Sierra Leone national football team

The Sierra Leone national football team represents Sierra Leone in men's international association football and it is governed by the Sierra Leone Football Association. The team's nickname is Leone Stars. The team is affiliated to the West African Football Union. The team have never qualified for the FIFA World Cup; however, they have qualified for Africa Cup of Nations thrice. The team represents both FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Sierra Leone
Nickname(s)Leone Stars
AssociationSierra Leone Football Association (SLFA)
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationWAFU (West Africa)
Head coachJohn Keister
CaptainSteven Caulker
Most capsUmaru Bangura (55)
Top scorerMohamed Kallon (8)
Home stadiumFreetown National Stadium
FIFA codeSLE
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 117 4 (6 October 2022)[1]
Highest50 (August 2014)
Lowest172 (September 2007)
First international
Sierra Leone 0–2 Nigeria 
(Freetown, Sierra Leone; 10 August 1949)[2]
Biggest win
 Sierra Leone 5–1 Niger 
(Freetown, Sierra Leone; 7 March 1976)
 Sierra Leone 5–1 Niger 
(Freetown, Sierra Leone; 3 June 1995)
 Sierra Leone 4–0 São Tomé and Príncipe 
(Freetown, Sierra Leone; 22 April 2000)
Biggest defeat
 Mali 6–0 Sierra Leone 
(Bamako, Mali; 17 June 2007)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances3 (first in 1994)
Best resultGroup stage (1994, 1996, 2021)

History

Sierra Leone's first match was at home on 10 August 1949 against another British colony, Nigeria, and was lost 2–0. In 1954 they played another British colony and British administered U.N trust territory, Gold Coast and Trans-Volta Togoland (now Ghana), and lost 2–0 away. On 22 April 1961, they again hosted Nigeria and lost 4–2. On 12 November 1966, they hosted Liberia in their first match against a non-British colony and earned their first draw, 1–1. A week later, they lost 2–0 in Liberia. On 13 January 1971, Sierra Leone played their first match against a non-African team, West Germany's B-team. The match in Sierra Leone was won 1–0 by the Germans. Sierra Leone's first match outside Africa was also their first against an Asian nation, China. They lost 4–1 in China on 5 April 1974.[3]

Sierra Leone's golden period was during the 1990s, qualifying for both the 1994 and 1996 Africa Cup of Nations. However, they were forced to withdraw from the next two editions due to the Sierra Leone Civil War.

In August 2014, the Sierra Leone FA cancelled all football matches in an effort to stop the spread of the 2014 Ebola virus epidemic in Sierra Leone, a week after the Liberian FA did the same.[4] Sierra Leonean players playing outside Sierra Leone, such as Michael Lahoud playing in the United States, were discriminated against, with opposition players refusing to swap shirts, shake hands and allow them to certain places of the stadium just because they fear that they could be carrying the disease.[5] The Sierra Leonean national team wasn't allowed to play home games and all players had to be foreign-based.[6] In October 2015, Sierra Leone suffered a surprise defeat to Chad in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, with their home game having to be played in Nigeria. One year later, Sierra Leone very nearly qualified for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, finishing just one point behind Group I winners Ivory Coast.

On 5 October 2018, the Sierra Leone Football Association was suspended by FIFA and the Leone Stars were excluded from the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification.

Recent results and fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss

2021
13 November Friendly Sierra Leone  0–2  Comoros Sapanca, Turkey
Report
  • Ben 34', 89'
 Stadium: Sapanca Atatürk Stadyumu

2022
11 January 2021 AFCON Algeria  0–0  Sierra Leone Douala, Cameroon
Report Stadium: Japoma Stadium
Referee: Ahmad Imetehaz Heeralall (Mauritius)
16 January 2021 AFCON Ivory Coast  2–2  Sierra Leone Douala, Cameroon
17:00
  • Haller 25'
  • Pépé 65'
 Report
  • Mu. Kamara 55'
  • A. Kamara 90+3'
 Stadium: Japoma Stadium
Referee: Maguette N'Diaye (Senegal)
20 January 2021 AFCON Sierra Leone  0–1  Equatorial Guinea Limbe, Cameroon
Report
  • Ganet 38'
 Stadium: Limbe Stadium
Referee: Mohamed Marouf Eid Mansour (Egypt)
24 March Friendly Togo  3–0  Sierra Leone Antalya, Turkey
Placca Fessou 50', 55'
Fo Doh Laba 87'		 Stadium: Mardan Sports Complex
27 March Friendly Liberia  0–1  Sierra Leone Antalya, Turkey
Report
  • Bakayoko 30'
 Stadium: Mardan Sports Complex
29 March Friendly Congo  1–2  Sierra Leone Antalya, Turkey
  • Mboungou 89'
 Report
  • Cesay 53', 64'
 Stadium: Mardan Sports Complex
9 June 2023 AFCON qualification Nigeria  2–1  Sierra Leone Abuja, Nigeria
17:00 UTC+1
  • Iwobi 16'
  • Osimhen 41'
 Report
  • Morsay 11'
 Stadium: Moshood Abiola National Stadium
Referee: Ibrahim Kalilou Traore (Ivory Coast)
13 June 2023 AFCON qualification Sierra Leone  2–2  Guinea-Bissau Conakry, Guinea
16:00 UTC±0
  • Kargbo 78'
  • Mu. Kamara 87'
 Report
  • Jorginho 49', 52'
 Stadium: General Lansana Conté Stadium
Referee: Abdulwahid Huraywidah (Libya)
24 September Friendly South Africa  4–0  Sierra Leone Soweto, South Africa
15:00 UTC±0
  • Zwane 33', 64'
  • Mayambela 49'
  • Modiba 72'
 Report Stadium: FNB Stadium
27 September Friendly Sierra Leone  0–3  DR Congo Rabat, Morocco
Report
  • Malango 70'
  • Kayembe 73'
  • Elia 75'
 Stadium: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium

2023
March 2023 AFCON qualification Sierra Leone  v  São Tomé and Príncipe Sierra Leone
March 2023 AFCON qualification São Tomé and Príncipe  v  Sierra Leone São Tomé and Príncipe
September 2023 AFCON qualification Sierra Leone  v  Nigeria
September 2023 AFCON qualification Guinea-Bissau  v  Sierra Leone

Coaching history
  • Burkhard Pape (1966–1968)
  • Klaus Ebbighausen (1976–1978)
  • Warwick Rimmer (1979)
  • Christian Cole (1989)
  • Christian Cole (1991)
  • Raymond Zarpanelian (1993–1994)
  • Roger Palmgren (1996)
  • John Sherington (1996–1997)
  • Abdulai Sesay (–2000)
  • Dušan Drašković (2000)
  • Christian Cole (2001)
  • José Antonio Nogueira (2003)
  • John Sherington (2003–2006)
  • James Peters (2006–2007)
  • Mohamed Kanu (2007–2009)
  • Daniel Koroma (2009–2010)
  • Christian Cole (2010–2011)
  • Lars-Olof Mattsson (2011–2013)
  • Johnathan McKinstry (2013–2014)
  • Atto Mensah (2014)
  • John Ajina Sesay (2014–2015)
  • John Sherington (2015)
  • Sellas Tetteh (2015–2017)
  • John Keister (2017–2019)
  • Sellas Tetteh (2019–2020)
  • John Keister (2020–present)

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau on 9 and 13 June 2022, respectively.[7]

Caps and goals are correct as of 13 June 2022, after the match against  Guinea-Bissau.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Mohamed Kamara (1999-04-29) 29 April 1999 16 0 Horoya AC
16 1GK Ibrahim Sesay (2004-10-18) 18 October 2004 2 0 East End Lions
23 1GK Donald Kamara (2002-07-16) 16 July 2002 0 0 East End Lions
2 2DF Osman Kakay (1997-08-25) 25 August 1997 16 0 Queens Park Rangers
3 2DF Kevin Wright (1995-12-28) 28 December 1995 8 0 Apollon Smyrnis
4 2DF Alie Sesay (1994-08-02) 2 August 1994 10 0 PSIS Semarang
5 2DF Steven Caulker (captain) (1991-12-29) 29 December 1991 8 0 Gaziantep
17 2DF Lamin Conteh (1994-12-15) 15 December 1994 4 0 Johansen
18 2DF Daniel Francis (2002-07-10) 10 July 2002 2 0 Rot Weiss Ahlen
20 2DF Saidu Mansaray (2001-02-21) 21 February 2001 4 0 Bo Rangers
6 3MF John Kamara (1988-05-12) 12 May 1988 25 1 Politehnica Iași
7 3MF Kwame Quee (1996-09-07) 7 September 1996 28 3 Hapoel Haifa
8 3MF Alhassan Koroma (1997-06-09) 9 June 1997 6 0 Linense
12 3MF Ibrahim Sillah (1995-04-04) 4 April 1995 2 0 Kickers Emden
13 3MF Kallum Cesay (2002-09-04) 4 September 2002 2 2 Tottenham Hotspur
19 3MF Mustapha Bundu (1997-02-27) 27 February 1997 11 1 Andorra
21 3MF Emmanuel Samadia (2001-04-19) 19 April 2001 5 0 Hapoel Rishon LeZion
22 3MF Kamil Conteh (2002-12-26) 26 December 2002 4 0 Watford
24 3MF Augustus Kargbo (1999-08-24) 24 August 1999 7 1 Crotone
9 4FW Amadou Bakayoko (1996-01-01) 1 January 1996 5 1 Bolton Wanderers
10 4FW Mohamed Buya Turay (1995-01-10) 10 January 1995 11 0 Henan Songshan Longmen
11 4FW Sullay Kaikai (1995-08-26) 26 August 1995 7 1 Wycombe Wanderers
25 4FW Jonathan Morsay (1997-10-05) 5 October 1997 4 1 Panetolikos
26 4FW Musa Kamara (1999-08-06) 6 August 1999 9 2 East End Lions

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the Sierra Leone squad within the last twelve months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Unisa Conteh (1996-05-26) 26 May 1996 2 0 Johansen v.  Congo, 29 March 2022
GK Bill Hamid (1990-11-25) 25 November 1990 0 0 D.C. United v.  Togo, 24 March 2022 PRE, WD
GK Isaac Caulker (1994-01-25) 25 January 1994 0 0 Kallon 2021 Africa Cup of Nations
GK Francis Koroma (2000-05-15) 15 May 2000 0 0 Mighty Blackpool 2021 Africa Cup of NationsPRE
GK Mohamed Kanu (1988-02-15) 15 February 1988 0 0 Nimba Kwado 2021 Africa Cup of NationsPRE
DF David Sesay (1998-09-18) 18 September 1998 4 0 Wealdstone v.  Congo, 29 March 2022
DF Alex Bangura (1999-07-13) 13 July 1999 2 0 Cambuur v.  Congo, 29 March 2022
DF Yeami Dunia (1996-12-16) 16 December 1996 29 0 East End Lions v.  Liberia, 27 March 2022
DF Umaru Bangura (1987-10-07) 7 October 1987 55 4 Neuchâtel Xamax 2021 Africa Cup of Nations
DF Mustapha Dumbuya (1987-08-07) 7 August 1987 17 0 Retired 2021 Africa Cup of NationsRET
DF Abu Bakarr Samura (1995-08-10) 10 August 1995 2 0 Kallon 2021 Africa Cup of NationsPRE
MF Winston Ceesay (2000-08-10) 10 August 2000 1 0 Rotonda v.  Congo, 29 March 2022
MF Demba Kamara (2003-05-05) 5 May 2003 1 0 Rimini v.  Congo, 29 March 2022
MF Alusine Koroma (1997-06-09) 9 June 1997 3 0 San Pedro v.  Congo, 29 March 2022
MF Samuel Bekoe (1997-08-24) 24 August 1997 1 0 Johansen v.  Liberia, 27 March 2022
MF Medo (1987-11-16) 16 November 1987 33 2 IF Gnistan 2021 Africa Cup of Nations
MF Rodney Strasser (1990-03-30) 30 March 1990 18 1 Cattolica 2021 Africa Cup of NationsPRE
MF Khalifa Jabbie (1993-01-20) 20 January 1993 15 2 Al-Mina'a 2021 Africa Cup of NationsPRE
MF George Davies (1996-11-16) 16 November 1996 11 0 St. Pölten 2021 Africa Cup of NationsPRE
MF Abu Dumbuya (1999-01-29) 29 January 1999 8 0 East End Lions 2021 Africa Cup of Nations
MF Saidu Fofanah (1997-09-14) 14 September 1997 6 1 Kallon 2021 Africa Cup of Nations
MF Prince Barrie (1997-08-18) 18 August 1997 4 0 Bo Rangers 2021 Africa Cup of Nations
FW Issa Kallon (1996-01-03) 3 January 1996 4 0 Shanghai Port v.  Congo, 29 March 2022
FW Alie Conteh (2003-01-01) 1 January 2003 2 0 East End Lions v.  Congo, 29 March 2022
FW Kei Kamara (1984-09-01) 1 September 1984 39 7 HIFK 2021 Africa Cup of Nations
FW Alhaji Kamara (1994-04-16) 16 April 1994 12 5 Randers 2021 Africa Cup of Nations
FW Christian Moses (1993-08-10) 10 August 1993 6 0 IFK Värnamo 2021 Africa Cup of NationsPRE
FW Augustine Williams (1997-08-03) 3 August 1997 1 0 Charleston Battery 2021 Africa Cup of Nations
FW Idris Kanu (1999-12-05) 5 December 1999 1 0 Peterborough United 2021 Africa Cup of Nations
FW Victor Mansaray (1997-02-22) 22 February 1997 0 0 Nam Định training camp, August 2022
Notes

INJ Player withdrew from the current squad due to injury.
PRE Preliminary squad / standby
RET Player had announced retirement from international football.
SUS Player is serving a suspension.
PRI Player absent due to private circumstances.
WD Withdrawn.

Records
As of 29 March 2022[8]
Players in bold are still active with Sierra Leone.

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup record FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
1930 Part of  United Kingdom Part of  United Kingdom
1934
1938
1950
1954
1958
1962 Not affiliated to CAF Not affiliated to CAF
1966
1970 Did not enter Did not enter
1974 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 0 3
1978 4 1 1 2 8 9
1982 2 0 1 1 3 5
1986 2 0 0 2 0 5
1990 Did not enter Did not enter
1994 Withdrew Withdrew
1998 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 0 2
2002 10 2 1 7 6 17
2006 2 0 1 1 1 2
2010 8 3 2 3 5 8
2014 6 2 2 2 10 10
2018 2 1 0 1 2 2
2022 2 1 0 1 2 3
2026 To be determined To be determined
Total 0/22 42 10 8 24 37 66

Africa Cup of Nations
Africa Cup of Nations record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Squad
1957Part of United Kingdom
1959
1962Not affiliated to CAF
1963
1965
1968 Did not enter
1970 Withdrew
1972 Did not enter
1974 Did not qualify
1976 Did not enter
1978 Did not qualify
1980 Did not enter
1982 Did not qualify
1984
1986 Withdrew
1988 Did not qualify
1990 Withdrew
1992 Did not qualify
1994 Round 1 10th 2 0 1 1 0 4 Squad
1996 Round 1 13th 3 1 0 2 2 7 Squad
1998 Withdrew
2000 Disqualified due to civil war
2002 Did not qualify
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2013
2015
2017
2019 Disqualified due to FIFA suspension
2021 Group stage 18th 3 0 2 1 2 3 Squad
2023 To be determined
2025
TotalFirst round3/338134414−

Coaching staff
Head coach John Keister
Assistant coach Ajet Shehu
Assistant coach Amidu Karim
Head of medical Songor Koedoyoma
Sport care therapist Joris De Vos

References
  1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  2. Courtney, Barrie (15 August 2006). "Sierra Leone – List of International Matches". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  3. "Sierra Leone – List of International Matches". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 19 November 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  4. "Sierra Leone suspends football matches as Ebola virus spreads". The Independent. 4 August 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  5. "Ebola affecting Sierra Leone team – Michael Lahoud". BBC Sport. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  6. "The land where football is religion". FIFATV. 14 October 2014. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  7. "SIERRA LEONE SQUAD VS. NIGERIA AND GUINEA-BISSAU". Sierra Leone Football Association. 18 May 2022 – via Facebook.
  8. "Sierra Leone". National Football Teams.

Sources
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