The Sierra Leone side, predominantly local stars, concluded its training at San Pedro field as they ready to tackle Cup of Nations hosts Ivory Coast on Saturday.
The newly built 20,000-seater Laurent Pokou Stadium will host the Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone encounter on January 6 ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Skipper of Leone Stars, Kwame Quee, acknowledged that it is going to be difficult but added, “They are determined to make a difference in their friendly with Ivory Coast tomorrow.
“Even though football has three aspects; win, lose or draw but we are ready to win the match.”
Head coach Alhaji Foray said he has good players who are well-focused and ready to showcase their talents. He expressed optimism going into tomorrow’s fixture.
Foray added that the match is very important for them as a team, noting that it gives opportunities to the players to prepare for the CHAN competition and the upcoming matches in the AFCON qualifiers in March.
The host will test against Sierra Leone as they prepare for the 34th edition of AFCON to run from 13 January to 11 February 2024 in Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Bouake, San Pedro, and Korhogo.
Both sides played to a 2-2 draw in the last Cup of Nations in Cameroon at the Stade de Japoma, Douala 16, January 2022, but they thrashed Sierra Leone 5-1 during the Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying Group D at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan in 2014.
In Group A, the Ivorians are to start their Afcon campaign against Guinea-Bissau at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan, on January 13 before facing the Super Eagles of Nigeria in their second match.
Sierra Leone concluded training in San Pedro ahead of the @FIFCI_tweet friendly.
— #AFCON2023WithBittar (@bittar32) January 5, 2024
Laurent Pokou Stadium 🏟️ to host the test game on Saturday.#FSLNews #FSLMedia #InternationalFriendly pic.twitter.com/WPajaPE12S
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