AFCON

Sierra Leone miss seven key players in AFCON match with Super Eagles

Published

1 year ago

June 12, 2023

Some the Leone Stars who will miss the destiny-shaping AFCON match against Nigeria on Sunday

When the Super Eagles face Sierra Leone on Sunday at the latter’s adopted home ground – Samuel Doe Stadium in Monrovia, Liberia, the Leone Stars will be without the services of seven key players.

The key players are declared unavailable for the key match. A win by Nigeria gives the Super Eagles a qualification ticket ahead of their last group match.

Among the missing players is Jonathan Morsay, the Panaitolikos’s attacker who opened scoring after 11 minutes in the June 9, 2022 encounter at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja.

He is suffering from cartilage damage to his knee. Also sidelined is Queens Park Rangers’ defender Osman Kakay.

He too has ankle injury he sustained in March in their English Championship defeat to Birmingham City. Injury has also consumes Cambuur’s right-back Alex Bangura, since the friendly defeat to Algeria B at the Furaijah Stadium on November 19 2022 in Dubai.

Another player who will miss the destiny-shaping duel with Nigeria is Shanghai Port’s winger lssa Kallon, who scored in Shanghai Port’s 3-0 win over Changchun Yatai last week.

His unavailability is reportedly on personal ground.

Milton Keynes Dons attacker Sullay Kaikai will not be part of the squad against Nigeria. He played in both matches against Sao Tome and Principe.

Egaleo’s experienced midfielder John Kamara has not been named by Coach John Keister due to personal. issues. Kamara was part of the last four of the Afcon qualifying matches that Sierra Leone played.

Also unavailable are Alhassan Koroma and skipper Steven Caulker.

Meanwhile, Sierra Leone has named twelve foreign-based and twenty-six local stars provisionally drafted for the cracker against the three-time African champions Super Eagles of Nigeria.

The foreign-based are Barnet’s striker Idriss Kanu, Randers’ striker Alhaji Kamara, Charleston Battery’s Augustine Williams, Crotones Augustus Kargbo, Rodney Michael., FC Andorra winger Mustapha Bundu on loan from Anderlecht, Kamil Conteh, Israel-based player Emmanuel Samadia, Alusine Koroma from RB Linense, skipper Steven Caulker, Daniel Francis from German side KFC Uerdingen 05 and Horoya AC keeper Mohamed Kamara.

AFCON

Remo Stars’ Franck Mawuena gets Togo’s call-up for AFCON

Published

10 hours ago

October 6, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Franck Mawuena who recently renewed his contract with Remo Stars has received a call-up to the Togolese squad for this week’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match. He had previously featured in the Belgian League.

He was part of the Remo Stars squad that finished second in the Nigeria Premier league last season. He scored six goals.

Togo will be away to Algeria on Thursday before hosting the reversed fixture on 14 October.

AFCON

Malawi’s Nkhakananga to referee Nigeria – Libya AFCON clash

Published

10 hours ago

October 6, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Referee Godfrey Philip Nkhakananga, of Malawian nationality, will be at the centre during Friday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and the Mediterranean Knights of Libya, at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.

The Confederation of African Football has also appointed Nkhakananga’s compatriots, Clemence Kanduku and Joseph Nyauti as assistant referees 1 ad 2 respectively, while Botswanan Keabetswe Dintwa will serve as fourth official for the Matchday 3 clash starting at 5pm.

Munkaila Nassam Adam from Ghana will be the commissioner, while Issaka Boubacar from Niger and Mayowa Akingbemisilu will be in the roles of referee assessor and broadcast venue manager respectively.

AFCON

Eguavoen unfolds Super Eagles’ squad for back-to-back duel with Libya

Published

1 day ago

October 5, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Head Coach Augustine Eguavoen has called Captain William Ekong, rave-of-the-moment Ademola Lookman, in-form winger Moses Simon and 20 other players for this month’s home-and-away 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying battle with the Mediterranean Knights of Libya.

Wing-backs Olaoluwa Aina and Bruno Onyemaechi are included, as well as goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Maduka Okoya, defenders Oluwasemilogo Ajayi and Calvin Bassey, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyedika and Alex Iwobi, and forwards Taiwo Awoniyi, Victor Boniface and Samuel Chukwueze.

Reigning Africa Player of the Year Victor Osimhen is excluded on grounds of injury, just as South Africa-based centre-back Olisa Ndah, but defender Bright Osayi-Samuel makes his way back after missing the duels with Benin Republic and Rwanda last month, and in-form playmaker Chidera Ejuke returns to the fold after many moons.

Veteran forward Kelechi Iheanacho is also listed, as well as midfielders Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi and Frank Onyeka.

The Super Eagles will host the Mediterranean Knights at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, 11^th October, before flying to Benghazi to take on the Knights at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium, 19 kilometres away from Benghazi on Tuesday, 15^th October.

All the players are expected to report in Uyo on Monday, 7^th October.

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Fasil Kenema SC, Ethiopia)

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Benjamin Tanimu (Crawley Town, England)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC. Italy); Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)

Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla FC, Spain); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England)