DO-OR-DIE BATTLE IN GUINEA. LEONE STARS MUST DAZZLE AND BEAT BENIN TO MAKE EVERYBODY PROUD TODAY—-
Preview of big match by Kabs Kanu
The whole nation is seething with excitement and all ears are glued out to Conakry, capital of Guinea, today as the Leone Stars—the soccer ambassadors of Sierra Leone—-do battle with Benin to determine the final qualifier for the Africa Nations Cup soccer debacle to take place in Cameroon next year.
Despite the harrowing ordeal they suffered at the border when petulant Guinean immigration officials stopped them from entering their country for lack of Covid-19 test results. Sierra Leone’s footballers are in high spirits and determined to beat the Squirrels of Benin to make their third ever Africa Nations Cup and make the nation proud.
Sierra Leone needs the soccer morale-booster after throwing away another golden opportunity last year. when a stoppage-time penalty was awarded against Liberia but Skipper Ibrahim. Zingaley toyed with the Libetiam goalkeeper who saved his feeble shot to deny Sierra Leone a deserved place in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
This time, Leone Stars cannot miss it. The whole nation is behind them and even President Maada Bio has promised them mouth-watering financial largesse if only they can defeat Benin today to qualify for the Africa Nations Cup.
It will be a massive achievement for Leone Stars who need just a single goal victory and Coach Keister said that the boys are determined to do it against the dark horses. Benin, who are a surprised new entrants toAfrican soccer limelight.
Leone Stars have enough firepower to do it. Professional soccer stars Kei Kamara, Kwame Quee , Alhaji Jalloh Ibrahim Zingaley local stars Musa Tombo and Saidu Mansaray , if they spark. are capable of creating enormous problems for the Benin defense and goalkeeper . The tendency to miss gilt-edged chances to score as was the case against Liberia should be discouraged and they must ensure that every shot count.
Leone Stars also have a tendency to underrate opponents. They have been doing it against Liberia and even against Benin and Lesotho They cannot afford to rest on their oars and wait for the last minutes to start peppering the opponents goalmouth or scoring. They have to do it from the beginning.
Benin will no be an easy walkover. They too are determined to qualify and they have stars who will surprise Leone Stars if we give them a chance . The players Leone Stars must watch today are forwards Yannick Aguemon. Desire Azankpo,midfielder Jerome Boou who can create trouble for our often wobbling defense and their defense is solid and unyielding.
Much has been said about this soccer cracker and we cannot say much more except to wish our boys, the Leone Stars from the Lion Mountains all the best .
We need that victory today, andLeone Stars cannot afford to let us down.
