A sweeping review of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) by a recently set up SLFA SLFA Transition Committee has exposed systemic failures in governance, finance, and administration, raising concerns about transparency, accountability, and the integrity of national football.
The Committee, which examined financial records, procurement files, competition regulations, project documentation, and past audits, conducted structured interviews with stakeholders across the SLFA, government, and external partners. Evidence was classified into facts, corroborated statements, and pending allegations, with missing or incomplete records flagged as major weaknesses.
The report concludes that SLFA’s core governance, financial, and administrative systems are “not robust enough” to ensure compliance with FIFA and CAF standards. Statutes and oversight mechanisms are inconsistently applied, departments lack technical capacity, and poor documentation undermines accountability. The Committee warns that these structural gaps threaten transparent decision-making, institutional sustainability, and smooth leadership transitions.
The most striking revelations center on financial oversight. An unaccounted NLe 720 million government grant withdrawn from a special FA Cup account in 2019 has not been refunded. The SLFA also paid $100,000 to Tubanda Company Limited for four buses, but only two were delivered. Asset registers remain incomplete, audits are delayed, and procurement processes lack transparency. Although a FIFA consultant has introduced reforms—including new procurement policies and digitized systems—progress has been slow due to weak cooperation from SLFA staff and a shortage of qualified accountants.
The report also raises urgent safeguarding issues, citing an unresolved case of alleged sexual abuse of a 14-year-old on SLFA premises. It further notes failures to adopt a Gender Policy or Sexual Abuse Policy, despite repeated recommendations. Governance weaknesses include poor enforcement of statutes and standing committees, incomplete minutes and decision registers that limit institutional memory, and inadequate oversight of major projects such as the FIFA Technical Centre, where a $527,000 contract with Lexons Construction Enterprise remains unfinished despite most funds being disbursed.
The 2025 Premier League season ended in chaos, with no proper promotion or relegation process. Division One competitions were staged in only two regions, prompting protests and allegations of bias. Meanwhile, FIFA’s annual $50,000 training grant for referees has often been diverted, leaving core mandates underfunded. Refereeing courses have stalled, equipment is lacking, and compliance with FIFA training requirements is at risk. The Premier League Board itself suffers from unclear mandates, over-centralization, and weak licensing and safety enforcement.
Human resource and legal failings were also documented. The SLFA has no approved organogram, and hiring has been arbitrary, with staff files missing CVs, contracts, and performance records. Over 85 percent of staff are male, in breach of the GEWE Act’s 30 percent female representation requirement. Legal risks are mounting, with poor contract drafting, ongoing litigations, and non-compliance with both FIFA regulations and Sierra Leonean law.
Relations between SLFA, the Ministry of Sports, and the National Sports Authority remain strained, undermining national football programs. The Technical Centre upgrade has missed deadlines, buses remain unlicensed, and more than 10,000 footballs intended for schools have gone undistributed since 2023. The underutilized hostel—largely occupied by players linked to SLFA leadership—generates little revenue despite income potential.
The Committee recommends urgent corrective action, including staff rationalization, adoption of clear policies, restructuring of competitions, stronger financial controls, and a full investigation into contracts and safeguarding cases. “Without immediate reforms,” the report warns, “SLFA risks further credibility losses at both national and international levels, undermining the future of football in Sierra Leone.”
