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Amidu Karim: Nothing changes, our aspiration to qualify remain intact

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson

The Assistant Coach-1 of Sierra Leone Amidu Karim says his side’s aspiration to defeat their Benin counterparts on Tuesday, June 15 at the General Lansana Conte Stadium in Conakry remained unhindered despite the change of date for the match.

“It’s clear Football is a demanding sport which requires the body, mind and soul to succeed,'' Karim, who represented Sierra Leone in the 1994 and 1996 editions of the African Cup of Nations in Tunisia and South Africa told this writer.

"And I can authoritatively confirm that our camp is unhindered and super ready to face the Squirrels of Benin on Tuesday despite the 24hrs postponement of the match.

"As a technical team we've put behind us the controversies on Coronavirus test results which led to our match against Benin being postponed to another date. 

"We’re a nation determined to make history by returning to this year's AFCON since 1996 and tomorrow’s match-day will earn us our ticket to Cameroon for the TotalEnergies African Cup of Nations,” he assured. 

The Group-L decider between Sierra Leone and Benin will now be played at 16:00GMT later today at the same venue. 

What led to the postponement? 

Both Sierra Leone and Benin were already warming up for the match at the GLC Stadium when the match commissioner told the Sierra Leone team that six players namely: Alhassan Koroma, Idriss Kanu, Francis Koroma, Ibrahim Sesay and Augustus Kargbo are said to be positive of COVID-19 five hours after Andy Quamie (the CAF Security Officer assigned to the match) had earlier informed the SLFA that the Guinean medics said their squad is 100-percent negative of COVID-19. 

The situation led to controversies that delayed the encounter and eventually a meeting conveyed by the Guinea FA President Antonio Souare and officials assigned to the match plus officials of both teams resolved that a new Covid-19 test be conducted for the six Leone Stars players and the match be postponed. 

"Results of the new test for the six players is expected to be out at 11:00am this morning, the Guinea Football Federation assured. 

What do they say?

None of the Benin officials contacted were willing to comment, they were absolutely tight-lipped. 

Songo Keodoyoma-the Sierra Leone team doctor told Northern Times that he’s confident that all Leone Stars players were negative of Covid-19 and even a second test will confirm that.
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