Sierra Leone stars have touched down in Antalya as they prepare for a busy week taking Togo’s Les Éperviers, the Lone Stars of Liberia and the Diables Rouges of Congo Brazzaville.

The Leone Stars will be hoping to bounce back from their 1-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea in their final African Cup of Nations match played in January.

Gaziantep defender Steven Caulker, Bolton Wanderers striker Amadou Bakayoko, Cambuur duo Alex Bangura & Issa Kallon safely arrived in the Sierra Leone camp in Turkey as the rest of foreign-based expected on Tuesday.

A total of 23 players were invited for Sierra Leone International friendlies in Turkey. The team, led by coach John Keister and his backroom staff, set for their first training session on Tuesday.

The contingent, led by Sierra Leone Football Association President Thomas Daddy Brima, resides at TUI Magic Life Masmavi, Antalya.

The Leone Stars will face their Togolese counterpart on the 24th at the Mardan Sports Complex in Aksu, Antalya, Turkey.

Head coach John Keister is here to evaluate his side as matches will be part of his groundwork for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Alie Bittar- Media Officer Attached Antalya, Turkey.

Sierra Leone coach John Keister has drafted ten new players for the Sierra Leone training camp in Turkey in preparation for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying proper.

The Manchester-born is looking to evaluate all new faces as he named a strong 26-man squad for the Leone Stars training camp in Turkey to face Togo, Liberia and Congo Brazazzvile next week.

Braintree’s Kamil Conteh, on loan from Premier League side Watford, 19-year-old Kallum Cesay, who plays for North London side Tottenham U23, Bolton Striker Amadou Bakayoko and Cambuur left-back Alex Bangura and Ghanaian-born midfielder Samuel Bekoe all earned their maiden call-up.

The others are Ibrahim Sillah – BSV Kickers Emden, Italy-based Winston Ceesay from Rotonda, Demba Kamara from the Italian side Rimini and Jonathan Morsay from the Greek top tier side Panaitolikos.

Inform East End Lions striker Alie Conteh is also in line to make his Sierra Leone debut if selected by the Leone Stars technical team.

The Leone Stars will face their Togolese counterpart on the 24th Liberia on the 27th before engaging the Congo national team on March 29th in Antalya, Turkey. 

#SierraLeone named @WatfordFC U23 midfielder, Kamil Conteh, @SpursOfficial U23 defender, #KallumCesay, @ClubRimini midfielder Demba Kamara, @OfficialBWFC striker @bakayoko_a @FC_Panetolikos winger Jonathan Morsay, Ghanaian-born Samuel Bekoe & four others in the squad for Turkey. pic.twitter.com/7AGexwKTjx

— Alie Bittar (@bittar32) March 20, 2022

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Top media personality Asmaa James has been appointed the new chairperson for Sierra Leone Women’s Premier League Board.

The Sierra Leone Football Association, SLFA unveiled the board at their secretariat on Friday ahead of the start of the female league this year.

Mrs James has been a prominent name across journalism circled in Sierra Leone. She currently serves as the station manager at Radio Democracy 98.1 FM.

Under her supervision, the board’s first task will be to drive forward female football across the nation.

Female football will receive a massive cash boost of 1.5 billion leones from the government of Sierra Leone, as per confirmation by the Minister of Sports Ibrahim Nyelenkeh.

The board is comprised of seven members. They are chairperson Asmaa James, Jenessi Matturi Secretary-General, Angela Gabbidon ESQ member, Jeneba Essekwi member, Daniella mansaray member, Zainab S Conteh, member and Emillia Kamara Jengo member.

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The Sierra Leone government has decided to boost the country’s top-flight male and the female football league with a mouth-watering 2.5 billion Leones cash injection.

The cash injection is to complete the second phase of the ongoing Sierra Leone Premier League and, for the first time in many years, to revive female football. 

“The 2.5 billion Leones is for both the Male and Female Leagues. 1 billion Leones for the completion of the second phase of the Male Premier League and the 1.5 billion Leones is for the start of the Female Premier League in either April or May,” Sports minister, Ibrahim Nyelenkeh noted when answering to our questions.  

However, a source close to the Premier League board was pleased to hear this development but noted that they are still waiting for the government aid in a bid to wrap up this season.

It’s not the first time the government of Sierra Leone injecting a lump sum to help revive the national club’s football. 

In 2018, after almost five years without football in the country, the first government cash boost to the Premier League Board was 3.5 billion Leones when East End Lions emerged winners unbeaten that season. 

The second phase of the cash boost was during the 2019 -2020 season. A massive Le1, 740,000,000 (One billion seven hundred and forty Million Leones) was splashed on the national men’s league. However, the season was cancelled due to Covid-19. 

A decision was taken by the Premier League Board (PLB) in consultation with the SLFA at a meeting held on Wednesday (15 July 2020) in Freetown, with representatives of all 14 Premier League clubs. 

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Alex Bangura, who is playing as a left-back or a winger for Eredivisie club SC Cambuur, has confirmed joining the Sierra Leone training camp in Turkey.

The Sierra Leone Football Association says Leone Stars will play three International friendlies in Antalya, Turkey.

“SLFA has successfully concluded arrangements to hold three FIFA sanctioned international friendly matches against Togo, Liberia and Congo Brazzaville on the 24, 27 and 29 March 2022, respectively.”

The training camp is part of Sierra Leone’s preparation ahead of the 2023 African Cup Nations qualifiers.

Speaking to Football Sierra Leone, the Netherlands-based defender confirmed his availability ahead of the training camp.

“Yes, I will make the trip to Turkey to represent my country, he proudly noted when answering our questions.” 

Sierra Leone’s last outing was the defeat to Equatorial Guinea on January 20th at the Limbe Stadium.

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The Togolese Football Federation (FTF) have confirmed playing Sierra Leone in an International friendly later this month in Antalya.

Just over a month after the Leone Stars was eliminated from the African Cup of Nations group stage in Cameroon, John Keister’s side will welcome the Sparrowhawks of Togo in Turkey’s southern Mediterranean region.

Leones Stars played to a goalless draw with Algeria, a 2-2 draw against the Ivory Coast at the Stade de Japoma, Douala on January 11th and 16th, respectively, before losing 1-0 to Equatorial Guinea in their final AFCON outing.

This month’s international break, the Togolese has said their test games will serve as preparation ahead of the Ivory Coast 2023 qualifiers in June.

FTF says Togo will face Sierra Leone and Benin, announced Serge Akakpo, General Manager. The Sparrowhawks will battle with the Leone stars on March 24 before taking on the Squirrels of Benin on March 29.

The last meeting between the Leone Stars and their counterparts was in 2007 when Sierra Leone suffered a 1-0 defeat.

Football Sierra Leone also understands that Sierra Leone will play two other nations during their stay in Turkey.

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