By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
Sierra Leone Senior National team (Leone Stars) lost to the Desert Foxes of Algeria Local team in an international friendly in Fujairah in Dubai.
Sierra Leone went into this friendly match in preparation ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sao Tome Principle in March 2023, as the technical went to give chance to new players that may be needed for the qualifiers.
The Leone Stars of Sierra Leone face another defeat against the Desert Foxes of Algeria team B, the Algerian side started with a pace play as they tested Issac Coker four times in front of the goal but the Sierra Leonean goalkeeper was firmed in the first opening 15 minutes of play as the Algerian sides get four corners in the first open.
Leone Stars of Sierra Leone came into the match deep in the first half as the two twins Alhassan and Alusine failed to covert a lovely touch in the (18) yard box, but face a stronger restraint from the defense of the Algerian back four and both sides went into the second half goalless.
After recess, both went into the match for a continuation of the match as the two nations looked forward to taking the lead in the match, but in the 57th minute of play, Shoiab Kdad convert a lovely pass through the Midfield and buried it home to give the lead to the Desert Foxes of Algeria. However, the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone came close to the level of the scoreline of the match.
In the 71 minutes of play, Ahmed Qandousi scored another to double the lead for the desert Foxes through a counterattack from the right-hand sides, and get the third goal six minutes of play from the second goal, and Abdul Rahman Mezian convert a loose ball from the defense of Leone Stars and make it three for the desert Foxes and they were the better side in the match.
Leone Stars A team to the UAE trip involving the SLFA, NSA, and Sports ministry headed by the most travelled ‘Leone Stars’ sports minister of all time Ibrahim Nyelenkeh, and before the team travelled to Dubai, there was no information from the public about the team travelled and which team to play in the two friendlies was also no reported, and the number delegation that made the trip is also not stated out, all those questions are yet to be answered by the both the Sierra Leone Football Association, The Ministry of Sports. Meanwhile, all efforts to know the amount of cash released by the government for the fruitless trip have proven futile.
Leone Stars were supposed to play Rwanda on the 18th of November 2022 and it was cancelled because they have to overstate in Dubai and had to pull off in the Friendly and they only had to play one which is Algeria.
This has to be three Friendlies matches they have played in the last two months and they have lost all three and conceded ten goals with no reply, and the head coach has to regroup now and his boys as they brace up to face Sao Tome Principle in March in 2023.
