Sierra Leone qualifies for Africa Nations Cup 2022

June 16, 2021 Publisher and Chief Executive Officer KABS KANU ACTION NEWS, COMMENTARY, SPORTS, TOP STORY, Uncategorized 0

Sierra Leone 1-0 Benin Republic: Kamara sends Leone Stars through to Afcon

Chief Editor NigeriaLast Updated6 hours agoCOMMENTS2

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The Minnesota United forward scored for John Keister’s men to deny the Squirrels a place at next year’s African football showpiece

Sierra Leone defeated Benin Republic 1-0 to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations next year.

Kei Kamara’s first-half penalty was enough for the Leone Stars to defeat the Squirrels in the last Group L qualification fixture.

The crunch encounter, initially billed for Tuesday, March 30, at the National Stadium, Freetown did not take place owing to a Covid-19 controversy.

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The Confederation of African Football moved the game to June 14 at the General Lansana Conte Stadium, yet the game did not go as planned owing to another Covid controversy.

However, the game was moved to Tuesday evening – as the result would determine the last team to secure a place for Cameroon 2022.

Although Michel Dussuyer’s Squirrels needed just a draw to scale through, they put up a strong fight against the hosts – who needed just a 1-0 win.

Six minutes into the game, the visitors had the first chance to draw the first blood, nevertheless, Steve Mounie’s header off Cebio Soukou’s free-kick was saved by goalkeeper Mohamed Kamara.

Sierra Leone’s first chance came in the 14th minute, but Augustine Williams could not convert a beautiful cross from Sullay Kaikai.

Four minutes later, Keister’s men were awarded a penalty after captain Khaled Adenon handled the ball in his own area. Tunisian Fifa referee Haythem Guirat pointed to the penalty mark while cautioning the Avranches defender.

36-year-old Kamara took the ensuing kick and expertly sent the ball past goalkeeper Saturnin Allagbe.

That goal woke the Squirrels from their slumber. Even at that, they were unable to equalise and sadly missed out on the 2021 Afcon after the full-time whistle. 

With this result, Sierra Leone have ended their 26-year Africa Cup of Nations hiatus. Their last outing was at the 1996 edition staged in South Africa.

There, they crashed out of the preliminary round after failing to qualify from Group B that paraded Zambia, Algeria and Burkina Faso.

Before the encounter, coach Keister had revealed that there was no pressure within his squad.

“There is no pressure. Our ultimate goal is to qualify for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, and there is no discomfort within our squad,” Keister told Caf website.Article continues below

“This squad is a blend of both young and experienced players; I’ve rationally selected 11 local and 15 foreign-based players.

“Thankfully, despite the numerous challenges, we succeeded to arrange a camp and let our players train together in Freetown since last Monday.

“What I need now is support from our fans at home and abroad. Already there is a huge willingness among the players and the whole nation wants us to qualify.

“So, I’m on to guide the team to get the best result against Benin and proceed to Cameroon next year.”

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Clubless Kamara takes Sierra Leone back to Africa Cup of Nations
Nongo (Guinea) (AFP)
Kei Kamara converted a penalty to take Sierra Leone to the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 1996 with a 1-0 win over Benin on Tuesday in a qualifier twice postponed due to a coronavirus tests drama.
Unattached Kamara, a 36-year-old forward who left Major League Soccer outfit Minnesota United last year, netted after 19 minutes in Nongo near the Guinean capital, Conakry.
Victory qualified Sierra Leone on goal difference after they finished level on seven points with Benin in Group L, which Nigeria won comfortably.

It was the first win for the Leone Stars in the mini-league after four draws, and an away defeat by Benin two years ago.
The qualification of Sierra Leone ended a Covid-19-induced saga spanning four months over who would fill the final berth at the biennial showcase of African football.
It began on March 30 in the Sierra Leone capital, Freetown, where Benin refused to take the field after five of the starting line-up were told just before the kickoff that they had tested positive for Covid-19.
The tests were conducted by Sierra Leoneans and Benin alleged that the results were falsified to rob the team of five stars, including Steve Mounie, who played for then Premier League club Huddersfield Town.
Sierra Leone appealed to CAF and Benin to the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with both seeking a 3-0 victory and qualification.
Each appeal was rejected and CAF ordered the match to be replayed this Monday with the venue switched to Nongo near Conakry because the national stadium in Freetown was not up to international standards.
Ahead of the second attempt to resolve who finished second, all the Sierra Leone players tested negative only for six reserves to be declared positive just before the kickoff.
No reason was given for the dramatic change, after tests conducted by CAF, and when Sierra Leone declined to play, the match was put back 24 hours.
Sierra Leone join 23 other countries who have secured places at the Cup of Nations, including defending champions Algeria, hosts Cameroon and record seven-time title-holders Egypt.
Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, Tunisia and Zimbabwe are the other qualifiers.
The Cup of Nations, which was originally scheduled for early this year, will begin on January 9 and conclude on February 6 with the final in Yaounde.
© 2021 AFP

The match between Sierra Leone and Benin counting for the last day of the CAN Cameroon 2021 qualifiers in group L was finally played on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 at the Lassane Conté stadium in Conakry. At the end of this meeting, the Sierra Leoneans snatched the last qualifying ticket (1-0) for the meeting in Cameroon. Not without merit when we take into account the athlete. Because, the Benin Squirrels were unable to do what it takes to even get the point of the draw.

The Squirrels of Benin are eliminated! Michel Dussuyer and his foals will not be in Cameroon in January 2022 to compete in the African Nations Cup (CAN). Foul in an incomprehensible hand of Khaled Adénon in his penalty area which caused a penalty in the 18th minute of play. Kamara Kei was responsible for transforming this penalty (1-0, 19 ') to send Sierra Leone to the CAN after 25 years of diserte. This goal is the result of the poor entry of the Beninese team in a match where only a draw was needed.

Subsequently, the Sierra Leoneans managed their match in front of a squirrels team in bad shape in all sectors. So the Beninese players lacked arguments in this meeting even if the last 10 minutes of the first game were promising. But, the second part was a series of individual actions, bad choices, technical fouls and even Dussuyer's tactical choices. Despite the non-existence of his midfielder, the Frenchman was unable to find a solution for his team, which fell mainly because the squad was sorely lacking in quality. And so, Benin will have to wait to take part in its fifth CAN.
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THESE REPORTS BELOW ARE CULLED FROM VARIOUS BENIN NEWSPAPERS 

Qualifiers / Cameroon 2021: Sierra Leone closes the door of the CAN in Benin Jun 16, 2021Slide, Sport0 Soukou well watched by an opponent The last holder of the entry ticket to Samuel Eto’o’s country is Sierra Leone. The team composted their ticket after a 1-0 success against Benin in the last match of Group L. This at the end of the match of the 6th and last day of the Can Cameroon 2021 qualifiers postponed and played on Tuesday 15 June 2021 in Guinea Conakry. A match that did not smile on Michel Dussuyer and his players. After a shy start to the match, they made it more difficult for themselves by conceding the opener on a penalty kick caused by Khaled Adénon and transformed by Kei Kamara in the 20th minute of the game. A goal that they could not recover during the remainder of the game. Thus, the Squirrels of Benin as in 2016 fail to qualify and will not be able to chain a second qualification in a row. Because, with this 3rd defeat in 6 games, of these qualifiers (only 2 wins and 1 loss at home, 1 draw and 2 losses on the road) the Squirrels total 8 points -1. A performance which places them in 3rd position behind Nigeria (1st) and Sierra Leone (2nd). Lesotho, already eliminated, is 4th. Anselme HOUENOUKPO

Imbroglio in Conakry on the Benin-Sierra Leone match The Sierra Leone - Benin match postponed to Tuesday, June 15 Post: Featured- By benin @ site_09 - Jun 15, 20210 While the kick-off should be given at 5 p.m. on Monday, June 14, 2021, the meeting between "Les Écureuils" from Benin and the "Leone Stars" from Sierra Leone is postponed until Tuesday, June 15, 2021. The 6 Sierra Leonean players and the two members of their technical staff will resume the PCR tests this evening (Monday, June 14, 2021). The results will be expected on Tuesday morning. The African Football Confederation is keen to hold the Benin-Sierra Leone match counting for the 6th and final day of the qualifiers for the African Cup of Nations Can, Total Cameroon 2021. Following the contestation of the results of the Covid-test. 19 declaring six players of the Sierra-Leone team positive, the Caf decided to resume testing. Mr. M.
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The Covid test is in dispute. For good reason, six players from Sierra-Leone and two members of the technical staff have tested positive for Covid-19. The players concerned are, Ibrahim Sesay, Francis Koroma, Augustus Kargbo, Idriss Kanu, Alusine Koroma and Kassim Sima Turay. Of the six players concerned, only one (Alhassa Koroma) was on the starting XI list but Sierra-Leone refused to play the match and are contesting the results. - Advertisement - - Advertisement - A legal battle will follow in the locker room. Even if CAF would have requested that the match be played regardless of the circumstances, the meeting will never take place. It was instead postponed for this Tuesday, June 15, 2021 at the same time after rapid tests were carried out on the supposed covids and whose results were negative. Note that the 6 Sierra Leonean players and the 2 members of their technical staff also performed the PCR tests last night (Monday, June 14, 2021). The results are expected this Tuesday morning before the match at 5 p.m.

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