AFCON 2027 Qualifiers… “Win More Matches to Get More Government Support” — SLFA President
By Bockarie Allieu
FREETOWN, Sept. 23rd (232news) — Sierra Leone’s senior national football team, Leone Stars, began their campaign in the Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 qualifiers yesterday when they faced Zimbabwe in Morocco.
The Group E encounter was scheduled for 7:00 p.m. GMT at Stade Ben M’Hamed El Abdi in El Jadida, Morocco. The match marked the beginning of the qualification race for both sides.
On the eve of the match, Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) President Babadi Kamara urged the players to give their best and begin the campaign positively.
He said the government had made significant efforts to finance the team for the opening two qualifying matches and called on the players to reward that support by producing positive results.
He urged Leone Stars to win more matches, saying improved performances would encourage the government to provide further support to the team.
President Babadi said qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, to be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, would be a major achievement for Sierra Leone.
He reminded the players of the importance of football to the people of Sierra Leone, citing the nationwide celebrations that followed the country’s qualification for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
According to him, football has the ability to bring Sierra Leoneans together regardless of political affiliation, organisation or background.
He said the government was prepared to do everything possible to support the team but noted that the resources being committed to football could also be directed towards other important sectors, including education, health and agriculture.
He therefore encouraged the players to justify the investment by producing results on the pitch.
He also stressed the importance of teamwork, discipline and mutual support among the players, urging them to accept mistakes by teammates and encourage one another during difficult moments.
Leone Stars’ second Group E fixture will be away to Equatorial Guinea on Monday, September 28. CAF’s official fixture list confirms that the Group E qualification campaign will consist of six matchdays, with Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea and DR Congo competing for qualification places.
