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By Mohamed Fajah Barrie
BBC Sport, Freetown |
Koroma blamed poor players for the team's defeat |
Daniel Koroma, the coach of Sierra Leone champions East End Lions, has been sacked.
Koroma and his coaching staff were shown the door after a 4-0 home defeat to Ivorian side Asec Mimosas in Saturday's African Champions League tie.
Koroma is the first coach in the Champions League, whose preliminary rounds started last weekend, to be given the sack.
"We had to sack them because we hold them responsible for the shameful defeat," Alhaji Unisia Sesay, chairman of East End Lions, told BBC Sport.
"We are going to appoint a caretaker coach in a few days time that will guide the team during the return leg in Abidjan."
Reacting to his dismissal, coach Koroma told BBC Sport that he was not treated fairly.
"It's unfair to sack me because I think all the officials, as well as players, should take responsibility for the defeat.
"I made use of the players that were available, so there is not a lot more that I could do."
Asec's win over East End Lions continues Ivory Coast's good record over Sierra Leone in club competitions.
In 1982, Abidjan-based club Africa Sport beat Kambui Eagles 10-0 on aggregate in the defunct Cup Winners Cup, with the away leg in Freetown ending 4-0.
Ten years later, the same Ivorian club, beat Ports Authority 6-2 on aggregate in the same competition.
