Sierra Leonean striker, Kumba Zainab Brima needed just 22 minutes to announce herself on one of Europe’s top stages.
On her first appearance in Spain’s Liga F, the 24-year-old forward scored the opening goal for Deportivo Alavés Gloriosas in a dominant 2-0 home win over Valencia CF Women.
The clinical finish in the 21st/22nd minute gave the newly promoted Alavés side the perfect start on their return to the Spanish top flight after more than 1,000 days away. A second-half strike from teammate Ainhoa Guallar sealed the three points at Mendizorrotza.
Born on 2 January 2002, Brima has risen rapidly from the Sierra Leone Women’s Premier League. She starred for FC Kallon Female, where she claimed the Golden Boot with an astonishing 39 goals in the 2023/24 season after earlier tallies of 26 goals.
In June 2025 she moved to Riga FC Women in Latvia, where she became top scorer of the Baltic Women’s Champions League with 23 goals, helped the side win the Latvian title, and scored in UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying (including a hat-trick on debut).
Alavés signed her on loan from Riga in late August 2026 to bolster their attack for the 2026-27 Liga F campaign. The powerful centre-forward wasted no time adapting, combining with Guallar down the left before slotting a low shot past the Valencia goalkeeper for her first goal in Spanish football.
The result marks a proud moment for Sierra Leone women’s football. Brima becomes one of the latest Sierra Queens players to shine in a major European league, following her trailblazing performances that have already drawn interest from bigger clubs.
