By KABS KANU
Sierra Leone erupted in jubilation and thousands of ecstatic people streamed through the streets of Freetown , grinding pot covers, beating drums and screaming victory songs in sheer passion , after the national football team, Leone Stars, stunned the soccer world once again by forcing yet another African giant, two-times Champions Ivory Coast to a 2-2 draw in the ongoing AFCON 22 in Cameroun.
The result , which has given Sierra Leone two points in the competition after also drawing 0-0 with the reigning African Champions Algeria last week in another gallant performance that brought pride to the nation, leaves the Leone Stars poised to do the impossible—progress into the next round from the Group of Death, where they were expected to have been slaughtered. If they beat Equatorial Guinea on Thursday, Leone Stars will qualify for the Group of 16.
What is most amazing and impressive about Leone Stars’ two results is that they are against two countries that are considered the giants of African football. Said Social media activist, Yankuba Kai-Samba : “If you can draw with the defending African champion Algeria and Ivory Coast you have what it takes to bring the cup home.”
With the Ivorians leading 2-1 and seeming to take all three points, Leone Stars theatrically tied the game at stoppage time, when substitute Alhaji Kamara, who came in in the 75th minute to replace Mustapha Bundu, tapped the ball over the goal line, after the Ivorian goalkeeper Badara Sangare fumbled a defensive back header on the right side . Steven Caulker squared excellently for Alhaji Kamara and his scuffed finish found the back of the net.
It was an obdurate and resolute performance, characteristic of the new Leone Stars, who have brought pride to the nation . They never gave up when they fell behind twice and such a resilient display by Leone Stars won the hearts of soccer fans all over the world.
It was a thrilling match of high drama.
The first dramatic moment of the game came in the 10th minute when star goalkeeper Mohamed Nabile Kamara , who was man-of -the match in the Algeria game, saved a penalty kick , given after Skipper Umaru Zingaley Bangura, fouled Wilfred Zaha. Kamara, who has already won international spotlight and will likely be signed by a foreign side , dived and deflected the ball out of touch brilliantly from Frank Yannick Kessie. Another excellent goalkeeping display from him kept Leone Stars in the match when the Ivorians dominated the first half.
But Kamara could not stop the dominant Ivorians from taking the lead in the 25th minute when the defence left a lot of space for Zaha to float a great pass that was seized upon by Sebastian Haller , who stabbed past the goalkeeper.
Sierra Leone could have equalized before half time but Buya Turay, one-on-0ne with the Ivorian goalkeeper, was thwarted as the goalie stuck out his leg to deny him a certain goal.
The undaunted Leone Stars , who trailed 0-1 at half time , came back with renewed determination in the second half and Musa Tombo Kamara justified the outcry of the nation for him to be in the starting line-up when he equalized in the 55th minute , after swiveling past a defender before swinging the ball into the top corner.
Sierra Leoneans maintained a spirit of jubilation on social media but Leone Stars fell behind again in the 65th minute when the Ivorians staged a beautiful combination after Sierra Leone forfeited possession and the ball got to Arsenal striker Nicholas Pepe who bent a curving shot past diving goalkeeper Kamara.
It would have been worse for Sierra Leone but for a magnificent goalline save by the experienced Kei Kamara who stopped the Ivorians from putting away the tie.
And it was just as well, because the still unruffled Leone Stars continued fighting and were rewarded deep in stoppage time with the equaliser that sent thousands of jubilant citizens into the streets to celebrate. Once again, a whole nation united behind its national football team and the jubilation continued well into the night.
