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Sierra Queen's coach Hassan Malik Mansaray optimistic ahead of Benin's second leg
by Football Sierra Leone

Sierra Queen’s coach Hassan Malik Mansaray optimistic ahead of second leg

Sierra Leone’s national women’s head coach, Hassan Malik Mansaray, remains hopeful after his team lost 2-1 to Benin in the first leg of the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) women’s qualifiers.

The match on February 20 at the Kégué Stadium gave Benin a first-leg advantage, but Mansaray believes his team can win the return leg on February 24 in Monrovia.

Coach Mansaray, in his post-match interview, has emphasized the importance of their away goal, stating, “We will try to make the most of it. It was challenging for our players on natural grass, but at home – we will aim for victory.”

Despite the loss, Mansaray sees the away goal as a key advantage. He recalled past encounters with Benin in men’s football where Sierra Leone successfully turned around losses. “We can do the same here,” he said.

As they prepare for the return leg, Sierra Leone is eager to use their home support and refine their tactics. Mansaray’s comments reflect the team’s determination to secure qualification for AFCON 2026. With an away goal already scored, they hope to overcome the deficit and keep their hopes alive.

Meanwhile, his team has safely arrived in Monrovia, Liberia, in preparation for their crucial second-leg match in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers for Morocco 2026. The second leg is scheduled for Monday, February 24, 2026, at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville, Liberia.

Read Related Benin beat Sierra Leone in first-leg WAFCON qualifiers.

Benin with first-leg advantage against Sierra Leone in WAFCON qualifiers
by Football Sierra Leone

Benin beat Sierra Leone in first-leg WAFCON qualifiers

The Sierra Queens of Sierra Leone suffered a 2-1 defeat to Benin at the Kégué Stadium on Thursday in the first leg of the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations 2026 qualifiers.

Benin’s captain Aude Gbedjissi scored a brace, with her first goal coming in the 23rd minute after receiving a solid pass from the left. She skilfully manoeuvred past the Sierra Leone goalkeeper to open the scoring.

Benin started brightly and could have scored more in the first 15 minutes, but they missed a couple of chances.

The Sierra Queens equalized in the 35th minute when Kadiatu Kamara capitalized on a corner play, striking the ball long over the Benin goalkeeper.

However, the home side quickly responded and regained their one-goal lead after being awarded a penalty in the 44th minute. The Benin captain converted the penalty for her second goal, ending the first half with a 2-1 advantage for her team.

After the recess, both teams struggled to take control of the tie with scrappy football, as there were no goals in the second forty minutes.

Sierra Queens will host their counterparts on Monday at the Liberian Capital for a place in the second round. The overall winner between Benin and Sierra Leone in this first round of matches will advance to face Nigeria’s Super Falcons in the second round.

The final phase of the competition is divided into three groups, each consisting of four teams. The top two teams from each group will directly qualify for the quarter-finals, along with the two best third-placed teams.

From this stage onward, the competition follows a knockout format leading up to the final, where the winner will be crowned.

The 2026 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations is the 16th edition of this tournament, bringing together the best women’s football teams in Africa.

Second Round

● M33 & M34: Angola – Zimbabwe vs. Malawi 

● M35 & M36: Botswana – DR Congo vs. South Africa

● M37 & M38: Tanzania – Equatorial Guinea vs. Uganda – Ethiopia

● M39 & M40: Eswatini – Namibia vs. Zambia

● M41 & M42: Burundi – Burkina Faso vs. Djibouti – Togo

● M43 & M44: South Sudan – Algeria vs. Cameroon

● M45 & M46: Rwanda – Egypt vs. Ghana

● M47 & M48: Kenya – Tunisia vs. Niger – Gambia

● M49 & M50: Benin – Sierra Leone vs. Nigeria

● M51 & M52: Guinea – Cape Verde vs. Gabon – Mali

● M53 & M54: Chad – Senegal vs. Ivory Coast

The Sierra Queens ready for WAFCON 2026 first leg qualifier against Benin
by Football Sierra Leone

Sierra Queens ready for WAFCON 2026 first leg qualifier against Benin

The Sierra Leone Women’s National Team, called the Sierra Queens, has left for Togo for their important first match against Benin. This game is part of the qualifiers for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

This match is a big chance for the team to qualify for the tournament, which will take place in Morocco.

Haja Ramatulai Kamara, a member of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), leads the group. Her guidance, along with the support of the coaching and administrative staff, will be important for a successful campaign.

On Monday, Coach Hassan Malik Mansaray announced an 18-player squad for Sierra Leone’s important qualifiers for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 against Benin.

Sierra Leone is striving to qualify for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the first time. A strong performance against Benin will bring them closer to this goal. If they advance, they will face the formidable Super Falcons of Nigeria in the second round.

Format

The final phase of the competition has three groups, each with four teams. The top two teams from each group will move on to the quarter-finals, along with the two best third-placed teams.

After this, the competition will use a knockout format until the final, where the winner will be announced.

Match Schedule:

– First Leg: Benin vs. Sierra Queens – February 20, 2025 (Togo)

– Second Leg: Sierra Queens vs. Benin – February 24, 2025 (Monrovia, Liberia)

  • Second Round Matches

● M33 & M34: Angola – Zimbabwe vs. Malawi 
● M35 & M36: Botswana – DR Congo vs. South Africa
● M37 & M38: Tanzania – Equatorial Guinea vs. Uganda – Ethiopia
● M39 & M40: Eswatini – Namibia vs. Zambia
● M41 & M42: Burundi – Burkina Faso vs. Djibouti – Togo
● M43 & M44: South Sudan – Algeria vs. Cameroon
● M45 & M46: Rwanda – Egypt vs. Ghana
● M47 & M48: Kenya – Tunisia vs. Niger – Gambia
● M49 & M50: Benin – Sierra Leone vs. Nigeria
● M51 & M52: Guinea – Cape Verde vs. Gabon – Mali
● M53 & M54: Chad – Senegal vs. Ivory Coast

On Monday, coach Hassan Malik Mansaray announced an 18-player squad for Sierra Leone’s crucial qualifiers for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 against Benin.
On Monday, coach Hassan Malik Mansaray announced an 18-player squad for Sierra Leone’s crucial qualifiers for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 against Benin.
Debutant Sierra Leone draw reigning champions Senegal in U20 AFCON
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Debutant Sierra Leone draw reigning champions Senegal in U20 AFCON

Sierra Leone will face a tough challenge in this year’s CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). A draw held on Thursday in Cairo, Egypt, placed them in Group C with Senegal, Zambia, and Kenya.

The Shooting Stars from Sierra Leone are preparing to compete against the reigning champions, Senegal, as well as Zambia and Kenya. This championship is scheduled to take place from April 26 to May 18 in Côte d’Ivoire.

Kenya will represent the CECAFA region with Tanzania, as both teams reached the qualifiers final in Dar es Salaam last October. Tanzania won that match 2-1, but both teams qualified for the tournament.

Tanzania is in Group A, where they will compete against the hosts Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Ghana, and one more team from the UNIFFAC region, which has not yet been confirmed.

The second team from the UNIFFAC Zonal Union is still to be announced because of Congo’s FIFA suspension.

Group B includes three-time champions Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, and 1997 winners Morocco.

The top two teams from each group will move on to the quarter-finals, along with the two best third-placed teams. The tournament will then proceed in a knockout format.

The four best teams will qualify for the 2025 FIFA Under-20 World Cup, which will take place in Chile from September 27 to October 19, 2025.

https://twitter.com/football_sierra/status/1890026891752652915

Sierra Leone appoint ex-striker Mohamed Kallon as head coach
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone appoint ex-striker Mohamed Kallon as head coach

Sierra Leone has appointed former Inter-Milan and Monaco striker Mohamed Kallon as the new Leone Stars head coach.

His first task will be leading the Leone Stars against Guinea-Bissau and Africa powerhouse Egypt in the ongoing 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The SLFA announced that they will officially unveil the Sierra Leone legend on a date to be determined later.

Kallon, 45, has signed a contract to replace Amidu Karim, who left after the team did not qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

This is Kallon’s first major coaching job. His first task will be to lead the team in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Guinea-Bissau and Egypt in March.

Before this, he managed his club, FC Kallon, in CAF competitions, but they were eliminated by Dreams FC from Ghana in September 2023.

Kalon’s Background

Kallon became the youngest player to debut for the Leone Stars at just 15 years old in April 1995. He played in a qualifying match for the 1996 African Cup of Nations against Congo and scored the winning goal.

At 16, Kallon played at the 1996 African Nations Cup in South Africa. He scored one of the two goals that led Sierra Leone to a 2-1 victory over Burkina Faso in their first group match.

Kallon has been an important member of the Leone Stars, participating in World Cup qualifying campaigns in 1998, 2002, 2006, and 2010. His last game with the national team was on February 9, 2011, in a friendly against Nigeria. Kallon was the team captain but resigned after the team failed to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2010 African Cup of Nations.

Sierra Leone beat CAR to progress in Women's U17 World Cup qualifiers
by Football Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone beat CAR to progress in Women’s U17 World Cup qualifiers

The Sierra Leone U17 women’s team won 2-0 against the Central African Republic in Cameroon at the Multi-Purpose Japoma Stadium. They will now play the winner of the match between Guinea and Togo in the second round of the Women’s World Qualifier.

Aminat Kamara and Maseray Turay scored the goals that helped the team move forward in their quest for a spot in the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Morocco.

Coach Fatmata Turay’s team knew they could advance with just a scoreline draw, but they aimed higher and secured a two-goal victory after playing to a goalless draw in their first match in Sierra Leone.

The 2025 African U-17 Women’s World Cup qualification is the 10th edition of this tournament, open to players born on or after January 1, 2008. The four teams that win in the third round will qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

In the first leg of the CAF World Cup qualifier, the Sierra Leone U17 Girls finished their match at the Southern Arena in a goalless draw.

Sierra Leone U17 girls set for Central African Republic qualifying decider
by Football Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone U17 girls set for Central African Republic qualifying decider

The Sierra Leone U17 girls’ team will compete against the Central African Republic in the second leg of the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup qualifiers for Morocco on Saturday, January 18, at the Multi-Purpose Japoma Stadium in Cameroon.

Coach Fatmata Turay’s squad has arrived safely and is preparing for what promises to be an exciting match, following a goalless draw in their first encounter in Sierra Leone. The team is in high spirits and ready to represent Sierra Leone with pride. They completed their first training session on Thursday in preparation for this crucial game.

The winner of this match will advance to face another formidable opponent in the second round, meeting the winner of the match between Guinea and Togo.

The 2025 African U-17 Women’s World Cup qualification represents the 10th edition of this tournament, which is open to players born on or after January 1, 2008. The four winners from the third round will qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

On Saturday, Sierra Leone U17 Girls played to a goalless draw at the Southern Arena in the first leg of the CAF World Cup qualifier
On Saturday, Sierra Leone U17 Girls played to a goalless draw at the Southern Arena in the first leg of the CAF World Cup qualifier
The 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup qualifiers for Morocco start on Saturday, January 11 as the young women from Sierra Leone will try to move to the next stage. Coach Fatmata Turay's team will play against the Central African Republic in the first round of the U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers. The match will take place at Southern Arena in Bo City. This double-header against the Central African Republic is an important first step for both teams on their way to the World Cup. The team that wins will go to the second round and face the winner of the match between Guinea and Togo. Head Coach Fatmata Turay has shared her squad for the double-header against the Central African Republic. The 2025 African U-17 Women’s World Cup qualification is the 10th edition of this tournament. Players born on or after January 1, 2008, can join in. The four winners from the third round will qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.
by Football Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone U-17 Women’s gear up for Central African Republic

The Sierra Leone U17 girls will begin their 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup qualifiers for Morocco on Saturday, January 11, facing the Central African Republic.

Coach Fatmata Turay’s team is set to face the Central African Republic in the first round of the U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers. The match will be held at Southern Arena in Bo City. The second leg will take place at the Multi-Purpose Japoma Stadium in Cameroon next Saturday.

This double-header against the Central African Republic is an important first step for both teams on their way to the World Cup. The team that wins will go to the second round and face the winner of the match between Guinea and Togo.

Head Coach Fatmata Turay has shared her squad for the double-header against the Central African Republic.

The 2025 African U-17 Women’s World Cup qualification is the 10th edition of this tournament. Players born on or after January 1, 2008, can join in.

The four winners from the third round will qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Sierra Leone U17 Women's Squad confirmation
Sierra Leone U17 Women's Squad confirmation
Sierra Leone head coach Amidu Karim faces contract saga
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone head coach Amidu Karim faces contract saga

The National Sports Authority (NSA), in consultation with the Ministry of Sports, has communicated that they have formally “terminated” the contract of Leone Stars head coach Amidu Karim and his backroom staff. (Photo Credit Kemokai Sportgraphy) 

This pronouncement was communicated through an official letter to the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA). Additionally, the NSA has requested that the SLFA appoint a new coaching staff, according to the country’s football body, SLFA.

It remains unclear – what will happen if the SLFA insists on retaining Karim as head coach. Meanwhile, this medium has approached a senior executive official of the NSA for comment, but there has been no response at the time of writing.

Karim was appointed by the SLFA in a deal from October 3, 2023, to October 15, 2025, covering both the ongoing qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. But, the paymasters are the NSA, the body set up by government legislation to regulate and develop sport in Sierra Leone.

The National Sports Authority (NSA), which has been handling the salaries of the national team coaches through the government Finance Ministry, has cited Leone Stars’ poor performances as a primary reason for their termination.

It is common in most African countries for the government to issue the pay cheque to the head coach. But with World Cup qualifiers ahead, Sierra Leone has just two months to resolve the matter.

During the AFON 2025 qualifiers, the Leone Stars conceded ten goals while only managing to score five, marking yet another unsuccessful attempt to qualify for this year’s premier continental football event in Morocco.

Amidu Karim and his team were brought on board in October 2023 to guide the Leone Stars through the African Cup of Nations 2025 qualifiers and the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. However, the West African team struggled to secure the vital victories needed for advancement.

Karim, who had previously served as an assistant coach for six years before taking on the head coaching role, had a mixed record in his time in charge. He notably led the team to a memorable victory against the reigning African champions, Ivory Coast, with a late goal from Amadou Bakayoko in the Liberian capital.

However, the team was unable to secure wins against Chad, resulting in consecutive draws that hindered their chances of qualifying for Morocco 2025.

At present, Sierra Leone is in fourth place in Group A of the World Cup 2026 campaign, with five points from one win, one loss, and two draws. Their next crucial matches are set against Guinea-Bissau and Egypt in March 2025.

SLIFA's Head Coach Jumu Bockarie Reflects on Debut Victory
by Football Sierra Leone

SLIFA’s Head Coach Jumu Bockarie Reflects on Debut Victory

Jumu Bockarie, head coach of Sierra Leone Premier League side SLIFA FC, spoke to the club’s media following his debut victory in the league, a 1-0 win at the approved school pitch in Freetown last Sunday.

A fantastic goal from Ernest George was the reason for the victory. “I want to express my gratitude to God and my family for their endless love and support. I would also like to thank SLIFA MANAGEMENT for allowing me to continue as head coach for the 2024/2025 season,” stated Bockarie, a UEFA C licensed coach.

“The focus of the staff was on welcoming our players, the style of play, and improving our passing, which played a significant role in our performance. The opponent posed a real challenge in the first ten minutes, but our players adapted well and demonstrated high-quality skills.

He also commented on the team’s performance: “We played very well and achieved a clean sweep across all fronts. Our victory was thanks to a fantastic shot that hit the crossbar, followed quickly by George, who sealed the score.

“It’s a fantastic achievement in my debut season; however, I’m not satisfied yet, and I remain focused on the next game. It’s essential to manage players effectively and use the right tactics.

I am grateful for SLIFA’s support on my journey to becoming a coach, and I am committed to helping our young players grow and entertain our fans,” he added.