The Group 7 minnows bravely held the African champions and almost grabbed a stunning victory, much to the surprise of their manager.

"I didn't expect the players to appear with this terrific performance against Egypt," said Cole in the post-match conference.

"A draw with the champions of Africa at home is great. It is a fantastic achievement for Sierra Leone to be proud of.

"I know that competition will be difficult in a group including Egypt and South Africa, but our goal is to reach the Nations Cup."

Sierra Leone only qualified for the Nations Cup twice, the last of which was in 1996 in South Africa.