Sierra Leone Wrestling Association

Sierra Leone Delegation Departs for ECOWAS Traditional Wrestling Tournament in The Gambia

The Sierra Leone wrestling delegation has departed the Freetown International Airport this evening with Asky airlines for Banjul, The Gambia to participate in the 14th Edition of the ECOWAS Traditional Wrestling Tournament scheduled to take place from 15th to 17th May 2026.

The six-member delegation is made up of five athletes and one coach, all determined to make Sierra Leone proud on the regional stage. Representing the country in the various weight categories are Fatmata Binta Bah in the Women’s 66Kg category, Bintu Marah in the Women’s 76Kg category, Foday Kargbo in the Men’s 86Kg category, Mohamed Kanu in the Men’s 96Kg category, and Masud Othman in the Above 100Kg category.

The team will be led by experienced coach Abdul Rahman Sesay, who expressed confidence in the athletes’ readiness ahead of the competition.

The wrestlers departed in high spirits and are aiming to continue the impressive run of success recently achieved by Sierra Leone wrestling on the international stage. Their confidence is inspired by the remarkable performances of the Sierra Leone U17 Wrestling Team winning of five medals at the West African Wrestling Championship in Guinea-Bissau, as well as the Senior Freestyle Team’s outstanding display at the recently concluded African Wrestling Championship in Alexandria, where Sierra Leone secured a silver medal.

Speaking before the team’s departure from Sierra Leone, Coach Abdul Rahman Sesay assured supporters that the delegation is heading to The Gambia with determination and ambition.

“We are going to compete with confidence and determination. This year has been a year of medals and podium finishes for Sierra Leone wrestling, and we are hopeful of bringing home another medal(s) from Banjul,” Coach Sesay stated.

The participation of Sierra Leone in the tournament highlights the country’s growing presence in regional wrestling and reflects the continued efforts of the Sierra Leone Wrestling Association to develop and promote the sport across the nation.

Sierra Leone Wrestler Wins Silver medal on African Championship Debut

Sierra Leone’s wrestling scene has received a major boost as U.S based athlete Gabriel McDuffie delivered an impressive performance to claim a silver medal at his debut African Wrestling Championship.

Competing in the highly competitive 86kg Freestyle category, McDuffie began his campaign with a bye in the preliminary round, earning automatic qualification to the quarterfinals. Showing composure and technical superiority, he secured a decisive victory over DR Congo’s Persy Bosunga Bamona to advance to the semifinals.

In the semifinal bout, McDuffie faced Morocco’s Mohamed Amine El Mekkaoui. Demonstrating strength, agility, and tactical awareness, the Sierra Leonean dominated the contest, booking his place in the final and guaranteeing the country a medal.

The gold medal match, however, presented McDuffie with his toughest challenge yet. He came up against Algeria’s highly decorated wrestler Fateh Benferdjallah, a two-time Olympian and four-time African champion. Despite a spirited effort, McDuffie was unable to overcome the experienced Algerian, ultimately settling for silver.

McDuffie’s silver medal adds to Sierra Leone’s impressive run of form on the wrestling stage. The achievement comes on the heels of a strong performance by the nation’s U17 team, which secured five medals at last month’s West African Championship in Guinea-Bissau, highlighting a growing consistency in podium finishes for Sierra Leone across different levels of competition.

McDuffie’s remarkable run marks a significant milestone for Sierra Leone wrestling, underscoring the growing impact of diaspora athletes in strengthening the country’s presence on the continental stage. His success not only reflects his individual talent but also signals a promising future for wrestling in Sierra Leone.

With momentum building, Sierra Leone continues to establish itself as an emerging force in African wrestling, inspiring a new generation of athletes to aim for continental and global success.

Sierra Leone U-17 Wrestling Team Clinches Five Medals at West African Championships

The Sierra Leone Under-17 Wrestling Team has recorded a historic achievement at the 2026 West African Wrestling Championships in Bissau, finishing the tournament with an impressive haul of five medals, including a landmark gold.

The competition saw Sierra Leone’s young wrestlers deliver outstanding performances across both mat and beach wrestling events.

The team made a strong statement in the freestyle (mat) wrestling events on Day One:
- Alimamy Kamara emerged as the standout performer, winning gold in the 60kg Men’s Freestyle category.
- Fatmata Binta Bah secured a silver medal in the 65kg Women’s Freestyle category.
- Nenneh Isata Shaw added to the tally with a bronze medal in the 61kg Women’s Freestyle category.

The momentum continued into Day Two with the beach wrestling competitions:
- Fatmata Binta Bah claimed her second medal of the tournament, winning silver in the 65kg Women’s Beach Wrestling category.
- Alimamy Kamara also doubled his medal count, earning bronze in the 60kg Men’s Beach Wrestling category.

This remarkable performance marks a historic breakthrough for wrestling in Sierra Leone. Notably, Alimamy Kamara’s gold medal is the first ever gold medal won by Sierra Leone in international wrestling competition since the sport’s establishment in the country in 2006.

In addition, the achievement represents the first time a Sierra Leone wrestling delegation has secured as many as five medals at a single international event, underscoring the steady growth and rising competitiveness of the sport in the country.

The team’s success in Bissau is a proud moment for Sierra Leone and a strong indication of the potential of its young athletes on the regional and global stage.

Sierra Leone U-17 Wrestling Team Departs for West African Championships in Guinea-Bissau

A delegation from the Sierra Leone Under-17 Wrestling Team has departed Freetown for Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, to participate in the 2026 West African Wrestling Championships, a key regional tournament that also serves as a qualification pathway for the 2026 Summer Youth Olympics scheduled to take place in Dakar, Senegal.

The championship will begin with a five-day training camp from 6th to 10th April 2026, where participating teams will fine-tune their preparations ahead of the main competition. The official matches are scheduled for 11th and 12th April 2026 in Bissau.

Sierra Leone will be represented by three promising young athletes and a coach who will compete across both freestyle wrestling and beach wrestling categories.

The athletes representing the country are:
- Alimamy Kamara, competing in the 60kg Men’s Freestyle and 60kg Men’s Beach Wrestling category.
- Nenneh Isata Shaw, competing in the 61kg Women’s Freestyle and 65kg Women’s Beach Wrestling categories.
- Fatmata Binta Bah, competing in the 65kg Women’s Freestyle and 65kg Women’s Beach Wrestling category.

The team is accompanied by Coach Ibrahim Sorie Keita, who will guide the young wrestlers throughout the training camp and the championship.

The participation of the Sierra Leonean team highlights the country’s growing commitment to developing youth wrestling and providing young athletes with opportunities to compete at regional and international levels. A strong performance at the championships could secure qualification spots for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, marking a significant milestone for the athletes and the nation’s wrestling program.

Meet Zainab Favour Kamara – The New Face Helping to Elevate Sierra Leone Wrestling

The Sierra Leone Wrestling Association (SLWA) continues to usher in a new era of dynamism and professionalism, and one of the brightest additions to its leadership is Zainab Favour Kamara, the newly elected Assistant Secretary General of the Association.

Zainab Favour Kamara stands out as a young, vibrant, and highly focused sport enthusiast whose passion for wrestling and sports development has set her apart as one of the “new kids on the block” poised to help take Sierra Leone wrestling to greater heights.

A true lover of sports, Zainab’s interest in wrestling goes beyond admiration. She is deeply committed to seeing the sport grow from the grassroots to the elite level. Her vision aligns strongly with the SLWA’s drive to strengthen administration, promote inclusivity, and build a well-structured system that will produce competitive wrestlers capable of representing Sierra Leone on regional and international platforms.

Academically, Zainab is equally impressive. She is a double *Bachelor’s degree holder from Fourah Bay College, having earned a BA (Hons) in Political Science and later a Bachelor of Laws with Honours (LLB)*. She is currently awaiting admission into the Sierra Leone Law School, a journey that further underscores her discipline, intellect, and commitment to service. Her strong legal and political background positions her as a valuable asset to the Association, particularly in policy development, governance, compliance, documentation, and institutional reform.

As Assistant Secretary General, Zainab brings with her not only youthful energy but also administrative competence, strategic thinking, and excellent communication skills. She is expected to play a pivotal role in record-keeping, correspondence, coordination of programs, and supporting the Secretary General in ensuring that the Association operates transparently and efficiently in line with its constitution.

Beyond administration, Zainab is passionate about advocating for women and youth participation in wrestling. She believes that wrestling should be accessible to all, and she is committed to supporting initiatives that will empower young people—especially girls—to take up the sport, develop confidence, discipline, and resilience, and build pathways into competitive wrestling.

Her election has been warmly welcomed by the wrestling fraternity, who see her as a symbol of progress, inclusivity, and modern leadership. With her academic pedigree, legal insight, and genuine love for wrestling, Zainab Favour Kamara represents a new generation of sports administrators ready to inject professionalism and innovation into Sierra Leone wrestling.

As the Sierra Leone Wrestling Association embarks on its new six-year leadership journey, the presence of Zainab Favour Kamara within its executive team is widely viewed as a strong statement of intent — a commitment to growth, transparency, and the sustainable development of wrestling across Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone Wrestling Association Elects New Executive to Steer Affairs for the Next Six Years

The Sierra Leone Wrestling Association (SLWA) has successfully held its much-anticipated Elective Congress, ushering in a new leadership that will oversee the affairs of the organization for the next six years in accordance with its constitution.

The historic congress took place at the OlympAfrica Center in Goderich and brought together delegates and representatives from all five regions of the country. The gathering marked a significant milestone for wrestling in Sierra Leone as it laid the foundation for renewed leadership, unity, and strategic direction aimed at elevating the sport nationwide.

At the end of the congress, a new national executive was elected through a democratic process to pilot the affairs of the association. The newly elected officials are:
- Prince Vandy Sualley – President (Elected Unopposed)
- Musa Conteh – Vice President
- Bai Bangura – Secretary General
- Zainab Favour Kamara – Assistant Secretary General
- Unisa Dumbuya – Treasurer
- Alie Bundu – Public Relations Officer
- Jamal Jaffa – Technical Director
- Sulaiman Kargbo – Athlete Representative
- Haja Fatmata Ben Kamara – Women’s Representative

In addition to the national officers, the congress also elected regional chairpersons to strengthen grassroots development and coordination across the country:
- Abdul E. Conteh – Chairman, North-West Region
- Mohamed O. Fofanah – Chairman, North-East Region
- Mustapha Sesay – Chairman, Southern Region
- Hassan Rogers – Chairman, Eastern Region
- Abass Kargbo – Chairman, Western Region

The newly constituted body has been mandated to organize, coordinate, and promote wrestling activities in all regions of Sierra Leone. Their responsibilities include talent identification, athlete development, training of coaches and referees, organization of competitions, and ensuring that wrestling gains greater visibility and participation across the country.

Speaking at the congress, stakeholders emphasized the need for unity, transparency, and strategic planning to reposition wrestling as one of the leading sports in Sierra Leone. The new executive is expected to work closely with the Ministry of Sports, the National Sports Authority, United World Wrestling, and development partners to attract sponsorship, improve facilities, and create opportunities for local wrestlers to compete at national and international levels.

With a blend of experienced administrators and energetic young leaders, the new SLWA executive has been widely welcomed by the wrestling fraternity. There is growing optimism that this team will usher in a new era of growth, professionalism, and success for wrestling in Sierra Leone over the next six years.