By Ishmael Zay Bangura
Freetown, 4th November 2026 – The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has officially welcomed the U-15 National Team delegation at its Secretariat following their participation in the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The gathering brought together SLFA officials and technical staff to celebrate the team’s international representation of Sierra Leone. Head of Delegation Joseph Benedict Mbogba praised the players’ performances, noting that the tournament was a highly valuable experience and recommended continued participation in the competition. Furthermore, SLFA Technical Director John Edward Keister commended the delegation’s leadership and technical staff for their dedication, especially in ensuring the young players’ welfare throughout the event.
SLFA General Secretary Mohamed Benson Bawoh reaffirmed the Federation’s dedication to player development and creating pathways to the senior Leone Stars. He advocated for expanding youth development categories and lauded the technical team, noting that SLFA officials including President Babadi Kamara closely followed the matches from afar.
“We were not there, but we felt like we were there. Everyone, including the President, was waking up at 2:00 AM, 3:00 AM, and 5:00 AM to watch you play,” Bawoh stated. Echoing this support, SLFA Executive Committee Member and Youth Football Committee Chairman, Mohamed Sorie Jalloh, conveyed the President’s greetings and stressed the need to establish a football academy to identify and nurture young talents, while advising the players to remain disciplined and avoid drugs.
In response, Head Coach José Solomon Cortés thanked the SLFA, particularly President Babadi Kamara, for providing the players with the opportunity to compete internationally. He urged the Federation to keep the group together and sustain investment in their development, emphasizing that continuity and consistent support are vital to building a competitive national team. The ceremony, which was also attended by SLFA Deputy General Secretary Ishmail Saidu Kanu, Women’s Football Manager Elizabeth Alberta Kailay, and Safeguarding Manager Aiah Alusine Kabba, concluded with renewed calls for sustained investment in youth football as the young players work toward representing Sierra Leone at the highest level.
