By Ishmael Zay-Bangura
Freetown, 18th May, 2026 – The 2026 Orange Sierra Leone FA Cup is coming toward a thrilling conclusion, as two of the country’s traditional powerhouses, Mighty Blackpool and East End Lions, have secured their places in the final after an exhilarating semifinal weekend in Freetown.
On Saturday evening, 16th May 2026, Mighty Blackpool edged past ambitious underdogs Abacha City FC in a tense encounter at the SLFA Academy Playing Field. After a goalless stalemate in regular time, the contest was decided by a penalty shootout, where Blackpool prevailed 4-3. The victory kept alive the club’s pursuit of another major domestic trophy and highlighted their resilience in what has been one of the most unpredictable FA Cup campaigns in recent memory.
The following day, on Sunday, 17th May, East End Lions joined their historic rivals in the final by narrowly defeating FC Kallon 1-0 at the Approved School Playing Field. The game’s only goal came just before the interval when forward Innocent Emmanuel Uduk found the net in the 43rd minute, sending the “Killers” into celebration and dashing FC Kallon’s hopes of a final appearance.
FC Kallon’s exit added another layer of drama to this year’s tournament. They had entered the semifinals as one of the favourites after a stunning quarterfinal victory over defending champions Bo Rangers FC, a result that sent shockwaves through Sierra Leonean football. Instead, the competition will now culminate in a blockbuster showdown between two of the nation’s most successful and passionately supported clubs.
The final promises to reignite one of Sierra Leone’s fiercest football rivalries, with Mighty Blackpool known as the “Tis-Tas Boys” and East End Lions nicknamed “The Killers” battling for national glory to be crowned 2026 Orange Sierra Leone FA Cup champions.
Football fans across the country are already anticipating an electrifying atmosphere for a match that will write a fresh chapter in the long-standing rivalry between these two Freetown-based giants.
The stakes extended far beyond silverware. The winner of the FA Cup would automatically qualify for the CAF Championship, Africa’s premier club competition, where they would join the winner of the Leone Rock Premier League as Sierra Leone’s representatives.
Additionally, later in the season, the FA Cup winner and the Leone Rock Premier League winner would face each other in the Sierra Leone Super Cup final. Thus, the outcome of this final would determine one half of that Super Cup matchup.
The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has confirmed that an official date for the final has not yet been set, adding that further details will be announced in due course.
