Sierra Leone national football team
| Nickname(s) | Leone Stars | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Association | SLFA | |||
| Confederation | CAF (Africa) | |||
| Sub-confederation | WAFU (West Africa) | |||
| Head coach | Mohamed Kallon | |||
| Captain | Osman Kakay | |||
| Most caps | Umaru Bangura (55) | |||
| Top scorer | Mohamed Kallon (8) | |||
| Home stadium | Freetown National Stadium | |||
| FIFA code | SLE | |||
| ||||
| FIFA ranking | ||||
| Current | 124 5 (3 April 2025)[1] | |||
| Highest | 50 (August 2014) | |||
| Lowest | 172 (September 2007) | |||
| First international | ||||
| Sierra Leone 0–2 Nigeria (Freetown, Sierra Leone; 10 August 1949)[2] | ||||
| Biggest win | ||||
| 5–1 Niger (Freetown, Sierra Leone; 7 March 1976) 5–1 Niger (Freetown, Sierra Leone; 3 June 1995) 4–0 São Tomé and Príncipe (Freetown, Sierra Leone; 22 April 2000) | ||||
| Biggest defeat | ||||
| Mali 6–0 (Bamako, Mali; 17 June 2007) Syria 6–0 (Syria; 05 June 2009) | ||||
| Africa Cup of Nations | ||||
| Appearances | 3 (first in 1994) | |||
| Best result | Group stage (1994, 1996, 2021) | |||
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.
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.[4]
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.[5] 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.[6] The Sierra Leonean national team wasn't allowed to play home games and all players had to be foreign-based.[7]
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
2024
| 5 June 2026 World Cup qualification | 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 | Bamako, Mali | |
| 16:00 UTC+0 | Report | Stadium: Stade du 26 Mars Referee: Lahlou Benbraham (Algeria) |
| 6 September 2025 AFCON qualification | 0–0 | Chad | Paynesville, Liberia | |
| 16:00 UTC+0 | Report | Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex Referee: George Gatogato (Burundi) |
| 10 September 2025 AFCON qualification | Zambia | 3–2 | Ndola, Zambia | |
| 15:00 UTC+2 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Levy Mwanawasa Stadium Referee: Aklesso Gnama (Togo) |
| 11 October 2025 AFCON qualification | Ivory Coast | 4–1 | San Pedro, Ivory Coast | |
| 19:00 UTC+0 | Report |
|
Stadium: Laurent Pokou Stadium Attendance: 16,553 Referee: Abongile Tom (South Africa) |
| 15 October 2025 AFCON qualification | 1–0 | Ivory Coast | Paynesville, Liberia | |
| 16:00 UTC+0 |
|
Report | Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex Attendance: 7,408 Referee: Jeannot Franck Bito (Cameroon) |
| 27 October 2024 CHAN qualification | 1–2 | Liberia | Paynesville, Liberia | |
| 16:00 UTC+0 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex |
| 1 November 2024 CHAN qualification | Liberia | 1–1 (3-2 agg.) | Paynesville, Liberia | |
| 16:00 UTC+0 | Report | Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex | ||
| Note: Sierra Leone lost 3-2 on aggregate. | ||||
| 10 November 2025 AFCON qualification | Chad | 1–1 | Abidjan, Ivory Coast | |
| 18:00 UTC+0 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Alassane Ouattara Stadium Referee: Jean Ouattara (Burkina Faso) |
| 18 November 2025 AFCON qualification | 0–2 | Zambia | Paynesville, Liberia | |
| 15:00 UTC+0 | Report |
|
Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex Referee: Yannick Malala (Congo DR) |
2025
| 20 March 2026 World Cup qualification | 3–1 | Guinea-Bissau | Paynesville, Liberia | |
| 16:00 UTC+0 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex Referee: Daniel Nii Laryea (Ghana) |
| 25 March 2026 World Cup qualification | Egypt | 1–0 | Cairo, Egypt | |
| 21:00 UTC+2 | Report | Stadium: Cairo International Stadium |
| September 2026 World Cup qualification | Guinea-Bissau | v |
| September 2026 World Cup qualification | v | Ethiopia |
| October 2026 World Cup qualification | v | Burkina Faso |
| October 2026 World Cup qualification | Djibouti | v |
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 (1994–1996)
- John Sherington (1996–1997)
- Abdulai Sesay (1997–2000)
- 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 (2020–2023)
- Amidu Karim (2023–)
Players
Current squad
The following players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Group A matches against Guinea-Bissau and Egypt on 20 and 25 March 2025 respectively.[8]
Caps and goals are correct as of 25 March 2025, after the match against Egypt.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Francis Koroma | 15 May 2000 | 6 | 0 | East End Lions | |
| GK | Alhaji Sesay | 9 October 1998 | 2 | 0 | Bhantal | |
| GK | Dauda Bangura | 16 October 2006 | 0 | 0 | East End Lions | |
| DF | Emmanuel Samadia | 19 April 2001 | 26 | 0 | Hartford Athletic | |
| DF | Nathaniel Jalloh | 7 September 2005 | 8 | 0 | Kallon | |
| DF | Juma Bah | 11 April 2006 | 2 | 0 | Lens | |
| DF | Sitta Bah | 27 April 2006 | 0 | 0 | Star Sport | |
| DF | Edward Bello Yillah | 17 November 2006 | 0 | 0 | Mighty Blackpool | |
| DF | David Janneh | 26 June 1993 | 0 | 0 | Kallon | |
| MF | Abu Dumbuya | 29 January 1999 | 21 | 1 | Oulu | |
| MF | Ibrahim Turay | 5 May 1999 | 10 | 1 | Bo Rangers | |
| MF | Tyrese Fornah | 11 September 1999 | 8 | 0 | Salford City | |
| MF | Alpha Turay | 26 May 2005 | 6 | 0 | Dubočica | |
| MF | Momoh Dumbuya | 14 February 2004 | 2 | 1 | Kallon | |
| MF | Momoh Kamara | 6 May 2005 | 2 | 0 | Free agent | |
| MF | Hassan Milla Koroma | 7 November 2000 | 2 | 1 | Kallon | |
| MF | John Bilili Sesay | 1 | 0 | Bhantal | ||
| FW | Kei Kamara | 1 September 1984 | 42 | 7 | Free agent | |
| FW | Mustapha Bundu | 27 February 1997 | 22 | 4 | Plymouth Argyle | |
| FW | Alhassan Koroma | 9 June 1997 | 22 | 2 | Al Shahaniya | |
| FW | Musa Noah Kamara | 6 August 1999 | 16 | 4 | Bo Rangers | |
| FW | Alie Conteh | 29 October 2002 | 11 | 2 | Mjøndalen | |
| FW | Sallieu Tarawallie | 3 January 1995 | 8 | 1 | Kallon | |
| FW | Mohamed Bangura | 19 March 2004 | 3 | 0 | Wilberforce Strikers | |
| FW | James Kaiyamba | 0 | 0 | Star Sport | ||
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 | Mohamed Kamara | 29 April 1999 | 25 | 0 | Horoya | v. Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024 |
| GK | Isaac Caulker | 20 January 1992 | 2 | 0 | Kallon | v. Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024 |
| GK | Donald Kamara | 16 July 2002 | 1 | 0 | East End Lions | v. Burkina Faso, 10 June 2024 |
| DF | Steven Caulker | 29 December 1991 | 18 | 0 | Ankara Keçiörengücü | v. Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024 |
| DF | Abdul Jarju Kabia | 27 January 2001 | 8 | 0 | FC Dynamo Brest | v. Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024 |
| DF | Yeami Dunia | 16 December 1996 | 34 | 0 | Old Edwardians | v. Zambia, 10 September 2024 |
| DF | Osman Kakay | 25 August 1997 | 26 | 0 | Queens Park Rangers | v. Zambia, 10 September 2024 |
| DF | Saidu Mansaray | 21 February 2001 | 8 | 0 | Bo Rangers | v. Zambia, 10 September 2024 |
| DF | Mohamed Kabia | 23 June 2003 | 4 | 0 | Mbabane Swallows | v. Burkina Faso, 10 June 2024 |
| DF | Yusuf Sesay | 19 April 2001 | 4 | 0 | Bo Rangers | v. Burkina Faso, 10 June 2024 |
| DF | Curtis Davies | 15 March 1985 | 3 | 1 | Cheltenham Town | v. Burkina Faso, 10 June 2024 |
| MF | Sullay Kaikai | 26 August 1995 | 20 | 1 | Cambridge United | v. Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024 |
| MF | Alusine Koroma | 9 June 1997 | 17 | 0 | Orihuela | v. Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024 |
| MF | Jonathan Morsay | 5 October 1997 | 11 | 1 | AEL Limassol | v. Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024 |
| MF | Ibrahim Sillah | 4 April 1995 | 11 | 0 | ACV | v. Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024 |
| MF | Issa Kallon | 3 January 1996 | 9 | 0 | Nantong Zhiyun | v. Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024 |
| MF | Rodney Michael | 10 August 1999 | 8 | 1 | POX | v. Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024 |
| MF | Hindolo Mustapha | 29 July 2006 | 3 | 1 | Crystal Palace | v. Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024 |
| MF | Saidu Fofanah | 14 September 1997 | 13 | 1 | Kallon | v. Zambia, 10 September 2024 |
| MF | Kamil Conteh | 26 December 2002 | 11 | 0 | Bristol Rovers | v. Zambia, 10 September 2024 |
| MF | Alpha Conteh | 1 May 2000 | 4 | 0 | Neftçi | v. Burkina Faso, 10 June 2024 |
| FW | Augustus Kargbo | 24 August 1999 | 21 | 5 | Blackburn Rovers | v. Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024 |
| FW | Amadou Bakayoko | 1 January 1996 | 16 | 4 | Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo | v. Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024 |
| FW | Daniel Kanu | 14 November 2004 | 5 | 0 | Charlton Athletic | v. Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024 |
| FW | Josh Koroma | 9 November 1998 | 3 | 0 | Huddersfield Town | v. Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024 |
| FW | Nabieu Navas Daffae | 1 | 0 | Luawa | v. Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024 | |
| FW | Sallieu Bah | 10 September 2006 | 5 | 0 | Wilberforce Strikers | v. Burkina Faso, 10 June 2024 |
INJ Withdrew due to injury. | ||||||
Records
- As of 19 November 2024[9]
- Players in bold are still active with Sierra Leone.
Most appearances
| Rank | Name | Caps | Goals | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Umaru Bangura | 55 | 4 | 2006–2022 |
| 2 | Ibrahim Bah | 45 | 3 | 1986–1998 |
| 3 | Mohamed Kallon | 40 | 8 | 1995–2012 |
| 4 | Kei Kamara | 39 | 7 | 2008–2022 |
| 5 | Sheriff Suma | 37 | 3 | 2006–2015 |
| 6 | Kwame Quee | 35 | 3 | 2012–present |
| 7 | Yeami Dunia | 34 | 0 | 2012–present |
| 8 | Medo Kamara | 33 | 1 | 2008–2021 |
| 9 | Julius Wobay | 32 | 4 | 2001–2018 |
| 10 | Ibrahim Kargbo | 30 | 1 | 2000–2013 |
Top goalscorers
| Rank | Name | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mohamed Kallon | 8 | 40 | 0.2 | 1995–2012 |
| 2 | Kei Kamara | 7 | 39 | 0.18 | 2008–2022 |
| 3 | Lamine Conteh | 6 | 20 | 0.3 | 1993–2006 |
| 4 | Alhaji Kamara | 5 | 19 | 0.26 | 2012–present |
| Augustus Kargbo | 5 | 21 | 0.24 | 2021–present | |
| 6 | Teteh Bangura | 4 | 12 | 0.33 | 2011–2014 |
| Alhassan Kamara | 4 | 16 | 0.25 | 2012–2018 | |
| Abu Kanu | 4 | 16 | 0.25 | 1994–2003 | |
| Mustapha Bangura | 4 | 17 | 0.24 | 2005–2016 | |
| Julius Wobay | 4 | 32 | 0.13 | 2001–2018 | |
| Umaru Bangura | 4 | 55 | 0.07 | 2006–2022 |
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 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 8 | |||||||||
| 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 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | |||||||||
| 2030 | To be determined | |||||||||||||||
| 2034 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 0/16 | 53 | 14 | 11 | 28 | 48 | 79 | |||||||||
Africa Cup of Nations
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Squad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Not 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 | |||||||||
| 2027 | To be determined | ||||||||
| 2029 | |||||||||
| Total | 0 titles | 3/35 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 14 | — |
Coaching staff
| Head coach | Amidu Karim |
| Assistant coach | Alusine Sesay |
| Assistant coach | Amara Rahman Bangura |
| Sport therapist | Joris De Vos |
| Head of medical | Osman Fofanah |
| Team manager | Abdulai Kargbo |
Honours
Regional
- Amílcar Cabral Cup
- Champions (2): 1993, 1995
- Runners-up (2): 1984, 1986
References
- ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 6 July 2025. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Ebola affecting Sierra Leone team – Michael Lahoud". BBC Sport. 14 October 2014. Archived from the original on 18 December 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
- ^ "The land where football is religion". FIFATV. 14 October 2014. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ "𝐋eone 𝐒tars 𝟐5-𝐌an 𝐒quad 𝐅or 𝐖orld 𝐂up 𝐐ualifiers". Facebook. Sierra Leone Football Association. 14 March 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
- ^ "Sierra Leone". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
Sources
- Sierra Leone to 'host' the Elephants of Ivory Coast in Abidjan – footballsierraleone.net (archived 5 March 2016)
- Sierra Leone 1–1 Malawi: International Friendly – footballsierraleone.net (archived 5 April 2016)
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sierra Leone national association football team.
- Football Sierra Leone
- Sierra Leone Football Association
- Sierra Leone at CAF
- Sierra Leone at FIFA
- Sierra Leone at National-Football-Teams.com