By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has received the report of its Ad Hoc Committee, which was established to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of former Mighty Blackpool player Bureh Ganso Koroma. The report was presented to SLFA President Babadi Kamara at the FA Secretariat in Kingtom on Friday, 20 February 2026.
The five-member committee, chaired by Victor Idrissa Lansana Esq., was appointed on 29 November 2025 pursuant to Article 55 of the SLFA Statutes. Its mandate was to investigate public concerns and allegations of negligence following the player’s death in November 2025, which occurred after an on-pitch collision during a friendly match between Mighty Blackpool and the national team.
The Committee concluded that while the player suffered a heavy collision during the match, it did not result in a brain fracture. The investigation found that Koroma was not medically fit to participate in the friendly match and later died due to a combination of factors, including lack of adequate follow-up medical care, substance abuse and non-adherence to medical advice.
The report also noted that both the National Team and Mighty Blackpool failed to provide sustainable access to quality medical care for the player.
Additionally, the Committee identified systemic gaps within Sierra Leonean football, such as absence of structured medical policies at club and national levels, lack of medical fitness tests before local friendlies and training sessions, unavailability of standby ambulances at match venues, absence of doping education, testing, and policies, poor coordination within the national team’s medical structure and longstanding institutional challenges among football stakeholders.
Among its recommendations, the Committee proposed financial support for the education of Koroma’s two children. Establishment of medical schemes and emergency funds for players. Introduction of doping education and testing program. Improved collaboration between coaches and medical teams. Formal agreements among football stakeholders to clarify roles and responsibilities
Receiving the report, President Babadi Kamara thanked the Committee for its thorough work and assured that the recommendations would be presented to the Executive Committee to establish a clear implementation timeline.
He disclosed that the SLFA has engaged the 34 Military Hospital to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to provide medical support for Premier League and national team players. He also announced plans to create a joint emergency medical fund, with contributions from both the SLFA and Premier League clubs, to address urgent player health situations.
President Kamara reaffirmed the Association’s commitment to implementing the recommendations proactively and stated that the SLFA intends to provide additional support to the family of the late Bureh Ganso Koroma beyond what was recommended in the report.