Though Sierra Leone are the third-placed team in Group A of the Cote d’Ivoire 2023 African Cup of Nations qualifiers, that has not stopped the Leone Stars from thinking of causing another upset in the group that has Nigeria, Guinea Bissau and Sao Tome and Principe.

Guinea Bissau, in March, caused a major upset, when they defeated the Super Eagles of Nigeria in Abuja in the early stage of the qualifying series. That is what Sierra Leone has promised to replicate on Sunday when they host Nigeria in Monrovia, Liberia.

The Leone Stars have five points from four matches against the nine points by the Super Eagles, while Guinea Bissau have seven points with Sao Tome and Principe sitting at the bottom of the table.

Speaking ahead of the clash with the Super Eagles, Leone Stars striker, Ismael Dumbuya, said he is optimistic of turning the table against the Super Eagles despite the availability of top stars in the Nigerian squad.

Dumbuya, who is based in Liberia, is one of the late calls up into the team after seven of their invited players dropped out of the squad.

Speaking through the Sierra Leone Football Association, Dumbuya said their main goal is to beat Nigeria on Sunday. “I hope to make the final squad for the game against Nigeria, and our target is to beat Nigeria and qualify for the next AFCON,” he said.

A win for the Leone Stars on Sunday will revitalise their hope of qualifying for the 2023 African Cup of Nations to be hosted in Cote d’Ivoire.

Meanwhile, captain of the Leone Stars, Steven Caulker, is a major doubt for the game, according to BSNSports.com.ng reports.

All of Nigeria’s invited players for the game are now in Super Eagles’ camp in Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Hostilities at the 22,000-capacity arena will begin by 5.00p.m. Nigeria time (4.00 p.m. Liberia time) as the Super Eagles seek to reach the finals of the competition early next year, with a game to spare.

For the last edition of Africa’s flagship football championship, the Super Eagles qualified for the finals with a game to spare after Paul Onuachu headed in with few minutes left against Benin Republic’s Guepards in Porto Novo.