Monrovia, Liberia — The Leone Stars of Sierra Leone have safely arrived in Monrovia ahead of their highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixture against Burkina Faso, set for Wednesday, 8 October 2025, at the SKD Stadium (Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex).
The squad is lodged at the Murex Plaza Hotel & Suites, approximately 1.69 km from the venue, as they gear up for the match. Preparations will continue with multiple training sessions in the coming days.
The team arrives buoyed by their recent win over Ethiopia in Monrovia.
Context: The Road to Qualification
* Sierra Leone competes in Group A of the CAF qualifiers, alongside Egypt, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. The group winner secures direct qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup; the runner-up may qualify for the inter-confederation play-offs.
* Currently, Sierra Leone is third in the group standings, trailing Egypt, who lead the pack.
* Burkina Faso, their next opponent, announced their 25-man squad for the October matches.
* One of Burkina Faso’s notable absences in this round is midfielder Cyriaque Irie, sidelined due to illness, while other players like Arsène Kouassi also miss out for administrative reasons.
* The October 8 match against Sierra Leone precedes Burkina Faso’s home fixture against Ethiopia four days later.
In recent form, Sierra Leone faced Egypt in March, and despite a strong effort, fell 1–0. The Egyptian goal came in first-half stoppage time, which extended Egypt’s lead at the summit of the group.
What to Watch
* Sierra Leone must push for maximum points to keep alive their hopes of topping the group or securing the playoff slot.
* The match location in Monrovia is part of an ongoing arrangement (Sierra Leone is hosting in Liberia).
* The Leone Stars, confident from their recent victory, will aim to carry momentum into the encounter.
