Freetown, Sierra Leone – Three people were reportedly shot dead on the evening of Sunday, 13 September 2026, during violent clashes in central Freetown linked to a community football match, according to accounts from residents and reports circulating in local media.
The incident is said to have occurred on Wellington Street, off Siaka Stevens Street. Witnesses told reporters that tensions rose after Kroo Town Road FC lost to Kossoh Town FC (also referred to as Kossoh Tong) in a Central One Football Association (COFA) League fixture earlier that day.
Supporters of Kroo Town Road allegedly directed their anger at the office of All People’s Congress (APC) flagbearer aspirant Sheikh Alhaji Mohamed Kamara, popularly known as Jagaban, citing his public support for the opposing side.
Local accounts describe the situation escalating into violence that left three residents dead. Graphic images shared alongside the reports show a body on the ground and blood at the scene.
Authorities had not issued an official statement on the fatalities, any arrests, or the precise circumstances by the morning of 14 September.
The same day, the Western Area Football Association (WAFA) announced an indefinite suspension of the COFA League.
In its statement, WAFA cited “grave acts of violence” that followed the Kossoh Town versus Kroo Town Road match and subsequent unrest in the Kroo Town Road community.
The association said the suspension was necessary “in the interest of sanity, security and preservation of life,” and urged all participants and community stakeholders to remain calm.
WAFA further warned that “football must never be permitted to become a catalyst for violence or a platform for reprisal.”
Community football in the Western Area, particularly through COFA competitions staged at venues such as Parade Field, has long been popular but has also faced recurring problems with supporter unrest, pitch invasions and clashes. Past seasons have seen mediation efforts, disciplinary actions and temporary suspensions when violence has threatened public safety.
Sheikh Alhaji Mohamed Kamara (Jagaban) is a prominent APC flagbearer aspirant known for community support initiatives, including sponsorship of grassroots football. No immediate comment from his office or the Sierra Leone Police on the Wellington Street incident was available at the time of writing.
The reported deaths have heightened concern about the intersection of football rivalries, community tensions and public safety in Freetown. Residents and football stakeholders continue to call for calm while awaiting official clarification from the police and football authorities.
