The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has named John Edward Keister as Caretaker Head Coach of the national football team, the Leone Stars, effective Sunday, May 31, 2026. This appointment follows the dismissal of former coach Mohamed Kallon and is a temporary measure while the SLFA searches for a permanent replacement.
At 55, Keister is considered one of Sierra Leone’s most experienced football coaches. He previously led the Leone Stars to qualify for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, ending a 25-year absence from the tournament. The SLFA confirmed that Keister’s role is solely caretaker until a substantive head coach is recruited.
In addition to Keister, the SLFA has appointed a technical team, including Alhaji Foray as Assistant Coach I and Mohamed Lamin Kamara as Assistant Coach II. The association has expressed confidence in the new coaching staff’s capabilities to guide the team through upcoming challenges.
Keister’s first task will be during the June FIFA international window, where the Leone Stars will face Liberia in two friendly matches. The first will take place on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at the Southern Arena in Bo City, with the return fixture set for Tuesday, June 9, at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in Monrovia, Liberia. These matches will help the coaching staff assess players and prepare for future competitive fixtures.
Ibrahim Kamara, Head of Media and Marketing for the SLFA, affirmed the association’s confidence in Keister and his team’s abilities, aiming to ensure stability within the national team during this interim period while a permanent head coach is found.
