Freetown, Sierra Leone – Wednesday, March 6, 2024
betPawa emphasised its ambition to help make betting friendly at an event announcing its arrival in Sierra Leone, marking the 12th country the brand is entering in Africa.
Representatives greeted members of the press and public at Lor Restaurant in Freetown on Wednesday, March 6. Speakers included Mchezo Managing Director Ntoudi Mouyelo, betPawa Chief Brand Officer Spencer Okach and Sierra Leone Franchisee Thomas Nsongka (LionBets & Fastwins Ltd).
In addition to expressing their excitement at being welcomed to the Sierra Leone scene, they discussed betPawa’s customer focus and determination to champion responsible gambling.
Mr. Mouyelo said: “We’re thrilled to be live in Sierra Leone and appreciate the warm welcome. Everything we do is driven by our mission to make betting friendly, and we relish the opportunity to win the trust of sports fans and casino players throughout the country as we have in 11 other African countries.”
Attending the event on behalf of the government, Minister of Youth Affairs Mohamed Bangura said: “Sierra Leone warmly welcomes betPawa to our nation, and we look forward to collaborating with a compliant and responsible gaming brand that will not only spur economic growth but also support the development of sports in our country.”
He added: “betPawa’s presence in Sierra Leone aligns with our government’s commitment to job creation. We anticipate that this partnership will contribute significantly to our goal of generating 100,000 jobs, further empowering our youth and fostering economic prosperity.”
betPawa has demonstrated its commitment to corporate social responsibility across Africa through various initiatives, including sport development, sponsorship and healthcare. As it expands into Sierra Leone, it pledges to continue these efforts and potentially broaden their
impact even further, promising to contribute positively to the local community.
Mr. Nsongka said: “Today we launch a friendly, entertaining and customer-focused gaming brand. As a representative of the brand locally, I assure you of our unwavering commitment to compliance with all regulatory requirements, as is required of a responsible corporate citizenry.” Key pillars of betPawa’s mission to make betting friendly include 24/7 customer support, instant payouts, low stakes and the prospect of life-changing wins with a 1000% Win Bonus. This is underpinned by partnerships with proven mobile money payment operators like
Orange.
The brand attracted headlines throughout Africa last October when 27,938 customers became millionaires within 10 days. Between the 21st and 30th, Le1.52 Trillion was paid out in total.
ENDS: For more information email press @mchezo.rw lola or okulo@betpawa.com
About betPawa
betPawa is a mobile sports betting brand owned by Mchezo Limited. It operates across 12 countries in Africa, with over 10 million users. betPawa is on a mission to make betting friendly by providing 24-hour customer support, a user-friendly platform, the lowest minimum stakes and guaranteed & instant payments.
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FIORENTINA AND ITS LOVE AFFAIR WITH STRIKERS
La Viola for all their rich history and league titles, with those last coming in 1955-56 as well as 1968-68 seasons have over the last century produced some of the best strikers ever to grace the football world.
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THE ROMANCE OF COTE D’IVIORE’S TRIUMPH
In a story fit for the romanticism of Valentine’s week, Côte d’Ivoire has emerged as the champions of the 2023 African Cup of Nations, defeating finalists Nigeria in a thrilling final played in front of a sold-out crowd of 60,000 fans at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium. This triumph was the culmination of a journey filled with twists and turns, showcasing the resilience and determination of the Ivorian team.
GLORIOUS OPENING GAME … BUT AWFUL GROUP STAGE CAMPAIGN
Goals from Krasso and Fofana who were both lively all game long against Guinea-Bissau ensured the host nation started the tournament on a bright note with expectations of making it to the final looking favorable especially with the football on display. Stats from cafonline.com indicate a 61.2% ball possession favoring the Elephants contributing towards 10 shots on goal with nine being inside the box resulting in four being on target. Seko Fofana who was the man of the match was particularly instrumental in the victory mastering two shots whilst having 64 touches in a midfield three of Kessie and Sangare rallied the hosts to an expected win. What followed was nothing shot of shocking in that the hosts went on to lose their next two games, first against Nigeria through an Ekong penalty where they had 64% of the possession similar to their previous game but could not find a way through the Super Eagles who managed to block three shots that were on target from a total of 14 shots that came their way. Their only one big chance of the game came early in the seventh minutes when Kouame volleyed a misplaced header from the Nigerian left back Sanusi which hit the keepers need and went out for a corner. The hosts went on to labour the entire match seeking to score an equalizer. Their next match was against minnows Equatorial Guinea ended up making history for all the wrong reasons, and it being their final game and looking to qualify from the group, center forward Nsue bagged two goals in a shocking defeat which saw Cote D’Ivoire lose 4-0 and put them on the brink of elimination.
THE FANS PLAY THEIR PART AS MOROCCO BEAT ZAMBIA
Cote D’Ivoire came into the final group looking to be one of the four best third placed teams in the tournament to advance to the next stage of the competition and so came the unfamiliar union with Moroccan fans in that if they backed the Atlas Lions against Zambia who needed a point in their final group game to advance, they would stay in the competition as a result. To the hosts delight Morocco beat the Chipolopolo boys by a solitary goal from talisman Ziyech who coincidentally picked up an injury in the very game which would rule him out of their next knock out game against South Africa who eventually knocked them out leaving Bafana Bafana the opportunity to go all the way to the semi finals only to lose to eventual finalists Nigeria on penalties. Not only did that victory against Zambia kick a series of events that would allow Cote D’Ivoire to make the final but to eventually lift in front of their home supporters.
MANAGER FAE GETS THE NOD
Before their eventual progression towards the knockout stages, they had to do some house cleaning and fire their then coach Jean-Louis Gasset who had been with the team since 2022 after French compatriot Patrice Beaumelle failed to qualify the Elephants to the World Cup. Emerse Fae was given the mantle to take charge of the national team which had just lost their last two games failing to score in both games, the team clearly needed inspiration and it was going to come in the form of their coach as well as the last chance to perform in front of their home ground who were looking for a massive performance as due to them finishing third they had a date with the then defending champions Senegal. Fae has to formal experience managing at the top level but was a player who played for the national team at the highest level appearing in many AFCONs as well as the 2006 World Cup.
COTE D’IVIORE BEAT THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS
The defending champions were coming into the fixture on the 29th of February 2024 in fine spirts after they secured qualification with a 100% record by winning all their group games scoring eight goals while only conceding one goal in their West African clash against Cameroon. Boasting world class players in their ranks like Sadio Mane, Koulibaly, Mendy and upcoming CAF young player of the year Camara who already bagged a brace against The Gambia. The task to get into the next round could not have been tougher for the host nation looking for a response after the nightmare campaign so far, and respond the team did by knocking out the champions in spectacular fashion through the lottery of penalty shoot outs after drawing the game one all in regulation time. Goals from Senegalese striker Diallo and Ivorian midfielder Kessie who was summoned from the bench when Senegal took the lead in the fourth minute of the match with an assist from Mane were enough to take the game into extra time and then to penalties where the prowess of Mendy who just in the previous campaign was a hero for Senegal against Egypt in the final was expected to lead his nation to another shoot out, a miss from Niakhate on the Senegalese end allowed Kessie to slot home the winning goal and send the crowd into frenzy as the less fancied hosts had moved on to the next round with the help of their supporters who made the occasion that more magical.
THE HOST NATION TAKES ON THE ENTERTAINERS
Narrow wins against the likes of Mali and DR Congo ensured the hosts made an unlikely trip to the finals of the AFCON, the never say die attitude the team adopted throughout the knockouts was something that was surely missing in their first games and credit is due to the coach’s savy tactics like the 4-4-2 tactics against Senegal which countered the Teranga Lions 3-4-3 and ensured there were enough bodies when defending and in attack. In the last eight against The Eagles, they switched it up again by playing with a 4-2-3-1 which showed their attacking intent but found themselves behind again the 71st minute to a Dorgeles goal to give the Malians the lead and seemingly look likely to advance. Goals from Adingra and Diakite in the 90th minute and 120th respectively booked Cote D’iviore into the semi finals at the depth and continue their quest to add to their two titles to their name. DR Congo had the unfortunate tag of entertainers who played well by scoring six goals and never finished them off chances effectively which is seen in the stats where they missed two big chances in each of their games played. They also had a horrible habit of conceding goals as they shipped five goals in the competition as they made their way to the semi-finals. A solitary goal from Haller took the Elephants to the final of the AFCON in an otherwise dominant performance from the hosts who shut out the Congolese attack every chance they had.
THE ELEPHANTS MAKE IT TO THE FINALS
After making it to the final and rally an entire nation to show up in their numbers to support the national team, they found themselves behind against rivals Nigeria curtesy of Ekong who earlier in the competition scored a penalty and won his team the match. Déjà vu was not going to happen twice especially against this motivated Elephant who was ready to trample any opponent that game its way. A second half goal flurry emerged for the host as their tight defended opponents who up to that time had only conceded two goals all tournaments long went on to double that figure by the end of the match and lose the cup all together. Haller who was just returning to the side after missing the entire group stage made sure to capture the moment by scoring the winning goal, this is after a year ago he was battling with cancer which ruled him out of football for a couple of months. A nation which had hosted arguably one of the finest tournaments in recent memory capped off the occasion by crowning the Elephants with their third title and second in two decades with their last in 2015.
As the confetti fell and the cheers echoed throughout the stadium, Côte d’Ivoire’s triumph stood as a testament to the power of perseverance and the magic of football. In a tournament filled with unforgettable moments, the Elephants etched their name in history, inspiring generations to come with their indomitable spirit and unwavering determination. Truly, a victory to be cherished and celebrated, reminding us of all of the beauty and romance of the beautiful game.
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SENEGALESE AFCON DOMINANCE
After failing to qualify for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, after some crowd trouble in their final game against Cote D’Ivoire, the Senegalese FA took action and appointed Cisse as their head coach to steer the ship and make Senegal competitive again.
In 2015 they managed to qualify, which saw them finish 3rd in their group and fail to qualify to the knockouts. It seemed like the relationship between Aliou Cissé and the Lions of Teranga had come to a premature end. In the most unlikely of events in 2017 the former Senegalese Footballer was given the honors to have a second bite at the Cherry. Cissé began to build a team that would not only compete but dominate. Two years later they lost to Algeria in the final. The Lions were hungry for their first Continental accolade but proved a task that would have to wait to the next competition.
2021 Senegal qualified for the third time in a roll, the Competition soon was dubbed the Sané versus Salah Final as the Lions again faced a North African rival In the final. After the game went to extra time the two were still level with both failing to find that winning spark, the Pharaohs finally succumbed to the Lions bite through a penalty shoot out.
The ascendance of Cissés Men is not an accident, neither is the 4-1 odds that they had to win the 2023 AFCON. They have been solid at the back with only one goal conceded and blistering the opponent net eight times in the group stages, winning all their games and finishing first in the process.
Though the Saudi based Sadio Mané has only scored a goal and managed two assists, the team has not lacked in attack, employing a 4-3-3 the Lions have swept their rivals like their cousins in the Serengeti. Lightening quick and lethal. Metz based Lamine Camara has come up with the goods scoring twice in the group stages.
In an unfortunate circumstance and sheer will of a spirited host nation Cote D’Ivoire, the Teranga Lions were knocked out of the AFCON in a penalty shootout in the round of 16 meaning they will not have the opportunity to defend their crown in the final after the game ended one all in 90 minutes.
Call it a curse or just bad luck but this Senegalese team have shown over the last few AFCONs how dominant they can be by reaching the latter stages of the competition in each of the last three editions a stretch where they have been to two finals in the last three editions something not a lot of teams can boast.
This year’s AFCON has been an absolute spectacle filled with entertainment and drama at every turn. The Gist’s Chis Shikoki looks at some of the stars who have caught Africa’s eye in this year’s tournament.
- Emilio Nsue
AFCON is known for being a tournament that is never short of eye-opening stories, and this year look no further than the group stage top scorer – 34 year old right-back turned striker, Emilio Nsue of Equitorial Guinea.
Despite being unable to captain his nation past the Round of 16, a hat trick against Guinea-Bissau and a brace against hosts Ivory Coast, he already staked his claim as one of AFCON’s deadliest scorers.
- Gelson Dala
Angola is not a nation that instantly demands invokes reverence from opponents like the traditional African ‘giants’ but they have impressed this year and that is largely thanks to their talismanic winger Gelson Dala.
Mostly operating from the left flank, the Al-Wakrah forward came to life when he netted twice in Angola’s 3-2 win over Mauritania and his Man Of The Match performance in the Round of 16 against Namibia was one of the best individual showings at the year’s tournament.
- Lamine Camara
Senegal may have fallen victim to the curse that prevents every holding AFCON champion from progressing past the Round of 16, but one bright spark for the outgoing champions will have been Lamine Camara’s emergence.
The 20 year old midfielder showed, particularly in the group stages, that Senegal’s aging legends have promising talent to hand the baton to soon.
Having been crowned Player Of The Tournament at the 2023 U-20 AFCON, this cub showed he’s ready to be one of the Lions of Teranga for the foreseeable future.
- Themba Zwane
The Mamelodi Sundowns veteran midfielder has been crucial in South Africa’s progression to the Quarter Finals this year and his nation will be counting on him to keep producing the goods from his attackig midfield role.
An impressive brace against Namibia spurred South Africa on to a crucial group stage win, and an assist on top of a solid performance against Morocco proved that he will be key if Bafana Bafana are to go further in the competition.
- Miguel Changa Chaiwa (Honourable Mention)
There was not much for Zambians to celebrate at this year’s AFCON with the 2012 champions playing poorly for the majority of their short stay in the tournament. However, Chipolopolo fans had been clamouring for 19 year old Changa Chaiwa to be given a real chance in the team, and once it finally came he did not disappoint.
The young midfielder held his own in the heart of Zambia’s midfield and was a key contributor to Zambia’s best performance at the tournament in an ultimately decisive loss to Morocco. With the right support around and above him, Chaiwa can shine for the Chipolopolo for many years to come.
THE GIST 