Stars' Afcon fate on hold as Fifa fails to make decision on Sierra Leone

This file photo taken on September 3, 2013 shows the logo of the Fifa (International Federation of Association Football) outside the organisation's headquarters in Zurich. Fifa has banned the former president of Tanzania's football association Jamal Emil Malinzi for a decade. PHOTO | SEBASTIEN BOZON |

What you need to know:

  • Fifa, failed to come up with a clear way forward pertaining Sierra Leone's suspension which force the Confederation of Africa Football to cancel their match day three and four double-header against Ghana a week ago.

Harambee Stars will have to wait a bit longer before knowing whether they have already qualified for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations or they will face Sierra Leone in the next qualifier set for next month in Nairobi.

This is after world football governing body, Fifa, failed to come up with a clear way forward pertaining Sierra Leone's suspension which force the Confederation of Africa Football to cancel their match day three and four double-header against Ghana a week ago.

Fifa officials led by the Secretary General, Fatma Samoura on Wednesday held a meeting with a delegation of the government of Sierra Leone led by the Vice-President, Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Priscilla Schwartz, the Ambassador to Switzerland, Lansana Gberie, and the Deputy Ambassador to Switzerland, Samuel U. B. Saffa in Zurich.

The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) was represented by its President, Isha Johansen.

Fifa and the Sierra Leone officials were seeking to unlock an impasse that had led to the decision to suspend the SLFA by the Bureau of the Fifa Council of on October 5.

"Fifa recognises that there is an ongoing trial by the Anti-Corruption Commission of Sierra Leone against the SLFA President, Isha Johansen, and the SLFA General Secretary, Christopher Kamara. In that regard, Fifa will wait for the completion of the trial before further measures can be considered, including the lifting of the suspension by the Bureau of the Fifa Council, if deemed appropriate," said Fifa in a statement on Thursday.

In the meeting, the government of Sierra Leone is said to have committed to appoint its new representative to the Task Force for Sierra Leone, which also includes representatives from Fifa, Caf and the SLFA, and to ensure all the necessary support for the deployment of the Sierra Leone Inquiry Group to conduct the match-fixing investigation from 4 to 9 November 2018.

"The Government of Sierra Leone agreed to investigate the unauthorised withdrawal of funds from the SLFA’s dedicated Fifa Forward bank account following the suspension of the SLFA and to ensure that any undue appropriation is immediately corrected."

The decision by Fifa to suspend the west African nation forced Caf to cancel the match between Ghana and Sierra Leone last Wednesday and the return leg which was set for Sunday. Harambee Stars, who top the group on seven points after their 3-0 win over Ethiopia on Sunday at Kasarani that followed a barren draw away in Bahir Dar, will go through to the continental showpiece should Caf and Fifa decide to eject Sierra Leone from the qualifiers.