The Sierra Leone Football Association – SLFA is in a state of crisis, mired in allegations of corruption, incompetence, and ethical breaches that threaten the future of football in the nation. The current leadership, under President Thomas Daddy Brima, has failed to deliver on its mandate, and the recent disqualification of key presidential candidates by the SLFA Ethics Board only underscores the deep-seated issues plaguing the organization.
FIFAcom must intervene decisively by dissolving the SLFA and appointing a Normalization Committee to steer Sierra Leone’s football back to stability and integrity for the next two years.
Thomas D. Brima’s tenure as SLFA President has been marred by serious allegations of financial misconduct.
The Anti-Corruption Commission ACC- SALONE is investigating Brima, alongside Acting General Secretary Benson Bawoh and Chief Finance Officer Ibrahim Bah, for allegedly misappropriating over $720,000 in funds from FIFA, the Confederation of African Football
CAF_Online, and the Sierra Leone government between 2021 and 2025. The investigation revealed unauthorized withdrawals, forged documents, and breaches of procurement regulations, including a questionable $527,000 contract for renovations and a $17,400 transfer to a company reportedly owned by Brima himself. These allegations paint a picture of gross mismanagement and a betrayal of public and donor trust.
Brima’s response to the Ethics Board’s disqualification of himself and fellow presidential candidate Aminata Bangura further highlights his unsuitability for leadership. Citing “gross violations” of SLFA statutes, Brima halted the electoral process on July 19, 2025, just weeks before the August 2 Elective Congress. His accusations of procedural breaches by the Electoral and Ethics Committees appear self-serving, especially given the Ethics Board’s findings that Brima submitted falsified passport documents, with conflicting birth dates across multiple passports. This raises serious questions about his integrity and adherence to the SLFA Ethics Code, which mandates transparency and accountability.
Aminata Bangura, another disqualified candidate, is equally unfit to lead. Her limited knowledge of football and prolonged absence from Sierra Leone, having resided in Liberia for years, render her ill-equipped to address the complex challenges facing the SLFA. The Ethics Board’s decision to bar her reflects the need for leaders with credible experience and a deep commitment to the sport.
The third major contender, Babadi Kamara, chairman of Bo Rangers FC, is also embroiled in controversy. Kamara’s campaign has been criticized for its excessive spending, raising concerns about potential vote-buying and the politicization of the electoral process. Petitions from clubs, including FC Kallon, and an incident involving his driver’s physical assault on an individual in April 2025 further tarnish his candidacy. The assault, a violation of FIFA’s Code of Ethics and SLFA’s emphasis on protecting individuals’ dignity, reflects poorly on Kamara’s leadership and judgment. His failure to take decisive action against his driver undermines his ability to foster a culture of accountability, a critical requirement for SLFA leadership.
The SLFA’s current state is exacerbated by deep divisions fueled by politicization, which has fractured the football community and eroded trust in the association’s governance. The chaos at the April 2025 Ordinary Congress, coupled with Brima’s unilateral suspension of the electoral process, demonstrates a leadership incapable of fostering unity or adhering to democratic principles. These issues threaten to plunge football into further disarray, jeopardizing the sport’s development.
FIFA has a precedent for intervening in such crises. When national football associations face governance failures, FIFA often dissolves their leadership and appoints a Normalization Committee to restore order, as seen in cases like the Football Association of Zambia and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association. A Normalization Committee, led by a credible, independent figure unaffiliated with the current SLFA leadership, is urgently needed to rebuild trust, ensure transparency, and implement reforms. This committee should oversee financial audits, revise electoral processes, and establish clear eligibility criteria for future candidates, free from the taint of corruption or political influence.
For the next two years, this committee must prioritize grassroots development, strengthen governance structures, and restore Sierra Leone’s football to its rightful place as a source of national pride. FIFA and CAF cannot afford to ignore the gravity of the SLFA’s crisis. Allowing the current leadership or compromised candidates to continue risks further damage to the sport’s integrity and Sierra Leone’s standing in international football.
The time for half-measures is over. FIFA must act swiftly to dissolve the SLFA and appoint a Normalization Committee to chart a new course for Sierra Leonean football. The nation’s football fans, players, and stakeholders deserve leadership that upholds the highest standards of integrity and competence. Only through decisive intervention can Sierra Leone’s football rise from the ashes of corruption and mismanagement to a future of promise and progress.
