Sierra Leone has lost a luminary, a childhood hero, and one of its greatest football ambassadors. Mohamed Alie Ngayenga, a name etched in the annals of Sierra Leonean football, passed away earlier this week in Maryland, USA, after a valiant battle with illness. For those of us who grew up in the 1970s watching football in Sierra Leone, two names towered above the rest – Max Glen Macauley and Alie Ngayenga. Mighty Blackpool and Leone Stars were their domains, and Ngayenga was a lethal force—a striker whose brilliance illuminated pitches and ignited the passions of fans across the nation.
Kabs Kanu, the proprietor of the online paper Cocorioko and passionate football analyst, captured the essence of Ngayenga’s legacy in his moving Facebook tribute: “One of Sierra Leone’s greatest football heroes — The inimitable Mohamed Allie Ngayenga— had gone to join his ancestors and late soccer colleagues Max Macauley, King Kama Dumbuya, Manneh Peters, Amadu Kargbo, Abu Syrian, Daniel Diamond Toes Koroma, Abdulai Garrincha Sesay, Umaru Din-Sesay and others.” His words echo the profound loss felt by a nation that revered Ngayenga not just as a player, but as a symbol of pride and possibility.
Born in Bo, Ngayenga’s football journey began as a schoolboy at Christ the King College (CKC), where his flair as a lead striker first caught the eye. Alongside the dazzling Max Macauley, he honed his craft before making the leap to Freetown, where he donned the colours of Mighty Blackpool. In 1978 Ngayenga etched his name into football folklore. Kanu recalls the moment vividly: “Ngayenga was famously known for the humiliation meted out to the great Ghanaian soccer team, Accra Hearts of Oak in Freetown in 1979 in the Africa Club Champions Cup, which Blackpool won 2-0, with a remarkable second goal by Ngayenga himself after a lovely penalty scored by Alusine Terry for the first goal.”
That thunderbolt carpet shot, outwitting defenders Offie Ansa and Justice Moore, sent the Kingtom Association Grounds into a frenzy and stunned the continent. Ghana, then the “Brazil of Africa,” had been humbled, and Ngayenga’s name reverberated far beyond Sierra Leone’s borders.
The tie’s drama continued in Accra, where Hearts of Oak leveled the aggregate score, only to edge Blackpool out in a penalty shootout. Yet, as Kanu notes, “Blackpool could have inflicted more havoc on the Ghanaians during open play but missed many golden opportunities to score.” Ngayenga’s performance in that two-legged clash remains a testament to his skill, tenacity, and ability to shine on the grandest stages.
Soon after, Ngayenga’s talent earned him a scholarship to the United States, where he studied Electrical Engineering at the Indiana Institute of Technology. Excelling both on and off the field, he built a successful career, eventually rising to the rank of Senior Electrical Engineer at Flowserve Industrial Pump Corporation. Upon retirement, he returned to Sierra Leone, constructing a home in Goderich.
Tragically, a massive stroke struck him three years ago, robbing him of his vitality. Discovered too late for a full recovery, he was brought to the U.S. by his devoted daughter, Sia Ngayenga, for treatment. Despite the best efforts, his health declined, and this week, his family made the heart-wrenching decision to remove him from life support.
Alie Ngayenga was more than a footballer—he was a childhood hero whose exploits on the football field were many. He was a gentleman, a positive force, and a true contributor to Sierra Leone football. His legacy lives on in the hearts of those who watched him weave magic with a ball at his feet, from Kingtom to the National Stadium. May his gentle soul find eternal rest.