The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has received the report of its Ad Hoc Committee 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, Kingtom on Friday, 20 February 2026.
The five-member committee, chaired by Victor Idrissa Lansana Esq, was set up on 29 November 2025 pursuant to Article 55 of the SLFA Statutes following public concerns and allegations of negligence after the player’s passing in November last year. The Committee was mandated to review and investigate allegations of neglect in connection with Bureh’s death after an on-pitch collision during a friendly match between Mighty Blackpool and the national team.
In its findings, the Committee concluded that although there was a heavy collision during the match, it did not result in a brain fracture. It stated that the player was not medically fit to have participated 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 ensure sustainable access to quality medical care for the player.
The Committee further mentioned systemic gaps within Sierra Leone football, including the absence of structured medical policies at club and national levels, lack of medical fitness tests before local friendlies and training sessions, the unavailability of standby ambulances at match venues, and the absence of a doping policy and testing regime. It also pointed to poor coordination within the national team’s medical structure and longstanding institutional challenges among key stakeholders in the sports sector.
Among its recommendations, the Committee proposed financial support for the education of the late player’s two children, the establishment of medical schemes and emergency funds for players, the introduction of doping education and testing, improved collaboration between coaches and medical teams, and 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 document would be presented to the Executive Committee to establish a clear timeline for implementing the recommendations.
He disclosed that the SLFA has engaged the 34 Military Hospital with plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to provide medical support for Premier League and national team players. He also announced plans to establish a joint emergency medical fund, with contributions from the SLFA and Premier League clubs, to address urgent player health situations.
President Babadi reaffirmed the Association’s commitment to proactively implementing the recommendations 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.
