By: Hassan Osman Kargbo

Following the end of his three years contract with the Sierra Leone football Association (SLFA) as the Head Coach of Sierra Leone National Team, speculations around John Keister to retain his job as Head Coach of Leone Stars remain uncertain.

John Keister was appointed on August 2020, as Sierra Leone’s football Head coach. The former Sierra Leonean international was named head Coach of Leone Stars for a second time on a deal until 2023.

Keister (53) replaced former Ghana and Rwanda coach Sellas Tetteh, who resigned in March 2020 citing personal reasons. According to Keister after his appointment in 2020, Leone Stars team needs to embark mainly on transition. He empathized on the need of transition in the Leone Stars team.

However, three years down the line, many Sierra Leoneans especially football loving fans are still skeptical in Keister’s football tactics. Recently, Leone Stars played a mouthwatering encounter against the Super Eagle of Nigeria to secure a place in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nation (AFCON) in Cote d’ Ivore.

But, the match ended in favour of the Super Eagles of Nigeria. Leone Stars hopes of playing AFCON in Cote d’Ivorie was shattered courtesy by a late goal scored by the Leicester City forward Kelechi Henecho.

The defeat to Nigeria has led many football loving fans to questioned Keister’s football tactics.  Many are calling for his replacing as the Head Coach considering the poor form of the national team in recent months.

Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) is yet to decide as to whether to keep John Keister or to relieve him from his duty. In addition, Keister is yet to decide about his contract situation following the team recent exist from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nation in Cote d’Ivorie.

However, the gaffer led Leone Stars to the Africa Cup of Nation (AFCON) 2022 in Cameroon for the first time in twenty-five years. Despite the rumours of replaying John Keister with a foreign coach, SLFA is yet to decide on Keister’s future.