Category: Football Africa

Sierra Leone native Bangura-Williams pens long-term deal with Millwall
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone native Bangura-Williams pens long-term deal with Millwall

Sierra Leone native Raees Bangura-Williams has signed a new long-term contract with The Den. The 20-year-old will continue with The Lions following his impressive start.

Bangura-Williams made his debut in January during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round, scoring just 10 minutes after coming on against Dagenham & Redbridge.

His father is an amateur football manager originally from Sierra Leone, currently based in Park Langley.

“I’m grateful for all the support and have more to give. It’s an honour to be here,” he said, noting the season has been life-changing and that Millwall is the right place for him to develop.

In 13 appearances, he has impressed fans with several assists, including key plays against Cardiff City and Portsmouth. His performance earned him a call-up to England’s Elite League Squad.

Despite missing the end of the 2024/25 season due to injury, he is determined to earn a place in Alex Neil’s starting lineup for the 2025/26 season.

Millwall’s Director of Football, Steve Gallen, praised Ra’ees’ inspiring journey to the first team and expressed excitement about his contract signing as a reward for his hard work. Gallen noted that Ra’ees represents the club’s future and thanked James Berylson and Alex Neil for their support in finalizing the deal.

Four African places in the U20 FIFA World Cup in Chile confirmed
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Four African places in the U20 FIFA World Cup in Chile confirmed

Africa has four teams going to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile 2025. These teams qualified by reaching the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations. The qualified teams are Morocco, Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa.

Every team triumphed in tense, thrilling, hard quarter-final matches. First to qualify, Morocco narrowly defeated Sierra Leone 1-0 after extra time due to a late own goal. This game ended Sierra Leone’s spectacular first showing in the competition.

The host country, Egypt, joined Morocco in achieving an exciting comeback against Ghana. Trailing 2-0, they last-minute equalised and won the 5-4 penalty shootout, securing their spot at the World Cup.

Africa’s most prosperous U20 team, Nigeria, advanced by beating Senegal, the defending champions, in a penalty shootout. To secure their 14th entry in the U20 World Cup, the Flying Eagles maintained their coolness.

Thanks to a last-minute goal from Thabang Mahlangu, South Africa finished the group with a 1-0 victory over DR Congo in extra time.

These four teams’ qualification keeps Africa’s excellent record in the U20 World Cup. Each squad will now hone in on the semi-finals and the continental title challenge. From September 27 to October 19, the FIFA U-20 World Cup will be held in Chile.

The qualified teams are Morocco, Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa
The qualified teams are Morocco, Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa
Morocco beat 10-man Sierra Leone U20 to book Chile U20 World Cup spot
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Morocco beat 10-man Sierra Leone to book Chile U-20 World Cup spot

Morocco defeated 10-man Sierra Leone 1-0 in extra time, advancing to the semi-finals of the CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2025 and securing a spot in the Chile U20 World Cup.

The match concluded with a late own goal scored by Sierra Leone’s Amara Keita at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium in Cairo. Morocco controlled most of the match but found it difficult to break through Sierra Leone’s strong defense.

Sierra Leone, making their tournament debut, fought hard but ended up losing due to a tough break. The turning point came in the 115th minute when Keita accidentally scored an own goal while under pressure, sending Morocco into the semi-finals and qualifying them for the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile later this year.

Sierra Leone played bravely, even after being reduced to ten players during regulation time. Substitute Samba Bah received a red card in the 90th minute after a dangerous challenge, leaving his team short-handed for extra time.

Morocco had a strong chance of winning, having been unbeaten in their last 12 matches in open play at the U20 AFCON. They created several opportunities through players like Jones El Abdellaoui, Ismaël Baouf, and Adam El Mokhtari, but Sierra Leone’s goalkeeper, Mohamed Bai Kamara made several great saves.

Sierra Leone also had chances, especially from their star player Momoh Kamara, whose long shot in the 113th minute was saved well. Despite their earlier surprise victory over Egypt, Sierra Leone could not score this time.

For Morocco, this victory marks their second trip to the semi-finals since 2005 and keeps their unbeaten streak alive at the 2025 tournament. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi’s team displayed patience and skill to overcome a well-organised opponent.

Sierra Leone exits the tournament with pride, having done better than expected in their first U20 AFCON. Key players Kamara and Alpha Turay made a lasting impression. Morocco will now prepare for a semi-final match against either South Africa or DR Congo, confident in their strong defence and tactical skills.

Egypt's Mohamed Salah wins Football Writers' Award
by Football Sierra Leone

Egypt’s Mohamed Salah wins Football Writers’ Award

Egypt and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has won the Football Writers’ Association award for the best men’s  player of the season.

Salah scored 28 goals and assisted 18 times to help Liverpool win the Premier League title. He set a record for the most goal contributions in a single 38-game Premier League season.

Salah also scored three goals and assisted four times as Liverpool reached the last 16 of the Champions League. Last month, the 32-year-old signed a new two-year contract to stay at Anfield until 2027.

Salah received 90% of the votes from over 900 FWA members, the largest margin of victory this century.

His Liverpool teammate Virgil van Dijk came second, Newcastle striker Alexander Isak was third, and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice finished fourth. Salah is now one of only two players, along with Thierry Henry, to win this award three times.

CAF TSG named U20 AFCON Group Stage top scorer Momoh Kamara in the Best XI
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

CAF TSG named U20 AFCON Group Stage top scorer Momoh Kamara in the Best XI

As per the CAF Technical Study Group (TSG), Sierra Leone’s standout performer, Momoh Kamara, has been honoured in the Best XI of the group stage at the TotalEnergies U20 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2025.

In four games, the agile playmaker scored four spectacular goals, helping Sierra Leone make history by reaching the quarter-finals on their first try.

Kamara in photo alongside Walter Steenbok, former Technical Director of the South African Football Association, took all the individual awards, winning both Top Scorer and Best Player. To honour the tournament’s highlight stars, the TSG picked a 1-4-2-3-1 formation. Levison Banda of Zambia was named Best Goalkeeper; his defenders were Nigeria’s Odinaka Okoro, Daniel Bameyi, Ghana’s Dacosta Antwi, and Sierra Leone’s Nathaniel Jalloh.

South Africa’s Lazola Maku and Kenya’s Kevin Wangaya drive the game forward from midfield; Kamara is joined in the attack by Morocco’s Othmane Maamma and Zambia’s Joseph Sabobo. At the head of the line is Samuel Ntanda-Lukisa of DR Congo, whose important contributions guaranteed advancement for his team.

Mohamed Ouahbi of Morocco was chosen Best Coach for leading his team to an unbeaten group stage; Ghana earned the Fair Play Award for their discipline. Along with the recently unveiled Africa’s first FIFA Mini Pitch in Algeria, the knockout phase approaches increase the enthusiasm for these outstanding players and their countries.

CAF U20 AFCON Egypt 2025 – Group Stage Best XI (1-4-2-3-1):

Goalkeeper:

  1. Levison Banda – Zambia

Defenders:

2. Nathaniel Jalloh – Sierra Leone

3. Odinaka Okoro – Nigeria

4. Daniel Bameyi – Nigeria

5. Dacosta Antwi – Ghana

Midfielders:

6. Kevin Wangaya – Kenya

7. Lazola Maku – South Africa

8. Momoh Kamara – Sierra Leone

Forwards:

9. Joseph Sabobo – Zambia

10. Othmane Maamma – Morocco

11. Samuel Ntanda-Lukisa – DR Congo

Individual Awards (Group Stage):

🏆 Best Player: Momoh Kamara (Sierra Leone)

🥅 Best Goalkeeper: Levison Banda (Zambia)

⚽ Top Scorer: Momoh Kamara (4 goals, Sierra Leone)

👔 Best Coach: Mohamed Ouahbi (Morocco)

🏅 Fair Play Team: Ghana

CAF TSG named U20 AFCON Group Stage top scorer Momoh Kamara in the Best XI
CAF TSG named U20 AFCON Group Stage top scorer Momoh Kamara in the Best XI