SLFA President Welcomes U-17 Girls After Historic Win Over Ivory Coast

President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), Babadi Kamara, together with members of the Executive Committee, on Monday, 20 April 2026, warmly received the National U-17 Girls team at the SLFA Secretariat following their historic 2–1 victory over hosts Ivory Coast* in the first round of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup preliminary qualifiers.

Also present to receive the team were the Minister of Sport, Madam Augusta James Teima, General Secretary Ing. Mohamed Benson Bawoh, Deputy General Secretary Ishmail Saidu Kanu Esq., and Technical Director John Edward Keister.

President Babadi described the victory as a landmark moment for Sierra Leone football. He commended the players, the technical team, Female Football Manager Elizabeth Alberta Kailey and the Women’s Football Lead, Madam Haja Ramatulai Kamara, for their outstanding performance against Les Éléphanteaux.

“This is the first time Sierra Leone has recorded a victory against Ivory Coast in this category. This achievement demonstrates what our country is capable of in terms of talent identification and development”, the SLFA boss noted.

He further thanked the Ivorian Football Federation for the warm and kind hospitality throughout the team’s stay in Abidjan. The SLFA President described the gesture as unprecedented and a reflection of the goodwill and growing reputation of the association under its current leadership.

“When leadership is grounded in integrity and credibility, that respect extends to the entire institution,” he added.

Minister of Sport, Madam Augusta James-Teima, praised the team for making the nation proud, conveying congratulations from His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, who she said was impressed with the team’s performance and is following their progress closely.

“The President is very pleased with what you have achieved. He wishes you continued success as you prepare to face Benin in the next round.”

Sierra Leone will take on Benin in May in the second round of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers, with the U-17 Girls now carrying the hopes of the nation following their historic victory in Abidjan.