Massive shock as Ebola-hit Sierra Leone eliminate former champions Cameroon from Olympic Games qualifiers

A massive shock of biblical proportions rocked football world on Saturday when Ebola-hit Sierra Leone eliminated former champions Cameroon from the qualifiers for the 2016 Olympic Games.

Sierra Leone, who have been barred from playing at home because of the outbreak of the Ebola virus, defeated the African giants in the second round on away goals.

Cameroon were eliminated in the second round of the 2015 U-23 African Championship qualifiers which serves as a qualifying event for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Held 0-0 in the first leg a week ago at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaoundé, where the Leone Stars had to host their opponents due to the ban on their Ebola-hit country, the Lions had to settle for a 1-1 draw at the same venue in their home leg.

The locals took the lead in the 33rd minute thanks to Joseph Minala, but the visitors managed to level from the penalty spot on the stroke of full time, after the Cameroonians were penalized for a handball inside the box.

Sierra Leone will battle Algeria in the third and final round of qualifiers, for a spot in the competition’s finals in Senegal (28 November-12 December 2015).

Uganda and Mali also booked their place for the next round this Saturday, after getting past Rwanda and Mauritania respectively.