Sierra Leone national football team

The Sierra Leone national football team represents Sierra Leone in association football and is governed by the Sierra Leone Football Association. It has qualified for Africa Cup of Nations three times.

Sierra Leone
Nickname(s)Leone Stars
AssociationSLFA
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationWAFU (West Africa)
Head coachAmidu Karim
CaptainOsman Kakay
Most capsUmaru Bangura (55)
Top scorerMohamed Kallon (8)
Home stadiumFreetown National Stadium
FIFA codeSLE
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 122 4 (20 June 2024)[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 it played another British colony and British administered U.N trust territory, Gold Coast and Trans-Volta Togoland, and lost 2–0 away. On 22 April 1961, it hosted Nigeria and lost 4–2. On 12 November 1966, it hosted Liberia in its first match against a non-British colony and earned its first draw, 1–1. A week later, it lost 2–0 in Liberia. On 13 January 1971, it played its 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 its first against an Asian nation, China. It lost 4–1 in China on 5 April 1974.[3]

In August 2014, Sierra Leone FA cancelled all association football matches in an effort to stop the spread of the 2014 Ebola virus epidemic in Sierra Leone, a week after 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 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]

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2023

11 September 2023 AFCON qualification Guinea-Bissau  2–1  Sierra Leone Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
16:00 UTC±0
  • Nito 35'
  • Djú 48'
Report Stadium: Estádio 24 de Setembro
Referee: Boubou Traoré (Mali)
15 November 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification Ethiopia  0–0  Sierra Leone El Jadida, Morocco
20:00 UTC+1 Report Stadium: Stade El Abdi
Attendance: 50
Referee: Celso Alvação (Mozambique)
19 November 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification Sierra Leone  0–2  Egypt Paynesville, Liberia
16:00 UTC±0 Report
Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex
Attendance: 8,916
Referee: Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo (DR Congo)

2024

6 January Friendly Ivory Coast  5–1  Sierra Leone San Pedro, Ivory Coast
17:00 UTC±0}
Report
Stadium: Laurent Pokou Stadium
Referee: Dedjinnanchi Ahomlanto (Benin)
11 January Friendly Sierra Leone  1–3  Morocco San Pedro, Ivory Coast
15:00 UTC±0
  • Komeh 10'
Report
Stadium: Laurent Pokou Stadium
5 June 2026 World Cup qualification Sierra Leone  2–1  Djibouti El Jadida, Morocco
17:00 UTC+1
Report
Stadium: Ben M'Hamed El Abdi Stadium
Referee: Godfrey Nkhakananga (Malawi)
10 June 2026 World Cup qualification Burkina Faso  2–2  Sierra Leone Bamako, Mali
16:00 UTC±0
Report
Stadium: Stade du 26 Mars
Referee: Lahlou Benbraham (Algeria)

Coaching history

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Djibouti and Burkina Faso on 5 and 10 June 2024.[7]

Caps and goals are correct as of 11 January 2024, after the match against  Morocco.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Francis Koroma (2000-05-15) 15 May 2000 2 0 East End Lions
1GK Donald Kamara (2002-07-16) 16 July 2002 1 0 East End Lions
1GK Isaac Caulker (1992-01-20) 20 January 1992 0 0 Kallon

2DF Osman Kakay (1997-08-25) 25 August 1997 22 0 Queens Park Rangers
2DF Emmanuel Samadia (2001-04-19) 19 April 2001 17 0 Hapoel Rishon LeZion
2DF Steven Caulker (1991-12-29) 29 December 1991 13 0 Málaga City
2DF Mohamed Kabia (2003-06-23) 23 June 2003 3 0 Mbabane Swallows
2DF Abdoulie Jarjue Kabia (2001-01-27) 27 January 2001 2 0 Hapoel Kfar Saba
2DF Yusuf Sesay (2001-04-19) 19 April 2001 2 0 Bo Rangers
2DF Curtis Davies (1985-03-15) 15 March 1985 1 0 Cheltenham Town
2DF Juma Bah (2006-04-11) 11 April 2006 0 0 Freetownian SLIFA

3MF Augustus Kargbo (1999-08-24) 24 August 1999 15 2 Cesena
3MF Alhassan Koroma (1997-06-09) 9 June 1997 15 1 Al-Shahaniya
3MF Mustapha Bundu (1997-02-27) 27 February 1997 14 3 Plymouth Argyle
3MF Abu Dumbuya (1985-01-29) 29 January 1985 14 0 Freetownian SLIFA
3MF Sullay Kaikai (1995-08-26) 26 August 1995 13 1 Cambridge United
3MF Alusine Koroma (1997-06-09) 9 June 1997 10 0 Orihuela
3MF Kamil Conteh (2002-12-26) 26 December 2002 8 0 Bristol Rovers
3MF Ibrahim Sillah (1995-04-04) 4 April 1995 6 0 ACV
3MF Alpha Conteh (2000-05-01) 1 May 2000 3 0 Neftçi
3MF Rodney Michael (1999-08-10) 10 August 1999 3 1 POX

4FW Amadou Bakayoko (1996-01-01) 1 January 1996 10 2 Dundee
4FW Sallieu Bah (2006-09-10) 10 September 2006 5 0 Wilberforce Strikers
4FW Daniel Kanu (2004-11-14) 14 November 2004 1 0 Charlton Athletic

Recent call-ups

The following players had been called up in 12 months preceding the above draft.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Abu Bakar Kamara (2004-01-28) 28 January 2004 0 0 Kallon v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
GK Mohamed Kamara (1999-04-29) 29 April 1999 20 0 Horoya v.  Egypt, 19 November 2023
GK Ibrahim Sesay (2004-10-18) 18 October 2004 13 0 Bo Rangers v.  Egypt, 19 November 2023

DF Abu Bakarr Samura (1995-08-10) 10 August 1995 16 1 Bo Rangers v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
DF Saidu Mansaray (2001-02-21) 21 February 2001 8 0 Bo Rangers v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
DF Santigie Koroma (2003-11-27) 27 November 2003 2 0 LISCR v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
DF Abu Bakarr Barrie (1999-11-28) 28 November 1999 0 0 Diamond Stars v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
DF Edward Bello Yillah (1996-10-04) 4 October 1996 0 0 Mighty Blackpool v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
DF Lamin Conteh (1994-12-15) 15 December 1994 10 0 Johansen v.  Guinea-Bissau, 11 September 2023

MF Kwame Quee (1996-09-07) 7 September 1996 35 3 Old Edwardians v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
MF Saidu Bah Kamara (2002-03-03) 3 March 2002 8 0 Bo Rangers v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
MF Ibrahim Turay (1999-05-05) 5 May 1999 7 0 Bo Rangers v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
MF Alpha Turay (2005-05-26) 26 May 2005 4 0 Kallon v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
MF Samuel Bekoe (1997-08-24) 24 August 1997 3 0 East End Lions v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
MF Mohamed Fofanah (1998-09-08) 8 September 1998 1 0 Kallon v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
MF Adebayor Black 0 0 Bhantal v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
MF Joseph Cleveland (2000-01-01) 1 January 2000 0 0 Ports Authority v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
MF Mohamed Buya Turay (1995-01-10) 10 January 1995 17 3 Birmingham Legion v.  Egypt, 19 November 2023
MF Tyrese Fornah (1999-09-11) 11 September 1999 1 0 Derby County v.  Egypt, 19 November 2023
MF Saidu Fofanah (1997-09-14) 14 September 1997 13 1 Kallon v.  Guinea-Bissau, 11 September 2023
MF Mamadou Saidou Sow (1999-08-19) 19 August 1999 0 0 Fortuna v.  Guinea-Bissau, 11 September 2023
MF Mohamed Billoh Kabba (2004-11-26) 26 November 2004 0 0 Bo Rangers v.  Guinea-Bissau, 11 September 2023

FW Alie Conteh (2002-10-29) 29 October 2002 8 2 Kallon v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
FW Abu Komeh (2001-05-21) 21 May 2001 4 2 Bo Rangers v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
FW Alhaji Kamara (1994-04-16) 16 April 1994 17 5 Randers v.  Egypt, 19 November 2023
FW Jonathan Morsay (1997-10-05) 5 October 1997 10 1 AEL Limassol v.  Egypt, 19 November 2023
FW Augustine Williams (1997-08-03) 3 August 1997 7 0 Indy Eleven v.  Guinea-Bissau, 11 September 2023
FW Ron Gandi Williams (1998-09-08) 8 September 1998 3 0 Mighty Blackpool v.  Guinea-Bissau, 11 September 2023

Notes

INJ Withdrew due to injury.
PRE Preliminary squad / standby
RET Had announced retirement from international association football.
SUS Is serving a suspension.
PRI Absent due to private circumstances.
WD Withdrawn.

Records

As of 19 November 2023[8]
Players in bold are still active with Sierra Leone.

Most appearances

Rank Name Caps Goals Career
1Umaru Bangura5542006–2022
2Ibrahim Bah4531986–1998
3Mohamed Kallon4081995–2012
4Kei Kamara3972008–2022
5Sheriff Suma3732006–2015
6Medo Kamara3312008–2021
Kwame Quee3332012–present
8Julius Wobay3242001–2018
9Ibrahim Kargbo3012000–2013
10Yeami Dunia2902012–present

Top goalscorers

Rank Name Goals Caps Ratio Career
1Mohamed Kallon8400.21995–2012
2Kei Kamara7390.182008–2022
3Lamine Conteh6200.31993–2006
4Alhaji Kamara5170.292012–present
5Teteh Bangura4120.332011–2014
Alhassan Kamara4160.252012–2018
Abu Kanu4160.251994–2003
Mustapha Bangura4170.242005–2016
Julius Wobay4310.132001–2018
Umaru Bangura4550.072006–2022

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
1962 and 1966 Not affiliated to CAF Not affiliated to CAF
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 4 1 2 1 4 5
2030 To be determined
2034
Total 0/16 46 11 10 25 41 71

Africa Cup of Nations

Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Squad
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 Did not qualify
2025 To be determined
2027
Total 0 titles 3/36 8 1 3 4 4 14

Coaching staff

Head coach Amidu Karim
Assistant coach Francis Koroma
Assistant coach Alhaji Foray
Sport therapist Joris De Vos
Head of medical Songor Koedoyoma
Team manager Ibrahim Swarray

References

  1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  2. Courtney, Barrie (15 August 2006). "Sierra Leone – List of International Matches". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 8 November 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  3. "Sierra Leone – List of International Matches". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 19 November 2015. Archived from the original on 8 November 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  4. "Sierra Leone suspends football matches as Ebola virus spreads". The Independent. 4 August 2014. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  5. "Ebola affecting Sierra Leone team – Michael Lahoud". BBC Sport. 14 October 2014. Archived from the original on 18 December 2018. 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. "Final Squad". Twitter. Sierra Leone Football Association.
  8. "Sierra Leone". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2021.

Sources

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