The Freetown Marathon: Freetown is gearing up for one of its biggest sporting events of the year as Africell Sierra Leone officially launches the fourth edition of the Freetown Africell Marathon. Slated for Sunday, 7 December 2025, the event is expected to attract a surge of athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and first-time runners from across the country.
Africell announced that registration is now open via 227# on any Africell SIM and will close on Friday, 5 December. Collection of race packs is scheduled for Saturday, 6 December, for half-marathon runners, while 10K and 5K participants will receive theirs on race day.
Participation in the 10K and 5K categories is free. However, the half-marathon requires a registration fee of NLe150. All registered runners will receive water, a branded T-shirt, and a certificate of participation. Winners will take home cash prizes, including NLe17,000 for the half-marathon champions (male and female), NLe10,000 for second place, and NLe7,500 for third. The 10K and 5K winners will receive NLe12,500 and NLe7,500, respectively.
Speaking at the launch, Africell’s Marketing and Communications Manager, Kamanda Koroma, said the marathon had grown from a small idea into a major national sporting festival. He disclosed that last year’s edition attracted nearly 6,000 registrants, with more than 1,300 runners competing across all categories.
Koroma confirmed that the event hub would remain the Africell building on Bendus Drive, describing it as a strategic and accessible landmark for both participants and supporters. He added that security, medical services, and race integrity remain key priorities, with support from the Sierra Leone Athletics Association (SLAA), the Ministry of Sports, SWASAL, the Sierra Leone Police, RSLAF, and the Red Cross.
Secretary General of SWASAL, Francess Barnard, hailed the marathon as one of Sierra Leone’s most unifying and impactful sporting events. She assured that SWASAL will provide comprehensive national coverage and encouraged runners to begin preparing early.
Representing Street Child, Sulaiman Bobson Turay reflected on the organization’s longstanding support for marathons, particularly in Makeni, where Africell has been a consistent partner. He said the event also strengthens their outreach to vulnerable children through safe cash transfers facilitated by Afrimoney.
SLAA’s Head of Media, Dalton, confirmed that the association has deployed its technical team to guarantee athlete safety, accurate course marking, and alignment with global athletics standards. He echoed appeals from athletes seeking an increase in prize money and thanked Africell for supporting SLAA’s historic Boxing Day sports events, now in their 99th year.
Africell CEO Shadi Al-Gerjawi described the marathon as a growing national brand that has benefited from strong partnerships with Street Child, SLAA, SWASAL, the police, and the Red Cross. He announced that Africell plans to upgrade the race to a full 42 km marathon in 2026 as part of its fifth-anniversary celebration, noting the increased logistical demands such an expansion will require.
The dedicated website africellmarathon.com now serves as a regional platform for races across Africell markets in Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and the DRC. The marathon is also linked to wider tourism campaigns such as the “One Week in Salone” initiative.
This year’s edition will start and finish at Lumley Beach, where thousands are expected to line the route in support of the runners. Africell and its partners say all systems are in place to deliver a safe, competitive, and memorable race day for Sierra Leone.
