By Barrie Alpha
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Emergency Committee has exceptionally lifted the ban on the Siaka Steven Stadium and allows only the remaining AFCON 2021 Qualifiers (Match Day 5 and 6) to be played, according to reports.
Late last month, in a communication to the Sierra Leone Football Association, CAF informed the FA that the capital stadium in Freetown lacks adequate facilities to host their Group L final match against Benin.
Confederation of African Football (CAF), in another correspondence dated Thursday 4, March 2021, approved the ‘Stade Du 28 Septembre’ in Guinea Conakry, proposed by the Sierra Leone Football Association as the new venue to host the country’s final match in the ongoing 2021 AFCON Qualifiers against Benin on Tuesday March 30th, 2021.
Yesterday, Wednesday March 10th 2021, in an official correspondence to the Sierra Leone Football Association by CAF, the CAF Emergency Committee has, “Based on the COVID-19 pandemic and current travel restrictions,” decided to exceptionally lift the ban on the Siaka Steven Stadium and allow only the remaining AFCON 2021 Qualifiers (Match-Day 5 and 6) to be played.
The decision went on to state that, after the above-mentioned match-days, Sierra Leone’s playing territory “will automatically again be removed from the list of CAF approved stadiums and will not be available for selection on CAF Competition Management System.”
The SLFA President has confirmed that she was engaging in talks with the appropriate CAF officials who will visit Sierra Leone with a view of advising the Ministry of Sports on the improvement of stadium technical infrastructures, which will meet with CAF/FIFA competition standards for future matches.