SLFA Boss Urges CAF to Review 200km Airport Rule
Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) President Babadi Kamara has appealed to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to reconsider its mandatory 200-kilometre airport-to-stadium distance requirement, warning that the rule severely restricts international matches at the Southern Arena in Bo.
Speaking at the recent CAF Strategy Conference held on Sal Island, Kamara urged football administrators to account for differing national infrastructure, economic conditions, and local security capabilities when enforcing continental regulations.
“Laws are not always universal because no two nations are the same, neither in size, economy nor people,” Kamara declared. “When we make laws, we should take those issues into cognisance.”
The 6,000-seat Southern Arena in Bo boasts modern facilities capable of hosting high-profile international fixtures. However, its distance from the primary international airport currently prevents it from being regularly utilised for Leone Stars home games.
“The Southern Arena has everything to host AFCON matches,” Kamara stated. “The restriction always prevents the venue from being fully utilised despite its record of successfully hosting international football matches.”
To date, the venue has safely staged four CAF Champions League matches featuring clubs from Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal, three CAF Confederation Cup ties, regional WAFU tournament matches across two seasons, and a senior international friendly between Sierra Leone and Liberia.
Highlighting this flawless operational track record, Kamara stressed: “A single incident didn’t occur during these matches.”
He argued that rigid enforcement of the 200km rule deprives regional fans of seeing their national team and leaves major investments outside capital cities underfunded and underused.
“If there is a regulation that a team should not travel more than 200 kilometres from the airport to the playing venue, it means we are taking the game away from the people,” Kamara noted, calling on CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe to prioritize verified security guarantees over strict geographical limits.
A policy amendment would allow venues like the Southern Arena to regularly host Leone Stars fixtures, bringing elite international football directly to supporters in Bo and surrounding regions.
Comments