TheNewsGuru

Tag: Sierra Leone

  • Time to beat Sierra Leone 4-0 in Freetown – Pinnick

    Time to beat Sierra Leone 4-0 in Freetown – Pinnick

    The Super Eagles have been tasked by the Nigeria Football Federation president, Amaju Pinnick, to secure victory in Freetown on Tuesday after they squandered a 4-0 lead on Friday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.

    The result left Nigerians distraught , however, Pinnick has charged them not to just defeat the Leone Stars but they should regain the lead they had before half-time at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

    “It is for us to go to Sierra Leone and beat them that 4-0. It is not winning, winning is an understatement,” Pinnick told NFF media.

    “It is to give them that 4-0 and make sure they don’t score one. That is the only thing we will do from the blast of the whistle till the end of that game.

    “The beauty about falling down is the resurgence in us to bounce back, bounce back in a grand style because what you’ve done to them is that you’ve given them the confidence that Nigeria is beatable.

    “We must re-engineer this team, we must go to Freetown and we must beat them in Freetown by those four goals so that we would know truly that the Eagles have landed.”

  • BREAKING: Fans hold Super Eagles hostage in Benin City stadium after 4-4 draw [VIDEO]

    BREAKING: Fans hold Super Eagles hostage in Benin City stadium after 4-4 draw [VIDEO]

    Angry football fans on Friday held the Super Eagles of Nigeria hostage in the Benin City stadium after they squandered a 4-0 lead to draw with Leone stars of Sierra Leone.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Leone Stars came back from 4-0 down to hold the Super Eagles of Nigeria to a shocking 4-4 draw in Friday’s Group L 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier in Benin City.

    The Eagles looked to be cruising in the first half thanks to a brace from Alex Iwobi and goals from Samuel Chukwueze and Victor Osimhen before the visitors started the fightback.

    The Eagles got off to a very good start in the 5th minute as Iwobi pounced on a loose ball to score from the edge of the box and dictated the pace of the game.

    Sierra Leone, however, clawed their way back and almost drew level in the 21st minute through Al-Hadji Kamara who had all the time in the world, but volleyed over from inside the box following a cross from Buya Turay.

    A minute after Kamara’s miss the Eagles doubled their lead thanks to Osimhen who finished at the far post off a low cross from Zaidu Sanusi.

    Iwobi grabbed his brace in the 28th minute to make it 3-0 after curling into the top corner inside the box.

    The Eagles continued to pile on pressure on their opponents and were once again rewarded in the 31st minute, this time through Chukwueze.

    This was after he received a flick from Osimhen and went on a solo run before putting the ball past the Sierra Leone goalkeeper.

    However, with two minutes left in the first half, Sierra Leone pulled a goal back which came off the boot of Quee Kwame after an Eagles’ player lost possession in a dangerous area.

    Osimhen almost got his brace early in the second half after getting to the end of Ahmed Musa’s free-kick, but his header came off the bar.

    On the hour mark, the Eagles made a double substitution as Semi Ajayi replaced Leon Balogun, while Kelechi Iheanacho came in for Musa.

    Sierra Leone got their second goal in the 72nd minute to make it 4-2 after a cross by Kevin Wright was met with a great header by Kamara.

    The Eagles were forced to make another change as Osimhen came off the field injured, and was replaced by Chidera Ejike.

    The Leone Stars scored again to make it 4-3 off Mustapha Bundu’s stunning goal and in the 86th minute Kamara got his second to complete a stunning 4-4 comeback which left the Eagles shell-shocked.

    However, the result did not go down well with football fans that throng the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium to support the Super Eagles.

    TNG reports that the fans blocked the entrance to the stadium and restricted the Super Eagles from leaving the stadium.

    After intervention, officials were able to prevail over the fans before they were let out of the stadium.

    As the Super Eagles were leaving the stadium, the fans were heard chanting “dem don dey go one by one”.

     

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    TNG reports that following the draw, the Eagles still top the group on seven points, while Sierra Leone have two points.

    Both teams clash again on Tuesday in Freetown in the reverse fixture of the AFCON qualifier.

  • BREAKING: Super Eagles surrender four goal-lead to draw with Sierra Leone

    BREAKING: Super Eagles surrender four goal-lead to draw with Sierra Leone

    Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Friday surrendered a four-goal lead to draw with Sierra Leone in a Nation’s Cup qualifier at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, Edo State.

    The Eagles we’re leading comfortably by 4-1 in the first half, only for them to capitulate in the second half, conceding three goals at home to tie to match at 4-4.

    It was a shocking and unbelieving result.

    Details later…

  • AFCON Qualifier: We are determined to beat Sierra Leone – Super Eagles

    AFCON Qualifier: We are determined to beat Sierra Leone – Super Eagles

    Several Super Eagles players on Wednesday in Benin expressed determination to secure the maximum points in their Match Day 3 fixture in the 2021 AFCON Qualifiers.

    The Super Eagles, Nigeria’s male senior football team, are up against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone in Benin on Friday.

    The players told newsmen after their training session on Wednesday night at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium that they were focused in their desire to defeat their opponents.

    Italy-based Victor Osimhen, while noting that he was happy to be back to the team, said: “We are ready for the match. We desire nothing but victory. It will not be easy, but we will give it our all.”

    The player of Serie A side Napoli however expressed disappointment that fans would not be allowed into the stadium for the match.

    ”But they can support us by watching on television from home.”

    On his part, Scotland-based Joe Aribo, who said he was overwhelmed with the support from Benin football fans, said the Super Eagles would play their normal game to win the match.

    Meanwhile, the Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, has expressed happiness over the physical and mental state of the players.

    He said only three of the players were singled out for special training because they just arrived at the Benin camp after a long journey.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the three players are Victor Osimhen, Jamiu Collins and Semi Ajayi.

  • AFCON qualifiers: Super Eagles players to undergo COVID-19 test

    AFCON qualifiers: Super Eagles players to undergo COVID-19 test

    Nigeria’s senior national team players will undergo COVID-19 tests, before Friday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone, Goal reports.

    The Super Eagles players and their coaches are expected to undergo the test, Wednesday afternoon.

    Few hours after that, they will have their second training session at the newly renovated Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    Nigerians are favourites going into the clash, with the Leone Stars sitting bottom of Group L with one point.

    Sierra Leone drew with Lesotho and lost to Benin Republic.

    The reverse fixture takes place at the National Stadium in Freetown on Tuesday, November 17, with victory for Nigeria guaranteeing them a place at the 2022 AFCON.

  • AFCON: NFF releases Super Eagles squad to face Sierra Leone

    AFCON: NFF releases Super Eagles squad to face Sierra Leone

    The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has released a 24-man list of players invited for their upcoming African Cup of Nations qualifying match against Sierra Leone.

    The list features highly-rated Nigerian forward, Victor Osimhen who was notably missed in the Eagles squad for their friendly match against Algeria and Tunisia.

    Ahmed Musa, the Eagle’s captain was also invited for the match after his contract with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nasr was abruptly terminated.

    However, Genk forward, Cyriel Kolawole Dessers, was not invited after being capped in this month’s friendly.

    The Super Eagles take on the Leone Stars at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City on Friday, 13th November before flying to Freetown for the return game on Tuesday, 17th November at the Siaka Stevens Stadium.

    Full List:

    Goalkeepers: Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Sebastian Osigwe (FC Lugano, Switzerland); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

    Defenders: Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Boavista, Portugal); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Germany)

    Midfielders: Oghenekaro Etebo (Galatasaray, Turkey); Tyronne Ebuehi (FC Twente, Netherlands); Frank Onyeka (FC Midtjylland, Denmark); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)

    Forwards: Ahmed Musa (NIL); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Emmanuel Dennis Bonaventure (Club Brugge, Belgium); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia)

    Standby: Francis Uzoho (APOEL Nicosia, Cyprus); Samson Tijani (TSV Hartberg, Austria); Abdullahi Shehu (Omonia Nicosia, Cyprus); Ramon Azeez (Granada CF, Spain); Kelechi Nwakali (SD Huesca, Spain); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Heartland FC); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium)

  • Nigerian doctor, Laoluwa Adejayan appointed head of Sierra Leone COVID-19 task force

    Nigerian doctor, Laoluwa Adejayan appointed head of Sierra Leone COVID-19 task force

    Sierra Leone has appointed Nigeria’s Dr. Laoluwa Adejayan as head of its Covid-19 task force after adjudging him the best foreign medical practitioner in the country.

    Consequently, his salary has been raised to $20,000 per month, a 100 per cent increase.

    Adejayan is a graduate of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

    He worked briefly in Bayelsa State after his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme before transferring his service to the West African country under the Technical Aids Corps scheme, in 2012.

    President Julius Maada Bio confirmed Adejayan’s appointment in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Bio described the Nigerian as a good ambassador of his country who has proved to be a well-trained, brilliant and hardworking doctor.

    Buhari congratulated Adejayan for being a good ambassador of Nigeria.

    Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Femi Adesina, Buhari said the Federal Government was proud of his hard work in a foreign land.

  • Coronavirus-free Sierra Leone shuts borders after Guinea, Liberia announce closures

    Coronavirus-free Sierra Leone shuts borders after Guinea, Liberia announce closures

    Virus-free Sierra Leone on Friday announced closure of its borders for a 30-day period barely days after President Julius Maada Bio announced a state of public health emergency.

    According to reports, the measure was to keep out the coronavirus which has engulfed all of West Africa except for Sierra Leone. The country tested two cases which turned out to be negative.

    The border closures come in the wake of same action taken by neighbours Guinea and Liberia. Guinea president Alpha Conde declared a state of emergency on Friday also for 30-days over the virus.

    The closure will last for a renewable period of 30 days excepting cargo vehicles which will be limited to two apprentices and a driver. They’ll be subjected to a 14-day surveillance by both countries on entry and exit.

    All learning institutions and entertainment centers have been closed for 14 days, as have churches and mosques. All cultural events have been prohibited.

    Liberia is currently in a lockdown over the pandemic. The three countries were at the heart of the Ebola epidemic that killed thousands years ago.

    Despite being among 11 African countries that have not recorded any cases of the coronavirus, Sierra Leone president Julius Maada Bio on March, 24 imposed a twelve-month state of public health emergency.

    The brave move signifies that the country is not taken any chances with the pandemic which has affected all its neighbours in the region.

    Meanwhile, the Freetown International Airport, Sierra Leone’s main entry point via air witnessed a coronavirus related scuffle after passengers aboard a Kenya Airways flight refused necessary health protocols two weeks ago.

    One of the country’s experienced journalists Umaru Fofana reported the said flight had a that passengers aboard the flight had a suspected COVID-19 case leading to the decision to quarantine all the passengers. It is not known how authorities detected the case in question.

    “At least three passengers refused to be isolated saying they’d rather return to where they’d come from…,” Fofana said in a tweet.

    “Meanwhile passengers who’ve just arrived on an Air Peace flight from Nigeria have also been asked to be quarantined. They’ve refused, citing the (Sierra Leone) government policy which says only passengers from countries with up to 50 confirmed cases of coronavirus should be automatically quarantined,” he said in a follow up tweet.

    Sierra Leone remains one of a handful African countries yet to record a coronavirus case. But like all governments are doing, the presidency released a detailed statement that outlined directives crucially banning overseas travel for all government officials and urged members of the public to heed same.

    An initial statement had directed thus: “Public gatherings should not be attended by more than One Hundred (100) persons,” the second directive read. But a Ministerial team that visited the airport on Monday had urged passengers to adhere to health protocols.

    A statement from the president on the pandemic read: “I have directed the military to immediately deploy to our international airport and land crossing points in order to enhance security and support compliance with all public health directives advisories.”

  • FIFA suspends Sierra Leone Football Association

    FIFA has suspended Sierra Leone ‘with immediate effect’ due to government interference in the running of the country’s FA.

    The ban comes after the Anti-Corruption Commission barred SLFA president Isha Johansen and general secretary Christopher Kamara from SLFA offices.
    “The suspension will be lifted once the SLFA and its recognised leadership have confirmed to Fifa that the SLFA administration, premises, accounts and communication channels are under their control once again,” Fifa said.
    If the ban is not lifted before 11 October, Sierra Leone’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Ghana will be cancelled – with their return game at home to the Black Stars on the 15th also in danger.
    Sierra Leone are one of four teams with three points in Group F, which also includes Ethiopia and Kenya.
    The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) says that under Sierra Leone law, both Johansen and Christopher Kamara must vacate their posts until their case on corruption-related charges concludes.
    Both Johansen and Kamara have denied any wrongdoing.
    Fifa had repeatedly warned Sierra Leonean authorities that the ACC’s actions could result in a ban and, in a letter dated 28 September, sought a meeting with the government to address the impasse.
    “To date, the court sentence on the charges brought forward by the ACC., which had been scheduled for 2 October, has been postponed indefinitely, reducing the likelihood of a swift resolution of the matter,” said the letter signed by Fifa Secretary General Fatma Samoura.
    “The SLFA’s national and affiliated club teams are no longer entitled to take part in international competitions until the suspension is lifted.”
    While the government has claimed it had nothing to do with the ACC’s actions, Fifa outlaws ‘undue influence from any third party’.

  • Buhari congratulates Sierra Leone’s new President

    Buhari congratulates Sierra Leone’s new President

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday congratulated Julius Bio on his election as the new President of Sierra Leone after the presidential election run-off on March 31.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President commended the people of Sierra Leone on the successful conduct of the presidential election run-off as well as the parliamentary and local council elections held on March 7, 2018.

    With the elections concluded and following the trend of peaceful elections in West Africa recently, Buhari urged all stakeholders in Sierra Leone to work together for the peace, security and development of the country.

    He also enjoined all those with grievances over the outcome of the elections to seek constitutional means of resolving them.

    The President stressed that nothing should be done to endanger the peace and stability of the country in particular and the sub-region in general.

    The statement read, “The Nigerian leader salutes the resilient spirit of Sierra Leoneans, who have clearly demonstrated their ability to manage their own affairs and consolidate on the country’s progress after a post-conflict era.

    “The President also commends the immediate past president, Ernest Bai Koroma, for his commitment to a credible electoral process and spirited efforts at bringing stability and positive changes to the nation during his presidency.

    “President Buhari looks forward to working with President Bio for the growth, prosperity and stability of their nations, and West Africa.”