Sierra Leone National Premier League is a professional football league in Sierra Leone. It was founded in 1967. The league is sponsored by the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, one of the major Sierra Leonean banks. East End Lions and Mighty Blackpool are the two biggest and most successful clubs. The National Premier League is controlled by the Sierra Leone Football Association. The season runs from March to July.[1]
| Founded | 1967 |
|---|---|
| Country | Sierra Leone |
| Confederation | CAF |
| Number of teams | 18 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Sierra Leone National First Division |
| Domestic cup(s) | Sierra Leonean FA Cup |
| International cup(s) | Champions League Confederation Cup |
| Current champions | Bo Rangers F.C. (2023–2024) |
| TV partners | AYV |
| Website | slpremierleague.com |
| Current: 2024-25 Sierra Leone National Premier League | |
The current champions of the premier league are East End Lions. They won the league unbeatable in 2019.
Fc Kallon's 7–0 win against Sierra Leone Police Fc on October 23, 2021, is the biggest win in the history of the league.
Structure
editEighteen clubs compete in the league, playing each other twice, once at home and once away. At the end of the season the bottom three clubs are relegated to the Sierra Leone National First Division, the second highest football league in Sierra Leone. The champions qualify for the CAF Champions League, while the second place team or the winner of the Sierra Leonean FA Cup will qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup. If the winner of the Sierra Leonean FA Cup has already qualify for the CAF Champions League, the Confederations Cup spot will go to the second place team in the table.
Current teams 2019 season
edit| Club | City | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anti Drugs Strikers | Newton | Dems field Wellington | |
| Bo Rangers | Bo | Bo Stadium | 10,000 |
| Central Parade | Freetown | National Stadium | 45,000 |
| Diamond Stars | Koidu Town | Koidu Sports Stadium | 2,000 |
| East End Lions | Freetown | National Stadium | 45,000 |
| Freetown City | Freetown | National Stadium | 45,000 |
| Eastern Tigers Stars | Lungi | National Stadium | 45,000 |
| Kallon | Freetown | National Stadium | 45,000 |
| Mighty Blackpool | Freetown | National Stadium | 45,000 |
| Old Edwardians | Freetown | National Stadium | 45,000 |
| Ports Authority | Freetown | National Stadium | 45,000 |
| Kamboi Eagles | Kenema | Town Field | |
| SLRA | Makeni | EBK Stadium |
Previous winners
edit| Years | Champions |
| 1967 | Mighty Blackpool (1) |
| Not held between 1968 and 1972 | |
| 1973 | Ports Authority FC (1) |
| 1974 | Mighty Blackpool (2) |
| Not held between 1975 and 1977 | |
| 1978 | Mighty Blackpool (3) |
| 1979 | Mighty Blackpool (4) |
| 1980 | East End Lions (1) |
| 1981 | Real Republicans (1) |
| 1982 | Kallon Football Club (1) |
| 1983 | Real Republicans (2) |
| 1984 | Real Republicans (3) |
| 1985 | East End Lions (2) |
| 1986 | Kallon Football Club (2) |
| 1987 | Kallon Football Club (3) |
| 1988 | Mighty Blackpool (5) |
| 1989 | Freetown City (1) |
| 1990 | Old Edwardians (1) |
| 1991 | Mighty Blackpool (6) |
| 1992 | East End Lions (3) |
| 1993 | East End Lions (4) |
| 1994 | East End Lions (5) |
| 1995 | Mighty Blackpool (7) |
| 1996 | Mighty Blackpool (8) |
| 1997 | East End Lions (6) |
| 1998 | Mighty Blackpool (9) |
| 1999 | East End Lions (7) |
| 2000 | Mighty Blackpool (10) |
| 2001 | Mighty Blackpool (11) |
| Not held between 2002 and 2004 | |
| 2005 | East End Lions (8) |
| 2006 | Kallon Football Club (4) |
| 2007 | Not held |
| 2008 | Ports Authority FC (2) |
| 2009 | East End Lions (9) |
| 2010 | East End Lions (10) |
| 2011 | Ports Authority FC (3) |
| 2011-2012 | Diamond Stars FC (1) |
| 2013 | Diamond Stars FC (2) |
| 2014 | East End Lions (11) |
| 2015 | Not held |
| 2016 | Not finished |
| 2017 | Not held |
| 2018 | Not held |
| 2019 | East End Lions (12) |
| 2019-2020 (Not finished due to Covid-19[2]) | |
| 2021-2022 | Bo Rangers (1) |
| 2022-2023 | Bo Rangers (2) |
| 2023-24 | Bo Rangers (3) |
Performance by club
edit| Club | City | Titles | Last title |
|---|---|---|---|
| East End Lions | Freetown | 12 | 2018–19 |
| Mighty Blackpool | Freetown | 11 | 2000–01 |
| Kallon (includes Sierra Fisheries) | Freetown | 4 | 2005–06 |
| Bo Rangers | Bo | 3 | 2023–24 |
| Real Republicans | Freetown | 3 | 1984 |
| Ports Authority | Freetown | 3 | 2010–11 |
| Diamond Stars | Koidu | 2 | 2012–13 |
| Freetown City (includes Freetown United) | Freetown | 1 | 1989 |
| Old Edwardians | Freetown | 1 | 1990 |
Top goalscorers
edit| Season | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 |  Kelfala Marah |
Mighty Blackpool | 5 |
| Abdulai K. Conteh | Old Edwardians | ||
| 2007–08 | Lahai "Chandus" Freeman |
10 | |
| 2011–12 | James Bangura |
Central Parade | 8 |
| 2019 | Musa Noah Kamara |
East End Lions | 15 |
| 2021-22 | Musa Noah Kamara |
Bo Rangers | 19 |
| 2022-23 | Alie Conteh |
Kallon | 14 |
| 2023-24 | Musa Noah Kamara |
Bo Rangers | 14 |
- Most time goalscorers
- 3 times
- Musa Noah Kamara (2019, 2021-22, 2023-24)
References
edit- ^ "Aboutaball website". Archived from the original on March 7, 2012.
- ^ "La COVID-19 provoque l'annulation de saison en Sierra Leone". fr.cafonline.com. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
External links
edit- League overview at Soccerway
- League at FIFA (archived 12 December 2007)
- TheFarFoot website
- RSSSF competition history
- Sierra Leone Premier League, standings, results & fixtures