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East End Lions to face tricky North Africa contest against US Monastir
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

East End Lions set for tricky North Africa contest against US Monastir

East End Lions, one of Sierra Leone's most celebrated football clubs, have headed north to take on Tunisian side US Monastir in the first leg of their CAF Champions League matchup on Sunday, September 21st.

The return fixture is set for September 28th at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium. Both matches will take place in Tunisia. This is an advantage for the Tunisian team, which finished second in last season’s Pro League 1.

Nonetheless, Head Coach Mohamed Lamin Kamara has expressed his satisfaction with his team’s preparation before they departed for Tunisia.

“Preparation has been ongoing seriously in Port Loko, where the team is camped. We are focused on team organisation and integration, as some of the players are new to the team. We are going to give our best to make our presence felt, and we are looking forward to breaking records.

“The Killers’ delegation has left its training camp in Port Loko this morning, en route to Guinea. The delegation consisted of players and officials.

While in Guinea, the team will depart at the Guinea International airport this evening (Thursday) for Tunisia, where they will continue their preparations ahead of Sunday’s clash against US MONASTIR in the CAF Champions League,” the club confirmed these details.

This is Lions’ fifth appearance in the CAF Champions League, and in their last four attempts, they were eliminated in the Preliminary rounds.

In the 2010 edition, the Lions were eliminated by the Tunisian side ES Tunis with an aggregate score of 5-4. The first leg ended in a 2-2 draw, followed by a 3-2 victory for the Tunisians in the second leg.

US Monastir finished second in last season's Tunisian Pro League 1
US Monastir finished second in last season's Tunisian Pro League 1
Bhantal coach Ibrahim Sillah eyes CAF Confederation win over Hafia
by Football Sierra Leone

Bhantal coach Ibrahim Sillah eyes CAF Confederation Cup win over Hafia

Bhantal FC head coach Ibrahim Sillah is feeling optimistic as his team gears up for their first leg in the CAF Confederation Cup against the former African powerhouse Hafia of Guinea.

Bhantal FC head coach Ibrahim Sillah is feeling optimistic as his team gears up for their first leg in the CAF Confederation Cup against the former African powerhouse Hafia of Guinea.

The CAF License A tactician is poised to lead the team in its inaugural participation in the CAF Confederation Cup for the 2025/26 season. Sillah brings lots of extensive expertise to the club he joined a few weeks ago.

The Sierra Leonean club will host the Guinean side this Saturday at the Southern Arena for the first leg of the preliminary round. Coach Sillah recognises the challenges of competing at this level of continental football.

“First of all, I want to highlight our team’s chances against Hafia. It’s important to acknowledge that Hafia is a three-time winner of the African Cup of Champions Clubs, now known as the CAF Champions League, as well as a one-time champion of the UFOA Cup. We need to respect their history,” the CAF A License coach stated.

Although we are making our debut in this competition after just two seasons in the Sierra Leone Premier League, I believe we are strong contenders. This is our chance to create our own legacy by winning the first leg at home. We need to come out on top, and I have faith that we can do just that on Saturday.”

In Port Loko, we prepared by playing three friendlies against Port Loko All Stars and Waterloo FC, winning both matches and drawing 1-1 with the champions, East End Lions.

Meanwhile, the 16-time Guinean champions Hafia have arrived in Bo, the second largest city in Sierra Leone by population (after Freetown) and the largest city in the Southern Province.

The two teams will compete again next week in the return match in the ivorian capital. The winner from both matches will play against the Algerian team CR Belouizdad in the second round of the preliminaries.

The 16-time Guinean champions Hafia have arrived in Bo
The 16-time Guinean champions Hafia have arrived in Bo
Sierra Leone up two places from 124 to 122 in latest FIFA rankings after September's International break. 34 in Africa!!!
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone move up two places in latest Fifa ranking

Sierra Leone has climbed to 122nd place in the latest FIFA world rankings, which were released on Thursday morning.

The Leone Stars improved their standing by 10.6 points compared to the rankings from July, bringing their total to 1150.01 points and surpassing Malaysia, Azerbaijan, and Zimbabwe in the process.

Sierra Leone’s move comes after recent results in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where they played to 1-1 in Guinea-Bissau and a 2-0 win over Ethiopia.

Currently, they are third in Group A of the World Cup qualifiers, aiming for a place in the playoff, although the possibilities are very slim.

On the African continent, Sierra Leone sits in 34th place, trailing The Gambia at 30th, Sudan at 31, Niger at 32, and Togo at 33 standings.

Morocco continues to sit atop the African and Arab rankings, followed by Senegal in 18th, Egypt in 35th, and Algeria in 38th.

Spain is in first place, followed by France, which has moved up to second position, just behind the Spaniards.

The French team triumphed over Ukraine (2-0) and Iceland (2-1), with Kylian Mbappé surpassing Thierry Henry to become the second-highest scorer in the history of the national team, now with 52 goals.

In the remainder of the Top 10, England (4th), Netherlands (7th), and Belgium (8th) maintained their rankings. Croatia (9th) and Italy (10th) each improved by one spot, securing a place in the elite segment of the ranking.

Sierra Leone open U17 girls qualifiers with a win over Senegal
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone open U17 girls qualifiers with a win over Senegal

Sierra Leone's U17 girls made a significant impact by defeating Senegal 2-1 in their opening match of the WAFU CAF qualifiers held in the Liberian capital on Wednesday.

Marian Sankoh opened the scoring with a brilliant long-range strike in the 20th minute, giving Sierra Leone an early lead. However, Senegal responded, equalising in the 61st minute thanks to a goal from Ndeye Haby Barro.

As both teams fought hard for a winner, it was Sierra Leone’s Mareray Turay who ultimately made the difference. In the 78th minute, she headed home a well-placed pass from the left wing, beating the Senegalese goalkeeper and sealing the victory for her team.

Woman of the Match Game 1: Marian Sankoh and the victory have placed Sierra Leone in an advantageous position as they prepare to take on the host nation, Liberia, this Friday at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium.

Sierra Leone is scheduled to play against Liberia on Friday, September 19. Following this match, they will face Senegal on September 23 and conclude their campaign with another match against Liberia on September 25.

Sierra Leone open U17 girls qualifiers with a win over Senegal
Sierra Leone open U17 girls qualifiers with a win over Senegal
On Wednesday, Sierra Leone and Senegal before their opening action at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium.
On Wednesday, Sierra Leone and Senegal before their opening action at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium.
Sierra Leone and Senegal players battled for the ball on Wednesday
Sierra Leone and Senegal players battled for the ball on Wednesday
Sierra Leone U17 in Group B against Senegal, Mauritania and Guinea
by Football Sierra Leone

U17 qualifiers: Sierra Leone to meet Senegal, Mauritania and Guinea in Group B

Sierra Leone has been drawn into Group B for the upcoming WAFU-A Zonal Tournament, which serves as the qualifying competition for the prestigious 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (U-17) football championship.

In this competitive group, Sierra Leone will face off against formidable opponents, including Senegal, Mauritania, and Guinea, in Group B.

Group A includes Mali, Liberia, The Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau, competing to qualify for the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, with the top teams advancing to the tournament.

The tournament is set to take place from October 3 to October 18, 2025. Matches will be held at three key venues in Mali, which include: Stade Mamadou Konaté in Bamako, renowned for its modern facilities and capacity to host large crowds.

Stade Ouezzin Coulibaly, also located in Bamako, is known for its vibrant atmosphere during local and international matches.

Stade Mamadou Diarra H in Koulikoro, which offers a unique setting for both players and fans alike.

This tournament is crucial for these young athletes, as their performance could secure a spot in the continental competition, showcasing their talent on a larger stage and providing valuable experience in international football.