Stars Duo Upbeat for Niger Clash

Concord Times (Freetown)

21 March 2011

Freetown — Sierra Leone striking duo, Mohamed Poborsky Bangura and Ibrahim Tetteh Bangura are optimistic that the national team, Leone Stars can walk out of Niamey with maximum points despite predicting a difficult showdown. The March 27 clash in the Niger capital is definitely going to be a crucial encounter for the Leone Stars and a win will put the side in a vantage position to qualify for the 2012 African Nations Cup to be co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

But the AIK duo who arrived in Freetown last Friday believe they can overcome the pressure in Niamey and see off their hosts by securing the maximum points. “It is very important for us to go there and get the three points but it is not going to be an easy task for us. I still believe we can win if only we step-up our performance to that against Egypt in Cairo,” Poborsky Bangura said.

For Tetteh, Niger’s victory against the Pharaohs of Egypt could be a motivation for their opponents, who he said might be hoping to build on that triumph by taking any match seriously. “Make no mistake, this is going to be a very big match for both teams. For us it is very important to boost our confidence and hope of reaching the Nations Cup finals. I truly believe if we play well and have a good day we can emerge victorious,” said Tetteh.

The Swedish-based strikers arrived in town alongside Ibrahim Koroma aka Marcel and did train with the home based squad under new coach Lars Olof Mattsson. The trio traveled with the Leone Stars’ technical staff headed by Coach Mattsson and other officials on Sunday March 20 onboard Air Maroc for Niamey, while the rest of the foreign-based players are expected to join the team in Niger.

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