By Kabs Kanu
LEONE STARS just cannot score from penalty kicks. Give them a penalty kick and they will miss it.
This penalty curse has cost the nation glory , considerably. Leone Stars , after losing away 3-1 against Liberia two years ago were on the verge of eliminating the Liberians from the World Cup on away goals rule , leading 1-0 into the dying minutes when they were awarded a penalty kick which would have given them a 2-0 victory, but the team captain then, Umaru Zingaley Bangura , found cause for the Liberian goalkeeper to save his shot.
As if that was not enough , Leone Stars could have made history by qualifying beyond the first round of the recent 2022 Africa Nations Cup final competition in Cameroun . They needed just a draw to qualify and trailing Equatorial Guinea 1-0, their chance came in the closing minutes when they were awarded a penalty kick. But as the whole nation held its breath, the most experienced player on the side then, Kei Kamara came out and missed the kick, plunging the nation into disappointment once again.
And yesterday, in a must-win Africa Nations Cup Zone A qualifying must-win match against Guinea Bissau in Conakry , everything worked in their favour, though down 0-2 in the second half as one of the opponents players was sent off for dangerous play with over 35 minutes still to play. With Guinea Bissau reduced to 10 men, Leone Stars were awarded a 72nd minute penalty , but once again, they could not score. The phenomenal Musa Tombo Kamara, of all players, conspired to shoot wide and throw away the golden opportunity, to the disappointment of all Sierra Leoneans .
The outcome of the miss was a dishonorable 2-2 draw that mired Leone Stars in third place on the table , with Nigeria on top and Guinea Bissau second.
ZINGALEY WHO MISSED THE PENALTY AGAINST LIBERIA
KEI KAMARA WHO MISSED THE PENALTY AGAINST EQUATORIAL GUINEA
MUSA TOMBO MISSED YESTERDAY’S PENALTY AGAINST GUINEA BISSAU
It was a match that Sierra Leone should have won at all costs to put themselves on a better footing to make it once again to the Africa Nations Cup Final competition. At one time, they were even playing against 9 outfield Guinea Bissau players as the opponents’ goalkeeper had injured himself and since they had exhausted their substitutes one of their outfield players had to replace the goalkeeper. There were 7 additional minutes added because of the delay over the injury, but still Leone Stars could not capitalize on the advantage.
Leone Stars started the game brightly, dominating well and creating good opportunities, but Musa Tombo could not convert from a great position . And then, Steve Caulker’s header from a corner kick hit the goalpost, costing Sierra Leone what could have been the welcome opener.
At the resumption of the second half, Guinea Bissau, who played a magnificent game and proved to be no longer pushovers, stunned Sierra Leone with two quick goals in the 47th and 52nd minutes , both scored through slack defending and finished into the net by Jorge Ferbossa Intima. Guinea Bissau deserved their 2-0 lead but circumstances conspired against them, starting with one of their players being sent off. This turned the game against them.
Leone Stars should be however commended for coming back from two goals down to draw. After Musa Tombo missed from the penalty spot , they were not discoraged and continued hammering away at the opponents , especially after Coach Keister brought in Augustus Kargbo as a substitute. He started the revival in the 77th minute when he dribbled through the Guinea Bissau defence and netted with a brilliant ground shot.
Leone Stars continued attacking and were rewarded in the 88th minute when the man who had failed to score the penalty–The ever popular and enterprising Musa Tombo–at last hit the ball beyond reach of the opponents’ goalkeeper.
LEONE STARS have to beat Nigeria and Guinea Bissau in the second leg matches to have any chance of making it to AFCON 2023 in the Ivory Coast.
