SLFA COMMENCES AMATEUR FOOTBALL ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS

The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), in partnership with FIFA, has today, Monday, June 1, 2026, commenced a three-day stakeholder engagement on the presentation of the country report for FIFA Amateur football environment analysis at the Football Association Secretariat in Freetown. The FIFA Amateur Football Environment Analysis is a sweeping global assessment initiative designed to map, structure, and align future support for the non-elite levels of football.

The program focuses on key areas including management and resources, competitions, clubs, education, futsal, beach soccer, mini-football, programs and football in schools with a broad goal of “increasing participation by growing the game for all.” Event day 2 on June 2, shall see the FIFA team sharing report findings with the SLFA Executive committee and the secretariat staff, while day 3 on June 3, the latter shall be joined by extended football family stakeholders contributing to grassroots and amateur football. These include government representatives of the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education (MBSSE), clubs and academies, schools, universities, private organisations, and regional associations.

Representing FIFA at the engagement are the Regional Technical Consultants, Ali Mwebe and Serame Ezekiel Letsoaka who would lead discussions and interactive sessions with key football stakeholders over the next two days. During the opening day today, the FIFA delegation held productive engagements with the SLFA General Secretary, Mohamed Benson Bayoh, the Deputy Secretary General Ishamail Saidu Kanu Esq, Technical Director John Edward Keister and Heads of Departments at the Secretariat. The discussions centred on establishing the key focus areas and framework for the stakeholder engagements scheduled for the remainder of the program. The exercise underscores the commitment of both FIFA and the SLFA to strengthening grassroots and amateur football structures in Sierra Leone, ensuring sustainable growth and increased participation at all levels of the game.