Sierra Leone secures Flames match venue
After uncertainty, Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has finally secured a venue for a training match between the West African country’s national team against Malawi’s Flames tomorrow.
The Leone Stars welcome the Flames at Siaka Stevens Stadium, Freetown in what is Sierra Leone’s first match at home since they entertained Seychelles in July 2014.
BBC Sports reported over the weekend that the match was almost cancelled over a $10,000 (K7 million) fee, which the now sacked Sierra Leone sports minister, Paul Kamara, demanded.
SLFA told BBC Sport: “We will not pay any cash for the use of the stadium.”
This will be the third friendly meetings between Leone Stars and the Flames, with the later winning the previous two encounters in Lilongwe way back in 1978.
There has never been a competitive fixture between the two teams.
The match is Sierra Leone’s preparation for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Gabon — away on Friday. On the same day, the Flames will play in Guinea in a Group L qualifier.
Malawi, third in the group with a point from two games, host Guinea on March 29 in Blantyre. Swaziland and Zimbabwe top the group on four points and will also be meeting on Friday.
The Flames left Sunday for Guinea via Free Town. Malawi will leave for Guinea after the match.
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