Category: Football Africa

Sundowns and Wydad register slender wins in AFL semis
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sundowns & Wydad register slender wins in AFL semis

Mamelodi Sundowns and Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca managed a vital 1-0 home win over Egyptian giant Al Ahly and Tunisian side Esperance in the first leg of their African Football League semi-finals.

Thapelo Maseko sealed victory with his second-half goal for the South Africans at Loftus Versfeld Stadium as Hicham Bousfiane gave Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca a goal advantage over their North African counterparts on Sunday.

On Wednesday, four-time African champions Esperance will still fancy their chances of overcoming their visitors on home soil as African giant Al Ahly plans a pathway to the next stage against Sundowns at their Cairo fortress.

Both return leg matches are expected to be fireworks in Cairo and Tunisia, respectively. 

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

Sierra Leone line-up friendlies for World Cup qualifiers
by FSL News

Sierra Leone up two places in latest Fifa ranking

The Sierra Leone national team have moved up two places from 124 in September to 122 in October’s Fifa ranking announced on Thursday.

The Leone Stars had a successful trip in Morocco during the Fifa window, having played to a 1-1 draw against Benin on October 14th before defeating Somalia 2-0 in a recent training camp in Morocco three days later.

Coach Amidu Karim’s side will start their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign against Ethiopia at the Mohamed V Sports Complex in Casablanca on 15th November before hosting the Pharoah of Egypt in the Liberian Capital on 19 November 2023.

In Africa, Sierra Leone ranked 32nd best side as Morocco remains Africa’s number one nation, as well as maintaining 13th in the world ranking.

Senegal is second in Africa and occupies the 20th place in the world. Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali, Ivory Coast and Burkina-Faso are the top ten teams.

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Sierra Leone 🇸🇱 up two places from 124 in September to 122 in October’s Fifa ranking
Sierra Leone 🇸🇱 up two places from 124 in September to 122 in October’s Fifa ranking
Global top 10 - Argentina (1st) maintain a healthy lead (8.18 points) over their closest challengers, France
Global top 10 - Argentina (1st) maintain a healthy lead (8.18 points) over their closest challengers, France
Al Ahly beat Simba to set Sundowns African Football League date
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Al Ahly eliminate Simba to set Sundowns African Football League date

On Tuesday, Al Ahly eliminated Tanzania Simba to set a date with South African Mamelodi Sundowns in the semifinals of the African Champions League.

After a 2-2 draw in Tanzania, the Egyptian giants emerged victorious on an away goal rule as they booked their place in the inaugural African Football League (AFL) semifinals. The first leg match had ended 1-1 at Cairo International.

Sundowns of South Africa, on the other hand, confirmed their semifinal spot with a goalless draw after they played most of the tie with a man down against th Petro Atletico on Tuesday.

They won the first leg 2-0 away and will play Egyptian side Al-Ahly in Sunday’s first-leg semis match. 

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In Uyo, Nigeria, Wydad Casablanca of Morocco secured narrow victory over their rival in the first leg.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

TP Mazembe, Wydad register AFL quarterfinal first leg wins

TP Mazembe of DR Congo and Wydad Casablanca of Morocco registered wins over their rivals in the first leg of the African Football League quarter-finals on Sunday.

Cheick Oumar Fofana’s first-leg goal was enough as TP Mazembe registered a hard-fought 1-0 win over Tunisian side Esperance.

Fofana. 19, 11th-minute head put Mazembe in front at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Tanzania to give the DR Congo club a slender advantage.

Mazembe gave a good account of themselves as they controlled the early exchanges before Fofana connected with Phillipe Kinzumbi’s pinpoint delivery to score what proved the winner.

Despite all efforts from the Tunisian side, Mazembe held on to secure a vital away goal and advantage ahead of the second leg in Tunisia this Wednesday.

In Uyo Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, Wydad Casablanca of Morocco secured a narrow victory over their Nigerian counterpart in the first leg.

The Moroccan side defeated Enyimba 1-0. The match-winning goal was scored by Wydad’s skipper Yahya Jabrane in the 39th minute from the penalty spot at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

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Coach Amidu Karim is pleased with Leone Stars' friendly results
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Coach Amidu Karim reflects on first two games in charge

Amidu Karim says he was pleased with his opening two matches as head coach in charge of Sierra Leone’s Leone Stars for friendly games in Morocco.

On Tuesday, his preparation continued following a 2-0 win over Somalia in a tier-two friendly in Casablanca, Morocco. His first task was a 1-1 draw with Benin.

Leone Stars secured a pass mark unbeaten in their Morocco camp, a start to life the coach was pleased about. 

Under Karim’s guidance, Odense Boldklub striker Mohamed Buya Turay scored his first three International goals for Sierra Leone.

“Generally, the experience was a unique one, as a technical team, we are pleased with the outcome of both matches. I am pleased also because it is my first time as head coach – hence, starting well in charge was precisely the target.”

“In the competition proper, two games and four points will be immense for us. However, this is just a start – we remain focused and working on the areas to strengthen ahead of difficult matches in November. 

I was a bit disappointed not to win against Benin as we came very close. I must commend the players for their commitment as well. In Football, it’s not easy to get 100 per cent, but they’ve shown me a lot. We still have to make decisions for the success of Sierra Leone.”

The World Cup 2026 qualifiers will see Sierra Leone battle Ethiopia and Egypt in Group A doubleheader in November – these games will be the ultimate test in Karim’s reign. 

Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, powerhouse Egypt, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau and Djibouti all makeup Group A 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. 

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