Sierra Leone national football team

Sierra Leone
Nickname(s)	Leone Stars
Association	Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA)
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	WAFU (West Africa)
Head coach	John Keister
Captain	Umaru Bangura
Most caps	Umaru Bangura (54)
Top scorer	Mohamed Kallon (8)
Home stadium	Freetown National Stadium
FIFA code	SLE
FIFA ranking
Current	108 (23 December 2021)
Highest	50 (August 2014)
Lowest	172 (September 2007)
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)
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 men's international association football and it is governed by the Sierra Leone Football Association. The team's nickname is Leone Stars. The team is affiliated to the West African Football Union. The team have never qualified for the FIFA World Cup; however, they have qualified for Africa Cup of Nations thrice. The team represents both FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF).

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 they played another British colony and British administered U.N trust territory, Gold Coast and Trans-Volta Togoland (now Ghana), and lost 2–0 away. On 22 April 1961, they again hosted Nigeria and lost 4–2. On 12 November 1966, they hosted Liberia in their first match against a non-British colony and earned their first draw, 1–1. A week later, they lost 2–0 in Liberia. On 13 January 1971, Sierra Leone played their 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 also their first against an Asian nation, China. They lost 4–1 in China on 5 April 1974.^[4]

Sierra Leone's golden period was during the 1990s, qualifying for both the 1994 and 1996 Africa Cup of Nations. However, they were forced to withdraw from the next two editions due to the Sierra Leone Civil War.

In August 2014, the Sierra Leone FA cancelled all football matches in an effort to stop the spread of the 2014 Ebola virus epidemic in Sierra Leone, a week after the 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 just 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] In October 2015, Sierra Leone suffered a surprise defeat to Chad in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, with their home game having to be played in Nigeria. One year later, Sierra Leone very nearly qualified for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, finishing just one point behind Group I winners Ivory Coast.

On 5 October 2018, the Sierra Leone Football Association was suspended by FIFA and the Leone Stars were excluded from the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification.

Recent results and fixtures[]

Win Draw Loss

2021[]

24 March 2021 AFCONQ	Lesotho	0–0	Sierra Leone	Maseru,Lesotho
				Stadium: Setsoto Stadium Referee: Andofetra Rakotojaona (Madagascar)

15 June 2021 AFCONQ	Sierra Leone	1–0	Benin	Conakry, Guinea
16:00 UTC±0	K. Kamara 19' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: Stade du 28 Septembre Referee: Haythem Guirat (Tunisia)

12 October Friendly

Gambia

1–2

Sierra Leone

13 November Friendly	Sierra Leone	0–2	Comoros	Sapanca, Turkey
		Report	Ben 34', 89'	Stadium: Sapanca Atatürk Stadyumu

2022[]

11 January 2021 AFCON	Algeria	0–0	Sierra Leone	Douala, Cameroon
		Report		Stadium: Japoma Stadium Referee: (Mauritius)

16 January 2021 AFCON	Ivory Coast	2–2	Sierra Leone	Douala, Cameroon
17:00	Haller 25' Pépé 65'	Report	Mu. Kamara 55' A. Kamara 90+3'	Stadium: Japoma Stadium Referee: (Senegal)

20 January 2021 AFCON	Sierra Leone	0–1	Equatorial Guinea	Limbe, Cameroon
		Report	Ganet 38'	Stadium: Limbe Stadium Referee: (Egypt)

Players[]

Current squad[]

The following players were called up for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.^[8]
Caps and goals are correct as of 20 January 2021 after the match against Equatorial Guinea.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Mohamed Nbalie Kamara	(1999-04-29) 29 April 1999 (age 22)	13	0	East End Lions
16	1GK	Ibrahim Sesay	(2004-10-18) 18 October 2004 (age 17)	1	0	East End Lions
23	1GK	Isaac Caulker	(1991-01-25) 25 January 1991 (age 31)	0	0	F.C. Kallon

17	2DF	Umaru Bangura (Captain)	(1987-10-07) 7 October 1987 (age 34)	55	4	Neuchâtel Xamax
15	2DF	Yeami Dunia	(1996-12-16) 16 December 1996 (age 25)	23	0	East End Lions
2	2DF	Osman Kakay	(1997-08-25) 25 August 1997 (age 24)	12	0	Queens Park Rangers
20	2DF	Saidu Mansaray	(2001-02-21) 21 February 2001 (age 20)	4	0	Bo Rangers
3	2DF	Kevin Wright	(1995-12-28) 28 December 1995 (age 26)	6	0	Örebro SK
18	2DF	David Sesay	(1998-09-18) 18 September 1998 (age 23)	2	0	Wealdstone
25	2DF	Daniel Francis	(2002-07-10) 10 July 2002 (age 19)	2	0	Rot Weiss Ahlen
5	2DF	Steven Caulker	(1991-12-29) 29 December 1991 (age 30)	3	0	Gaziantep

4	3MF	Medo	(1987-11-16) 16 November 1987 (age 34)	33	2	Unattached
7	3MF	Kwame Quee	(1996-07-09) 9 July 1996 (age 25)	31	3	Víkingur Reykjavík
6	3MF	John Kamara	(1988-05-12) 12 May 1988 (age 33)	24	1	Unattached
8	3MF	Saidu Fofanah	(1997-09-14) 14 September 1997 (age 24)	6	1	F.C. Kallon
	3MF	Alhassan Koroma	(1997-06-09) 9 June 1997 (age 24)	4	0	Linense
24	3MF	Prince Barrie	(1997-08-18) 18 August 1997 (age 24)	4	0	Bo Rangers
27	3MF	Abu Dumbuya	(1999-01-29) 29 January 1999 (age 23)	8	0	East End Lions
22	3MF	Issa Kallon	(1996-01-03) 3 January 1996 (age 26)	2	0	Cambuur
26	3MF	Saidu Bah Kamara	(2002-03-03) 3 March 2002 (age 19)	0	0	Bo Rangers

10	4FW	Kei Kamara	(1984-09-01) 1 September 1984 (age 37)	39	7	HIFK
12	4FW	Alhaji Kamara	(1994-04-16) 16 April 1994 (age 27)	12	5	Randers
19	4FW	Mustapha Bundu	(1997-02-27) 27 February 1997 (age 24)	10	1	AGF
14	4FW	Mohamed Buya Turay	(1995-01-10) 10 January 1995 (age 27)	9	0	Henan Songshan Longmen
28	4FW	Musa Noah Kamara	(1999-08-06) 6 August 1999 (age 22)	7	1	East End Lions
11	4FW	Sullay Kaikai	(1995-08-26) 26 August 1995 (age 26)	6	1	Wycombe Wanderers
9	4FW	Augustine Williams	(1997-08-03) 3 August 1997 (age 24)	1	0	Unattached
21	4FW	Idris Kanu	(1999-12-05) 5 December 1999 (age 22)	1	0	Peterborough United

Recent call-ups[]

The following players have also been called up to the Sierra Leone squad within the last twelve months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Francis Koroma		0	0	Mighty Blackpool	2021 Africa Cup of Nations^PRE
GK	Mohamed Kanu		0	0		2021 Africa Cup of Nations^PRE

DF	Mustapha Dumbuya	(1987-08-07) 7 August 1987 (age 34)	17	0	Unattached	2021 Africa Cup of Nations^PRE
DF	Alie Sesay	(1994-08-02) 2 August 1994 (age 27)	9	0	Persebaya Surabaya	2021 Africa Cup of Nations^PRE
DF		(1995-08-10) 10 August 1995 (age 26)	2	0	Kallon	2021 Africa Cup of Nations^PRE

MF	Rodney Strasser	(1990-03-30) 30 March 1990 (age 31)	18	1	Cattolica	2021 Africa Cup of Nations^PRE
MF	Khalifa Jabbie	(1993-01-20) 20 January 1993 (age 29)	15	2	Al-Mina'a	2021 Africa Cup of Nations^PRE
MF	George Davies	(1996-11-16) 16 November 1996 (age 25)	11	0	St. Pölten	2021 Africa Cup of Nations^PRE
MF	Augustus Kargbo	(1999-08-24) 24 August 1999 (age 22)	2	0	Crotone	2021 Africa Cup of Nations^PRE
MF	Emmanuel Samadia	(2001-04-19) 19 April 2001 (age 20)	1	0	Hapoel Umm al-Fahm	2021 Africa Cup of Nations^PRE

FW	Christian Moses	(1993-08-10) 10 August 1993 (age 28)	6	0	IFK Varnamo	2021 Africa Cup of Nations^PRE
Notes ^PRE = Preliminary squad / standby

Records[]

As of 20 January 2022^[9]

Players in bold are still active with Sierra Leone.

Most capped players[]

Rank	Name	Caps	Goals	Career
1	Umaru Bangura	55	4	2006–present
2	Ibrahim Bah	45	3	1986–1998
3	Mohamed Kallon	40	8	1995–2012
4	Kei Kamara	39	7	2008–present
5	Sheriff Suma	37	3	2006–2015
6	Medo Kamara	33	2	2008–present
7	Julius Wobay	32	4	2001–2018
8	Kwame Quee	31	3	2012–present
9	Ibrahim Kargbo	30	1	2000–2013
10	Christian Caulker	25	0	2007–2013
10	Yeami Dunia	25	0	2012–present

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–present
3	Lamine Conteh	6	20	0.3	1993–2006
4	Alhaji Kamara	5	12	0.42	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–present

Competitive record[]

FIFA World Cup[]

FIFA World Cup record									FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930	Part of United Kingdom								Part of United Kingdom
1934
1938
1950
1954
1958
1962	Not affiliated to CAF								Not affiliated to CAF
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								To be determined
Total		0/22							42	10	8	24	37	66

Africa Cup of Nations[]

Africa Cup of Nations record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Squad
1957	Part of United Kingdom
1959	Part of United Kingdom
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	Did not qualify
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	To be determined
2025	To be determined
Total	First round	3/33	8	1	3	4	4	14	−

Honours[]

Amilcar Cabral Cup :

2 Times Champion (1993, 1995)

References[]

^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
^ Courtney, Barrie (15 August 2006). "Sierra Leone – List of International Matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
^ "Sierra Leone - List of International Matches". rsssf.com. Rec. Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation. 19 November 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
^ "Sierra Leone suspends football matches as Ebola virus spreads". The Independent. 4 August 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
^ "Ebola affecting Sierra Leone team - Michael Lahoud". BBC Sport. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
^ FIFATV (14 October 2014). "The land where football is religion". Archived from the original on 22 December 2021 – via YouTube.
^ "John Keister names his final Sierra Leone Afcon squad". Sierra Leone Football Association. 30 December 2021.
^ "Sierra Leone". National Football Teams.

Sources[]

External links[]

Football Sierra Leone official site
Sierra Leone Football Association
Sierra Leone at FIFA.com
Sierra Leone at National-Football-Teams.com

[FIFA_World_Rankings-1] "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.

[2] Courtney, Barrie (15 August 2006). "Sierra Leone – List of International Matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 4 November 2010.

[World_Football_Elo_Ratings-3] Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.

[4] "Sierra Leone - List of International Matches". rsssf.com. Rec. Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation. 19 November 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2018.

[5] "Sierra Leone suspends football matches as Ebola virus spreads". The Independent. 4 August 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2018.

[6] "Ebola affecting Sierra Leone team - Michael Lahoud". BBC Sport. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2018.

[7] FIFATV (14 October 2014). "The land where football is religion". Archived from the original on 22 December 2021 – via YouTube.

[8] "John Keister names his final Sierra Leone Afcon squad". Sierra Leone Football Association. 30 December 2021.

[9] "Sierra Leone". National Football Teams.

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