Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. Sierra Leone’s national football team, the Leone Stars, is preparing to face Azerbaijan in a FIFA Series 2026 international friendly on Monday, even as the team’s official channels moved to quash rumors of a player boycott hours before kickoff.
The match is scheduled for 3:00 PM at the Mehdi Huseynzade Stadium.
Earlier on Sunday, reports emerged alleging that players had refused to take the pitch in protest over unpaid match bonuses. Sources had indicated that tensions built following the team’s arrival in Azerbaijan, with players reportedly frustrated over delays in receiving financial entitlements.
However, a statement released by the Leone Stars team dismissed the claims as “false and misleading,” confirming that preparations were continuing as planned.
“The team is currently heading out for training, and preparations for the match are proceeding smoothly,” the statement read. “At no point have players refused to play or staged any form of protest.”
The statement further described the earlier reports as an attempt to “sabotage the team’s image” and called on fans and stakeholders to disregard unverified information.
Amid the pre-match uncertainty, the team has also highlighted several player storylines. Winger Kwame Quee returns to the national team after a two-year absence, describing the moment as emotional and a great honor. Amadou Bakayoko is also back in the squad, aiming to strengthen the attack.
Additionally, Yayah Kallon is in line for his debut. The winger, who survived an eight-month migration journey before rising through Serie A, is expected to feature for the Leone Stars for the first time.
As of kickoff time, neither the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) nor government officials had issued further comment regarding the financial matters raised in the initial reports. The team maintains that morale remains positive and that focus is fixed on delivering a strong performance in the international friendly.
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