Head coach John Keister believes his West African side Sierra Leone (Leone Stars), overachieved in Cameroon.

After the Leone Stars held Algeria and Ivory Coast in their opening two games in the African Cup of Nations at the Japoma Stadium but failed to get the result needed to progress to the last sixteen, the technician admitted his side overachieved in a short time in Cameroon.

Keister affirmed that despite the disappointment against Equatorial Guinea, his side ‘overachieved’.

“People didn’t appreciate” his hard work in leading his side to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

In Cameroon, the Leone Stars were a missed penalty away from reaching the knock-out stages for the first time in their history.

“I think as a country, with the group that I have, we overachieved in a short space of time,” Keister told BBC Africa. “I worked so hard, but I found myself in an environment where I don’t think people appreciate that.”

He guided Sierra Leone to their first Nations Cup appearance in 26 years, qualifying from a group involving Nigeria, Benin and Lesotho.

The Manchester-born is hoping to keep his job while trying to help the Leone Stars to Ivory Coast in 2023.

‘We want to qualify again.’

“We have to love ok at home and develop the league system, in terms of the clubs, how we develop these players in different positions, roles and responsibilities,” said Keister.

“That would help the national team because when you have a pool of players, then it becomes competitive.”

Looking ahead to the Nations Cup next year, which is being held in Ivory Coast, Keister added: “Our focus has to be grassroots, our focus has to be developed. “If we don’t get it right down there, we are not getting it into the national team. We want to qualify again. I think it’s important that we develop and we prepare right.”

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Sierra Leone’s veteran striker Kei Kamara failed to convert a late penalty to scupper their chances of reaching the next round of the Africa Cup of Nations as they lost 1-0 to Equatorial Guinea on Thursday.

Equatorial Guinea and Ivory Coast are both through after final Group E Matches. Sierra Leone was awarded a last-minute penalty, but Equatorial Guinea’s 20-year-old goalkeeper Jesus Owono saved Kamara poorly taken effort.

Pablo Ganet’s 38th-minute strike ensured Equatorial Guinea finished second in Group E and progressed, but Sierra Leone might have gone through as one of the best third-placed finishers if they had forced a draw.

Winger Kwame Quee saw red after a second yellow to add salt to injury for John Keister’s side late on in the game.

The result also means the Comoros Islands are through as one of the best third-placed finishers after their surprise 3-2 win over Ghana on Tuesday.

Equatorial Guinea finished the first round with a second successive win and six points, one behind group winners Ivory Coast. Sierra Leone was third on two points with defending champions Algeria bottom of the standings.

 African Football News – Follow us on Twitter @football_sierra On Facebook & Instagram: Football Sierra Leone in Douala, Cameroon.

Striker Musa Noah Kamara wrote his name into the continental history books as the second-youngest ever to score in the African Cup of Nations for Sierra Leone at age 21 after Mohamed Kallon South Africa 1996.

Kamara made a brilliant start to life in his first continental showpiece with a fantastic effort to level the Sierra Leone scoreline against Ivory Coast on Sunday at the Japoma Stadium.

He calmly slotted home with his left foot on the top left-hand corner in the 55th minute of play, restoring parity for the Leone Stars after the team had gone 1-0 down to Cote D’ivoire from a twenty-five minute 1st half Sebastian Hallier finish. 

“It feels good scoring the first goal for my country in this year’s AFCON after 25 years. A dream come true, and all this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my fans”, Kamara told Journalist in the media mix zone tribune.

“My fans are my heroes. They deserve the accolade, they are the ones who stood firm and requested my inclusion. I was always looking for the opportunity to pay them back with a goal, and thank God I did not disappoint”. 

Kamara is the top scorer in the Sierra Leone top-tier football league with nine goals and will be hoping to continue helping the team against Equatorial Guinea on Thursday.

Ahead of the group final matches on Thursday, Cote d’Ivoire on top with four points, Equatorial Guinea three points, Sierra Leone on two points and Algeria on a single point.

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Former Sierra Leone skipper and Cup of Nations ambassador Mohamed Kallon is optimistic that the Leone Stars will produce the result needed to make the round of sixteen.

A win for Sierra Leone will almost ensure their place in the tournament round of sixteen for the first time in history. Sierra Leone’s only Cup of Nations victory was a 2-1 win over Burkina-Faso at the Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa 1996. John Gbassay Sessay  11′ and Mohamed Kallon  89′ accounted for the goals.

Kallon is aware that resilient Leone Stars must put in a top-notch performance like the Algeria game to end the Les Éléphants of Ivory Coast unbeaten run against Sierra Leone.

The kickoff at the 50,000-capacity all-seater Japoma Stadium is at 16 MGT + 1 on Sunday in the Japoma locality in Douala.

Speaking to Football Sierra Leone cameras, he said, “We are here to ensure the team is well prepared for top matches, and I am optimistic that this team has the potential to progress to the round of sixteen.”

The former Monaco striker, who is in Douala in the capacity as Afcon ambassador to Leone Stars, reiterated that the team is well balanced.

“90% per cent of the players are young, which means they’re going to serve the national team for a long time. As we all noticed from their first match against Algeria, they played as if they played in the tournament before with confidence and composure, and i think if we have to work with the strength of the team, that will allow us to hurt any team.”

He also acknowledged the importance of the support-technical team appointed by the SLFA. The likes of Lamin Conteh, Lamin Bangura, his elder brother Keimokai Kallon.

“I was pleased with the appointment of the support team, the Lamin Bangura, Keimokai Kallon and Lamin Conteh to share their experience and to help condense the pressure on the team.”

Kallon recalled playing against Burkina Faso noted that this team played well as compared to their triumph at the Bloemfontein, South Africa 1996.

“If you go back to my time, our first performance against Burkina-Faso, you cannot compare to this performance against Algeria. The lads played well, well organised, well-disciplined. 

Those days, things were a little bit different. This current team, based on the exposure of the players, and on what they have shown so far looking at the table and statistics, if we can have a point or our prime objective, game day objective is to win against Ivory Coast, which is possible because I saw their team. If we can take the game to Ivory Coast, we can get something out of this game.”

Here is what coach John Keister had to say in Saturday’s briefings

“I think we very comfortable around which way we wanted to go. I think we can get something out of the Ivory Coast game. Ivory Coast is not going to be any different. Football is on the day, and that is the motivation, guys.”

“It’s going to be a difficult game, but If we want to get better as a coach as a footballing nation, we have to play against the better teams, and that is how we have to test ourselves and see where we are, as a nation.”

Keister was pleased with how former International Steven Can have adapted quickly into his squad. 

He emphasised that records are meant to be broken when responding to a question of Ivory Coast unbeaten run against Sierra Leone.

When asked about any injury concerns, Keister noted, they will come out with injuries news, if any, at the right time. It is very difficult when you access players. We have a match tomorrow – we have to give ourselves time. We are very mindful.

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Football enthusiast and owner of Politico Newspaper Umaru Fofanah reckon it was sensible to bring along the oxygen behind Sierra Leone national, the fans to the Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Fofanah, who was dancing with Sierra Leonean fans before and after the Leone Stars famous draw with holders Algeria in Douala on Tuesday, was responding to questions by this medium.

“The fans are the oxygen the players breathe – they need them, they need all the chantings from the stands, all the support, it brings out special adrenalin in them. So, the importance of the fans cannot be overemphasised, which is why, in football matches, home games matter, because that is where the real fans are. The majority of the fans are, as supposed to playing away, where your fans are easily eclipsed,” Fofanah told FSL News in Douala.

He added, “Fans are very important, and I am sure the footballers themselves can tell you that. The cheering they were hearing for them contributed tremendously toward the very spectacle performance they put up.”

After Sierra Leone impressive display, Fofanah now looks forward to the Ivory Coast game and Leone Stars chances to make the round of sixteen.

“I hope and truly believe that if our guys put up the same performance they did against Algeria. I saw the Ivory Coast match as well. And I don’t think Ivory Coast were convincing that day when they had their opening match against Equatorial Guinea.

“I strongly believe if our boys put up the same performance they did against Algeria, we definitely will have the maximum points against the Ivory Coast. Agreed that it is not far away from Cameroon. There are lots of Ivorians here, I watched their match there were lots of Ivorians, but we are mobilising.”

A win against Ivory Coast will surely mean Sierra Leone will reach the Continental showpiece knock-out stages for the first time in its history.

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After being named Man of the Match for his composure and excellent display against the African Cup of Nation defending Champions Algeria, Sierra Leone keeper Mohamed Kamara says he was pleased and pleased with team spirit. 

Kamara, 22, made seven great saves as he helped to frustrate Algeria in Sierra Leone impressive goalless draw in their Group E opener at the Japoma Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.

The East End Lions keeper was pivotal for the West Africans against a top Algerian side. He denied Ramy Bensebaini and Baghdad Bounedjah in stoppage time.

Speaking to Football Sierra Leone in Douala, Kamara praised God for his guidance on the pitch.

“Glory is to God for great team performance. I’m happy, and all the praises belong to Allah.

“This is something I have been working on for many years, and against Algeria, God made it easy for me. This performance did not come as a surprise to me because I have been working on myself.”

Coach John Keister will be hoping Kamara will maintain his form against the Ivory Coast on Sunday at the same venue.

The Leone Stars search of making the round of sixteen of the continental showpiece for the first time in its history.

Elsewhere In the group, on Wednesday, Ivory Coast defeated Equatorial Guinea 1-0 to go top of Group E.

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