Sierra Leone head coach, John Keister has encouraged his team to push for victory in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 qualifiers fixture against the Super Eagles. His words of encouragement towards his players aimed to help them make a solid push towards beating securing a major upset against Nigeria on Sunday.
The Leone Stars host the Super Eagles in an all important game at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Stadium and know that only a win can put them on course to secure their passage into the next round. Currently, they are third in the AFCON qualifying group A and need two wins from their last two games after Guinea Bissau were able to defeat Sao Tome and Principe to go top of the group.
“We know this is a match that we need to win, and therefore we have to be positive in our approach against a difficult Nigerian side – and we will definitely be,” – Keister told Football Sierra Leone. We are a young group, but there is just this feeling that we can come here and get a result against Nigeria. It’s going to be a fight – we are ready to deal with whatever is thrown at us. Football is about the day who wants it the most.”
A win against the Super Eagles would mean that they would have beaten the Nigeria national football team for only the third time in their history. The head to head record between the two sides does not favor the Leone stars but their 1-0 win over Sunday’s opponents in 2021 shows that an upset is possible. They will hope fortune shines on them like it did two years ago.
The task ahead of them is a huge one and their opponents, the Super Eagles also have their qualification hopes to play for as well. A draw in this match will take the Super Eagles to the top of the standings on goal difference. They will be level on points with Guinea Bissau, who currently have 10 points as well.
Super Eagles need just a point to Qualify
As long as they avoid defeat away from home, they will qualify for AFCON 2023 which takes place in Ivory Coast next year. Guinea Bissau will secure qualification for the tournament as well with the final group fixture deciding which of the two teams will top group A.
🚨 The Super Eagles have landed Monrovia ahead Sunday's encounter with the Leone Stars.
📸 – @modovictorekene pic.twitter.com/wt9z3slyIF
— Soar Super Eagles (@SSE_NGA) June 17, 2023
Jose Peseiro’s men will be huge favorites for this fixture and will hope to not only win the match and put qualification in the bag, but they will also hope that they can put on a strong performance.
The Super Eagles have been accused of lacking a style of play under their manager and it causes a sense of worry going into such a huge tournament, but this fixture could change the perception of the team depending on not just getting the three points, but how they play.
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 year ago
