In a significant turn of events, the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has confirmed that the national U17 team has been reinstated in the ongoing U17 WAFU Tournament after a successful appeal regarding the MRI test results of five players.
The SLFA’s announcement followed an appeal to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the West African Football Union (WAFU), requesting a retest of the five players initially flagged. After further testing, it was revealed that two of the five players passed the MRI tests. This cleared the way for Sierra Leone to meet the required threshold for participation, as outlined in Article 27.4 of the U17 Africa Cup of Nations Regulations.
“The results of the retest confirmed that two of the players met the eligibility criteria,” said SLFA, adding that this allowed the team to meet the necessary standards for reinstatement.
The SLFA expressed its appreciation to both CAF and WAFU for their professional handling of the matter.
“We thank CAF and WAFU for their commitment to transparency and for ensuring a fair process,” the SLFA said in its statement.
The SLFA also extended gratitude to fans and supporters who rallied behind the team during the appeal process.
“Your unwavering support played a crucial role in achieving this positive outcome,” the association said.
With the reinstatement, Sierra Leone’s U17 team is poised to compete in the tournament and showcase their talents on the continental stage.
“We wish our team great success and are confident they will represent Sierra Leone with pride and distinction,” the SLFA concluded.