By Rasheed Adewuyi, New York
The newly elected President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), Babadi Kamara, has issued a stern warning that the Leone Stars will not qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) if the country’s government continues to interfere in the administration of football.
While addressing football stakeholders in Freetown, Kamara did not mince words as he outlined the detrimental impact of political meddling on the national team’s chances. He stressed that unless the SLFA is granted full operational independence, Sierra Leone should not expect any meaningful results from the upcoming qualifiers for the 2027 AFCON, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
“There are two hundred and eleven football federations in the world, and out of the 211, sadly, it’s only one, Sierra Leone, that is being multi-managed,” Kamara stated.
According to Kamara, this pattern of interference was a key reason for the country’s failure to qualify for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco and the disappointing start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where Sierra Leone recently lost narrowly to Burkina Faso.
Power Struggle at the Top
Inside sources told JerseyNumber12 that Kamara is currently locked in a tense power struggle with Dr. Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, the President of Sierra Leone’s National Sports Commission. At the heart of the dispute is the long-standing issue of who holds final authority over football matters in the country—the government-backed sports body or the SLFA.
Observers note that the ongoing turf war is beginning to mirror the events of 2018, when the country was banned by FIFA and subsequently disqualified from the 2019 AFCON qualifiers due to state interference in football governance.
A Troubled Past, An Uncertain Future
Sierra Leone’s football history has been riddled with administrative conflicts, suspensions, and missed opportunities. The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign already looks bleak, and Kamara is pushing for urgent reforms to avoid further collapse in the 2027 AFCON campaign.
Kamara emphasized that his administration is determined to restore professionalism and accountability, but insisted this can only happen if the SLFA operates without political intrusion.
“Football success cannot happen under constant interference,” he added. “If we want to compete and qualify for major tournaments, we need the same autonomy that every other football federation enjoys.”
What Lies Ahead
The 2027 AFCON qualifiers are set to begin with preliminary matches from March 23–31, 2026, following a draw in December 2025. Hosts Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania have already secured automatic qualification, while the remaining teams, including Sierra Leone, will battle it out for the remaining slots.
With time running out and internal disputes unresolved, the future of Sierra Leone’s participation looks increasingly uncertain. Stakeholders are now urging the government and SLFA leadership to set aside their differences in the interest of national pride and football development.
Unless a resolution is found soon, Babadi Kamara’s warning may become a harsh reality.