The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has suspended relegation for all divisions during the 2024/2025 transition season as part of a major restructuring plan to align the country’s football calendar and strengthen league management, the association said in a statement on Monday.
The decision follows nationwide stakeholder consultations held under the theme “Revamping the Football Ecosystem and Finding a Workable Football Calendar,” during which football administrators, club officials, and regional representatives offered recommendations to improve Sierra Leone’s domestic competitions.
According to the SLFA, most regional stakeholders supported maintaining the current league structures and deferring relegation until the 2025/2026 season, although representatives from the Western Region argued that relegation should proceed regardless of scheduling challenges.
“The Executive Committee approved a one-season suspension of relegation across all leagues to allow clubs to prepare adequately for the new football calendar while improving their technical, administrative, and financial capacities,” the statement said.
Under the new structure, the 2025/2026 men’s Premier League season will begin on November 8, 2025, while the women’s Premier League will start on November 15. The men’s and women’s Super Cups are scheduled for October 31 and November 1 respectively. Lower divisions and youth leagues will commence in January 2026, with the FA Cup resuming the same month.
The 2026/2027 season will begin earlier in October 2026 to align Sierra Leone’s football calendar with international standards, the SLFA said.
The Executive Committee also approved changes to the number of participating teams across divisions. The men’s Premier League will gradually reduce from 18 teams in the 2025/2026 season to 14 by 2027/2028, while the women’s Premier League will retain 12 teams. Division One and Two leagues across the regions will feature between 10 and 20 teams, depending on regional capacity.
The SLFA said registration for men’s Division 1 and 2 and women’s Division 1 clubs and players on FIFA’s Connect platform will open on November 8, 2025. Regional playoffs to determine final league participants will begin on November 15 under the supervision of Regional Football Associations.
The association said the reforms were aimed at ensuring stability, transparency, and long-term growth in Sierra Leonean football.
“The SLFA reaffirms its strong commitment to building a structured, transparent, and competitive football system that promotes growth and professionalism,” said Ibrahim Kamara, SLFA’s Head of Media and Marketing.
By Adama Koroma
