The meeting that counts for the last day of the qualifiers for the next CAN between Sierra Leone and Benin will be played next June, without a specific date and without a place at the moment. It was scheduled for March, but was eventually canceled after the alleged tests by five Benin players who were positive for Covid-19.
The case goes back to March last year, when Benin prepared to face Sierra-Leonel during the sixth and final day of qualifying for CAN 2022. The day before the match, at his hotel in Freetown, the Beninese had tested auCovid-19.
The results, which were to be communicated on the morning of the meeting, were not released until early in the afternoon, when the team arrived at the National Stadium. On a simple sheet of paper, with no signature from a laboratory, Sierra Leoneans had scrawled a list of five probably positive players and demanded isolation. A request was firmly rejected by the Beniner. The situation seemed ubiquitous and, above all, unworthy given the efforts to qualify for the biggest African football tournament.
“CAF sends wrong message”
Wounded by this episode, the Beninese had a few days later decided to send a file to the African Football Confederation (CAF). “The whole delegation did new tests when they returned to Cotonou, and when they returned to France, the five players have been tested. Each time, with a negative result. And we never got the official documents for the tests in Freetown, despite our wishes, “explained Mathurin de Chacus, president of the Benin Football Federation (FBF).
“Of the five players involved, two developed antibodies and therefore could not be positive again. Jodel Dossou had tested positive with Clermont in early March and has been playing ever since. Steve Mounié had it a long time ago, but still has antibodies, his level does not drop. We have always seen our players. We especially did not want to leave with a positive player. “We were concerned about this, both to respect the protocols and to protect ourselves from” surprises “within the required time,” Squirrel’s coach Michel Dussuyer told the Foot 365 website.
No sanctions for Sierra Leone? CAF sends the wrong message. It was a proven attempt at cheating and CAF did not respond. They want us to replay the match, I do not understand “, said Michel Dussuyer today, visibly very upset.
Benin asked that the meeting not be played in Sierra-Leone and CAF has, according to a Beninese colleague, visibly started a field inspection mission in Freetown. Sierra Leone has offered to play this meeting again between 13 and 15 June.
The five supposedly positive players are present again
In April last year, CAF’s appeals commission confirmed that the match would be postponed until June. While Benin demanded the disqualification of Sierra Leone, it demanded that Benin, guilty of not appearing on the field, be declared beaten.
Michel Dussuyer, who on Wednesday 26 May announced a list of 23 players selected to play in this crucial meeting, did not call Stéphane Sessègnon, but a club. He was recalled in March, in a supervisory role and without coming into play. “We have many players unavailable. For local players, a door opens. They now have the opportunity to show their skills, the coach said at a press conference.
The five probably positive players, all tested negative when they returned to the club, are there. They are Saturnin Allagbé (Dijon), Khaled Adénon (Avranches), Yohan Roche (Rodez), Jodel Dossou (Clermont) and Steve Mounié (Brest). To prepare for this important meeting, the squirrels want to play a friendly match against Zambia, Sierra Leone must win while Benin just needs a draw.
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