AFCON 2017 Qualifier: Sierra Leone to Face Ivory Coast in Nigeria Amid Ebola Restrictions
The upcoming 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier between Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast will be held in Lagos, Nigeria, on September 6, the BBC has reported. The decision comes as Sierra Leone remains barred from hosting international football matches due to ongoing concerns related to the Ebola epidemic.
The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has secured an agreement with Nigerian authorities to host the Group I clash at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, a key sporting venue in the Nigerian commercial capital. This move allows Sierra Leone to fulfil its home fixture despite the health-related ban imposed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The match will also mark a new chapter for the Leone Stars, as Sellas Tetteh, the Ghanaian coach recently appointed on an interim basis, takes charge of the national team for the first time. Tetteh, a respected figure in African football, is best known for leading Ghana’s U-20 team to FIFA U-20 World Cup glory in 2009.
Sierra Leone go into the encounter having suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Sudan in their opening qualifier. Meanwhile, defending champions Ivory Coast were held to a goalless draw by Gabon, making this upcoming fixture crucial for both sides in their quest for qualification.
Despite being displaced from their home ground, Sierra Leone will be hoping to capitalise on neutral territory and begin a turnaround in their qualifying campaign under their new leadership.
