Government Set to Partially Reopen Siaka Stevens National Stadium

The Government of Sierra Leone has announced imminent plans for a partial reopening of the Siaka Stevens National Stadium, marking a critical step toward ending years of hosting international football matches in neighboring countries.

Following a high-level inspection of the facility on Monday, January 19, Minister of Sports Augusta James-Teima confirmed that the government is preparing for the “official launch of the installation of seats and a partial handover of completed facilities.”

The 40,000-capacity stadium, originally constructed by China in 1979, has been undergoing a major Chinese-funded rehabilitation since 2022. Due to the facility’s disrepair, the national team, Leone Stars, has been forced to play “home” fixtures in Liberia and Morocco, a situation the Minister is keen to resolve.

“Plans are on the way to officially launch the installation of seats and proceed with a partial handover,” James-Teima stated. She emphasized that the project is strategically designed to “prevent the country from having to host home matches abroad” while ensuring the work delivers “value for money.”