Sierra Leone national football team
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 | 129 8 (28 November 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) Syria 6–0 Sierra Leone (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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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 | 2–2 | Sierra Leone | Bamako, Mali |
16:00 UTC±0 | Report | Stadium: Stade du 26 Mars Referee: Lahlou Benbraham (Algeria) |
6 September 2025 AFCON qualification | Sierra Leone | 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 | Sierra Leone | Ndola, Zambia |
15:00 UTC+2 |
|
Report | Stadium: Levy Mwanawasa Stadium Referee: Aklesso Gnama (Togo) |
11 October 2025 AFCON qualification | Ivory Coast | 4–1 | Sierra Leone | 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 | Sierra Leone | 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 | Sierra Leone | 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.) | Sierra Leone | 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 | Sierra Leone | Abidjan, Ivory Coast |
18:00 UTC±0 | Report |
|
Stadium: Alassane Ouattara Stadium Referee: Jean Ouattara (Burkina Faso) |
18 November 2025 AFCON qualification | Sierra Leone | 0–2 | Zambia | Paynesville, Liberia |
15:00 UTC±0 | Report |
|
Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex Referee: Yannick Malala (Congo DR) |
Coaching history
[edit]- 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
[edit]Current squad
[edit]The following players were called up for the 2025 AFCON qualification matches against Ivory Coast on 11 and 15 October 2024.[8]
Caps and goals are correct as of 10 September 2024, after the match against Zambia.
Recent call-ups
[edit]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 | Donald Kamara | 16 July 2002 | 1 | 0 | East End Lions | v. Burkina Faso, 10 June 2024 |
GK | Abu Bakar Kamara | 28 January 2004 | 0 | 0 | Kallon | v. Morocco, 11 January 2024 |
GK | Ibrahim Sesay | 18 October 2004 | 13 | 0 | Bo Rangers | v. Egypt, 19 November 2023 |
DF | Yeami Dunia | 16 December 1996 | 31 | 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 | 2 | 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 |
DF | Juma Bah | 11 April 2006 | 0 | 0 | Freetownian SLIFA | v. Burkina Faso, 10 June 2024 |
DF | Abu Bakarr Samura | 10 August 1995 | 16 | 1 | 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 |
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 |
MF | Kwame Quee | 7 September 1996 | 35 | 3 | Grindavík | 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 |
FW | Musa Noah Kamara | 6 August 1999 | 14 | 3 | Bo Rangers | v. Zambia, 10 September 2024 |
FW | Sallieu Bah | 10 September 2006 | 5 | 0 | Wilberforce Strikers | v. Burkina Faso, 10 June 2024 |
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 |
INJ Withdrew due to injury. |
Records
[edit]- As of 19 November 2024[9]
- Players in bold are still active with Sierra Leone.
Most appearances
[edit]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 | Medo Kamara | 33 | 1 | 2008–2021 |
8 | Julius Wobay | 32 | 4 | 2001–2018 |
Yeami Dunia | 32 | 0 | 2012–present | |
10 | Ibrahim Kargbo | 30 | 1 | 2000–2013 |
Top goalscorers
[edit]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
[edit]FIFA World Cup
[edit]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
[edit]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 | 3/34 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 14 | — |
Coaching staff
[edit]Head coach | Amidu Karim |
Assistant coach | Alusine Sesay |
Assistant coach | Amara Rahman Bangura |
Sport therapist | Abdulay Sesay |
Head of medical | Osman Fofanah |
Team manager | Abdulai Kargbo |
Honours
[edit]Regional
[edit]- Amílcar Cabral Cup
- Champions (2): 1993, 1995
- Runners-up (2): 1984, 1986
References
[edit]- ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 28 November 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. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 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". Facebook. Sierra Leone Football Association.
- ^ "Sierra Leone". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
Sources
[edit]- 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
[edit]- Football Sierra Leone
- Sierra Leone Football Association
- Sierra Leone at CAF
- Sierra Leone at FIFA
- Sierra Leone at National-Football-Teams.com