Sierra Leone-Sydney FC will begin pre-season training this week as preparations intensify for the 2026 Sydney Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to kick off on October 10 at the Western Wanderers Complex in Rooty Hill.

The official tournament draw is scheduled to take place on September 26, with participating nations eagerly awaiting the opportunity to discover their group-stage opponents. Sierra Leone-Sydney will be hoping for a better campaign this year after failing to progress beyond the group stage for the second time in their history last year.

Preparations are already underway, with the technical team working to identify new players who can blend with the current squad and strengthen the team’s chances of competing for the championship.

Meanwhile, South Sudan enter the competition as defending champions after retaining the title for the second consecutive year. They will be aiming to complete a hat-trick of titles, but the other participating nations will be determined to end their dominance.

With the draw just days away, Sierra Leone-Sydney will be looking to build a competitive squad and make a strong return to the tournament as they target a deeper run and a possible challenge for the championship.