By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
The Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) has officially released the fixtures for the African World Cup qualifiers for the 53 African Categories.
Sierra Leone National Team Leone Stars will start their World Cup campaign against Ethiopia on 13th November 2023.
Sierra Leone Senior National Team Leone stars will have to travel to take Ethiopia in the first leg of the 2026 African World Cup qualifiers and will host seven times Africa Cup Nation Egypt on the 21st of November 2023.
Sorie Ibrahim Sesay the Director of Competition at the Sierra Leone Football Association said the matches are going to be tight for Leone Stars considering the group where Sierra Leone finds itself in group A. He said there is huge optimism going into the qualifiers and the possibility of qualifying is high even though it is very difficult because some of the countries in group A are heavy nations when it comes to African Football Competitions, countries like Egypt, Burkina Faso, Wild Dogs of Guinea Bissau, Djibout these are some the nations in the continent, noting that with proper organization Sierra Leone will break through from group A in the African World Cup qualifiers.
He affirmed that it has been very embarrassing for the nation as we have been playing our matches away from home, noting that even though other Federations have been accommodating with Sierra Leone when the qualifiers are up he said some home fans are sometimes hostile with Leone Stars delegations, also again the Football fans back home are sometimes not getting the chance to watch those matches and seeing their players in actions and the players also are not feeling at home in most cases these has been the challenges affecting Sierra Leone at present.
He further that, based on what he got from the Chinese Construction Company, the Siaka Stevens Stadium rehabilitation work is going to be completed in April 2024. Upon its completion, Sierra Leone will have the chance to start hosting matches at home and Football fans in the Country will have the chance to watch their national team in action at the Siaka Stevens Stadium. When it comes to the Government they are expecting the normal support they have been given will continue as it has been before in previous World Cup qualifiers.
He added that September month is going to be busy for the Sierra Leone national sides and club level as well, On the 11th of this Month the Senior National Team will play its last match in match day six (6) of the AFCON qualifiers on Bissau, the third week of September the CHAN qualifiers will kick-off as Sierra Leone home base side are going to be in action, and on the 15th, of September 2023, FC Kallon will have to travel take on Dream FC in the first leg of Confederation Cup, while on 17th September 202,3 BO Rangers will host CR Belouizdad in the first leg of the CAF Champions League Preliminary round and the return leg of those matches will be on 29th September to 1st October 2023.
Leone Stars of Sierra Leone are gearing up for their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with an exciting schedule ahead. Their journey towards the World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada begins now, with matches against tough opponents. But there is still doubt as to whether John Keisand’s backroomoomm staff are still going to be in charge or a new head coach is going to take Sierra Leone to their first World Cup ever in the Country’s history.
In previous World Cup qualifiers, Sierra Leone Senior National have found it difficult to make it through to the tournament the last time they were knocked out by neighborhoods Liberia in the Preliminary round by three goals to nil.
Here are the fixtures of Leone Stars in the African World Cup qualifiers.
13-21 November 2023
Ethiopia vs. Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone vs Egypt
03-11 June 2024
Sierra Leone vs.s Djibouti
Burkina Faso vs. Sierra Leone
17-25 March 2025
Sierra Leonevss.Guinea-Bissau
Egyptvss.Sierra Leone
01-09 September 2025:
Guinea Bissauvss.Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone vs Ethiopia
6-14 October 2025
Sierra Leonevss.Burkina Faso
Djiboutivss.Sierra Leone
It’s an exciting journey ahead, and fans will be eagerly watching the Leone Stars as they strive for World Cup qualification.