Due to financial difficulties, the Sierra Leone Female national football team, known as Sierra Queen, has made the unfortunate decision to withdraw from the CAF Women's Olympic Qualifiers. Consequently, their scheduled match against Ivory Coast on Wednesday, July 12, will be forfeited due to these financial challenges.
Additionally, the return leg of the match, originally set for July 18 in Monrovia, Liberia, will not take place as planned. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) had previously announced that a total of 23 teams would participate in the qualifying round, with the successful teams earning the opportunity to represent the African continent in the 2024 Olympic Tournament held in France.
The introduction of a female football league by the Sierra Leonean Football Association in late 2022 sparked a significant resurgence in women's football. The league received widespread praise and support from sports enthusiasts. However, this recent development regarding the Sierra Queen team has left the fans and supporters disheartened and in a state of mourning.