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).

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Sierra Leone women's national football team.

Sierra Leone
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Leone Stars
AssociationSierra Leone Football Association (SLFA)
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationWAFU (West Africa)
Head coachValdo Filho
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 Decrease 1 (6 April 2023)[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
Main article: Sierra Leone national football team results (2020–present)

  Win   Draw   Loss

2022
9 June 2023 AFCON qualification Nigeria  2–1  Sierra Leone Abuja, Nigeria
17:00 UTC+1
  • Iwobi 16'
  • Osimhen 41'
 Report
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
Report
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
Report Stadium: FNB Stadium
27 September Friendly Sierra Leone  0–3  DR Congo Rabat, Morocco
Report
Stadium: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium

2023
22 March 2023 AFCON qualification Sierra Leone  2–2  São Tomé and Príncipe Agadir, Morocco
18:00 UTC±0
Report
Stadium: Adrar Stadium
Referee: Mawabwe Bodjona (Togo)
26 March 2023 AFCON qualification São Tomé and Príncipe  0–2  Sierra Leone Agadir, Morocco
16:00 UTC±0 Report
Stadium: Adrar Stadium
Referee: Jean Philippe Vlei Patrick Tanguy (DR Congo)
20 June 2023 AFCON qualification Sierra Leone  v  Nigeria
4 September 2023 AFCON qualification Guinea-Bissau  v  Sierra Leone

Coaching history

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against São Tomé and Príncipe on 22 and 26 March 2023.[7]

Caps and goals are correct as of 27 September 2022, after the match against  DR Congo.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Mohamed Kamara (1999-04-29) 29 April 1999 18 0 Guinea Horoya AC
1GK Ibrahim Sesay (2004-10-18) 18 October 2004 7 0 Sierra Leone Bo Rangers
1GK Donald Kamara (2002-07-16) 16 July 2002 0 0 Sierra Leone East End Lions
2DF John Kamara (1988-05-12) 12 May 1988 25 1 Romania Politehnica Iași
2DF Osman Kakay (1997-08-25) 25 August 1997 17 0 England Queens Park Rangers
2DF Steven Caulker (captain) (1991-12-29) 29 December 1991 10 0 England Wigan Athletic
2DF Abu Bakarr Samura (1995-08-10) 10 August 1995 10 0 Sierra Leone Bo Rangers
2DF Saidu Mansaray (2001-02-21) 21 February 2001 8 0 Sierra Leone Bo Rangers
2DF Emmanuel Samadia (2001-04-19) 19 April 2001 7 0 Israel Hapoel Rishon LeZion
2DF Edward Fornah 0 0 Sierra Leone Luawa
3MF Mohamed Buya Turay (1995-01-10) 10 January 1995 13 0 Sweden Malmö FF
3MF Mustapha Bundu (1997-02-27) 27 February 1997 11 1 Andorra Andorra
3MF Alhassan Koroma (1997-06-09) 9 June 1997 8 0 Spain Linense
3MF Kamil Conteh (2002-12-26) 26 December 2002 7 0 England Gateshead
3MF Saidu Bah Kamara (2002-03-03) 3 March 2002 5 0 Sierra Leone Bo Rangers
3MF Alusine Koroma (1997-06-09) 9 June 1997 5 0 Spain Linense
3MF Mohamed Kabba 0 0 Sierra Leone Bo Rangers
4FW Alhaji Kamara (1994-04-16) 16 April 1994 12 5 Denmark Randers
4FW Musa Noah Kamara (1999-08-06) 6 August 1999 10 3 Libya Al-Ittihad
4FW Augustus Kargbo (1999-08-24) 24 August 1999 9 1 Italy Crotone
4FW Sullay Kaikai (1995-08-26) 26 August 1995 7 1 England Milton Keynes Dons
4FW Jonathan Morsay (1997-10-05) 5 October 1997 5 1 Greece Panetolikos
4FW Abu Komeh 0 0 Sierra Leone Kallon
4FW Rodney Michael (1999-08-10) 10 August 1999 0 0 Montenegro FK Mornar
4FW Ron Gandi Williams 0 0 Sierra Leone Mighty Blackpool

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
DF Kevin Wright (1995-12-28) 28 December 1995 8 0 Greece Apollon Smyrnis v.  Guinea-Bissau, 13 June 2022
DF Alie Sesay (1994-08-02) 2 August 1994 11 0 Hong Kong Lee Man v.  Guinea-Bissau, 13 June 2022
DF Lamin Conteh (1994-12-15) 15 December 1994 9 0 Sierra Leone Johansen v.  Guinea-Bissau, 13 June 2022
DF Daniel Francis (2002-07-10) 10 July 2002 2 0 Free agent v.  Guinea-Bissau, 13 June 2022
MF Kwame Quee (1996-09-07) 7 September 1996 33 3 Israel Hapoel Haifa v.  Guinea-Bissau, 13 June 2022
MF Ibrahim Sillah (1995-04-04) 4 April 1995 3 0 Germany Kickers Emden v.  Guinea-Bissau, 13 June 2022
MF Kallum Cesay (2002-09-04) 4 September 2002 4 2 England Tottenham Hotspur v.  Guinea-Bissau, 13 June 2022
FW Amadou Bakayoko (1996-01-01) 1 January 1996 7 1 England Bolton Wanderers v.  Guinea-Bissau, 13 June 2022
FW Victor Mansaray (1997-02-22) 22 February 1997 0 0 Vietnam 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
Uruguay 1930 Part of  United Kingdom Part of  United Kingdom
Italy 1934
France 1938
Brazil 1950
Switzerland 1954
Sweden 1958
Chile 1962 Not affiliated to CAF Not affiliated to CAF
England 1966
Mexico 1970 did not enter did not enter
West Germany 1974 did not qualify 2 0 0 2 0 3
Argentina 1978 4 1 1 2 8 9
Spain 1982 2 0 1 1 3 5
Mexico 1986 2 0 0 2 0 5
Italy 1990 did not enter did not enter
United States 1994 Withdrew Withdrew
France 1998 did not qualify 2 0 0 2 0 2
South KoreaJapan 2002 10 2 1 7 6 17
Germany 2006 2 0 1 1 1 2
South Africa 2010 8 3 2 3 5 8
Brazil 2014 6 2 2 2 10 10
Russia 2018 2 1 0 1 2 2
Qatar 2022 2 1 0 1 2 3
Canada Mexico United States 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
Sudan 1957Part of United Kingdom
United Arab Republic 1959
Ethiopia 1962Not affiliated to CAF
Ghana 1963
Tunisia 1965
Ethiopia 1968 did not enter
Sudan 1970 Withdrew
Cameroon 1972 did not enter
Egypt 1974 did not qualify
Ethiopia 1976 did not enter
Ghana 1978 did not qualify
Nigeria 1980 did not enter
Libya 1982 did not qualify
Ivory Coast 1984
Egypt 1986 Withdrew
Morocco 1988 did not qualify
Algeria 1990 Withdrew
Senegal 1992 did not qualify
Tunisia 1994 Round 1 10th 2 0 1 1 0 4 Squad
South Africa 1996 Round 1 13th 3 1 0 2 2 7 Squad
Burkina Faso 1998 Withdrew
Nigeria Ghana 2000 Disqualified due to civil war
Mali 2002 did not qualify
Tunisia 2004
Egypt 2006
Ghana 2008
Angola 2010
Gabon Equatorial Guinea 2012
South Africa 2013
Equatorial Guinea 2015
Gabon 2017
Egypt 2019 Disqualified due to FIFA suspension
Cameroon 2021 Group stage 18th 3 0 2 1 2 3 Squad
Ivory Coast 2023 to be determined
2025
TotalFirst round3/338134414−

Coaching staff
Head coachSierra Leone John Keister
Assistant coach England Ajet Shehu
Assistant coachSierra Leone Amidu Karim
Head of medicalSierra Leone Songor Koedoyoma
Sport care therapistBelgium Joris De Vos

References
  1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  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. "Official Squad". Facebook. Sierra Leone Football Association.
  8. "Sierra Leone". National Football Teams.

Sources
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