Freetown — Sierra Leone international and IK Oddevold striker, Ibrahim Tahini believes the national team, Leone Stars can break their 14-year absence from the African Cup of Nations and make it to the 2012 edition in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

The Leone Stars last qualified for the Nations Cup in 1996 but failed to go beyond the first round but after an impressive performance against Egypt in their opening qualifying campaign, the hit-man was impressed with the national side after holding the African champions to a 1-1 draw.

"I believe Sierra Leone can qualify. Nothing is impossible, we have been there before and why can't we qualify now again? If we continue to play like that taking points away and then winning our home matches then we stand a great chance to live the dream by qualifying for the 2012 Nations Cup," he said.

The Sweden-based player added: "The result was a big surprise for me anyway and even the rest of Africa wouldn't have expected it. Egypt might have underrated the Sierra Leone team and when you do that it's not good for any top team. I couldn't see the match but I followed it on the internet."

The Oddevold goal poacher said the result shows how Leone Stars are improving but cautioned the team not to be complacent.