Sierra Leone has reportedly refused to play a decisive African Cup of Nations qualifying game against Benin on Monday after disputing that six of its players had tested positive for COVID-19 just before kickoff.
Unconfirmed reports indicate goalkeepers Ibrahim Sesay and Ibrahim Camara alongside Augustus Kargbo, Idris Kanu, Alusine Koroma and Kassim Sima Turay have tested Covid-19 positive and as a result, they have been ordered to be struck from the starting line-up.
Sierra Leone said that their players had taken Covid-19 tests on Sunday, all of which had returned negative, only to be informed ten minutes before kick-off by medical authorities in Conakry, Guinea that six players in the starting XI had tested positive after all.
Talks between Sierra Leone, Benin and Confederation of African Football (Caf) officials in Conakry are ongoing with a repeat of the PCR tests set to be conducted tonight in a bid to settle the standoff.
The farce has left final place at next year’s African Cup again in a dilemma as the clash was previously postponed in March after several Benin players tested positive of the deadly virus.
Sierra Leone need to win the match in Conakry to reach the tournament for the first time in 25 years, whereas Benin need only a draw.
It’s not the first time during this African Cup qualifying competition that traveling teams have cried foul over local authorities’ COVID-19 tests.
Kenya complained when four key players were ruled ineligible for a qualifier in Togo, also after test results were announced on the day of the game.
Note: This is a developing story
