Category: Football Africa

Sierra Leone's Ismailia camp bubbles ahead of U20 AFCON opener
by Football Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone’s Ismailia camp bubbles ahead of U20 AFCON opener

The camp of Sierra Leone’s Shooting Stars in Ismailia, Egypt, has welcomed the last three foreign-based players: Arsenal’s Osman Kamara, Reading defender Abraham Kanu, and RWDM forward Kevin Bobson Kargbo.

They arrived with National Team Ambassador Christian Duada in preparation for their opening match against Zambia on Sunday, April 27th.

Sierra Leone is filled with fresh optimism and vigor as it aims to qualify for the U20 World Cup in Chile in 2025. The four semi-finalists will secure a spot in the tournament.

This moment is significant for the team, as it marked the first time in history they qualified for this tournament. Head coach Mohamed Lamin Kamara’s squad has demonstrated great resilience throughout their preparations.

Remarkably, the last time a youth team from Sierra Leone flourished on the international stage was during the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship. Sierra Leone’s youth last participated in this tournament, which took place in Finland from August 13 to 30, 2003, with games held in Turku, Lahti, Tampere, and Helsinki.

South Africa U20 Amajita arrive in egypt ahead of U20 AFCON
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

South Africa’s Amajita arrive in Egypt ahead of U20 AFCON

The South African U-20 team has arrived in Cairo to participate in the African Cup, set to begin on Sunday in Cairo and Ismailia.

The delegation arrived at Cairo Airport on Thursday morning to compete in the Africa Cup of Under-20, which runs from Sunday until May 18.

Thirteen teams will compete for the title, with the top four qualifying for the World Cup scheduled to take place in Chile between September and October 2025.

Under the guidance of Coach Raymond Madaka, the team is in the first group, and their campaign begins with an opening match against Egypt at Cairo International Stadium on Sunday evening. They will also face Tanzania on April 30 at the Suez Canal Authority Stadium in Ismailia and Sierra Leone on May 6 at the new Suez Stadium. The group stage will conclude for Amajita with a match against Zambia on May 9 at the 30th of June Stadium in Air Defense.

The South African national team, known as “Amajita,” qualifies for the U-20 African Cup for the ninth time in its history. They secured their place by finishing the COSAFA regional qualifiers with three victories: defeating Malawi 5-0, Lesotho 6-0, and the Comoros Islands 2-0 in the group stage. They then advanced to the semi-finals, where they triumphed over Angola 1-0, and secured their spot in the final by outclassing Zambia 2-0.

Senegal set to defend U20 Cup of Nations title in Egypt
by Football Sierra Leone

Senegal set to defend U20 Cup of Nations title in Egypt

Senegal arrived at the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt 2025, as the defending champions and a team to beat. With a strong reputation for producing elite youth talent, the Lionceaux of Teranga aims to retain their title.

Under coach Serigne Saliou Dia, they blend tactical discipline with attacking flair in pursuit of back-to-back triumphs.

As reigning African U-20 champions, Senegal aims to defend their title at the tournament following their historic 2023 victory in Egypt. Their recent success is built on disciplined structures and a rich talent pipeline.

Senegal secured their place in the tournament by winning the WAFU Zone A Championship for the second consecutive time, defeating Sierra Leone 2-0 in the final.

Senegal, as the reigning champions after winning the 2023 title, had a flawless campaign, winning every match, including a 2-0 final against Gambia. They had previously reached the finals in 2015, 2017, and 2019, but fell short each time.

  • **GROUP ANALYSIS**  

Senegal is in Group C alongside DR Congo, Ghana, and the Central African Republic. Each of these teams poses a unique challenge, with DR Congo being particularly ambitious and Ghana showing consistent growth in youth football. The Central African Republic is a dark horse, known for their physical and direct style.

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles Beat Egypt Team in Cairo pre-U20 Afcon friendly
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles Beat Egypt in Cairo Pre-U20 Afcon friendly

On Tuesday, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles defeated Egypt’s Young Pharaohs 2-1 in a pre-Cup of Nations friendly match held at the Cairo International Stadium. Goals from Kparobo Arierhi and Precious Benjamin ensured a strong victory for Nigeria’s U20 team in Cairo. (Photo Credit EFA)

Kparobo Arierhi scored Nigeria’s first goal in the 10th minute, after being assisted by Bidemi Amole. Egypt responded with a goal from Ahmed Kaabaka in the 65th minute. However, Nigeria took the lead again with a penalty goal from Precious Benjamin in the 83rd minute, after Divine Oliseh was fouled in the box.

This victory gives the Flying Eagles a confidence boost as they prepare to face Tunisia in their first match on Thursday. They will also compete against Morocco and Kenya in Group B.

Egypt, the host team in Group A, will play against South Africa on Sunday, followed by matches against Sierra Leone on April 30, Zambia on May 3, and Tanzania on May 9.

Tanzania Players gearing up for U20 AFCON in Egypt
by Football Sierra Leone

Tanzania head coach Suleiman Hemed aware of U20 AFCON challenges

Tanzania U20 head coach Suleiman Hemed Morocco is aware of the tough challenge ahead after his team was drawn into a competitive Group A at the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt 2025. The draw placed Tanzania alongside hosts Egypt, Zambia, South Africa, and Sierra Leone.

In an interview, Coach Morocco acknowledged the strength of the group, stating, “It’s not an easy group for us… Everyone wants to win the cup.”

The tournament will take place from April 27 to May 18, 2025, featuring 13 teams, with the top two from each group and two best third-placed teams advancing to the quarter-finals.

Reaching the knockout stage would mark a significant achievement for Tanzania, and Coach Morocco emphasized the need for effective preparation to compete with elite teams. “We take our group seriously to ensure we can compete with anyone we meet,” he said. Group A will present challenges, particularly from host nation Egypt and a talented Zambian squad, reflecting the growing ambitions of Tanzanian youth football.”

Tanzania is eager to assert its presence and compete for one of the four spots at the U-20 World Cup, given the high stakes and limited margin for error.