By Franklyn Jones
Sierra Leone has appointed French football manager Didier Gomes Da Rosa as the new head coach of the men’s national football team, the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) announced, handing the experienced tactician the task of guiding the Leone Stars through upcoming continental and World Cup qualifying campaigns.
Gomes, 56, arrives with more than a decade of coaching experience across Africa, having managed clubs and national teams in Cameroon, Rwanda, Guinea, Sudan, Tanzania, Mauritania and Botswana.
The Frenchman has built a reputation as one of the continent’s most travelled coaches, winning league titles in several African countries and leading clubs deep into continental competitions. His appointment comes as Sierra Leone seeks to strengthen its standing in African football following recent efforts to rebuild the national team setup.
Born in Charenton-le-Pont, France, on Oct. 10, 1969, Gomes holds a UEFA Pro Licence and began his coaching career in France before moving to Africa, where he achieved success with clubs including Rayon Sports of Rwanda, Coton Sport of Cameroon, Horoya AC of Guinea, Al-Merrikh of Sudan and Simba SC of Tanzania.
Among his major achievements are league titles in Rwanda, Cameroon, Guinea, Sudan and Tanzania, as well as domestic cup triumphs in Cameroon, Tanzania and Jordan. He was named Tanzania’s best coach during the 2020-21 season after guiding Simba to a league and cup double.
At international level, Gomes coached Mauritania at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and later led Botswana during the qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations before leaving the role in 2024.
The appointment follows weeks of speculation linking Gomes with the Sierra Leone job after reports identified him as a leading candidate to replace the previous coaching setup.
Sierra Leone’s national team, popularly known as the Leone Stars, returned to the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021 after a 25-year absence but has struggled to establish itself among the continent’s leading football nations. The country is seeking to build on recent progress, including strong performances by its youth teams and a growing pool of players competing abroad.
Gomes is expected to bring tactical experience and extensive knowledge of African football as Sierra Leone targets qualification for future Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and the FIFA World Cup. His track record includes winning domestic titles in five African countries and managing teams in CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup competitions.
Note: The appointment has been reported by multiple sources and social media announcements linked to the SLFA, but a detailed official federation statement outlining contract terms had not yet been widely published at the time of writing.
