Sierra Leone forward Ismael Dumbuya is hopeful the Leone Stars can create a big upset by beating the Super Eagles this weekend in Monrovia.
John Keister’s side will entertain the three-time African champions at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium, Monrovia in a matchday five tie of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Sunday.
The Leone Stars have recorded just one win in the qualifiers and are expected to be run over by the Super Eagles.
Dumbuya is however confident they can beat their highly rated opponent.
Read Also: 2023 AFCONQ: We Will Beat Super Eagles In Monrovia — Sierra Leone Star, Dumbuya
“I hope to make the final squad for the game against Nigeria,” the LISCR FC forward said in a short video posted on the official Twitter handle of the Sierra Leone Football Federation.
“We want to beat Nigeria and qualify for the next AFCON.
Sierra Leone currently occupy third position on the Group A table with five points from four matches, four adrift of the Super Eagles.
They will need to win the game to keep their hopes of making it to Cote d’Ivoire 2023 alive.
By Adeboye Amosu
6 Comments
For over 50 years Sierra Leone has been boasting of beating Nigeria! When will this huge upset come to pass?
We know the nigerian team lack good middle field. So that where we will work on ….we are crowding the middle in training. .and rate of packing in box is high … Some of ur players might get injured if dey try forcing the game on us … I don’t see ur front men in the game with the way we are training.
and yurs will not get injured?no nations cup for u guys
@Ako Amadi. It is becoming more and more a reality now. With what the Handlers of Super Eagles are doing… the match is an even one. Sierra leone are not stupid I am sure the boys from Lone stars know whats happening. They watch European ball as they are footballers who aspire to play in the best leagues. I am sure even they know how devastating Gift Orban’s form and Victor Voniface’s have been this season I am sure even they have an eyebrow raised at thier exclusion from this list. I am even more certain that they are licking thier lips and breathing a sigh of relief at the inclusion of One dimensional Moses Simon and useless Musa at the expense of Orban and Boniface for example.
They are probably wondering what is going on with Super Eagles?. Is Nigeria not Taking her football seriously any longer. Has corruption and Money Laundering now become more important to these people tham National Glory. I mean after all Sierra Leone is English Speaking and the players have enough resources to follow the media..
Its all a shame really if your actually sit back and process it all.
When Sierra Leone lose they say its because they’re a “small country” and Nigeria is “very large” But come to bragging before a game Sierra Leoneans are world champions
Awoniyi was Nottingham Forest’s most expensive acquisition in history as at the time he joined the club, before the transfer record was broken by Morgan Gibbs-White, who was bought from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Although Awoniyi netted match-winning goals against West Ham United and Liverpool, in truth, he struggled in the earlier part of last season just like everyone else at Nottingham Forest because he had not adapted to the demands of the English Premier League after his move from the German Bundesliga.
Having recovered from an injury that sidelined him for three months, the Super Eagles striker was in the form of his life at the tail end of the season, scoring braces against Southampton and Chelsea, which built up his confidence, before strikes against Arsenal and Crystal Palace.
When asked if he made the wrong move to Forest, Awoniyi told Brila FM: “The truth is everyone has their opinion; now everyone is saying wow I made a good season, If I had stayed in my former club no one would have known how important I would have been for Nottingham Forest.
“My advice for everyone is not to look into people’s ideas and just keep on believing in them and keep on praying for them regardless of what move they make.”
Awoniyi was asked to give his view on competition for places in the Super Eagles squad when it comes to the striker positions.