By Ibrahim Karim Bangura (Tanko)

The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has certified Southern Arena Stadium after serious inspections.

The Director of Competitions Sorie Ibrahim Sesay said the one-day inspection of the Southern Arena in Bo City is a prerequisite set by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the selection and submission of playing venues for the upcoming CAF inter-club competitions.

During the comprehensive inspection, Sesay assessed various critical areas of the stadium, including dressing rooms, pitch surrounding zones, competition areas, mixed zones, doping control center, VIP and VVIP stands, spectator stands, video operations room, and referee rooms.

This particular inspection ensures that all facilities meet the stringent standards required for hosting international matches.

Part of the inspection team was also the Media and Marketing Officer of SLFA Lamin Tarawally. The inspection was conducted using CAF Club Licensing Online Platform (CLOP), a new electronic system designed exclusively for stadium inspections and licensing applications. This innovative tool enables a thorough and efficient review process, ensuring all aspects of the venue meet CAF’s criteria.

SLFA  are to submit the Southern Arena stadium as the match venue for the 2024/25 CAF inter-club preliminary matches. These matches will feature Bo Rangers versus San Pedro of Côte d’Ivoire in the Champions League and East End Lions versus ASC Jaraaf from Senegal in the Confederation Cup on the 17 and 18 of August, 2024 respectively.

Nevertheless, CAF will review the pre-inspection report in the coming days to make a final decision on the eligibility of the Southern Arena stadium for these crucial matches.