Category: Sport News

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.

by Football Sierra Leone

Ram Kamara Lift Women’s Unity Cup After 2–1 Triumph Over Mogbwema Queens

Ram Kamara FC have been crowned champions of the SLFA Women’s Unity Cup after defeating defending champions Mogbwema Queens 2-1 in an exciting final at Southern Arena.

Ram Kamara made a strong start to the match, taking the lead in the 28th minute through Fattou Fatty.

Kadiatu G. Kamara then doubled their advantage just five minutes later to give Ram Kamara a 2-0 lead. Mogbwema Queens’ task became even more difficult before halftime when Fatmata Turay was shown a red card, leaving the defending champions with 10 players.

Despite being reduced to 10 players, Mogbwema Queens came out strongly after the break and pulled a goal back in the 51st minute through an own goal by Emma J.K. Kamara.

The Queens continued to push for an equaliser and created several opportunities, but Ram Kamara defended resolutely to preserve their 2-1 advantage and secure the Women’s Unity Cup title.

Following the final, SLFA President Babadi Kamara presented medals to both teams as Ram Kamara celebrated their triumph.

by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Guirassy Strikes as Guinea Edge Kenya in Conakry

Serhou Guirassy scored the lone goal as Guinea bounced back from an opening defeat to secure a 1-0 victory over Kenya in their TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027 qualifier in Conakry on Thursday.

The Borussia Dortmund forward struck in the 32nd minute, earning Paulo Duarte’s team their first points in Group D after a 2-1 loss to South Africa in their previous match.

With this win, Guinea moved into second place with three points, three behind leaders South Africa, who triumphed 5-0 over Eritrea. Kenya remains at one point after their earlier 1-1 draw against Eritrea, yet they have already qualified for PAMOJA 2027 as co-hosts.

This situation leaves South Africa, Guinea, and Eritrea contending for the highest-placed non-host nation in the group to secure the remaining qualification spot.

Guinea started strong, coming close to scoring when Guirassy’s free-kick hit the crossbar. They kept the pressure on, with Guirassy eventually breaking through to score just after the half-hour mark. Kenya’s Byrne Omondi made key saves to keep the scoreline from widening before halftime.

In the second half, Kenya’s coach Benni McCarthy made tactical changes, bringing on Ryan Ogam and Timothy Ouma in search of an equaliser, but despite their efforts, Guinea’s defence held firm.

Duarte’s team successfully protected their narrow lead, clinching their first victory of the campaign, while South Africa leads Group D with six points.

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 Alie Bittar @bittar32

QUEIROZ SACKED AFTER GHANA’S POOR AFCON QUALIFICATION START

Carlos Queiroz has been sacked as Ghana head coach following a disappointing start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

The Black Stars suffered back-to-back defeats, losing 2-0 to Côte d’Ivoire before a 4-2 home defeat to The Gambia, leaving them without a point from their opening two Group C matches.

Ghana had taken a 2-0 lead against The Gambia through Ernest Nuamah and Felix Afena-Gyan, but the Scorpions staged a dramatic comeback to claim all three points.

The Ghana Football Association has announced that both parties have ended their contract by mutual agreement. Queiroz had previously led Ghana to the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they lost to Colombia.