By Nenneh Fofanah
Freetown, 27th October 2025- The Sierra Leone Premier League is set to return on November 8, 2025, marking the start of the 2025/2026 season, according to the newly released football calendar from the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA). The announcement comes amid growing debate over the SLFA’s decision to suspend relegation across all major divisions, a move that has sparked mixed reactions from clubs, fans, and regional stakeholders.
Founded in 1967, the Premier League has endured decades of interruptions before its revival in 2019, when East End Lions FC clinched the title. The following seasons saw Bo Rangers FC dominate with back-to-back wins in 2021/2022, 2022/2023, and 2023/2024, before East End Lions reclaimed the crown in 2024/2025.
This year’s football calendar, themed “Revamping the Football Ecosystem and Finding a Workable Football Calendar,” outlines a transitional phase for Sierra Leonean football. Central to that transition is the SLFA’s decision to defer relegation until the end of the upcoming season. The Executive Committee cited broad regional consensus, excluding the Western Region, as justification.
“The Executive Committee shows the broad agreement across the regions that the current league structure should remain unchanged,” the SLFA stated. “Relegation should be deferred until the 2025/2026 league season, a position supported by stakeholders from the Northeast, Northwest, Southern, and Eastern Regions.”
However, in the Western Region, clubs and fans voiced strong opposition. “Relegation should proceed regardless of the consequences,” the SLFA noted, summarizing the region’s dissenting view.
The decision affects Men’s Premier League, Division 1 and 2, as well as the Women’s Premier and Division 1 Leagues, effectively freezing promotion and relegation for one season.
Speaking to Truth Media, Ibrahim Sahid Sankoh, Public Relations Officer for Mighty Blackpool FC, one of Sierra Leone’s oldest clubs, expressed disappointment on behalf of Division 1 teams.
“It’s not a surprise, we’ve been hearing it all around,” Sankoh said. “But it’s disappointing. Division 1 teams have spent heavily on player recruitment, transfers, and preparation. Clubs like Real Republicans even paid to loan players from us. Now, all that investment is hanging in limbo.”
Sankoh also criticized the regional imbalance in Division 1 participation. “Three out of five regions didn’t even field teams in Division 1. Ideally, each region should have two representatives to form a Super Ten, from which promotion to the Premier League would be determined.”
He further pointed to unresolved disciplinary issues from the 2024/2025 season. “There were rulings from the disciplinary committee that weren’t reflected in the league table. Clubs appealed, but nothing was done. It’s sad for Division 1 teams, but lucky for those that should have been relegated.”
From the southern perspective, Solomon Demby, Public Relations Officer for Bo Rangers FC, defended the SLFA’s decision, citing fairness and readiness.
“It would be dishonest to promote teams from regions that didn’t participate in Division 1,” Demby said. “The Premier League isn’t a walk-in competition, you earn your place. If Division 1 teams were promoted now, they’d be unprepared.”
He urged Premier League clubs to brace for a competitive season ahead. “This is a transition year. But come 2025/2026, relegation will return, and Division 1 teams will be ready. Everyone must tighten their belts.”
