Sierra Leone’s sports sector has received a major boost following the partial handover of refurbished facilities at the Siaka Stevens National Stadium in Freetown, marking significant progress in the ongoing rehabilitation of the country’s premier sporting complex.
The handover ceremony, held on Tuesday, 30 June 2026, was supervised by the Parliamentary Committee on Sports, represented by its Acting Chairman, Hon. Mohamed Papa Bangura, alongside officials from the Ministry of Sports, the National Sports Authority (NSA), and the Chinese Embassy.
The renovation project, which has been underway for four years, is being funded through a 40-million-dollar grant from the Government of the People’s Republic of China as part of efforts to modernise Sierra Leone’s sporting infrastructure.
Facilities officially delivered include the refurbished stadium hostel, a newly upgraded basketball court, the practice field, and the swimming pool area. Authorities say the completed sections will now be opened for use by athletes, sports federations, and members of the public, while construction continues on the stadium’s main bowl.
Speaking during the event, Hon. Bangura praised the Chinese Government for its support, describing the investment as a symbol of the strong bilateral relationship between Sierra Leone and China.
He noted that the progress made so far would greatly benefit the development of sports in the country, particularly by providing improved training and accommodation facilities for athletes.
At the same time, the Acting Chairman raised concerns over the prolonged delay in completing the stadium’s main bowl, stressing that Sierra Leoneans are eager to see the country’s national stadium fully restored to host international football matches.
He emphasized the importance of meeting Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA standards, noting that the return of home matches would be a significant morale boost for both players and supporters.
Hon. Bangura also called on the contractors to speed up the remaining work and assured that Parliament would maintain close oversight to ensure the project is completed on schedule and to the expected standard.
Officials from the Ministry of Sports, the National Sports Authority, and the Chinese Embassy also reaffirmed their commitment to the successful completion of the project, describing the partial handover as an important step toward restoring Sierra Leone’s sporting pride.
The ceremony concluded with a guided inspection of the completed facilities, with stakeholders expressing optimism that the full rehabilitation of the stadium will soon be completed, paving the way for the return of major sporting events to Sierra Leone.
