Category: Sport News

Côte d’Ivoire beat The Gambia 2-0 to make it two in two in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Cote d’Ivoire’s perfect start as Liberia suffer second defeat

2023 Africa Cup of Nations host Cote d’Ivoire recorded a second straight win in their 2026 World Cup qualifying after beating the Gambia 2-0 on Monday to maintain their 100 per cent record.

Christian Kouame and Seko Fofana scored the goals for the Elephant in Dar es Salaam at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium, where Gambia played their home Group F tie.

As a result, Jean-Louis Gasset’s side topped Group H with six points and eleven goals in favour. 

Elsewhere in Group H, Ten-man Liberia suffered a second straight defeat in the qualifiers after Equatorial Guinea defeated the Lone Star 1-0 courtesy of captain Emilio Nsue’s early goal. 

Emilio Nsue was the scorer for Equatorial Guinea in their opening win against Namibia on Wednesday. 

In th day’s other matches, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya and Madagascar recorded emphatic away victories over Djibouti, Seychelles and Chad, respectively.

The qualifiers take place on Tuesday as teams aim to gain early advantages.

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FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifying matches and results on Monday
FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifying matches and results on Monday
A brace from striker Mahmoud Trezeguet gave Egypt a 2-0 win over a 9-man Sierra Leone at the Samuel K. Doe stadium in Monrovia on Sunday (19th November 2023)
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Nine-man Sierra Leone suffer 2-0 defeat to Egypt

Mahmoud Trezeguet scored a brace as Egypt dislodged nine-man Sierra Leone in match day two of the 2026 World Cup qualifier in Liberia on Sunday.

Coach Amidu Karim started brightly but was unable to take advantage of half-cut chances in the opening minutes of the game at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Stadium.

The visitors took the lead in the 18-minute after a decent finish as Egypt maintained their perfect start to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with a 2-0 away win against Sierra Leone in Liberia on Sunday.

His second came in the 62-second minute from a clever pass from Liverpool’s striker Mohamed Salah, who fines Trezequet to double the visitors lead.

Sierra Leone frustratedly finished the match with nine players on the field, as Tyrese Fornah and Abdul Jarju Kabia were sent off – with only a point from their opening two games. 

The victory bookmarked Egypt’s first victory over Leone Stars in three meetings as Leone Stars played two games in the qualifiers with no goals, one draw and a loss and two goals conceded,

Egypt sits atop Group A with an impeccable six points from two games, leading ahead of Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Ethiopia, and Sierra Leone, each having amassed only one point after one game.

How qualifying works

The nine group winners will qualify automatically for the FIFA World Cup 26™. The four best runners-up will compete for one place at the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.

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Buya replaces Alhaji as Sierra Leone make three changes.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Buya replaces Alhaji as Sierra Leone make three changes

Head coach Amidu Karim made three changes from the goalless draw with Ethiopia at El Jadida Stade El Abdi on Wednesday. 

Mohamed Buya Turay, Alusine Koroma and Sullay Kaikai replaced Alhaji Kamara, Abu Dumbuya, and Jonathan Morsay, respectively, in his squad to face Egypt in Liberia on Sunday.

Alusine Koroma, Sullay Kaikai and Mohamed Buya Turay replaced Abu Dumbuya, Jonathan Morsay and Alhaji Kamara in his squad to face Egypt.

Tyrese Fornah, who made his International debut for Sierra Leone last Wednesday in the goalless draw with Ethiopia, kept his place as a holding midfielder.

The Derby County midfielder played 77 minutes before being replaced by striker Alusine Pagal Koroma. 

Coach Karim keeps faith in the same back four with Osman Kakay, Mohamed Kabia, Abdul Jarju Kabia and Emanuel Samadia. 

Today’s mouthwatering encounter in Monrovia will be the third between the two nations in Group A of the World Cup qualifier.

Group A Recap 

Ethiopia 0-0 Sierra Leone

Egypt 6-0 Djibouti

Burkina Faso 1-1 Guinea-Bissau

Sierra Leone and Ethiopia played to a barren draw in their opening game under obstructive weather conditions at the El Jadida Stade El Abdi on Wednesday. 

Burkina Faso, semi-finalists at the last CAF African Cup of Nations, required an excellent equaliser from Aston Villa’s Bertrand Traore to snatch a point at home to Guinea-Bissau.

Mo Salah becomes Egypt’s all-time top scorer in a World Cup qualifier after his four goals against Djibouti. 

How qualifying works

The nine group winners will qualify automatically for the FIFA World Cup 26™. The four best runners-up will compete for one place at the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, African News and CAF FIFA World Cup 26 CAF Qualifiers.

Mohamed Buya Turay replaces Alhaji Kamara in attack as Sierra Leone make three changes
Mohamed Buya Turay replaces Alhaji Kamara in attack as Sierra Leone make three changes
Sierra Leone with a chance to shine and make world headlines
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone with a chance to shine and make world headlines

On Sunday, a win for Sierra Leone will surely make global news as they welcome African giant Egypt for their third meeting in match day two of their 2026 World Cup Group A qualifier in the Liberia capital, Monrovia.

Maximum points for the host will be significant as Egypt and Sierra Leone gear up for a pivotal World Cup qualifying match.

Coach Amidu Karim opened the 2026 World Cup qualifier with a draw against Ethiopia in Morocco under difficult circumstances. 

Coming from a comfortable 6-0 thrashing over Djibouti, Sierra Leone must dig deep to get anything against the seven-time African champions. 

Mohamed Salah and Mohamed Elneny made their International debut when Sierra Leone first defeated Egypt 2-1 in September 2011 in the 2012 African Cup of Nations Group G qualifier. 

Portuguese coach Rui Vitoria will count on the Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, Nantes Striker Mostafa Mohamed, Zamalek’s Ahmed Mostafa Sayed & Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny, to name a few, if they are to register two straight wins. 

Sierra Leone does not have the big pedigree superstars like their opposition. However, team spirit can be vital, like when they stage a four-goal comeback against the Super Eagles of Nigeria at the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, Edo State, during the AFCON qualifier in November 2020.

The Sierra Leone coach remains optimistic about their prospects against Egypt, a team with seven African Cup of Nations titles under its belt. 

Mo Salah, who becomes the Pharoahs’ all-time top scorer in World Cup qualifiers after his four goals against Djibouti, is without a doubt – one of the weapons to defuse by the Leone Stars left-back Emmanuel Samadia, supported by his left winger. 

The significance of this encounter is immense for both teams, with the Pharaohs aiming to maintain their dominance and Sierra Leone wanting to stay on course for their first World Cup appearance.

Sierra Leone coach Karim holds fond memories of his time in the Egyptian league during the 1990s and hopes to steer his team towards their maiden World Cup appearance.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, the writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32, Contact Bi****@*****************ne.com. 

Blackpool to represent Sierra Leone in ACA Inaugural meeting in Cairo
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Blackpool to represent Sierra Leone in ACA Inaugural meeting in Cairo

MIGHTY BLACKPOOL FC Chairman Rodney Michael and Vice Chairman Theophilus Sho Cole will be representing Sierra Leone’s Premier League clubs amongst 54 others from Africa in the newly established African Clubs Association (ACA) in Cairo on the 30th of November, 2023.

The invitation from the CAF GENERAL SECRETARY addressed to the Chairman was sent on the 1st of November, 2023.

In his letter, the General Secretary clarified that it was agreed that only ‘the Chairmen and Presidents of highest ranked and most popular clubs.’ would be invited.

The essence of the meeting is for the founding members invited to elect the first Executive and approve the new statutes.

The initiative of establishing the African Clubs Association, as a replica of the European Clubs Association (ECA), is the initiative of CAF President Motsepe, who has suggested the newly elected President should be part of the CAF EXCO deliberations in the future.

It is a step in the right direction and a recognition by the CAF PRESIDENT of the significant role the African clubs play in the promotion of football in the continent and within their respective countries under tremendous challenges and huge costs. 

It’s worth commending the CAF PRESIDENT AND CAF AS A WHOLE for football, as it is in Africa, is pure sacrifice and not yet of full commercial benefit.

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