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Sierra Leone women's national football team

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This article is about the women's team. For the men's team, see Sierra Leone national football team.

Sierra Leone
AssociationSierra Leone Football Association (SLFA)
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationWAFU (West Africa)
Head coachErnest Hallowell
FIFA codeSLE
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 141 Steady (13 December 2024)[1]
Highest135 (December 2021)
Lowest141 (August 2023 – December 2024)
First international
 Sierra Leone 0–9 Nigeria Nigeria
(6 November 1994)
Biggest defeat
 Sierra Leone 0–9 Nigeria Nigeria
(6 November 1994)
Women's Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances1 (first in 1995)
Best resultQuarters Final (1995)

The Sierra Leone women's national football team is governed by the Sierra Leone Football Association.

History

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In 1985, almost no country in the world had a women's national football team,[2] including Sierra Leone women's national football team who did not play its first matches until around 1994 when it participated in the qualification phase of the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup.[3] In a game in Nigeria on 6 November 1994, Sierra Leone women's national football team lost 0–9 to Nigeria after being down 0–6 at the half.[4] In a game in Freetown on 20 November 1994, it lost 0–2 to Nigeria after being down 0–2 at the half.[4] These 2 games represent half of all games it has played in its history.[4] The team's other 2 games took place during the preliminary rounds of the 2010 Women's Championship tournament in Africa, which was part of the Olympic qualification process, where Sierra Leone lost during the preliminary round once 2–3 to Guinea in Conakry on 7 March 2010 and tied Guinea 1–1 in Freetown on 20 March 2010.[4][5][6][7][8] Following this match, the team did not play an international match on any level for at least a year[9] and did not participate 2011 All Africa Games.[10] In March 2012, Sierra Leone was ranked the 135th best in the world and the 26th best in Africa.[11] It improved its ranking to 130th best in the world in June 2012 and at still at the bottom of the world rankings alongside 46 other women's national teams.[11][12] Its best ever rank was 128th, which was in 2010, and its worst ever ranking was 136, which it was ranked in 2011.[13]

Background and development

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Early development of the women's game at the time colonial powers brought football to Sierra Leone and the continent was limited, as colonial powers in the region tended to take concepts of patriarchy and women's participation in sport with them to local cultures that already had similar concepts already embedded in them.[14] Other factors on the continent impact the development of the game, including limited access to education, poverty among women in the wider society, and fundamental inequality present in the society that occasionally allows for female specific human rights abuses.[15] When quality players are developed in Africa, they often leave for greater opportunities elsewhere Continent wide; most of the funding for women's football in a country and for the women's national team comes from FIFA, not the national football association.[16] Future success for women's football in Africa is dependent on improved facilities and access by women to these facilities. Attempting to commercialise the game is not the solution, as demonstrated by the existence of youth and women's football camps held on the continent that have resulted in improved national team performance as players progressed through the system.[14]

The United Nations ranked Sierra Leone 180 out of 187 on their Human Development Index. One of the factors in this world ranking was gender inequality.[17] Football was seen as 1 way of understanding life by watching what happened on the pitch.[18] In 2007, a football administrator from the country is in charge of the women's football committee in the West African Football Union.[19] In 2011, Brazilian women's football superstar Marta visited the country and met with the national team. Her visit was part of the United Nations Development Programme where Marta is a Goodwill Ambassador.[20][21][22][23] In 2011, there was no national women's league in the country.[9] In 2012, Girls Football League was launched by the Craig Bellamy Foundation after a pilot programme in 2010/2012 in Makeni that included 4 teams. Girls participating in the programme are given scholarships to attend, with 93% attending school regularly while involved with the programme, a higher percentage than the national average for female school attendance.[17]

Women are football spectators, watching live games in rural and remote areas of the country.[18] Rights to broadcast the 2011 Women's World Cup in the country were bought by the African Union of Broadcasting and Supersport International.[24] The popularity of the sport is declining in the country for women.[25]

Sierra Leone women's national football team is nicknamed the Sierra Queens.[9]

Under-17 team

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Sierra Leone has a Sierra Leone women's national under-17 football team. They were supposed to compete in the African Women U-17 Championship Qualifying Tournament 2010. Togo won the first round because Sierra Leone withdrew from the competition.[26] They competed in CAF qualifiers for the FIFA U-17 World Cup that will be held in Azerbaijan in September 2012. They did not advance out of their region.[27] The team was supposed to play the Gambia women's national under-17 football team in a qualifying match for the 2012 U-17 Qualifying Tournament.[28] Sierra Leone lost the first leg in Banjul, Gambia 0–3. The return match was delayed for 24 hours.[29][30][31] The team's head coach attributed the loss to poor refereeing.[31] The game against Gambia was the country's first junior national international match.[32] The second match was won by Sierra Leone 3–1.[33] Gambia won the first match in 3–0 in a game played in Banjul.[34] The return match was delayed in for 24 hours and played in Makeni.[34] Gambia beat Sierra Leone to qualify for the final round with an aggregate score of 4–3.[35]

The team is coached by Hannah Williams, while Tamba Moses was the assistant coach. Squad members included Cecilia Bangura, Jarriatu Kamara, Hannah Conteh, Haja Kamara, Magret Sesay, Sarah Bangura, Fatmata Turay, Fatmata Mansaray, Kaju Max-Macauley, Aminata Lebbe, Zainab Sesay, Alice Bundor, Adama Sesay, Rashidatu Kamara, Isata Kamara, Wuyiah Muwaid, Nasu Bundor, and Assanatu Jalloh.[32] The cost of travel for the team was paid for by LEOCEM, the country's only cement company. The company's managing director rationalised the decision to pay saying, "We received the request from the SLFA at a very short notice but we decided to help because we want to see female football grow from the grass-roots level and also to meet our corporate social responsibility. We are happy about helping out the female team and we hope they'll eliminate their Gambian counterpart."[36] Members of the under-17 team are drawn from the Airtel Rising Stars tournament.[9]

Under-20 team

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Sierra Leone has a Sierra Leone women's national under-20 football team. They competed in the 2010/2011 FIFA U-20 CAF Women's World Cup qualifying competition. They did not advance to the U20 Women's World Cup.[37] They competed in the preliminary rounds of the 2010 CAF FIFA U20 World Cup. In the preliminary round, they did not have to play as Guiena withdrew from the tournament. In the first round, they were supposed to play Nigeria and withdrew from the tournament.[38] They were to compete in the 2010 African Women U-20 Championship Qualifying tournament against Togo, and Togo earned a walkover win against Sierra Leone.[39] Sierra Leone eventually withdrew from the competition. The announcement was made a week after the under-17 lost 0–3 to Gambia.[30]

Fixtures

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Main article: Sierra Leone women's national football team results

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Legend

  Win   Draw   Lose   Fixture

2023

[edit]
21 January 2023 (2023-01-21) 2023 WAFU Zone A Women's Cup GS Sierra Leone  1–4  Gambia Sal, Cape Verde
18:00 Kabba 62' Report Jatta 2', 20', 56', 72' Stadium: Estádio Marcelo Leitão
Referee: Sylvina Garnett (Liberia)
23 January 2023 (2023-01-23) 2023 WAFU Zone A Women's Cup GS Guinea  1–0  Sierra Leone Sal, Cape Verde
15:00 Diallo 86' Report Stadium: Estádio Marcelo Leitão
Referee: Yacine Samassa (Mauritania)
25 January 2023 (2023-01-25) 2023 WAFU Zone A Women's Cup GS Sierra Leone  0–4  Senegal Sal, Cape Verde
18:00
Stadium: Estádio Marcelo Leitão
Referee: Yacine Samassa (Mauritania)
10-18 July 2023 (2023-07) 2024 Olympic qualifying Ivory Coast  Cancelled  Sierra Leone
10-18 July 2023 (2023-07) 2024 Olympic qualifying Sierra Leone  Cancelled  Ivory Coast

Coaching staff

[edit]
Position Name
Head coach Ernest Hallowell
Assistant coach Martha Conteh
Coordinator Musu "Pele" Bangura
Medical officer Mamie Sheriff
Admin Milton Koroma
Media officer Esther Marie Samura

Players

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No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Club
1GK Cecilia Bangura Sierra Leone Mena Queens
1GK Isha Kamara Sierra Leone FC Kallon
1GK Hannah Juana Sierra Leone Mogbwemo Queens
2DF Alice Koroma (2003-03-03) 3 March 2003 (age 21) Sierra Leone FC Kallon
2DF Marie Kamara Sierra Leone Ram Kamara FC
2DF Mabel Bongay (2003-11-28) 28 November 2003 (age 21) Sierra Leone Mogbwemo Queens
2DF Aminata Bellon (2004-11-28) 28 November 2004 (age 20) Sierra Leone Mena Queens
2DF Isha Sesay Sierra Leone Ram Kamara FC
2DF Mamusu Tamu Sierra Leone FC Kallon
3MF Kadiatu A. Kamara Sierra Leone Kahunla Queens
3MF Jeneba Koroma (1999-05-11) 11 May 1999 (age 25) Turkey Samsun Yabancılar Pazarı S.K.
3MF Sarah Sesay (2002-11-28) 28 November 2002 (age 22) Sierra Leone Kahunla Queens
3MF Memunatu Kamara Sierra Leone Correctional Center FC
3MF Sarah Bangura (captain) Sierra Leone FC Kallon
3MF Kadiatu M. Jalloh Sierra Leone Mogbwemo Queens
3MF Kadiatu Kanu Sierra Leone Ram Kamara FC
3MF Matilda Kabba Sierra Leone Kahunla Queens
3MF Adama Kargbo (2003-11-28) 28 November 2003 (age 21) Sierra Leone FC Kallon
4FW Kumba Z. Brima Sierra Leone Kahunla Queens
4FW Wuyah Mohai (2001-11-22) 22 November 2001 (age 23) Turkey Samsun Yabancılar Pazarı S.K.

Previous squads

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WAFU Zone A Women's Cup

Competitive record

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FIFA Women's World Cup

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Year Round GP W D* L GF GA GD
France 2019 did not enter
AustraliaNew Zealand 2023
Brazil 2027 to be determined

Olympic Games

[edit]
Year Round Pld W D* L GS GA GD
United States 1996 did not qualify
Australia 2000
Greece 2004
China 2008
United Kingdom 2012
Brazil 2016
Japan 2020
France 2024
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

African Games

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Year Round Matches Wins Draws Losses GF GA
Nigeria 2003 did not enter
Algeria 2007
Mozambique 2011 did not qualify
Republic of the Congo 2015
Morocco 2019
Ghana 2023

Africa Women Cup of Nations

[edit]
Year Round GP W D* L GS GA GD
Equatorial Guinea 2008 to 2012 did not enter
Namibia 2014 Withdrew
Cameroon 2016 to Ghana 2018 did not enter
Morocco 2022 did not qualify
Morocco 2024 Did not enter
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

WAFU Women's Cup

[edit]
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
Sierra Leone 2020 Group stage 6 3 0 3 0 1 1
Cape Verde 2023 Group stage 7 3 0 0 3 1 9

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 13 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  2. ^ Chrös McDougall (1 January 2012). Soccer. ABDO. p. 45. ISBN 978-1-61783-146-1. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  3. ^ "Previous Tournaments". FIFA. Archived from the original on 27 December 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d "Sierra Leone: Fixtures and Results". FIFA. Archived from the original on 21 November 2009. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  5. ^ "Africa – Women's Championship 2010". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  6. ^ "Teams – African Women Championship 2010 – CAF". CAF. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  7. ^ "Sierra Leone Knocked out of Olympic Qualifiers". Sierra Leone: Sierra Leone Football. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  8. ^ "Yearbook 2010". Sierraleonefootball.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  9. ^ a b c d "Sierra Leone to play Guinea and Gambia in Women's youth football". Sierra Leone: The Exclusive Press Newspaper. 16 October 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  10. ^ "Groups & standings – All Africa Games women 2011 – CAF". CAF. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  11. ^ a b "The FIFA Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 25 September 2009. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  12. ^ "Sierra Leone on FIFA.com". Switzerland: FIFA. Archived from the original on 18 June 2007. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  13. ^ "FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking Sierra Leone". Switzerland: FIFA. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  14. ^ a b Peter Alegi (2 March 2010). African Soccerscapes: How a Continent Changed the World's Game. Ohio University Press. ISBN 978-0-89680-278-0. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  15. ^ Jean Williams (15 December 2007). A Beautiful Game: International Perspectives on Women's Football. Berg. p. 186. ISBN 978-1-84520-674-1. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  16. ^ Gabriel Kuhn (24 February 2011). Soccer Vs. the State: Tackling Football and Radical Politics. PM Press. p. 34. ISBN 978-1-60486-053-5. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  17. ^ a b "Craig Bellamy Foundation launches Girls Football League in Sierra Leone on International Women's Day | Sierra Express Media". Sierraexpressmedia.com. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  18. ^ a b John Turnbull; Thom Satterlee; Alon Raab (1 November 2008). The Global Game: Writers on Soccer. U of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-0-8032-1078-3. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  19. ^ "Adamu Elected Wafu President, Says He's On Rescue Mission". This Day. Nigeria. 16 April 2007. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  20. ^ "FIFA World Player of the Year landed in Freetown". Sierraleonefootball.com. 28 August 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  21. ^ Nations, United (31 May 2011). "8 – Marta with the Sierra Leone women's football team | Flickr — Photo Sharing!". Flickr. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  22. ^ "Football legend Marta, in Sierra Leone, calls for more women decision-makers". UNDP. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  23. ^ "Top female football player visits Sierra Leone to empower women | Women's Views on News". Womensviewsonnews.org. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  24. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011TM Media Rights Licensees" (PDF). FIFA. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  25. ^ Kamara, Abubakarr (26 June 2011). "Sierra Leone Marta on the rise to Stardom but ..." International Institute for Journalism of GIZ. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  26. ^ "African Women U-17 Qualifying Tournament 2010". Rsssf.com. 25 February 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  27. ^ "FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup: Qualifiers". FIFA. Archived from the original on 11 July 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  28. ^ "Goal for the girls!". SOS: Children's Villages. 21 January 2012. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  29. ^ "Sierra Leone-Gambia FIFA U-17 Women's match delayed for 24-hours". Sierra Leone: Sierra Leone Football. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  30. ^ a b "Sierra Leone pull out of FIFA U-20 Women's Championship qualifier". Sierra Leone Football. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  31. ^ a b Contah, Alfred (7 February 2012). "Sierra Leone U-17 Women's coach attributes elimination by The Gambia to bad refereeing". Sierra Leone Football. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  32. ^ a b "Sierra Leone U-17 Women's national team off to The Gambia". Sierra Leone Football. 25 March 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  33. ^ "Africa: Soccer Dreams Realised by West African Trio". allAfrica.com. 4 April 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  34. ^ a b "Sierra Leone host Gambia in FIFA Women's U-17 qualifying match in Makeni". Sierra Leone Football. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  35. ^ "Gambia beat Tunisia on the 1st leg of the Final Round". Gambia: Gambia Football Association. Archived from the original on 28 May 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  36. ^ "Cement Company LEOCEM rescues Sierra Leone U-17 Women's team". Sierra Leone Football. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  37. ^ "FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup: Qualifiers". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 16 April 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  38. ^ "Fixtures – CAN U-20 women 2010". CAF. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  39. ^ "African Women U-20 World Cup 2010 Qualifying". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  40. ^ "Coach Hallowell Announces Final Female National Team Squad For WAFU Tourney in Cape Verde".
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