On Sunday, the 2024 Interclub representatives of Sierra Leone, Bo Rangers and East End Lions, set to take on formidable opponents in continental competitions.
The delegation of Bo Rangers left for Ivory Coast on Thursday for the return leg match against the Ivorian side in the CAF Champions League. Coach John Keister selected a 25-man squad for the match – which is set for Sunday, August 25, 2024, at the Laurent Pokou Stadium.
The objective is to advance to the next stage despite their 1-1 draw at the Southern Arena last Saturday. This upcoming match is crucial as both teams want to be in the second-round preliminary race.
In the first leg, Bo Rangers scored in the 48th minute through Mohamadu Lamin, but they failed to hold onto their lead. The Ivorian team equalized through Issouf Dosso in the 73rd minute, resulting in a draw.
In the Confederation Cup, East End Lions must overturn their first-leg defeat at home against Senegal’s ASC Jaraaf. After an intriguing first hour of the contest at the Southern Arena last Sunday, substitute Papa Souleymane Dione scored Jaraaf’s goal in the 77th minute.
Before their goal, Jaraaf missed a penalty in the first half and hit the woodwork.
The second leg is expected to be a fascinating tie, as Lions the ‘Killers ‘ still believe they can make it to the second-round preliminary.
“Upon arriving in Senegal, the team had their first training session at the Maniang Soumare Stadium in Thies on Thursday. The session focused on tactics, scoring goals, and refining their skills.
With optimism, there’s a high spirit within the squad for a positive outcome on Sunday,” The East End Giants side outlined.
Stade Lat Dior in Senegal is set to host the return fixture on Sunday.
It’s worth noting that since 1989, when Mighty Blackpool reached the quarterfinal stage of the African Cup of Champions Clubs, no Sierra Leonean team has progressed to the group stages of Interclub competitions.