By Mohamed Fajah Barrie in USA

Sierra Leone came from behind to draw with Malawi 1-1 in a friendly international match in Freetown on Tuesday.

The match was Sierra Leone’s first game on home soil since they hosted Seychelles in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in July 2014.

South Africa based midfielder Mucium Mhone gave the Flames the lead in the 18th minute after a nice build-up.

But his goal was cancelled two minutes to the break by Finland based Abdul Sesay who registered his second goal for Leone Stars.

The two teams have now met each other three times in friendly international matches with the Flames winning first and second encounters at home in Lilongwe way back in 1978.

There has never been a competitive fixture between the two teams.

Tuesday’s match was a dress rehearsal for both teams as they prepare for their upcoming 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures .

Leone Stars will leave Freetown on Wednesday for Franceville to play away to Gabon on 25 Match and will host the home leg in Freetown in three days time.

However, there are no points on offer for the two games because Gabon will host the finals in January.

Sierra Leone are currently bottom of group I behind Sudan and African champions Ivory Coast.

But Malawi are preparing for a competitive Nations Cup double-header with Guinea in Group L.

The Flames are presently third in the table, above Guinea but below Swaziland and Zimbabwe.

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