The Leone Stars of Sierra Leone have been recalled by the West African Football Union (WAFU) to replace Morocco in the 2019 WAFU Cup of Nations tournament starting this weekend in Senegal.
Morocco had been drawn up to participate in the tournament for the first time after Sierra Leone were banned from international football by FIFA earlier in the year but the North Africans withdrew on Tuesday.
The FRMF, Morocco’s Football Federation had planned to send the country’s Under 23 squad to the tournament but top Moroccan clubs refused to release their players for the tournament, leading to the Federation’s withdrawal.
Sierra Leone who are a bonafide WAFU member have now been called up to take back their slot after their ban had been lifted by FIFA.
Sierra Leone will now face neighbours Liberia on Sunday, September 29 in a knockout fixture as they negotiate the competition’s tricky format.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles will also face Togo same day in Thies, Senegal; venue of the 2019 tournament. All matches will be played at the Stade Lat-Dior in Senegal’s third largest city of Thiès.
