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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
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