Sierra Leone's skipper eyeing 2019 AFCON

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Friday Jun 23, 2017. 15:00

Sierra Leone skipper Umaru Bangura reckons they have enough quality to qualify for the 2019 CAF Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

The Leone Stars skipper said their preparations are going well and says they are keen to make their return to continental football.

Sierra Leone have failed to reach the tournament since the 1996 finals in South Africa and Bangura is upbeat they will bounce back in 2019.

They are in Group F together with Ghana, Kenya and Ethiopia and sit at number two with three points from their 2-1 win over the Harambee Stars in their most recent qualifier.

ESPERANCE, SUNDOWNS PLAY TO STALEMATE IN RADES

"I'm confident that with good preparation we'll qualify for the AFCON finals," said Bangura to BBC.

"We don't want any late preparations.

"We want players to be available at the right time for early training and play friendly matches against top-class African teams.

"I'm calling on the Sierra Leone FA and sports ministry to prepare us well for the remaining fixtures."

The Switzerland-based player with FC Zurich will head to their second match against Ethiopia in high spirits after he was honoured with a Presidential medal he received recently for services to the national team.