Sierra Leone national football team facts for kids
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Nickname(s) | Leone Stars | |||
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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 | |||
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FIFA ranking | ||||
Current | 114 ![]() |
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Highest | 50 (August 2014) | |||
Lowest | 172 (September 2007) | |||
Elo ranking | ||||
Current | 115 ![]() |
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Highest | 59 (15 January 1996) | |||
Lowest | 156 (7 June 2008) | |||
First international | ||||
![]() ![]() (Freetown, Sierra Leone; 10 August 1949) |
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Biggest win | ||||
![]() ![]() (Freetown, Sierra Leone; 7 March 1976) ![]() ![]() (Freetown, Sierra Leone; 3 June 1995) ![]() ![]() (Freetown, Sierra Leone; 22 April 2000) |
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Biggest defeat | ||||
![]() ![]() (Bamako, Mali; 17 June 2007) ![]() ![]() (Syria; 05 June 2009) |
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Africa Cup of Nations | ||||
Appearances | 3 (first in 1994) | |||
Best result | Group stage (1994, 1996, 2021) |
The Sierra Leone national football team, also known as the Leone Stars, plays for Sierra Leone in association football. The team is managed by the Sierra Leone Football Association. They have played in the Africa Cup of Nations three times.
Contents
History of the Leone Stars
Sierra Leone played its first football match on August 10, 1949. They played against Nigeria at home in Freetown and lost 2–0. In 1954, they played against Gold Coast and lost again.
Their first draw came on November 12, 1966, against Liberia. The score was 1–1. On January 13, 1971, they played their first game against a team from outside Africa. This was against West Germany's B-team, and Sierra Leone lost 1–0.
In August 2014, the Sierra Leone Football Association stopped all football matches. This was done to help control the spread of a serious health situation. Players from Sierra Leone who played in other countries sometimes faced unfair treatment. Other players did not want to swap shirts or shake hands. This was because they were worried about the health situation. The national team could not play home games during this time. All players had to be based outside Sierra Leone.
Recent Matches and Schedule
Here are the results from the last year and upcoming games.
Win Draw Loss Fixture
2024 Matches
5 June 2026 World Cup qualification | Sierra Leone ![]() |
2–1 | ![]() |
El Jadida, Morocco |
17:00 UTC+1 |
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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 |
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Stadium: Stade du 26 Mars Referee: Lahlou Benbraham (Algeria) |
6 September 2025 AFCON qualification | Sierra Leone ![]() |
0–0 | ![]() |
Paynesville, Liberia |
16:00 UTC±0 | Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex Referee: George Gatogato (Burundi) |
10 September 2025 AFCON qualification | Zambia ![]() |
3–2 | ![]() |
Ndola, Zambia |
15:00 UTC+2 | 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 | Stadium: Laurent Pokou Stadium Attendance: 16,553 Referee: Abongile Tom (South Africa) |
15 October 2025 AFCON qualification | Sierra Leone ![]() |
1–0 | ![]() |
Paynesville, Liberia |
16:00 UTC±0 | Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex Attendance: 7,408 Referee: Jeannot Franck Bito (Cameroon) |
27 October 2024 CHAN qualification | Sierra Leone ![]() |
1–2 | ![]() |
Paynesville, Liberia |
16:00 UTC±0 | Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex |
1 November 2024 CHAN qualification | Liberia ![]() |
1–1 (3-2 agg.) |
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Paynesville, Liberia |
16:00 UTC±0 | 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 |
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Stadium: Alassane Ouattara Stadium Referee: Jean Ouattara (Burkina Faso) |
18 November 2025 AFCON qualification | Sierra Leone ![]() |
0–2 | ![]() |
Paynesville, Liberia |
15:00 UTC±0 | Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex Referee: Yannick Malala (Congo DR) |
2025 Matches
20 March 2026 World Cup qualification | Sierra Leone ![]() |
3–1 | ![]() |
Paynesville, Liberia |
16:00 UTC±0 | 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 | Stadium: Cairo International Stadium |
September 2026 World Cup qualification | Guinea-Bissau ![]() |
v | ![]() |
September 2026 World Cup qualification | Sierra Leone ![]() |
v | ![]() |
October 2026 World Cup qualification | Sierra Leone ![]() |
v | ![]() |
October 2026 World Cup qualification | Djibouti ![]() |
v | ![]() |
Team Coaches
Many coaches have led the Sierra Leone national football team over the years. They come from different countries. These coaches help the team improve their skills. They also plan strategies for games.
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–)
Current Players
This section lists the players who were chosen for the recent 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Group A matches. These games were against Guinea-Bissau and Egypt in March 2025.
The number of games played (caps) and goals scored are correct as of March 25, 2025, after the match against Egypt.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
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GK | Francis Koroma | 15 May 2000 | 6 | 0 | ![]() |
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GK | Alhaji Sesay | 9 October 1998 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
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GK | Dauda Bangura | 16 October 2006 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
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DF | Emmanuel Samadia | 19 April 2001 | 26 | 0 | ![]() |
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DF | Nathaniel Jalloh | 7 September 2005 | 8 | 0 | ![]() |
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DF | Juma Bah | 11 April 2006 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
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DF | Sitta Bah | 27 April 2006 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
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DF | Edward Bello Yillah | 17 November 2006 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
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DF | David Janneh | 26 June 1993 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
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MF | Abu Dumbuya | 29 January 1999 | 21 | 1 | ![]() |
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MF | Ibrahim Turay | 5 May 1999 | 10 | 1 | ![]() |
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MF | Tyrese Fornah | 11 September 1999 | 8 | 0 | ![]() |
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MF | Alpha Turay | 26 May 2005 | 6 | 0 | ![]() |
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MF | Momoh Dumbuya | 14 February 2004 | 2 | 1 | ![]() |
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MF | Momoh Kamara | 6 May 2005 | 2 | 0 | Free agent | |
MF | Hassan Milla Koroma | 7 November 2000 | 2 | 1 | ![]() |
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MF | John Bilili Sesay | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
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FW | Kei Kamara | 1 September 1984 | 42 | 7 | Free agent | |
FW | Mustapha Bundu | 27 February 1997 | 22 | 4 | ![]() |
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FW | Alhassan Koroma | 9 June 1997 | 22 | 2 | ![]() |
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FW | Musa Noah Kamara | 6 August 1999 | 16 | 4 | ![]() |
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FW | Alie Conteh | 29 October 2002 | 11 | 2 | ![]() |
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FW | Sallieu Tarawallie | 3 January 1995 | 8 | 1 | ![]() |
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FW | Mohamed Bangura | 19 March 2004 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
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FW | James Kaiyamba | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
Other Players Called Up Recently
These players were also called up for the team in the 12 months before the current squad was chosen.
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
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GK | Mohamed Kamara | 29 April 1999 | 25 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
GK | Isaac Caulker | 20 January 1992 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
GK | Donald Kamara | 16 July 2002 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
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DF | Steven Caulker | 29 December 1991 | 18 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Abdul Jarju Kabia | 27 January 2001 | 8 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Yeami Dunia | 16 December 1996 | 34 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Osman Kakay | 25 August 1997 | 26 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Saidu Mansaray | 21 February 2001 | 8 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Mohamed Kabia | 23 June 2003 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Yusuf Sesay | 19 April 2001 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Curtis Davies | 15 March 1985 | 3 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
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MF | Sullay Kaikai | 26 August 1995 | 20 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Alusine Koroma | 9 June 1997 | 17 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Jonathan Morsay | 5 October 1997 | 11 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Ibrahim Sillah | 4 April 1995 | 11 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Issa Kallon | 3 January 1996 | 9 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Rodney Michael | 10 August 1999 | 8 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Hindolo Mustapha | 29 July 2006 | 3 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Saidu Fofanah | 14 September 1997 | 13 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Kamil Conteh | 26 December 2002 | 11 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Alpha Conteh | 1 May 2000 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
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FW | Augustus Kargbo | 24 August 1999 | 21 | 5 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Amadou Bakayoko | 1 January 1996 | 16 | 4 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Daniel Kanu | 14 November 2004 | 5 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Josh Koroma | 9 November 1998 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Nabieu Navas Daffae | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
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FW | Sallieu Bah | 10 September 2006 | 5 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
Team Records
Here are some records for the Sierra Leone national football team. Players whose names are in bold are still playing for Sierra Leone.
Most Games Played
Rank | Name | Caps | Goals | Career |
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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 Goal Scorers
Rank | Name | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
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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 History
FIFA World Cup
Sierra Leone has tried to qualify for the FIFA World Cup many times. They have not yet made it to the main tournament.
FIFA World Cup record | Qualification record | |||||||||||||||
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Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | ||
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Not affiliated to CAF | Not affiliated to CAF | ||||||||||||||
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Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |||||||||
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4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 9 | ||||||||||
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2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | ||||||||||
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2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||
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Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
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Withdrew | Withdrew | ||||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 8 | |||||||||
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10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 17 | ||||||||||
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2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||
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8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | ||||||||||
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6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 10 | ||||||||||
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2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||
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2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||
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To be determined | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | |||||||||
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To be determined | |||||||||||||||
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Total | 0/16 | 53 | 14 | 11 | 28 | 48 | 79 |
Africa Cup of Nations
The Leone Stars have qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations three times. They reached the group stage in 1994, 1996, and 2021.
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Squad |
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Not affiliated to CAF | ||||||||
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Did not enter | ||||||||
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Withdrew | ||||||||
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Did not enter | ||||||||
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Did not qualify | ||||||||
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Did not enter | ||||||||
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Did not qualify | ||||||||
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Did not enter | ||||||||
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Did not qualify | ||||||||
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Withdrew | ||||||||
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Did not qualify | ||||||||
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Withdrew | ||||||||
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Did not qualify | ||||||||
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Round 1 | 10th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | Squad |
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Round 1 | 13th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | Squad |
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Withdrew | ||||||||
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Disqualified due to civil war | ||||||||
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Did not qualify | ||||||||
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Disqualified due to FIFA suspension | ||||||||
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Group stage | 18th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | Squad |
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Did not qualify | ||||||||
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To be determined | ||||||||
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Total | 0 titles | 3/35 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 14 | — |
Coaching Staff
This table shows the current coaching staff for the Sierra Leone national football team.
Head coach | ![]() |
Assistant coach | ![]() |
Assistant coach | ![]() |
Sport therapist | ![]() |
Head of medical | ![]() |
Team manager | ![]() |
Team Achievements
Regional Cups
- Amílcar Cabral Cup
- Champions (2): 1993, 1995
- Runners-up (2): 1984, 1986
See also
In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Sierra Leona para niños