Freetown, July 1, 2025 — Football fans at Fouraybay Field witnessed a spirited and hard-fought clash on Tuesday as All Hands Football Academy went head-to-head with Canta FC in a decisive non-division football competition encounter. The match ended in a 1–1 draw, leaving All Hands Football Academy with two points from three matches — a result that sadly means the young side bows out of the tournament.
Having drawn their first match and narrowly lost the second by a goal to nil, yesterday’s fixture was a must-win for All Hands if they were to keep their qualification hopes alive. The match started with high energy, and both teams showed early signs of urgency. It was Canta FC who struck first in the 17th minute, capitalising on a defensive lapse to take a 1–0 lead, sending their fans into celebration.
But the boys from All Hands Football Academy refused to back down. They regrouped, maintained possession, and created several scoring chances. The pressure finally paid off in the 68th minute when a Canta defender brought down an All Hands attacker in the box. The referee immediately pointed to the spot. Stepping up to take the penalty was Abdulai Bangura, wearing jersey number 10. With calm nerves and sharp focus, he sent the goalkeeper the wrong way and buried the ball into the net — levelling the score at 1–1.
The equaliser electrified the crowd and boosted the morale of the All Hands team, who pushed forward in search of a winner. Despite a flurry of late chances, the game ended in a draw, leaving the young academy side just short of progressing to the next stage.
After the match, All Hands head coach Gibril Deen spoke with local reporters and praised his team’s development. “We came into this competition with a young squad that only started training a few months ago. While we didn’t qualify, I’m not disappointed. We are focused on long-term progress, and the performance of the boys today was outstanding. If qualification had come, we’d accept it gladly, but right now our focus is building discipline, teamwork, and experience,” he stated.
Team captain also reflected positively on the match, saying, “It was a tough game, but I’m proud of my teammates. We gave it everything. I thank the coach for trusting us and giving us a chance to show our talent. Although we didn’t win, we’ve grown stronger together, and this is just the beginning.”
Despite the result, All Hands Football Academy earned the respect of both fans and opponents. Spectators and neutral fans at Fouraybay Field applauded the team’s fighting spirit, composure, and unity. The academy, though newly established, is already showing signs of promise and potential.
As the competition continues without them, one thing remains clear: All Hands Football Academy is a rising force, and their journey is just getting started.
Ibrahim Kanu (Bugalo)
Media officer and General Secretary
All Hands Football Academy
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