The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has ended the tenure of Mohamed Kallon as head coach of the Leone Stars, the national senior men’s football team, with immediate effect. The termination, announced Thursday in an official press release signed by Media and Marketing Officer Lamin Tarawalie, brings to a close a brief but high-profile chapter in the nation’s football history.
The SLFA’s Executive Committee, acting in the lawful exercise of its statutory and administrative mandate, adopted the resolution to end Kallon’s appointment, citing the need for a change in leadership in furtherance of the best interests of the Association and the game of football in Sierra Leone.
“This decision follows due deliberation and a considered assessment of the technical, administrative, and strategic imperatives of the national team,” the SLFA stated, adding that Kallon ceases to hold, act, or be recognized in the capacity of head coach from the date of the notice.
Kallon was officially unveiled as Leone Stars head coach on February 26, 2025, at a ceremony held at the SLFA federation office in Freetown, attended by SLFA President Thomas Daddy Brima, the National Sports Authority, and the Ministry of Sports.
At the time of his appointment, Kallon framed the role as a patriotic duty, saying he accepted the job because it was for his country and that his love for Sierra Leone drove him to take on the responsibility. The former Inter Milan and AS Monaco striker who earned 39 caps for Sierra Leone, scoring seven goals, and who became the first Sierra Leonean to obtain a UEFA Pro License in 2020 was hailed as the people’s choice for the job.
His appointment came with a three-year contract under the SLFA’s “Concept 2027” initiative, a strategy designed to build a competitive team capable of qualifying for major international tournaments. NSA Executive Director Dr. Emanuel Safa Abdulai confirmed the three-year deal at the unveiling, noting it included the possibility of renewal based on performance.
Kallon’s stint in charge took Leone Stars into some of the country’s most watched international football moments. His first competitive assignments came in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where the team faced Guinea-Bissau and Egypt. He then led the side into Sierra Leone’s first-ever participation in the FIFA Men’s Series, a biennial cross-confederation invitational tournament organised by world football’s governing body.
Leone Stars travelled to Baku for the FIFA Series 2026, with the delegation led by SLFA First Vice President Alie Badara Tarawallie, and joined in Istanbul by seven foreign-based players including Juma Bah, Sullay Kaikai, Daniel Kanu, Idris Kanu, Kamil Conteh, Yayah Kallon, and John T. Kamara.
In what proved to be his last match in charge, Leone Stars gave a resilient account of themselves, with D. Kanu breaking the deadlock with a stunning long-range effort in the 29th minute before Azerbaijan equalised in the second half. The match ultimately went to a penalty shootout, where Sierra Leone fell narrowly, 9-8, in a marathon sudden-death sequence decided when the Azerbaijani goalkeeper saved the final kick from Alpha Turay.
The SLFA, in its statement, offered no further elaboration beyond the broad administrative language of the press release, though it acknowledged Kallon’s service. “The SLFA acknowledges his service and contribution during his tenure and extends its best wishes for his future professional endeavours,” the statement read.
No announcement has yet been made regarding an interim appointment or the timeline for a new head coach selection process.
Kallon’s dismissal comes less than fourteen months after his arrival and leaves the Leone Stars at a crossroads. Sierra Leone’s football faithful who had rallied around the former captain with considerable national enthusiasm now face fresh uncertainty as the AFCON 2027 qualification campaign looms on the horizon.
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Whether the SLFA moves swiftly to appoint a successor or takes time to reassess its broader coaching strategy remains to be seen. What is clear is that Mohamed Kallon’s second chapter with Leone Stars, the one he described as driven by love for his country has ended sooner than anyone anticipated.
