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Kallon reapplies for Leone Stars job amid global race for top coaching role
by Alusine Rehme Wilson

Mohamed Kallon seeks a return as Sierra Leone national head coach

Former Leone Stars head coach Mohamed Kallon has officially confirmed that he has reapplied for the position of head coach of Sierra Leone’s senior national men’s football team following the close of applications announced by the Sierra Leone Football Association.

His confirmation comes a few hours after the SLFA disclosed on Wednesday, May 12, 2026, that it received a total of 79 applications for the coveted Leone Stars coaching position, including submissions from three local coaches and 76 international applicants.

Kallon, a former Sierra Leonean International and Leone Stars skipper, who was previously relieved of his duties as Leone Stars head coach, said his decision to reapply was guided by professionalism and adherence to established procedures.

“The Sierra Leone Football Association received my application through the General Secretary and official email for the senior national men’s team head coach position,” Kallon stated.

He described the public advertisement of the vacancy as a normal administrative process, stressing that his application was part of complying with professional coaching standards.

“The advertisement of the Head Coach vacancy for the Senior National men’s team is an administrative procedure. For the record, as a licensed coach, it’s a professional standard and compliance to submit my application and credentials through the official process. This is about following procedures,” he added.

Despite his previous dismissal on April 2, 2026, and the uncertainty surrounding the selection process, the former Leone Stars striker reaffirmed his commitment to serving Sierra Leone football. “Fingers crossed. Put me in your prayers. Despite all the ramifications and challenges, I will always put Mama Salone first,” Kallon said.

Meanwhile, the announcement has already generated widespread debate among football fans and stakeholders, with many closely watching whether the former national team coach will be handed a second spell in charge as Sierra Leone seeks to rebuild and strengthen its national football ambitions.

Ascentonians FC, Malema Queens Relegated From Sierra Leone Women’s Top Flight
by Alusine Rehme Wilson

Ascentonians FC, Malema Queens relegated from Sierra Leone Women’s top flight

As the league season wrapped up over the weekend, two Sierra Leone women’s football clubs, Ascentonians Football Club and Malema Queens Football Club, have been relegated from the 2025/26 Marampa Mines Women’s Premier League following their disappointing campaigns that saw both sides finish at the bottom of the standings.

The relegations confirmed on Monday, May 11, 2026, mark a bitter end to the season for the two clubs, whose struggles on both ends of the pitch ultimately proved costly in Sierra Leone’s top-tier women’s football competition.

Ascentonians endured a difficult promotion to elite football, collecting just nine points from 22 matches, the lowest tally among the league’s 12 clubs.

The Freetown-based side, which catapulted into the league two years ago, managed only two victories and three draws while suffering 17 defeats during the campaign, which they blamed on their defensive vulnerabilities after they were heavily exposed, with the club conceding 70 goals, the second-highest total in the league.

Their fellow strugglers, Malema Queens from the Eastern region, also failed to escape the drop after finishing with 15 points, after the side recorded four wins, three draws and 15 losses, while conceding a league-high 73 goals. Malema Queens’ total left them below the safety zone and a staggering 51 points behind unbeaten champions Mogbwemo Queens Football Club.

On the other hand, Mogbwemo Queens’ latest title triumph further strengthens the club’s growing dominance in Sierra Leone women’s football. However, the achievement places the two-time champions and Bonthe based club’s ahead of regional rivals Ram Kamara Football Club of Bo, last season’s league title holders.

While Ascentonians and Malema Queens now turn their focus toward rebuilding and securing an immediate return to the top flight through the Women’s First Division, Mogbwemo Queens are intensifying preparations for the upcoming WAFU A-Zone Clubs Competition.

Meanwhile, the reigning champions are set to make their second appearance in the WAFU A-ZONE regional tournament after debuting in 2024, with club officials describing the upcoming campaign as an opportunity to reaffirm Sierra Leone’s growing presence in women’s football across West Africa.

Sierra Leone to learn AFCON 2027 qualifying opponents this month
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone to learn AFCON 2027 qualifying opponents this month

CAF has announced when all member associations will learn who they will play in the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The draw date for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers is set for Tuesday, 19 May.

Still searching for a head coach, Sierra Leone missed out on the last African showpiece and will find out the names of the three teams they will face in the qualifiers during the draw.

A total of 48 teams will be placed in 12 groups of four. The top two teams from each group will qualify for AFCON 2027.

This edition of AFCON will be hosted by three countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda and the qualifiers will begin in September 2026 and end in March 2027.

CAF also mentioned that the FIFA Council recently approved these dates in Vancouver, Canada. They will reveal the host country for the opening match and the final soon.

Sierra Leone mourns Victoria Conteh, the Coach who broke football’s toughest barrier
by Alusine Rehme Wilson

Sierra Leone mourns Victoria Conteh, the Coach who broke football’s toughest barrier

Sierra Leone’s football community is mourning the death of trailblazing coach Victoria Conteh, a historic figure who shattered gender barriers by becoming the first woman to coach an elite men’s top-tier club in the country.

Her passing, which was announced by the local football federation, SLFA, on Monday, May 4, 2026, has triggered an outpouring of tributes from across the sporting world. Respected former captain of the Sierra Leone Senior National Women’s coach, (Sierra Queens), Musu Bangura, is leading the park of the poll of former players and other members of the football family in Sierra Leone.

In her solemn tribute shared on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, the former Sierra Queens skipper described the late coach Conteh as “a leader, a motivator, and a true soldier of the game.” “Today, my heart carries a weight that words can scarcely hold,” Bangura said, reflecting on years of shared commitment to football.

“She didn’t just coach players, she built lives, shaped character, and gave everything to the game.” Widely known as “Coach DE COX,” Conteh carved a unique path in Sierra Leonean football.

She rose through the women’s game to lead the national women’s team, the Sierra Queens, where she was instrumental in developing talent and promoting the growth of women’s football in a system long constrained by limited resources.

Her most defining achievement came when she took charge of East End Tigers in 2019, one of the country’s top-flight men’s clubs, and made history as the first woman in Sierra Leone, and among a rare few globally, to manage at that level in the men’s game, challenging deeply rooted norms and opening doors for women in football leadership.

Throughout her bitter-sweet career, the late Conteh, who had been sick for a while before her passing, endured her recent sudden amputation to stay alive, yet didn’t abandon football.

Her continued mentorship of both players and coaches nourished her illustrious past coaching career, earning her respect not only for breaking barriers but for her tactical discipline, resilience, and commanding presence on the touchline. Players and colleagues alike credit her with instilling professionalism, belief, and a winning mentality across both women’s and men’s teams.

The former Sierra Leone Queens Captain Bangura, who is now the President of the Sierra Leone Female Veterans Football Association, said the news of Conteh’s death felt “like a final whistle blown too soon,” underscoring the shock and emotional toll of the loss.

Meanwhile, Tributes continue to pour in nationwide, with many hailing the late Conteh as a symbol of courage and progress in African football. Her career is widely seen as a turning point in the fight for gender inclusion in sport, particularly in West Africa.

As Sierra Leone reflects on her life and legacy, the late coach Conteh is remembered not only for her historic achievements but for the countless players she mentored and inspired.

Despite gone, the late coach’s impact endures in every young girl who dares to coach, in every barrier challenged, and in every game played with passion and purpose.

Although dead, the fallen coach Victoria Conteh’s legacy lives on as unyielding, transformative, and unforgettable in Sierra Leone football history, Africa and the world over.

Violence halts Sierra Leone FA-Cup clash, triggers security concerns
by Alusine Rehme Wilson

Violence halts Sierra Leone FA Cup clash, raising security concerns

Last Sunday evening Orange Sierra Leone FA Cup quarter-final between East End Lions and Star Sports Academy was eventually abandoned after crowd violence erupted, prompting the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) to launch an investigation and vow firm disciplinary action.

The high-stakes match, played at the SLFA Academy Field in Kingtom, Freetown, was halted in the 80th minute amid what officials described as “disturbing scenes” that threatened player safety and undermined the integrity of the game.

In a statement issued on Monday, May 4, the SLFA condemned the violence as “indiscipline and lawlessness,” stressing that football must be governed by respect, rules, and sportsmanship.

The local football federation further warned that such incidents endanger lives and damage the sport’s reputation.

While no serious injuries or arrests have been reported, authorities have yet to determine whether the match will be replayed or settled administratively.

However, the recent incident has intensified scrutiny of matchday security and fan conduct in Sierra Leone’s domestic competitions, with sports journalists and other Football stakeholders urging stricter enforcement measures to curb what they describe as “a growing pattern of violence across SLFA-sanctioned fixtures, including top-tier men’s and women’s national leagues.”

https://twitter.com/football_sierra/status/2051552877286511070