by Alusine Rehme Wilson

Sierra Leone Book WAFU-A U20 Semifinal Spot After Senegal Stalemate

The Shooting Stars of Sierra Leone have secured a place in the semifinals of the 2026 WAFU-A U20 Male Championship after holding Senegal to a goalless draw on Thursday, October 22.

The result sees head coach Mohamed Lamin Kamara’s side advance as Group B runners-up with two points after recording consecutive draws in the group stage.

Star Sport Academy’s midfielder Mohamed C Jalloh was named Player of the Match. Sierra Leone will now face The Gambia in the semifinals, while Group B winners Senegal take on Guinea for a place in the final and a chance to qualify for next year’s U20 AFCON.

Reacting to his team’s progress in the tournament, currently being held in Mali, Shooting Stars head coach Mohamed Lamin Kamara expressed confidence in his players’ ability to rise to the challenge in the knockout stage and make Sierra Leoneans proud.

The experienced coach, who guided the Shooting Stars of Sierra Leone to their historic AFCON appearance in 2025, said he believes his side “can continue making its mark on the international stage.”

WAFU A semifinal schedules
WAFU A semifinal schedules
by Alusine Rehme Wilson

Sierra Leone to Host DR Congo in Morocco for AFCON Qualifier

Sierra Leone’s 2027 AFCON qualifying next home game will take place in Morocco after the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has confirmed that Morocco will host the November 17 match against DR Congo after failing to secure a closer location.

The SLFA said it initially explored hosting the Matchday Three encounter in Guinea or Liberia to give Sierra Leonean supporters the opportunity to cheer on their national team but, scheduling conflicts in both countries made the arrangements impossible.

The association also revealed that it had requested the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to reschedule the match from November 17 to November 16, but DR Congo rejected the proposal, insisting that the fixture be played on the original date in accordance with the official schedule.

With both alternative venues ruled out and the date change unsuccessful, the SLFA turned to Morocco to host the crucial qualifier.

The decision comes as Sierra Leone’s National Stadium remains unavailable for international matches following a CAF ban over its failure to meet the required standards for hosting such fixtures.

The SLFA has expressed regret that the match could not be staged closer to home, apologising to supporters for the inconvenience while thanking them for their patience and continued backing of the national team.

Meanwhile, the Leone Stars, under head coach Didier Gomez Da Rosa, will be looking to bounce back after suffering defeats in their opening two matches of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.

Despite the disappointing start, the SLFA has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the national team as Sierra Leone continues its pursuit of qualification for the continental tournament.

The November 17 encounter against DR Congo will present another important test for the Leone Stars as they seek to get their qualifying campaign back on track.

by Alusine Rehme Wilson

Sierra Leone Target Semi-Final Berth in Crucial Senegal Clash

Sierra Leone’s U-20 men’s national team is set to make it to the semi-finals of the WAFU A U-20 tournament if they achieve a favourable outcome against Senegal on October 22 in Bamako, Mali.

The development comes after the Shooting Stars salvaged a dramatic 2-2 draw against Mauritania in their opening fixture, with Mohamed Bah striking in the 90th minute to rescue a valuable point for head coach Mohamed Lamin Kamara’s side.

During the Monday evening match, Sierra Leone put themselves in front in the 23rd minute through Papay G. Mansaray but conceded twice before Bah’s late intervention ensured they avoided defeat.

The result leaves Mauritania on two points, while Sierra Leone and Senegal have one point each, according to the standings provided. Senegal also drew 1-1 against Mauritania, setting up a pivotal encounter between the Shooting Stars and their West African rivals.

With a place in the last four at stake, Sierra Leone’s experienced coach has acknowledged the importance of the upcoming fixture as his team seeks to keep their continental ambitions alive in the zonal tourney, which doubles as the 2027 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations qualifiers.

“We anticipate building on our opening-match result and delivering a winning performance against Senegal to keep our continental ambitions on track,” Kamara said.

by Football Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone U20 set for WAFU opener against Mauritania in Bamako

Sierra Leone set to open their U20 WAFU Zone A U-20 male tournament against Mauritania today in Bamako. This match is their first game in the tournament and is a qualifier for the next CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 in Ghana.

A win for Shooting Stars means they will secure a spot in the quarter-finals, even without playing their final group game against defending champions Senegal.

This is because Mauritania, who are finishing their group matches, lost their first game 2-1 to Senegal. The group only has three teams because Guinea-Bissau withdrew on the tournament’s start day.

Shooting Stars were runners-up last time in Monrovia and qualified for their first-ever U-20 AFCON, but they exited in the quarter-finals.

by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Al Hilal Pick Up Crucial Away Victory Over Sidama Bunna

Al Hilal Omdurman of Sudan boosted their chances of advancing to the group stage of the CAF Champions League with a solid 2-0 away victory over Ethiopia’s Sidama Bunna in the first leg of their Second Preliminary Round match on Sunday.

The visitors got off to a great start thanks to an early own goal by Sidama Bunna in the 11th minute, putting Al Hilal ahead right from the outset. The Ethiopian team struggled to find an equalizer before the break, which allowed Al Hilal to maintain control of the game.

Throughout the second half, the Sudanese club held onto their slim lead as Sidama Bunna pressed for a way back into the match. Just as the game was nearing its end, Mohamed Abdelrahman found the net in the 90th minute, doubling Al Hilal’s advantage and sealing the victory.

As a result, Sidama Bunna now faces the daunting task of overcoming a two-goal deficit in the return leg if they hope to stay in the competition. On the other hand, Al Hilal will enter the next match feeling confident about securing their spot in the group stage as they chase their continental ambitions.