The only female candidate for the Presidency of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) Aminata Bangura has gone to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Switzerland to seek justice.

This came after the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) Ethics Committee expunged her from the list for what they termed “forgery of police clearance.”

Bangura’s legal team filed the final papers this past Thursday 24th of July at CAS and last Friday 25th July CAS informed and served the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) of the matter titled “CAS 2025/A/11613 Aminata Bangura VS Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA).”

“I acknowledge receipt of the Statement of Appeal filed with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (the “CAS”) on 24 July 2025 by Ms. Aminata Bangura (the “Appellant”) against the Sierra Leone Football Association (“SLFA”) (the “Respondent” and, together with the Appellant, the “Parties”) with respect to the decision rendered by SLFA Ethics Board on 18 July 2025,” CAS informed SLFA.

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CAS noted that the Appellant designated the Statement of Appeal as her Appeal Brief and that a copy of the Statement of Appeal serving as Appeal Brief is enclosed for the Respondent’s attention, by email.

That Pursuant to Article S20 of the Code of Sports-related Arbitration (2025 edition) (the “Code”), applicable to the present proceedings, the present arbitration has been assigned to the Appeals Arbitration Division of the CAS and shall therefore be dealt with according to Articles R47 of the Code.

That CAS note the Appellant’s proposal that this matter be treated as expedited in accordance with Article R52 of the Code and be decided according to the following schedule as per paragraph 52 of her Statement of Appeal:
a) the answer to the statement of appeal, provisional measures and appeal brief be filed with the CAS within 3 days of the receipt of this submission;
b) the appellant’s stay of execution shall be addressed as soon as possible and before the 2 August 2025 election date;
c) there shall be no second round of submissions;
d) an oral hearing to be heard, on an emergency and expedited basis, as soon as possible; and
e) the CAS shall issue an award, with grounds, as soon as possible keeping in mind that the SLFA presidential elections are scheduled the 2 August 2025.

That the Appellant requests that the present case be submitted to a Sole Arbitrator and suggests Mr. Mark Hovell, Solicitor in Manchester, United Kingdom.
CAS also said that SLFA is invited to inform the CAS Court Office, within five (5) days of receipt of this letter by email, whether it agrees to the appointment of a Sole Arbitrator and/or to the Sole Arbitrator suggested by the Appellant.

“In the absence of an answer or in case of disagreement, in accordance with Article R50 of the Code, it will be for the President of the CAS Appeals Arbitration Division, or her Deputy, to decide the issue of the number of arbitrators, taking into account the circumstances of the case,” CAS said.

That in case of agreement on the number of arbitrators but not on the name suggested by the Appellant, the Sole Arbitrator shall be appointed in accordance with Article R54 of the Code.