Bo City, Sierra Leone – A significant controversy has erupted in the ongoing CAF Women’s Champions League Qualifiers in Bo City, Sierra Leone, as Determine Girls FC, a Liberian female football club, has accused Sierra Leonean officials of orchestrating an attack on their hotel.
The alleged incident occurred ahead of the team’s crucial final match in the tournament, sparking concerns about player safety and the integrity of the competition.
Grace Weah, widely known as “Master Queen,” the President of Determine Girls FC, publicly alleged that unknown gunmen, believed to be connected to Sierra Leonean officials, intimidated her team at their hotel.
“Some Sierra Leonean officials brought unknown gunmen to our hotel, threatening us ahead of tomorrow’s match,” Weah stated, adding that the incident has left her players feeling unsafe and could potentially impact their performance.
In a video shared within the Talk Liberian Football WhatsApp group, club officials voiced alarm over the conduct of security personnel, with one unidentified woman claiming, “We were attacked by some men from Sierra Leone. Where are they, so, so armed robbers.” The video has since fueled widespread concern and speculation.
In response, the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has categorically denied the allegations.
In a statement, the SLFA clarified that the rumors originated from a misunderstanding at the hotel where both teams are staying.
The SLFA explained that Mogbwemo Queens supporters were present in the hotel corridors, leading to unease among Determine Girls players. The situation escalated when Mogbwemo Queens accused certain Determine Girls officials of placing black magic symbols near their doors before matches.
“The claims of an orchestrated attack by Mogbwemo Queens are baseless and untrue,” the SLFA asserted, emphasizing that the presence of security personnel was a precautionary measure after accusations of witchcraft were made.
The SLFA further noted that when authorities investigated, no armed forces were involved, though five Mogbwemo supporters were temporarily detained.
The tournament organizers, UFOA, have launched an investigation into the incident.
In a statement, UFOA confirmed, “The Determine Girls delegation felt threatened by the presence of security officers serving Mogbwemo Queens. The UFOA has taken over the Disciplinary Commission to shed light on this unfortunate incident.”
Despite the tension, order has been restored at the Galliness Hotel, with the Mogbwemo Queens delegation opting to relocate to another hotel.
Master Queen later assured supporters via Facebook that the team is “okay now, and all the players are safe inside.”
As the tournament progressed on Sunday, Determine Girls lost thier final match against Senegal’s Aigles De La Medina by 2-1, who emerged as the champions of the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League WAFU Zone A tournament.
