Freetown, Sierra Leone — A hard-hitting report from the Sierra Leone Football Association’s (SLFA) Transition Committee has revealed widespread governance, financial, and administrative failures that it warns could jeopardize the future of football in the country.
The committee—set up by the new SLFA president following the August Elective Congress—found that key statutes are routinely flouted, congress sessions are disorderly, and flagship projects such as the FIFA-funded Technical Centre suffer from poor oversight. Missing staff contracts and incomplete records have left what the report calls “serious credibility and accountability gaps.”
Financial Irregularities
Audits have been repeatedly delayed, management accounts are not produced, and asset registers remain incomplete. Investigators highlighted a government grant of NLe 720 million, withdrawn in 2019 without approval and never repaid, as well as a contract in which USD 100,000 was paid for four buses but only two were delivered.
Safeguarding and Gender Concerns
The report cites an unresolved case of alleged sexual abuse of a 14-year-old on SLFA premises and criticizes the association for breaching Sierra Leone’s Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act, noting that more than 85 percent of staff are men.
Competitions in Disarray
The 2025 Premier League concluded without a proper promotion or relegation process, triggering protests. Division One was staged only in the North-West and Western regions, sidelining much of the country. Despite FIFA providing USD 50,000 annually for referee training, the program has stalled.
Mismanaged Facilities and Resources
The partially built FIFA Technical Centre has absorbed most of its USD 527,000 budget with little progress. Over 10,800 footballs meant for schools since 2023 remain undistributed, buses sit unlicensed, and hostels are underused—failures the committee links to weak procurement and lax oversight.
Media, Marketing, and Stakeholder Strains
The Media and Marketing Department lacks a coherent strategy and the equipment needed to attract sponsorships or generate revenue from broadcasting and ticketing. Relations with the Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Authority are described as “strained,” further hampering national football programs.
Call for Sweeping Reform
The committee is demanding a new organogram with clear reporting lines, regular audits and financial reconciliations, a national competitions calendar, and proper staffing with formal contracts and performance reviews. It also urges completion of the Technical Centre and a revival of sponsorship and media-rights revenue.
In a stark warning, the report concludes that without immediate improvements in accountability, transparency, and professionalism, FIFA and CAF funding could be suspended, threatening Sierra Leone’s place in international football.
