East End Lions have been eliminated from the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup after a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Côte d’Ivoire’s AFAD Djékanou (also known as AFAD Plateau or Académie de Football Amadou Diallo) in the second leg of their preliminary-round tie on Saturday.
The result left the two-legged contest locked at 3-3 on aggregate. AFAD advanced on the away-goals rule. Lions had earned a valuable 1-1 draw in the first leg in Abidjan the previous weekend, giving them hope of progressing with home advantage in the return fixture.
It was another tightly contested encounter, but the Ivorian side’s two goals on the road proved decisive. For the Red Roaring Lions, the exit ends their continental campaign at the earliest stage and marks another tough outing for Sierra Leonean clubs in CAF competitions.
East End Lions entered the tournament as 2026 Orange FA Cup champions and after a solid fourth-place finish in the Premier League. The club had shown promise domestically, but the jump to continental level once again exposed the challenges local sides face against better-resourced opponents.
The team focus now shifts to regrouping. The technical team and players will need to analyse the shortcomings from both legs, tighten up defensively, and sharpen their attacking play. With the domestic season ongoing and the FA Cup title already secured, the Killers will look to rebuild and come back stronger the next time they qualify for continental action.
The latest exit will only intensify the debate among fans, coaches and administrators about what Sierra Leonean clubs must do better funding, improved facilities, longer preparation periods, or stronger youth pathways, to consistently match and beat established African sides.
