November 10 – The World Health Organisation’s declaration that Sierra Leone is now officially free of ebola will have an immediate positive effect on the country’s football programme.
Sierra Leone last hosted an international fixture on home soil in July last year since when a ban was imposed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to stop the spread of the virus which claimed over 3,500 lives in the west African country.
“The end of ebola is welcome news considering what we have gone through in the last 18 months without hosting international fixtures in Freetown,” said Sorie Ibrahim Sesay, head of competitions at the Sierra Leone FA.
Liberia have been given the green light to host matches after they too were declared free from the disease six months ago.
“We have been prematurely eliminated in various competitions we had participated in because of the simple fact that our home games have been played in either opponents’ venues or other venues where we could not command our usual home advantage” Sesay told the BBC.
“Our players and officials have … faced all sorts of humiliation and intimidation from supporters of our opponents which most times accounted for our defeats.
“Our fans back home have been deprived also of not only watching their various national selections but at the same time have missed out on the opportunity of seeing top African stars in live action in Freetown.”
Sierra Leone will stage their first official post-ebola home fixture against 2017 Africa Cup of Nations hosts Gabon in March and Sesay believes that the Leone Stars will improve now that they have chance to play on home soil again.
“We are optimistic that our teams will get the right place they deserve in Africa and world football. Our FIFA world ranking, which has been disastrous in the last couple of months, will improve and Sierra Leone will be a force to reckon with once more.”
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