Leone Stars Technical Team in a snapshot before Sierra Leone, Kenya Kickoff June 10, 2017, at the National Stadium, Freetown.
AFCON 2019 Qualifier: Sierra Leone XI against Kenya June 10, 2017 National Stadium, Freetown.
Aftermath of Sierra Leone defeat, Kenya National team assistant coach, Frank Ouna was very dissatisfied with the Siaka Steven Stadium pitch which he branded as ‘an unplayable pitch’.
The Harambee Stars second gaffer in a post-match interview in Freetown said the Sierra Leone pitch was one factor they walked away with 2-1 defeat adding that it affected their game plan and possession.
“It was tough for us because we played in an unplayable pitch. The pitch is not good to play football,” Frank Ouna said and congratulate Sierra Leone for the winner.
The Harambee Stars went into Saturday’s tie as the favourites but went down 2-1 to a well determined Sierra Leone side desperate to end their 21 years spell without playing at the highest African football tournament.
The Slovenia-based attacking midfielder, Julius Wobay low finish in the 22nd minute gave Sierra Leone the lead before skipper Umaru Bangura double the lead in the second half from the penalty spot after Kei Kamara was brought down by Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma.
Ten men Kenya level secured a consolation goal from Michael Olunga who struck a spectacular free-kick late in the second half.
AFCON 2019 Qualifying Fixtures & Results
Group A
9.06.2017 Obeid Sudan 1-3 Madagascar
10.06.2017 Dakar Senegal vs Equatorial Guinea
Group B
10.06.2017 Yaounde Cameroon 1-0 Morocco
10.06.2017 Lilongwe Malawi 1-0 Comoros
Group C
10.06.2017 Bamako Mali 2-1 Gabon
10.06.2017 Bujumbura Burundi 3-1 South Sudan
Group D
11.06.2017 Blida Algeria vs Togo
11.06.2017 Cotonou Benin vs Gambia
Group E
9.06.2017 Cairo Libya 5-1 Seychelles
10.06.2017 Uyo Nigeria 0-2 South Africa
Group F
10.06.2017 Freetown Sierra Leone 2-1 Kenya
11.06.2017 Kumasi Ghana vs Ethiopia
Group G
10.06.2017 Kinshasa DR Congo 3-1 Congo
11.06.2017 Harare Zimbabwe vs Liberia
Group H
10.06.2017 Bouake Cote d’Ivoire 2-3 Guinea
11.06.2017 Bangui Central African Rep. vs Rwanda
Group I
10.06.2017 Ouagadougou Burkina Faso 3-1 Angola
10.06.2017 Francistown Botswana 0-1 Mauritania
Group J
10.06.2017 Niamey Niger 0-0 Swaziland
11.06.2017 Tunis Tunisia vs Egypt
Group K
10.06.2017 Ndola Zambia 0-1 Mozambique
10.06.2017 Bissau Guinea Bissau 1-0 Namibia
Group L
10.06.2017 Dar es Salaam Tanzania 1-1 Lesotho
11.06.2017 Praia Cape Verde vs Uganda
By: Sahr Morris Jr. Follow the Writer @morrisjr88
The Harambee Stars of Kenya XI
Sierra Leone beat Kenya 2-1 to give new coach John Keister his first win in charge of Leone Stars in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations first leg qualifying tie in Freetown on Saturday.
The Leone Stars get off to a winning start at home at the Siaka Stevens Stadium. The victory sees Keister’s troops sitting at the top of the Group F with three points at least until tomorrow when Black Stars of Ghana host Ethiopia in Ghana.
Thanks to goals from Julius Wobay and Umaru Bangura in the 22′ and 69’ minutes respectively, with Kenya’s Michael Olunga getting their only goal in the 76th minutes despite playing with a man down.
Julius Wobay and Umaru Bangura penalty helped Sierra Leone make the all-important victory in their Group F campaign against the Kenyans who had Brian Mandela sent off for a dangerous tackle on Alhassan Kamara.
Julius Wobay gave the home side the lead 22 minutes as his shot past the Kenya goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch thanks to Kei Kamara whose breakaway on the left set up the cross for Wobay.
The visitors had a chance to draw back level just minutes after the goal from a Victor Wanyama glanced shot after Johanna free kick but the ball went off the crossbar.
In the 56th minute, Leone Stars came close to double their lead through Alhassan Kamara but he slipped while pulling the trigger from a cross from the right with the ball going wide.
Again in the 63rd minute, Alfred Sanko also slipped a shot on the upright from a Hassan Sesay cross but Leone Stars second of the evening came in the 70th minute from the penalty spot after Kei Kamara was brought down by Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma.
The Sierra Leone skipper Umaru Bangura stepped up roof the ball past Oluoch for his seventh goal for Sierra Leone.
Harambee Stars do showed some bit of fighting spirit with 15 minutes from the clock, thanks to a superb free-kick by Michael Olunga. Kenya’s next assignment will be next year March when they host Ghana in Nairobi while Sierra Leone will travel to Ethiopia.
The win over the Harambee Stars saw Leone Stars ended the East African 10 match unbeaten run which most came from friendly matches. It was also coach Stanley Okumbi third defeat since taking charge of the Stars early last year.
Ghana host Ethiopia in the other Group F match later on Sunday in Kumasi.
Follow the Writer @morrisjr88
The Confederation of African Football have seeded Sierra Leone in Pot 3 for the Africa Cup of Nations group stages draw ahead of next year’s final tournament in Cameroon.
As a result, the Leone Stars will be facing any two of the best-ranked sides from Pot 1 & 2 in their group in a bid to reach the tournament last sixteen.
The 24-nations were divided into a group of four, with six teams each from Pot one to six.
On July 28th, CAF announced August 17 as the official date for the 24 nations TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations draw in Cameroon.
The 33rd edition of the continental showpiece will run from January 9 to February 6 2022.
Sierra Leone qualified after twenty-five years since 1996 when they last participated in the finals in South Africa.
The top two teams of each group, along with the best four third-placed teams, advanced to the round of 16.
African Football News – Follow us on Twitter @football_sierra On Facebook & Instagram: Football Sierra Leone.
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | F | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Bo Rangers FC | 34 | 23 | 11 | 45 | 80 |
| 2 |  Mighty Blackpool F.C | 34 | 18 | 7 | 42 | 61 |
| 3 |  East End Lions FC | 34 | 17 | 9 | 37 | 60 |
| 4 |  FC Kallon | 34 | 16 | 9 | 49 | 57 |
| 5 |  Diamond Stars FC | 34 | 12 | 11 | 35 | 47 |
Sierra Leone | Highlights - #TotalEnergiesAFCONQ2023 - MD1 Group A