By Nenneh Fofanah
Freetown, 8th December 2025 – Sierra Leone’s only national stadium will remain under renovation for at least another year and a half, according to the National Sports Authority (NSA).
Eric Batilo Fomba, Director of Media and Communications at the NSA, told Truth Sports that the China Aid-funded rehabilitation of the Siaka Stevens National Stadium will not be completed until late 2026 or early 2027.
“Sierra Leoneans might not be happy, they might not be feeling good, but what I am saying is the fact. The main bowl of the National Stadium will not be ready until the end of 2026 to early 2027,” Fomba said.
The project, announced in February 2022 and fully financed by the Chinese Government, was initially scheduled to last two years. Instead, it has faced prolonged delays of more than three years.
The stadium, a symbol of national pride and the only facility catering to all major sporting activities, has hosted football, volleyball, basketball, boxing, and other competitions. Its closure has forced Sierra Leone to relocate key events.
National football matches, including Leone Stars fixtures, are now being played in Liberia, leaving fans frustrated over travel costs and the loss of home advantage. The annual Boxing Day competition has been moved to Bo, while swimming practices and competitions are being held at alternative venues.
“Fans feel deprived of watching and supporting their darling Leone Stars,” one supporter told Truth Sports.
Earlier in September, project supervisor Alie Sesay, who also serves as NSA’s Director of Corporate Operations, assured that parts of the facility would be handed over in October 2025. That deadline has passed without delivery. Sesay had suggested the stadium could be ready by mid-2026, but Fomba dismissed that timeline as unrealistic.
Fomba confirmed that during a recent meeting with the Chinese construction team and senior government officials, including Chief Minister David Moinina Sengeh and Sports Minister Augusta James-Teima, it was agreed that some sections of the facility would be handed over this December.
Fomba attributed the setbacks to seasonal disruptions and logistical challenges.
“Due to the rainy season, operations were suspended and only resumed in October. Most of the materials are coming from China, and processing the documents when they arrive takes a lot of time,” he explained.
He added that technical issues had been discovered during the ongoing inter-MDA Gala held on the practice field.
“That is why we are there all the time taking notes, so they can amend any issues discovered rather than taking it blindly from them,” Fomba said.
The NSA has assured that once completed, the running of the facility will be discussed publicly to ensure transparency. However, Fomba made clear that Sierra Leone will not be able to host any of the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers at home due to the delays.
For now, the Siaka Stevens National Stadium remains a construction site, with completion still years away, leaving athletes and fans to adapt to a sporting calendar without the country’s most iconic venue.
