The Head Coach of Sierra Leone’s National Football team Leone Stars, John Keister has shared
optimism on the naming of a squad of 25 players for AFCON 2023 qualifying matches against
Nigeria on the 9th of June and Guinea Bissau four days later. Speaking to this mediumS in an exclusive interview, John Keister said Leone Stars will go away to the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the opening qualifying fixture before hosting the Djurtus of Bissau in Guinea.
He informed that Sierra Leone is hosting all its matches in Guinea because of the renovation of
the Siaka Steven Stadium, the country’s only venue for international matches. Eighteen Foreign
Based players and seven Home Base players were called by Coach Keister to honor the first
two matches” he explained. “My predictions for these two matches are as follows: Going for a draw against Nigeria in Nigeria, and a win against Guinea Bissau in Conakry Guinea. This would give us a total of four points in Group A. That’s a comfortable step towards qualification” he said. The Leone Stars Head Coach told this medium that with the crops of players invited, and Leone Stars’ hard-working and dynamic technical team, he is confident that they are going to have then four points. “Group A seems to be easy but technically it is not easy; our last two matches are against Nigeria in Conakry, Guinea, and Guinea Bissau in Bissau. We need to win all our three home matches and get a draw in one of the away matches. With a total of ten points at the end of the campaign, we are sure to qualify for AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast” the Leone Stars Head Coach added.
According to reports, he said two teams will qualify from each group respectively. “Special thanks to our hard-working and dynamic President H.E. JMB through the Government, for the financial support to our Darling Leone Stars to honor these fixtures,” he said. He pleaded to all Companies, Parastatals, and Government Authorities, complementing the efforts of President Julius Maada Bio by giving financial and material support to our Darling Leone Stars. Remember, he added that the National Team belongs to the people of Mama Salone. Leone Stars need your total support. “Above all things, let’s continue to pray for our Darling Leone Stars for victory during this campaign” he called.
