Africell Sierra Leone has launched the fifth edition of the Freetown Africell Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, 6 December 2026, with the introduction of a full marathon for the first time since the event began.

The launch took place on Wednesday 14th October 2026, at Africell’s headquarters on Wilberforce in Freetown, where the company announced four race categories: 5 kilometres, 10 kilometres, a half marathon of 21.1 kilometres and a full marathon of 42.2 kilometres. The event is aimed at promoting physical fitness, developing local athletic talent and strengthening community participation in sports.

Giving the marathon details, Africell’s Marketing and Communication Manager, Kamanda Koroma, said the marathon had continued to grow through the commitment of the company, its partners and participants, with each edition providing lessons in route planning, safety, logistics and race management. He explained that the initiative went beyond competition by bringing communities together, encouraging healthy living and providing opportunities for athletes and recreational runners to challenge themselves.

He announced increased prize money across the four categories for both male and female participants. In the 5K race, registration costs Le2, with prizes of Le10,000 for first place, Le7,500 for second and Le2,500 for third; the 10K costs Le5 to register, with prizes of Le15,000, Le10,000 and Le5,000 respectively.

For the half marathon, registration costs Le150, with prizes of Le20,000 for first place, Le12,500 for second and Le7,500 for third, while the full marathon costs Le250, with prizes of Le25,000, Le18,000 and Le13,000 respectively. He added that participants registered for the half and full marathons would receive Africell runners’ package bags containing various running materials, and encouraged runners to choose distances suited to their fitness levels.

Africell Chief Executive Officer, Shadi Al-Gerjawi, said the introduction of the full marathon marked a significant step in the event’s development, offering experienced runners a new challenge and creating opportunities to attract participants from across Sierra Leone and beyond. He added that Africell regarded sports as an investment in people, particularly young people, and highlighted the company’s support for football, volleyball and basketball, including its collaboration with NBA Africa and support for the Sierra Leone Basketball Federation.

Shadi Al-Gerjawi also noted that marathon activities were gaining momentum beyond Freetown, pointing to Street Child’s longstanding work in Makeni and emerging activities in Kenema. He said the event could also support tourism by showcasing Freetown to visitors and creating opportunities for local businesses, while contributing to the Africell Impact Foundation’s focus on health, sports and wellbeing.

The CEO announced that all four race categories would start and finish at Bendu’s Drive along Lumley Beach Road. The 5K route will extend towards Funkia, the 10K route towards NASSIT/Regimanuel Grey Estates near Emergency, the half marathon towards a point beyond Sussex River Bridge near Mambo, and the full marathon towards the Soja Camp area, also known as Bio Barray, almost reaching Tokeh, before returning to the starting point.

President of the Sierra Leone Sports Writers Association (SWASAL), Sahr Morris Jr., challenged sports journalists and media institutions to provide sustained coverage of the marathon to raise its profile and improve its prospects for international recognition. He also encouraged journalists to participate in the event and called for continued investment in sports to create more opportunities for Sierra Leonean athletes.

Street Child Country Director, Kelfa Kargbo, reaffirmed his organization’s commitment to its partnership with Africell, describing the relationship as important to supporting community initiatives and creating positive change. Drawing on his own experience of progressing from the 5K to the 10K and then the half marathon, he encouraged the public to participate at a distance suited to their fitness levels and make regular exercise part of their lives.

Ibrahim Moses Kargbo, representing the Sierra Leone Athletes Association, urged Sierra Leoneans to embrace physical exercise and participate in the marathon, stressing that its benefits extended beyond prize money to improved fitness and healthy living. He also highlighted the importance of proper race route measurement and recognised standards in strengthening the credibility of marathon competitions.

President of the National Olympic Committee of Sierra Leone, Prince Vandi Swaray, commended Africell for its continued support to sports and said the marathon could provide an opportunity to identify promising athletes for further development. He reaffirmed the committee’s willingness to provide technical assistance, working with the relevant sporting bodies to help athletes develop their abilities and pursue opportunities at international competitions.

Registration for the Freetown Africell Marathon 2026 is available by dialling *227# and following the instructions. Africell said the fifth edition would build on previous years’ progress, improve the experience for participants and further establish the marathon as an important event on Sierra Leone’s sporting calendar.

The launch also saw the announcement that the Freetown Africell Marathon had received recognition from World Athletics, the international governing body for the sport. The development was presented as an important milestone for the event as Africell seeks to strengthen its standing, attract wider participation and establish the marathon as a recognized fixture on Sierra Leone’s sporting calendar. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65430