FIFA Launches Intensive Refereeing Course in Bo to Uplift Sierra Leonean Football

June 18, 2025

Bo City has become the heartbeat of Sierra Leonean football this week as FIFA officially kicked off an intensive refereeing training program designed to elevate the standards of match officiating in the country.

The FIFA Member Association (MA) Course, organized in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), began on Monday, June 16, and will run through June 25. The aim? To sharpen the technical know-how, physical readiness, and decision-making of local referees and instructors.

A total of 30 elite referees and 25 instructors are participating in the course. International experts like Evangelist Felix Onias Tangawarima from Zimbabwe and Cherifi Nasreddine from Algeria are leading the sessions, supported by respected local facilitators including Alhaji Sanusie Rashid, Alhaji Abdul Rahim Sanusie, and Zainab Wilson.

At the opening ceremony, Dr. P.K. Muana, Acting Chairman of the Referees Committee, praised the participants for their dedication and highlighted the importance of quality officiating in building a respected football culture.

In a moment of pride, every single referee passed the mandatory FIFA fitness test — a 100% success rate that marks a historic milestone for refereeing in Sierra Leone.

The SLFA reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing professional development and international partnerships, emphasizing that the future of football in the country relies heavily on well-trained and respected match officials.