Sierra Leone petitions Fifa to lift ban, wants Ghana game postponed - Sorie

Following a meeting on Monday, Sierra Leone FA has petitioned Fifa and Caf to lift the ban and put off the Afcon qualifier against the Black Stars.

Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has petitioned Fifa to lift the ban handed the body last week and also wants Caf to set a new date for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ghana, according to director of competitions Ibrahim Sorie.

The Anti-Corruption Commission of Sierra Leone barred Football Association president Isha Johansen and general secretary Christopher Kamara from using the premises of the association while the pair was being investigated on corruption charges.

Both have denied any wrongdoing.

Fifa sent a warning to the Sierra Leonean government over interferences and subsequently pronounced an immediate suspension of the SLFA until Johansen and Kamara are allowed access to their offices.

Sierra Leone thus lost all its membership rights, with the national teams and affiliated clubs no longer entitled to take part in international competitions until the suspension is lifted, meaning that the Afcon qualifying doubleheader against Ghana on October 11 and 15 may not hold.

The Sports Ministry and Sierra Leone FA held a meeting on Monday to resolve the crisis.

"The situation is under control now so we're optimistic Fifa will lift the ban after sending them what transpired at the meeting today. We decided also to write to Ghana football's Normalisation Committee through Alex Asante so that they will agree for the Afcon qualifier to be postponed," Sorie told Goal.

"It will not be easy for them to agree but we believe that they can understand the situation we've found ourselves in and accept our proposal. Isha Johansen has also accepted to step aside and has subsequently written to Fifa about her decision.

"We're waiting for a response from Fifa and Caf on this matter. After that, we will send a delegation to Zurich so that everything can be sorted out amicably for the growth of the sport in our country," he added.

Goal understands that the majority of Ghana's squad have arrived in Accra to begin preparations for the said game.