Sierra Leone’s FIFA suspension ends country’s AFCON dream

[FILE PHOTO] FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during news conference at CONMEBOL headquarters in Luque, Paraguay May 11, 2018. REUTERS/Jorge Adorno

Sierra Leone authorities, who had petitioned FIFA to get the ban lifted, did not meet yesterday’s deadline to reinstate ousted football association president Isha Johansen, who is accused of corrupt,tion by government officials.

“Our appeal has been rejected,” Sierra Leone Football Association president Brima Mazola Kamara, who replaced Johansen, told Reuters.

“It is not what we were hoping for, especially since this now means the CAF match won’t be happening.

FIFA told us that Isha’s reinstatement was a prerequisite for our suspension being lifted, and when we told them she had not returned to work, they denied us.”

Mazola Kamara said the country’s Anti-Corruption Commission will not budge on their decision to oust Johansen and SLFA general secretary, Christopher Kamara over allegations of match-fixing involving the national team.

Johansen and Christopher Kamara both deny any wrongdoing.