Author: Alusine Rehme Wilson

by Alusine Rehme Wilson

Sierra Leone U20 Coach Mohamed Lamin Names Squad Ahead of Opener

Sierra Leone’s Head Coach, Mohamed Lamin Kamara, has unveiled a 25-man squad for this year’s WAFU A’ U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers in Mali, where his side will begin their Group B campaign against Guinea-Bissau on Friday, October 16.

Coach Kamara’s side gets ready for a demanding group schedule that will see the “Shooting Stars” of Sierra Leone face their other Group B opponents, Mauritania and Senegal, as they pursue progress in the regional competition.

According to the WAFU A’ Zone organising committee, the Shooting Stars will meet Guinea-Bissau at the Mamadou Konate Stadium at 7:00 PM local time on Friday before taking on Mauritania at 4:00 pm on Monday, October, and Senegal on Thursday, October 22, at 4:00 PM local time at the same venue.

Coach Mohamed Lamin Kamara’s 25-man squad features three goalkeepers, namely: Amara Kamara, Steven Nyakeh Momoh and Abubakar Alhaji Kamara, alongside eight defenders, eight midfielders and six forwards.

The squad defenders are: Dauda Kamara, Mohamed Sahid, Abubakarr Nyakeh Massaquoi, Osman Tolo Sesay, Ivan Lawrence Jalloh, Mohamed Kallon, Santigie Abdulai Sesay and Ibrahim Sorie Z.G. Dumbuya, while the midfield group comprises: Alhaji Lerma Jalloh, Sampha Kamara, Mohamed Saidu Bah, Alhaji Abubakarr Jalloh, Mohamed Chernor Jalloh, Ben Benoit Henriette Loua, Nelson Fatorma Mbayo and Malik Ahmed Berray.

Up front, for the Shooting Stars of Sierra Leone, Head coach Mohamed Lamin Kamara has called on Abu Bakarr Sidibay, Randy Mike George, Papay Gumba Mansaray, Alpha Bedor Conteh, Abdulai Bangura and Old Edwardians goal-machine James Jusu Kanja to provide the attacking threat.

The three Group-B matches will test Sierra Leone’s depth, discipline and ability to compete against regional opposition, as the opening encounter with Guinea-Bissau will offer the Shooting Stars their first opportunity to establish momentum, while the subsequent meetings with Mauritania and Senegal could prove decisive in determining their chances of advancing.

Meanwhile, the Shooting Stars head coach Kamara and his players have avowed to translate their over two weeks of training and general preparations for the 2026 WAFU A’ Zone U20 qualifiers into strong performances to keep their ambitions alive in the race for a place at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations for the second consecutive time after their outstanding show in their debut AFCON appearance last year.

by Alusine Rehme Wilson

FC Kallon, Debutants Bamoi Queens Shine in 21-Goal WPL Opener

The 2026/27 Marampa Mines Women’s Premier League opened with an attacking flourish on October 10 and 11, as FC Kallon Female and debutants Bamoi Queens FC recorded emphatic victories to headline an opening weekend that produced 21 goals across six venues nationwide.

FC Kallon Female registered the weekend’s biggest win, thrashing Vem Buck FC 5-0 on Saturday, October 10, with Juliet Brima scoring a hat-trick and Adama Kargbo adding a brace.

On the other hand debutants Bamoi Queens FC also announced their arrival in the top flight in style, defeating Rising Queens FC 4-0 at the Port Loko Field to secure three points in their first outing of the campaign.

Sunday’s fixtures delivered more competitive encounters, with Kahunla Queens FC and Ram Kamara FC playing out a 1-1 draw, Koya Queens FC and Patricia Umu Strikers FC of Kambia District shared four goals in a 2-2 stalemate in Port Loko, while Jonathan’s Child Care (JCC) FC and Sierra Leone Police FC also settled for a 2-2 draw at the Bo Coronation Field.

At Wusum Stadium in Makeni, defending champions Mogbwemo Queens FC began their title defense with a 2-0 away victory over Mena Queens FC on Sunday, completing the opening round of this season’s league fixtures.

The results leave FC Kallon Female and Bamoi Queens FC in the top two positions, with Mogbwemo Queens FC third, as all three sides collected three points and are separated by goal difference.

At the other end of the standings, Vem Buck FC and Rising Queens FC occupy the bottom positions following their heavy defeats.

The opening round of this season’s race has set the tone for another competitive season in the Sierra Leone women’s elite league, which features 12 teams competing for national honours while providing a platform for the development and visibility of women’s football across the country.

As the second round of matches gain momentum, attention will turn to whether FC Kallon Female and Bamoi Queens FC can maintain their winning momentum and whether the defending champions can build on their opening-day success.

Meanwhile, the Marampa Mines Women’s Premier League continues next weekend, with all six matches scheduled to kick off at 10:45 a.m.

Week Two – (2) Fixtures: Saturday, October 17, 2026

• Patricia Umu Strikers FC Versus Mena Queens FC (Port Loko)

• Ram Kamara FC Versus Koya Queens FC (Bo Coronation Field)
• Vem Buck FC Versus Mogbwemo Queens FC ( Approved School Field, Freetown) Sunday, October 18, 2026
• Rising Queens FC Versus Kahunla Rangers (Wusum Stadium, Makeni)
• FC Kallon Female Versus Jonathan’s Child Care (JCC) FC (Mohamed Kallon Playing Field, Angola, Freetown)
• Sierra Leone Police FC Versus Bamoi Queens FC (SLFA Academy, Freetown)

by Alusine Rehme Wilson

Sierra Leone Football Roars Back as Unity Cup Finals Ignite Leagues Kick-Off

Sierra Leone’s 2026/27 domestic football season will officially begin on October 10, following the completion of the Men’s and Women’s Unity Cup finals at Southern Arena in Bo.

Ram Kamara FC of Bo won the 2026 Women’s Unity Cup on Saturday, October 3, defeating reigning Marampa Mines Women’s Premier League champions Mogbwemo Queens 2-1.

The following day, last season’s Leone Rock Men’s Premier League champions, Bo Rangers, defeated the 2026 Orange Sierra Leone FA-Cup holders East End Lions 2-1 to claim the Men’s Unity Cup at the Southern Arena on Sunday night.

 

Both Unity Cups crunch matches served as the opening competitive fixtures of the new football season in Sierra Leone, with the two top-flight leagues now set to begin simultaneously.

The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) included the Unity Cups in its 2026/27 domestic football calendar, scheduling the finals for October 3 and 4 ahead of the October 10 league kick-off.

The local football federation has since confirmed that both the Marampa Mines Women’s Premier League and Leone Rock Men’s Premier League will commence their 2026/27 campaigns on the same day.

Largely, the synchronised start brings the country’s men’s and women’s top-flight competitions into the same footballing window and provides a more coordinated calendar for clubs, players, officials, sponsors and supporters.

In another development, the SLFA has also announced the disbursement of the sums of US$100,000 equivalent to NLe 2,304,500 each to the Men’s and Women’s Premier League Boards to support teams and leagues preparations for the new season.

While the Unity Cup results have provided early storylines ahead of the league campaign, Mogbwemo Queens will begin their title defence after losing to Ram Kamara FC, while Bo Rangers enter their title defence after overcoming East End Lions in the men’s curtain-raiser.

Nonetheless, the Unity Cup results will not determine the league champions, with both competitions now moving into their full-season campaigns, as both the Marampa Mines Women’s Premier League and Leone Rock Men’s Premier League kick off on Saturday, October 10, beginning the race for Sierra Leone’s top domestic honours.

Coach Kamara believes Sierra Leone earn respect despite quarter-final exit
by Alusine Rehme Wilson

Sierra Leone’s U20 coach Kamara: ‘We’re No Strangers Anymore’

Sierra Leone U-20 head coach Mohamed Lamin Kamara says the Shooting Stars will approach the 2026 WAFU A U-20 Championship in Mali with greater belief and experience as they target another Africa U-20 Cup of Nations qualification.

The Shooting Stars have been drawn in a demanding Group B alongside defending champions Senegal, Mauritania and Guinea-Bissau, with the tournament serving as the qualifying route to the 2027 U-20 AFCON.

Kamara’s side enters the competition after a breakthrough 2025 campaign that saw Sierra Leone win the WAFU A U-20 Championship in Liberia before making their continental debut in Egypt. The Shooting Stars reached the quarter-finals of the last U-20 AFCON, where they suffered a narrow 1-0 extra-time defeat to Morocco.

According to the Shooting Stars coach, last AFCON experience has changed the team’s outlook ahead of their return to the regional stage. “We’re no strangers anymore.

The experiences we acquired from the 2025 AFCON campaign could prove crucial in our quest to go through another highly competitive WAFU tournament,” Kamara said. The skilful, disciplined, and results-oriented Kamara knows the challenge will be significant, particularly with Senegal in the same group.

Despite Senegal as the reigning WAFU A’ champions defeated Sierra Leone in the previous final and remain one of the region’s leading youth sides, coach Kamara believes his players are better prepared for the challenge and determined to secure another continental appearance.

“We’ll be journeying to Mali with fresh experiences, determination and the belief that our breakthrough in Egypt can be the foundation for something greater,” he said. 

Meanwhile, the Shooting Stars will be seeking to turn their historic Egyptian breakthrough into sustained progress, beginning with a difficult group campaign in Mali as they begin their hunt for a spot in next year’s U-20 AFCON final to mark a historic back-to-back appearance at the prestigious youth tournament.

by Alusine Rehme Wilson

Sierra Leone Stars’ AFCON Hopes Suffer Second Straight Defeat

The Leone Stars of Sierra Leone on Monday, September 28, 2026, suffered another setback in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign after losing 1–0 to Equatorial Guinea in their second Group E match.

The defeat leaves Sierra Leone without a point from their opening two matches, following their dramatic 3–2 loss to Zimbabwe in the group opener.

On Thursday, September 24, 2026, the Leone Stars had made a promising start against Zimbabwe, racing into a two-goal lead through Alie Conteh and Sallieu Tarawallie before conceding three second-half goals to surrender the advantage.

Against Equatorial Guinea, however, Sierra Leone were unable to find the attacking spark needed to rescue their campaign, with the hosts securing a narrow 1-0 victory.

The result puts additional pressure on the new Sierra Leone coach, Didier Gomes Da Rosa, who’s looking forward to reviving the Leone Stars’ qualification hopes and ending a four-year absence from the AFCON finals.

Sierra Leone’s latest setback also continues a difficult recent run against Equatorial Guinea, who have proved a challenging opponent in previous competitive meetings.

However, with two defeats from two matches, the Leone Stars now face a difficult road ahead in Group E and will need a strong response in their remaining fixtures to stay in contention for a place at the 2027 tournament.