The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has officially welcomed the national U-15 team delegation following its participation in the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The welcome ceremony, held at the SLFA Secretariat, brought together Federation officials, technical staff and members of the delegation to celebrate the young players’ participation and commend their representation of Sierra Leone on the international stage.
Head of Delegation and Chairman of the Southern Region Football Association, Joseph Benedict Mbogba, described the tournament as a valuable experience for the players and praised their performances. He expressed his intention to recommend continued participation in the competition, noting its importance to youth football development.
SLFA Technical Director John Edward Keister also congratulated the team, commending the delegation’s leadership and technical staff for their dedication, particularly their efforts in ensuring the welfare of the young players throughout the tournament.
Welcoming the delegation, SLFA General Secretary Mohamed Benson Bawoh reaffirmed the Federation’s commitment to supporting the players’ development and creating opportunities for them to progress to the senior Leone Stars team.
He also called for the expansion of youth football development categories and commended the technical team for its commitment. He noted that SLFA officials, including the President, closely followed the team’s matches despite being away from Azerbaijan.
“We were not there, but we felt like we were there. Everyone, including the President, was waking up at 2:00 AM, 3:00 AM, and 5:00 AM to watch you play,” he said.
SLFA Executive Committee Member and Chairman of the SLFA Youth Football Committee, Mohamed Sorie Jalloh, conveyed the President’s greetings and reaffirmed his commitment to the development of youth football.
He stressed the importance of establishing a football academy to identify, nurture and develop young talents. He also assured the players of the President’s continued support, while encouraging them to remain disciplined, focused and stay away from drugs as they pursue their football ambitions.
In his response, Head Coach José Solomon Cortés expressed appreciation to the SLFA, particularly President Babadi Kamara, for providing the young players with the opportunity to compete internationally.
He urged the Federation to maintain the current group and sustain investment in their development, emphasizing that continuity and consistent support are essential to building a competitive national team for the future.
Also in attendance were SLFA Deputy General Secretary Ishmail Saidu Kanu, Women’s Football Manager Madam Elizabeth Alberta Kailay, Safeguarding Manager Aiah Alusine Kabba and other Federation staff members.
The ceremony ended with renewed calls for sustained investment in youth football, with SLFA officials and the technical team expressing their commitment to supporting the players as they work towards future opportunities to represent Sierra Leone at the highest level.