Tag: Sierra Leone

4-0 victory for Team Melli vs. Sierra Leone

The Iranian national team defeated Sierra Leone 4-0 win in an international friendly match held in nearly empty Azadi Stadium on Saturday.

Queiroz had a mix of players in the initial line up giving debuts to 3 players, Omid Noorafkan, Goalkeeper Hossein Hosseini and midfielder from Saipa Alborz Ali Gholizadeh. All 3 enjoyed a good game and performed well in their first international. 

This was the first preparation match for Team Melli in a series of matches which will continue into March after Nowrooz including the matches against Tunisia and Algeria in Europe.

Iran’s goals were scored by Mohammad Reza Khanzadeh (14), Ali Gholizadeh (16 and 46) and Kaveh Rezaei (35). The 100,000 capacity stadium was virtually empty as no more than 3000 fans turned up. The period of Eid Nowrooz shopping season plus the very humble opponents (Ranked 94 in FIFA Ranking list) prevented many fans from attending the match. less than a week ago, the same stadium was full to the capacity for an AFC champions League match between Esteghlal and Al Ain from UAE.

Team Melli very quickly dictated the game proceedings. It was just a matter of time before the first goal would be scored and it was on a corner that Khanzadeh , returning to the team after a 3 year break, scored from a corner on the 14th minute. The African team had very little to offer as it took 40 minutes for the Iranian keeper Hamed Lak to actually handle a ball from live play.

First half

Min 14: On a free kick, Omid Noorafkan sent a nicely weighted ball to the crowded penalty area of ​​Sierra Leone, which Mohammad Reza KhanZadeh slid into the net for the first goal

Min 16: Ali Golizadeh long-range kick from a solo move from outside the penalty box , wrong footed  Sierra Leone keeper after the ball was deflected by his own defenders. First goal for the debutant. 

Minutes 35: Ramin Rezaeian crossed from the right into Sierra Leone penalty box , where Kaveh Rezaei headed the ball into the ground and in the goal. the goalkeeper was helpless.

Second half

46 min. Omid Noorafkan on  left wing on a solo run  hit a strong shot which  Sierra Leone goalkeeper  could only parry, the return ball, was  met by Ali Gholizadeh who scored his second goal. 

71 minutes: Sierra Leone’s players created a dangerous move on a stroke on the goal, which ​​Sierra Leone’s Abu Sauna turned into a strong shot , substitute keeper  Hossein Hosseini  saved it and sent to the corner.

Team Melli starting Line up

 Hamed Lak, Ramin Rezaeian , MR Khanzadeh, Rozbeh Cheshmi, Saeed Aghaei,  Omid Ebrahimi, Ali Karimi, Ahmad Abdollahzadeh,  Omid Noorafkan, Ali Gholizadeh Moghadam and Kaveh Rezaei

Fifa gives green light to Sierra Leone friendly in Azadi

Sierra Leone Stars hopes of meeting World Cup-bound Iran in a friendly encounter in Tehran on Saturday, 17 March has been confirmed by football world governing body, Fifa.

The contest will take place in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.

A Fifa spokesperson told Football Sierra Leone UK via email that there was a need for proper clarification ahead of schedule match.

The match was uncertain after FIFA’s recognised SLFA head, Isha Johansen, and her Scribe; Chris Kamara informed the organisation that they were unaware of the ‘friendly.

Extracts of the communication read -“For the captioned international friendly match, please be informed there was a need for some clarifications before the necessary authorisation could be extended, but the said match will go ahead in Tehran.”

It could be recalled that on October 2017, Isha Johansen and Kamara were both ordered by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to step aside following charges of abuse of office and pilfering of public funds. The matter is ongoing.

In spite of the above, Fifa says they recognise the Johansen leadership until Integrity checks and elections are conducted.

The arranged test scheduled will be Iran’s first 2018 World Cup warm-up encounter and the first between the two nations.

Leone Stars including just three foreign-based players will take on the best Asian football team.

The foreign-based are Finish-based TP-47 striker Thomas Koroma, JS Hercules midfielder Abdul Sesay and attacker Abu Bakarr Kargbo from fourth-tier German side Berliner AK 07.

The two countries have a very good international relation and Sierra Leone for the first time considered to play a friendly by a team heading to a World Cup.

The African minnows ranked 98th while Iran is the best Asian football team and 33rd in the world.

Iran are in Group B at the FIFA World Cup alongside Spain, Morocco and Portugal.

Carlos Queiroz’s men will open their Russia 2018 campaign with a match against Morocco at Saint Petersburg on June 15, before taking on Spain in Kazan on 20 June.

Ghalenoei criticizes the match vs. Sierra Leone

Amir Ghalenoei, ex-Team Melli and current Zob Ahan coach , spoke about the upcoming match of Team Melli versus Sierra Leone team.

“We need to find out if our international communications director and our Public Relations are such that we can attract better teams to Iran? In the days I was a coach of the national team, I swear to God that I had arranged the international friendlies, preparation matches and logistics two years in advance.” Ghalenoei said.

The former Estighlal coach and the record holder of league titles with different Iranian clubs, added “although the Football Federation was suspended at that time, with the in-fighting between the two political factions within the FFIRI, I said to myself that even if I have little time as the coach of Team Melli, I would do something significant”

Ghalenoei prompted “We should look for the preparation program of the national team’s technical staff.  Certainly, such games like Sierra Leone, do not serve Iran’s football, but the question remains, have we been able to meet the demands of the technical staff with all those political problems surrounding us? I doubt that the technical staff of Team Melli would have been interested to meet such a team in the preparation for the World Cup, perhaps they had no choice but grudgingly accept the game as they had no other options. “

In another part of the interview, Ghalenoei spoke about the Secretary of the Football Federation Mohammad Reza Saket, “He (Saket) has 15 years of administration experience in football, but this game against a weak African team, does not help our cause.”

“I’m sorry, to say this,” he said. “but, in countries like us, some executives work 20 hours a day; this means disaster. This shows that our country is a hundred years behind. The executive‘s disillusionment will be disastrous in the second month. One manager should work eight hours, have eight hours to rest and have eight hours to go to his family; where not a programmer, a manager is proud to say that I am at work from five in the morning or I work for 20 hours; I have to work on everything in the program and the perspective.

Ghalenoei praised Carlos Queiroz for his results with Team Melli. “In general, his reputation and fame meant international recognition, and after six years he has become an aristocratic football coach. In countries like Iran, where there is systematic lack of planning, managers who can make a difference and are competent , do not have a chance or not given the opportunity  to be leaders, and there are some who are elevated by nepotism, who  get to position they do not deserve and serve without much vision or success. The end result is that nobody is enjoying football run by these people.”

Team Melli to play a friendly vs. Sierra Leone

Azadi Stadium will host an international friendly on Saturday 17th March between Team Melli and  Sierra Leone national team.

The west African nation is ranked 114 in FIFA ranking and has never made it to a major tournament before. For Team Melli , it will be a welcome practice despite the weaker opposition and a chance for Querioz to test some domestic league players who have showed great potentials in the Persian Gulf League and the AFC Champions league.

There is a slim chance   of any Legionnaires making an appearance for Team Melli in this match.