Sierra Leone Captain Umaru Bangura, has predicted a ‘very tough game’ against the Black Stars in the 2019 Cup of Nations third round qualifiers next week with the reverse leg slated for 15th October, 2018 in Freetown.
Coach John Kiester and his charges, will be welcomed by the Black Stars on Thursday 11th October, 2018 at the Baba Yara Stadium and the FC Zurich defender says he’s fully aware of how difficult it would be to beat Kwasi Appiah’s team at their favorite home ground.
Despite being utterly aware of the four times Nations Cup winners’ threat, Bangura believes the Leone Stars have a compact squad that can upset the Black Stars come next week in Kumasi.
The 31-year old defender, played full throttle in FC Zurich’s Europa League Group A 1-0 win over Bulgarian side Ludogorets on Thursday in Zurich at the Stadium Letzigrund.
Speaking exclusively to SportsworldGhana.com on Friday ahead of the crusty battle Bangura said ”I think this game is very important to us because we are playing against the favorite in the group therefore we will have to show them some respect but I can tell you that we have a very good squad to give the Black Stars a tough match,”
The FC Zurich defender added ”We [Sierra Leone] want to qualify for next year’s AFCON in Cameroon so we will need a point in Kumasi and see what happens in the return leg,”
”The Black Stars players are well known but only have to plan well to stop them from playing well but I must confess it’s going to be a very tough game but we have a team capable of beating in them,”
”It is possible to get all the three points in the second leg but coming to Ghana all that we need to do is to avoid defeat, at least we should leave Ghana with a point,” concluded Umaru Bangura.
Below is the Leone Stars full squad to face Ghana.
Goalkeepers:
Solomon Zombo Morris, Alhaji Sesay, Mohammed Nabile Kamara.
Defenders:
Yeami Dunia, Umaru Bangura, (C) Osman Kakay, David Simbo, Alie Sesay, Kemson Fofanah.
Midfielders:
Mohamed Medo Kamara, Alfred Sankon, John Kamara, Julius Wobay, George Davies.
Forwards:
Kei Ansu Kamara, Alhassan Kamara, Mohamed Buya Turay, Kwame Quee, Sheka Fofanah, Christian Moses, Mustapha Bundu.
