For years, Mohamed Kallon has been a name that inspired pride in Sierra Leone football. A former national team captain and one of the country’s greatest football exports, many saw him as the perfect candidate to lead Leone Stars even before now. But when the head coach position opened in 2023, the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) shut the door on him.

At the time, SLFA President Thomas Daddy Brima claimed how the legendary Mohamed Kallon had serious ethical issues to clear with FIFA and CAF, allegations that included attacks on female referees and a supposed four-match ban. These claims were used to justify appointing Amidu Karim as head coach.

Fast-forward a year later, Mohamed Kallon is now the man in charge. He replaced Amidu Karim after a disappointing run of results that led to the latter’s dismissal, signing a contract that runs until 2027. And in his first game in charge, Mohamed Kallon secured a 3-1 win over Guinea Bissau in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, becoming the first Sierra Leonean coach to win by a convincing margin on his debut. This debut dugout win for Mohamed Kallon exposes outrage contradictions and potential dishonesty within the SLFA.

However, in an interview with AYV’s Wake Up Sierra Leone, Thomas Daddy Brima justified his decision to overlook Mohamed Kallon, saying; “I wanted Mohamed Kallon, but at this moment, there are several ethical issues around him to clear, citing the four-match ban from CAF and the attack on female referees and officials. This is also a concern on the table at CAF and FIFA.” Thomas Daddy Brima went further to state that after briefing the Minister of Sports about Mohamed Kallon’s alleged ethical problems, she agreed to proceed with an alternative candidate, as quoted “when the best is not available, the available becomes the best.”

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With these allegations hanging over Mohamed Kallon by the time, Amidu Karim was handed the job. However, after a string of poor performances, Amidu Karim was eventually dismissed when the National Sports Authority (NSA) announced they could no longer cover the salaries of the technical team. After a few months, the same SLFA leadership that had smeared Mohamed Kallon now appointed him as the new head coach of the country’s senior male national team.

However, Mohamed Kallon’s appointment and immediate success raise serious questions about the credibility of the SLFA’s previous claims. If Mohamed Kallon was truly banned by CAF or under investigation for misconduct, how was he suddenly deemed fit to lead the national team? Why did the SLFA use these allegations to sideline him in 2023 but later install him in 2025?

Even more concerning is that Mohamed Kallon had not been involved in any major CAF competitions since his FC Kallon team was eliminated from the Confederation Cup qualifiers in 2023. No public records indicate that he was serving any suspension. This suggests that the SLFA may have manufactured or exaggerated claims to justify hiring a coach they could more easily control. These public deception among others continues to cast doubt over the integrity of those in the administration of football in Sierra Leone.

The truth behind the SLFA’s handling of Mohamed Kallon’s appointment may never be fully revealed. However, what is clear is that Sierra Leone’s football leadership owes the public answers. The public will not forget how the country’s football leadership attempted to discredit a national icon, only to turn to him when their chosen alternative failed. The credibility of the country’s football administration is at stake, and unless there is a change in approach, our national team may continue to suffer from the same cycle of dishonesty and mismanagement.

For now, Mohamed Kallon has the opportunity to silence his detractors, not with words, but with victories on the pitch. And if his debut win is anything to go by, the best may still be yet to come.