By Rasheed Adewuyi, New York
Former Sierra Leone international Bobson Sesay has blamed government interference, corruption, and politically motivated decisions for the persistent decline of football in the country. In an exclusive telephone interview with JerseyNumber12 from his base in Canada, the retired midfielder painted a stark picture of how politics continues to overshadow merit in team selections and football administration.
“No national team will succeed if players are not invited based on merit. Unfortunately, that’s the reality in many African countries right now,” Sesay said. Citing a shocking incident from his playing days, he recalled how one of Sierra Leone’s finest defenders was dropped for political reasons. “We went to the State House before the Africa Cup of Nations many years ago. Umoro Bangura, who was wearing a red cap during the ceremony, was removed from the team because politicians believed he supported the opposition. That was how we lost one of the best centre-backs in the country.”
Sesay, who played for Bai Bureh Warriors FC , further alleged that before the appointment of current head coach Mohammed Kalon, many national team managers had no control over player selection due to top-level interference. “Some coaches were mere figureheads,” he revealed.
Despite the setbacks, Sesay remains optimistic. He believes Sierra Leone can still qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. “Former players like myself are putting serious pressure on the government to let credible people run our football. If that happens, we will qualify.”
He also pointed to logistical issues impacting performance, particularly the lack of a home venue. “One of the reasons we failed to qualify for AFCON and the World Cup is that we’ve been playing our home games away from home. We’ve really missed the energy of our fans. But the new FIFA-approved stadium should be ready next year, and that will make a big difference.”
Sesay, however, admits that broader change in African football will be difficult. “The biggest problem is greed. Everyone wants to be rich overnight. Until that changes, progress will be slow.”
Sierra Leone was infamously disqualified from the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers due to government interference in its football association. Most recently, the Leone Stars exited the 2026 World Cup qualifiers following a narrow 1–0 defeat to Burkina Faso. As the nation regroups, voices like Sesay’s continue to demand transparency, meritocracy, and real reform, not just in Sierra Leone, but across the continent.