Kallon Out Keister In: SLFA Appoints John Keister as Leone Stars Caretaker Coach

The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has officially appointed former national team coach John Edward Keister as Caretaker Head Coach of the men’s national team, Leone Stars, on Sunday, May 31, 2026, “pending the recruitment of a substantive Head Coach.”

The appointment follows the dismissal of former coach Mohamed Kallon, one of Sierra Leone’s greatest footballers, and is intended as a temporary measure while the association continues its search for a permanent head coach.

Keister Returns to Lead Leone Stars

Image: John Keister

Keister, 55, widely regarded as one of Sierra Leone’s most experienced football tacticians, returns to the helm of the national team at a crucial period for Sierra Leonean football.

The former coach of the Leone Stars, East End Lions, and FC Johansen is best remembered for guiding Sierra Leone to qualification for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon, ending the country’s 25-year absence from Africa’s premier football tournament.

According to the SLFA, Keister’s appointment is strictly on a caretaker basis while the association continues recruiting a substantive Head Coach for the national team.

New Technical Team Announced

Image: Sierra Leone National Team Players Posing for a Photo Before a Match

Keister, who played for Sierra Leone at the national and international levels, will not be working alone.

The SLFA also named a technical team to support the caretaker coach, appointing Alhaji Foray as Assistant Coach I and Mohamed Lamin Kamara as Assistant Coach II.

According to the association’s press release, SLFA described Keister as “one of Sierra Leone’s most experienced football tacticians” and expressed confidence in the coaching staff’s ability to guide the team through its upcoming assignments.

Preparing for Liberia Friendlies

Image: John Keister Names His Squad To Face Liberia

Keister’s first assignment as a new coach, for the second time, will be during the June FIFA international window, when Leone Stars take on neighbouring Liberia in two international friendlies.

Sierra Leone will host Liberia’s Lone Star on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at the Southern Arena in Bo City.

The return fixture will take place three days later, on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Stadium in Monrovia, Liberia.

The two matches are expected to provide the technical team with an opportunity to assess players and strengthen preparations for upcoming competitive fixtures.

SLFA Expresses Confidence in Coaching Trio

Image: SLFA Official Press Release

Ibrahim Kamara, Head of Media and Marketing, the SLFA Executive Committee, expressed confidence in the leadership and technical abilities of Keister and his assistants.

The association stated that the appointment is intended to ensure stability and continuity within the national team setup while the search for a permanent head coach continues.

By turning to a coach familiar with the Leone Stars environment and players, the SLFA hopes to maintain momentum and provide a smooth transition during this interim period as preparations continue for future international assignments.