Preview: Sierra Leone vs Chad
Soccer News 2024/09/05 11:59
Sierra Leone kept their 2026 FIFA World Cup dreams alive when they came from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw with Burkina Faso at the Stade du 26 Mars on 10 June.
After falling behind to goals from Dango Ouattara and Lassina Traore, the Leone Stars upped the ante in the second half, with Augustus Kargbo pulling one back in the 58th minute before Amadou Bakayoko restored parity in the 87th.
Sierra Leone had taken one point from their opening two Group A matches, but a run of one win and one draw in their next two games has revived their World Cup dreams and they currently sit fourth in the standings, one point behind second-placed Guinea-Bissau in the play-off places.
Having missed out on a place at the 2023 AFCON, head coach Amidu Karim will be hoping his side can take the positives from their resolute display against Burkina Faso and start their quest for a place in Morocco with a bang.
Sierra Leone, who crashed out of the continental showpiece at the group stage three years ago, have won just one, lost three and drawn two of their 2023 qualifiers to finish third in Group A with five points, eight behind runners-up Guinea-Bissau.
Chad, on the other hand, were left empty-handed in the World Cup qualifiers as they suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Comoros at the Stade Municipal de Bohicon on 11 June.
After a relatively uneventful first half, the Comoros took the initiative after the break, Myziane Maolida putting them in front before El Fardou Ben doubled the lead in the 76th minute.
Chad, 178th in the latest FIFA World Ranking, have now lost each of their four World Cup qualifiers, conceding nine and scoring once, and are bottom of Group I.
Kevin Nicaise's side will be keen to put this poor run behind them as they begin their quest for a first-ever AFCON appearance, having beaten Mauritius 3-1 on aggregate in the first round of qualifying in March.
A 93rd-minute goal from Mahamat Thiam gave Chad a 1-0 win over Mauritius in the first leg on 22 March, four days before they ran out 3-1 winners over the Dodos in the return leg at the National Sports Complex Pitch 1.
Sierra Leone possible starting lineup:
Kamara; Samadiya, Dunai, Kabia, Kakay; P Koroma, A Koroma, Sillah; Kargbo, Kanu, Sullay Kaikai
Chad possible starting lineup:
Mbaynaissem; Titnanbaye, Abdaraman, Abdoulaye; Allarabaye, Abanga, Youssouf, Mbogo; Kita, Masra, Djedanoum
Prediction:Sierra Leone 2-0 Chad
Sierra Leone vs Chad stream and TV listing
International:Holasports
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Sierra Leone
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CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
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Chad
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