Sao Tome & Principe put in a spirited display to hold Sierra Leone to a 2-2 draw in an Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) group A qualifier at the Agadir Stadium in Morocco on Wednesday evening.
The Falcons and True Parrots Team, playing as the ‘away’ side (neither nation has a venue that currently meets Caf criteria for this level of match) twice led through Luis Leal, but the Leone Stars struck back via Mustapha Bundu and Abu Komeh to secure a share of the spoils.
The result sees Sao Tome claim a first point in group A (though they remain bottom of the standings), while Sierra Leone are just one point ahead in third place. The group’s leading duo of Nigeria (six points) and Guinea-Bissau (four) will meet in Abuja on Friday.
Sierra Leone settled the quicker of the two teams and enjoyed more of the ball possession through the first half.
However, Sao Tome offered a potent threat on the counter and – after a few close shaves – claimed a surprise lead in the 43rd minute when Adjeil Neves did great work down the left flank and provided a pull-back from the by-line to find Luis Leal, who steered a shot beyond Ibrahim Sesay to leave the visitors 1-0 up at the break.
The Leone Stars needed less than three minutes of the second half to draw level at 1-1, with Augustine Williams driving a low shot from the right which was fumbled by goalkeeper Gilmar Eusebio, allowing Mustapha Bundu to fire home the loose ball.
The hosts would have hoped that their equaliser would serve as a springboard to go on and dominate the remainder of the match, but the Falcons and True Parrots Team reclaimed the ascendancy in the 59th minute, as Leal picked up a pass from the right, burst through the defence and clipped a shot beyond Sesay for 2-1.
Sierra Leone claimed a second equaliser with 12 minutes of regulation time to play, as a long ball was flicked on to find Alhaji Kamara, who in turn teed up Abu Komeh to fire home from close range and make it 2-2.
Both sides pushed for a winning goal in the remaining time, but the defences did just enough to ensure the clash ended in a draw.
The teams will meet in the return group A match, also set for the Agadir Stadium, on Sunday 26 March.
Sierra Leone (0) 2 (Bundu 48’, Musa 78’)
Sao Tome & Principe (1) 2 (Leal 43’ 59’)
Sierra Leone:Sesay, Samura, Caulker, Samadia, Bundu, Alh. Koroma, J. Kamara (Alu. Koroma 46’)), Kaikai (Komeh 67’), Kargbo (Morsay 89’), M.N. Kamara (Williams 46’), A. Kamara
Sao Tome:Eusebio (Braganca 81’), G. Soares (Tinho 72’), Ivonaldo, Ramos, Neves, Jocy, Cruz (Oliveira 73’), Viegas, Chidinho (Ronaldo 82’), Harramiz (Semedo 90+6’), Leal