By: Sulaiman Stom Koroma
The streets of Freetown flowed with passionate supporters who were not only denied the access to host their nation’s cup final qualifying game in Sierra Leone, but to also accompany their team to Guinea where the match was played. Vehicles, motorbikes, tricycles, and fans, took to the street with horns blazing, whistles bowling, and singing songs of praise for the Leone starts team which has qualified for the African Cup of Nations for the first time in 26 years.
For the first time in years, citizens of the country were united, not thinking of colors, parties, or tribes to celebrate this victory.
Sierra Leone first gained its Nations cup qualification in 1994. The 1994 African Cup of Nations was the 19th edition. It was hosted by Tunisia, which replaced the original host Zaire. Just as in 1992, the field of twelve teams was split into four groups of three. Sierra Leone was placed in Group 3 in the qualifies and emerged victors, topping the group with 14 points. Although Sierra Leone performed badly in 1994, it was an experience for the next nation’s cup, in 1996.
In 1996, The qualification for the Cup of Nations took place in 7 groups of 6 teams each, with the top 2 teams from each group progressing to the tournament. Nigeria and South Africa qualified automatically, as champions and hosts respectively. Qualification began in September 1994 and ended in July 1995, the team was grouped with Ghana, Congo, Gambia, Niger, and the Central African Republic. Gambia and Niger withdrew after competing for 5 matches each; their results were annulled. The Central African Republic withdrew without playing any match, and Sierra Leone and Ghana qualified with 6 points each in the group stage. In the Finals of the 1996 African Nations Cup, Sierra Leone won their first game against Burkina Faso but lost to Algeria and Zambia.
Since then, the country has been struggling for qualifications, missing out on two possible qualifications. But with a promise from the president of a parcel of land and one hundred million Leones, it was time for the Leone stars to change the natives.
The 2022 Nations Cup was a real test, the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone were paired with Nigeria, Lesotho, and Benin in group L. At the start of the qualifies, Nigeria remain in the top spot in the group, fighting for two points to qualify, despite their four all draw against Sierra Leone in Nigeria.
In their final match, the Leone stars were scheduled to take on Benin in Freetown, the Group L fixture which was initially scheduled for Tuesday, March 30, at the National Stadium, Freetown, did not take place due to a Covid-19 controversy of some of their players, because of this, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the postponement of the Africa Cup of Nations qualification encounter between Sierra Leone and Benin and was rescheduled for June which was an international window date.
The incident started on the 30th of June in Freetown, where Benin refused to honor their fixture after five of their starting players were tested positive for Covid-19. Both Sierra Leone and Benin appealed to CAF and Switzerland respectively, unfortunately, both appeals were rejected and CAF ordered a replay, now at a different venue in Conakry because the national stadium in Freetown was not up to international standards. While in Conakry and a few hours before the kickoff, six Sierra Leonean players Ibrahim Sesay, Francis Koroma, Augustus Kargbo, Idriss Kanu, Alusine Koroma, and Kassim Sima Turay were declared Covid-19 positive. Benin needed a draw to guarantee their place in the African football showpiece, while victory for Keister’s men will send Sierra Leone through to the final of the tournament. Unlike Sierra Leone whose performance at the finals of the Nations Cup was just at the group stages, Benin Republic’s last participation was in Egypt in 2019 where they went out in the quarter-final after a 1-0 defeat to Senegal in Cairo.
The Leone starts went into the game determined, confident and courageous, but most importantly thinking of the promise made to them by the president of the Republic of Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone survived after Kei Kamara converted the penalty which took Sierra Leone to the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 1996.
Though Sierra Leone was level on seven points with Benin, the team edged out with a win, four draws, and an away defeat. Sierra Leone joined 23 other countries who have secured places at the Cup of Nations, they included defending champions Algeria hosts Cameroon, and record seven-times title-holders Egypt. Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe.
Fans bust in their numbers at the office of the president and walked with his motorcade to his residence as a way to celebrate with him after his promise to the team.
“Congratulations to Sierra Leone. We are a football-loving nation, and today, our boys have made history. My government is committed to promoting football and other sports disciplines,” President Bio wrote.
“This victory means a lot for us the fans, our generation has been supporting this squad for a long time now, seeing them qualify for the nation’s cup, is a great joy.” Said Abdul Fonnah a fanatic football fan.
For Musa S. Kamara who is a sports presenter for radio democracy, the victory came at the right time not only for the qualification but for the unit it has created for the fan. “it been long seeing fans in this jubilant mode, I hope the boys go out there in Cameroon and make us proud”. He said.
The nations cup in Cameroon started on the 9th but for Sierra Leone, the tournament in earnest started on Tuesday 11 January 2022 at Japoma stadium in Douala. Into this march, Algeria is unbeaten for a record-long time and will start the defense of their title against the Leone Stars, a small nation returning to AFCON after 26 years of absence. It could be recalled that these two sides were in the same group in South Africa in 1996. With Algeria winning by 2-0.
The Leones Stars had their biggest moments in the 6th and 49th minutes, Alhaji Kamara’s strike missed the target by inches and Mohamed Buya Turay was flagged off-side. For Algeria, their biggest moment came when Brahimi managed to have a clear chance with the Leone Stars goalkeeper in the 52nd minute, but the golly made an outstanding save to secure a point for Sierra Leone. Mohamed Kamara had the man of the match performance. He was thrilled with his own performance and awards after the match. “I am really happy about this, this came as a surprise even though I was expecting one. I was determined and focused during the match, I made some saves which were outstanding and it paid off, a draw is not a bad result nor was it a bad performance from the team”. He said.
“The goalkeeper was outstanding, to see such performance from a Homebased player is on heard off, going forward, the government should invest more in the local league so we can see more home-based players excelling in such stage”. said Erick Lansana a former Team Manager of the Leone Stars.
For Idrissa Kanu who is a fan, the performance of the Leone Starts was excellent, and believed the team could have won.
“We had a lot of opportunities, it’s a sign that we can do better in our next match. This draw means a lot for us as a team and as a country”. Said John Kamara a midfield player of the Leone starts.
The 95th blunder from goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare handed the Leone stars of Sierra Leone an equalizer that secured a 2-2 draw with Ivory Coast in their second group game.
Sebastien Haller scored first to put Ivory Coast ahead at halftime but Musa Kamara equalized for Sierra Leone before Nicolas Pepe restored the Ivorian’s’ lead. They looked to be heading for a deserved win when Sangare somehow managed to lose control of the ball, allowing Steven Caulker to feed Alhaji Kamara for an equalizer to make it two-all.
“Best of all is the spirit we have shown. Just to be here is a win for us,” said coach John Keister.
Musa Kamara made his first start in the tournament scoring his first nations cup goal “I am happy to be here and to have scored a goal. We showed perseverance and a high level of determination in this match today, our hopes of qualifying to the next stage lie in our last match. Let’s see what happens” He said.
The government played a huge role in the qualification and was still showing massive support during the tournament, according to the Minister of Sports, these supports go a long way to motivate the team during the tournament “We have increased their bonus from 3,000 to 5,000 dollars and we shall continue to give them the required support and will even increase that amount so that they will feel determined heading into the last game against Equatorial Guinea” He maintained.
“The team so far is doing extremely well, the showpiece they put up against Algeria and Ivory Coast is unbelievable, I just think the coach needs some changes in his squad to make them more formidable in the next encounter”. Said Mohamed Kallon who was Sierra Leone football ambassador at the tournament.
Kei Kamara missed, a late penalty against Equatorial Guinea to crash the chances of the Leone Stars of reaching the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations as the Leone Stars lost 1-0. Pablo Ganet’s strike in 38th-minute ensured Equatorial Guinea finished second in Group E with the Leone Stars going home.
“We are blaming the coach for such performance in the tournament, he is very defensive in his formation and that is the reward of this result today”. Said Unisa who was very angry and frustrated after the match.
For journalist Musa S. Kamara, the coach should have effected some key changes earlier in the second half “you can’t continue to keep a tired player in the field, there are many talented players on the bench, give them their playing time. The result today is as a result of the poor changing decision of the coach”. He said.
Even though some fans were frustrated over the general performance of the team, for many, it was an opportunity to see the team on the international stage again after such a long time. The Leone Stars may have bowed out of the tournament, but it was a two-weeks of unity, joy, and a period of a massive show of support for their darling Leone Starts.
Credit: Owl Newspaper
