By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has officially reinstated Madam Aminata Bangura as a candidate in the upcoming Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) Presidential Elections, scheduled for August 2nd in Port Loko District.
Madam Bangura was previously disqualified by the SLFA Ethics Committee under what many football stakeholders and fans across the country described as baseless, biased, and politically motivated grounds. Critics argue that the decision lacked transparency and fairness, especially given that the Chairman of the SLFA Ethics Committee concurrently serves as the Board Secretary for a government institution Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA)raising serious concerns about conflict of interest and political interference.
Unwilling to accept what she termed as an unjust decision, Madam Bangura challenged her disqualification at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). In a landmark ruling, CAS declared that Madam Aminata Bangura is fully eligible to contest in the SLFA Presidential election. The ruling has been widely viewed as a major victory for fairness and justice in Sierra Leone football governance.
This development is a significant blow to the credibility of the SLFA Ethics Committee, whose actions have come under intense scrutiny. Many in the football community have long expressed concerns about the impartiality and independence of the committee, and the CAS ruling appears to validate those fears.
Notably, both the incumbent SLFA President Thomas Daddy Brima and Madam Aminata Bangura had earlier taken the matter to the High Court of Sierra Leone. However, the court ruled against them. Despite this, numerous football analysts and stakeholders believe that domestic courts cannot be relied upon for unbiased judgments in sports-related matters. For them, the CAS ruling carries far more weight and legitimacy.
As the August 2nd election approaches, all eyes are now on Port Loko District, where the contest is expected to be closely watched both locally and internationally. The reinstatement of Madam Bangura not only reshapes the dynamics of the election but also sets a significant precedent for sports justice in Sierra Leone.