Sierra Leone on Sunday held Cote d’Ivoire to a 2-2 draw in a Group E match at the ongoing TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2021.
The Leone Stars Ivory team showed character and determination as they fought back each time they went behind against the Elephants.
They got their reward two minutes to the end of the game by capitalizing on goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare’s error to make it 2-2 through substitute Alhaji Kamara at the Japoma Stadium in Douala, Cameroon.
The situation then became tensed for Cote d’Ivoire in added time as their skipper Serge Aurier was forced to go in goal after goalkeeper Sangare was carried off injured.
To show their determination, Leone Stars stood firm against coach Patrice Beaumelle’s team with a high attacking intensity.
Cote d’Ivoire V Sierra Leone: Match highlight
The Ivorians eventually took the lead after 22 minutes through Sebastien Romain Teddy Haller made it 1-0 for Cote d’Ivoire. He received a neat defensive splitting pass from Zaha and made no mistake finding the net.
Within 11 minutes, Cote d’Ivoire earned a penalty. Wilfried Zaha was knocked down in the box by defender Osma Konate. Sierra Leone goalkeeper Mohamed Nbalie Kamara stopped Frank Kessie’s spot-kick. The AC Milan midfielder placed the ball in the bottom right corner, but the goalie was up to the task.
READ ALSO: AFCON 2022: Super Eagles match on in Cameroon
The Sierra Leone goalkeeper was called into action again when he punched away N’Clomande Ghislain Konan’s shot after 33 minutes.
Mohamed Buya Turay after 38 minutes could not beat the Elephants’ goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare who made a timed block.
Despite their intensity in the second half in search of another goal, it was Sierra Leone who leveled matters. Musa Kamara beat one defender and made no mistake shooting past the Cote d’Ivoire goalkeeper.
This became a motivation for the Sierra Leone team as they stepped up in attack. Turay’s free kick went off target.
Cote d’Ivoire eventually took the lead again after 66 minutes. The goal came from some good inter passing which was eventually set up by Zaha Nicolas Pepe blasted the ball in the corner.
Cote d’Ivoire continued to attack in numbers, but the Sierra Leone defending line stood firm, clearing and blocking several balls in their territory.
Leone Stars were again pegged back after Sangare failed to get hold of a back pass. Kamara made no mistake sliding it in the net. It was all celebrations for the Sierra Leone team after the final whistle.
As it stands, Cote d’Ivoire remained top of Group E with four points, while Sierra Leone are second on two points. Later Algeria will face Equatorial Guinea in another Group E match.
Discover more from News Round The Clock
Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.
