Sierra Leone and Queens Park Rangers defender Osman Kakay has admitted Leone Stars can match a strong Nigeria side with the right approach.

The Three-time African Champions, who suffered a 1-0 defeat to Ecuador at the 25,000–capacity Red Bull Arena in New Jersey on Friday, will open their African Cup of Nations qualifying campaign against Sierra Leone next week.

On the 9th, Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja will host the Super Eagles’ first match in the race to Ivory Coast behind closed doors.

Thursday’s Afcon 2023 qualifier will be the seventeen meetings between Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

Before travelling to join the team in Guinea on Wednesday, where Sierra Leone had opened camp for the doubleheader, Kayay told this medium that he is optimistic going into both qualifiers.

“I am optimistic going into both encounters against Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau. Firstly, I am convinced that we have the players to match a strong Nigeria team,” Queens Park Rangers defender Osman Kakay to FSL News.

“We have a good chance if we apply ourselves well. We can get positive results to help us qualify. I know both games are not going to be easy. Guinea Bissau was in the recent Afcon, so they have the experience as well, but I am hopeful and look forward to both games.”

Kakay replaced Mustapha Dumbuya in the 69th minute during the 4-4 result in November 2020 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

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BSV Kickers Emden midfielder Ibrahim Sillah has expressed his delight after helping his German side gain promotion to the fourth-tier Regionalliga on Wednesday.

Sillah was in action when BSV Kickers Emden defeated Wandsbeker Concordia 3-1 as they top Oberliga table.

The 27-year-old defensive midfielder, who is set to join the Sierra Leone senior team in Guinea for African Cup Of Nations qualifiers against Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau on Friday, will play the 2022/23 season in the Regionalliga Nord if he stays at the club.

Since joining the club, Sillah has scored seven goals in twenty-seven games season. The former Almere City Sporting player made his international debut in a 3-0 defeat to Togo in a friendly game at the Sueno Sports centre Antalya, Turkey, in March.

“We’re all so happy yesterday to have finally gotten the job done. It means a lot to this club and its fans,” Sillah told FSL News.

“We deserved to be promoted after a long season of hard work with good chemistry. Everybody at the club worked so hard and played their part in our success in a difficult season.”

Sillah hailed the Kickers fans!

“The fans of Kickers Emden are always great and played a big part in our success. They are there every game at home and away, always singing the motivating songs and supporting us all the way – even if the team is not playing well. That is so motivating and uplifting for us as players.”

Name: Ibrahim Sillah – Birthday: April 4, 1995 – Position: Midfield – Shirt number: 17

With BSV since July 2020

Previous clubs: teams in Sierra Leone (including the U16 national team), Almere City Sporting, Oranje Nassau, ACV Assen, Germania Leer

Connect with us on Twitter @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 Contact bi****@*********************ne.net