COVID-19 Swallows Sierra Leone Football Season

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson – (AR-WILSON)

Sierra Leone male elite League has been cancelled owing to the novel corona virus outbreak, despite earlier announcement from SLFA to resume the country’s Premier League in due course.

The decision to call off the 2019/2020 football season was unanimously taken by the Sierra Leone Premier League Board (PLB) in consultation with the country’s local football federation (SLFA) at a meeting held on Wednesday, July 15, 2020 at the Atlantic Hall in Freetown, with representatives of all 14 Premier League clubs.

Two main issues were discussed. The status of the 2019/2020 Sierra Leone Premier League and whether or not two teams must represent the country at the 2020/2021 CAF Inter-clubs tournaments.

It was agreed that the entire season be cancelled without a champion and that no team will relegate. At the same time the top six clubs according to the League standing which includes Big Money Spenders Bo Rangers, who were on 23 points, two points off second place Kamboi Eagles and 3 points off Diamond Stars, FC Kallon, defending champions E.E Lions and six placed East End Tigers were asked about their willingness to represent the country at next season’s CAF competitions.

However, League runner up and Challenge cup champions FC Kallon, Diamond Stars and E.E Tigers declined while provincial giants clubs Bo Rangers and Kamboi Eagles including defending champions E.E Lions “De Killers” have all showed huge interest to be flag bears of one the two CAF Inter-continental slots to represent Sierra Leone.

“The tree top notch clubs (Bo Rangers, Kamboi Eagles and E.E Lions) now have till Monday, July 20 to unanimously present two clubs to the PLB for onward registration for both the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederations Cup through SLFA or they risk going on the lottery where PLB will have to recommend the best two among the three interested clubs to represent Sierra Leone at one of the dual CAF Competitions.” Mohamed Benson Bawoh, told Northern Times. 

SLFA like other federations worldwide adhered to Government and WHO recommendation on COVID-19 prevention and control hence suspended its football activities countrywide since March, following a temporal ban from the Ministry of Sports intended to help keep athletes, fans and the football family safe from Corona Virus.