LEONE STARS BEGIN THE MARCH — 27 HOME-BASED WARRIORS CALLED TO LIGHT THE ROAD TO AFCON 2027:

By David K.Fengai

Sierra Leone’s national football team, Leone Stars, has begun laying the groundwork for its 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign, with Head Coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa inviting 27 home-based players to report for an intensive training camp.

The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) announced that the selected players will assemble on Monday, 17 August 2026, at the SLFA Technical Centre in Freetown, marking the beginning of a crucial phase in the technical team’s preparations for the continental challenge ahead.

The home-based camp is expected to give Coach Da Rosa and his technical staff an opportunity to assess emerging local talents, evaluate their fitness and tactical understanding, and identify players capable of strengthening the national squad. For the invited footballers, the camp represents more than a routine training exercise; it is an opportunity to stake a claim for national recognition and potentially earn a place in the final Leone Stars squad.

With the 2027 AFCON qualifiers approaching, the technical team is expected to focus on building depth, competitiveness and cohesion within the squad. The inclusion of 27 locally based players also highlights the importance of domestic football in supplying talent to the national team.

For Leone Stars, the road to AFCON 2027 will demand discipline, preparation and consistency. As the players report to the SLFA Technical Centre, the message is clear: the journey begins at home, but the destination is continental glory.