This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations .(June 2019) |
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 | 126 (4 April 2024) [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 | ||||
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.
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]
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
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) |
18 June 2023 AFCON qualification | Sierra Leone | 2–3 | Nigeria | Monrovia, Liberia |
16:00 UTC±0 | Report | Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex Referee: Mahmood Ismail (Sudan) |
11 September 2023 AFCON qualification | Guinea-Bissau | 2–1 | Sierra Leone | Bissau, Guinea-Bissau |
16:00 UTC±0 | Report |
| 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 |
| Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex Attendance: 8,916 Referee: Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo (DR Congo) |
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 |
| 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 | v | Sierra Leone | Bamako, Mali |
16:00 UTC±0 | Report | Stadium: Stade du 26 Mars |
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 .
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 | 28 January 2004 | 0 | 0 | Kallon | v. Morocco , 11 January 2024 |
GK | Mohamed Kamara | 29 April 1999 | 20 | 0 | Horoya | v. Egypt , 19 November 2023 |
GK | Ibrahim Sesay | 18 October 2004 | 13 | 0 | Bo Rangers | v. Egypt , 19 November 2023 |
DF | Abu Bakarr Samura | 10 August 1995 | 16 | 1 | Bo Rangers | v. Morocco , 11 January 2024 |
DF | Saidu Mansaray | 21 February 2001 | 8 | 0 | Bo Rangers | v. Morocco , 11 January 2024 |
DF | Santigie Koroma | 27 November 2003 | 2 | 0 | LISCR | v. Morocco , 11 January 2024 |
DF | Abu Bakarr Barrie | 28 November 1999 | 0 | 0 | Diamond Stars | v. Morocco , 11 January 2024 |
DF | Edward Bello Yillah | 4 October 1996 | 0 | 0 | Mighty Blackpool | v. Morocco , 11 January 2024 |
DF | Lamin Conteh | 15 December 1994 | 10 | 0 | Johansen | v. Guinea-Bissau , 11 September 2023 |
DF | Daniel Francis | 10 July 2002 | 2 | 0 | KFC Uerdingen 05 | v. Nigeria , 18 June 2023 |
DF | Edward Fornah | 28 November 1999 | 0 | 0 | Luawa | v. Nigeria , 18 June 2023 |
MF | Kwame Quee | 7 September 1996 | 35 | 3 | Old Edwardians | v. Morocco , 11 January 2024 |
MF | Saidu Bah Kamara | 3 March 2002 | 8 | 0 | Bo Rangers | v. Morocco , 11 January 2024 |
MF | Ibrahim Turay | 5 May 1999 | 7 | 0 | Bo Rangers | v. Morocco , 11 January 2024 |
MF | Alpha Turay | 26 May 2005 | 4 | 0 | Kallon | v. Morocco , 11 January 2024 |
MF | Samuel Bekoe | 24 August 1997 | 3 | 0 | East End Lions | v. Morocco , 11 January 2024 |
MF | Mohamed Fofanah | 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 | 1 January 2000 | 0 | 0 | Ports Authority | v. Morocco , 11 January 2024 |
MF | Mohamed Buya Turay | 10 January 1995 | 17 | 3 | Birmingham Legion | v. Egypt , 19 November 2023 |
MF | Tyrese Fornah | 11 September 1999 | 1 | 0 | Derby County | v. Egypt , 19 November 2023 |
MF | Saidu Fofanah | 14 September 1997 | 13 | 1 | Kallon | v. Guinea-Bissau , 11 September 2023 |
MF | Mamadou Saidou Sow | 19 August 1999 | 0 | 0 | Fortuna | v. Guinea-Bissau , 11 September 2023 |
MF | Mohamed Billoh Kabba | 26 November 2004 | 0 | 0 | Bo Rangers | v. Guinea-Bissau , 11 September 2023 |
MF | Prince Barrie | 18 August 1997 | 14 | 1 | East End Lions | v. Nigeria , 18 June 2023 |
FW | Alie Conteh | 29 October 2002 | 8 | 2 | Kallon | v. Morocco , 11 January 2024 |
FW | Abu Komeh | 21 May 2001 | 4 | 2 | Bo Rangers | v. Morocco , 11 January 2024 |
FW | Alhaji Kamara | 16 April 1994 | 17 | 5 | Randers | v. Egypt , 19 November 2023 |
FW | Jonathan Morsay | 5 October 1997 | 10 | 1 | AEL Limassol | v. Egypt , 19 November 2023 |
FW | Augustine Williams | 3 August 1997 | 7 | 0 | Indy Eleven | v. Guinea-Bissau , 11 September 2023 |
FW | Ron Gandi Williams | 8 September 1998 | 3 | 0 | Mighty Blackpool | v. Guinea-Bissau , 11 September 2023 |
FW | Musa Kamara | 6 August 1999 | 12 | 3 | Bo Rangers | v. Nigeria , 18 June 2023 |
FW | Idris Kanu | 5 December 1999 | 2 | 0 | Barnet | v. Nigeria , 18 June 2023 |
FW | Santigie Sesay | 19 December 2000 | 0 | 0 | Petrovac | v. Nigeria , 18 June 2023 |
INJ Withdrew due to injury. |
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 |
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 |
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 | |
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 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||||||||
2030 | To be determined | |||||||||||||||
2034 | ||||||||||||||||
Total | 0/16 | 45 | 11 | 9 | 25 | 39 | 69 |
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 | To be determined | ||||||||
2027 | |||||||||
Total | 0 titles | 3/36 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 14 | — |
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 |
The Liberia national football team, nicknamed the Lone Stars, represents Liberia in men's international football and is controlled by the Liberia Football Association. Although the nation produced the 1995 FIFA World Player of the Year, George Weah, its football team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup and has qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations just twice—in 1996 and 2002. It is a member of both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The Benin national football team, nicknamed Les Guépards , represents Benin in men's international association football and are controlled by the Benin Football Federation. They were known as Dahomey until 1975, when the Republic of Dahomey became Benin.
The São Tomé and Príncipe national football team is the national association football team of São Tomé and Príncipe and is controlled by the São Toméan Football Federation. It is a member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA.
Alimamy Sesay nicknamed Orkomie, is a Sierra Leonean international footballer currently playing as a midfielder for East End Lions in the Sierra Leone National Premier League, the top football league in Sierra Leone.
Brima Sesay nicknamed Small Attouga, was a Sierra Leonean international goalkeeper. Sesay played for Ports Authority F.C. in the Sierra Leone National Premier League and for the Sierra Leone national football team known as the Leone Stars. He was one of the best young goalkeepers in Sierra Leone.
Football is the most popular sport in Sierra Leone. The governing body is the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA). The SLFA was formed in 1960 and has been affiliated with FIFA beginning the same year. There has been and continues to be trouble within the sport in Sierra Leone. In the past, however, the country has achieved a modicum of success in international competition.
Mohamed Sesay is a Sierra Leonean international footballer, who currently plays for A.S.D. Tagliacozzo.
Sierra Leoneans in the United Kingdom are citizens or residents of the United Kingdom who are of Sierra Leonean descent. In 2001, there were 17,048 Sierra Leonean-born residents of the UK.
Michael Lahoud is a Sierra Leonean former footballer and former broadcaster for Austin FC. He also holds American citizenship.
Sellas Tetteh Teivi is a Ghanaian professional football coach and former player.
The Sierra Leone women's national football team is governed by the Sierra Leone Football Association.
Alie Sesay is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for V.League 1 club Khanh Hoa. Born in England, he represents the Sierra Leone national team.
Atto Ayippey Mensah is a football coach and former player. He lives in the Netherlands and holds both Sierra Leonean and Dutch citizenship.
An Ebola virus epidemic in Sierra Leone occurred in 2014, along with the neighbouring countries of Guinea and Liberia. At the time it was discovered, it was thought that Ebola virus was not endemic to Sierra Leone or to the West African region and that the epidemic represented the first time the virus was discovered there. However, US researchers pointed to lab samples used for Lassa fever testing to suggest that Ebola had been in Sierra Leone as early as 2006.
John Ajina Sesay is a Sierra Leonean football coach who became manager of the national team in October 2014.
Mustapha Bundu Shong Hames is a Sierra Leonean professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL Championship club Plymouth Argyle and the Sierra Leone national team.
David Junior Deen Sesay is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Eastbourne Borough. Born in England, he represented the Sierra Leone national team.
John Trye is a Sierra Leonean footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Serbian White Eagles in the Canadian Soccer League.
Mohamed Nbalie Kamara is a Sierra Leonean professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Horoya and the Sierra Leone national team. He received attention for his performance against Algeria in Sierra Leone's opening 2021 Africa Cup of Nations match, being named Man of the Match after holding the defending champions to a 0–0 draw.