The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has banned 23 stadiums across the continent “for not meeting the required standards to host CAF A Type competitions”, a source close to Sierra Leone Football Federation (SLFA) told Sierraloaded.

“CAF has decided to ban the Siaka Steven Stadium for failure to meet the required standards to host CAF A Type competition. As such, the match of our (senior national football team) against scheduled matches for 2022 for the qualifiers of the Africa cup of Nations (Cote d’Ivoire 2023) will not be hosted in the Stadium,” .

The statement said that CAF had instructed the country to bring its stadium up to international standards.

This would involve massive renovation, re-grassing, modern floodlights and a standby generator.

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Others are complete renovation and expansion of the dressing rooms, modern first aid and treatment facilities for players and officials, seats for individual spectators, well equipped media facilities and training facilities.

However, In a recent interview, Minister of Sport Ibrahim  Nyelenkeh assured  the public that the refurbishment of the Siaka Stadium will commence this month.

The minister further  stated that the National Stadium is the only standard stadium in the country. He pointed out that the Stadium was constructed by the Chinese and was commissioned in1979. He added that there are many activities that have taken place in terms of sports, Athletics, entertainment and other Social activities over the years.

Also, he added that the National Stadium is the baby project of the Chinese . As such, he revealed that the job should have started long since but was on hold as a result of the Corona outbreak.

He confirmed that the project will Commence on February 26th 2022. Meanwhile, there will be a ground breaking ceremony on the 25th and the work will effectively commence on the 26th.

He further confirmed that a majority of the equipment are in town whilst others are on their way coming through shipment.

The stadiums banned are:

1. Siaka Steven National Stadium (Sierra Leone)

2. Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium (Liberia)

3. Zimbabwe National Stadium

4. Mavuso Sports Center (Eswatini)

5. Independence Stadium (Namibia)

6. General Seyni Kountche (Niger)

7. Bingu National Stadium (Malawi)

8. Kamuzu Stadium (Malawi)

9. Kigali Stadium (Rwanda)

10. Bahir Dar Stadium (Ethiopia)

11. Kasarani Stadium (Kenya)

12. Nyayo Stadium (Kenya)

13. Leopold Sedar Senghor (Senegal)

14. Teslim Balogun Stadium(Nigeria)

15. 26 March Stadium (Mali)

16. 4 August 1983 Stadium (Burkina Faso)

17. Barthélemy Boganda Stadium (Central African Republic)

18. Setsoto Stadium (Lesotho)

19. Cicero Stadium ( Eritrea)

20. Nelson Mandela Stadium (Uganda)

21. Sam Nujoma Stadium (Namibia)

22. Lucas Moripe Stadium (South Africa)

23. Banjul Independence Stadium (Gambia)