By Ibrahim Karim Bangura (Tanko)

The Chairman of Sierra Leone Premier League, Victor Lewis,  has assured the men’s national tram Leone Stars that they still have a chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup campaign.

He made this assurance on Tuesday February 27, 2024 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation conference room.

He disclosed that the Leone Rock Metal Group sponsored Premier League consumes about 60 million old Leones on weekly basis, done to foster the effective activities of the league.

He added that the league had faced inconsistencies over the last ten years and the inconsistencies of the league induced the setting up of a “makeshift national team.”

Victor Lewis reiterated that this has been a key factor, slowing the progress of football in Sierra Leone and has been affecting the performance of the national team.

Meanwhile, Sierra Leone is currently on the edge to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after failing to qualify for this year’s AFCON hosted in Ivory Coast.

He affirmed that Leone Stars qualification for the 2026 World Cup has ensued diverse opinions, considering the country’s poor performance in its recent international friendly matches.

Victor Lewis stated that the league is a breeding ground to looking out for potentials and talents of home-based players.

The local Premier does not only intrigue football-loving fans, it also provides approximately over 1,000 jobs for Sierra Leoneans.

He expressed his anticipation to seeing young Sierra Leonean footballers playing in prominent leagues across the globe, emphasinsing the essence of having foreign-based footballers in the country.