SLFA to Host CAF B Licence Course, Boosting Women’s Football

The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has announced that it will host a CAF B Licence Diploma Coaching Course in Freetown in October 2026, a move stakeholders describe as a critical step in strengthening the country’s football structure.

The programme, delivered under the Confederation of African Football (CAF) framework, will cost Le 7,500 per participant, with applications open from April 8 to July 31, 2026. Candidates are required to hold a CAF C Licence, be at least 18 years old, demonstrate active coaching experience within the past two years, and meet basic literacy and identification requirements.

This initiative builds on a broader nationwide coaching expansion drive by the SLFA. Earlier in 2026, the association rolled out CAF D Licence courses across all regions to enhance grassroots technical capacity and widen access to structured football education. The progression from entry-level to intermediate licensing reflects a deliberate strategy to professionalize coaching and align Sierra Leone with CAF’s development standards, where technical education is considered essential for sustainable football growth.

The programme carries particular significance for women’s football. Despite gradual progress in participation and institutional backing, the women’s game in Sierra Leone has historically faced challenges due to limited technical expertise and structural support. CAF has emphasized that empowering women through football, especially via coaching education, is central to long-term development. Female coaches and instructors are seen as key drivers of inclusion and performance across the continent.

In Sierra Leone, efforts toward gender inclusion have already yielded milestones, including the emergence of female coaches, referees, and administrators within the football system. In 2026, the SLFA introduced measures providing partial or full financial support for female coaches pursuing licences—an intervention widely viewed as a breakthrough in addressing barriers to entry in coaching pathways.

Combined with the CAF B Licence programme, these steps are expected to significantly increase the number of qualified women coaches, particularly at club and grassroots levels where the impact is most immediate.

Long-term, this initiative could be transformative. Sierra Leone’s women’s national teams, including the senior side and youth structures, remain in developmental phases with limited international success to date. With CAF competitions such as the Women’s Champions League expanding across Africa, the demand for higher technical standards continues to grow.

By investing in coaching education now, the SLFA is laying the groundwork for improved player development, stronger domestic competitions, and a more competitive presence regionally and continentally positioning women’s football in Sierra Leone for a more structured and sustainable future.