FIFA Ban On Sierra Leone: Ghana May Rake In Six Points

Related stories

What Europe’s response to a no-deal with Trump could look like

Brussels is preparing for a no-deal scenario as uncertainty...

Oil Prices Climb Amid U.S.-EU Trade Hopes and Russian Export Restrictions

Oil prices climbed Friday amid U.S.-EU trade progress, a...

U.S. Refiners Rethink Crude Sourcing After Chevron Gets Venezuela Green Light

U.S. refiners are reassessing Latin American crude sourcing strategies...

Presidency, Kwankwaso Clash Over Claims of Northern Marginalization

• Kwankwaso: "Tinubu is Starving North of Development, Prioritizing...

Natasha Faces Full Suspension as Senate Goes on Recess

By Abiola Olawale  Indications have emerged that suspended Senator Natasha...

Sierra Leone may have gifted Ghana Black Stars six points in two African Nations Cup qualifiers scheduled for Kumasi on Thursday and Freetown next Monday.

Sierra Leone are barred from the two matches after the country’s football association failed to get a FIFA suspension lifted.

The country’s football authorities failed to meet a Tuesday deadline to reinstate ousted football association president Isha Johansen, who is accused of corruption by government officials.

“Our appeal has been rejected,” Sierra Leone Football Association president Brima Mazzola Kamara, who replaced Johansen, told the Media.

“It is not what we were hoping for, especially since this now means the CAF match won’t be happening.

”FIFA told us that Isha’s reinstatement was a prerequisite for our suspension being lifted, and when we told them she had not returned to work, they denied us.”

Mazzola Kamara said that the country’s Anti-Corruption Commission will not budge on their decision to oust Johansen and SLFA general secretary Christopher Kamara over allegations of match-fixing involving the national team.

Johansen and Christopher Kamara both deny any wrongdoing.

“The Anti-Corruption Commission will not stand for its judgement to be circumvented by FIFA or anyone else. Now we just need to wait and see what happens,” Mazzola Kamara said.

“But Isha won’t be reinstated, so the CAF match is definitely not happening. It’s unfortunate but it is what it is.”

The country’s Anti-Corruption Commissioner, Francis Kaifala, has slammed FIFA, calling their suspension of the country an attack on Sierra Leone’s sovereignty.

“Corruption is the biggest emergency Sierra Leone faces right now, and these actions from FIFA are nothing less than a violation of our national sovereignty,” Kaifala said.

“They may have their rules but we also have our own and will not be bullied around. We will play the game in our hearts even if they bar us from playing with them.”

Sierra Leone have three points from their opening two Nations Cup qualifiers and are also due to host Ghana in Freetown on Monday, with that fixture also in doubt over the impasse.

Confederation of African Football (CAF) has yet to comment on whether Ghana will be awarded a win for Thursday’s match or if Sierra Leone will be allowed to continue in the Nations Cup qualifying competition if and when they are reinstated by FIFA.

A section of FIFA statute, which CAF supports already foretells CAF policy direction. In accordance with art. 16 par. 3 of the FIFA Statutes, other member associations may not entertain sporting contact with the SLFA during its suspension. And it may mean Ghana can walk away with six points, without sweat.

'Dotun Akintomide
'Dotun Akintomide
'Dotun Akintomide's journalism works intersect business, environment, politics and developmental issues. Among a number of local and international publications, his work has appeared in the New York Times. He's a winner of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Award. Currently, the Online Editor at The New Diplomat, Akintomide has produced reports that uniquely spoke to Nigeria's experience on Climate Change issues. When Akintomide is not writing, volunteering or working on a media project, you can find him seeing beautiful sites like the sandy beaches that bedecked the Lagos coastline.

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

Latest stories

NDN
Latest News
What Europe's response to a no-deal with Trump could look likeOil Prices Climb Amid U.S.-EU Trade Hopes and Russian Export RestrictionsU.S. Refiners Rethink Crude Sourcing After Chevron Gets Venezuela Green LightPresidency, Kwankwaso Clash Over Claims of Northern MarginalizationNatasha Faces Full Suspension as Senate Goes on RecessGovernor mourns as Emir of Gusau, Ibrahim Bello, Dies at 712027: INEC Receives 10 New Applications, Brings total to 144 Seeking Registration As PartiesAnxieties as Congo's Ex-President Faces Trial in Court High-Stakes Treason, Murder ChargesBillionaires’ Fortunes Plummet, Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani Lose $19.8 Billion in Single DayAkpabio vs Natasha: High-Stakes Drama as Immigration Officers Seize, Release Natasha's Passport at Abuja Airport Peter Obi’s Dangerous Game By AZU ISHIEKWENEFrench president sues Candace Owens over claims his wife is a manTotalEnergies Warns of Looming Oil GlutFrench Company Secures Ownership of DStv, GOtv in $3 Billion MultiChoice Deal2027 Calculations: Tinubu's Minister, Nentawe Yilwatda Takes Over as APC National Chairman, Succeeds Ganduje
X whatsapp