Sierra Leone Climbs Five Places in Latest FIFA World Ranking
By Mohamed Toby Kargbo
Sierra Leone’s senior men’s national football team, the Leone Stars, has made notable progress in the latest FIFA World Rankings, climbing five places from 129th to 124th globally.
The leap in ranking comes on the heels of a recent impressive run in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where Sierra Leone secured a commanding victory over Guinea-Bissau and narrowly lost 1-0 to African giants Egypt. Despite the defeat, the Leone Stars demonstrated strong resilience and tactical discipline against one of the continent’s top-ranked sides.
The improved ranking not only boosts national pride but could also open new opportunities for Sierra Leonean players to gain recognition and contracts in top European and international leagues. The country now stands at 34th in Africa, reflecting its growing influence in continental football.
The Leone Stars are set to resume their World Cup qualification campaign in September. In the meantime, the team is expected to engage in a series of international friendlies against high-profile opponents from Africa, Asia, and Europe. These matches are critical, as FIFA rankings consider the strength of opponents and match outcomes in their evaluation criteria.
The recent rise in the global rankings offers renewed hope for Sierra Leonean football and underscores the strides being made in the national team’s development.
