Sierra Leone’s last U-17 squad
The Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has granted pardon to the Sierra Leone national U-17 team, Sierra Stars and 14 others.
Sierra Leone was banned from CAF U-17 tournament following the country’s late withdrawal from the 11th edition of youth tournament earlier this year.
However, the African football governing body has decided to lift the suspension levied on its member associations and the decision has given the opportunity for all 54 member states to play competitively in competitions.
The Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has granted pardon to the Sierra Leone national U-17 team, Sierra Stars and 14 others.
Sierra Leone was banned from CAF U-17 tournament following the country’s late withdrawal from the 11th edition of youth tournament earlier this year.
However, the African football governing body has decided to lift the suspension levied on its member associations and the decision has given the opportunity for all 54 member states to play competitively in competitions.
“The development now means that all 54 member-associations are eligible for the qualifiers of the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations slated to take place in Madagascar come 2017 and the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in Zambia the same year,’’ a CAF statement said on Wednesday.
Sierra Stars and 10-other U-17 sides; Kenya, Benin, Burundi, Central African Republic, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Mauritania and South Sudan were all affected by the CAF earlier decision and unlike Sierra Leone the other affected nations were suspended for offences relating to age falsifications.
With CAF setting December 31st as the deadline for countries to confirm their participation in qualifiers, the Sierra Leone Football Association’s (SLFA) Director of Competition, Sorie Ibrahim Sesay has confirmed to African Sports TV that Sierra Leone has already been entered for both tournaments.
He said: “We have already engaged the U-17 and U-20 teams for the 2017 championship in Madagascar and Zambia respectively and we are happy with the decision taken by CAF. In our situation, the country’s health situation was the main reason why they pardon us.”
Sierra Stars and 10-other U-17 sides; Kenya, Benin, Burundi, Central African Republic, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Mauritania and South Sudan were all affected by the CAF earlier decision and unlike Sierra Leone the other affected nations were suspended for offences relating to age falsifications.
With CAF setting December 31st as the deadline for countries to confirm their participation in qualifiers, the Sierra Leone Football Association’s (SLFA) Director of Competition, Sorie Ibrahim Sesay has confirmed to African Sports TV that Sierra Leone has already been entered for both tournaments.
He said: “We have already engaged the U-17 and U-20 teams for the 2017 championship in Madagascar and Zambia respectively and we are happy with the decision taken by CAF. In our situation, the country’s health situation was the main reason why they pardon us.”
By: Sahr Morris Jr.
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