The Super Eagles’ group rivals in the qualifiers for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations, Benin Republic and Sierra Leone have had their decisive match shifted to June, following the stalemate that erupted over coronavirus test results for the visitors on Tuesday, megasportsaena.com reports.
In what appeared to be instant justice for how Benin Republic’s medical officers declared Everton of England midfielder, Alex Iwobi COVID-19 positive before Saturday’s penultimate game at home against the Super Eagles, which ruled him out of the game, the Francophone West Africans got something more than that in Sierra Leone.
Startling reactions trailed reports that more than five Beninese players had been declared COVID-19 positive heading into Tuesday’s decisive fixture in Freetown, from which the hosts needed victory to qualify while The Squirrels would make it with just a draw, but the game never held.
Consequently, while Nigerian fans are still celebrating another early qualification by the Eagles for a major championship, Confederation of African Football (CAF) have announced that the Group L qualifier between Sierra Leone and Benin will now be played in June.
Benin refused to play the match after five of their players were reported to have tested positive for Coronavirus just hours to kick-off of the game, from which a win by Sierra Leone will qualify them for next year’s AFCON in Cameroon along with top-placed Nigeria.
The ugly scenario was summarized by Benin Republic defender Cédric Hountondji, who plays for Clermont in the French second division, saying: “Sierra Leone claimed we have five Covid cases, which is false. In the five cases, some have already had the Covid and therefore they have antibodies. We were also tested in Benin before traveling and everyone was negative.”
