Sierra Leone men’s football league restarts on Friday

Sierra Leone domestic football restarts

JOHANNESBURG, April 20 (ANA) – The Sierra Leone men’s football Premier League season will restart on Friday for the first time since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Domestic football in the West African nation was halted on March 17 last year, with that season scrapped completely with no winner declared. There were also no teams relegated.

The season will start with four newly-promoted teams in action: Bai Bureh Warriors, Sierra Leone Police, Sliefa Mount Auorel and Wusum Stars. They will join the traditional 14 top-flight clubs, the Premier League Board has confirmed.

Anti-Drugs FC will play host to newcomers Sliefa on the opening day, while debutants Sierra Leone Police will face East End Tigers, and 2019 Challenge Cup Winners FC Kallon faces Port Authority.

For the first time in the country’s history, an unprecedented number of 18 teams will battle in a one round league format, with matches set to be played almost at every district headquarter town countrywide.

According to the League Board chaired by Alieu Vandy “each of the 18 teams will play 17 games in this season as was unanimously agreed by the Premier League Board (PLB), in consultation with the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA).”

A total number of 306 matches be played within a period of three months, and the team with the highest points will be crowned champions.

The 18 teams are: Anti-Drugs, Bai Bureh Warriors, Bo Rangers, Central Parade, Diamond Stars, East End Lions, East End Tigers, Freetown City FC, FC Johansen, FC Kallon, Kamboi Eagles, Mighty Blackpool, Old Edwardians, Ports Authority, Republic of Sierra Leone Arm Force, Sierra Leone Police, SLIFA Mount Auorel and Wusum Stars FC.- African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Michael Sherman