June 3, 2026 A letter from the Ministry of Finance has revealed that a request made by then National Sports Authority (NSA) Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai to use funds saved from the Sierra Leone national football team’s participation in the March 2026 international window in Azerbaijan was rejected.
According to the Ministry’s letter dated 3rd June 2026, Dr. Abdulai had sought approval for the NSA to utilize funds saved from the Leone Stars’ participation in the 2026 FIFA Series window in Azerbaijan (21–31 March 2026) to install three artificial football turfs in Tinhu, Mattru Jong, and Bo School playing grounds.
However, the Ministry of Finance declined the request. The letter states that all revenues generated from the international friendly matches against Oman and Azerbaijan, amounting to US$69,500 (approximately NLe 1,598,500), must be refunded to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).
The Ministry further stated that it could not grant approval for the proposed use of the funds because the expenditure could not be accommodated within the FY2026 national budget.
The decision was communicated in a letter signed by Mamie-Miatta Kallon for the Financial Secretary on 3rd June 2026.