Although Sierra Leone is the third team in Group A of the Ivory Coast 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, that has not stopped the Leone Stars from thinking of causing another upset in a group that includes Nigeria, Guinea Bissau and Sao Tome. and Principles.Guinea-Bissau in March caused a major upset when they defeated the Super Eagles of Nigeria in Abuja early in the qualifying round. That is what Sierra Leone vowed to do on Sunday when they host Nigeria in Monrovia, Liberia.The Leone Stars have five points from their four matches and the Super Eagles have nine points, while Guinea-Bissau have seven points and Sao Tome and Principe are at the bottom of the table.Speaking before the Super Eagles match, Leone Stars footballer Ismael Dumbuya said he is optimistic that he will play for the Super Eagles despite the fact that there are Nigerian football teams. Dumbuya, who is based in Liberia, was one of the new invitees after seven of their hosts were eliminated from the match.
A win for Leone Stars on Sunday will boost their hopes of qualifying for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. Meanwhile, Leone Stars captain Steven Caulker is a serious doubt for the game, according to a report from BSNSports.com.ng.Coach John Keister released the guest list for the game last week and Caulker's name was among those invited. But the former Fulham defender picked up the injury while representing his club, Wigan, in a league match. Although he underwent a successful surgery, he was still recovering just four days before the match.Three-time world champions Nigeria will go all out in Paynesville, knowing that second-placed Guinea-Bissau is in danger of defeating the defending champions. Sao Tome and Principe, in the other group competition. In the final week of 2020, Leone Stars went from 4-1 to 4-4 with the Super Eagles at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City in another Champions League match. at the Siaka Stevens Stadium in Freetown.
When the two teams faced each other on the opening day of the current campaign at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja a year ago, Leone Stars drew blood before goals from Alex Iwobi and Victor Osimhen put Nigeria in the driver's seat. . The Eagles flew to Agadir, Morocco a few days later to beat Sao Tome and Principe 10-0, setting a new international record.All the Nigerian players called for this match are now at the Super Eagles camp at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. The match at the stadium with a capacity of 22,000 seats will start at 5:00 pm. Nigerian time (4:00 p.m. Liberia time) as the Super Eagles look to reach the playoffs early next year with one game to spare. For the latest African Cup of Nations, the Super Eagles ran out with one game as Paul Onuachu scored a few minute lead against the Benin Republic Guepards in Porto Novo.Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed a Sudanese official, Mahmood Ali Ismail, as referee, with his compatriot, Mohammed Abdallah Ibrahim, as deputy referee 1. Lebanese Abdourazak Ahmed of Djibouti will also serve as assistant referee 2, and Mohamed Diraneh. Guedi, also from Djibouti, as the fourth leader.Gambia's Bakary Jammeh will be the commissioner, while Togo's Kokou Djaoupe will be the referee.
Speaking through the Sierra Leone Football Association, Dumbuya said their main goal is to beat Nigeria on Sunday. “I hope to make the final squad for the game against Nigeria, and our target is to beat Nigeria and qualify for the next AFCON,” he said.He gave the update through his social media handle on Wednesday. “Being injured is certainly not fun. This new treatment delivered by St. James Wellbeing Clinic is brutally painful but super effective,” he posted.
