March 22, 2016 By Sahr Morris Jr.
Sierra Leone national team, Leone Stars, will today take on the Flames of Malawi in what is described as a symbolic international friendly encounter at the National Stadium in Freetown.
The clash, which is also a preparation tie for the two nations, will be Sierra Leone’s first international match on home soil since the country was officially declared free of Ebola.
Already, Sierra Leone’s Ghanaian coach, Sellas Tetteh, has named a 21-man squad which includes 12 foreign based and nine home based players for the Malawi fixture and the duel against Gabon.
Coach Tetteh believes the three matches will be a good test for his team and that they will come out with their heads up.
He said: “We have prepared well for these matches despite several hiccups and I’m sure the fans will be there in their numbers to give us the support to do well for the nation. The boys are in high spirit and highly motivated and I’m sure they will come out of these matches with their heads raised up.”
Malawi coach Ernest Mtawali and his squad arrived in Freetown on Monday. He says he is looking forward to today’s match, which according to him is a test case for their planned formation to be used against Guinea.
Mtawali said: “It is the only opportunity we have to try the formation we intend to use against Guinea although we will still not have a full-strength squad as a few players will join us in Guinea.”
This will mark the third international friendly meeting between the two nations, with Malawi winning the previous two encounters at home in Lilongwe way back in 1978. There has never been a competitive fixture between the two teams.
Sierra Leone last played on home soil on 19 July, 2014 in a 2-0 win against Seychelles during the 2015 African Cup of Nations preliminaries.
Leone Stars 21-man squad: FOREIGN BASED PLAYERS – Solomon Zombo Morris, John Trye, Aziz Deen Conteh, David Simbo, Suleiman Bangura, Umaru Bangura, Abdul Sesay, Mustapha Bangura, Mohamed Bangura, George Davies, Alhassan Kamara and Mohamed Medo Kamara;
LOCAL BASED PLAYERS – Unisa Koroma, Yeami Dunia, Abu Suma, Sheka Fofanah, Ibrahim Kabbah, Ibrahim Sorie Barrie, Abu Kanu, Kwame Quee and Kempson Fofanah