Sierra Leone under-23 National team coach Amidu Karimu has said his team is focused and determined to face Zambia tomorrow in front of their home fans when the two clash for the second leg match of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in Lusaka.
Karimu said playing Zambia in front of their home fans will be motivation enough for his team to perform even better.
“I talked to my team about determination and focus towards the game tomorrow. We know what we are here for and we are just waiting for tomorrow,” he said.
“They(Sierra Leone players) have played with more fans in the stadium, even me, I liked it when I was a player to play in a stadium with more fans, so I think it will motivate us well when we have more fans in the stadium.”
Karimu added that he has worked on his team’s weaknesses and declared the young Leone stars ready for tomorrow’s encounter.
“I have worked on it(striking), We missed good scoring opportunities(in the first leg), we have worked on it and we are ready for tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, Zambian coach Oswald Mutapa has also declared his boys ready for the second leg encounter and said, it wont be an easy match but he is confident they will emerge victorious.
“It won’t be an easy game but we need to fight and make sure we qualify for the next stage. The boys are eager for the game but as I have alluded to, it won’t be an easy game,” said Mutapa during a pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon.
“Sierra Leone are not a walk over, they have come here to fight but at the end of day we need to come out victorious.”
Zambia and Sierra Leone U-23 National teams lock horns tomorrow in the final leg of the AFCON qualifiers after a one-all draw in the first leg match last weekend which saw both teams scoring from spot kicks.
The young Chipolopolo will have to avoid defeat or a draw with more than one goal to progress to the final round of the qualifiers.
The aggregate winner of the match tomorrow will meet the winner of Sunday’s tie between Egypt and Eswatini next year in March for a spot at the junior AFCON finals set to be hosted in Morocco.
The tournament will also be used as the qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
