Caption: The Sierra Leone National Team During A Past Friendly Team This evening, the Bureau of the FIFA Council have communicated their decision to suspend the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) with immediate effect due to government interference.
This decision comes after a recent letter from FIFA to the Minister of Sports of Sierra Leone to express grave concern about the removal of the SLFA President and the SLFA General Secretary and to request that both be allowed to access the SLFA premises without further delay to ensure that the operations of the SLFA, including FIFA-funded projects, are not jeopardised.
Sierra Leone are in Group F of the AFCON Qualifiers together with Kenya, Ghana and Ethiopia and this new development might lead to a twist on what happens in that group.
Kenya are currently second after a 1-0 win against the Black Stars of Ghana at the Kasarani Stadium last month, a result which renewed their hopes of making it to AFCON for the first time since 2004.
Harambee Stars now need at most 3 points to return to the AFCON for the first time in 14 years.
FIFA have stated that the suspension will be lifted once the SLFA and its recognised leadership (led by SLFA President, Ms Isha Johansen, and SLFA General Secretary, Mr Christopher Kamara) have confirmed to FIFA that the SLFA administration, premises, accounts and communication channels are under their control once again.