THIRTY-NINE MAN DELEGATION WILL BE LEAVING FREETOWN FOR ETHIOPIA ON MONDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER 2018


In the government weekly press briefing at Youi Building the minister of sports Ibrahim Nyelekeh Koroma has confirmed that  thirty-nine  delegate of Leone Star’s players, technical team, ministry of sports official and Sierra Leone football association official would leave Freetown, Sierra Leone for Ethiopia on Monday 3rd September 2018 to play the ‘Waliyas Antelpoes’ of Ethiopia on September 9 2018. 

According to the minister of sports due to poor preparation, late flight tickets and allowances for players those are the issues responsible for Leone Star poor performance in football competition but said under the new direction of President Bio it’s a different mentality. all necessary issues had been address to get the best out of the players and stay focus to win the game against Ethiopia.

He said  President Julius Maada Bio is highly committed to see that Leone Star qualifies for the 2019 Africa cup of nations in Cameroon.

“the last time Sierra Leone qualified for any major Africa football competition president Bio was in charge of the country as the head of state, he is fully motivated to see that Leone star made it after twenty-two years absent from Africa biggest football tournament”

He continued saying that players bonuses are going to be increased and those days have gone for  Leone star’s players fighting for money after game.

He stated that the players are highly motivated to bring victory for the people of Sierra Leone and called on Sierra Leoneans to offer their prayers for divine intervention. 

Ibrahim Nyelekeh predicted Sierra Leone is going to defeat Ethiopia by two goals to nail and maintain the players have made commitment and assurance of causing upset in Ethiopia, Hawassa stadium.

The group F, encounter between Sierra Leone and Ethiopia is the first time these two countries are going to face each other in any AFCON competition.

Leone Star's won it first match against Harambe Star of Kenya in the national stadium of Freetown, Sierra Leone by two goals to one.
Leone Star last won  away game in 2003 against Equatorial Guinea.

Sierra Leone is in second place in group F with same point alongside four-time Africa's champion Ghana only goals differences that separate them.

The confederation of Africa football (CAF) has increased the number of countries participating  in AFCON tournament from sixteen countries to twenty-four, and changes made to it  traditional January to February and now  June to July to attract more support and market base in Europe and the rest of the world.

By Muctar Koroma

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