Sierra Leone skipper Steven Caulker has said Leone Stars remain ‘optimistic’ as they prepare for Guinea Bissau in match day two of the 2023 African Cup of Nations qualifiers. 

After the 2-1 defeat to Nigeria at the MOK Abiola Stadium on Thursday, Sierra Leone is back in the Guinean Capital ahead of match day two crucial confrontation. 

Guinea-Bissau Djurtus have never defeated Sierra Leone at the senior level after twelve meetings, the Leone Stars with the advantage of seven wins and five draws. 

The Fenerbahçe defender is fully aware that the Monday game is as big as the Nigeria task, especially after Djurtus’s 5-1 win over Sao Tome. 

“I am excited about the future lots of positives to take from our first game against a strong Nigerian side. I thoughts we played well in patches,” Caulker told footballsierraleone.net. 

“I thought we moved the ball quite well at some stage with lots of possessions. We showcase that at times, but there is still room for improvement. I felt that if we had that belief, we could have stayed high trying to win the game,” 

“There were obvious signs of progress as we show that on the pitch. We probably lacked just a little bit of self-belief. We dropped a little bit too deep.” 

Caulker noted that the team must continue working in training to get a result. ‘When we get a positive result, belief and self-confidence will build up in these qualifiers.’ 

“We know it’s not an easy game against a tough Guinea-Bissau side. They have shown themselves well in their last game. So, it is a challenge, but I am confident, with the group that we got, we can get a result.” 

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