Coach John Keister takes a well mixed squad to attempt the disgrace of Nigeria in the showdown in Monrovia

By Ed Emeanua

Depleted and hard pressed to beat Nigeria more than ever before, Sierra Leone head coach John Keister confronts Nigeria’s Super Eagles in Monrovia on June 18 at the Kanyon Doe Stadium in Monrovia, Liberia with a well mixed squad of overseas and local stars.

The squad features the medley of 14 foreign based and 11 stars who ply their trade in Sierra Leone’s domestic football.

Hard done by Guinea Bissau’s spirited 1-0 defeat of Sao Tome and Principe few days ago, Keister’s Leone Stars must now tap into their inner reserve to beat Nigeria or missout completely in the qualified team list for Cote d’Ivoire 2023.

Coach Keister’s team are already in Monrovia having arrived the Liberian capital city direct from Freetown, Sierra Leone on June 11 ahead of their final dress rehearsal for Sunday’s showdown against the Super Eagles.

The Leone Stars handed São Tomé and Principe a 2-0 beating in Group A’s match day four of the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

It was coach Keister’s first victory for Sierra Leone in the qualifiers after managing the Leone Stars in two stalemated games and a loss in their preceding three appearances in qualifying play.

Keister’s side is without China based Issa Kallon who misses out because of difficulty with joining the national team from China, while The Netherlands based Alex Bangura will also not be in the Monrovia action having decided to take a break from the national team setup.

Also out is England domiciled Sullay Kaikai requested be excused for private reasons and Jonathan Morsey who plays out of Greece who needs a time off to rest.

England based Osman Kakay is on the injured list while Alhassan Koroma who comes in from Spain is serving time-out for suspension for being slammed for two yellow cards offenses in two previous appearances of the qualifiers.

Alie Conteh or N’zozi for short, the ongoing Sierra Leone Premier League top scorer will not feature in Liberia because of an administrative issue which needs to be sorted out by his club and his agent before he could the allowed to join national team.

Though Steven Caulker is included in the Keister’s list to face Nigeria on Sunday, nonetheless, he will have to be assessed for fitness to play as he is just returning from a surgery.

Sierra Leone has shown sterner qualities despite these absences posting an impressive 2-2 draw with Tunisia on June 8 at the Siaka Stevens Stadium Freetown.

Leone Stars starting line-up against Tunisia in Freetown  on June 8, 2013 are Sheriff Suma, Kei Kamara, Umaru ‘Zingalay’ Bangura, Mohamed ‘Poborsky’ Bangura, Ibrahim Tarawally, John Kamara Alhassan ‘Crespo’ Kamara, Mustapha Dumbuya, George ‘Kweku’ Davies, Mohamed ‘Medo’ Kamara, and Ibrahim ‘Obrey’ Kargbo.

The Leone Stars also defeated their Liberia in their friendly game in Monrovia on June 13, five days before facing the Super Eagles.

Sierra Leone setup two training camps ahead of the group A match with Nigeria. The home players commenced the foirst phase of the training in Bo on Tuesday, May 6, and were later joined by the foreign based players before the beginning of phase two of thier training schedule for the encounter with Nigeria.

Players that will be making Coach Keister’s final 25-man list will leave for Monrovia on June 11 for second and final training camp.