Category: Sport News

East End Lions record first League win on Wednesday
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

East End Lions record first win of the season

One of Sierra Leone’s most decorated clubs, East End Lions, secured their first win on Wednesday after five matches, breaking a streak of four consecutive draws.

As a result, they moved up to eight as the victory added three crucial points to their tally of 7 points from 5 matches.

At the Trade Centre playing field, in the 28th minute, Sulaiman Kargbo opened the scoring before Ibrahim Bangura levelled for the visitors just before the break.

After the recess, the homes showed composure and determined to secure their first win with two more goals from Alie Conteh and Kandeh Turay.

Elsewhere, Mighty Blackpool faced a setback, losing to Ports Authority 2-1 at the Attouga Mini stadium. 

The defeat marked Mighty Blackpool’s second consecutive defeat following their 2-0 defeat to Lamboi FC in Lungi over the weekend.

Despite the defeats, they maintain a standing of 9 points from 5 matches.

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, National Premier League and National News. 

Sierra Leone Premier League Week Five Matches, Results and Table
Sierra Leone Premier League Week Five Matches, Results and Table
Fofin Turay all smiles as his Groningen side wrap up preparaation for Telstar
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Fofin Turay trains ahead of Groningen, Telstar Eerste tie

The 19-year-old Sierra Leone native Fofin Turay trained with the first team in their final preparation as In-form Groningen set to face SC Telstar in match day eighten of the Dutch Eerste Divisie on Friday at Euroborg.

After 17 matches, Groningen stood in ninth place on 25 points. They won their last Eerste Divisie match 2-1 at home against VVV, extending their unbeaten streak to five.

Groningen won the last encounter between the teams, triumphing 3-0 in their match against Telstar.

Telstar drew 0-0 against Utrecht II at Sportcomplex Zoudenbalch in their last encounter, leaving them in 18th place on 14 points.

In the final third, Kevin van Veen has been a key player for Groningen this season. The striker is the side’s leading scorer with five goals.

Telstar’s Zakaria Eddahchouri, who has scored on nine occasions, including three match-opening goals, is tied for fourth in the league’s scoring charts in 2023/2024.

On home soil this season, Groningen has secured 15 points (W4 D3 L2) from a possible 27 on offer in nine Eerste Divisie contests. 

Telstar will seek to address a poor run of results on the road this season with two draws, six losses, and just one win in league-away contests.

In their last six league matches, Groningen have won three, drawn two and lost one. Telstar, meanwhile, has won two, drawn one and lost three in their last six.

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, Players Abroad News, and Dutch Eerste Divisie. 

by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Osimhen, Salah, Hakimi named in final three for CAF Award

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah, and Moroccan International Achraf Hakimi are the final three for the CAF 2023 Player of the Year Award. The current holder is Senegal’s Sadio Mane.

The Confederation of African Football has unveiled the final three players for the CAF Men’s Player of the Year Award.

After he scored 26 Serie A goals, Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen has been crowned the Italian Footballers’ Association Player of the Year for his Napoli performances last season.

He was presented with the award on Monday night after helping his side win their first league title in 33 years.

Osimhen scored 26 Serie A goals in 2022-23, breaking former World Best George Weah’s record as the highest-scoring African in the Italian top flight in the process.

Mohamed Salah leads the way for top Premier League African goal scorer with 149 goals, 243 matches and 65 assists since joining Liverpool in 2017.

He won the African Award back to back in 2017 and 2018 and was runners-up in 2019 and 2022 behind former team mates Sado Mane. 

Achraf Hakimi made headlines after he was named to Morocco’s 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

His winning penalty with a panenka-style shot in a shoot-out against Spain in the round of 16 helped secure a place for his country in the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, Yassine Bounou is one of the finalists for the Best Goalkeeper category, alongside Cameroon’s Andre Onana and Egypt’s Mohamed El Shenawy.

On Monday, 11 December 2023, the award ceremony will be held at the Palais des Congrès, Movenpick, Marrakech, Morocco, 19H00 local time (18H00 GMT).

The ultimate winner of each category is decided following votes from a panel consisting of the CAF Technical Committee, media professionals from Member Associations, Head Coaches and captains of Member Associations and clubs involved in the group stages of the Interclub competitions.

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, African News and CAF 2023 Awards.

Josh Koroma returns to Huddersfield's action in Swansea draw
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Josh Koroma features in Huddersfield’s draw with Swansea

Josh Koroma gained valuable minutes in Huddersfield Town’s 1-1 draw at Swansea City, his third match since returning from Injury.

The Sierra Leonean native was making his sixteen appearances for the English Championship side. 

Koroma, 25, was subbed on in the 67th minute to replace Daniel Carl Ward as both teams played to a 1-1 at Swansea City.

Charlie Patino’s stoppage-time goal saw struggling Swansea City salvage a point against Huddersfield Town.

Darren Moore’s Terriers had looked set to hold on for victory after Swansea defender Ben Cabango turned Jaheim Headley’s cross into his net early on, but Patino denied the visitors maximum points.

As a result, they remain 21st in the table, four points clear of the relegation zone, with Swansea a point better off in 18th.

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, Players Abroad News, and Huddersfield Town. 

Defending Champions South Africa beat Burkina Faso to book AFCON ticket
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

South Africa beat Burkina Faso to book AFCON ticket

South Africa has qualified for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations to be played in Morocco next year after their 2-0 win over Burkina Faso.

On Monday, Linda Mothlalo and Nicole Michael scored the goals as Banyana_Banyana overcame Burkina Faso in a return leg played at the nation’s capital on Monday afternoon.

After a 1-1 draw in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire, a few days ago, the defending champions dug deep to secure their ticket to Morocco next year.

At Pretoria’s Lucas Moripe Stadium, Motlhalo’s 55th-minute strike, followed by Michael’s 63rd-minute goal, ensured the defending champions book their spot in Africa’s most prestigious national women’s competition next year.

Meanwhile, in Burundi, Algeria completed the job with a 1-0 win over the East African nation to make a return to the competition after missing out on the 2022 edition in Morocco.

Following their comfortable 5-1 lead at home, the North Africans were assured of a place with an easy return leg against Burundi.

Ines Boutaleb scored as Algeria sealed a 6-1 aggregate two-legged victory and booked a place in Morocco next year.

The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, Morocco 2024 qualifiers continue on Tuesday to determine who will advance to the prestigious women’s national team competition.

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, African News and CAF Africa Women’s Cup of Nations. 

Defending Champions South Africa beat Burkina Faso to book AFCON ticket
Defending Champions South Africa beat Burkina Faso to book AFCON ticket
Ines Boutaleb scored as Algeria sealed a 6-1 aggregate two-legged victory and booked a place in Morocco next year.
Ines Boutaleb scored as Algeria sealed a 6-1 aggregate two-legged victory and booked a place in Morocco next year.