AFCON Qualifiers: Sierra Leone aims to repeat 2001 Upset against Nigeria Eagles

VOICE AIR MEDIA News Update

Leone stars head coach, Josh Keister says his side can beat the Super Eagles in this weekend’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tie.

The Leone Stars of Sierra Leone will host the Super Eagles in the matchday five encounter at the Samuel Kanyon Doe, Stadium, Monrovia on Sunday in a must win encounter for them as they sit in third position on the Group A table with five points from four games.

The Super Eagles are favourites to win this contest judging by the more stars in the team plus they already top the table with 9 points.

Keister however insisted that his players must be brave against the three-time African champions.

“I remember in 2001, I was part of the Sierra Leone team that beat Nigeria 1-0 and this was when no one expected anything from us,” Keister stated in a video interview posted on the Facebook page of the Sierra Leone Football Association on Wednesday, June 14.

“I have that feeling again with this team going to Liberia to face Nigeria, despite the challenges we have with players suspended, several personal issues and injuries, that we can do it again.”

“We can’t afford to show them too much respect and that is a fact in football. It is about how badly we want it and how much we can motivate the boys and trust them to go and perform,” added the gaffer.

“Like I said, they have some good players doing well abroad, but it is about how we approach the game and we will go into the game with a very strong mentality as we have always done.”