Ibrahim Kamara nets hattrick as Sierra Leone go top of Group A in U-20 AFCON
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ibrahim Kamara nets hattrick as Sierra Leone go top of Group A in U-20 AFCON

Ibrahim Kamara put on an amazing performance on Wednesday night, helping Sierra Leone beat Egypt 4-1 in the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations at the Suez Canal Stadium.

This win puts Sierra Leone at the top of Group A, with Egypt in second place. In the earlier match, South Africa beat Tanzania.

Kamara scored a hat trick, with all his goals from outside the box, and Sallieu Bah scored a penalty kick to secure the win for Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone started slowly and struggled to keep the ball, while Egypt pushed them back into their half. Egypt almost scored in the first three minutes but missed the target. Sierra Leone had a chance to score in the 24th minute, but a goal by Samuel Gandi was disallowed by VAR.

Just before halftime, Egypt took the lead when Khaled Soliman scored a well-placed shot that beat goalkeeper Mamadou Jalloh.

After halftime, Sierra Leone came back stronger and equalized in the 63rd minute when Kamara scored with a surprising strike. Soon after, Kamara scored again with another great shot from the edge of the box.

Then, Egypt gave away a penalty for a handball by Mohammed Samir. Bah scored from the penalty spot to extend the lead. Finally, Kamara scored his third goal, firing another shot into the net from inside the box, making it 4-1.

The TotalEnergies CAF U-20 AFCON continues on Saturday, with Tanzania playing against Sierra Leone, while Egypt will face Zambia.

South Africa register first U-20 AFCON win over Tanzania in Group A
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

South Africa register first U-20 AFCON win in Group A

South Africa won their first match in the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations by beating Tanzania 1-0 on Wednesday. The game took place at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismaila, Egypt.

In the first half, there were not many scoring opportunities for either team. Tanzania had better possession and direct play at first, but their first chance came when Valentino Mashaka failed to score in the 15th minute.

The Amajitas took the lead in the 27th minute. Shakeel April scored after taking advantage of a mistake by Tanzanian goalkeeper Ismail Mpank. He was assisted by Faiz Abrahams.

Tanzania almost equalized later in the half, but Shekhani Khamis missed a header.

In the second half, Tanzania played stronger. Striker Bakari Msimu was a constant threat. He nearly scored with a header, but Amajitas goalkeeper Fletcher Smythe-Lowe made a good save.

With this win, South Africa is now in second place in Group A with three points. Tanzania starts their campaign with this close defeat and is currently in fifth place with one match played.

South Africa will have nearly a week off before playing Sierra Leone next Tuesday. Tanzania will face Sierra Leone on Saturday in their next group match..

Coach Kamara Makes Two Changes for Sierra Leone U20 Match Against Egypt
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Coach Kamara Makes Two Changes for Sierra Leone U20 Match Against Egypt

Sierra Leone’s head coach, Mohamed Lamin Kamara, has made two changes to his squad ahead of their U20 Cup of Nations tie against Egypt tonight at the Suez Canal Stadium.

Injury concerns led to the replacement of Mohamed Fofanah with Sulaiman Kargbo, and Santigue was substituted out for Mohamed Bai Kamara for tactical purposes.

Impressive debutant goalkeeper Mamadou Wurie Jalloh retains his position in goal, while the defensive line of Alpha Turay, Nathial Jalloh, Saidu Bangura, and Amara Keita will look to maintain another clean sheet.

The midfield trio consists of Alpha Kabia, Mohamed Bai Kamara, and Momoh I Kamara, who will provide support to the attacking front of Sulaiman, Saliue Bah, and Samuel Gandi.

Sierra Leone is seeking their first win in the ongoing competition after an impressive goalless draw against Zambia on Sunday. The 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations began on April 27 and will end on May 18.

Injury concerns led to the replacement of Mohamed Fofanah with Sulaiman Kargbo, and Santigue was substituted out for Mohamed Bai Kamara for tactical purposes.
Injury concerns led to the replacement of Mohamed Fofanah with Sulaiman Kargbo, and Santigue was substituted out for Mohamed Bai Kamara for tactical purposes.
South Africa and Tanzania square off in Group A U-20 AFCON
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

South Africa and Tanzania set to square off in Group A U-20 AFCON

South Africa will seek their first win at the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt 2025 when they play Tanzania in Group A on Wednesday at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia at 18:00 local time (15:00 GMT).

South Africa lost 1-0 to Egypt in their first game, while Tanzania had a bye. This is their first meeting at the tournament; South Africa has a record of two wins and one loss against East African teams, having previously lost to Ethiopia but won against Sudan and Burundi.

South Africa Facts

– In 1997, South Africa lost their opening match but still reached the final.

– If they lose again, it will be the first time since 2015 they start with two losses.

– In 2019, they drew their first two games before beating Burundi and finishing third.

– Their record in second group games is three wins, two draws, and three losses.

– They controlled 61.6% of possession against Egypt and hit the woodwork three times.

Tanzania Facts

– This is Tanzania’s second AFCON appearance after they debuted in 2021, where they did not win any matches.

– They lost 4-0 to Ghana in their first game in 2021 and conceded a total of eight goals.

– Tanzania’s only goal in 2021 was a late equalizer against Gambia.

– They qualified for this tournament by winning the 2024 CECAFA U-20 Championship after some impressive victories

AFCON U20 Match-Day Two Preview Sierra Leone v Egypt
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Preview: Sierra Leone Battle Host Egypt in AFCON U20 Match Day Two

On Wednesday at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia, Sierra Leone and host country Egypt will square off during the CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Scheduled start time for the game is 21:00 local (18:00 GMT).

Sierra Leone coach Mohamed Lamin Kamara is expected to make a few changes to the starting lineup against Zambia, aiming for positive results against the host nation.

“We will make one or possibly two tactical adjustments for our next match against Egypt. Coach Kamara briefly explained that his side have been focused on converting goal chances, unlike in our first game.”

Without a doubt, the Shooting Stars will be looking for their first win after playing their opening match to a goalless draw. By contrast, Egypt, who won 1-0 against South Africa in their opening match on Sunday, will be hoping for back-to-back victories.

This is Sierra Leone’s first show in the tournament, and their first match ended in a 0-0 draw against Zambia.

Egypt has warned players about collective formation as the national under-20 team wraps up training in Ismailia under technical director Osama Nabiyeh. They are preparing for their second match in the African Cup of Nations against Sierra Leone.

Nabiyeh emphasized the need for adherence to technical instructions and encouraged a fighting spirit, which was key in their 1-0 victory over South Africa in the opening match. He noted that the tournament is tough, with all teams closely matched, and success will come from effort and perseverance.

Egypt’s last match against a team making its tournament debut was in the 2005 semi-finals against Benin, which also ended in a 1-1 draw before Egypt won on penalties.

Historically, Egypt has encountered tournament debutants ten times since 1979, resulting in three wins, four draws, and three losses.

Without a doubt, the Shooting Stars will be looking for their first win after playing their opening match to a goalless draw.
Without a doubt, the Shooting Stars will be looking for their first win after playing their opening match to a goalless draw.