Benin accused Sierra Leone of gamesmanship when told, some 90 minutes before kick off, that five of their players had failed COVID-19 tests and could not play. "A shame for African football what is currently happening, we hope the Confederation of African football will take action," the Benin Football Federation said on Twitter soon after. Their names were released by the Sierra Leone Football Association in a statement on Wednesday. The Sierra Leone Football Association statement said Benin officials "insisted that they preferred to return to Benin than play without those five affected players". It added that under Sierra Leone COVID-19 restrictions the five should be isolated and quarantined and not be allowed to return home immediately.

Source: Standard Digital March 31, 2021 12:11 UTC