Skip to main content

Sierra Leone’s AFCON 2023 Hope Dashed

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson
Sierra Leone, one of Africa’s Football loving nations whose supporters dearly anticipated making it to the finals of the 2023-TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations tournament proper in Cote D’Ivoire qualification hopes ended on Sunday evening at the SKD Stadium in Monrovia. Despite putting out what is believed to be a good show against their Group-A opponents (Super Eagles of Nigeria) whose in-form forward Victor Osimhen took advantage of John Keister’s disorganized back-four twice to have a brace to his name before the first quarter hour mark. In the last five minutes to the end of the first half Sierra Leone’s forward Mustapha Bundu renewed hopes for this side as he pulled once back to make it 2-1 in favour of the visitors from Nigeria.
Returning from their dressing rooms, Sierra Leone’s coach John Edward Keister introduced some fresh legs when he substituted Mustapha Bundu for Musa Noah “Tombo” Kamara and Saidu Fofanah for skipper Steven Caulker, a move the bought some renewed spirit for his side which wasted no further minutes to earn a spectacular comeback courtesy of forward Augustus Kargbo. At 2-2 in regulation time, the host nation gambled their chances when their coach substituted youngster defender Alpha Turay for forward Abu Komeh in the 3rd minute of the added five minutes whose last introduction saw fans taunting their coach after Kelechi Iheanacho netted late to clinch a 3-2 away win for his nation.
Sunday’s result means, end of the road for the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone and their other Group-A opponent Sao Tome and Principe as Nigeria overtakes Guinea Bissau(10) as group leaders with 12 points earned from 5 games, despite Sierra Leone will still face off Guinea Bissau in September while Sao Tome battles Nigeria in their last group games for the 2023-TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations scheduled to be hosted in Cote D’Ivoire.
(C): Awoko Newspaper - alusinerehme.wilson@awokonewspaper.sl

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Makeni Medical Mission Brings Hope and Healing to Bombali District

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson Residents of the Asker Amputee Camp in Makeni City, including various war victims, are rejoicing over the inauguration of the Makeni Medical Mission health facility, established by philanthropist, author, and pastor Mr. Bambay Sawaneh, alongside his partners in the United States. This newly launched medical facility, comprising 11 treatment rooms, was developed with the support of Southeastern Medical International (SMI) and the Concord Christian Church. Their mission is to deliver compassionate healthcare and a range of medical services to the people of Bombali District and surrounding areas, with a particular focus on war victims and vulnerable families living in the Asker Amputee Camp at Robureh. At the official opening ceremony in Makeni city, a team of 10 medical missionaries from Southeastern Medical International, including Sheila Yates, a seasoned medical missionary with two decades of experience in the US, provided free medical care to 100 individuals,...

Senegal, first African team to beat England, but not first to score three goals

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson Claim: Soccer World HQ, in a Facebook post , claimed that Senegal is the first African team to beat England and the first to score three goals against them. Verdict: Partly True! Senegal is the first African team to beat England, but not the first to score three goals against them. Full Text The England senior men’s national football team, nicknamed the “Three Lions,” played their first match against Scotland in 1872. That match ended goalless but marked the beginning of an intense soccer rivalry between both nations, dubbed the “Auld Enemy.” Since 1872-2025, the England national team has achieved its 1000-game milestone in November 2019 when they played Montenegro at the Wembley Stadium. England's all-time head-to-head record shows that they’ve played a whopping 1072 matches against 100 countries, won 615 games, drew 255, and lost 200. Senegal, on the other hand, is one of Africa’s most famous football nations, nicknamed the “Lions of Teranga.” In 2002, ...

❗️INDEPENDENCE MESSAGE FROM ACTION TO HEAL FOUNDATION SIERRA LEONE (A2HF-SL)🇸🇱

  欄 Fellow Countrymen of this Great Land Naturally Endowed with Riches and a Fine Set of Zealous and Charismatic Siblings,  that has once been Chained to Colonial Dictatorship for over 15 Decades, Action to Heal Foundation Sierra Leone (A2HF-SL) a Non-Governmental Organization that Stands for Physically Challenged Children through its numerous contribution in their Lives, and by its other activities such as: Advocacy, Education Charitable Gestures and more, hereby wishes the People of Sierra Leone at both home and abroad a Happy 58th Years Independence Anniversary. As Commemoration and Celebration of this historic day continues quietly and loudly incountry and far and wide, A2HF is please to remind us all that it takes courage, determination, and sacrifice for us to develop this great nation of ours. Hastily, as the day fades by gradually, forget not to  lay premium to Physically Challenged Children of Our Country and the African Continent by...