By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has named the Burkina Faso referee Jean Outarra to handle the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier between Sierra Leone and Lesotho.
Outarra oversaw the 2022 World Cup qualifying preliminary game between Leone Stars (Sierra Leone) and Lone Stars (Liberia) in September. This selection means he will be officiating a game in Freetown for the second time in as many months.
The September game which Leone Stars won 1-0 in Freetown was overshadowed by poor behavior of fans, characterized by throwing of water sachets on Liberian players and match officials and physical assault on an assistant referee.
Outarra’s match report and the Liberian team’s complaint about the incident was enough for FIFA to ban Leone Stars from playing its next home match in front of its home fans.
Since that incident on September 8th, the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has embarked on a thorough sensitization for fans to desist from violence.
The Burkinabe referee and his team will be officiating the match in an empty stadium on November 13th. Ouattara will be assisted by compatriots Seydou Tiama as Assistant Ref. 1, Ahabou Abdoura Wobgo as Assistant Ref 2. Hamidou Diego as the fourth official. Liberia’s Deputy Minister of Sports Andy Quamie will be the Match Commissioner.
Leones Stars opponents, the Crocodiles, are expected to be in Freetown as early as the 9th of November. Their coach Thabo Senong has named 24 players in his provisional squad for their game against Leones Stars and the Super Eagles.
Leone Stars coach, Sellas Tetteh has also named 24 homebased players in his provisional squad.
© 2019 Politico Online
