FIFA Council Member and CAF Executive Committee Member, Isha Johansen, has been presented with the historical Rosetta Stone by the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Sierra Leone, Sheriff Rifaat.

The exchange took place during a courtesy visit, where both parties engaged in discussions about the pivotal role of sports, particularly football, in driving social and economic growth across the African continent.

Johansen, who holds a prominent position in the football governing board of African Football (CAF), headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, discussed the growing significance of youth and gender empowerment through football. Both Ambassador Rifaat and Johansen expressed strong advocacy for utilizing football as a tool for implementing positive change in these areas.

During the meeting, Johansen underscored the transformative shift in the narrative of African football. She highlighted the impact of global icons like Mohamed Salah, not only for his remarkable talent on the pitch but also for his humility and commitment to embracing humanity through football. Johansen also commended Morocco’s noteworthy performance in the last FIFA World Cup, emphasizing the pride it brought to the African continent.

The diplomatic exchange concluded with Ambassador Rifaat presenting Johansen with a replica of the historic Rosetta Stone. The original stone, discovered by the French in 1799 in Rosetta, features inscriptions from the Council of Egypt to King Ptolemy V in three scripts: demotic, hieroglyphic, and Greek. The symbolic gesture signifies the strong ties between Egypt and Sierra Leone, transcending sports and embracing shared historical and cultural elements.