SLFA Boss To Account For Over $720,000 Football Funds

By Bei Santigie T Kamara
Football in Sierra Leone has yet again been plunged into deep controversy, as the embattled President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), Thomas Daddy Brima, finds himself at the centre of what could become the biggest corruption scandal in the country’s football history.
Thomas Daddy Brima, who is currently under active investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), is alleged to have siphoned a staggering sum of $720,144 USD, funds meant for football development, directly into his personal bank account without proper documentation or accountability. This scandal is rooted in what the ACC describes as “the most suspicious and controversial pre-financing and reimbursement scheme” ever uncovered in Sierra Leone football.
According to the ACC Commissioner, Francis Ben Kaifala, after a thorough review of SLFA’s USD bank statements from Commerce Mortgage Bank and Union Trust Bank covering the period 25th June 2021 to 12th July 2024, the SLFA President personally received $720,144 USD from the Federation’s account without credible justification. This figure excludes separate Leones transfers, which totaled Le 498,200, all funneled to Thomas Daddy Brima’s personal accounts during a period lacking any formal documentation from the SLFA Finance Officer, Ibrahim Bah.
Thomas Daddy Brima was arrested on Thursday, 3rd April 2025, spending the night in ACC custody before being granted bail on Friday, 5th April 2025, under the condition that he would proceed to chair the long-awaited SLFA Ordinary Congress scheduled for the following day.
However, in what many football stakeholders have described as a deliberate act of sabotage and disrespect to both local football authorities and international observers from FIFA and CAF, Thomas Daddy Brima walked into the much-anticipated SLFA Ordinary Congress on Saturday at Radisson Blu Hotel, not as a leader ready to account to his people, but like a man plotting his own escape route. And escape he did, after barely two minutes inside the Conference Hall, citing “insecurity” as his excuse for walking out on FIFA, CAF representatives, Executive Members, delegates, and the entire footballing nation.
This claim was rubbished by the Sierra Leone Police (SLP). AIG Sylvester Koroma during an interview with Musa Kamara of Radio Democracy 98.1 FM, the Regional Commander of Freetown West, said “that there was enough security, the AIG responded, if you go out now you will see the number of police officers deployed leading to the entrance, so if there’s anyone saying he will not come here on the basis of feeling insecure then I don’t understand what his meaning or interpretation of insecurity.
And from my understanding and proofs is that Thomas Daddy Brima came in with a large crowd of supporters, and none of them gave us a list of those who should be in this building,” AIG Sylvester concluded.
The abrupt collapse of the Ordinary Congress, in the presence of FIFA and CAF officials, has thrown Sierra Leone’s football governance into fresh disarray. Many believe this was a calculated move by Thomas Daddy Brima to avoid accountability. The Congress, which was expected to lay the groundwork in chatting the way forward for the future of Sierra Leone football and usher in key judicial bodies ahead of the SLFA elections in June 2025, was abandoned without explanation, leaving stakeholders, Executive Members, and FIFA/CAF observers in total disbelief.
However, the SLFA President failed to return to the Congress or communicate officially with delegates, despite the full Executive Committee being seated and proceedings ready to commence.
As of now, Thomas Daddy Brima may still hold the title of SLFA President, but across the streets, stadiums, and radio airwaves of Sierra Leone, a new title is trending fast; “The Man Who Stole From Football.” And the world is watching.