By Joseph S. Conteh
The Sierra Leone U-17 National Team, known as the Sierra Stars, has been disqualified from the WAFU Zone A U-17 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in Senegal. The disqualification was confirmed by the organizing committee of the competition on October 18th, 2024.
The Sierra Stars had played a goalless friendly match against Gambia, but the names of the players involved have not been revealed. According to the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), 20 players in the Sierra Stars squad had initially passed the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test conducted by EcoMed in Freetown. However, the SLFA stated that it has immediately made an appeal requesting a retest of the five players.
The new CAF rule states that “If, after carrying out the eligibility test (IRM) for a participating team, four or more of its players are deemed ineligible, the team will be disqualified.” As a result, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Guinea-Bissau have been disqualified from the tournament.
The updated tournament format will now feature five countries: Senegal, The Gambia, Liberia, Mali, and Mauritania. The WAFU Zone A U-17 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers are set to take place in Senegal, providing an opportunity for the remaining teams to secure a spot in the prestigious continental competition.
