Sierra Leone national football team

Sierra Leone
Nickname	Leone Stars
Association	Sierra Leone Football 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; Kei Kamara (8)
Home stadium	Freetown National Stadium
FIFA code	SLE
FIFA ranking
Current	119 1 (1 April 2026)
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); Syria 6–0 Sierra Leone ; (Syria; 5 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.^[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

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

2025

20 March 2026 World Cup qualification	Sierra Leone	3–1	Guinea-Bissau	Paynesville, Liberia
16:00 UTC+0	Bundu 19' Mu. Kamara 61' I. Turay 90+6'	Report	Monteiro 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		Report		Stadium: Cairo International Stadium

4 September 2026 World Cup qualification	Guinea-Bissau	1–1	Sierra Leone	Bissau, Guinea Bissau
	Baldé 74'	Report	Kamara 45+1'	Stadium: Estádio 24 de Setembro

9 September 2026 World Cup qualification	Sierra Leone	2–0	Ethiopia	Paynesville, Liberia
	Kamara 37' Koroma 90+6'			Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex Referee: Yannick Malala (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

8 October 2026 World Cup qualification	Sierra Leone	0–1	Burkina Faso	Paynesville, Liberia
			Zougrana 42'	Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex Referee: Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo (DR Congo)

12 October 2026 World Cup qualification	Djibouti	1–2	Sierra Leone	Casablanca, Morocco
	Farah 29'		Bah 45+2' Tarawallie 72'	Stadium: Larbi Zaouli Stadium Referee: Thulani Sibandze (Eswatini)

2026

27 March 2026 FIFA Series	Oman	Cancelled	Sierra Leone	Baku, Azerbaijan
15:00 UTC+4				Stadium: Dalga Arena
Note: Match cancelled due to Oman withdrawing following the 2026 Iran war.

30 March 2026 FIFA Series	Azerbaijan	1–1 (9–8 p)	Sierra Leone	Sumgait, Azerbaijan
19:00 UTC+4	R. Mammadov 72'	Report	D. Kanu 28'	Stadium: Sumgayit City Stadium Referee: Asker Nadjafaliev (Uzbekistan)
	Penalties
	T. Bayramov K. Alıyev Isgandarli A. Guseynov Sadykhov R. Akhmedzade Khaybulayev Kryvotsyuk R. Mammadov B. Guseynov		A. Koroma Kaikai Gandi Kamara Quee Bah Kallon Jarjue Kabia N. Jalloh Turay

Coaching history

Roger Palmgren, here in a white shirt, became the manager of Sierra Leone in 1994

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 (2023–2025)
Mohamed Kallon (2025-2026)

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2026 FIFA Series matches against Oman and Azerbaijan on 27 and 30 March 2026; respectively in Azerbaijan.^[8]

Caps and goals are correct as of 30 March 2026, after the match against Azerbaijan.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Alhaji Sesay	(1998-10-09) 9 October 1998	6	0	Bhantal
12	1GK	Mamadou Jalloh	(2006-11-29) 29 November 2006	1	0	VPS
23	1GK	Francis Koroma	(2000-05-15) 15 May 2000	4	0	Wilberforce Strikers

5	2DF	Alpha Turay	(2005-05-26) 26 May 2005	10	0	El Gouna
12	2DF	Nathaniel Jalloh	(2005-09-07) 7 September 2005	10	0	Kallon
13	2DF	Abdoulie Jarjue Kabia	(2001-01-27) 27 January 2001	9	0	Samgurali Tskaltubo
19	2DF	Emmanuel Samadia	(2001-04-19) 19 April 2001	28	0	Hartford Athletic
21	2DF	Juma Bah	(2006-04-11) 11 April 2006	7	1	Nice
	2DF	Citta Bah	(2006-04-27) 27 April 2006	0	0	Midtjylland

2	3MF	Santigie Fornah	(2007-02-01) 1 February 2007	0	0	SLIFA
4	3MF	Alpha Kabia	(2005-11-22) 22 November 2005	1	0	Minnesota United
7	3MF	Kwame Quee	(1996-09-07) 7 September 1996	36	3	Ungmennafélagið Víkingur
22	3MF	Kamil Conteh	(2002-12-26) 26 December 2002	12	0	Lincoln City
	3MF	Saidu Fofanah	(1997-09-14) 14 September 1997	13	1	Hapoel Ra'anana
	3MF	John Bilili Sesay	(2007-08-01) 1 August 2007	4	0	Bray Wanderers
	3MF	Hindolo Mustapha	(2006-07-29) 29 July 2006	3	1	West Bromwich Albion

8	4FW	Alhassan Koroma	(2000-06-09) 9 June 2000	25	3	Baniyas
9	4FW	Amadou Bakayoko	(1996-01-01) 1 January 1996	16	4	Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo
11	4FW	Sullay Kaikai	(1995-08-26) 26 August 1995	21	1	Cambridge United
14	4FW	Idris Kanu	(1999-12-05) 5 December 1999	3	0	Barnet
15	4FW	Daniel Kanu	(2004-11-14) 14 November 2004	6	1	Walsall
16	4FW	Yayah Kallon	(2001-06-30) 30 June 2001	1	0	Casertana
17	4FW	Samuel Gandi	(2006-10-19) 19 October 2006	3	0	Politehnica UTM Chișinău
18	4FW	Sallieu Tarawallie	(1995-01-03) 3 January 1995	4	1	Kallon
24	4FW	Jay Tee Kamara	(2002-05-10) 10 May 2002	1	0	Portland Hearts of Pine
	4FW	Mustapha Bundu	(1997-02-27) 27 February 1997	23	4	Hannover 96

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	1	0	East End Lions	v. Djibouti, 12 October 2025
GK	Dauda Bangura	(2006-10-16) 16 October 2006	0	0	East End Lions	v. Egypt, 25 March 2025

DF	Mohamed Kamara	(2005-11-28) 28 November 2005	0	0	Bhantal	v. Djibouti, 12 October 2025
DF	Osman Kakay	(1997-08-25) 25 August 1997	27	0	Košice	v. Ethiopia, 9 September 2025
DF	Mohamed Baimba Sesay	(2006-11-28) 28 November 2006	0	0	Kallon	v. Ethiopia, 9 September 2025
DF	Edward Bello Yillah	(2006-11-17) 17 November 2006	0	0	Mighty Blackpool	v. Egypt, 25 March 2025
DF	David Janneh	(1993-06-26) 26 June 1993	0	0	Kallon	v. Egypt, 25 March 2025

MF	Abu Dumbuya	(1999-01-29) 29 January 1999	23	1	Żabbar St. Patrick	v. Djibouti, 12 October 2025
MF	Mohamed Kabia	(2003-06-23) 23 June 2003	4	0	Borac Čačak	v. Djibouti, 12 October 2025
MF	Mohamed Billoh Kabba	(2004-11-26) 26 November 2004	2	0	Bo Rangers	v. Djibouti, 12 October 2025
MF	Alusine Dumbuya	(2005-12-17) 17 December 2005	0	0	East End Lions	v. Ethiopia, 9 September 2025
MF	Tyrese Fornah	(1999-09-11) 11 September 1999	9	0	Northampton Town	v. Ethiopia, 9 September 2025
MF	Alhaji Jalloh	(2005-01-01) 1 January 2005	0	0	Kamboi Eagles	v. Ethiopia, 9 September 2025
MF	Ibrahim Turay	(1999-05-05) 5 May 1999	10	1	Bo Rangers	v. Egypt, 25 March 2025
MF	Hassan Milla Koroma	(2000-11-07) 7 November 2000	2	1	Kallon	v. Egypt, 25 March 2025

FW	Kei Kamara	(1984-09-01) 1 September 1984	44	8	Cincinnati	v. Djibouti, 12 October 2025
FW	Augustus Kargbo	(1999-08-24) 24 August 1999	24	5	Blackburn Rovers	v. Djibouti, 12 October 2025
FW	Mohamed Buya Turay	(1995-01-10) 10 January 1995	20	3	Zhetysu	v. Djibouti, 12 October 2025
FW	Alie Conteh	(2002-10-29) 29 October 2002	11	2	Strømsgodset	v. Djibouti, 12 October 2025
FW	Momoh Dumbuya	(2004-02-14) 14 February 2004	2	1	Kallon	v. Djibouti, 12 October 2025
FW	Mohamed Bangura	(2004-12-06) 6 December 2004	2	0	Bhantal	v. Djibouti, 12 October 2025
FW	Momoh Kamara	(2005-05-06) 6 May 2005	4	1	Minnesota United	v. Ethiopia, 9 September 2025
FW	Musa Noah Kamara	(1999-08-06) 6 August 1999	16	4	Ports Authority	v. Ethiopia, 9 September 2025
FW	James Kaiyamba	(2006-11-03) 3 November 2006	0	0	Star Sport	v. Egypt, 25 March 2025
Notes ^INJ Withdrew due to injury. ^PRE Preliminary squad / standby ^RET Had announced retirement from international association football. ^SUS Is serving a suspension. ^PRI Absent due to private circumstances. ^WD Withdrawn.

Records

As of 12 October 2025^[9]

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
2	Kei Kamara	45	8	2008–present
4	Mohamed Kallon	41	8	1995–2012
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 goalscorers

Kei Kamara is Sierra Leone's joint-top scorer with 8 goals.

Rank	Name	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Mohamed Kallon	8	41	0.2	1995–2012
1	Kei Kamara	8	45	0.18	2008–present
3	Lamine Conteh	6	20	0.3	1993–2006
4	Alhaji Kamara	5	19	0.26	2012–present
4	Augustus Kargbo	5	24	0.21	2021–present
6	John Dumbuya	4	4	1	1984–1987
	Teteh Bangura	4	12	0.33	2011–2014
	Amadou Bakayoko	4	16	0.25	2022–present
	Alhassan Kamara	4	16	0.25	2012–2018
	Musa Noah Kamara	4	16	0.25	2018–present
	Abu Kanu	4	16	0.25	1994–2003
	Mustapha Bangura	4	17	0.24	2005–2016
	Mustapha Bundu	4	23	0.17	2019–present
	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								7	2	1	4	4	8
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									10	4	3	3	12	10
2030	To be determined								To be determined
2034	To be determined								To be determined
Total		0/16							57	16	12	29	52	82

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	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	Did not qualify
2025	Did not qualify
2027	To be determined
2029	To be determined
Total	0 titles	3/35	8	1	3	4	4	14	—

Coaching staff

Head coach	Amidu Karim
Assistant coach	Alusine Sesay
Assistant coach	Amara Rahman Bangura
Sport therapist	Joris De Vos
Head of medical	Osman Fofanah
Team manager	Abdulai Kargbo

Honours

Regional

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

References

^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". 1 April 2026. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
^ 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. 19 January 2026. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
^ "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.
^ "Head Coach Mohamed Kallon has named his squad for the FIFA Series 2026 (March Friendlies)". Facebook. Sierra Leone Football Association. 20 March 2026. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
^ "Sierra Leone". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2021.

Sources

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

Football Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone Football Association
Sierra Leone at CAF
Sierra Leone at FIFA
Sierra Leone at National-Football-Teams.com

[FIFA_World_Rankings-1] "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". 1 April 2026. Retrieved 1 April 2026.

[2] 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.

[World_Football_Elo_Ratings-3] Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 19 January 2026. Retrieved 19 January 2026.

[4] "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.

[5] "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.

[6] "Ebola affecting Sierra Leone team – Michael Lahoud". BBC Sport. 14 October 2014. Archived from the original on 18 December 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.

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

[8] "Head Coach Mohamed Kallon has named his squad for the FIFA Series 2026 (March Friendlies)". Facebook. Sierra Leone Football Association. 20 March 2026. Retrieved 22 March 2026.

[9] "Sierra Leone". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2021.

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National football teams of Africa (CAF)
North Africa (UNAF)	Algeria Egypt Libya Mauritania Morocco Tunisia
West Africa (WAFU)	Benin Burkina Faso Cape Verde Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Ivory Coast Liberia Mali Niger Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone Togo
East Africa (CECAFA)	Burundi Djibouti Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya Rwanda Somalia South Sudan Sudan Tanzania Uganda Zanzibar¹
Central Africa (UNIFFAC)	Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Congo DR Congo Equatorial Guinea Gabon São Tomé and Príncipe
Southern Africa (COSAFA)	Angola Botswana Comoros Eswatini Lesotho Madagascar Malawi Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Seychelles South Africa Zambia Zimbabwe
Non-regional Members	Réunion¹
¹ Regional team, an associate member of CAF but not a member of FIFA Football in Africa portal

National sports teams of Sierra Leone
Basketball Cricket M MU-19 W Football M MU-17 W WU-20
Olympics Paralympics Commonwealth Games