Sierra Leone national football team

Sierra Leone
Nickname(s)	Leone Stars
Association	SLFA
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	WAFU (West Africa)
Head coach	Amidu Karim
Captain	Osman Kakay
Most caps	Umaru Bangura (55)
Top scorer	Mohamed Kallon (8)
Home stadium	Freetown National Stadium
FIFA code	SLE
FIFA ranking
Current	122 (18 July 2024)
Highest	50 (August 2014)
Lowest	172 (September 2007)
First international
	Sierra Leone 0–2 Nigeria ; (Freetown, Sierra Leone; 10 August 1949)
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
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

2023

11 September 2023 AFCON qualification	Guinea-Bissau	2–1	Sierra Leone	Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
16:00 UTC±0	Nito 35' Djú 48'	Report	Bakayoko 6'	Stadium: Estádio 24 de Setembro Referee: Boubou Traoré (Mali)

17 October Friendly	Sierra Leone	2–0	Somalia
		Report

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	Trézéguet 18', 62'	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}	Diomande 18' Kessié 36' Bamba 38' Boga 48' Lazare 84'	Report	Michael 86'	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	En-Nesyri 30', 55' Boufal 35'	Stadium: Laurent Pokou Stadium

5 June 2026 World Cup qualification	Sierra Leone	2–1	Djibouti	El Jadida, Morocco
17:00 UTC+1	Davies 12' Kargbo 51'	Report	Dadzie 35' (pen.)	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	Ouattara 41' L. Traoré 45+2' (pen.)	Report	Kargbo 58' Bakayoko 88'	Stadium: Stade du 26 Mars Referee: Lahlou Benbraham (Algeria)

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 (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 matches against Djibouti and Burkina Faso on 5 and 10 June 2024.^[8]

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

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1GK	Francis Koroma	(2000-05-15) 15 May 2000 (age 24)	2	0	East End Lions
1GK	Donald Kamara	(2002-07-16) 16 July 2002 (age 22)	1	0	East End Lions
1GK	Isaac Caulker	(1992-01-20) 20 January 1992 (age 32)	0	0	Kallon

2DF	Osman Kakay	(1997-08-25) 25 August 1997 (age 26)	22	0	Queens Park Rangers
2DF	Emmanuel Samadia	(2001-04-19) 19 April 2001 (age 23)	17	0	Hapoel Rishon LeZion
2DF	Steven Caulker	(1991-12-29) 29 December 1991 (age 32)	13	0	Málaga City
2DF	Mohamed Kabia	(2003-06-23) 23 June 2003 (age 21)	3	0	Mbabane Swallows
2DF	Abdoulie Jarjue Kabia	(2001-01-27) 27 January 2001 (age 23)	2	0	Hapoel Kfar Saba
2DF	Yusuf Sesay	(2001-04-19) 19 April 2001 (age 23)	2	0	Bo Rangers
2DF	Curtis Davies	(1985-03-15) 15 March 1985 (age 39)	1	0	Cheltenham Town
2DF	Juma Bah	(2006-04-11) 11 April 2006 (age 18)	0	0	Freetownian SLIFA

3MF	Augustus Kargbo	(1999-08-24) 24 August 1999 (age 24)	15	2	Cesena
3MF	Alhassan Koroma	(1997-06-09) 9 June 1997 (age 27)	15	1	Al-Shahaniya
3MF	Mustapha Bundu	(1997-02-27) 27 February 1997 (age 27)	14	3	Plymouth Argyle
3MF	Abu Dumbuya	(1985-01-29) 29 January 1985 (age 39)	14	0	Freetownian SLIFA
3MF	Sullay Kaikai	(1995-08-26) 26 August 1995 (age 28)	13	1	Cambridge United
3MF	Alusine Koroma	(1997-06-09) 9 June 1997 (age 27)	10	0	Orihuela
3MF	Kamil Conteh	(2002-12-26) 26 December 2002 (age 21)	8	0	Bristol Rovers
3MF	Ibrahim Sillah	(1995-04-04) 4 April 1995 (age 29)	6	0	ACV
3MF	Alpha Conteh	(2000-05-01) 1 May 2000 (age 24)	3	0	Neftçi
3MF	Rodney Michael	(1999-08-10) 10 August 1999 (age 24)	3	1	POX

4FW	Amadou Bakayoko	(1996-01-01) 1 January 1996 (age 28)	10	2	Dundee
4FW	Sallieu Bah	(2006-09-10) 10 September 2006 (age 17)	5	0	Wilberforce Strikers
4FW	Daniel Kanu	(2004-11-14) 14 November 2004 (age 19)	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 (age 20)	0	0	Kallon	v. Morocco, 11 January 2024
GK	Mohamed Kamara	(1999-04-29) 29 April 1999 (age 25)	20	0	Horoya	v. Egypt, 19 November 2023
GK	Ibrahim Sesay	(2004-10-18) 18 October 2004 (age 19)	13	0	Bo Rangers	v. Egypt, 19 November 2023

DF	Abu Bakarr Samura	(1995-08-10) 10 August 1995 (age 28)	16	1	Bo Rangers	v. Morocco, 11 January 2024
DF	Saidu Mansaray	(2001-02-21) 21 February 2001 (age 23)	8	0	Bo Rangers	v. Morocco, 11 January 2024
DF	Santigie Koroma	(2003-11-27) 27 November 2003 (age 20)	2	0	LISCR	v. Morocco, 11 January 2024
DF	Abu Bakarr Barrie	(1999-11-28) 28 November 1999 (age 24)	0	0	Diamond Stars	v. Morocco, 11 January 2024
DF	Edward Bello Yillah	(1996-10-04) 4 October 1996 (age 27)	0	0	Mighty Blackpool	v. Morocco, 11 January 2024
DF	Lamin Conteh	(1994-12-15) 15 December 1994 (age 29)	10	0	Johansen	v. Guinea-Bissau, 11 September 2023

MF	Kwame Quee	(1996-09-07) 7 September 1996 (age 27)	35	3	Old Edwardians	v. Morocco, 11 January 2024
MF	Saidu Bah Kamara	(2002-03-03) 3 March 2002 (age 22)	8	0	Bo Rangers	v. Morocco, 11 January 2024
MF	Ibrahim Turay	(1999-05-05) 5 May 1999 (age 25)	7	0	Bo Rangers	v. Morocco, 11 January 2024
MF	Alpha Turay	(2005-05-26) 26 May 2005 (age 19)	4	0	Kallon	v. Morocco, 11 January 2024
MF	Samuel Bekoe	(1997-08-24) 24 August 1997 (age 26)	3	0	East End Lions	v. Morocco, 11 January 2024
MF	Mohamed Fofanah	(1998-09-08) 8 September 1998 (age 25)	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 (age 24)	0	0	Ports Authority	v. Morocco, 11 January 2024
MF	Mohamed Buya Turay	(1995-01-10) 10 January 1995 (age 29)	17	3	Birmingham Legion	v. Egypt, 19 November 2023
MF	Tyrese Fornah	(1999-09-11) 11 September 1999 (age 24)	1	0	Derby County	v. Egypt, 19 November 2023
MF	Saidu Fofanah	(1997-09-14) 14 September 1997 (age 26)	13	1	Kallon	v. Guinea-Bissau, 11 September 2023
MF	Mamadou Saidou Sow	(1999-08-19) 19 August 1999 (age 24)	0	0	Fortuna	v. Guinea-Bissau, 11 September 2023
MF	Mohamed Billoh Kabba	(2004-11-26) 26 November 2004 (age 19)	0	0	Bo Rangers	v. Guinea-Bissau, 11 September 2023

FW	Alie Conteh	(2002-10-29) 29 October 2002 (age 21)	8	2	Kallon	v. Morocco, 11 January 2024
FW	Abu Komeh	(2001-05-21) 21 May 2001 (age 23)	4	2	Bo Rangers	v. Morocco, 11 January 2024
FW	Alhaji Kamara	(1994-04-16) 16 April 1994 (age 30)	17	5	Randers	v. Egypt, 19 November 2023
FW	Jonathan Morsay	(1997-10-05) 5 October 1997 (age 26)	10	1	AEL Limassol	v. Egypt, 19 November 2023
FW	Augustine Williams	(1997-08-03) 3 August 1997 (age 27)	7	0	Indy Eleven	v. Guinea-Bissau, 11 September 2023
FW	Ron Gandi Williams	(1998-09-08) 8 September 1998 (age 25)	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^[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	Medo Kamara	33	1	2008–2021
6	Kwame Quee	33	3	2012–present
8	Julius Wobay	32	4	2001–2018
9	Ibrahim Kargbo	30	1	2000–2013
10	Yeami Dunia	29	0	2012–present

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	17	0.29	2012–present
5	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	31	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								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									To be determined
Total		0/16							46	11	10	25	41	71

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	Did not qualify
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	To be determined
Total	0 titles	3/34	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

^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 18 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
^ 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. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
^ "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.
^ "Final Squad". Twitter. Sierra Leone Football Association.
^ "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

Football Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone Football Association
Sierra Leone at CAF
Sierra Leone at FIFA
Sierra Leone at National-Football-Teams.com

[FIFA_World_Rankings-1] "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 18 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 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.

[World_Football_Elo_Ratings-3] Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.

[4] "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.

[5] "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.

[6] "Ebola affecting Sierra Leone team – Michael Lahoud". BBC Sport. 14 October 2014. Archived from the original on 18 December 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.

[7] "The land where football is religion". FIFATV. 14 October 2014. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021 – via YouTube.

[8] "Final Squad". Twitter. Sierra Leone Football Association.

[9] "Sierra Leone". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2021.

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v t e National and regional football teams of Africa (CAF)
North Africa (UNAF)	Algeria Egypt Libya Morocco Tunisia
West Africa (WAFU)	Benin Burkina Faso Cape Verde Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Ivory Coast Liberia Mali Mauritania Niger Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone Togo
East Africa (CECAFA)	Burundi Djibouti Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya Rwanda Somalia South Sudan Sudan Tanzania Uganda Zanzibar¹
Central Africa (UNIFFAC)	Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Congo DR Congo Equatorial Guinea Gabon São Tomé and Príncipe
Southern Africa (COSAFA)	Angola Botswana Comoros Eswatini Lesotho Madagascar Malawi Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Seychelles South Africa Zambia Zimbabwe
Non-regional Members	Réunion¹
¹ Regional team, an associate member of CAF but not a member of FIFA Football in Africa portal