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The Executive Director of Sierra Leone’s National Sports Authority (NSA), Dr. Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, has admitted that his institution is grappling with crippling debts nearly $800,000 owed on Leone Stars alone.
The startling revelations came during an interview on Truth Media’s Morning Devotion program, where he outlined how these debts have pushed the Authority into a corner and forced desperate measures, including relying on a local airline, Air Sierra Leone, for the national football team’s recent World Cup qualifier travel.
According to Dr. Abdulai, international airlines that usually provide tickets on credit to Sierra Leone have refused further cooperation, citing unpaid arrears amounting to $192,000. “They’ve even taken us to court,” he disclosed, underscoring the depth of the financial quagmire.
Dr. Abdulai went further, admitting that the NSA also owes former SLFA President Thomas Daddy Brima, who personally advanced funds to cover the team’s expenses during his tenure. He added that similar debts extend to the newly elected SLFA President Babadi Kamara, who, before assuming office, also provided loans to keep Leone Stars’ international commitments afloat.
The NSA Director’s candid admissions raise a cascade of troubling questions:
• If the debt for Leone Stars alone is nearly $800,000, how much does the NSA owe in total across all sports?
• How sustainable is it for national administrators to rely on individuals, rather than structured government systems, to bankroll the country’s flagship football team?
• If Finance has not reimbursed funds reportedly used last year, where does the chain of responsibility and accountability truly lie?
The implications stretch beyond football. If Leone Stars the nation’s most visible and government-backed sporting brand is drowning in debt, what does this mean for lesser-supported disciplines such as athletics, volleyball, swimming, and even newly emerging sports like dodgeball and rollball?
Already, Sierra Leone’s sporting community has been grappling with reports of selective funding, athletes traveling without proper logistical support, and last-minute improvisations that leave players frustrated and embarrassed on the international stage.
If the NSA cannot stabilize finances for Leone Stars, can it realistically deliver equitable support to other sports under its mandate?
The Ministry of Finance inevitably comes into focus. Dr. Abdulai claims that funds used last year have yet to be reimbursed, suggesting delays or gaps in financial transfers from government to the NSA. If this is the case, then a deeper issue of budget prioritization and disbursement within government systems is at play.
Similarly, the Ministry of Sports tasked with oversight of the NSA must now answer whether it has provided adequate direction and supervision to prevent the accumulation of such staggering debts. Sierra Leoneans will also want to know whether Cabinet and Parliament have been fully briefed on these liabilities and what the government’s broader plan is to stop this from spiraling further.
At the heart of this controversy lies a fundamental issue of trust. Sierra Leoneans, who rally behind Leone Stars with passion and sacrifice, deserve clarity on how nearly $800,000 in debts were accumulated, why airlines and individuals are financing the team instead of structured budgets, and when transparency will replace uncertainty.
While Dr. Abdulai’s honesty in admitting the debt is noteworthy, it is also alarming. The public deserves more than shifting responsibilities between the NSA and Finance; they deserve a coherent plan that restores financial discipline, ensures athletes are not stranded, and rebuilds confidence in how sports are managed in Sierra Leone.
Until then, the country’s biggest sports brand risks being remembered not for its victories on the pitch, but for the weight of debts hanging over its name and the silence of those charged with fixing it.
