Leone Stars set to exploit home advantage
This is one of the biggest games in recent years for Sierra Leone, a step closer to compete in Africa’s biggest stage, The African Cup of Nations, to be hosted in South Africa 2013. (Photo: Skipper Kargbo in action against South Africa)
The Leone Stars of Sierra Leone will be kicking it off at 4:30pm against their North African counterpart the Carthage of Tunis at their Freetown National arena this Saturday September 8, and without any uncertainties the host will be looking to exploit on home ground advantage with their 40,000 home fans behind the team, it is a massive test for the red and white men from Tunisia.
The Leone Stars reached the second round of qualifying through a 5-4 aggregate win over Sao Tome and Principe as they lost 2-1 in the first leg away from home before bouncing back to win 4-2 in the return leg.
The visitors who qualified with a bye into the second round following their participation in the last edition of the tournament, which was held in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, will play their first of the qualifier.
However, their last match was a 2-2 draw against Iran in an international friendly which took place in August.
Leone Stars Swedish technician head Coach Lars Olof Mattsson will have to do his homework well, because a win is the only possibility for his side get to reach South Africa in 2013, considering Tunisia they have been on top of their game for so long in the continent.
With the latest inclusion of the Azerbaijan based skipper Ibrahim Obra Kargbo and Kei Ansu Kamara from Kansas City in the US, things looking collective good for the home side.
Celtic Loan Striker Mohamed Pobosky Bangura will be looking to team up with Turkish Bursaspor striker Ibrahim Tetteh Bangura, and Ansu Kei to produce the attacking solutions that have been helping Sierra Leone lift in the World Fifa ranking.
The Eagles of Carthage, on the other hand, were dealt a massive blow when midfielder Anis Ben-Hatira was forced to pull out due to an ankle injury.
Another report inside the Tunisia camp has indicated to the Sierra Express Media UK sport that coach Sami Trabelsi has called on Mejdi Traoui to replace the injured Khaled Mejdi for this cracker.
While another Azerbaijan based defender Sheriff Suma has made his availability clear after being sidelined for the past few weeks due to injury.
The Eagles of Carthage Squad
Aymen Mathlouthi, Farouk Ben Mustapha, Moez Ben Chrifia, Aymen Abdennour, Walid Hichri, Bilel Iffa, Anis Boussaidi, Aymen Belaid, Rami Bedoui, Chamesdine Dhaoudi, Fateh Ghrabi, Nour Hadhria, Anis Ben Htira, Oussama Darragi, Jamel Saihi, Khaled Mouelhi, Majdi Traoui, Wissem Ben Yahia, Chadi Hammami, Issam Jomaa, Saber Khelifa, Hamdi Harbaoui and Youssef Msakni.
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