A match between Sierra Leone and Benin in Guinea on Monday, June 14, 2021 to decide the final qualifiers for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations was postponed 24 hours after a row over coronavirus tests.
The game, which will decide the last place in the finals, has been rescheduled for Tuesday, a Confederation of African Football official in Guinea and a local football official, neither of whom wished to be named, both told AFP.
Eve-of-match tests cleared every player from both teams to play, but just before the kickoff Sierra Leone were informed that six reserves had tested positive and were barred.
The tests on Sunday were conducted by CAF officials, who did not immediately explain the change from negative to positive status of the six.
Sierra Leone refused to accept the new results and more than two hours after the scheduled kickoff time CAF decided to delay the fixture by one day.
Benin’s federation called the situation “a shame for African football” and said it was a “tense situation”.
There was no immediate response from the Confederation of African Football as talks between Sierra Leone, Benin and Confederation of African Football (CAF) officials in Freetown failed to resolve the standoff as both squads remained in their hotels.
It was the second time the final-round Group L fixture had been postponed. Benin refused to play in Sierra Leone last March after five of their stars tested positive.
All five Beninese tested negative for coronavirus before travelling to Freetown and when they returned to their foreign clubs.
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A match between Sierra Leone and Benin in Guinea on Monday, June 14, 2021 to decide the final qualifiers for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations was postponed 24 hours after a row over coronavirus tests.
The game, which will decide the last place in the finals, has been rescheduled for Tuesday, a Confederation of African Football official in Guinea and a local football official, neither of whom wished to be named, both told AFP.
Eve-of-match tests cleared every player from both teams to play, but just before the kickoff Sierra Leone were informed that six reserves had tested positive and were barred.
The tests on Sunday were conducted by CAF officials, who did not immediately explain the change from negative to positive status of the six.
Sierra Leone refused to accept the new results and more than two hours after the scheduled kickoff time CAF decided to delay the fixture by one day.
Benin’s federation called the situation “a shame for African football” and said it was a “tense situation”.
There was no immediate response from the Confederation of African Football as talks between Sierra Leone, Benin and Confederation of African Football (CAF) officials in Freetown failed to resolve the standoff as both squads remained in their hotels.
It was the second time the final-round Group L fixture had been postponed. Benin refused to play in Sierra Leone last March after five of their stars tested positive.
All five Beninese tested negative for coronavirus before travelling to Freetown and when they returned to their foreign clubs.
|
|
">
A match between Sierra Leone and Benin in Guinea on Monday, June 14, 2021 to decide the final qualifiers for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations was postponed 24 hours after a row over coronavirus tests.
The game, which will decide the last place in the finals, has been rescheduled for Tuesday, a Confederation of African Football official in Guinea and a local football official, neither of whom wished to be named, both told AFP.
Eve-of-match tests cleared every player from both teams to play, but just before the kickoff Sierra Leone were informed that six reserves had tested positive and were barred.
The tests on Sunday were conducted by CAF officials, who did not immediately explain the change from negative to positive status of the six.
Sierra Leone refused to accept the new results and more than two hours after the scheduled kickoff time CAF decided to delay the fixture by one day.
Benin’s federation called the situation “a shame for African football” and said it was a “tense situation”.
There was no immediate response from the Confederation of African Football as talks between Sierra Leone, Benin and Confederation of African Football (CAF) officials in Freetown failed to resolve the standoff as both squads remained in their hotels.
It was the second time the final-round Group L fixture had been postponed. Benin refused to play in Sierra Leone last March after five of their stars tested positive.
All five Beninese tested negative for coronavirus before travelling to Freetown and when they returned to their foreign clubs.
|
|
">
">
ADVERTISEMENT
A match between Sierra Leone and Benin in Guinea on Monday, June 14, 2021 to decide the final qualifiers for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations was postponed 24 hours after a row over coronavirus tests.
The game, which will decide the last place in the finals, has been rescheduled for Tuesday, a Confederation of African Football official in Guinea and a local football official, neither of whom wished to be named, both told AFP.
Eve-of-match tests cleared every player from both teams to play, but just before the kickoff Sierra Leone were informed that six reserves had tested positive and were barred.
The tests on Sunday were conducted by CAF officials, who did not immediately explain the change from negative to positive status of the six.
Sierra Leone refused to accept the new results and more than two hours after the scheduled kickoff time CAF decided to delay the fixture by one day.
Benin’s federation called the situation “a shame for African football” and said it was a “tense situation”.
There was no immediate response from the Confederation of African Football as talks between Sierra Leone, Benin and Confederation of African Football (CAF) officials in Freetown failed to resolve the standoff as both squads remained in their hotels.
It was the second time the final-round Group L fixture had been postponed. Benin refused to play in Sierra Leone last March after five of their stars tested positive.
All five Beninese tested negative for coronavirus before travelling to Freetown and when they returned to their foreign clubs.
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