Former SLFA President Isha Johansen to Release Memoir on Football Leadership and Governance

Former Sierra Leone Football Association President (SLFA) Isha Johansen has announced the upcoming release of her memoir, The Uncommon Enemy, detailing her tenure at the helm of the SLFA and the challenges she faced in football administration.

Speaking at a press conference she held at the Swiss Hotel in Freetown, Johansen said the book presents her personal account of events during her time in office, including governance disputes, internal conflicts, and broader issues affecting football in Africa.

Johansen, who became the first woman to lead the SLFA, said she decided to write the book after years of public scrutiny during which she felt her perspective had not been fully represented.

“My story and my side of the story was never told,” she said, adding that attempts to present alternative narratives at the time were often suppressed.

Governance and Controversy

Image: Isha Johansen at her book launch at the Swiss Hotel in Freetown

Johansen’s leadership was marked by disputes within Sierra Leone’s football structures, including allegations, legal challenges, and internal divisions. At the press conference, Johansen described herself as having been widely criticised during her tenure.

She said the book examines issues of governance in African football, which she described as a growing subject of global attention.

“African football is making headlines, often for the wrong reasons,” she said, noting that governance challenges were not unique to Sierra Leone.

Johansen also addressed the issue of political alliances within football administration, saying some partnerships formed during reform efforts later broke down.

“You fight for change together, but when you get there, you realise the person is not who they said they were,” she said.

Personal Impact

Image: Isha Johansen

The former football official said the memoir also documents personal challenges, including periods of depression during and after her time in office.

She described the writing process as difficult, saying revisiting past experiences often triggered emotional distress.

“I would start writing and then stop because it would take me back to very dark places,” she said.

Johansen said the book ultimately became a form of reflection and recovery, allowing her to revisit events she had previously avoided.

Publication Date

Image: Isha Johansen’s Book Cover

The Uncommon Enemy is scheduled for official launch in the United Kingdom on June 5, with pre-orders expected to be available ahead of release.

Johansen said she chose to begin engagement in Sierra Leone before the international launch, emphasising the importance of sharing her story locally.

The book is expected to explore themes including leadership, governance, gender, and resilience within and beyond football.

Who is Isha Johansen

Image: Isha Johansen (Left) and FIFA President Gianni Infantino (Right)

Isha Johansen is a Sierra Leonean entrepreneur and football administrator who previously served as president of the Sierra Leone Football Association from 2013 to 2021. 

She is among a small number of women globally to have led a national football federation, alongside figures such as Lydia Nsekera of Burundi, Izetta Sombo Wesley of Liberia and Sonia Bien-Aime.

Fewer than 10 women have ever held such positions worldwide, out of more than 200 member associations under FIFA.

Born in Freetown in 1965, Johansen was introduced to football at an early age through her father, a co-founder of East End Lions F.C. 

Following the footsteps of her father, Johansen started her own football club, F.C. Johansen, in 2004, to support young people affected by the Sierra Leone Civil War.

Johansen rose to international prominence following her election as SLFA president, where she led reforms in football administration and promoted women’s participation in the sport. 

She also launched several initiatives aimed at youth development and grassroots football, including the African International Youth Tournament in 2009, the Powerplay programme to promote women’s participation in the sport, and Football for Reform, an initiative to use football as a tool to effect social change.

In 2016, Johansen served on the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), becoming the first woman ever to be elected to the CAF Executive Committee. 

In 2021, she was elected to the FIFA Council, becoming the first Sierra Leonean and first West African woman to join the decision-making body.

Outside of football, Johansen has been involved in media and philanthropy, including founding Rapture Magazine, supporting initiatives focused on women’s empowerment and health, and paying fines for the release of 13 inmates held at the Freetown Correctional Centre.