In the span of just one month, #SierraLeone’s female athletes have gifted the nation the kind of glory and pride we so desperately need in these uncertain times. The Sierra Queens, our senior women’s football team, lifted the WAFU A Women’s Cup in Nouakchott, Mauritania, defeating #Senegal 1-0 in a dramatic final. Meanwhile, the Lady Patriots, our national women’s cricket team, were crowned champions of the BCA Kalahari Women’s T20I Cricket tournament in #Botswana, going unbeaten throughout the competition. These historic victories are not just sporting milestones, they are national triumphs.
Yet, behind the joy and the headlines lies a sobering truth, our female athletes continue to be systematically neglected by the very institutions meant to support and celebrate them.
As female sports journalist @HawaDauda recently revealed of Facebook, the Sierra Queens were reportedly abandoned by the Sierra Leone Football Association @SLFA_sl before and during the tournament. Stranded in Guinea, demoralised in Mauritania, and only promised token payments after their victory, the treatment of our national women’s team is not only appalling—it is indefensible.
Consider the stark contrast. The male U-20 team reportedly received $1,000 per match. Leone Stars players routinely receive match bonuses and appearance fees. So why are our senior national women’s team players not afforded the same respect or resources? This is not just about funding, it is about equality, dignity, and national pride.
It is not the first time we have failed our women. Years ago, we lost world champion heptathlete Eunice Barber to #France, where she went on to achieve greatness. Jeneba Tarmoh, an exceptional sprinter with Sierra Leonean roots, chose to represent the United States. These are not isolated stories; they are the result of a pattern of indifference and underinvestment in women’s sports.
Despite the lack of institutional support, our women have shown what is possible with resilience, talent, and sheer determination. Imagine what they could achieve if given the same level of support, infrastructure, and encouragement as their male counterparts.
It is time for the Government of Sierra Leone to move beyond token congratulatory messages and deliver meaningful support to women’s sports. We currently have a female Minister of Sports so this is a great opportunity to push for equal pay, proper facilities, investment in grassroots programmes for girls, and equitable treatment by national sports bodies.
The victories of the Sierra Queens and the Lady Patriots are not anomalies. They are proof of potential. They are a reminder that when our women rise, they do so not only for themselves but for all of us. Let us ensure that they never have to rise alone again.
Congratulations, Sierra Queens. Congratulations, Lady Patriots. You have made history. Now, it is time for the government to make theirs by standing firmly and unequivocally on the side of gender equality in sport.