By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
Leone Stars Home Based side with full delegation has on 1st September 2022 safely touched down at the Modibo Keita International Airport in Mali and lodged at the Olympia International Hotel in Bamako ahead of the return leg of the final phase in the Total Energies CHAN 2023 Qualifiers against The Eagles of Mali.
The full delegation of Sierra Leone’s home-based side is led by Western Area Football Association (WAFA) Chairman Pst Philip Buck, and the match is slated for Saturday the 3rd of September 2022 at Stade du 26 Mars in Bamako at 4:00 pm.
Before departure from Sierra Leone, Head Coach Francis ‘Zappa’ Koroma made two key replacements from the 23-man squad of the first leg as Bo Rangers’ newly unveiled defender Abass Kamara replaced Abdul Razak Conteh who is pushing through to regain full fitness, and FC Kallon’s striker Hassan Milla Koroma filled the void left by the unsettled Musa Noah ‘Tombo’ Kamara.
He expressed high optimism that his boys are going to do their best and qualify the country for their first CHAN Tournament as it is set to be hosted in Algeria in January 2023. He noted they have learned their lessons from what happened in the first leg in Liberia and they are going for an out win and secured a spot in the tournament.
The team remains fully focused on continuing the fight for a spot in the TotalEnergies 2023 African Nations Championship (CHAN) after losing the first leg encounter at home by 1:2. The said the home match was played at the SKD Stadium in Liberia due to the lack of CAF approved playing facility in Sierra Leone as the Siaka Steven Stadium currently undergoing thorough refurbishment.
According to the Sierra Leone Football Association, the match is expected to be streamed live through the SLFA Facebook page for football fans back to have an access to watch the boys going turf against Mali.
The CHAN Tournament is meant for locally based players with members federations to give playing time to locally based players.
Sierra Leone has a poor record in playing against their West African opponents, they have met (15) times in all competitions they have just won two times and drew (8) times, and lost five times against their Malian counterparts, in the hosting the first encounter they need to make sure not take a defeat because they have a good record against Sierra Leone at home in Mali. The winner of the two matches and with the highest scores line will make it to the tournament in Algeria.
