By alusinerehme.wilson@awokonewspapersl.com
Makeni, SIERRA LEONE – Sierra Leone is set to roll out a hero’s welcome this Saturday as the nation celebrates a defining moment in its football history: the Sierra Queens, the senior national women’s football team, are returning home after clinching their first-ever continental trophy — the 2025 WAFU A’ Women’s Cup.
Their triumph in Mauritius, sealed by a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Senegal in the final, has sent waves of pride across the country. In recognition of their groundbreaking achievement, Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh will deliver a formal address to the team during a special homecoming ceremony at the national stadium’s practice field in Freetown.
Eric Batilo Fomba, Head of Media at the National Sports Authority (NSA), confirmed the arrangements in an exclusive interview with Awoko Newspaper, noting that the celebration is being organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA).
“Our national heroines will first be received at the Sierra Leone–Guinea border in Pamlap on Saturday morning,” Fomba explained. “From there, they’ll be escorted in a motorcade through a jubilant victory parade stretching from Jui, passing through key points including Shell New Road, Up-Gun, Siaka Stevens Street, and Abacha Street, before arriving at the stadium where the Vice President will officially welcome them on behalf of the government.”
The victory marks a watershed moment not just for the team, but for women’s football in Sierra Leone — a sport long overshadowed by its male counterpart. During the tournament, the Sierra Queens showcased grit and growth, bouncing back from a 3-0 opening loss to Gambia to register a series of outstanding performances: a 3-1 win over Guinea, a 1-0 upset over Mali, and a rematch victory over Senegal in the final after drawing 1-1 with them in the group stage.
While national pride is surging, the celebration is not without its undercurrents. Questions remain unanswered about player allowances and match bonuses, which the NSA has yet to publicly address. Additionally, renewed calls are echoing from fans and advocates urging the government and the SLFA to fulfill their 2020 pledge of equal pay for men’s and women’s national teams — a promise that has yet to be fully realized.
As the Sierra Queens return home with gold medals and raised heads, their victory is a reminder that the nation’s sporting future is not only bright — it is also proudly female. ARW/7/6/2025
