The CAF Organizing Committee for the Africa Cup of Nations has decided to postpone the match between Sierra Leone and Benin. As a result, CAF has rescheduled the AFCON 2021 qualification match for the next FIFA international window in June 2021. CAF The earlier scheduled the match for 30th March 2021 in Freetown.
The committee made this decision after reviewing official accounts of the incidents that stopped the match from taking place.
The Committee’s rationale to move the dates was based on the need to keep to the international window. According to a statement from the OC, scheduling the game for the following day was not appropriate. This is because it would affect the players’ scheduled to return to their respective clubs.
Moreover, the COC noted that the match was to take place on the last day of the international window which was march 30, 2021. The committee, therefore, felt that moving the match to the next international window was the better course of action.
Meanwhile, CAF has informed the football federations of Sierra Leone and Benin about its decision. The football governing body said it will provide further information on the rearranged fixture in due course.
Update on last group matches
The qualifiers for the 2021 AFCON to be staged in Cameroon came to an end yesterday with some brilliant performances.
Nigeria finished off their unbeaten run in the qualifiers for next year’s AFCON. The Super Eagles recorded a 3-0 victory over Lesotho at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos on Tuesday. Victor Osimhen was the toast of the Super Eagles, scoring one and assisting another as Nigeria finished with 14 points, top of Group L.
Osimhen opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when he raced on to a through ball before chipping it over the advancing keeper.
The Super Eagles doubled their tally in the 50th minute through Etebo Oghenekaro. He adjusted his body well inside the box to shoot low past the keeper. Osimhen picked up a cross from Alex Iwobi and set up Etebo who made no mistakes than to score.
Meanwhile, Nigeria sealed the game with seven minutes left. Two substitutes combined, Henry Onyekuru teeing up Paul Onuachu who set himself up with the first touch before volleying past the keeper with his second.
Guinea Bissau secured their qualification
Moreover, Guinea Bissau secured their qualification ticket to Cameroon 2021 after beating Congo 3-0 on Tuesday. Djurtus, as Guinea Bissau are well known, will appear in the continent’s flagship competition for the third consecutive time. They appeared in the 2017 and 2019 editions. Guinea Bissau completed a remarkable Group I come back to finish second behind Senegal on the last day.
Furthermore, Cape Verde grabbed the only Group F ticket available to Cameroon 2021, after their 1-0 victory over Mozambique. Faisal Abdul Bangal’s lone goal was decisive for the visiting Blue Sharks to get a vital away win. Bangal scored in the 58th minute to ensure their ticket to Cameroon.
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