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Sierra Leone national football team facts for kids

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Sierra Leone
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) Leone Stars
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
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 114 Increase 1 (7 February 2019)
Highest 50 (August 2014)
Lowest 172 (September 2007)
Elo ranking
Current 115 Decrease 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, 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.

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  Djibouti El Jadida, Morocco
17:00 UTC+1
  • Dadzie Goal 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 Goal 41'
  • L. Traoré Goal 45+2' (pen.)
  • Kargbo Goal 58'
  • Bakayoko Goal 88'
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 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
  • K. Musonda Goal 28'
  • Kampamba Goal 70'
  • Kangwa Goal 85'
  • Kargbo Goal 33'
  • Mustapha Goal 73'
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
  • Pépé Goal 3'
  • Kessié Goal 51'76' (pen.)
  • Diakité Goal 87' (pen.)
  • Koroma Goal 43'
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
  • Bakayoko Goal 85'
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
  • Kalokoh Goal 22'
  • Kumeh Goal 3'
  • Kabia Goal 58' (o.g.)
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 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
  • Thiam Goal 34' (pen.)
  • Dumbuya Goal 29'
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
  • Banda Goal 54'
  • K. Musonda Goal 71'
Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex
Referee: Yannick Malala (Congo DR)

2025 Matches

20 March 2026 World Cup qualification Sierra Leone  3–1  Guinea-Bissau Paynesville, Liberia
16:00 UTC±0
  • Bundu Goal 19'
  • Mu. Kamara Goal 61'
  • I. Turay Goal 90+6'
  • Monteiro Goal 68'
Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex
Referee: Daniel Nii Laryea (Ghana)
25 March 2026 World Cup qualification Egypt  1–0  Sierra Leone Cairo, Egypt
21:00 UTC+2 Stadium: Cairo International Stadium
September 2026 World Cup qualification Guinea-Bissau  v  Sierra Leone
September 2026 World Cup qualification Sierra Leone  v  Ethiopia
October 2026 World Cup qualification Sierra Leone  v  Burkina Faso
October 2026 World Cup qualification Djibouti  v  Sierra Leone

Team Coaches

RogerPalmgren
Roger Palmgren was a manager for Sierra Leone in the 1990s.

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.

  • West Germany Burkhard Pape (1966–1968)
  • West Germany Klaus Ebbighausen (1976–1978)
  • England Warwick Rimmer (1979)
  • Sierra Leone Christian Cole (1989)
  • Sierra Leone Christian Cole (1991)
  • France Raymond Zarpanelian (1993–1994)
  • Sweden Roger Palmgren (1994–1996)
  • Sierra Leone John Sherington (1996–1997)
  • Sierra Leone Abdulai Sesay (1997–2000)
  • Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Dušan Drašković (2000)
  • Sierra Leone Christian Cole (2001)
  • Brazil José Antonio Nogueira (2003)
  • Sierra Leone John Sherington (2003–2006)
  • Nigeria James Peters (2006–2007)
  • Sierra Leone Mohamed Kanu (2007–2009)
  • Sierra Leone Daniel Koroma (2009–2010)
  • Sierra Leone Christian Cole (2010–2011)
  • Sweden Lars-Olof Mattsson (2011–2013)
  • Northern Ireland Johnathan McKinstry (2013–2014)
  • Sierra Leone Atto Mensah (2014)
  • Sierra Leone John Ajina Sesay (2014–2015)
  • Sierra Leone John Sherington (2015)
  • Ghana Sellas Tetteh (2015–2017)
  • Sierra Leone John Keister (2017–2019)
  • Ghana Sellas Tetteh (2019–2020)
  • Sierra Leone John Keister (2020–2023)
  • Sierra Leone 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
1GK Francis Koroma (2000-05-15) 15 May 2000 (age 25) 6 0 Sierra Leone East End Lions
1GK Alhaji Sesay (1998-10-09) 9 October 1998 (age 26) 2 0 Sierra Leone Bhantal
1GK Dauda Bangura (2006-10-16) 16 October 2006 (age 18) 0 0 Sierra Leone East End Lions

2DF Emmanuel Samadia (2001-04-19) 19 April 2001 (age 24) 26 0 United States Hartford Athletic
2DF Nathaniel Jalloh (2005-09-07) 7 September 2005 (age 19) 8 0 Sierra Leone Kallon
2DF Juma Bah (2006-04-11) 11 April 2006 (age 19) 2 0 France Lens
2DF Sitta Bah (2006-04-27) 27 April 2006 (age 19) 0 0 Sierra Leone Star Sport
2DF Edward Bello Yillah (2006-11-17) 17 November 2006 (age 18) 0 0 Sierra Leone Mighty Blackpool
2DF David Janneh (1993-06-26) 26 June 1993 (age 32) 0 0 Sierra Leone Kallon

3MF Abu Dumbuya (1999-01-29) 29 January 1999 (age 26) 21 1 Finland Oulu
3MF Ibrahim Turay (1999-05-05) 5 May 1999 (age 26) 10 1 Sierra Leone Bo Rangers
3MF Tyrese Fornah (1999-09-11) 11 September 1999 (age 25) 8 0 England Salford City
3MF Alpha Turay (2005-05-26) 26 May 2005 (age 20) 6 0 Serbia Dubočica
3MF Momoh Dumbuya (2004-02-14) 14 February 2004 (age 21) 2 1 Sierra Leone Kallon
3MF Momoh Kamara (2005-05-06) 6 May 2005 (age 20) 2 0 Free agent
3MF Hassan Milla Koroma (2000-11-07) 7 November 2000 (age 24) 2 1 Sierra Leone Kallon
3MF John Bilili Sesay 1 0 Sierra Leone Bhantal

4FW Kei Kamara (1984-09-01) 1 September 1984 (age 40) 42 7 Free agent
4FW Mustapha Bundu (1997-02-27) 27 February 1997 (age 28) 22 4 England Plymouth Argyle
4FW Alhassan Koroma (1997-06-09) 9 June 1997 (age 28) 22 2 Qatar Al Shahaniya
4FW Musa Noah Kamara (1999-08-06) 6 August 1999 (age 25) 16 4 Sierra Leone Bo Rangers
4FW Alie Conteh (2002-10-29) 29 October 2002 (age 22) 11 2 Norway Mjøndalen
4FW Sallieu Tarawallie (1995-01-03) 3 January 1995 (age 30) 8 1 Sierra Leone Kallon
4FW Mohamed Bangura (2004-03-19) 19 March 2004 (age 21) 3 0 Sierra Leone Wilberforce Strikers
4FW James Kaiyamba 0 0 Sierra Leone Star Sport

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
GK Mohamed Kamara (1999-04-29) 29 April 1999 (age 26) 25 0 Guinea Horoya v.  Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024
GK Isaac Caulker (1992-01-20) 20 January 1992 (age 33) 2 0 Sierra Leone Kallon v.  Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024
GK Donald Kamara (2002-07-16) 16 July 2002 (age 23) 1 0 Sierra Leone East End Lions v.  Burkina Faso, 10 June 2024

DF Steven Caulker (1991-12-29) 29 December 1991 (age 33) 18 0 Turkey Ankara Keçiörengücü v.  Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024
DF Abdul Jarju Kabia (2001-01-27) 27 January 2001 (age 24) 8 0 Belarus FC Dynamo Brest v.  Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024
DF Yeami Dunia (1996-12-16) 16 December 1996 (age 28) 34 0 Sierra Leone Old Edwardians v.  Zambia, 10 September 2024
DF Osman Kakay (1997-08-25) 25 August 1997 (age 27) 26 0 England Queens Park Rangers v.  Zambia, 10 September 2024
DF Saidu Mansaray (2001-02-21) 21 February 2001 (age 24) 8 0 Sierra Leone Bo Rangers v.  Zambia, 10 September 2024
DF Mohamed Kabia (2003-06-23) 23 June 2003 (age 22) 4 0 Eswatini Mbabane Swallows v.  Burkina Faso, 10 June 2024
DF Yusuf Sesay (2001-04-19) 19 April 2001 (age 24) 4 0 Sierra Leone Bo Rangers v.  Burkina Faso, 10 June 2024
DF Curtis Davies (1985-03-15) 15 March 1985 (age 40) 3 1 England Cheltenham Town v.  Burkina Faso, 10 June 2024

MF Sullay Kaikai (1995-08-26) 26 August 1995 (age 29) 20 1 England Cambridge United v.  Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024
MF Alusine Koroma (1997-06-09) 9 June 1997 (age 28) 17 0 Spain Orihuela v.  Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024
MF Jonathan Morsay (1997-10-05) 5 October 1997 (age 27) 11 1 Greece Panionios v.  Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024
MF Ibrahim Sillah (1995-04-04) 4 April 1995 (age 30) 11 0 Netherlands ACV v.  Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024
MF Issa Kallon (1996-01-03) 3 January 1996 (age 29) 9 0 China Nantong Zhiyun v.  Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024
MF Rodney Michael (1999-08-10) 10 August 1999 (age 25) 8 1 Cyprus POX v.  Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024
MF Hindolo Mustapha (2006-07-29) 29 July 2006 (age 19) 3 1 England Crystal Palace v.  Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024
MF Saidu Fofanah (1997-09-14) 14 September 1997 (age 27) 13 1 Sierra Leone Kallon v.  Zambia, 10 September 2024
MF Kamil Conteh (2002-12-26) 26 December 2002 (age 22) 11 0 England Bristol Rovers v.  Zambia, 10 September 2024
MF Alpha Conteh (2000-05-01) 1 May 2000 (age 25) 4 0 Azerbaijan Neftçi v.  Burkina Faso, 10 June 2024

FW Augustus Kargbo (1999-08-24) 24 August 1999 (age 25) 21 5 England Blackburn Rovers v.  Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024
FW Amadou Bakayoko (1996-01-01) 1 January 1996 (age 29) 16 4 Japan Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo v.  Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024
FW Daniel Kanu (2004-11-14) 14 November 2004 (age 20) 5 0 England Charlton Athletic v.  Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024
FW Josh Koroma (1998-11-09) 9 November 1998 (age 26) 3 0 England Huddersfield Town v.  Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024
FW Nabieu Navas Daffae 1 0 Sierra Leone Luawa v.  Ivory Coast, 15 October 2024
FW Sallieu Bah (2006-09-10) 10 September 2006 (age 18) 5 0 Sierra Leone Wilberforce Strikers v.  Burkina Faso, 10 June 2024

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

Umaru Bangura
Umaru Bangura has played the most games for Sierra Leone.
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 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
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
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
Chile 1962 and England 1966 Not affiliated to CAF Not affiliated to CAF
Mexico 1970 Did not enter Did not enter
West Germany 1974 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 0 3
Argentina 1978 4 1 1 2 8 9
Spain 1982 2 0 1 1 3 5
Mexico 1986 2 0 0 2 0 5
Italy 1990 Did not enter Did not enter
United States 1994 Withdrew Withdrew
France 1998 Did not qualify 7 2 1 4 4 8
South Korea Japan 2002 10 2 1 7 6 17
Germany 2006 2 0 1 1 1 2
South Africa 2010 8 3 2 3 5 8
Brazil 2014 6 2 2 2 10 10
Russia 2018 2 1 0 1 2 2
Qatar 2022 2 1 0 1 2 3
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined 6 2 2 2 7 7
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030 To be determined
Saudi Arabia 2034
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
Ethiopia 1962 Not affiliated to CAF
Ghana 1963
Tunisia 1965
Ethiopia 1968 Did not enter
Sudan 1970 Withdrew
Cameroon 1972 Did not enter
Egypt 1974 Did not qualify
Ethiopia 1976 Did not enter
Ghana 1978 Did not qualify
Nigeria 1980 Did not enter
Libya 1982 Did not qualify
Ivory Coast 1984
Egypt 1986 Withdrew
Morocco 1988 Did not qualify
Algeria 1990 Withdrew
Senegal 1992 Did not qualify
Tunisia 1994 Round 1 10th 2 0 1 1 0 4 Squad
South Africa 1996 Round 1 13th 3 1 0 2 2 7 Squad
Burkina Faso 1998 Withdrew
Ghana Nigeria 2000 Disqualified due to civil war
Mali 2002 Did not qualify
Tunisia 2004
Egypt 2006
Ghana 2008
Angola 2010
Equatorial Guinea Gabon 2012
South Africa 2013
Equatorial Guinea 2015
Gabon 2017
Egypt 2019 Disqualified due to FIFA suspension
Cameroon 2021 Group stage 18th 3 0 2 1 2 3 Squad
Ivory Coast 2023 Did not qualify
Morocco 2025
Kenya Tanzania Uganda 2027 To be determined
2029
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 Sierra Leone Amidu Karim
Assistant coach Sierra Leone Alusine Sesay
Assistant coach Sierra Leone Amara Rahman Bangura
Sport therapist Belgium Joris De Vos
Head of medical Sierra Leone Osman Fofanah
Team manager Sierra Leone Abdulai Kargbo

Team Achievements

Regional Cups

  • Amílcar Cabral Cup
    • Champions (2): 1993, 1995
    • Runners-up (2): 1984, 1986

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Sierra Leona para niños

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