By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
Sierra Leone National Home Based team has on 24th August 2022 held their first training session ahead of their crunch tie against the Eagles of Mali at the SKD Stadium.
Leone Stars Home Based side will host the Eagles of Mali on the 27th August 2022 at SKD Stadium in Liberia in the first leg of the final phrase CHAN Qualifiers. The winner of the highest aggregate will automatically qualify for the Tournament in Algeria next year.
Sierra Leone National home team is facing last year’s runner-up in the competition which was hosted in Cameroon and they have a wealth of experience in playing such competitions.
Head of Media, Ibrahim Kanu attached to the team said the training session was for players to familiarize with the pitch ahead of the match day. He noted that the team is expected to train twice a day to keep team fits as they brace up to host the Eagles of Mali in the first leg qualifiers.
He further that during the training session officials of the Liberia Football Association boost the team with water as they continue their training session, the good gesture was handed over to the by the Minister of Sports of Liberia. He noted that the good will came as a result of the strong tie between the two countries and the players needs to feel at home and work on their task against the Malians.
After their return from Morocco in the CHAN qualifiers again Cape Verde, the Home-based national football team was involved intensive training sessions both in Freetown and Kenema to gauge their readiness ahead of the double header fixtures against the Eagles of Mali on 27th August 2022.
To this, the team has played seven (7) friendlies including BO RANGERS FOOTBALL CLUB and FC KALLON Football Club in Kenema where the team has been camped for the last two weeks, out of these friendlies played, the team won five (5) and drew two (2) including their last tie played against FC KALLON on Sunday 21st August 2022 at the Kenema City field.
Francis Zappa Koroma the head coach of the National Leone Stars Team B, expressed optimism about eliminating the Malians in this encounter adding that he knew beforehand that they were going to meet last year’s runners-up in the last edition in the CHAN Qualifiers, but is confident that his boys are going to make it to the tournament in Algeria next year.
In another development ahead of Sierra Leone Chan’s first leg, the Eagles of Mali share spoil with Guinea (0-0) at the Stade Omnisports Modibo- Keita on Monday.
Sierra Leone and the Eagles of Mali have met (15) times in all competitions with 8 draws and lost five times against their Malian counterparts, being the host for the first leg they need a win to guarantee an upset for the Malian and to prepare for the returned leg in fortnight.
