The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has confirmed the postponement of the match between Sierra Leone and Benin, which was originally scheduled for March 30, 2021 in the qualifiers for the African Cup of Nations, until June 14. The Beninées had refused to play this meeting after the dubious positive Covid results from five of their players.
There should be one last match of qualifications for the next African Cup of Nations (“CAN 2021” [1]). It will take place on June 14, 2021 between Sierra Leone and Benin, no violation of the two federations.
In any case, on 10 June 2021, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the decision of the African Football Association (CAF) to play the last Group L meeting originally scheduled for March 30, 2021 in Freetown. Meet it The Beninese had refused to play after the dubious positive Covid tests of five of their best players: goalkeeper Saturnin Allagbé, defender Cédric Hountondji and Khaled Adénon, striker Steve Mounié and midfielder Jodel Dossou.
An election that was later condemned by the Sierra Leonean Federation (SLFA). For their part, the squirrels demanded that SLFA be declared confiscated for this match and excluded from CAN 2021. Also missed.
However, the Lausanne-based body acknowledged that Sierra Leone’s authorities had not complied with CAF’s health protocol. “When they left Benin, the Benin players underwent Covid-19 tests, all of which were negative, reminiscent of CAS. Upon arrival at Freetown / Sierra Leone Airport, no Covid-19 test was organized, contrary to the CAF Health Protocol. It was not until they arrived at their hotel that the Beninese players were tested. Five players tested positive and learned the results when they arrived at the arena, less than two hours before the start of the match.
Note that when they returned to clubs in Europe, the Beninese players had all tested negative.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has also referred any sanctions against Sierra Leone to CAF’s liability. “Requests to impose all other disciplinary sanctions as well as any financial compensation against SLFA are referred to the CAF for review and decision by the competent bodies,” concludes a press release.
[1] The African Football Confederation has decided that the competition will continue to be called the Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021, despite being postponed until 2022.
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