By Barrie Alpha

Seven foreign-base players out of twelve invited by head coach John Keister have landed safely at the southern Moroccan city of Agadir ahead of crucial qualifiers against São Tomé and Príncipe, according to reports. 

 Sierra Leone will take on their Central African counterparts on Wednesday the 22nd in the first of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers match day three before their second meeting on the 26th.

As of yesterday afternoon there were thirteen home-based and seven foreign-based in the Sierra Leone camp, in readiness for their crucial doubleheader.

The foreign-based include the skipper Steven Caulker- Wigan Athletic, Kamil Conteh from Gateshead,  Sullay Kai Kai- MK Dons, twin brothers Alhassan Koroma and Alusine Koromo RB Linense, Augustus Kargbo- Crotone and Emmanuel Samadia from the Israeli side- Hapoel Rishon. The others are expected to arrive later yesterday evening as preparation continues. The team is residing at the Riu Palace Hotel, Tikida Taqhazout.

The 45, 000 seater Grand Stade Adrar Agadir in Morocco will host both critical 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches on the 22 and 26 of March, respectively.

Sitting third in Group A, Sierra Leone will resume action in the race to Ivory Coast 2023 against São Tomé and Príncipe on Wednesday 22nd, 2023, before the second leg on 26 in Morocco.

Sierra Leone head coach John Keister who and his players are now preparing for crucial back-to-back qualifiers this week against Group A minnows Sao Tome and Principe, that were recently beaten 10-0 by Nigeria, said he loves the challenge of trying to help Sierra Leone qualify for consecutive Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

The 52-year-old guided the Leone Stars to their first finals in 25 years when they appeared at last year’s tournament in Cameroon, going out in the group stage despite only losing one game.

‘It’s a challenge, but I love challenges. I want to carry-on working and hopefully get the right group of players. I’m enjoying it. I’m trying to do the best I can. The aim is to qualify for the next Afcon, but I have hopes and aims as a manager,’ the former Sierra Leone midfielder continued.

‘I’m going to be very positive. We have a lot of younger players overseas, but with African football everything is about results. We’ll try and use what we have. We will make the most of it and, hopefully, get the results we need. If we do, it will help us in terms of recruiting players to represent Sierra Leone for the future.’

Yesterday, Leone Stars embarked on physical training exercise at the modern gym facilities at the Riu Palace Hotel, off Agadir. The physical body work which lasted about an hour was carried out with the aim of improving the physical preparation of the players and recovering and helping them relax their muscles.

This will be the sixth meeting between the two nations. Their last meeting was a goalless draw in Africa Cup of Nations 1st round 2nd leg in Freetown on 16 June 2012. Sao Tome e Principe won the first leg 2-1 at home on 29 February 2012.

TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations is scheduled to be the 34th edition of the biennial African international association football tournament organised by CAF.