Sierra Leone holds African Champions Algeria to a barren draw
Many at times, the big boy tag does not live up to expectations as we have seen from the onset of the 33rd edition of the AFCON.
Who would have taught that after 26 years of not being on the biggest stage of the biggest tournament on the continent, Sierra Leone would hold the ones currently on the biggest stage, The Desert Foxes of Algeria to a barren draw at the Stade de Japoma, Douala in their group D opener.
As promised, Sierra Leona looked the reigning African champions Algeria straight in the eye, pushing them to their last corner in the first period before putting up a Maginot Line to register their first point of the tournament.
The first half largely saw the underdogs Sierra Leone with two scoring chances for striker Alhadji Kamara but failed to convert.
After the break, Kei Kamara was whistled for offside when he thought he had opened the scoring for Sierra Leone in what would have been their first at the AFCON in 26 years.
This refused goal served as a reminder to the Desert Foxes who began to come out of their torpor with captain Riyad Mahrez creating some defense breaking passes.
Yacine Brahimi tried to light the first match in the 50th minute but fell short on the Sierra Leonean goalkeeper with a feeble effort.
In the 65th minute Sofiane Bendebka was blocked by Steven Caulker as the ball hit the net.
With six minutes remaining, Benrhama missed the mark on his own in the penalty area. Until the end, the Desert Foxes laid siege to the Sierra Leone side but goalkeeper Mohamed N Kamara remained strong and made up for his defense twice.
After a fine display of saves and keeping the mouth of the fox shut, Sierra Leonean goalie Mohammed Kamara was awarded the Man of the match.
Speaking after the game head coach for Sierra Leone John Keister expressed his joy and commended his side for a brave display.
“I’m happy with the result (0-0) even though we attacked this game to win it. We had the reigning African champions Algeria, a great and beautiful team, but we stuck to our strategy which worked.
“I don’t want to highlight a single player even if the goalkeeper (Mohamed N Kamara) was elected man of the match.
“This is a collective performance and we will continue to do so. We have to fight and grow this group. And since our arrival, we have been working to move forward.
“There’s no point in having a great game today (this Tuesday) and letting the other games slip away, it’s at the end of the tournament that we’ll know if we’re the surprise. We take game after game ’.
On the other side of the coin, Djamel Belmadi, head coach of Algeria was disappointed at the results amidst several condescending factors.
’I can’t say that I’m satisfied, the objective being to enter the competition well with the maximum number of points, but it wasn’t possible. But it’s not just the conditions, the heat and humidity. We had a brave opponent in front who left little room.
“And as the game went on, he had more motivation and reduced the spaces. In the second half, it is true that we had a lot more chances but we must also salute the performance of the opponent. And as I said this AFCON, it will be difficult for everyone.”
Up next for Sierra Leone is another tough game against one of the tournament’s favorite, the Elephants of La Cote D’Ivoire on 16 January at 4pm GMT while Algeria get to redeem themselves against Equatorial Guinea on the same day at 7pm GMT.
