Sierra Leone bowed out of 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying at the weekend as playing 'home' matches away because of the Ebola epidemic took its toll. The west Africans lost 2-0 in Mauritania and were eliminated 4-1 on aggregate from the biennial competition for home-based footballers. Because Sierra Leone could not find a neutral venue, they played both legs against Mauritania at the Stade Olympique in Nouakchott. Hopes of a second-leg comeback by the Leone Stars were dashed midway through the opening half when Mohamed Yali and Boubacar Beyguili scored within three minutes.
Sierra Leone fulfilled home 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo and Ivory Coast at the grounds of their opponents and collected only one point. Guinea, the other west African country barred from playing at home because of Ebola, host games in Mali and Morocco. The worst outbreak of the virus has claimed more than 11,200 lives, mostly in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, which was recently declared Ebola-free and can stage international football.
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