Sierra Leone’s football season is set for a dramatic climax after traditional giants Mighty Blackpool and East End Lions advanced to the final of the 2026 Orange Sierra Leone FA Cup following a thrilling semifinal weekend in Freetown.
Mighty Blackpool FC sealed their place in the final on Saturday evening after overcoming ambitious newcomers Abacha City FC 4-3 in a penalty shootout at the SLFA Academy Playing Field following a tense goalless draw in regulation time.
The victory kept Blackpool’s hopes alive for another major domestic honour and underlined the club’s resilience in one of the most unpredictable FA-Cup campaigns in recent years.
Twenty-four hours later, East End Lions FC joined their long-time rivals in the grand finale after edging FC Kallon 1-0 at the Approved School Playing Field.
The decisive moment came just before halftime when forward Innocent Emmanuel Uduk struck in the 43rd minute, sending the “Killers” into celebration and crushing FC Kallon’s hopes of reaching the final.
FC Kallon’s exit added another dramatic twist to this year’s tournament since they had emerged as one of the favourites after eliminating defending champions Bo Rangers FC in the quarterfinals, a result that shocked many followers of Sierra Leonean football.
Instead, the competition will now culminate in a blockbuster clash between two of the country’s most successful and passionately supported clubs.
The final is expected to rekindle one of Sierra Leone’s fiercest football rivalries, with Mighty Blackpool nicknamed as the “Tis-Tas Boys” and East End Lions alias “The Killers,” preparing to battle for national supremacy and the right to be crowned 2026 Orange Sierra Leone FA-Cup champions.
As football enthusiasts across the country anticipate a charged atmosphere for the showdown, which promises a fresh chapter in the historic rivalry between the two Freetown-based clubs, the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has confirmed to Football Sierra Leone that an official date for the 2026 Orange Sierra Leone FA-Cup final is yet to be announced, noting that details will be communicated in due course.
