By Alusine Sesay
Freetown, July 31, 2025 — The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled in favor of Ms. Aminata Bangura, declaring her eligible to contest the upcoming presidential election of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), scheduled for Saturday, August 2, 20252.
The decision follows an appeal for a stay of execution filed by Bangura on July 24, 2025, in the matter CAS 2025/A/1613 Aminata Bangura v. Sierra Leone Football Association. The CAS ruling overturns a prior disqualification by the SLFA Ethics Committee, which had barred Bangura from the race over allegations of falsifying her police clearance.
Candidate Reacts to Ruling
In a statement following the verdict, Bangura expressed gratitude to her supporters: “I want to thank every one of you for the love and support you’ve shown me over the past couple of months. I have been cleared by CAS to contest as a candidate for President at the SLFA elective congress… My victory will be a victory for us all.”
Background to the Disqualification
Bangura, General Manager of SLIFA Football Club, was disqualified by the SLFA Ethics Committee on July 18, 2025, for allegedly submitting a forged police clearance—a breach of Article 15(1) of the SLFA Code of Ethics. The Committee claimed the document was obtained through a proxy and not in her presence, raising concerns about integrity and transparency.
Her legal team contested the ruling, arguing that any procedural lapses were the responsibility of the issuing authority, not the candidate. They emphasized that Bangura had no criminal record or disciplinary sanctions, and that the Ethics Committee’s decision lacked definitive legal proof.
With the CAS ruling, Bangura joins Babadi Kamara and Umaru Bah on the ballot for the SLFA presidency. The incumbent, Thomas Daddy Brima, remains disqualified.