The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has announced that Leone Stars captain, Steven Caulker, has left the team’s camp in Monrovia, Liberia, to address urgent personal matters requiring his immediate attention.
Caulker’s departure means he will miss Sierra Leone’s final game against Zambia’s Chipolopolo in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification campaign.
This news comes after Sierra Leone was officially eliminated from the qualifiers following Zambia’s 1-0 victory over Ivory Coast, which secured both teams’ spots in the tournament.
Despite the setback, the SLFA thanked fans for their unwavering support and urged them to continue rallying behind the team.
“We stand united with our players as they represent Sierra Leone with pride,” the SLFA stated.
Sierra Leone last participated in AFCON in 2022 when the tournament, delayed by COVID-19, was hosted by Cameroon. Despite their historic qualification, the team failed to progress beyond the group stage, but their performance sparked renewed hope for consistent appearances on the continental stage.
The team’s failure to qualify this time will reignite debates over the state of football in Sierra Leone and the steps needed to maintain competitiveness at the highest level.
