On Saturday, August 2nd, 2025, Sierra Leonean football entered what many are calling a new dawn as Babadi Kamara was decisively elected President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), securing 43 votes in a landslide victory over Aminata Bangura (11 votes) and Alhaji Umaru Bah (1 vote).
The SLFA Elective Congress, held at the Gateway Hotel in Lungi, brought together delegates from across the nation under the watchful eyes of FIFA, CAF, and WAFU officials to decide the future of the country’s most beloved sport.
The Congress unfolded against a backdrop of high drama. According to the SLFA Code, “Mr. Thomas Brima is barred from contesting as president in the forthcoming SLFA Elective Congress, fined the sum of NLe5000.00 (Five Thousand New Leones) and banned from taking part in any football-related activity for one (1) year, under Article 15(2) of the Code.”
His absence, along with that of Vice President 1, prompted delegates to vote on whether the process should proceed. In a decisive move, the majority resolved to continue, reaffirming the legitimacy of the Congress and the collective will to move Sierra Leone football forward.
The day’s tensions were evident even before voting began. Benjamin Gordon Esq. A delegate from the Western Area verbally confronted a FIFA representative during the mid-session, forcing a temporary pause in the proceedings. Security and senior officials swiftly intervened, after which FIFA’s Ahmed Ahmes Haraz reassured delegates:
“This Congress is fully certified.”
Before the Congress, Benjamin Gordon Esq and Peter Taplima Mansaray had argued — in writing — that the delegate list should not be in the hands of the Electoral Committee. This was a surprising stance, considering they were part of the very system tasked with overseeing the election. Out of 57 delegates, only these two sent such an email, raising questions about their motives. Benjamin Gordon Esq went further, declaring that he would “fight with every fibre of his soul” — a statement suggesting by many delegates that his actions were not spontaneous but calculated.
Knowing they lacked the numbers, their next apparent move was to create confusion in an attempt to disrupt or stall the proceedings in Congress.
According to retired members of the Heroes organization, internal disagreements among its executives led to football legend Mohamed Kallon walking out of the hall without casting the group’s vote. Initially, Kallon had reportedly instructed the organization to support Thomas Daddy Brima, but after Brima’s disqualification, most executives urged him to back Babadi Kamara.
Citing Babadi Kamara long-standing contributions to football — including his recent support for the Heroes fundraising drive — the majority felt he was the natural choice. However, Kallon maintained his preference for
Aminata Bangura, sparking a dispute. Executive member John Dissa revealed that the group decided to block Kallon from voting over fears he might defy the majority decision.After Aminata Bangura was put into the race through CAS
Speaking to local media after the election, Aminata Bangura voiced her dismay:
“They put me back in the race, and I came to contest a fair race, but what happened today is a congregation. If you do not have a president to call the election to order — the very person supposed to run the election — then what do you call it? That is not an election.
I came into football to bring light to a dark sport, and we will trace the process. The constitution is not clear. Football is supposed to be a fair and just game. I came to show that football should be fair and just — not a party in power getting positions by hook or by crook. We will test this process,”she vowed.
Babadi Kamara’s victory capped a clean sweep for his camp:
• Vice President 1: Alieu Badara Tarawallie – 42 votes (Harold Nat-Johnson – 12, 1 void)
• Vice President 2: Prince Saquee – 41 votes (Christian Dauda – 14)
• Executive Members:
• Mohamed Sorie Jalloh – 45 votes
• Kweku Lisk Esq. – 38 votes
• Haja Ramatulai Kamara – 39 votes
For the first time in SLFA history, all five regions of Sierra Leone are represented in the Executive Committee — a milestone Kamara hailed as a “true national victory.”
Taking the podium to a standing ovation, Kamara opened with gratitude:
“Ladies and gentlemen, today marks a new dawn in Sierra Leone football. We came here to elect a new Executive Committee, and we have done so in a fruitful and peaceful manner. Yes, there were challenges at the start, but through the good offices of our FIFA representative, we overcame them. For those who know me, you know I stand for development, for doing the right thing, and for ensuring football takes its rightful place in our society.”
He emphasized that the true winner was the sport itself:
“My name was on the ballot for president, but you and I know football is the real winner today. You voted for action, not politics as usual. This is not a moment of triumph for me alone, but a deep sense of responsibility. The trust you have placed in me is sacred, and I will work tirelessly to earn your faith.”
Kamara also shared a personal touch:
“My son Bashire birthday is today (August 2nd, 2025). His name means ‘Bearer of Good News.’ He was born last year on this day, and today I stand here as President of the Sierra Leone Football Association. That is truly good news for our football.”
He extended prayers for PA Alie Kobana Kargbo, who is abroad for medical treatment, and thanked his mother, Haja Jatu Kamara, for raising him with God-fearing values.
Babadi Kamara pledged to work closely with the Government of Sierra Leone, the National Sports Authority, the Ministry of Sports, FIFA, CAF, and WAFU to elevate football to international standards:
“For the first time in our history, our executive committee represents all five regions. We must be a body that unites, not divides — regardless of ethnicity, religion, politics, or gender. Football deserves less division and more unity.”
He urged all football stakeholders to end hostilities: “Our competitors are not enemies; they are fellow Sierra Leoneans who love this game. Football is not only the most popular sport in Sierra Leone — it reflects our national mood, uniting us in celebration when we win and in sorrow when we lose.”
Babadi Kamara closed with a pledge of immediate action: “In the coming weeks, we will meet stakeholders across the country to chart a new path. When football wins, Sierra Leone wins. And when Sierra Leone wins, we all benefit. May God bless the football family of Sierra Leone.”
On August 2nd, 2025, Babadi Kamara’s presidency began with a promise of unity, inclusivity, and development. With unprecedented regional representation and a clear call for cooperation, his tenure could mark a transformative era for Sierra Leone’s football.
