By Hassan Osman Kargbo
The President of the Sierra Leone Football Association SLFA Babadi Kamara has departed Freetown on an official mission that highlights Sierra Leone’s growing visibility and engagement within continental football administration.
President Kamara is travelling to Rabat in the Kingdom of Morocco where he will witness the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations AFCON 2026 final between Senegal and hosts Morocco. The highly anticipated match is expected to draw football leaders dignitaries and stakeholders from across Africa and beyond making it a significant platform for dialogue and cooperation.
According to sources within the SLFA the visit goes beyond attending the final match as President Kamara is scheduled to participate in key governance activities at the Confederation of African Football CAF level. Central to his itinerary is an in person meeting with the President of CAF alongside fellow Presidents of Member Associations from across the continent.
The meeting is expected to focus on strategic issues shaping the future of African football including development frameworks infrastructure growth governance reforms and collaborative approaches to improving competitions and grassroots football. Discussions are also expected to explore ways to strengthen technical capacity enhance youth development and promote sustainable football ecosystems within member countries.
President Kamara’s participation in the high level engagement reflects Sierra Leone’s renewed commitment to playing an active role in continental football decision making. Since assuming office he has consistently emphasized the importance of international cooperation partnerships and learning from best practices to improve the standard of football administration and performance at home.
Football analysts view the trip as an opportunity for Sierra Leone to strengthen bilateral and multilateral relationships with other football associations and CAF leadership. Such engagements are seen as critical in positioning the country to benefit from development programs funding opportunities and technical support initiatives championed by CAF and its partners.
The AFCON 2026 final itself is expected to showcase African football at its finest with Senegal and Morocco both regarded as continental powerhouses. Their clash in Rabat is anticipated to attract a global audience and underline the growing competitiveness and commercial appeal of African football. For President Kamara witnessing the final also provides insights into tournament organization fan engagement and elite level performance that could inform future football planning in Sierra Leone.
Officials at the SLFA have expressed confidence that the visit will yield positive outcomes for the country’s football development agenda. They noted that President Kamara’s presence at such a high profile event sends a strong message about Sierra Leone’s readiness to engage constructively at the highest levels of the game.
The visit also comes at a time when African football continues to undergo transformation with increased investment improved governance standards and expanded competitions. Active participation in CAF meetings allows member associations like Sierra Leone to contribute to shaping policies that affect the future of the sport across the continent.
President Kamara is expected to return to Freetown after the conclusion of the final and the CAF meetings. Upon his return he is likely to brief SLFA stakeholders on the outcomes of the engagements and outline how insights gained from the trip will be integrated into ongoing efforts to strengthen football development governance and performance in Sierra Leone.
