Cricket officials in Sierra Leone have celebrated the remarkable achievement of the national senior women’s cricket team following their impressive performance at a recent international tournament.

The team returned home from the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Division 2 Qualifier in Botswana with a runner-up trophy—an outcome that sparked pride across the sporting community. Despite limited resources and traveling without financial support from the government, the players rose to the occasion and reached the final of the competition.

A formal presentation ceremony was held in Freetown to recognize their efforts. Officials from Cricket Sierra Leone handed over the trophy and medals to the leadership of the country’s National Sports Authority (NSA) as a symbol of pride and resilience.

One of the cricket officials described the team’s success as deeply inspiring, especially given the challenging conditions the women faced. “They had no government funding, yet they gave their all. That’s the definition of passion and patriotism,” he said.

Calls were made during the event for better support and long-term investment in female athletes. Suggestions included initiatives like land allocations or scholarships to encourage continued excellence in sports. The same official urged urgent government action to ensure the team can participate in the upcoming Global Qualifier.

In response, the NSA’s head publicly congratulated the team and apologized for the lack of support during their Botswana journey. He acknowledged the shortfalls in the system and promised a shift going forward. Plans are already in motion to improve funding for cricket and other lesser-supported sports.

The NSA chief also revealed that efforts are underway to arrange a meeting between the women’s team and the President, allowing them to share their stories, show their achievements, and highlight their challenges directly.

He emphasized that sports, especially for young women, are not just about trophies. They are vital tools for youth empowerment, helping to combat social issues like drug abuse and unemployment.

The event ended with words from team captain Aminata Kamara, who expressed gratitude to Cricket Sierra Leone and hope that the recognition and promises made will translate into meaningful support as the team prepares for the next round of competition later this year.

The women’s cricket squad now awaits critical funding and logistics assistance to represent Sierra Leone at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier, expected to take place in August.