Sierra Leone became the 24th and last team to qualify to the Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon 2021.

The Leone Stars returned to the continent’s flagship competition for the first time since their second participation in South Africa 1996.

Sierra Leone defeated Benin 1-0 on Tuesday afternoon in a rescheduled game that took place at the General Lassana Conte Stadium in Conakry, Guinea.

The Leone Stars finished second in Group L with seven points behind leaders Nigeria (14 points). Benin had the same number of points (seven) and both sides had the same head-to-head results (each winning 1-0 at home), but Sierra Leone qualified on better goal difference (0 compared to Benin -1).

Key Ansu Kamara scored the game’s lone goal from the spot after 18 minutes to give Sierra Leone a vital lead that they kept till the final whistle.

Coach John Kiester men celebrated their qualification after 26 years of absence, while Michel Dussuyer’s Benin who reached the quarterfinals in the 2019 edition in Egypt were left ruing their missed chance.