By Ahmed Papa Kanu
After carefully examining the petition filed by Ms. Aminata Bangura, SLIFA, and Musa Mahmood against the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), I am reminded of the troubling events that unfolded during the SLFA Elective Congress held on August 2nd, 2025, at the Gateway Hotel in Lungi.
On that day, Benjamin Gordon popularly known as Dididor was reportedly subjected to a brutal assault by state security officers inside the congress hall. He was forcibly removed and ultimately denied his right to cast a vote. Shockingly, FIFA observers present at the congress witnessed the incident, raising serious questions about the credibility of the entire electoral process.
The incident has left many stakeholders deeply concerned. The pressing question now is whether the SLFA adhered to its own constitution during the congress, the events of the 2nd August 2025 represented a complete violation of both democratic principles and the association’s governing framework.
For those who were present, and for many across Sierra Leone’s football community, the answer is clear: what transpired at the Gateway Hotel was not only unjust but also a blatant breach of the SLFA Constitution. The violence, intimidation, and obstruction of voting rights undermined the legitimacy of the congress and cast a long shadow over the integrity of football governance in Sierra Leone.
This case before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will therefore be pivotal, not just for the petitioners, but for the future of transparency, fairness, and respect for the rule of law in Sierra Leone’s football administration.
