By Barrie Alpha
Sierra Leone Football Association round 2024 FA Cup will kick off today, Wednesday January 24 2024, with two fixtures playing in preliminary games and eight commencing in the round of 32 across different venues in the country.
Kamboi Eagles battles with FC Johansen and Bhantal FC entertain Kholifa Stars at the Kenema Town field and the Trade Center in Freetown respectively in preliminary games.
In the round of 32, Captain Ben Hirish FC will host Ports Authority FC at the Kailahun field, while Old Edwardians welcomes Bombali Shebora FC at the Parade field, Path Foundation FC battles Mighty Blackpool in Bonthe, Waterloo FC will entertain Bo Rangers at the Bassa Town field, Zion FC will take on Diamond Stars FC in Moyamba, East End Lions FC will face Biankoko FC at Trade Center field in Freetown, FC Kallon will engage Ashley FC at the Angola playing field and Francess FC will lock horns with Bai Bureh Warriors at the Kenema Town field.
The FA Cup is played to determine preliminary qualifiers for CAF Second tier inter-club competition, the CAF Confederations Cup for the season ahead 2024/25.
The FA Cup is open to all registered Premier league clubs, Division One and Division Two clubs affiliated to the Sierra Leone Football Association.
14 teams emerging from the District Qualifiers qualified to the Round of 32 (before that District Regional FA’s conducted Districts Preliminary Qualifiers to determine qualification to the Round of 32 with the exception of Western Area Urban District who did not send in a team for the final round of 32)
The FA Cup is being organized by the Sierra Leone Football Association, and the competition will be played on a knockout basis.
The 2024 Sierra Leonean FA Cup is scheduled to start on Wednesday 31st January, 2024 as officially planned.
Effective Round of 16 the Football Association will pay a progression fee of Nle5, 000 to each qualified team to the Round of 8. However, the proposed NLe5, 000 progression fee will be applicable until the last stage.
The champions for the 2023/24 FA Cup will bag a Nle100,000 as champions cash prize, while the runner-up will take home Nle50,000.
The finals for the 2023/24 FA Cup will be played in Port Loko, the first time the competition will be hosted in the district.
