Free-falling Sierra Leone drop 18 places in latest FIFA rankings

by FSL News | 6 Apr, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone has slumped further eighteen places down in the latest FIFA world rankings to 113 from 95 in March, placing the Leone Stars 31st in Africa.

Sierra Leone highest ever world ranking was in August 2014 when they moved up to 50th and 7th in Africa.

The Leone Stars were not active during the FIFA friendly dates and it worth mentioning that their last competitive football was back in September 2016, when they were eliminated by the former African champions Ivory Coast in Bouake during the qualifiers of the 2017 African Nations Cup, despite a 1-1 score-line.

However, Sierra Leone Stars will battle it out in Group F alongside Ghana Black Stars, Kenya, and Ethiopia, in the qualifiers for a place in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted by Cameroon.

Sierra Leone’s first qualifier for Cameroon 2019 is in June when they host Kenya in Freetown.

The Pharaohs of Egypt are the best-ranked team in 19th position in the world followed by Senegal 30th and 2017 African Champions Cameroon (33), Burkina Faso 35th and Nigeria 40th respectively.

Meanwhile, Brazil went top for the first time in seven years, replacing Argentina.

The five-time World Cup winners became the first side to qualify for next year’s tournament in Russia with a 3-0 victory over Paraguay last week.

Holland are down to their lowest place of 32 in today’s FIFA rankings.

The next Fifa /Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 4 May 2017.

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Sierra Leone FA repudiate Hummel sponsorship

by FSL News | 5 Apr, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has refuted various reports on several African media that they (SLFA) are set to announce a new kit supply deal with Denmark-based sportswear company Hummel.

Reports from various international media stated that information from Sierra Leone is that the country’s Football Association is set to announce a kit supply deal Hummel adding that the Denmark kit manufacturer has agreed to sponsor the country’s senior national team, Leone Stars ahead of their 2019 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers which will commence in June 2017.

The media report stated: “A deal is expected to be signed on Wednesday (April 5, 2017) by both parties following a brief meeting between Hummel representatives and the Sierra Leone football association officials.”

A further quote from an FA official stated: “Hummel is back and we will do our best to keep this sponsorship. It will help the FA to minimize cost on kits.”

However, the SLFA media officer, Ibrahim Kamara in an exclusive interview with this media rebutted the reports as false and nothing closer to the truth.

“This is not true, there has not been any arrangement, not even meet with any Hummel person,” the SLFA media officer said.

The SLFA further released a press statement disproving the said reports and their statement reads: “The SLFA wishes to inform the general public that reports making the rounds claiming that a sponsorship agreement has been met between the sporting brand Hummel and the Sierra Leone Football Association are baseless and untrue. In fact, there was never a meeting between the two parties as purported by the said misguided story.

“SLFA will like the public to know that any information with regards sponsorship deals with any sporting brand will be officially put out through the SLFA Media Department.”

Hummel is reported to be the world’s sixth largest sporting brand and they started sponsoring the national teams’ kit in 2007 when teaming up with London-based Mediatel in the Millwall FC friendly match to celebrate the Bicentennial of the Abolition of Slavery.

In 2011, the Executive Committee of SLFA cancelled the said Hummel contract between them and Mediate/Hummel sponsorship but the then Youth, Employment and Sports Ministry went on to use the Danish brand in Leone Stars the last match against Niger on March 27th in Niamey which angered the SLFA executive committee.

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Sierra Leone Premier League to end long wait

by FSL News | 28 Mar, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone

April 14 New Sierra Leone Premier League proposed a start date

The 2017- 2018 Sierra Leone National Premier League season is set to kick off April 14, 2017, according to the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) and the League organisers.

The long wait will finally over for the local fans and soccer enthusiasts. The last edition of the Premier League was suspended through the season in 2014 because of the Ebola epidemic. East End Lions was topping the 2014 campaign prior to its suspension.

Following a successful peace talk at the recent Extraordinary Congress in Freetown last Thursday, 23 2017 and a follow-up meeting held at the football Secretariat, Kingtom today, clubs have received a confirmation to prepare for the new campaign.

An FA statement reads: “SLFA in readiness of the Premier League held a meeting today at its Secretariat with all Premier League clubs to confirm the League Board and commence registration.

“The SLFA, in turn, offer them with the following sporting materials: Adidas travelling bag, Balls Bag holder, Medical Kitbag, balls and bibs to all 14 clubs to jump-start the process of the league which has been slated to start on April 14, 2017.”

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Sierra Leone’s FA boss Isha Johansen elected into new CAF Executive

by FSL News | 16 Mar, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone

Isha Johansen pictured becomes Caf executive member

The President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), Isha Johansen has been elected into the new Confederation of African Football executive committee with a total of 35 -12 votes at the just concluded CAF Elections beating Lydia Nsekera.

She becomes the first Sierra Leonean to be elected as a CAF Executive Committee member from 2017 – 2021 following the CAF 39th Ordinary General Assembly in Ethiopia on Thursday.

The SLFA’s boss Johansen was also recently been given a lofty appointment into a powerful FIFA sub-committee – the FIFA Members Association Committee.

She was elected SLFA’s boss unopposed on 3 August 2013 as the first female FA boss in Sierra Leone and she’s also the only female Football Association president in the world presently.

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RSLAF withdraw from CAF Confed Cup as ban hangs over them

by FSL News | 15 Mar, 2017 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone

The Republic of Sierra Leone Armed forces FC (RSLAF) have withdrawn from this year’s CAF Confederation Cup first round second leg due to being ‘ unable to secure funds, Football Sierra Leone understands.

Following a humiliating 9-1 defeat in Tunisia on Sunday last week in the first round first leg of the competition, they were due to host Club Africain in the second fixture in Freetown this coming weekend at the National Siaka Steven Stadium.

While closed club sources have stated that they are ‘bitterly disappointed’ to have had to resort to withdrawal, they are now likely to face a two-year ban that stops them playing in any CAF competitions until 2019 and could be fined $10,000.

“The 2017 Confederation Cup Representatives, RSLAF, FC has been withdrawn from the ongoing competition. This was after the SLFA Secretariat has received a letter from RSLAF FC dated March 14th instant, expressing their unwillingness to host the returned leg match between them and Club Africain,” The Sierra Leone football body said in a statement.

“CAF Disciplinary Committee and the SLFA Executive board will pronounce the necessary sanctions on RSLAF FC and they would be duly informed.”

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