Sierra Leone has been cleared to host international soccer matches again after being declared free of the Ebola virus, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said on Monday. "International football matches and CAF competitions can again be organised in the West African country, something which was not possible since August 2014 when CAF upon the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) suspended football matches in countries affected by the epidemic Ebola virus," a statement from African football's governing body said.
A ban stretching back some 18 months is now lifted but comes too late for Sierra Leone's World Cup hopes after they were eliminated from the 2018 qualifiers in October.