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"The win will give us confidence," said Osman Kakay
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

“The win will give us confidence,” said Osman Kakay

Sierra Leone’s right back, Osman Kakay, is thrilled with the Leone Stars’ 2-1 victory over Djibouti and sees it as a powerful motivation for their crucial match against Burkina Faso in Mali on Monday. (Photo Credit SLFA)

Kakay led coach Karim’s side to a well-deserved win against Djibouti on match-day three of their 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Morocco.

Securing a second win at the Stade du 26 Mars would significantly enhance the Leone Stars’ chances of earning their first-ever World Cup appearance.

“It was our first win in the group, a major milestone in Sierra Leone’s journey to qualify for the global tournament. We are delighted to have secured our first win in the group.

The team performed well, and while no game is easy, our main objective was to secure the result, which will boost our confidence for Monday,” Kakay shared.

Following their departure from Morocco, the team is focused on diligently preparing for the upcoming match against Burkina Faso in Bamako, Mali on Monday.”

After three matches in the group stage, Egypt leads with 9 points, Guinea-Bissau has 5 points after drawing with Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone have 4 points each, and Ethiopia is on 2. In contrast, Djibouti has yet to earn a point.

Wednesday – 10 June 2024

  • Burkina Faso v Sierra Leone (Group A) | 1900 | Bamako, Mali
Sierra Leone's head coach Karim reflects on victory over Djibouti
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone’s head coach Karim reflects on victory over Djibouti

Sierra Leone’s head coach, Amidu Karim, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s 2-1 win against the Sharks of Djibouti in their match-day three 2026 World Cup qualifier in Morocco – on Wednesday.

It was his first win in the group. The victory marks a significant step in Sierra Leone’s quest to secure a spot in the global tournament. However, Karim also urged his players to remember that African football is rapidly improving.

Following their departure from Morocco, the team is set to continue their preparations for the upcoming match against the Les Étalons of Burkina Faso in Bamako, Mali, on Monday.

Karim’s squad is set to receive a substantial boost with the acquisition of Huddersfield Town’s attacker, Josh Koroma. His arrival is poised to provide essential momentum for the team as they gear up for a challenging match against Burkina Faso.

“I was pleased with the victory as it was much-needed. However, as I’ve always said, teams in African football are rapidly improving,” Karim told Football Sierra Leone.

“I understand that fans were expecting more goals from the team, but the determination from the players was evident. Djibouti proved to be a tough side, but we fought back and secured the win.

“In today’s African football landscape, there are no underdogs. Djibouti’s recent performance exemplifies this shift. As we prepare to face Burkina Faso, we recognize the need for a revised game plan, and we are committed to beginning our preparations as soon as we arrive in Mali.”

Monday – 10 June 2024

  • Burkina Faso v Sierra Leone (Group A) | 1900 | Bamako, Mali

 

Debutant Curtis Davies nets as Sierra Leone register first win In Group A
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Curtis Davies nets as Sierra Leone register first win

Curtis Davies made history as the oldest international debutant to score for a national team in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. This happened after a tense 2-1 victory against Djibouti at Stade El Abdi on Wednesday night.

The Leone Stars started the brightest as they took the lead in the 12th minute, capitalizing on their early pressure with a goal scored by 39-year-old Curtis Davies, marking his competitive national team debut.

Following a defensive blunder by coach Amidu Karim’s side, Djibouti was awarded a penalty just after the half-hour mark when Emmanuel Samadia was handballed inside his penalty area. Gabriel Dadzie stepped up to take the penalty and successfully sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.

The game entered a scrappy period towards the end of the first half, with neither side creating clear goal-scoring chances.

In the 51st minute of the match, the Leone Stars increased their lead when Augustus Kargbo successfully found the back of the net.

Despite this, Djibouti persisted in their efforts to score a second goal, while Sierra Leone responded by making defensive substitutions in an attempt to control the game.

Sierra Leone managed to maintain their lead and achieved a much-needed 2-1 victory in Morocco, confidently navigating the remaining minutes of the game.

Sierra Leone: Kamara, Davies, Kabia, Kakay, Alusine Koroma, Samadia, Kaikai (D Kanu 67’), Bakayoko (A Conteh 67’), Bundu (Dumbuya 79’), Alhassan Koroma (Sillah 88’), Kargbo (Michael 79’)

Djibouti: Luyima, Farada, Siad, Abdi (Omar 72’), Hamadou, Mohamed, Elabeh (Elmi 90’), Aden (Ramadan Abillahi 73’), Akinbinu, Dadzie, Abdillahi

Sierra Leone managed to maintain their lead and achieved a much-needed 2-1 victory in Morocco, confidently navigating the remaining minutes of the game.
Sierra Leone managed to maintain their lead and achieved a much-needed 2-1 victory in Morocco, confidently navigating the remaining minutes of the game.
Coach Amidu Karim speaks on Sierra Leone and Djibouti qualifier
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Coach Karim speaks on Sierra Leone and Djibouti qualifier

Sierra Leone’s head coach, Amidu Karim, is confident about his team’s chances as they gear up for the World Cup qualifier against Djibouti.

Karim’s 24-man team is currently in Morocco, undergoing intensive training and preparation for their crucial match on June 5th against Djibouti. This match holds immense significance as it is a crucial step in their journey to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Their ambition is to secure a spot in this prestigious global tournament, and they are leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to achieve this goal.

Karim has opted for consistency by maintaining the same squad for the upcoming matches against Djibouti and Burkina Faso. He is relying on the experience of players like Steven Caulker and Curtis Davies to guide the younger members of the team.

Expressing his optimism, Karim stated, “I am confident that we will achieve the desired results. The players are highly motivated and ready to give their best on the field.”

“We need their experience and expertise in guiding the younger players because they have gone through that stage at some point in their career.”

He emphasized the importance of winning for qualification and highlighted the players’ readiness to deliver their best performance.

The coach also noted that many players have had a successful season with their respective clubs, which adds to the team’s strength from a technical standpoint.

In the latest standings, Egypt is leading Group A, followed by Burkina Faso and Guinea-Bissau. Both Sierra Leone and Ethiopia have managed to secure one point each. Regrettably, Djibouti hasn’t yet earned any points after losing their first two games.

Sierra Leone World Cup Match Day Three Opponent

Group A – Djibouti is ranked 192, 66 places below the Leone Stars. After losing their first two Group A matches, Djibouti is currently at the bottom of the standings.

They suffered a 6-1 defeat to Egypt and a 1-0 home loss to Guinea-Bissau in November 2023.

In their preliminary AFCON qualifier against Liberia in March, Lone Star captain Murphy Dorley scored one of two first-half goals as the Lone Stars defeated hosts Djibouti 2-0 in the opening leg in Marrakech.

Mohammed Sangare opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute, followed by Dorley calmly converting Sebastian Teclar’s cross 12 minutes later. The match ended in a goalless draw in Liberia, leading to their elimination.

Sierra Leone’s Last three Games L-L-L

Djibouti’s Last Three Games D-L-D

Wednesday – 05 June 2024

  • Sierra Leone v Djibouti (Group A) | 1600 | El Jadida, Morocco 
Sierra Leone during their third training session in Morocco ahead of taking on Djibouti's Shoremen of the Red Sea clash.
Sierra Leone during their third training session in Morocco ahead of taking on Djibouti's Shoremen of the Red Sea clash.
In the current standings, Egypt leads Group A, followed by Burkina Faso and Guinea-Bissau. Sierra Leone and Ethiopia are tied with one point each, while Djibouti has no points after losing their first two games.
In the current standings, Egypt leads Group A, followed by Burkina Faso and Guinea-Bissau. Sierra Leone and Ethiopia are tied with one point each, while Djibouti has no points after losing their first two games.
SLFA and CAF come together to Empower Women in Football
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

SLFA and CAF come together to Empower Women in Football

The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), with support from CAF, is organizing a week-long training program for female football administrators and coaches at the Police Hall in Kingston.

This ground-breaking initiative encompasses an administrative training course and a License D Coaching course designed to empower women in football.

The event’s opening was graced by distinguished personalities including Acting General Secretary Mohamed Benson Bawoh, CAF Female Coaching Instructor Mrs. Majidah Nantanda from Uganda, Female Administrative Instructor Thubaelihle Bridgette Sibanda from Zimbabwe, SLFA Technical Director Ibrahim Bah, and other esteemed individuals.

This program marks a significant milestone for CAF in Sierra Leone, achieved through the dedicated efforts of SLFA President Thomas Daddy Brima and his Executive Committee. It represents a pivotal moment for women involved in football administration and coaching.

The enthusiasm demonstrated by both CAF experts and SLFA leaders underscores the importance of this initiative in enhancing the confidence and skills of women in football.

Collectively, there is a steadfast commitment to ensuring that women have a prominent role in the development of football in Sierra Leone.

This groundbreaking initiative encompasses an administrative training course and a License D Coaching course designed to empower women in football.
This groundbreaking initiative encompasses an administrative training course and a License D Coaching course designed to empower women in football.