The Leone Stars of Sierra Leone are set to face Burkina Faso at the Stade du 26 Mars in Group A of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. This match is crucial for both teams as they strive to improve their standings and build momentum.

Sierra Leone is seeking to secure consecutive victories for the first time since March 2022. They come into this match following a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Djibouti, which has boosted their confidence. In that game, Curtis Davies opened the scoring in the first 12 minutes, and despite a penalty equalizer from Gabriel Dadzie, Augustus Kargbo's goal early in the second half secured the win for the Leone Stars. This victory ended a seven-match winless streak that included five losses and two draws, where Sierra Leone conceded 16 goals and scored just six.

With their recent win, Sierra Leone has moved to fourth place in the group standings, tied on points with Burkina Faso but trailing them on goal difference. The Leone Stars will aim to leapfrog their rivals with a win in this encounter.

Burkina Faso, on the other hand, is looking to bounce back after a string of four consecutive defeats since January. Their last match saw them narrowly lose 2-1 to Egypt, the seven-time African champions, at the Cairo International Stadium. Prior to this, Burkina Faso had a mixed start to their World Cup qualifying campaign, with a 1-1 draw against Guinea-Bissau followed by an impressive 3-0 victory over Ethiopia.

As the Stallions aim to turn their fortunes around and climb to second place in the group, they will need to address their recent defensive frailties and find the attacking form that saw them secure their earlier victory against Ethiopia.

The upcoming match promises to be a thrilling encounter as both teams have everything to play for in their quest for World Cup qualification. The Leone Stars, under the guidance of head coach Amidu Karim, will look to capitalize on their recent success and continue their upward trajectory. Below is the lineup announced by the Leone Stars' head coach for the crucial match against Burkina Faso:

**Sierra Leone Squad to Face Burkina Faso:**

*Goalkeepers:*

1. Mohamed Kamara

2. Ibrahim Sesay

*Defenders:*

1. Umaru Bangura (Captain)

2. Kevin Wright

3. Alie Sesay

4. Osman Kakay

5. Mustapha Dumbuya

*Midfielders:*

1. John Kamara

2. Kwame Quee

3. Abdul Sesay

4. George Kweku Davies

*Forwards:*

1. Kei Kamara

2. Augustus Kargbo

3. Curtis Davies

The match is set to be a significant test for both teams, and fans will be eagerly watching to see who comes out on top in this crucial World Cup qualifying clash.