The race to the 2026 Sierra Leone Orange FA Cup reaches a decisive stage this weekend as four of the country’s top football clubs battle for places in the grand final and a coveted ticket to continental football.
Historic sides and emerging contenders, namely East End Lions, FC Kallon, Mighty Blackpool, and Abacha City, will clash in two high-stakes semifinal encounters as the competition enters its final stretch.
The first contest is against Mighty Blackpool and Abacha City on Saturday, May 16, at the SLFA Academy Field in Freetown, with a kickoff scheduled for 4:15 p.m. The second semifinal will follow on Sunday at the Approved School Playing Field, where FC Kallon will take on East End Lions at the same time.
All four clubs have navigated difficult paths to reach the last four of Sierra Leone’s premier knockout football competition.
Abacha City booked their semifinal place after overcoming SLIFA FC, Kabala City and Old Edwardians in a spirited cup run that has established them as one of the tournament’s surprise packages.
East End Lions, which stands taller as one of Sierra Leone’s most decorated football clubs, advanced by defeating Chico Meyers, Diamond Stars and Star Sports Academy, continuing their pursuit of another major domestic title.
Mighty Blackpool, another traditional powerhouse from Sierra Leone with a richer football history, secured victories over Yamabatu Stars, Marampa Stars and Freetown City to keep their cup ambitions alive. FC Kallon, meanwhile, produced one of the tournament’s standout moments by eliminating defending champions Bo Rangers FC after earlier wins against AI-Kallon and Ram Kamara FC.
Beyond a place in the final, this year’s semifinals carry enormous significance as the eventual 2026 Sierra Leone Orange FA-Cup winners will claim Sierra Leone’s sole qualification spot for the next edition of the CAF Confederation Cup, which is dubbed as Africa’s prestigious secondary club competition.
With domestic glory and continental qualification at stake, expectations are building for an intense weekend of football as Sierra Leone’s surviving contenders fight to keep their silverware dreams alive.
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