Sierra Leone national team players were forced to spend part of Saturday afternoon sleeping under mango trees on a buffer zone along the Sierra Leone-Guinea border ahead of their vital 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Benin.
The players were left with less than 20 hours to prepare for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier after the hold up.
The Leone Stars squad used social media to highlight their plight after arriving at the Gbalamunya border point on Saturday, ahead of Monday’s Group L clash in the Guinean capital.
The Sierra Leone delegation were told they were not allowed to leave the crossing point because of an administrative problem before being allowed to leave after eight hours following government intervention.
Kai Kamara and Kwame Quee who have been crucial in Sierra Leone fight to break 25-year AFCON absence – were some of the stars who resorted to sleeping on a mat with some seeking comfort under mango trees.
Sierra Leone were expected in Conakry in less than 20 hours for a crunch match that will determine the last team that will make to the next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.
By midnight, the players had not checked in at the Noom Hotel in Conakry where they’ve been booked with hotel officials left in unfamiliar situation.
“Do you know when your team will be arriving? Please, if you get any information share with us,” a hotel official told Ducor Sports on Saturday morning.
It means Sierra Leone will conduct only two training session hence they will have little time to acclimatize to the environment in what is a truly chastening experience for the team.
The team officials via proxy had in the cause of the day asked the hotel to make ready 18 double rooms – to be shared by the players and ten singles but by 2am Central African Time(Sunday) not a single soul from the Sierra Leone party is yet to check in at the hotel.
The match is penciled to be played Monday 14 June 2021 at the Stade Général Lansana Conté in Guinea capital, Conakry.
