By Joseph Allieu
Sierra Leone’s representatives in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, Bo Rangers and East End Lions, respectively, played their first preliminary matches over the weekend at the Southern Arena Stadium in Bo. With the National Stadium in Freetown still under renovation, both teams chose to play their home fixtures in Bo, drawing significant support from football fans across the country.
Bo Rangers faced off against SAN Pedro FC from Ivory Coast on Saturday, while East End Lions took on AS JARAAF from Senegal on Sunday. In a show of national unity, football supporters across Sierra Leone decided to back both clubs, transcending traditional club rivalries in favor of national pride. Ahead of the matches, hotels and guest houses in Bo were fully booked as fans from all corners of the country flocked to the city to support the teams.
The atmosphere in Bo over the weekend was electric, with fans eager to witness two intense international fixtures. The aim for both Bo Rangers and East End Lions was not just to secure victories in their home matches but to advance to the group stages of their respective competitions. To bolster their chances, both teams had strengthened their squads with top players to address weak positions.
At the time of publication, the results of the matches were still pending. However, both teams are scheduled to travel this week for the return leg fixtures, with Bo Rangers heading to Ivory Coast and East End Lions to Senegal, hoping to secure their place in the next round of the competitions.
