Sierra Leone on Tuesday faced a race against the clock to appeal against its suspension by FIFA so that it can play in a crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
After a crisis meeting with the government, the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) asked FIFA to lift the suspension so that the Leone Stars can play Ghana on Thursday.
But FIFA demanded guarantees in its row with Sierra Leone over government intervention in the SLFA and said these had to be given by 1700 GMT on Tuesday.
The West African nation was rocked last week when FIFA suspended it for government interference.
The bust up is rooted in a move by the country’s anti-corruption commission to sack SLFA President Isha Johansen and General Secretary Christopher Kamara during an ongoing probe into corruption and mismanagement.
