Most 27-year-old Northern Irishmen who want to be at next year’s World Cup in Brazil will have to buy a ticket – but Johnny McKinstry has other plans.

Having been installed as Sierra Leone interim coach in April,McKinstry’s objective is to qualify for the tournament and secure himself a permanent job in the process.

McKinstry is, however, under no illusions about the size of the task.

Sierra Leone sit second in their World Cup qualifying group,https://static.bbci.co.uk/sport/1.30.1/desktop/styles/img/framework/sprites/gvl3_icons_sprite_sport.png?jcb=1368443600); background-attachment: scroll; top: 1px; overflow: hidden; text-indent: -16px; background-position: -766px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;”>  five points adrift of leaders Tunisia with only three games remaining.

“Like any supporter in Sierra Leone I want to be in Brazil next summer, but that is not easy. It is a challenge, it’s not entirely in our own hands,” McKinstry told BBC Sport.

 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22625523