April 30, 2021
By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has lost the appeal matter filed against Benin Football Association. It will be recalled that the Sierra Leone National football team, Leone Stars was supposed to have played their 151 match of the Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers, to be stage in Cameroon 2022. The match was scheduled to be played between the two nations on the 30th of March 2021 in Freetown.
However, the Benin delegation arrived at the Freetown Airport on the 28th of March 2021 and according to the Sierra Leone football Association a PCR test should be done on arrival, obligatory as per the National Authorities. However, the Beninese party was exempted from undergoing the PCR test on arrival as agreed between both parties.
The PCR tests were conducted on MD-1, the Benin delegation was promised that the results would be made available to them at least 4 hours before kickoff time.
According to the Beninese delegation they were only informed of the PCR test results on their way to the Siaka Stevens Stadium in Freetown; to their surprise five of their key players were tested positive of contacting the Covod-19 virus. From investigation the Benin officials did not received any printed test result officially, instead a manuscript with the names of five players were shown to them upon their arrival to the Stadium.
On this backdrop, the visiting team objected the authenticity of the PCR results and their players refused to honor the fixture which caused a delay of the kickoff time twice by CAF, firstly it was shifted to 19 hours GMT, later to 21 hours all ended void. The situation escalated when ambulance was sent by the Sierra Leone Health Authorities to transport the positive players to an isolation center especially when both parties had agreed during their MCM meeting that the positive players will be isolated in their rooms, which finally led to the eventual cancellation of the match on the 30th March 2021.
The Organizing Committee of AFCON decided to postpone the match to be played at a later date on the next international break scheduled in June 2021.
On the following day the Sierra Leone Football Association declared its intention to appeal against the Organizing Committee decision to postpone the match and Beninese Federation later submitted their complaint in regard to the problems that their delegation faced in Freetown as well as their objection to the postponement of Match 151.
During the Appeal Board meeting, both parties were represented. The Sierra Leone Football Association was represented by their General Secretary Mr. Christopher Kamara and the Benin Football Federation was represented by their Minister of Sports, the President of the BFA and its General Secretary Mr. Oswald Homeky.
At the end of the Zoom meeting with the two federations, the Board cited the following amongst others for their decision;
“That the Appeal of Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) is admissible in form.
“The Appeal of Sierra Football Association (SLFA) is rejected in substance;
“The Afcon Organizing Committee`s decision of postponing match 151 Sierra Leone Vs. Benin of Afcon qualifiers to be played in June 2021 is hereby confirmed.
“All other and further motions or prayers for relief are hereby dismissed.
Meanwhile football fans have reacted angrily on Facebook:
Mohamed Zegor Conteh writes: `So where is FIFA say? Where is the integrity now, we are always communicating behind the corridors of FIFA with no standard may god help us.
Abdul Karim Kamara writes `Ae bongo footh, pa all d Mame e sababu na thrash.
Gibabdulsatu Deen
Wow!! So what next for us as a nation? For me I think court of arbitration of sport (CAS) because I feel we have been disadvantage.
Ishmael Turay Loverish
Upon all the connections of Isha Johansen our appeal was turned down any way i hope Leone star will defeat Benin in June and make it to the African nation’s cup.
A Tejan Lamin
This is the payment you get when you use FIFA and CAF against your country shame on you Isha