Head Coach of Sierra Leone’s national football team, the Leone Stars, Mohamed Kallon, has shared his post-match analysis following his team’s 1-0 defeat to Egypt in the ongoing FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Despite the loss, Kallon remains optimistic, assuring fans that Sierra Leone will bounce back and win its remaining four matches.
“We knew we were playing against one of the greatest teams in Africa,” Kallon said. “It was always going to be difficult. Egypt is a strong side with great players who can hurt you at any moment. That’s why we planned the game differently.”
The Leone Stars fielded a young squad, with the majority of the players under 20 years old. Kallon emphasized the team’s strategy, explaining that they focused on closing passing channels and maintaining possession.
“We have eighteen home-based players, and over 70% of the boys are under 17, 18, and 19,” he noted. “We tried to combine passes, but we were unlucky because we were up against a great side.”
Egypt secured a narrow 1-0 victory at the Cairo International Stadium, maintaining their perfect record in the qualifiers. Despite the setback, Kallon remains confident about his team’s chances in the competition.
“We have four more games, and anything can happen,” he said. “We are going out to win all four games and secure our 12 points.”
Egypt’s victory solidifies their lead in Group A, five points ahead of Burkina Faso. Sierra Leone remains in third place with eight points. The top team from each group will earn a spot in the World Cup finals, while the four best runners-up will enter an inter-continental playoff for an additional berth.
Sierra Leone will now shift focus to their next qualifier as they aim to keep their World Cup dreams alive.
