By Mohamed Fajah Barrie in Freetown 6th September, 2014.
Leone Stars gave away a 1-0 first half lead to narrowly lose 2-1 to Les Elephants of Ivory Coast in an African Cup of Nations group D qualifying match played at the Felix Houphouet Boigny stadium in Abidjan on Saturday.
Les Elephants started the game well as they enjoyed better possession of the ball but were unable to breakthrough a composed and determined Leone Stars defence marshalled by Belarus based Umaru Bangura in the first half.
However, Leone Stars didn't sit on the defence, they too attacked the Ivorians and threatened to score when striker Alhassan Kamara's acrobatic kick from the box went wide before the moment of joy came.
Kei Kamara calmly finished up a low left wing cross from George Davies a minute to the break to put Leone Stars on the lead and registered his team's first ever goal against Les Elephants.
Ivory Coast also dominated play in the second half and their substitutions yielded dividend as they scored two goals to turn the game in their favour.
Seydou Doumbia equalised when he rose above Leone Stars defenders in the box to head in a cross from the right.
Italy based Gervinho sealed victory for the host as he dribbled his way into the box and released a low shot which hit the post before it crossed the line to send the crowd at the stadium to ecstasy.
Leone Stars substitutions in contrast didn't create impact.
It was the fifth time the two teams were facing each other with Les Elephants winning all.
The victory has put Les Elephants second in group D behind Cameroon's Indomitable Lions who had earlier defeated Democratic Republic of Congo 2-0 on Saturday.
Leone Stars are third while DR Congo are fourth.
Leone Stars host DR Congo in Lubumbashi on Wednesday while Ivory Coast travel to Yaounde to face Cameroon.
