Sierra Leone head coach John Keister has revealed death threats were sent to him prior to naming his final squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Keister disclosed that he reported the matter to the police after receiving two threats – regarding the inclusion of certain players – a day before announcing his 28-msn squad.
“I think it’s very, very sad that it has to come to this,” Keister told BBC Sport Africa.
“Whatever walk of life you are in, nobody deserves that.
“I don’t think it should get to that point where my life is being threatened because people feel players should be in [the squad] – and if they are not, this is what they are going to do.”
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Keister – who played for Sierra Leone senior national team between 2000 to 2002 – qualified the West African for Afcon for the first time since 1996, picking a ticket alongside Nigeria in Group L that boast Benin Republic and Lesotho.
“We have come a long way [so] there’s no reason for [the death threats],” he continued.
“I’ve got family, I look after these boys and I have a job to do. It gets me angry and for me, where I have come from and my background, I feel there is something I need to do about it.
“Regardless of the job, I need to do something about it.”
The Leone Stars are zoned in Group E with reigning African champions Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea.
They will begin their campaign on January 11 against the Desert Foxes at the Japoma Stadium in Douala.
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COMMENTS
Whoa! Death Threats? are the real?
That’s so barbric. Do we really value life in Africa? Wanting to kill someone just because you ain’t happy about certain selection. It’s so unfortunate
Am not supporting violence of any kind…….Mr coach if you do a transparent work majority will reason along with your selection…..black coaches and mago mago are like 5 and 6.
So if the coach didn’t do what you referred to as transparent, he must be sent death threat. That is terrible to say the least. What happens to senegalese police?
Imagine..the shortest player in the team is the Goalkeeper. Funny looking Team.
Totally unnecessary, it is just a game!
So if the coach didn’t do what you referred to as transparent, he must be sent death threat. That is terrible to say the least. What happens to