By Nenneh Fofannah
Freetown, 17th November 2025- More than a decade after a controversial international fixture between Sierra Leone and South Africa in 2008, match-fixing allegations have resurfaced, reigniting tensions among key figures in Sierra Leone’s football administration.
In July 2014, five players and eight officials were placed under investigation by Interpol over suspected match manipulation linked to the 2008 encounter. Among those named were goalkeeper Christian Caulker, Ibrahim Obreh Kargbo, Samuel Barlay, Ibrahim Marcel Koroma, and several officials including Rodney Michael and Victor Lewis. The probe, which drew international attention, was one of the most serious integrity scandals in Sierra Leone’s football history.
The issue returned to public discourse following a recent interview with former Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) President Isha Johansen. Speaking candidly, Johansen distanced herself from the scandal, stating, “I had absolutely nothing to do with it. It was not orchestrated or initiated by me.”
Johansen revealed that the matter was first brought to her attention by Ralf Mutschke, then FIFA’s Director of Security, during a FIFA conference in Brazil. According to her, Mutschke shared intelligence and named five individuals allegedly involved. She said she immediately informed then-SLFA Executive Chris Kamara, President Ernest Bai Koroma, and former Sports Minister Paul Kamara.
“Paul Kamara was ecstatic,” Johansen recalled. “He said it wasn’t just five, he knew of several others. He eventually gave me a list of 10 or 11 names. I regret not challenging him more. If he had no evidence, those people should have been cleared.”
Johansen also claimed she privately advised Obreh Kargbo to be cautious, given the gravity of the allegations.
In response, former Sports Minister Paul Kamara doubled down on his stance, asserting that match-fixing did occur. “Christian Caulker and Obreh should be ashamed of themselves. There is no patriotism among football stakeholders,” Kamara said, accusing the players of betraying national trust.
Kamara also reignited personal grievances with Johansen, accusing her of mismanaging FIFA funds and failing to leave a legacy of youth development. “If she had the heart of a mother for Sierra Leoneans, she would have become Minister of Sports,” he said. “Instead, she converted the funds to her own use and rigged the SLFA election to become president.”
Kamara claimed that his tenure as minister was more productive, suggesting that the national team’s current struggles in international competitions stem from leadership failures. He also alleged that during a match in Cameroon, Johansen referred to him and other delegates as “terrorists,” leading to their arrest and detention for five days.
The SLFA has yet to issue a formal statement in response to the renewed allegations and personal claims. As the controversy unfolds, it underscores the lingering divisions within Sierra Leone’s football leadership and the need for transparency, accountability, and reform in the sport’s governance.
