Freetown, Sierra Leone — President Julius Maada Bio has held high-level talks with FIFA President Gianni Infantino aimed at expanding football development across the country.
The meeting focused on key areas including grassroots programmes, women’s football, and the improvement of sporting infrastructure.
According to a statement shared on the president’s official social media channels, both leaders also discussed educational initiatives that use football as a tool for social impact.
President Bio reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s support for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Initiative and expressed strong interest in partnering on the FIFA for Schools Initiative, which integrates football into classroom learning to promote life skills and community values.
“Football in Sierra Leone is more than a sport—it is joy, hope, and unity,” President Bio wrote. “We are committed to working with FIFA to grow grassroots and women’s football, strengthen infrastructure, and use the game as a force for education and transformation.”
The engagement underscores the government’s ambition to leverage football’s popularity to inspire young people, create opportunities, and foster national cohesion.
