Sierra Leonean champions Star Sport Academy have suffered a 2-0 defeat against Moroccan side RS Berkane in the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League at SKD Arena in Monrovia, Liberia
The defeat leaves the Freetown-based club facing a difficult task in the return leg as they seek to keep their maiden continental campaign alive.
Star Sport, who entered the competition after finishing runners-up in the 2025/26 Sierra Leone Premier League, had made an encouraging start to their African campaign by progressing past Gambian champions Medina United in the first preliminary round.
The Academy secured a goalless draw at the Southern Arena in Bo before earning a 1-1 draw away at the Independence Stadium in The Gambia. Santigie Fornah scored the decisive goal in the away fixture, helping Star Sport advance on aggregate.
Their progress marked a major achievement for a club established in January 2022. After spending only two seasons in the Premier League, Star Sport finished second last season with 61 points from 34 matches, three points behind champions Bo Rangers. They subsequently took Sierra Leone’s place in the CAF Champions League after Bo Rangers withdrew from the competition.
However, the challenge posed by RS Berkane represents a major step up in experience and continental pedigree. The Moroccan side has established itself as a formidable force in African football, making the tie a major test for Star Sport’s young squad.
Head coach Amidu Karim had acknowledged the difficulty of the encounter ahead of the match, recognising Berkane’s experience while expressing belief that anything was possible with proper preparation.
Despite the setback, Star Sport’s participation in the competition remains an important milestone for Sierra Leonean football. Their progress from the opening round has offered the young club valuable exposure to continental competition.
Star Sport must now regroup ahead of the return leg in Morocco, where they will need a strong performance to overturn the two-goal deficit and extend their historic CAF Champions League journey.