Sierra Leone will kick off their African Cup of Nations 2023 campaign with a friendly match against Togo on Thursday at the Mardan multi-purpose stadium in Aksu, Antalya, Turkey. Both nations wrapped up their training sessions on Wednesday ahead of the test cracker as Leone Stars goes in high spirit hoping to get its first win in the three line up friendly encounters.
Speaking to the SLFA Media, the newly appointed squad skipper Steven Roy Caulker is optimistic that the “team has great potentials and is positive that the team can do great things.” Adding that the team is full of young and passionate players that are enthusiastic to play football.” Caulker’s appointment was announced in a press release issued by the SLFA few days ago. Caulker who resides in the UK is one of the stars that performed extremely well at the just concluded AFCON2022 finals in Cameroun.
Both the West African neighbors have played seven times in all competitions, with the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone at the disadvantage with only a win, five defeats and a draw. Thursday’s friendly will be the first meeting between the two sides since 2007. In the coming days, Sierra Leone will play two more friendlies against Liberia on the 27th and Congo Brazzaville on the 29th.
Meanwhile, Ajet Shehu a British born soccer expert has also appointed as the team’s technical officer.