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East End Lions Football Club emerged champions of the 2026 Orange FA Cup after defeating Mighty Blackpool 1-0 in a closely contested final played at the Southern Arena Stadium in Bo.
The victory secured another major trophy for the Freetown-based club and marked a memorable end to their FA Cup campaign after overcoming a resilient Mighty Blackpool side.
The final attracted a large crowd of football supporters who witnessed an intense and competitive encounter between two of Sierra Leone’s most historic clubs. Both teams created opportunities during the opening half, but neither side managed to find the breakthrough before the interval.
After the restart, East End Lions increased their attacking pressure and eventually scored the decisive goal in the second half to take the lead. Despite efforts by Mighty Blackpool to restore parity, the Lions maintained their advantage until the final whistle.
The victory sparked celebrations among East End Lions players, technical staff, officials, and supporters, who hailed the team’s determination and discipline throughout the competition.
The triumph also represents a significant achievement for the club’s leadership under Chairman Anthony Navo Jr., whose support and commitment to the team have been widely acknowledged during the club’s successful FA Cup campaign.
Mighty Blackpool, despite the defeat, delivered a spirited performance and remained competitive throughout the encounter but were unable to find an equalizer against a determined East End Lions side.
The 1-0 victory sees East End Lions lift the Orange FA Cup trophy and further strengthen their place among Sierra Leone’s most successful football clubs.
With the latest triumph, the coveted trophy returns to Freetown as East End Lions celebrate another chapter in the club’s rich football history.
The referee and his lines men had already fixed the match even before it was played on the pitch. I watched the game live sitting in the VIP location. I am.not a supporter of both teams but to be honest,it was a broad day light rogue against black pools as they were the first to score a goal which the referee rejected on the grounds it was an off side which is false. Also,after the full 90 minutes of play,the referee added a 4 minutes injury time which he only used 2 minutes and called the game to an end remaining 2 more minutes.