Sierra Leone’s football community is mourning the death of trailblazing coach Victoria Conteh, a historic figure who shattered gender barriers by becoming the first woman to coach an elite men’s top-tier club in the country.
Her passing, which was announced by the local football federation, SLFA, on Monday, May 4, 2026, has triggered an outpouring of tributes from across the sporting world. Respected former captain of the Sierra Leone Senior National Women’s coach, (Sierra Queens), Musu Bangura, is leading the park of the poll of former players and other members of the football family in Sierra Leone.
In her solemn tribute shared on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, the former Sierra Queens skipper described the late coach Conteh as “a leader, a motivator, and a true soldier of the game.” “Today, my heart carries a weight that words can scarcely hold,” Bangura said, reflecting on years of shared commitment to football.
“She didn’t just coach players, she built lives, shaped character, and gave everything to the game.” Widely known as “Coach DE COX,” Conteh carved a unique path in Sierra Leonean football.
She rose through the women’s game to lead the national women’s team, the Sierra Queens, where she was instrumental in developing talent and promoting the growth of women’s football in a system long constrained by limited resources.
Her most defining achievement came when she took charge of East End Tigers in 2019, one of the country’s top-flight men’s clubs, and made history as the first woman in Sierra Leone, and among a rare few globally, to manage at that level in the men’s game, challenging deeply rooted norms and opening doors for women in football leadership.
Throughout her bitter-sweet career, the late Conteh, who had been sick for a while before her passing, endured her recent sudden amputation to stay alive, yet didn’t abandon football.
Her continued mentorship of both players and coaches nourished her illustrious past coaching career, earning her respect not only for breaking barriers but for her tactical discipline, resilience, and commanding presence on the touchline. Players and colleagues alike credit her with instilling professionalism, belief, and a winning mentality across both women’s and men’s teams.
The former Sierra Leone Queens Captain Bangura, who is now the President of the Sierra Leone Female Veterans Football Association, said the news of Conteh’s death felt “like a final whistle blown too soon,” underscoring the shock and emotional toll of the loss.
Meanwhile, Tributes continue to pour in nationwide, with many hailing the late Conteh as a symbol of courage and progress in African football. Her career is widely seen as a turning point in the fight for gender inclusion in sport, particularly in West Africa.
As Sierra Leone reflects on her life and legacy, the late coach Conteh is remembered not only for her historic achievements but for the countless players she mentored and inspired.
Despite gone, the late coach’s impact endures in every young girl who dares to coach, in every barrier challenged, and in every game played with passion and purpose.
Although dead, the fallen coach Victoria Conteh’s legacy lives on as unyielding, transformative, and unforgettable in Sierra Leone football history, Africa and the world over.
