Sierra Leone home-based coach Francis Zappa Koroma has said he is pleased with his preparation ahead of the doubleheader against Cape Verde at the Grand Stade de Marrakech on July 24 and 27, respectively.

The former International, when answering our questions, indicated that his team is ready to compete in month’s 2023 CHAN qualifiers in Morocco.

Home-based Leone Stars have engaged in a series of friendlies as part of their groundwork. The training squad of 24 players spent twelve days together in Eastern Province, Kenema.

Out of eleven friendlies, they won ten and drew one before returning to Freetown in readiness for departure on Wednesday.

“During the training camp in Kenema, I am pleased to say it was intense, but the players were focused. They are fully aware of the importance of this competition. It is obvious that we are going to face these matches in Morocco with a positive attitude.”

“We want to qualify, hence why, as a team, we have been working well together. The willingness from the players has been going quite well. We have selected the best player in the country for now.

“The technical team has been working on going beyond the first stage of this competition because Sierra Leone, as we all know, has never qualified for the CHAN Afcon.”

The aggregate winner over two-legged matches will face Mali in the next stage. 

Sierra Leone was eliminated by Senegal 4-2 on aggregate during the 2018 African Nations Championship qualifiers. 

Sierra Leone was ineligible for the 2020 tournament due to a FIFA sanction.

Morocco won the last competition for the second time after overcoming Mali 2-0 in a thrilling final at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde on February 7 2020, in Cameroon.

Meanwhile, Malian official Sory Ibrahima Keita will be in charge of this tie. Nouhoum Bamba is the R one, Amadou belly Guisse Amadu is the AR 2 and Abdoulaye Sissoko the foruth official.

Sierra Leone’s Songor Koedoyoma is the Covid 19 officer. Match commissioner Mis from Mauritania.

The final tournament is slated to be played in Algeria from 8–31 January 2023.

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