Leone Stars of Sierra Leone have never won against The Elephants of Ivory Coast in seven matches. The last meeting between the two teams in an African Cup of Nations tournament was in Tunisia 1994 with the Ivorians winning 4-0. But can the Lions from Sierra Leone get a win against The Elephants of Ivory Coast?
Sierra Leone made a return to the African Cup of Nations tournament after 26 years of absence by beating Benin 1-0 in the last game of the qualifying stages. Before that, Leone Stars pulled what is said to be the greatest comeback in an African Cup of Nations match coming from four goals down to draw 4-4 with the Super Eagles of Nigeria. Sierra Leone finished second in Group L with seven points behind group leaders Nigeria (14 points). That was the start of Leone Stars’ impressive run.
In their opening match of the TotalEnergies African Cup of Nations 2021 in Cameroon, Leone Stars of Sierra Leone made headlines after an impressive start to the tournament holding defending champions, Algeria to a goalless draw – a sterling way to announce your presence after 26 years of absence. Meanwhile, the Ivorians are confident of getting a win against Leone Stars looking at their impressive run against their opponent over the years. Two-time AFCON champions Ivory Coast have made it to the knockout stages of the competition seven times in nine attempts, hoping to make it eight times against the stubborn lions of Sierra Leone. The Elephants of Ivory Coast have won 9, drawn 3, and lost 1 in their last 13 matches.
Leone Stars of Sierra Leone are looking for their first victory in an AFCON game since they last won an AFCON game back in 1996, a 2-1 win over Burkina Faso in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Leone Stars of Sierra Leone have only won 1 in their last 14 international matches (D6, L7). But after that impressive, heroic, and historic performance against the Desert Foxes of Algeria, with their goalkeeper Mohamed N. Kamara who made seven saves against Algeria (the most since 2015), the brave and bold Lions from Sierra Leone have all that it takes to pull a shock against two-time AFCON champions Ivory Coast.
