Sierra Leone national football team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
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
First colours Second colours Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current	114 1 (7 February 2019)
Highest	50 (August 2014)
Lowest	172 (September 2007)
Elo ranking
Current	115 1 (3 March 2019)
Highest	59 (15 January 1996)
Lowest	156 (7 June 2008)
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)  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

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.

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. 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. The Sierra Leonean national team wasn't allowed to play home games and all players had to be foreign-based.

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

2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification 15 November	Ethiopia	0–0	Sierra Leone	El Jadida, Morocco
20:00 UTC+1		https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288282/288289/400017580		Stadium: Stade El Abdi Attendance: 50 Referee: Celso Alvação (Mozambique)

2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification 19 November	Sierra Leone	0–2	Egypt	Paynesville, Liberia
16:00 UTC±0		https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288282/288289/400017581	Trézéguet  18', 62'	Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex Attendance: 8,916 Referee: Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo (DR Congo)

2024

Friendly 6 January	Ivory Coast	5–1	Sierra Leone	San Pedro, Ivory Coast
17:00 UTC±0}	Diomande  18' Kessié  36' Bamba  38' Boga  48' Lazare  84'	https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2024/01/06/world/friendlies/cote-divoire/sierra-leone/4293719/	Michael  86'	Stadium: Laurent Pokou Stadium Referee: Dedjinnanchi Ahomlanto (Benin)

Friendly 11 January	Sierra Leone	1–3	Morocco	San Pedro, Ivory Coast
15:00 UTC±0	Komeh  10'	https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2024/01/11/world/friendlies/morocco/sierra-leone/4296871/	En-Nesyri  30', 55' Boufal  35'	Stadium: Laurent Pokou Stadium

2026 World Cup qualification 5 June	Sierra Leone	2–1	Djibouti	El Jadida, Morocco
17:00 UTC+1	Davies  12' Kargbo  51'	https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288282/288289/400018163	Dadzie  35' (pen.)	Stadium: Ben M'Hamed El Abdi Stadium Referee: Godfrey Nkhakananga (Malawi)

2026 World Cup qualification 10 June	Burkina Faso	2–2	Sierra Leone	Bamako, Mali
16:00 UTC±0	Ouattara  41' L. Traoré  45+2' (pen.)	https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288282/288289/400018165	Kargbo  58' Bakayoko  88'	Stadium: Stade du 26 Mars Referee: Lahlou Benbraham (Algeria)

2025 AFCON qualification 6 September	Sierra Leone	0–0	Chad	Paynesville, Liberia
16:00 UTC±0		https://www.cafonline.com/caf-africa-cup-of-nations/match-centre?competition=601&season=2024&match=2459919		Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex Referee: George Gatogato (Burundi)

2025 AFCON qualification 10 September	Zambia	3–2	Sierra Leone	Ndola, Zambia
15:00 UTC+2	K. Musonda  28' Kampamba  70' Kangwa  85'	https://www.cafonline.com/caf-africa-cup-of-nations/match-centre?competition=601&season=2024&match=2459920	Kargbo  33' Mustapha  73'	Stadium: Levy Mwanawasa Stadium Referee: Aklesso Gnama (Togo)

2025 AFCON qualification 11 October	Ivory Coast	4–1	Sierra Leone	San Pedro, Ivory Coast
19:00 UTC±0	Pépé  3' Kessié  51', 76' (pen.) Diakité  87' (pen.)	https://www.cafonline.com/caf-africa-cup-of-nations/match-centre?competition=601&season=2024&match=2459922	Koroma  43'	Stadium: Laurent Pokou Stadium Attendance: 16,553 Referee: Abongile Tom (South Africa)

2025 AFCON qualification 15 October	Sierra Leone	1–0	Ivory Coast	Paynesville, Liberia
16:00 UTC±0	Bakayoko  85'	https://www.cafonline.com/caf-africa-cup-of-nations/match-centre?competition=601&season=2024&match=2459924		Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex Attendance: 7,408 Referee: Jeannot Franck Bito (Cameroon)

2024 CHAN qualification 27 October	Sierra Leone	1–2	Liberia	Paynesville, Liberia
16:00 UTC±0	Kalokoh  22'	https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2024/10/27/africa/african-nations-championship-qualification/sierra-leone/liberia/4545260/	Kumeh  3' Kabia  58' (o.g.)	Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex

2024 CHAN qualification 1 November	Liberia	1–1 (3-2 agg.)	Sierra Leone	Paynesville, Liberia
16:00 UTC±0		https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2024/11/01/africa/african-nations-championship-qualification/liberia/sierra-leone/4545261/		Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex
Note: Sierra Leone lost 3-2 on aggregate.

2025 AFCON qualification 10 November	Chad	1–1	Sierra Leone	Abidjan, Ivory Coast
18:00 UTC±0	Thiam  34' (pen.)	https://www.cafonline.com/caf-africa-cup-of-nations/match-centre?competition=601&season=2024&match=2459927	Dumbuya  29'	Stadium: Alassane Ouattara Stadium Referee: Jean Ouattara (Burkina Faso)

2025 AFCON qualification 18 November	Sierra Leone	0–2	Zambia	Paynesville, Liberia
15:00 UTC±0		https://www.cafonline.com/caf-africa-cup-of-nations/match-centre?competition=601&season=2024&match=2459928	Banda  54' K. Musonda  71'	Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex Referee: Yannick Malala (Congo DR)

Coaching history

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2025 AFCON qualification matches against Ivory Coast on 11 and 15 October 2024.

Caps and goals are correct as of 10 September 2024, after the match against  Zambia.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Mohamed Kamara	(1999-04-29) 29 April 1999 (age 26)	24	0	Horoya
23	1GK	Francis Koroma	(2000-05-15) 15 May 2000 (age 25)	2	0	East End Lions
16	1GK	Isaac Caulker	(1992-01-20) 20 January 1992 (age 33)	0	0	Kallon
19	2DF	Emmanuel Samadia	(2001-04-19) 19 April 2001 (age 24)	21	0	Hartford Athletic
5	2DF	Steven Caulker	(1991-12-29) 29 December 1991 (age 33)	15	0	Málaga City
15	2DF	Abdoulie Jarjue Kabia	(2001-01-27) 27 January 2001 (age 24)	5	0	Hapoel Kfar Saba
3	2DF	Mohamed Bangura		0	0	Wilberforce Strikers
12	2DF	Nathaniel Jalloh	(2005-09-07) 7 September 2005 (age 19)	0	0	Kallon
10	3MF	Mustapha Bundu	(1997-02-27) 27 February 1997 (age 28)	18	3	Plymouth Argyle
6	3MF	Alhassan Koroma	(1997-06-09) 9 June 1997 (age 27)	18	1	Al Shahaniya
4	3MF	Abu Dumbuya	(1999-01-29) 29 January 1999 (age 26)	16	0	Gençlik Gücü
11	3MF	Sullay Kaikai	(1995-08-26) 26 August 1995 (age 29)	16	1	Cambridge United
8	3MF	Alusine Koroma	(1997-06-09) 9 June 1997 (age 27)	14	0	Orihuela
	3MF	Jonathan Morsay	(1997-10-05) 5 October 1997 (age 27)	11	1	AEL Limassol
18	3MF	Ibrahim Sillah	(1995-04-04) 4 April 1995 (age 30)	8	0	ACV
21	3MF	Rodney Michael	(1999-08-10) 10 August 1999 (age 25)	6	1	POX
17	3MF	Issa Kallon	(1996-01-03) 3 January 1996 (age 29)	5	0	Nantong Zhiyun
27	3MF	Hindolo Mustapha	(2006-07-29) 29 July 2006 (age 18)	2	1	Crystal Palace
14	3MF	Tyrese Fornah	(1999-09-11) 11 September 1999 (age 25)	1	0	Salford City
22	3MF	Momoh Kamara	(2005-05-06) 6 May 2005 (age 20)	0	0	Leixões
	3MF	Augustus Kargbo	(1999-08-24) 24 August 1999 (age 25)	19	5	Cesena
9	4FW	Amadou Bakayoko	(1996-01-01) 1 January 1996 (age 29)	12	3	Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo
	4FW	Daniel Kanu	(2004-11-14) 14 November 2004 (age 20)	5	0	Charlton Athletic
	4FW	Josh Koroma	(1998-11-09) 9 November 1998 (age 26)	2	0	Huddersfield Town
2	4FW	Nabieu Navas Daffae		0	0	Luawa

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	Donald Kamara	(2002-07-16) 16 July 2002 (age 22)	1	0	East End Lions	v.  Burkina Faso, 10 June 2024
GK	Abu Bakar Kamara	(2004-01-28) 28 January 2004 (age 21)	0	0	Kallon	v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
GK	Ibrahim Sesay	(2004-10-18) 18 October 2004 (age 20)	13	0	Bo Rangers	v.  Egypt, 19 November 2023
DF	Yeami Dunia	(1996-12-16) 16 December 1996 (age 28)	31	0	Old Edwardians	v.  Zambia, 10 September 2024
DF	Osman Kakay	(1997-08-25) 25 August 1997 (age 27)	26	0	Queens Park Rangers	v.  Zambia, 10 September 2024
DF	Saidu Mansaray	(2001-02-21) 21 February 2001 (age 24)	8	0	Bo Rangers	v.  Zambia, 10 September 2024
DF	Mohamed Kabia	(2003-06-23) 23 June 2003 (age 21)	4	0	Mbabane Swallows	v.  Burkina Faso, 10 June 2024
DF	Yusuf Sesay	(2001-04-19) 19 April 2001 (age 24)	2	0	Bo Rangers	v.  Burkina Faso, 10 June 2024
DF	Curtis Davies	(1985-03-15) 15 March 1985 (age 40)	3	1	Cheltenham Town	v.  Burkina Faso, 10 June 2024
DF	Juma Bah	(2006-04-11) 11 April 2006 (age 19)	0	0	Freetownian SLIFA	v.  Burkina Faso, 10 June 2024
DF	Abu Bakarr Samura	(1995-08-10) 10 August 1995 (age 29)	16	1	Bo Rangers	v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
DF	Santigie Koroma	(2003-11-27) 27 November 2003 (age 21)	2	0	LISCR	v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
DF	Abu Bakarr Barrie	(1999-11-28) 28 November 1999 (age 25)	0	0	Diamond Stars	v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
DF	Edward Bello Yillah	(1996-10-04) 4 October 1996 (age 28)	0	0	Mighty Blackpool	v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
MF	Saidu Fofanah	(1997-09-14) 14 September 1997 (age 27)	13	1	Kallon	v.  Zambia, 10 September 2024
MF	Kamil Conteh	(2002-12-26) 26 December 2002 (age 22)	11	0	Bristol Rovers	v.  Zambia, 10 September 2024
MF	Alpha Conteh	(2000-05-01) 1 May 2000 (age 25)	4	0	Neftçi	v.  Burkina Faso, 10 June 2024
MF	Kwame Quee	(1996-09-07) 7 September 1996 (age 28)	35	3	Grindavík	v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
MF	Saidu Bah Kamara	(2002-03-03) 3 March 2002 (age 23)	8	0	Bo Rangers	v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
MF	Ibrahim Turay	(1999-05-05) 5 May 1999 (age 26)	7	0	Bo Rangers	v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
MF	Alpha Turay	(2005-05-26) 26 May 2005 (age 20)	4	0	Kallon	v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
MF	Samuel Bekoe	(1997-08-24) 24 August 1997 (age 27)	3	0	East End Lions	v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
MF	Mohamed Fofanah	(1998-09-08) 8 September 1998 (age 26)	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 25)	0	0	Ports Authority	v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
MF	Mohamed Buya Turay	(1995-01-10) 10 January 1995 (age 30)	17	3	Birmingham Legion	v.  Egypt, 19 November 2023
FW	Musa Noah Kamara	(1999-08-06) 6 August 1999 (age 25)	14	3	Bo Rangers	v.  Zambia, 10 September 2024
FW	Sallieu Bah	(2006-09-10) 10 September 2006 (age 18)	5	0	Wilberforce Strikers	v.  Burkina Faso, 10 June 2024
FW	Alie Conteh	(2002-10-29) 29 October 2002 (age 22)	8	2	Kallon	v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
FW	Abu Komeh	(2001-05-21) 21 May 2001 (age 24)	4	2	Bo Rangers	v.  Morocco, 11 January 2024
FW	Alhaji Kamara	(1994-04-16) 16 April 1994 (age 31)	17	5	Randers	v.  Egypt, 19 November 2023
Records Players in bold are still active with Sierra Leone. Most appearances Umaru Bangura is Sierra Leone's most capped player with 55 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 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 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 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 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 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 Regional Amílcar Cabral Cup Champions (2): 1993, 1995 Runners-up (2): 1984, 1986 See also In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Sierra Leona para niños