from his location.

The Leone Stars journey to qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the USA, Mexico and Canada will begin in November 2023.

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Head Coach Amidu Karim focus on duty in Casablanca
Head Coach Amidu Karim focus on duty in Casablanca
Curtis Davies's first Leone Stars training session in Casablanca, Morocco along side Queens Park Rangers Osman Kakay
Curtis Davies's first Leone Stars training session in Casablanca, Morocco along side Queens Park Rangers Osman Kakay
First-time call-up for former Dutch U20 defender now playing for HSV Hoek in the Netherlands Derde Divisie, the fourth tier of Dutch football
First-time call-up for former Dutch U20 defender now playing for HSV Hoek in the Netherlands Derde Divisie, the fourth tier of Dutch football
Sullay Kaikai from English League One side Cambridge United working hard in this session
Sullay Kaikai from English League One side Cambridge United working hard in this session
Alpha Bedor Conteh from Lokomotiv Plovdiv in the Bulgarian efbet Liga works on his pace
Alpha Bedor Conteh from Lokomotiv Plovdiv in the Bulgarian efbet Liga works on his pace
Attackers: Amadou Bakayoko and Mohamed Buya Turay go up against each other in training
Attackers: Amadou Bakayoko and Mohamed Buya Turay go up against each other in training
Curtis Davies and eight other foreign-based players have arrived at Leone Stars camp in Morocco for friendly matches against Benin and Somalia on the 14 and 17, respectively.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Curtis Davies banks on experience to boost Sierra Leone dream

Former West Bromwich and Derby centre-back Curtis Davies is optimistic his twenty-years professional football will help the Sierra Leone national team as he joins new International teammates.

Davies, 38, presently playing for League One side Cheltenham Town, has arrived at Leone Stars camp in Morocco for friendly matches against Benin and Somalia on the 14 and 17, respectively.

Acknowledging he is in the twilight of his career, however, his professional know-how can help nurture his new International teammates.

With over 500 professional matches for clubs like Birmingham, Aston Villa, West Brom, Hull and Derby, Davies told Football Sierra Leone that he banks on his professional ability to guide others.

“I hope my experience can help this time – I think being an older player, having played at the level I have played at, I would like to think the professionalism I bring and the standards I have adhered to in my whole career – will hopefully assist the group, But first, I need to know my teammates, as players, as people and from there – you can help people individually.

“For now, is all about me coming into this camp, getting to know people, the technical team, getting to know the way things are goning to be done so that hopfully, in the next camp for the World Cup qualifiers, I am better prepare Individually and people know me a bit more.”

  • On Receiving The Call-Up

 “When I got the call, it was an initial shock, if I am being honest. Because obviously, at my age, I thought the opportunity to play for Sierra Leone had gone. 

It was something that had always been at the back of my head. But, what it is, I never want to be the one to reach out. 

It could have been easy to try during the AFCON in Cameroon when there was success. Again, at the time, I did not want to jump at the success of others.

  •  Davies On His Sierra Leone Root 

“When I spoke to my dad after receiving the call – in his voice, I knew I had to do it, to come and play for the team – he was so proud.

My dad is the motivational factor in this. Obviously, when I was younger, I represented England at the U21 level. I then was in some four squads as I got older. 

I could have played for Ireland – it was never a question of playing for Ireland or Sierra Leone. That is why I never play for Ireland, either. 

Is a case of my dad has done everything in my life to give me the best opportunity to be a player, so I think at this stage of my career, to be able to do this is a blessing. 

I would like to dedicate my dad – he made this happen for all those years of running around to various football pitches. From County football, District football and them even for Premier League, my dad will go everywhere.”

Between 2006 and 2007, Davies earned three caps for England under-21s before he was drafted in Fabio Capello’s first England squad in January 2008. 

On Saturday, Sierra Leone kicks off their 2026 World Cup preparations with a friendly against Benin in Morocco at the Stade Bechir, Casablanca, before taking on Somalia on Tuesday at the Stade Berrechid.

The Leone Stars journey for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the USA, Mexico and Canada will begin in November 2023 against Ethiopia and African powerhouse Egypt. 

The others in Group A are Burkina-Faso Guinea-Bissau and Djibouti in the race to the 2026 World Cup.

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Curtis Davies first Leone Stars training session in Casablanca, Morocco
Curtis Davies first Leone Stars training session in Casablanca, Morocco