In a letter dated 6 December 2015, signed by CAF Secretary General, Hicham El Amrani and addressed to president of the Sierra Leone Football Association, Isha Johansen, the revelation was made.
This therefore means that international football matches and CAF competitions can again be organized in the West African country, something which was not possible since August 2014 when CAF upon the recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO) suspended football matches in countries affected by the epidemic Ebola virus, namely Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Of the three countries, Guinea is the only one yet to be given the green light to host CAF competitions, since they are not declared Ebola-free by the WHO.
Just as the Super Eagles are heading to Tanzania for a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in a chartered aircraft, and will return in the same aircraft immediately after the match in Dar es Salaam, African champions Cote d’Ivoire have announced that their ‘Elephants’ will fly into and out of Port Harcourt aboard a chartered airplane.
Thenff.com learnt on Tuesday evening that the Elephants, who defeated Ghana’s Black Stars to lift only their second continental title in Equatorial Guinea earlier in the year, are excited about coming into Nigeria’s oil –rich city.
Augustin Sidy Diallo, president of the Federation Ivoirienne de Football (FIF), confirmed on Tuesday that the Elephants’ delegation would hit the Rivers State capital on Friday morning.
Sunday’s match at the Adokiye Amiesiamaka Stadium is the first time Nigeria is hosting a competitive international involving two other countries. The Elephants and Leone Stars will kick off at 4pm.
It was also gathered that the Seirra Leone delegation of 33 persons, led by president of the Sierra Leone Football Association, Isha Johansen, will fly into Port Harcourt on Wednesday evening aboard an ARIK Air plane.
It can be recalled that Port Harcourt hosted Nigeria’s home matches in the successful campaign for a place at the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals, and recently played host to the U-23 National Team in its successful campaign against Congo-Brazzaville for a place at the 2015 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations.
Eléphants of Cote d’ivoire African Champions, photo credit:FIF
Coach Michel Dussuyer will miss the services of African Player of the Year Yaya Toure, and has also omitted Cheick Tiote, Siaka Tiene and Lacina Traore. But there are still plenty of eminent ‘Elephants’ in goalkeeper Sylvain Gbohou, defenders Serge Aurier, Mamadou Bagayoko and Adama Traore, midfielders Ismael Diomande, Serey Die, Serge N’Guessan and forwards Seydou Doumbia, Gervinho, Max Gradel, Giovanni Sio and Salomon Kalou.
The delegation of Senior National Team of Sierra Leone, known as Leone Stars, will arrive in Lagos on Monday for Sunday’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Matchday 2 clash with African champions, Cote d’Ivoire.
Thenff.com learnt on Sunday that the Leone Stars, to be made up of 32 persons and to be led by President of the Sierra Leone Football Association, Isha Johansen, will fly into Lagos aboard an Air Ivoire flight and stay at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island.
Teslim Balogun Stadium
Sunday’s clash between the Leone Stars and the Elephants at the 23,000 –capacity Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos will be the first time that Nigeria will host a competitive football game involving two other countries in her territory.
The Nigeria Football Federation began the necessary moves to get Government approval for the hosting after a request by the Sierra Leone Football Association, which was supported by CAF. The ban on Sierra Leone from hosting international football matches following the outbreak of the ebola virus pandemic in 2014 is yet to be lifted, compelling the Leone Stars to play ‘home’ matches away from home.
The Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire, champions of Africa, are expected in Lagos on Wednesday.
Chairman of the NFF Marketing, Sponsorship and Television Advisory Committee, High Chief Emeka Inyama, who is playing a key role in the organization of the Leone Stars/Elephants match, said on Sunday that all matters have been working out as planned.
“There are no problems at all and we do not expect any. We are on ground in Lagos to organize a hitch –free game and we have taken into consideration even the minutest details related to the organization,” Inyama assured.
Nigeria will host the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the reigning African champions, Cote d’Ivoire and the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone, the NFF announced on Wednesday.
The game, a Matchday 2 clash in Group I of the Africa Cup of Nations qualification series, will hold at either the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos or the Adokiye Amiesiamaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on Sunday, September 6.
NFF President Amaju Pinnick said on Wednesday that on receiving the request from the Sierra Leone Football Association, which is the host association for the match, the NFF approached the Federal Ministry of Health for a go-ahead.
“We are delighted to announce that we have received the go-ahead from the Federal Ministry of Health to host the match. The Sierra Leoneans will come with a delegation of 32, made up of mostly overseas –based professionals, technical crew and officials of the SLFA, to be led by its president, Isha Johansen.
Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium
“We are happy about the go-ahead because, once more, our country has an opportunity to underscore its leadership role on the African continent, nay global sphere. The NFF has initiated discussions with the Lagos State Government and Rivers State Government on preventive measures, such as keeping Sierra Leone’s small delegation in a special hotel where they can be monitored at all times.”
Stressing that the hosting of the match is without any financial commitment to Nigeria, Pinnick stated that Nigeria has everything to gain and nothing to lose by hosting the match, recalling that recently, the U-20 Women National Team played a 2016 World Cup qualifier in Liberia and the Liberian team also came to Nigeria for the return leg, without any health issues.
Teslim Balogun Stadium
It will be recalled that since the Ebola virus pandemic that ravaged some West African countries last year, the Confederation of African Football had compelled Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone to find alternative venues for home matches. These countries have played their ‘home’ matches in countries like Ghana, Morocco, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire and Mali without any health issues.
“We are talking of hosting the African champion team, with the likes of African Player of the Year, Yaya Toure and others, and this will certainly earn us commendation from CAF and FIFA.”
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