Leone Stars put Star Sports Academy to the test ahead of 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign

Sierra Leone’s Leone Stars began stepping up their preparations for the TotalEnergies 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 4-0 victory over Star Sports Academy FC in a technical test match.

The fixture was part of the national team’s home-based training camp and gave the coaching staff an opportunity to assess the players available locally while refining their tactical plans before the next international fixtures.

Leone Stars produced a commanding display against an opponent also preparing for continental competition. The match account described Sierra Leone as scoring three unanswered goals during an impressive performance, while the final result was recorded as a 4-0 victory.

The opponents are preparing for a significant CAF assignment of their own. Star Sports Academy FC is due to face Gambian side Medina United FC in the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League on Saturday, 5 September 2026.

That match will be played at Southern Arena in Bo City, making the meeting with Leone Stars an important competitive exercise for the club before its continental campaign begins.

For Sierra Leone, the result provided another useful step in the early stages of preparations for the TotalEnergies 2027 AFCON Qualifiers. The technical team is continuing to examine the home-based group as it works towards building a strong squad for the qualifying programme.

The training-camp fixture also offered both teams valuable match experience ahead of their respective international commitments. While Leone Stars used the game to assess the wider group and develop their tactical approach, Star Sports Academy FC had the chance to test its players before the CAF Champions League preliminary-round tie.

The victory gives Sierra Leone encouragement as preparations continue, although the central purpose of the match was evaluation rather than a competitive result. The coaching staff can now review the performance of the home-based players and consider how they may contribute to the national team’s plans for the TotalEnergies 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.

Star Sports Academy FC, meanwhile, will turn its attention to Medina United FC and the 5 September meeting at Southern Arena. The Gambian side represents the next challenge in the club’s preparations for continental football, following a test against Leone Stars.

With both sides facing important matches ahead, the encounter served as a practical opportunity for their respective technical teams to examine their squads in competitive conditions. For Leone Stars, it was another stage in assembling and shaping a team capable of competing in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification process.