Just a few days after losing to Mauritania in a 2-1 friendly match at the Stade Cheikha Boydie, Nouakchott Mauritania on Friday, Leone Stars suffered another 1-0 defeat on Tuesday, October 13, 2020, at the Stade Général Seyni Kountché, Niamey with spectators for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic.
Both matches are part of Sierra Leone’s preparation to play Nigeria, who played out a 1-1 draw with Tunisia in a friendly on Tuesday.
According to recent statistics, Sierra Leone has won only once in their last six matches. Their last victory was against Liberia in a World Cup qualifying match in Freetown on September 2019.
After losing the two matches it is now clear that John Keister and his back room staff have a big task ahead of the trip to Nigeria in November 9, 2020 in the AFCON race for Cameroon.
Nigeria will host Sierra Leone at the 22,000 seated Stephen Keshi Stadium, in Asaba when the qualifiers for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations continue next month before travelling to Freetown for the return fixture to be played at the Siaka Steven Stadium Freetown.
The Super Eagles are leading Group L after victories in the first two matches against Benin and Lesotho. The Squirrels of the Benin Republic are placed second by Lesotho while Sierra Leone is at the rock bottom in the table.
By Desmond Tunde Coker
15/10/2020. ISSUE NO: 7931