CAF rejects Sierra Leone’s bid to host Super Eagles at home

President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Patrice Motsepe. (Photo by Phill Magakoe / AFP)

• Begins training programme for new Club Licensing Platform

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has rejected Sierra Leone’s request to host their Cote d’Ivoire 2024 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Nigeria in Bo City, its second-largest town.

Sierra Leone had written to CAF, praying to host the African Cup of Nations matchday five qualifier at the newly built 6,000-seater Southern Arena in Bo City.

CAF hinged its decision to turn down the request on the poor hotel facilities in the city. This means that Sierra Leone will have to look on the road to host Nigeria in June this year.

Nigeria are topping Group A of the qualifying series on nine points after three wins from four games, while Guinea Bissau, who caused a major upset when they beat Nigeria in Abuja in the penultimate game, are second on seven points after two wins and a draw.

Sierra Leone are on five points with one win and two draws, with Sao Tome and Principe on one point with only one draw.

Meanwhile, CAF, yesterday in Tunis, Tunisia, started its training programme on Club Licensing Online Platform (CLOP), which it launched last year.

The CAF Club Licensing Online Platform (CLOP) is an electronic tool system designed to manage the licensing process and stadium inspections for continental and domestic competitions.

According to CAF, member countries, as licensors, will use the CAF Club Licensing Online Platform to operate their licensing system every season, just as clubs are expected to submit the required information through the system.

In a statement, yesterday, CAF, through president of Tunisian Football Federation (TFF), Wadie El Jari, who is