Sports
Mattsson Still Targets Africa Coaching Offers
Swedish coach Lars Olof Mattsson has not ruled out taking another job in African football following his resignation from his post with Sierra Leone.
The 58-year-old confirmed to Tidesports source that he had ended his time with the Leone Stars after two years in charge of the team.
While Mattsson revealed there had been issues with his working arrangement, pay and lack of team preparations, he admitted he was sad to leave the role and would be be open to offers to continue his employment elsewhere in Africa with another national team.
“I would be tempted, definitely, yes. I wouldn’t rule it out,” he said. “I’ve got some contacts here and there so I keep my eyes open and every door is open for the future.
“It has been very exciting (in Africa) and so many things have happened in the past two years. I could easily write three or four books about all the adventures.”
Mattsson also paid tribute to the Leone Star players but was less enthusiastic about his experiences of working with the Sierra Leone Football Association.
“Kei Kamara from Norwich City called me yesterday, and I spoke to Medo, and many, many of the players on Facebook and they’ve been very, very sad. But they also say they understand me because these people – among leaders in football and sports in Sierra Leone – they are very, very difficult to work with.
“I don’t have any contract with the Sierra Leone FA, I’m just being paid match by match – I also had some problems with getting paid for the matches.
“The circumstances are very hard. I have a family that I have to support back home here and I need a regular job.”
It is those issues that Mattsson says would make it very difficult for him to reconsider his decision to quit as Sierra Leone coach – although it is remains unclear whether the Sierra Leone FA has accepted his resignation. Mattsson added: “It’s a very very difficult future with these leaders.. the Football Association isn’t working. They have no President in the Football Association – they should’ve had an election this past autumn, but there’s still no election and now they’re planning the election for July.
“But I don’t know what’s going to happen. And also there were plans to restart the league this month because the league hasn’t been going on since July last year – so there are a lot of problems and it’s going to take many many many years to reach a level.
Sports
Nigeria, Zambia Join WAFCON Train
Nine-time Women’s Africa Cup of Nations winners, Nigeria became the final side to book their place at the 2024 tournament as qualifiers culminated this week.
The Super Falcons came from behind to beat Cape Verde 2-1 away from home, with Rasheedat Ajibade’s injury-time winner clinching a 7-1 aggregate victory on Tuesday.
Barbra Banda was among Zambia’s scorers as the Copper Queens, who finished third at last year’s Nations Cup, thrashed Angola 6-0 at home to complete a 12-0 aggregate win.
However, two-time champions Equatorial Guinea will miss out on the 12-team finals following a 2-1 defeat away against DR Congo which saw the hosts progress 3-2 overall.
Botswana beat Kenya 1-0 to secure qualification for their second consecutive finals. while Ghana, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania and Tunisia all sealed their places in Morocco, who will host for the second time in a row.
The dates for the tournament, scheduled for next year, are yet to be announced.
Holders South Africa and Algeria secured their spots on Monday, with Banyana Banyana beating Burkina Faso 3-1 on aggregate and the North Africans sealing a 1-0 win in Burundi to progress 6-1 over the two legs.
Ghana will return to the finals for the first time since 2018 despite losing 1-0 away against Namibia, with the Black Queens going through 3-2 on aggregate.
Senegal, Tanzania and Tunisia also failed to win their away ties, but progressed against Egypt, Togo and Congo respectively.
Mali won 3-0 away against Guinea to round off a 10-2 victory overall.
Sports
Olowu Targets WABU Crown At GOtv Boxing Night 30
Super welterweight boxer, Taiwo ‘Gentle Boy’ Olowu, on Wednesday , said his target is to claim the West African Boxing Union (WABU) super welterweight title at GOtv Boxing Night 30 on December 26.
The enterprising boxer, who is the national welterweight title holder, will square up to top Ghanaian boxer, Michael Ansah, at the event slated for the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.
Speaking ahead of the fight, ‘Gentle Boy’ boasted that he would ensure the Ghanaian returned to his country empty-handed.
“I aim to add this West African Boxing Union title to my national title. As a national champion, I cannot allow a foreigner to come and take this belt away in front of my fans. This is a big opportunity for me to be a WABU champion. Ansah will leave Nigeria empty-handed,” he said.
The more experienced Ghanaian boxer has a record of 23 wins, 12 defeats, and three draws from 38 professional fights, while ‘Gentle Boy’ boasts 15 wins and one defeat from his 16 professional fights.
In another title fight, Sifon ‘Best’ Iwatt will battle Saheed Azeez for the national super flyweight title.
Also on the card for the night are five other national fights, including a female national cruiserweight challenge fight between national champion, Bolatito ‘Black Tito’ Oluwole and Blessing Abisoye.
Arabambi Ojo and Ibrahim ‘Golden Boy’ Opeyemi will slug it out in a national bantamweight challenge bout; Abdulafeez ‘Big Name’ Osoba will face Christopher Ucheji in a national super welterweight challenge fight, while Ayanfe Adeoye and Ahmed Ganiyu will duel in a national light welterweight category.
Sports
Nigeria Makes Final Team Of The Year Award
Nigeria made the final three shortlists for the 2023 Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) Women’s National Team of the Year award.
CAF announced the final three shortlist on their X handle yesterday.
The other two countries are reigning Women’s Africa Cup of Nations champions South Africa and Morocco.
Nigeria, Morocco and South Africa featured at this year’s FIFA women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The trio all reached the round of 16 at the tournament, which was won by Spain.
The winner will be announced on Monday, December 11, in Marrakech, Morocco.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Super Falcons recently qualified for the 2024 WAFCON, hosted by Morocco.
A 7-1 aggregate win against Cape Verde ensured the Falcons will be making their 13th appearance at the tournament, which began in 1998 in Nigeria.
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