AFCON
Leone Stars’ Amadou Bakayoko promises Super Eagles a tough time
Sierra Leone debut hopeful, Amadou Bakayoko has promised to be in his best element if selected for the Group A duel of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier with the Super Eagles on Thursday in Abuja.
If fielded, it will be the first appearance of the Bolton Wanderers striker in a competitive match for Sierra Leone. He scored his first goal for Sierra Leone in an international friendly in a 1-0 defeat of Liberia during their Meditteranean tour last March at the Mardan Sports Stadium in Aksu, Antalya, Turkey.
The 26 year old player is among the Leone Stars squad that arrived Abuja on Saturday.
“Without a doubt playing against Nigeria will be my first proper match for Sierra Leone. Something I am looking forward to, but both Nigeria and Guinea Bissau games are no easy games,” the big striker told footballsierraleone.net.
“God willing – we can go out there and showcase ourselves against a tough Nigeria side.” Helping Sierra Leone reach the African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast 2023 will be massive, personally for me, my country and all of us players working so hard to give our best.”
“Making the next African Cup of Nations is something as a player want to be part of and will be unbelievable for me to play in the tournament in Ivory Coast for the first time.”
The Super Eagles are trying to break a ‘no-win’ streak which has stretched to five matches since losing 0-1 to Tunisia last January in Garoua.
The three-time African Champions will square up with the Leone Stars at Moshood Abiola Stadium in the Group A opener behind closed doors on the 9th of June.