Public frustration over the slow pace of rehabilitation works at the Siaka Stevens National Stadium in Freetown has resurfaced after a new video showed the current state of the main bowl.
On Thursday, 15th October 2026, Radio Democracy’s, Musa Kamara visited the stadium and shared a video on Facebook showing ongoing works at the main bowl site. The footage, which showed scaffolding, unfinished concrete works and largely empty stands, triggered disappointment among Sierra Leoneans.
Many commenters lamented what they described as the snail pace of the project and the lack of accountability over funding.
One social media user commented: “For a nation of over eight million people, it is unacceptable that our national stadium project, commenced in 2016, remains incomplete after a decade. Year after year, work begins briefly then halts—only to resume months later and stop again. This is not progress; it is stagnation.”
Another user, Algust Fagust, noted: “It took the Chinese government three years to construct the National Stadium from 1975 to 1978 but it has been 4 years since the Sierra Leone government started renovating the same national stadium.”
The stadium, originally built by China between 1975 and 1978 and officially opened in 1980, is Sierra Leone’s largest sporting venue with a capacity of about 45,000. It has hosted the Leone Stars, national celebrations and major social and political events.
The current rehabilitation is funded through a $40 million grant from the Government of China. Work officially started on 25th February 2022 and was initially scheduled to last two years, with completion expected in 2024.
More than four years later, the project has suffered repeated delays. The National Sports Authority (NSA) has now said the main bowl will not be ready until late 2026 or early 2027.
Former Minister of Sports, Ibrahim Nyelenkeh, who signed the deal, said this week that he lobbied for the inclusion of plastic spectator seating, which raised the contract value from $32 million to $40 million. He predicted the stadium would be ready by June 2027, though the Ministry of Sports and NSA have not confirmed that date as official.
On 30th June 2026, the Parliamentary Committee on Sports supervised a partial handover of completed auxiliary facilities, including the refurbished stadium hostel, basketball court, practice field and swimming pool area. The main bowl, the heart of the complex remains closed.
Because the stadium does not meet CAF standards, Sierra Leone has been forced to host its home international matches abroad, including recent fixtures in El Jadida, Morocco.
Authorities attribute the delays to seasonal shutdowns during the rains, late arrival of materials from China, and technical corrections. Citizens, however, say they want clearer timelines and accountability.
The Ministry of Sports says it is pursuing a phased reopening, but has not announced a new official completion date for the main bowl.
