AFCON
2023 AFCON qualifiers: Sierra Leone vs Guinea Bissau – a crucial zonal derby
Sierra Leone will clash with Guinea Bissau on Monday in an important match in the second matchday of Group A of the qualifiers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Defeated 2-1 by Nigeria, the Leone Stars need to revive their campaign against the Djurtus who made light work of Sao Tome and Principe with a 5-1 win.
In this very interesting group, where the search for the top two slots would be very tight, Sierra Leone, which returned to the final phase of the AFCON in 2021 after an absence that lasted 25 years, has no room for error on Monday.
In Cameroon, despite their elimination in the first round, Sierra Leone had left a good impression hinged on being able to hold two big sides of African football, Algeria (0-0) and Côte d’Ivoire (2-2).
Narrowly missing qualification in the second round after a 1-0 defeat against Equatorial Guinea, the Leone Stars must avoid moving away from the elite of African football and that means qualifying for the AFCON next year scheduled for Cote d’Ivoire.
And that is why it is necessary to gain the points against Guinea Bissau, which has become a regular in the final stages of the AFCON since 2017 after taking part in the last three editions.
As Nigeria are the favourites to win Group A, the battle between the two teams which has been scheduled at the General Lansana Conté Conakry Stadium in Guinea will be epic.
Asked at the end of the game they lost 2-1 against Nigeria, Sierra Leone striker Jonathan Worsay was delighted to have scored but frustrated it counted for nothing.
“We are not happy with the outcome of the game but we showed great things that we must repeat against Guinea Bissau,” said the striker playing in Greece for Panetolikos.
Guinea Bissau squad arrived in the Guinean capital of Conakry on Saturday, the goalkeeper of Djurtus, Manuel Balde says he is confident.
“Our victory against Sao Tome was a very good thing but we have to keep working because Monday we will have a difficult match,” said the Bissau-Guinean goalkeeper playing in Portugal.
In the other Group A match, Sao Tome will play against the ogre of the group, Nigeria, who started their campaign with a 2-1 victory.
AFCON
Prominent Libyan football official calls for tough sanction on those responsible for Super Eagles’ maltreatment
A prominent Libyan football official, Al-Siddiq Abu Hadima,has called for tough sanctions on the Libyan Football Federation officials responsible for the crisis that engulfed the suspended Libya-Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.
Hadima, a former president of the Al-Dhahra Club, asked for the dismissal and prosecution of those responsible for the crisis.
In a publication in Libya’s outlet. Al-Wasat, Hadima recommended that if such people failed to submit a report that will exonerate them when the Sunday 20 October deadline issued by CAF lapses, “then they must be prosecuted and permanently dismissed.”
Al-Wasat got Hadima’s comments from his post on Facebook and remarked that “this negligence – if it happened – constitutes a betrayal of trust and a lack of awareness of the gravity of responsibility.”
It will be recalled that the Nigerian delegation to the botched match was held up for close to 20 hours at an abandoned Labraq Airport where their aircraft already on descent was dangerously diverted to.
The Nigerians were left without food and water for nearly 20 hours. CAF has already strongly condemned the actions of the Libyans.
As an investigation into the botched Libya-Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations match, the Libyan FA secretary, Nasser Al-Suwaie has raised queries on the integrity of the personnel of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
In a report published in the online version of Libyaalahrar.tv, Al-Suwaie remarked that there may be collusion from some parties within CAF, but the position of the Libyan Federation is strong.
He added that the Libyan Federation did not change the course of the plane’s landing to Al-Abraq Airport, and the reason for changing the plane’s landing to Al-Abraq was a decision by the Libyan state, and that the sovereignty of the Libyan state must be respected by everyone.
He however was silent on why the team was held hostage at the Al Abraq Airport and why the Libyan FA did not provide any logistic support to the Nigerian team that was held up at the airport for more than 16 hours without food and water.
Sources in Libya have confirmed that the Libyan Football Federation is under investigation over the botched Libya-Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations qualifier which failed to hold last Tuesday.
Nasser Al-Suwaie, Secretary-General of the Libyan FA, reportedly confirmed that the body has been queried by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The Libyan FA has been asked to submit documents related to the cancellation of the match.
According to Libya Al-Ahrar, the FA has given them up till Sunday 20 October to submit the documents related to this file.
The Libyan FA secretary general, Al-Suwaie indicated that the body has assigned a specialized lawyer to provide evidence.
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