By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
The Leone Stars this evening played the first of two scheduled technical test matches at the Approved School playing field, facing off against the 2025 Leone Rock Premier League Champions, East End Lions.
The encounter forms part of the national team’s intensive preparations for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Guinea Bissau and Ethiopia, slated for early next month.
Prior to kickoff, newly appointed Leone Stars Team Manager, Abdul Karim Bangura motivated the players with a lighthearted but competitive gesture, offering Le 15,000 to the winning side and Le 5,000 to the other. He further promised a similar token for tomorrow’s match against league runners-up, Bhantal FC.
Despite a spirited performance, Leone Stars were defeated 0–2 by the league champions. Head Coach Mohamed Kallon, however, welcomed the contest, describing it as “a great opportunity to further assess the home-based players against opposition that is also preparing to represent Sierra Leone at the CAF Champions League.”
Leone Stars’ second test match will take place on Wednesday August 26, 5:00 PM, again at the Approved School Playing field.
The match drew thousands of fans from across Freetown, who turned out in numbers to witness the clash of some of their favorite players in what was both an entertaining and competitive display of Sierra Leonean football.
