Culture: Sports

.Football

Football is by far the most popular sport in Sierra Leone. The national football team, popularly known as the Leone Stars, represents the country in international competitions. It has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup but participated in the 1994 and 1996 African Cup of Nations.  Some well known Sierra Leonean footballers include the team captain Mohamed Kallon, Julius Gibrilla Woobay, Al Bangura, Paul Kpaka, Rodney Strasser, Ahmed Deen, Samuel Barlay, Kewullay Conteh, Albert Jarrett and Kei Kamara.

--> Current squad:

 

The Sierra Leone National Premier League is the top football league, controlled by the Sierra Leone Football Association. The two biggest and most successful football clubs are East End Lions and Mighty Blackpool, but Kallon F.C. has enjoyed contemporary success.


.Cricket


The Sierra Leone cricket team represents Sierra Leone in international cricket competitions, and is among the best in West Africa. It became an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council in 2002. It made its international debut at the 2004 African Affiliates Championship, where it finished last of eight teams. But at the equivalent tournament in 2006, Division Three of the African region of the World Cricket League, it finished as runner-up to Mozambique, and just missed a promotion to Division Two.

--> Current squad:

• Lansana Lamin (Captain)
• Abubakarr Kamara
• Emmanuel Pessima
• Abass Gbla
• Ibrahim Mansaray
• Ibrahim Kamara
• Ibrahim Kabia
• Julius Quee
• Brima Ansumana
• Edward Marah
• Mustapha Kallon
• Alie John Kamara
• George Kpundeh
• Solomon Fatoma

.Basketball


The Sierra Leone national basketball team represents Sierra Leone in international men's basketball competitions and is controlled by the Sierra Leone Basketball Federation. The squad is mostly home-based, with a few foreign players.

--> Current squad:

• Chris Bart-Williams (Tenerife Baloncesto - Spain)
• Trevor Turner (Cannon Royals - Sierra Leone)
• Ahmed Dahniya (Cannon Royals - Sierra Leone)
• Emmanuel Bassey (YSC - Sierra Leone)
• Ernest James Johnson (Cannon Royals - Sierra Leone)
• Mobido Lymon (Wilberforce Breakers - Sierra Leone)
• Octavius Jackson (Cannon Royals - Sierra Leone)
• Jerrold Hadson-Taylor (YSC - Sierra Leone)
• Muctar Kallay (YSC - Sierra Leone)
• Osman Jalloh (Wilberforce Breakers- Sierra Leone)
• Sam Brewah (YSC - Sierra Leone)
• Mamudu Lahai (YSC - Sierra Leone)
• Head Coach: Ali Hijazi

By Camilla M.