The Confederation of African Football [CAF] unveils the final six groups for the 33rd edition of the 2021 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon. The draw takes place today, Tuesday 17 August 2021 at the Yaounde Conference Centre.
For the first time after 26 years, Leone Stars of Sierra Leone will be playing in the continent’s biggest sporting stage, the African Cup of Nations [AFCON]. Leone Stars are drawn in Group E of the 2021 TotalEnergies AFCON, Cameroon, against Ivory Coast, Algeria, and Equatorial Guinea. A tough test for Leone Stars against a more experienced Algeria and Ivory Coast.
The country’s last taste of the African Cup of Nations was their second participation in South Africa in 1996.
For Algeria and Ivory Coast, this might be an easy journey to the next rounds of the competition. But for Sierra Leone, they’ll have to face Algeria and Ivory Coast, whose national team players are playing week in week out across top European Leagues.
Leone Stars of Sierra Leone qualified for the African Cup of Nations for the first time in 26 years after they defeated Benin in a 1-0 victory at the General Lassana Conte Stadium in Conakry, Guinea. Leone Stars finished the qualifying group stage of the tournament with seven points behind group leaders Nigeria and tied on point with Benin. Kei Kamara scored the only goal from a penalty spot in the 18th minute of play. Their victory against Benin saw the four corners of Sierra Leone, against tribal, political and religious odds, stormed the streets of Freetown in unbridled joy.
The AFCON 2021 draw is conducted by CAF Competitions Director Samson Adamu, assisted by some of Africa’s greatest players, Cameroonian Samuel Eto’o, Ivorian Didier Drogba, Algerian Rabah Madjer, Ghanaian Asamoah Gyan and Cameroonian Gaelle Enganamouit.
Can Sierra Leone produce the tournament’s most shocking moment?Will Sierra Leone qualify to the round of 16 of the 2021 TotalEnergies AFCON, Cameroon?