10 October 2008
Lagos — Players and Coach of the Leone Stars have been talking tough ahead of tomorrow's clash with the Super Eagles at the Abuja National Stadium even as the team shunned breakfast yesterday morning at their Chelsea Hotel abode.
Although Sierra Leone lost the first leg played in Freetown 1-0 courtesy of a Joseph Yobo strike, they are determined to exact their pound of flesh in Abuja.
Alhassan Bangura, one of the Stars biggest exports who play for English Championship side Watford, said he was in Nigeria to help his country qualify for the Nations Cup.
Bangura, who is making his debut for the country of his birth, expressed his delight at being able to done national team colours.
"I admit Nigeria is a great country when it comes to football. We respect them for this but we need the points more than they do," said the man who was almost deported from England.
The Watford star is set to replace injured Samuel Barlay in Leone Stars midfield and showed his desire by being the first Leone Star player to arrive Abuja.
Echoing his midfielder's views Coach Ahmed Kanu insisted that his team was in town to secure the three points because he was still dreaming of taking part in the Nations Cup finals.
"We lost at home so it is a big chance for us to avenge that defeat, besides we need the three points if we are to have any chance of finishing second and hopefully making it the final round."
Coach Kanu said he hoped Bangura would create an impact against the Nigerians.
"I'm glad to have him in the team and I hope he will bring more life to the team. I've seen him playing for Watford and he is a player I like. He has told me that he's ready to give his best for his country," Kanu said
Bangura's international debut had been delayed due to lengthy efforts to establish legal residency in England after he faced deportation last year but he won an appeal to stay in Britain and was granted a work permit
However, if Leone Stars qualify to the next stage, he would not be able to play the team's home matches in Freetown as he has said he fears his life would be in danger in the country he was forced to flee.
Leone Stars are second in Group 4 behind Nigeria with seven points and need to avoid defeat to stand a chance of qualifying for the next stage of the qualifiers as one of the best eight second-placed teams.
Meanwhile, a wealthy Sierra Leonean residing in Nigeria is believed to have taken the team out for breakfast yesterday morning.
Although the Chelsea hotel had prepared breakfast for them, the Leone Stars and their officials opted to eat outside.
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